Seat Belt Systems: Description and Operation

The passive restraint system controls the operation of the shoulder belt carrier. The seat lap belts are to be manually connected by the driver/passenger and should always be worn.

After entering the vehicle and closing the door, place the ignition key to the ON position: The shoulder belt carrier is moved from the front-body pillar ("OFF" position) to the mid-body pillar ("ON" position). At the same time, the "Belts" warning indicator lamp and buzzer are on for four to eight seconds or until the shoulder belt is latched.

The shoulder belt automatically adjusts to allow comfort and freedom of movement. It locks tight during extremely hard braking, or impacts of 3 km/h (5 mph) or more.

When the door is opened, regardless of the ignition key position, the shoulder belt carrier moves from "ON" to "OFF" position.

WARNING: Ensure that the lap belt is fitted snugly and as low as possible around the hips, not around the waist. Failure to do so may increase the chance of injury in the event of a collision.

WARNING: Front and rear seat occupants (including pregnant women) should wear the lap belts in addition to the shoulder belts for optimum protection. Rear seat occupants (including pregnant women) should also wear the lap belts for optimum protection.

If the lap or shoulder belt retractor jams, free the belt by doing the following:
^ Pull on the belt with both hands to tighten it on the retractor spool.
^ Feed the belt back into the retractor until it is completely retracted. Repeat the previous step, if necessary.
^ Pull the belt out of the retractor as far as it will go. Remove any foreign matter or untwist the belt, as necessary, and let the belt retract.
^ Extend and retract the belt about five times to ensure the belt retractor operates properly.

UNFASTENING SAFETY BELTS
Push release button in buckle and allow belts to unlatch.

WARNING: All safety belt assemblies including retractors and attaching hardware should be inspected after any collision. Ford recommends that all safety belt assemblies in use during a collision be replaced unless collision was minor and a qualified technician finds that belts show no damage and continue to operate properly. When a motorized passive restraint system in use during a collision is replaced, the opposite motorized shoulder belt and retractor assembly must also be replaced. Safety belt assemblies not in use during a collision should also be inspected and replaced if either damage or improper operation is noted.

A Continuous Loop Single Retractor Restraint System is used on all models. If seat belts or shoulder belts are removed for any reason, the anchor bolts should be tightened to 39-55 Nm (28-35 ft lbs).

Belt assemblies must be installed in matched sets as received and must not be interchanged between vehicle models.

If a component portion other than the removable D-ring cover (buckle portion, retractor portion, etc.) of a seat belt or shoulder belt assembly is non-functional or damaged, the entire assembly (buckle, tongue and shoulder harness portions) must be replaced.

The replacement assembly must be installed as a matched set and the manufacturer's identification on the label of the retractor webbing must match the manufacturer's identification on the buckle base.

CHILD RESTRAINT SEAT TETHER ATTACHMENT
Some aftermarket child safety seats provide a tether strap which goes over the back of the vehicle seat and attaches to an anchorage in the floor or panel behind the rear seat. (Ford Tot-Guard Child Seat does not require a top tether strap).

Two (one on each side) 8.0 mm top tether attachment weld nuts in the rear of the cargo area have been provided for the attachment of the anchor hardware supplied with the safety seat, if required.

WARNING: When using any infant or child restraint system it is important that you follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer concerning its use. Failure to follow each of the restraint manufacturer's instructions can result in a child striking the vehicle interior during a sudden stop or collision.