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 chime 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, provided the inertia switch contacts are open.

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 (rear seat only). If seat belts or shoulder belts are removed for any reason, the anchor bolts should be tightened to 39-55 Nm (28-39 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 8.0 mm tether attachment weld nuts have been provided (one for each side). They are used to attach the safety seat tether anchor hardware provided with the safety seat.

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.

CONTROL MODULE






The following description applies to the operation of the passive restraint system. The chart indicates the system inputs and pins necessary for application to the driver's and passenger's side of the system.

Conditions To Move Carrier From A-Pillar To B-Pillar
To move the carrier from the A-pillar to the B-pillar when the door is closed (pin 13 floating/not-grounded), and the ignition key is in the ON position (pin 25 high), the passive restraint module will check the B-pillar limit switch (pin 18).

If the B-pillar limit switch is not activated (pin 18 floating/not-grounded), the passive restraint module will apply power to the driver motor. This will send the carrier from the A-pillar to the B-pillar (pins 2 & 17 high, pins 3 & 4 grounded), until the B-pillar limit switch is activated (pin 18 grounded).

If the B-pillar limit switch is activated (pin 18 grounded), no action will occur.

Conditions To Move Carrier From B-Pillar To A-Pillar
To move the carrier from the B-pillar to the A-pillar when the door is opened (pin 13 grounded), and the inertia switch is set (pin 12 floating), the passive restraint module will check the A-pillar limit switch (pin 5).

If the A-pillar limit switch is not activated (pin 5 floating), the passive restraint module will apply power to the driver motor. This will send the carrier from the B-pillar to the A-pillar (pins 3 & 4 high, pins 2 & 17 grounded), until the A-pillar limit switch is activated (pin 5 grounded).

If the A-pillar limit switch is activated (pin 5 grounded), or the inertia switch is tripped (pin 12 grounded), no action will occur.

Conditions To Activate The Seat Belt Light
When the passive restraint module determines a seat belt warning is required, the fasten seat belt indicator output (pin 16), supplies a ground to the Fasten Belt Indicator (FBI). This action activates the seat belt light.

When the ignition key is in the ON position (pin 25 high), and both of the B-pillar limit switches are not activated (pin 18 or 21 floating/not-grounded), the FBI output is activated (pin 16 grounded).

The FBI is also activated when the ignition key is in the ON position (pin 25 high) and either of the shoulder belts are spooled in (pin 14 or 15 floating/not-grounded).

NOTE: The Warning Chime Module interfaces with the warning light.

Conditions To Activate The Warning Chime
When the passive restraint module determines that a warning is required, the audible chime output (pin 1) supplies a ground to the warning chime module.

When the ignition key is in the ON position (pin 25 high), and either shoulder belt is spooled in (pin 14 or 15 floating/not-grounded), the chime output is activated (pin 1 grounded) for five seconds. If this output has been triggered and timed out, it can be triggered again by spooling in the other shoulder belt (floating/grounding pin 14 or 15).