Seat Belt Systems: Description and Operation

SAFETY BELT SYSTEM

WARNING:
- All safety belt assemblies (including retractors, belt tension sensor [BTS], if equipped, buckles, front seat belt buckle support assemblies [slide bar], if equipped, shoulder belt height adjusters, if equipped, child safety seat tether bracket assemblies, if equipped and attaching hardware) should be inspected after any collision. Ford recommends new safety belt assemblies be installed unless a qualified technician finds the assemblies show no damage and operate correctly. Safety belt assemblies not in use during a collision should also be inspected and new assemblies installed if either damage or incorrect operation is noted.

The Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) feature of the safety belt retractor must be checked by a qualified technician to verify that the ALR feature for a child seat is functioning correctly, in addition to other checks for correct safety belt system function. A new belt and retractor assembly must be installed if the safety belt assembly's "automatic locking retractor" feature, or any other safety belt function, is not operating correctly when inspected according to the functional inspection procedures. Failure to install a new belt and retractor assembly could increase the risk of injury in collisions.

- Each seating position in the vehicle has a specific safety belt assembly which consists of one buckle and one tongue. The safety belt assembly is designed to be used as a pair and is not to be used across seating positions.
- Never put a rear-facing child seat on the front seat of a vehicle with a passenger airbag. If the airbag deploys, it can hit the back of the child seat with enough force to cause severe personal injury or death to the infant.
- A forward-facing child safety seat should only be placed in the front seat when it is unavoidable. If you must place a forward-facing child seat in the front, always move the seat as far back as possible, because the force of the deploying front passenger air bag could cause death or serious injury to the infant. If the vehicle is equipped with a passenger airbag deactivation switch, the passenger airbag must be deactivated.

When any new active occupant restraint components are installed, use only the replacement parts specified in the Ford Customer Service Division Master Parts Catalog.

The active restraint system consists of the following:
- Front safety belt buckles, attached to the inboard side of the seats
- Front safety belt retractors and pretensioners, located behind the lower B-pillar trim panels
- Belt tension sensor (BTS), located at the passenger front safety belt anchor point
- Rear safety belt retractors, mounted to the rear package tray (coupe only)
- Rear safety belt retractors, mounted to a stanchion behind the rear seat backrest (convertible only)
- Rear safety belt buckle assemblies, attached to the floor pan
- Rear child safety seat tether anchors, at both seating positions, welded to the underside of the package tray (coupe only)
- Rear lower anchors and tethers for children (LATCH) at both seating positions, attached to the floor pan