Seat Belt: Description and Operation

Occupant Restraining Devices
The occupant restraining devices include the outboard rear 3-point lap/shoulder belts, the center rear passenger lap belt, the manual front lap belts, and the passive restraint system that controls the front shoulder belts.

Passive Restraint System
The passive restraint system has a control module mounted under the driver's seat, which controls the movement of the front shoulder belts. The front shoulder belts are anchored in a centrally located retractor assembly and are latched to carriers mounted on the track and motor assembly. Front and rear limit switches are mounted on the track and motor assemblies. (These switches are inputs to the control module and provide information regarding the position of the carrier on the track.)

When a door is closed and the ignition switch is in the ON position, the door catch switch sends a signal to the passive restraint control module to operate the motor. The carrier then slides up the track until it reaches the rear limit switch, which cuts the current to stop the operation of the motor.

When a door is opened, the door catch switch sends a signal to the passive restraint control module to operate the motor regardless of what position the ignition switch is in. The carrier then slides down the track until it reaches the front limit switch, which cuts the current to stop operation of the motor.

If a malfunction of the passive restraint system occurs, the system can be operated manually by using a lever to crank the motor. Refer to the Owner Guide for procedures to manually operate the passive restraint system.

Seat Belts
The front lap belts, rear lap/shoulder belts, and center passenger lap belt are conventionally mounted and are not controlled by the passive restraint system.

NOTE: Canadian Escort wagons and 5-door hatchbacks have manual front lap/shoulder belts with fixed tongues. Canadian Escort 3-door hatchbacks have manual front lap/shoulder belts with sliding tongues (except for the Escort GT).