Active Restraint System

WARNING:
^ ALL SAFETY BELT ASSEMBLIES INCLUDING RETRACTORS, 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. ALL BELT ASSEMBLIES SHOULD BE REPLACED UNLESS A QUALIFIED TECHNICIAN FINDS THE ASSEMBLIES SHOW NO DAMAGE AND OPERATE PROPERLY. BELT ASSEMBLIES NOT IN USE DURING A COLLISION SHOULD ALSO BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED IF EITHER DAMAGE OR IMPROPER OPERATION IS NOTED.
^ 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.

The active restraint system consists of:
^ the front safety belt retractors and tongues secured to the body behind the B-pillar trim panels.
^ the front driver and outboard passenger safety belt and pretensioner buckle ends secured to the front seat assembly.
^ the front center inboard passenger safety belt and outboard safety belt buckle ends (if equipped) secured to the floor pan on top of the front driver or outboard passenger seat track.
^ the four door rear outboard safety belt retractors secured to the body behind the quarter window trim panel.
^ the four door rear center safety belt retractor and safety belt buckle assembly secured to the parcel shelf sheet metal under the parcel shelf trim panel and the floor pan under the rear seat cushion.
^ the four door and station wagon second row driver side and center passenger safety belt buckle assembly secured to the floor pan under the second row seat cushion.
^ the station wagon second and third row outboard safety belt retractors secured to the body behind the rear quarter trim panel.
^ the station wagon second row passenger side safety belt buckle and center passenger safety belt assembly secured to the floor pan under the second row seat.
^ the station wagon third row safety belt buckles secured to the floor pan under the third row seat cushion.

A continuous-loop, single retractor active restraint system is used on all four door and station wagon vehicles at all seating positions. This is with the exception of the four door front center (if equipped) and station wagon second row center seating positions, which use an adjustable belt and tongue.

SAFETY BELT, LAP/SHOULDER
While the vehicle is in motion, the combination lap and shoulder belt adjusts to the occupant's movement. However, if the vehicle brakes hard, comers hard or if the vehicle receives an impact of 8 km/h (5 mph) or more, the lap and shoulder belt locks and helps reduce the occupant's forward movement.

FRONT [1][2]SAFETY BELT BUCKLE AND PRETENSIONER ASSEMBLY
The driver and front outboard passenger [1][2]safety belt buckle and pretensioner are secured to the front seat assembly on the seat track. This allows the front safety belt buckle end to move with the front seat.

The belt and buckle assembly pretensioner is a pyrotechnic device that removes excess webbing from the safety belt system. The belt and buckle assembly pretensioner uses the same crash sensor system as the air bag Supplemental Restraint System (SRS). When the belt and buckle assembly pretensioner deploys, the buckle moves downward, pulling excess webbing from the lap and shoulder safety belts.

If the [1][2]safety belt buckle and pretensioner assembly is deployed, a new assembly must be installed.

SAFETY BELT, LAP/SHOULDER - DUAL LOCKING MODE

WARNING: REAR-FACING INFANT SEATS SHOULD NEVER BE PLACED IN THE FRONT SEATS.

The dual locking mode retractor on the shoulder belt portion of the combination lap/shoulder safety belt for the front outboard passenger, and all four door rear and station wagon rear outboard seating positions, operates in two ways.
1. In the vehicle-sensitive (emergency locking) mode, the shoulder belt retractor will allow the occupant freedom of movement, locking tight only on hard braking, hard cornering or impacts of approximately 8 km/h (5 mph) or more. The front and rear outboard seat belt retractors can also be made to lock by pulling/jerking on the belt.
2. In the automatic locking mode, the shoulder belt retractor will be automatically locked and remain locked when the combination lap/shoulder safety belt is buckled and does not allow the occupant freedom of movement. This mode provides tight lap/shoulder belt fit on the occupant and on a child safety seat.
3. When the combination lap/shoulder belt is unbuckled and allowed to retract completely, the retractor will switch to the vehicle sensitive (emergency) locking mode.

The automatic locking mode must be used when installing a child safety seat in the front outboard passenger seating position, all four door rear seating positions and station wagon second row outboard seating positions.

SAFETY BELT EXTENSION
A safety belt that is too short even when fully extended can be lengthened. The safety belt extension is available. This assembly will add approximately 20 cm (8 inches) to the length of the safety belt. Use the safety belt extension only if the safety belt is too short when fully extended. Do not use the safety belt extension to change the fit of the shoulder belt across the torso. Safety belt extensions are available at no cost from any authorized Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer.

ATTACHING SAFETY SEATS WITH TETHER STRAPS
Some manufacturers make child safety seats that include a tether strap that goes over the back of the vehicle seat and attaches to an anchoring point. Other manufacturers offer the tether strap as an accessory. Contact the manufacturer of the child safety seat for information about ordering a tether strap.

Child safety seat tether anchors are manufactured into the vehicle. See the owners manual for locations.

SAFETY BELT WARNING SYSTEM
The safety belt warning indicator illuminates and a chime sounds to remind the occupants to fasten their safety belts.

The conditions of operation for the safety belt warning indicator and chime are as follows:
^ If the driver's safety belt is not buckled before the ignition switch is turned to RUN, the safety belt warning indicator illuminates for 1-2 minutes and the warning chime sounds for 4-8 seconds.
^ If the driver's safety belt is buckled while the warning indicator is illuminated and the reminder chime is sounding, then the safety belt warning indicator and reminder chime turn off.
^ If the driver's safety belt is buckled before the ignition switch is turned to RUN, the safety belt warning indicator and reminder chime remain off.

[1][2]Belt Minder
The [1][2]Belt Minder feature is a supplemental warning to the safety belt warning function. This feature provides additional reminders to the driver that the driver's safety belt is unbuckled by intermittently sounding a chime and illuminating the safety belt warning lamp in the instrument cluster.

To activate or deactivate the [1][2]Belt Minder feature, refer to Audible Warning Device.

If
The driver's safety belt is not buckled before the vehicle has reached at least 5 km/h (3 mph) and 1-2 minutes have elapsed since the ignition switch has been turned to ON

Then
The [1][2]Belt Minder feature is activated the safety belt warning light illuminates and the warning chime sounds for 6 seconds every 30 seconds, repeating for approximately 5 minutes or until the safety belt is buckled.

If
The driver's safety belt is buckled while the safety belt indicator light is illuminated and the safety belt warning chime is sounding.

Then
The [1][2]Belt Minder feature will not activate.

If
The driver's safety belt is buckled before the ignition switch is turned to the ON position.

Then
The [1][2]Belt Minder feature will not activate.