Seat Belt Systems: Description and Operation
SAFETY BELT SYSTEMWARNING:
- 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. 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 properly, in addition to other checks for proper safety belt system function. A belt and retractor assembly must be replaced if the safety belt assembly's "automatic locking retractor" feature or any other safety belt function is not operating properly when inspected according to the functional inspection procedures in the vehicle system. Failure to replace the 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.
The active restraint system consists of:
- the front safety belt retractors and tongues, which are secured to the body under the B-pillar trim panels.
- the rear LH and RH safety belt retractors, which are secured to the body behind the quarter trim panels.
- the rear center safety belt retractor, which is located under the package tray trim.
- the center safety belt is attached to the floor pan through a slot in the seat track.
- the front safety belt buckle ends (LH and RH), which are secured to the front seat track.
- the front inboard buckle end, which is secured to the front seat assembly by the front safety belt buckle support.
- the rear LH, RH and center buckle ends, which are secured to the rear floor pan under the rear seat.
- the child safety seat tether anchors, which are attached to the package tray under the rear package tray trim.
- the child safety seat LATCH system, which is located at the LH and RH outboard seating positions behind the rear seat back.
Safety Belt, Lap/Shoulder - Dual Locking
Vehicles are equipped with lap/shoulder safety belts. While the vehicle is in motion, the combination lap and shoulder belt adjusts to the occupant's movement. However, if the vehicle brakes hard, corners hard or if the vehicle is involved in a frontal impact of 8 km/h (5 mph) or more, the lap and shoulder belt locks and helps reduce the occupant's forward movement.
The lap/shoulder safety belt is equipped with a dual locking retractor on the shoulder portion of the combination lap/shoulder safety belt for the front passenger (not available on the driver side) and rear safety belt retractors. The dual locking retractor 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 safety 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 automatically lock and remain locked when the combination lap/shoulder safety belt is buckled, not allowing the occupant freedom of movement. This mode provides a tight lap/shoulder safety belt fit on the occupant or on a child safety seat or infant carrier.
When the combination lap/shoulder safety 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 on the front passenger seat and rear seat where dual locking retractors are provided.
Safety Belt Pretensioners
The front outboard safety belt retractors use a safely belt pretensioner system. This works in conjunction with the front air bag system mounted in the steering wheel and instrument panel. The pretensioner is a pyrotechnic device that removes excess webbing slack from the safety belt. When the front air bags are deployed, the pretensioner deploys in the retractor, removing excess slack from the lap and shoulder safety belt. The pretensioners are activated when the restraints control module (RCM) detects a frontal impact force exceeding a programmed limit. If the vehicle is involved in a collision that results in deployment of the front air bags and safety belt pretensioners, a new driver and passenger seat belt system (including safety belt buckle and pretensioners or safety belt retractor and pretensioners. Safety belt retractors, safety belts, buckles and height adjusters), must be installed.
Safety Belt Warning System
The safety belt warning indicator light 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 safety belt is not buckled before the ignition switch is turned to RUN, then the safety belt warning indicator illuminates for 1-2 minutes and the warning chime sounds for 4-8 seconds.
- If the driver safety belt is buckled while the warning indicator is illuminated and the reminder chime is sounding, the safety belt warning indicator and reminder chime will turn off.
- If the driver safety belt is buckled before the ignition switch in turned to RUN, the safety belt warning indicator and reminder chime will remain off.
Belt Minder
The Belt Minder feature is a supplemental warning to the safety belt warning function. This feature provides an additional reminder that the driver or passenger safety belt is unbuckled by intermittently sounding a chime and illuminating the safety belt warning lamp in the instrument cluster.
The passenger seat belt minder feature is activated only when the OCS detects a passenger in the right front seat and the passenger's weight exceeds a programmed limit.
Safety Belt Extension
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 alter the fit of the shoulder belt across the torso. Safety belt extensions are available from any authorized Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer.
Child Safety Seat Tether Anchors
WARNING: The child safety seat tether anchor/bolt must be securely tightened to specification. Otherwise, the child safety seat may not be correctly secured and the child could be injured if the vehicle is involved in a collision or stops suddenly.
Child safety seat tether anchors, located in the package tray, have been provided at all three rear seating positions. If a child safety seat was in use during a collision, inspect the tether anchor and all surrounding sheet metal for damage. Install a new tether anchor if necessary. Rework or install new sheet metal to restore the vehicle to its original condition and structural integrity
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH)
The lower anchors and tethers for children (LATCH) system is a standardized and uniform attachment system for installing child safety seats in passenger vehicles. LATCH equipped child safety seats have two lower attachments that connect to the vehicle portion of the LATCH system.
The vehicle portion of the system consists of two attachment points (6 mm wires) bolted to the floor pan at both second row outboard seating positions. The attachment points protrude from the biteline between the seat cushion and seat backrest.
If a child safety seat was in use during a collision, inspect the vehicle portion of the system for damage. If any of the attachment points (6 mm wires) are damaged, a new one must be installed. See the appropriate removal and installation procedure for service.