Seat Belt Systems: Description and Operation
SAFETY BELT SYSTEMWARNING: After any crash, all of the following safety belt assemblies and attaching hardware must be inspected by an authorized dealer to verify correct function:
- Retractors
- Buckles
- Belt tension sensor (BTS) (if equipped)
- Front safety belt buckle support assemblies (slide bar) (if equipped)
- Safety belt shoulder belt height adjusters (if equipped)
- Child safety seat tether bracket assemblies
- Automatic locking retractor (ALR) feature for child safety seats (passenger seating positions only)
If any safety belt assembly is damaged, does not operate correctly or does not pass all of the Functional Tests in the Diagnosis and Testing portion, a new safety belt assembly must be installed. If any safety belt assembly attaching areas are damaged or distorted, the sheet metal must be restored to its original structural integrity and new safety belt assembly and attaching hardware must be installed. Failure to install new safety belt assemblies and attaching hardware may increase the risk of serious personal injury or death in a crash.
After any crash that results in deployment of the driver and/or front outboard passenger safety belt pretensioners, new driver and/or front outboard passenger safety belt systems (including retractors, buckles and height adjusters) must be installed. Failure to install new safety belt systems increases the risk of serious personal injury or death in a crash.
When replacing any active occupant restraint components, 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 shoulder height adjusters
- Front row safety belt buckle and pretensioners attached to the inboard side of the seats
- Front row adaptive load limiting safety belt retractors located behind the lower B-pillar trim panels
- Second row and third row outboard safety belt retractors located behind the quarter trim panels (Taurus X)
- Second row 60/40 seat center safety belt retractor and LH safety belt buckle assembly integrated into the 60 percent seat back (Taurus X)
- Rear center safety belt retractor attached to the parcel shelf sheet metal and safety belt buckle assembly attached to the floor pan under the rear seat cushion (Taurus, Sable)
- Second row dual safety belt buckle assembly attached to the floor pan under the LH seat cushion (Taurus, Sable)
- Second row safety belt buckle assembly attached to the seat frame (Taurus X)
- Third row safety belt buckle assembly attached to the seat frame (Taurus X)
- LATCH at all 3 rear seating positions, attached below the rear seat cushion (Taurus, Sable)
- LATCH located at the second row outboard seating positions and third row RH seating position, all welded to the seat cushion frame (Taurus X)
- The child safety seat tether anchors are welded to the parcel shelf sheet metal for all 3 rear seating positions (Taurus, Sable)
- Child safety seat tether anchors located at the front passenger seating position, second row outboard seating positions and third row RH seating positions all welded to the seat cushion frame (Taurus X)
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, corners 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.
Safety Belt Buckle And Pretensioner
The safety belt buckle and pretensioner is a pyrotechnic device that removes excess webbing from the safety belt when deployed. The pretensioner works in conjunction with the front air bag system. When the front air bags deploy, the pretensioners deploy, causing the buckle to move downward, removing excess webbing from the lap and shoulder safety belts.
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 safety belt system (including safety belt buckle and pretensioners, safety belt retractors and height adjusters) must be installed.
For safety belt buckle pretensioner diagnostic information, refer to Air Bag Systems.
For safety belt buckle pretensioner disposal information, refer to Air Bag Systems.
Adaptive Load Limiting Safety Belt Retractor
This vehicle is equipped with driver and front passenger adaptive load limiting safety belt retractors. Adaptive load limiting safety belt retractors are pyrotechnic devices integrated with the driver and front passenger safety belt retractor assemblies. Adaptive load limiting safety belt retractors work in conjunction with the safety belt buckle pretensioners to control the tension of the driver and front passenger safety belts. The restraints control module (RCM) monitors the readiness of the adaptive load limiting safety belt retractor. The RCM uses this information and all other information provided by the restraints system to determine what action to be taken. The adaptive load limiting safety belt retractor uses a 2-stage pyrotechnic device to engage 1 of 2 gear sets when deployed allowing the retractor to limit webbing pay-out at different rates.
For adaptive load limiting safety belt retractor diagnostic information, refer to Air Bag Systems.
Dual Locking Mode Retractors
WARNING: After any crash, all of the following safety belt assemblies and attaching hardware must be inspected by an authorized dealer to verify correct function:
- Retractors
- Buckles
- Belt tension sensor (BTS) (if equipped)
- Front safety belt buckle support assemblies (slide bar) (if equipped)
- Safety belt shoulder belt height adjusters (if equipped)
- Child safety seat tether bracket assemblies
- Automatic locking retractor (ALR) feature for child safety seats (passenger seating positions only)
If any safety belt assembly is damaged, does not operate correctly or does not pass all of the Functional Tests in the Diagnosis and Testing portion, a new safety belt assembly must be installed. If any safety belt assembly attaching areas are damaged or distorted, the sheet metal must be restored to its original structural integrity and new safety belt assembly and attaching hardware must be installed. Failure to install new safety belt assemblies and attaching hardware may increase the risk of serious personal injury or death in a crash.
After any crash that results in deployment of the driver and/or front outboard passenger safety belt pretensioners, new driver and/or front outboard passenger safety belt systems (including retractors, buckles and height adjusters) must be installed. Failure to install new safety belt systems increases the risk of serious personal injury or death in a crash.
NOTE: When installing a new dual locking mode retractor, the retractor should be checked to make sure it is not in the ALR mode after installation in the stowed position.
All outboard continuous-loop, 3-point retractor systems, except the driver position, are equipped with the dual locking mode system.
The emergency locking retractor (ELR) mode will allow the occupant freedom of movement, locking tight only on hard braking, hard cornering or an impact of approximately 8 km/h (5 mph). The ELR mode helps to reduce the forward movement of the driver and passengers. The ELR mode is continuously in operation at all seating positions.
The ALR portion of this system does not allow the occupant freedom of movement. The ALR mode is used when locking a child seat in an outboard seating position or when a tight belt fit is desired. The ALR mode is automatically engaged when the webbing is fully extracted from the retractor and then allowed to retract. As the webbing is retracted back onto the spool, an audible clicking sound is made indicating the retractor is in ALR mode and the webbing will not pull back out of the retractor. To disengage the ALR mode, let the webbing retract back onto the spool. The ALR mode is disengaged when the webbing is free to move out and back into the retractor.
The automatic locking mode must be used when installing a child safety seat in the front or rear passenger seating positions where dual locking mode retractors are provided.
Energy Management Retractor
This vehicle has a safety belt system with an energy management feature at the front seating positions to help further reduce the risk of injury in the event of a head on-collision.
The energy management retractor feature is designed to pay out webbing in a controlled manner. This feature is designed to help reduce the belt force acting on an occupant's chest.
Safety Belt Tension Sensor
The safety belt tension sensor is part of the front passenger safety belt and retractor assembly. The safety belt tension sensor is located at the front passenger safety belt anchor point and is used in conjunction with the occupant classification sensor (OCS) system. Refer to Air Bag Systems.
Safety Belt Extension
In certain cases, the safety belt may be too short even when it is fully extended. Additional length can be added to the belt length by using a safety belt extension. Safety belt extensions are available through the dealership parts department at no cost. Safety belt extensions are only available with black webbing. Two extension assemblies are available for the front and rear seating positions.
Use only extensions manufactured by the same supplier as the safety belt. Manufacturer identification is located at the end of the webbing on the label. Also, use the safety belt extension only if the safety belt is too short for you when fully extended. Do not use the extension to change the fit of the shoulder belt across the torso.
Child Safety Seat Tether Anchors
On Taurus and Sable vehicles, the child safety seat tether anchors are a structural member of the parcel shelf sheet metal.
On Taurus X vehicles with a second row bench seat, the child safety seat tether anchors and LATCH system is a structural member of the seat frame.
On Taurus X vehicles a with third row bench seat, the child safety seat tether anchors and LATCH system is a structural member of the seat backrest frame.
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH)
The LATCH system is a standardized and uniform attachment system for installing child safety seats in passenger vehicles. LATCH-equipped child safety seats have lower attachments that connect to the vehicle portion of the LATCH system.
The vehicle portion of the system consists of attachment points (6-mm wires) at all second row 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.
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 safety belt is not buckled before the ignition switch is turned to the ON position, 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 warning chime is sounding, then the safety belt warning indicator and warning chime turn off.
- If the driver safety belt is buckled before the ignition switch is turned to the ON position, the safety belt warning indicator and warning chime remain off.
Belt-Minder(R)
The Belt-Minder(R) feature is a supplemental warning to the safety belt warning function. This feature provides additional reminders by intermittently sounding a chime and illuminating the safety belt warning indicator in the instrument cluster when the driver and front passenger safety belts are unbuckled.
The passenger Belt-Minder(R) feature is activated only when the OCS system detects a passenger in the right front seat and the passenger's weight exceeds a programmed limit.
The warnings are the same for the driver and the front passenger. If the Belt-Minder(R) warnings have expired (warnings for approximately 5 minutes) for one occupant (driver or front passenger), the other occupant can still activate the Belt-Minder(R) feature.
To activate or deactivate the Belt-Minder(R) feature, refer to Instrument Panel, Gauges and Warning Indicators or Owner's Literature.
