Child Restraint: Service and Repair
General Instructions
Read these instructions carefully prior to installation of the child tether strap anchor kit.
Some manufacturers make safety seats with a tether strap that goes over the back of the vehicle seat and attaches to an anchoring point behind the vehicle seat.
Ford recommends placement of tethered safety seats in a rear seating position with the tether strap and attached to the tether anchoring point as shown in the illustrations found in the procedures to follow.
If a tethered seat is installed in the front seat, Ford recommends the center front seating position, with the tether strap secured to the center rear lap belt tongue or to the webbing of the buckled center rear lap belt behind the child safety seat. The right front seating position may be used if it is the only position available.
WARNING: FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE PRECAUTIONS COULD INCREASE THE CHANCE AND/OR SEVERITY OF INJURY IN AN ACCIDENT.
There are provisions to attach a tether anchorage in the right front and all second row seating positions. It is easier to install a tether anchor at the second row, rear center seating position.
Installing Tether Strap Anchor, Right Front and Rear Outboard Seating Positions
1. You must remove the second row bench seat to gain access to the affected area beneath the carpet.
2. Remove the rear fold down seat as follows:
a. Unlock the latch and fold the seat forward.
b. Remove the rear seat cushion torsion bar. Release it from the right floor bracket by pushing forward and up.
C. Remove the spring retainers and the hinge pivot pins from both the floor brackets.
d. Remove the seat assembly.
e. Remove the front bolts that fasten the bracket to the floor.
f. Remove the plug buttons from the spring. Remove the bolt from the spring. Remove the spring, washer and the retainer from the bracket.
3. Lift the flap of the floor carpeting and pull it back to expose the drill dimple provided for attachment of the tether strap bracket.
NOTE: When the carpeting is pulled back, you will see a colored 51 mm x 51 mm (2 inch x 2 inch) square box with a large block letter "T" inside of it. This marks the approximate area of the floor where the drill dimple is located.
4. Locate the drill dimple. It is approximately 14.3 cm (5-5/8 inches) toward the center of the vehicle from the right bracket bolt. A letter "T" is stamped next to the drill dimple to help find its location
5. From inside the cargo area, drill a 9 mm (0.354 inch) hole through the desired dimple(s). Verify, prior to drilling the hole through the floor pan, that the drill will not damage any underbody components.
6. An assistant will be needed underneath the vehicle to attach the tether anchor. Before installing the tether hardware, read the instructions on the package containing the thread locking material, then open the capsule and apply thread locking material to all the threads on the tether attachment bolt. Install the child tether hardware as shown in the illustrations. Tighten tether attaching bolts to 22-34 N.m (16-25 ft-lb).
NOTE: Do not install the black colored tether strap bracket at these locations.
WARNING:
- THE TETHER BRACKET MUST BE BOLTED DIRECTLY TO THE FLOOR SHEET METAL. INTERIOR TRIM MUST NOT BE TRAPPED BETWEEN THE ANCHOR AND THE SHEET METAL. FAILURE TO PROPERLY INSTALL THE ANCHOR COULD RESULT IN IMPROPER PERFORMANCE IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT.
- THE THREADED HOLE IN THE TETHER ANCHOR HAS AN 8 mm METRIC THREAD. AN 8 mm WRENCH WILL BE NEEDED TO TIGHTEN THE 8 mm BOLT TO THE REQUIRED TORQUE SPECIFICATION. SOME CHILD RESTRAINTS COME WITH A NON-METRIC BOLT WITH A DIFFERENT THREAD. DO NOT USE A NON-METRIC BOLT AS IT MAY BE IMPOSSIBLE TO SCREW IT ALL THE WAY INTO THE HOLE, RESULTING IN INADEQUATE RETENTION OF THE CHILD RESTRAINT. USE ONLY THE METRIC BOLT SUPPLIED IN THE KIT. IF YOU NEED A REPLACEMENT BOLT, ANY FORD DEALER WILL ASSIST YOU.
- IF THE ANCHOR BOLT(S) ARE EVER REMOVED, THE HOLE(S) IN THE FLOOR PAN MUST BE SEALED TO PREVENT THE POSSIBILITY OF EXHAUST FUMES ENTERING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.
7. Pull back the carpet and find the 51 mm x 51 mm (2 inch x 2 inch) colored square on the back side of the carpet. The colored square is the approximate location of the required cut-out in the carpet. Using the colored square as a guide, establish the location where a 51 mm x 51 mm (2 inch x 2 inch) cut-out in the carpet will expose the chrome tether bracket. Cut the carpet as shown in the illustrations.
8. Install the rear seat as follows:
a. Align the holes in the rear seat cushion bracket with the holes in the floor pan. Put a washer and a retainer in the bottom of each spring. Place the assembly so the retainers are on the brackets. Install the bolts through the spring and tighten to 62-81 N.m (45-60 ft-lb).
b. Install the remaining bolts and washers that fasten the brackets to the floor. Tighten to 62-81 N.m (45-60 ft-lb).
c. Put the seat assembly in position and install the hinge pivot pins and spring retainers.
d. Install the rear seat for cushion torsion bar.
e. Check the seat for correct operation.
9. Return the folding rear seat to the upright position and make sure it is latched in place.
10. Position the rear floor carpeting and the trim.
11. Install the tailgate scuff plate if previously removed.
WARNING: FOLLOW THE CHILD SEAT MANUFACTURER'S INSTRUCTIONS TO ATTACH THE TETHER STRAP TO THE TETHER BRACKET.
Installing Tether Strap Anchor, Second Row Rear Center Seating Position
1. Locate the latch assembly and the latch striker. The rear bolt holding the latch striker to the floor pan is the bolt used for mounting the tether strap.
2. With the rear seat folded forward, remove the rear bolt retaining the striker bar to the floor pan sheet metal.
3. Before installing the hardware, read the instructions on the package containing the thread locking material, then open the capsule and apply thread locking material to all threads of the tether attaching bolt.
4. Install the bolt assembly and tighten to 61.3-81.7 N.m (45-60 ft-lb).
Installing Tether Strap Anchor, Second Row, Right and Left Seating Position
1. Open the liftgate. Remove the attaching screws retaining the rear floor scuff plate to the body.
2. Fold the rear bench seat forward.
3. Fold back the rear floor carpet and lift the carpet assembly to expose the floor sheet metal.
4. From inside the cargo area, locate two drill dimples, one for each side of the vehicle, in the floor near the embossed letter "T". The drill dimples are located approximately 44.4 cm (17-1/2 inches) from the rear striker bolt.
5. Drill a 9 mm (0.354 inch) hole through the desired dimple(s). Verify before drilling through the floor pan that the drill will not damage any underbody components.
6. An assistant will be needed underneath the vehicle to attach the tether anchor. Before installing the tether hardware, read the instructions on the package containing the thread locking material, then open the capsule and apply thread locking material to all the threads on the tether attachment bolt. Install the child tether hardware as shown in the illustrations. Tighten tether attaching bolts to 22-34 N.m (16-25 ft-lb).
NOTE: Do not install the black colored tether strap bracket at these locations.
WARNING:
- THE TETHER BRACKET MUST BE BOLTED DIRECTLY TO THE FLOOR SHEET METAL. INTERIOR TRIM MUST NOT BE TRAPPED BETWEEN THE ANCHOR AND THE SHEET METAL. FAILURE TO PROPERLY INSTALL THE ANCHOR COULD RESULT IN IMPROPER PERFORMANCE IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT.
- THE THREADED HOLE IN THE TETHER ANCHOR HAS AN 8 mm METRIC THREAD. AN 8 mm WRENCH WILL BE NEEDED TO TIGHTEN THE 8 mm BOLT TO THE REQUIRED TORQUE SPECIFICATION. SOME CHILD RESTRAINTS COME WITH A NON-METRIC BOLT WITH A DIFFERENT THREAD. DO NOT USE A NON-METRIC BOLT AS IT MAY BE IMPOSSIBLE TO SCREW IT ALL THE WAY INTO THE HOLE, RESULTING IN INADEQUATE RETENTION OF THE CHILD RESTRAINT. USE ONLY THE METRIC BOLT SUPPLIED IN THE KIT. IF YOU NEED A REPLACEMENT BOLT, ANY FORD DEALER WILL ASSIST YOU.
- IF THE ANCHOR BOLT(S) ARE EVER REMOVED, THE HOLES(S) IN THE FLOOR PAN MUST BE SEALED TO PREVENT THE POSSIBILITY OF EXHAUST FUMES ENTERING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.
7. Pull back the carpet and find the 51 mm x 51 mm (2 inch x 2 inch) colored square on the back side of the carpet. The colored square is the approximate location of the required cut-out in the carpet. Using the colored square as a guide, establish the location where a 51 mm x 51 mm (2 inch x 2 inch) cut-out in the carpet will expose the chrome tether bracket. Cut the carpet as shown in the illustrations.
8. Install the rear seat as follows:
a. Align the holes in the rear seat cushion bracket with the holes in the floor pan. Put a washer and a retainer in the bottom of each spring. Place the assembly so the retainers are on the brackets. Install the bolts through the springs and tighten to 62-81 N.m (45-60 ft-lb).
b. Install the remaining bolts and washers that fasten the brackets to the floor. Tighten to 62-81 N.m (45-60 ft-lb).
c. Put the seat assembly in position and install the hinge pivot pins and spring retainers.
d. Install the rear seat cushion torsion bar.
e. Check the seat for correct operation.
9. Return the folding rear seat to the upright position and make sure it is latched in place.
10. Position the rear floor carpeting and the trim.
11. Install the tailgate scuff plate if previously removed.
WARNING: FOLLOW THE CHILD SEAT MANUFACTURER'S INSTRUCTIONS TO ATTACH THE TETHER STRAP TO THE TETHER BRACKET.