Seat Belt Systems: Description and Operation
Safety Belt System
WARNING: After any crash, all of the following safety belt assemblies and attaching hardware must be inspected 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 information, 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.
All outboard safety belts, and second and third row center safety belts (if equipped) are continuous-loop, 3-point systems. The combination lap and shoulder belt (continuous-loop) uses a common slip tongue and retractor.
The shoulder harness retractor is designed to let the webbing move freely in and out at all times, except during vehicle hard braking, hard cornering or an impact of 8 km/h (5 mph) or more, when it is automatically locked by a mechanically actuated inertia sensor.
When replacing safety belt buckles and/or retractor assemblies, use only the replacement parts specified in the Ford Customer Service Division Master Parts and Accessories Catalog.
Active Restraint System Components
The active restraint system consists of the following components in the locations described:
- Front row safety belt buckles and pretensioners, attached to the inboard side of the seats
- Front seat safety belt retractor with adjustable D-ring attached to the B-pillar behind the trim panel
- Second, third, fourth and fifth row (if equipped) outboard safety belt retractors, located behind the rear quarter trim panels
- Center safety belt retractor located in the 3-passenger bench seat backrest (all vehicles except cargo van)
- Fourth and fifth row (if equipped) LH and RH center safety belt retractors located in the 4-passenger bench seat backrest (12- and 15-passenger vehicles only)
- Second, third, fourth and fifth row (if equipped) safety belt buckle assemblies, which are secured to the seat frame or seat riser (bucket and bench seats)
- Child safety seat tether anchors, at the front passenger seat and all second row seating positions, attached to the seat cushion frames or risers (bucket and 3-passenger bench seats)
- Third and fourth row (if equipped) child safety seat tether anchors, at the center seating position of each 3-passenger bench seat, attached to the seat cushion frame
- Child safety seat tether anchor at each bench seat riser (serviced only with a new seat riser)
- Second row lower anchors and tethers for children on the LH bucket seat (if equipped), attached to the seat riser
- Second, third and fourth row (if equipped) lower anchors and tethers for children at the center seating position of 3-passenger bench seat (if equipped), attached to the seat frame (also RH second row position of 5-passenger vehicle)
Safety Belt Buckles
Safety Belt Buckle and Pretensioner
All vehicles have a pretensioner system used with the front safety belt buckles. This works in conjunction with the front air bag system mounted in the steering wheel and instrument panel.
The safety belt buckle and pretensioners are for the front outboard occupants, located on the inboard side of the seats. This allows the front safety belt buckle end to move with the front seat.
The safety belt buckle and pretensioner is a pyrotechnic device that removes excess webbing from the safety belt system. When the front air bag system is deployed, the pretensioner in the buckle deploys, causing the buckle to move downward, pulling 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, the driver and passenger seat belt system (including safety belt buckle and pretensioners, safety belt retractors and shoulder height adjusters) must be replaced.
If the ignition switch is turned to the ON or START position with the safety belt buckle pretensioner electrical connector(s) disconnected, the DTC and fault PID for an open circuit will be activated.
For safety belt buckle pretensioner diagnosis and disposal information, refer to Supplemental Restraint System Principles of Operation.
Rear Safety Belt Buckles
The rear bucket seat safety belt buckles are mounted to the seat cushion frames and are serviceable in-vehicle.
The rear bench seats are equipped with a dual safety belt buckle assembly used for the center and RH seat positions on the 3-passenger bench and both center seat positions on the 4-passenger bench. The rear safety belt buckles are mounted to the seat cushion frame. The LH safety belt buckle on the rear 3-passenger bench seat is part of the center safety belt retractor and is not serviced separately. To remove the LH safety belt buckle on the rear 3-passenger bench seat, refer to Safety Belt Retractor - Rear, Center, 3-Passenger Bench Seat Safety Belt Retractor - Rear, Center, 3-Passenger Bench Seat. The outboard safety belt buckles on the rear 4-passenger bench seat are part of the safety belt retractors and are not serviceable. To remove the outboard safety belt buckles on the rear 4-passenger bench seat, refer to Safety Belt Retractor - Rear, Center, 4-Passenger Bench Seat Safety Belt Retractor - Rear, Center, 4-Passenger Bench Seat.
Safety Belt Retractors
NOTICE: Rear outboard safety belt retractors are not interchangeable. Each safety belt retractor is equipped with a locator pin unique to that seating position, and it cannot be installed in any other location. Do not remove or alter the locator pin in any way when installing the safety belt retractor or the safety belt retractor will not function as intended.
The safety belt retractors consist of the following features:
- Energy management (front seats only)
- Dual locking mode feature
- Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR)
- ALR (all except driver seat)
Safety Belt Retractor and Features
ELR
The safety belt retractor is designed to allow the occupant freedom of movement in normal operation. The ELR is a vehicle-sensitive feature designed to activate and lock the safety belt webbing when braking hard, cornering hard or in an impact of approximately 8 km/h (5 mph). The ELR feature helps to reduce the forward movement of the driver and passengers. Refer to the appropriate Functional Test procedure in Safety Belt System Principles of Operation.
ALR
The ALR mode is used when locking a child seat in an outboard seating position. The ALR mode is automatically activated when the safety belt webbing is fully extracted from the retractor and then allowed to retract. As the safety belt webbing is retracted back onto the spool, an audible clicking sound is made indicating the safety belt retractor is in ALR mode and the safety belt webbing will not pull back out of the safety belt retractor. To disengage the ALR mode, allow the safety belt webbing to fully retract back onto the spool. The ALR mode is disengaged when the webbing is free to extract and retract back into the retractor. The retractor should be checked to make sure it is not in the ALR mode after installation in the stowed position. Refer to the appropriate Functional Test procedure in Safety Belt System Principles of Operation.
Child Safety Seat Tether Anchors and Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children Attachments
WARNING: Always tighten the child safety seat tether anchor/bolt to specification. Failure to follow this instruction may result in the child's safety seat being incorrectly secured, which increases the risk of serious personal injury or death to the child in a sudden stop or crash.
Some manufacturers make child safety seats with a tether that straps over the seat backrest and attaches to an anchoring point behind the seat.
Ford recommends the placement of tethered safety seats in a rear seating position, with the tether strap attached to the tether anchoring point. The right front seating position can be used if it is the only seating position available. The tether anchor attachment point for the right front seating position is located on the rear edge of the seat. For additional information, refer to the vehicle Owner's Literature for installation instructions.
Child Safety Seat Tether Anchors
Child safety seat tether anchors are located at the following seat positions:
- On the seat riser of the front passenger seat and second row bucket seats.
- On the 3-passenger bench seat cushion frame at the center seating position.
- On the 3- and 4-passenger bench seat risers at the outboard seating positions.
If a child safety seat was in use during a collision, inspect the seat frame, riser, pedestal and tether anchor for damage. If damaged, install a new seat frame, riser, pedestal and tether anchor, as necessary.
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children Attachments
The lower anchors and tethers for children system is a standardized and uniform attachment system for installing child safety seats in passenger vehicles. Lower anchors and tethers for children equipped child safety seats have 2 lower attachments that connect to the vehicle portion of the lower anchors and tethers for children system.
The vehicle portion of the system consists of 2 attachment points (6-mm wires) bolted to the seat frame of either the rear bucket or rear bench seat. For location of the lower anchors and tethers for children attachments, refer to the Owner's Literature. The attachment points protrude from the bight line 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, install a new lower anchors and tethers for children assembly. Refer to Child Safety Seat Tether Anchor - LATCH, Quad Bucket Seat Child Safety Seat Tether Anchor - LATCH, Quad Bucket Seat or Child Safety Seat Tether Anchor - LATCH, Rear, Bench Seat Child Safety Seat Tether Anchor - LATCH, Rear, Bench Seat.