Seat Belt Systems: Description and Operation

WARNING:
^ ALL SAFETY BELT ASSEMBLIES INCLUDING RETRACTORS, BUCKLES, FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE SUPPORT ASSEMBLIES (SLIDE BAR), SHOULDER BELT HEIGHT ADJUSTERS (IF SO EQUIPPED) CHILD SAFETY SEAT TETHER ATTACHMENTS AND ATTACHING HARDWARE SHOULD BE INSPECTED AFTER ANY COLLISION. ALL BELT ASSEMBLIES SHOULD BE REPLACED UNLESS A QUALIFIED TECHNICIAN FINDS THAT 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.

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 bucket seat safety belt buckles and pretensioners attached to the inboard side of the seat.
^ Front row outboard seating position safety belt retractors, located under the B-pillar trim panel.
^ Second row outboard seating position safety belt retractors, located under the rear quarter trim panel.
^ Second row center safety belt retractor and RH side safety belt buckle assembly, attached to the RH side of the 20 percent 40/20/40 seat.
^ Third row safety belt retractors at both seating locations, located under the rear quarter trim panel.
^ Second row center and LH side safety belt buckle assembly, attached to the LH side of the 20 percent 40/20/40 seat.
^ Second row RH side safety belt buckle and center safety belt assembly, attached to the floor pan for the 60/40 seat.
^ Second row center and LH side safety belt buckle assembly, attached to the floor pan for the 60/40 seat.
^ Third row safety belt buckle assembly for both seating positions, attached to the floor pan.
^ Second row child safety seat tether anchors, at all three seating positions, attached to the floor pan behind the second row seat.
^ Third row child safety seat tether anchors, attached to the floor pan behind the third row seat.
^ Second row Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH), as part of the seat cushion frame, at the outboard seating positions.
^ Third row Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH), as part of the seat cushion frame, at both seating positions.

Pretensioner System
All Explorers and Mountaineers have a pretensioner system used with the front outboard safety belt buckles. This works in conjunction with the front air bag system mounted in the steering wheel and instrument panel.

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 height adjusters), must be replaced.

For diagnostic information, refer to Air Bag Systems.

For pretensioner buckle disposal information, refer to Air Bag Systems.

Safety Belt Buckle and Pretensioner
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.

Dual Locking Mode Retractors

WARNING: AFTER ANY VEHICLE COLLISION, THE SAFETY BELT SYSTEM AT ALL OUTBOARD SEATING POSITIONS (EXCEPT DRIVER, WHICH HAS NO "AUTOMATIC LOCKING RETRACTOR" FEATURE) MUST BE CHECKED BY A QUALIFIED TECHNICIAN TO VERIFY THAT THE "AUTOMATIC LOCKING RETRACTOR" FEATURE FOR CHILD SEATS IS STILL 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 CHECKED ACCORDING TO THE PROCEDURES. FAILURE TO REPLACE THE BELT AND RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY IN COLLISIONS.

NOTE: When replacing a dual locking mode retractor, the retractor should be checked to make sure it is not in the Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) mode after installation in the stowed position.

All outboard continuous-loop, three-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 disengaged when the webbing is free to move in or out of the retractor. 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 that the retractor is in ALR mode. The ALR mode is automatically disengaged when most of the webbing is retracted back onto the spool.

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 occupant's chest.

Fastening Safety Belts

WARNING: DO NOT INTRODUCE SLACK INTO THE SAFETY BELT SYSTEM BECAUSE THE BELT LOCKS UPON IMPACT WHERE IT IS POSITIONED. USE THE SHOULDER SAFETY BELT ON THE OUTSIDE SHOULDER ONLY. NEVER WEAR THE SHOULDER SAFETY BELT UNDER THE ARM. NEVER SWING THE SHOULDER SAFETY BELT AROUND THE NECK OVER THE INSIDE SHOULDER. NEVER USE A SINGLE BELT FOR MORE THAN ONE PERSON. MAKE SURE THE LAP PORTION OF THE BELT IS FITTED SNUGLY AND AS LOW AS POSSIBLE AROUND THE HIPS, NOT THE WAIST. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE PRECAUTIONS COULD INCREASE THE CHANCE AND SEVERITY OF INJURY IN A COLLISION.

Always follow the preceding safety precautions when fastening the safety belts.

Safety Belt Extension Assembly
In certain cases, the safety belt may be too short even when it is fully extended. About 20 cm (8 in) can be added to the belt length by using a safety belt extension. Safety belt extensions are available at no cost from any Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer parts department at no cost. Safety belt extensions are only available with black webbing.

There are two extension assemblies available, one for the front seating positions and one for the rear seating positions and they are not interchangeable.

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 an extension to charge the fit of the shoulder belt across the torso.

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.

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 attachments points (6 mm wires) welded to the rear seat cushion frame. The attachment points protrude from the biteline between the seat cushion and seat backrest.
^ Second row seating: the attachment points are located at the outboard positions.
^ Third row seating: the attachment points are located at both seating positions.

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 rear seat cushion frame.

Safety Belt Warning Indicator and Chime
The warning indicator and chime are reminders to fasten the safety belt. The following conditions will take place:
^ If the driver safety belt is not buckled in the first six seconds the ignition switch is turned to the RUN or START position; the indicator will illuminate and the chime will toggle from on to off for six seconds, for one minute.
^ If the driver safety belt is buckled while the indicator is on and the chime is sounding, both the indicator and chime will turn off.
^ If the safety belt is buckled before the ignition is turned to the ON position, neither the indicator nor the chime will turn on.