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 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 are installed, use only the replacement parts specified in the Ford Customer Service Division Master Parts Catalog.

The active restraint system consists of the following:
- Front row safety belt buckles and pretensioners, attached to the inboard side of the seats
- Front row adaptive load limiting retractors, located behind the lower B-pillar trim panels
- Second row outboard safety belt retractors, located behind the rear quarter trim panels (Explorer/Mountaineer)
- Second row outboard safety belt retractors, located behind the rear trim panels (Explorer Sport Trac)
- Second row 60/40 seat center safety belt retractor integrated into the 60 percent seat back (60/40 bench and 60/40 with E-Z entry)
- Second row dual safety belt buckle assembly for the 60/40 seat attached to the floor pan beneath the 60 percent seat (Explorer/Mountaineer with 5-passenger seating and Explorer Sport Trac)
- Second row dual safety belt buckle assembly for the 60/40 seat attached to the seat frame beneath the 60 percent seat (Explorer/Mountaineer with 7-passenger seating [E-Z entry])
- Second row LH side safety belt buckle assembly, attached to the seat frame of the 40 percent seat
- Second row RH and LH side safety belt buckle assembly, attached to the floor pan for the 40/40 seat with rear center console
- Second row child safety seat tether anchors, at all seating positions, attached to the floor pan behind the second row seat. On vehicles without a third row seat are 2 child safety seat tether anchors/cargo tie downs, located in the scuff plate at the back edge of the floor. Either of the 2 tether anchors/cargo tie downs can be used to service a child safety seat in the second row center seating position (Explorer/Mountaineer)
- Second row child seat tether anchor, welded to the rear cab frame (Explorer Sport Trac)
- Second row LATCH at all outboard seating positions, welded to the seat cushion frame
- Third row safety belt retractors, located behind the rear quarter trim panel
- Third row dual safety belt buckle assembly, attached to the LH seat latch assembly
- Third row child safety seat tether anchors, attached to the floor pan behind the third row seat

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 seat 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.

Safety Belt Adaptive Load Limiting Retractor
This vehicle is equipped with a driver and front passenger adaptive load limiting retractors. Adaptive load limiting retractors are pyrotechnic devices integrated to the driver and front passenger safety belt retractor assemblies. Adaptive load limiting 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 retractor. The RCM uses this information and all other information provided by the restraints system to determine what action to be taken.

Dual Locking Mode Retractors

NOTE: When installing 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, 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 safety 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.

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 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. Safety belt extensions are only available with black webbing.

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 change the fit of the shoulder belt across the torso.

Child Safety Seat Tether Anchors
The second row outboard child safety seat tether anchors for a 5-passenger vehicle are located directly behind the seat, attached to the floor pan protruding from the carpet. Either of the tether anchors for a 5-passenger vehicle located near the back hatch door can be used for the second row center child safety seat tether anchor. There are also 2 child safety seat tether anchors/cargo tie downs located in the scuff plate at the back edge of the door.

The 3 second row seats of a 7-passenger vehicle have child safety seat tether anchors that are located directly behind the second row seats attached to the floor pan, protruding from the carpet. The 2 third row child safety seat tether anchors are located directly behind the seat near the back hatch door.

If the child safety seat tether anchors were in use during a collision, inspect and install new anchors as necessary. Return the vehicle structure to its original production configuration.

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.

Refer to Child Safety Seat Tether Anchor - Second Row and Child Safety Seat Tether Anchor - Third Row in the removal and installation portion or the Owner's Literature for usage information.

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 2 lower attachments that connect to the vehicle portion of the LATCH system.

The vehicle portion of the system consists of 2 attachment points (6-mm wires) welded to the seat cushion frame. The attachment points protrude from the biteline between the seat cushion and seat backrest at the second row outboard 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 seat cushion frame.

Safety Belt Warning Indicator and Chime
The warning indicator and chime are reminders to fasten the safety belt. The system operates as follows:
- If the driver safety belt is not buckled before the ignition switch is turned to the RUN or START position, the indicator will illuminate for 1-2 minutes and the chime will sound for 4-8 seconds.
- 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.

Belt-Minder(R)
The Belt-Minder(R) feature is a supplemental warning to the safety belt warning function. This feature provides an additional reminder that the driver's and/or front passenger's safety belt is unbuckled by intermittently sounding a chime and illuminating the safety belt warning indicator in the instrument cluster.

To activate or deactivate the Belt-Minder(R) feature, refer to Instrument Panel, Gauges and Warning Indicators or the Owner's Literature.