Occupant Restraint System

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

The combination lap/shoulder safety belts and lap safety belts are factory-installed in their proper locations. If the safety belts are removed for any reason, they should be installed as shown in this section.

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 for the vehicles serviced.

The outboard safety belt for the front and rear seats is a continuous-loop three-point system. The combination lap and shoulder belt (continuous-loop) uses a common sliding tongue and retractor.

These vehicles are equipped with dual locking mode retractors on the shoulder belt portion of the combination lap/shoulder safety belt for front seat passengers and rear seat outboard passengers, except for Bronco only which has a locking "cinch tongue" for rear seat outboard passengers.

The shoulder harness retractor is designed to let the webbing move freely in or out, except during vehicle hard braking, hard cornering or impact of 8 km/h (5 mph) or more. The combination lap/shoulder belt will become locked and help reduce your forward movement when retractor is automatically locked by a mechanically actuated inertia sensor, or if the retractor assembly belt has been fully extracted, and is in the "automatic locking mode" (except Bronco, rear seat).

Dual locking mode retractors operate in the following two ways:

Vehicle Sensitive (Emergency) Locking Mode

In this operating mode, the shoulder belt retractor will allow the occupant freedom of movement, locking tight only on hard braking, hard cornering or impacts of approximately 8 km/h (5 mph) or more. The front seat belt retractor can also be made to lock by pulling/jerking on the belt.

Automatic Locking Mode

In this operating mode, the shoulder belt retractor will be automatically locked and remain locked when the combination lap/shoulder safety belt has been fully extracted and buckled. In this mode, the safety belt does not allow the occupant freedom of movement. This mode provides the following:

• A tight lap/shoulder belt fit on occupant.
• Child seat or infant carrier installation restraint.

Automatic locking mode must be used when installing a child seat on the front passenger seat and rear outboard seats (except Bronco) where dual locking retractors are provided.

To switch the retractor from the "emergency locking mode" to the "automatic locking mode," perform the following steps:

1. Buckle the lap/shoulder combination belt.

2. Grasp the shoulder portion of the belt and pull downward until all of the belt is extracted. When allowed to retract, a clicking sound will be heard. At this time, the belt retractor is in the "automatic locking mode."

3. A clicking sound will continue to be heard as the belt is allowed to retract. This indicates that the retractor is in the "automatic locking mode."

When the combination lap/shoulder belt is unbuckled and allowed to retract completely, the retractor will switch back to the "vehicle sensitive (emergency) locking mode". See installation instructions under Child Safety Seat Installation in the Adjustments portion of this section.