Safety Belts - Service Procedure, Manual Revision

88ford16

SAFETY BELTS - SERVICE PROCEDURE AFTER ACCIDENT - TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, SHOP MANUALS AND OWNER GUIDES REVISION PUBLICATIONS PRINTED BEFORE 1989 MODEL YEAR

Article No. 88-15-3

FORD: 1988 And Prior ALL CAR LINES

LINCOLN-MERCURY: 1988 And Prior ALL CAR LINES

MERKUR: 1988 And Prior ALL CAR LINES

LIGHT TRUCK: 1988 And Prior ALL LIGHT TRUCK LINES

MEDIUM/HEAVY TRUCK: 1988 And Prior ALL MEDIUM/HEAVY TRUCK LINES

ISSUE: The current safety belt replacement procedure as published in Ford service publications has been revised. In the event the vehicle has been in an accident, it is recommended that the safety belt system be checked for proper operation and replaced if necessary. The revised service information supersedes Section 5 of TSB Article 85-2-4 and all 1988 and prior vehicle Owner Guides. This new information should be added to the 1988 and prior model year Shop Manuals, Section 41-50 and the Supplemental Air Bag Shop Manual, Section 41-58.

ACTION: If service is required, refer to the revised service information below. This information should be inserted in the 1988 and prior model year Shop Manuals, Section 41-50 and the Supplemental Air Bag Shop Manual, Section 41-58.

"ALL SAFETY BELT ASSEMBLIES INCLUDING RETRACTORS AND ATTACHING HARDWARE SHOULD BE INSPECTED AFTER ANY COLLISION. FORD RECOMMENDS THAT ALL SAFETY BELT ASSEMBLIES IN USE DURING A COLLISION BE REPLACED UNLESS THE COLLISION WAS MINOR AND A QUALIFIED TECHNICIAN FINDS THAT THE BELTS SHOW NO DAMAGE AND CONTINUE TO OPERATE PROPERLY. SAFETY BELT ASSEMBLIES NOT IN USE DURING A COLLISION SHOULD ALSO BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED IF EITHER DAMAGE OR IMPROPER OPERATION IS NOTED."

NOTE: SHOP MANUALS AND OWNER GUIDES FOR THE ESCORT/LYNX, TEMPO/TOPAZ, AND THUNDERBIRD/COUGAR PASSIVE RESTRAINT-EQUIPPED VEHICLES CURRENTLY SHOW THE NEW INFORMATION. THE 1989 SHOP MANUALS ARE ALSO CORRECT.

OTHER APPLICABLE ARTICLES: 85-2-4
WARRANTY STATUS: "INFORMATION ONLY"