Seat Belt Systems: Description and Operation
SAFETY BELT SYSTEMWARNINGS:
- All safety belt assemblies including retractors, buckles, front seat belt buckle support assemblies (slide bar), shoulder belt height adjusters, child safety seat tether attachments (if equipped), 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 correctly. Belt assemblies not in use during a collision should also be inspected and replaced if either damage or incorrect 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.
- Rear facing child seats or infant carriers should never be placed in the front seats. If you must use a forward facing child seat, move the seat all the way back.
All outboard safety belts, and second and third row center safety belts (if equipped) are continuous-loop, three-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 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.
- Driver and front row outboard passenger safety belt buckle pretensioners, attached to the front seats.
- Front row outboard safety belt retractor, attached to the B-pillar sheet metal behind the trim panel.
- Front row center safety belt, with 60/40 bench seat, attached on top of the rear inboard 60 percent seat riser.
- Front row center safety belt buckle, with 60/40 bench seat, attached to the floor pan behind the 60 percent seat.
- Front row safety belt shoulder height adjuster, attached to the B-pillar sheet metal behind the trim panel.
- Second row outboard safety belt retractor, attached to the quarter panel sheet metal behind the trim panel.
- Second row inboard safety belt retractor, with 20 percent seat, attached to the seat backrest frame. Second row inboard safety belt buckle, with 20 percent seat, attached to the side of the seat. Second row outboard safety belt buckle, attached to the side of the seat.
- Second row safety belt shoulder height adjuster, attached to the C-pillar sheet metal behind the trim panel.
- Second row 40/20/40 seating, having child safety seat tether anchors welded to the seat cushion frame at all seating positions.
- Second row 40 percent bucket seats, having child safety seat tether anchors welded to the seat cushion frame at both seating positions.
- Second row 40/20/40 seating, having LATCH welded to the seat at all three seating positions.
- Second row 40 percent bucket seats, having LATCH welded to the seat cushion frame at both seating positions.
- Third row outboard safety belt retractor, attached to the D-pillar sheet metal behind the trim panel.
- Third row inboard safety belt retractor, attached to the 60 percent seat backrest frame.
- Third row RH safety belt buckle, attached to the side of the seat.
- Third row LH and center safety belt buckle assembly, attached to the floor pan under the 60 percent third row seat.
- Third row center child safety seat tether anchor, bolted to the 60 percent seat backrest frame.
Pretensioner System
All Expeditions and Navigators 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 bolts.
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 correctly, in addition to other checks for correct 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 correctly. 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 at a seating position or when a tight belt fit is desired. 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 the 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 through 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. They are not interchangeable. Only use 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 the extension to change 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.
Child safety seat tether anchors are manufactured into the vehicle. See the active restraint system component location at the beginning or the Owners Literature for locations.
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 attachment points (6mm wires) welded to the rear seat cushion frame. The attachment points protrude from the bite 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 (6mm wires) are damaged, install a new seat cushion frame.
Warning System - Driver Safety Belt
The driver safety belt incorporates a safety belt warning indicator switch, warning indicator and chime. The warning indicator and chime are reminders to fasten the safety belt.
- If the driver safety belt is not buckled before the ignition key is turned to ON, the safety belt warning light illuminates for one to two minutes and the warning chime sounds for four to eight seconds.
- If the driver side safety belt is buckled while the indicator light is illuminated and the warning chime is sounding, the safety belt warning light and warning chime turn off.
- If the safety belt is buckled before the key is turned to the ON position, the warning indicator will come on for four to eight secondswith no chime.
Belt Minder (if equipped)
The Belt Minder feature is a supplemental warning to the safety belt warning function. This feature provides additional reminders to the driver that the driver's safety belt is unbuckled by intermittently sounding a chime and illuminating the safety belt warning lamp in the instrument cluster.