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, 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.

NOTICE: When installing a new safety belt retractor, do not remove the shipping clip until the D-ring is secured in position. Allowing the safety belt to be retracted further into the safety belt retractor may cause the safety belt retractor to lock and not release the safety belt.

When installing new active restraint components, 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 serviceable components:

- Front outboard safety belt retractor and pretensioner
- Front center safety belt retractor (regular cab only)
- Front outboard safety belt buckles (safety belt buckle switch, driver seat only)
- Front LH center safety belt buckle with pin hole release (regular cab)
- Front RH center safety belt buckle (all bench and 20 percent seats)
- Front LH center safety belt (Crew Cab and SuperCab, bench and 20 percent seat only)
- Safety belt shoulder height adjuster (front outboard position only)
- Rear outboard safety belt retractor
- Rear center safety belt retractor (all with rear center seating)
- Rear LH center safety belt buckle with pin hole release (all with rear center seating)
- Rear safety belt buckle
- Child safety seat tether anchors (removable from back sheet metal on SuperCab, part of back sheet metal on regular cab and Crew Cab)
- Safety belt warning system
- Belt-Minder(R)


Safety Belt Retractors

The safety belt retractors can consist of the following features:

- Safety belt retractor pretensioner
- Dual locking mode
- Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR)
- Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) (all except driver seat and rear center)

- Cinch tongue

Safety Belt Retractor Pretensioner

The pretensioner is a pyrotechnic device that removes excess webbing slack from the safety belt. The pretensioners are activated when the Restraints Control Module (RCM) detects an impact force exceeding a programmed limit and deployment is required.

If the vehicle is involved in a collision that results in deployment of the safety belt pretensioners, a new driver and passenger seat belt system (including safety belt retractor and pretensioners, safety belt buckles and height adjusters) must be installed.

Refer to Air Bag Systems for safety belt retractor pretensioner diagnostic information and safety belt retractor pretensioner disposal information.

Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR)

The ELR is a vehicle-sensitive feature designed to activate and lock the safety belt webbing during hard braking, cornering hard or in an impact of approximately 24 km/h (15 mph). The ELR feature helps to reduce the forward movement of the driver and passengers. For testing, refer to the appropriate Functional Test procedure in Safety Belt System Component Tests and General Diagnostics.

Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR)

The ALR mode is used when locking a child seat in a seating position. The ALR mode is automatically activated when the safety belt webbing is fully extracted from the retractor and then allowed to retract. As the safety belt webbing is retracted back onto the spool, an audible clicking sound is made indicating the safety belt retractor is in ALR mode and the safety belt webbing will not pull back out of the safety belt retractor. The ALR mode is disengaged when the webbing is free to extract and retract back into the retractor. For testing, refer to the appropriate Functional Test procedure in Safety Belt System Component Tests and General Diagnostics.

Cinch Tongue

The regular cab front center, Crew Cab and SuperCab rear center safety belt retractors are equipped with a locking cinch tongue. The locking cinch tongue will slide up and down the safety belt webbing when it is in the stowed position or while putting the safety belt on. When the locking cinch tongue is latched into the buckle, the cinch tongue will allow the lap portion of the safety belt to become shorter, but locks the webbing in place to restrict it from becoming longer. Before latching a cinch tongue into the buckle, the lap portion of the safety belt may have to be lengthened. To lengthen the lap belt, pull some webbing out of the safety belt retractor. While holding the webbing below the tongue, grasp the tip (metal portion) of the tongue so that it is parallel to the webbing and slide the tongue upward. Provide enough lap belt length so the tongue can reach the buckle. To fasten a cinch tongue, pull the safety belt from the retractor so the shoulder belt portion of the safety belt crosses the occupant's shoulder and chest. Be sure the belt is not twisted. If the belt is twisted, remove the twist. For instructions on how to remove a twist, refer to Safety Belt Tongue Rotated on Belt Safety Belt Tongue Rotated on Belt. Insert the locking cinch tongue into the correct buckle for the seating position until a snap is heard and latching is felt. Make sure the tongue is securely fastened to the buckle by pulling on the tongue. Adjust the lap belt portion of the safety belt by pulling up on the shoulder belt until the lap belt fits snugly and as low as possible around the occupant's hips.


Child Safety Seat Tether Anchor

WARNING: Always tighten the child safety seat tether anchor/bolt to specification. Failure to follow this instruction may result in the child's safety seat being incorrectly secured, which increases the risk of serious personal injury or death to the child in a sudden stop or crash.

For SuperCab or Crew Cab vehicles, Ford recommends attaching child safety seats in the rear seating position (if possible) with a tether strap attached to the tether anchor bracket or strap as shown in the instructions provided with the child safety seat.

Any child safety seat tether anchor in use during a collision must be installed new. Rework the sheet metal to its original condition and structural integrity. Refer to the appropriate Removal and Installation procedure.

Regular Cab

Child safety seat tether anchors have been provided at all regular cab passenger seating positions. They are part of the back panel sheet metal.

SuperCab

A child safety seat tether anchor has been provided at the front row outboard passenger seating position. This is located directly beneath the seat back cushion and welded in place.

Child safety seat tether anchors are provided at all SuperCab second row seating positions. They are attached to the back panel sheet metal.

Crew Cab

Child safety seat tether anchors are not provided in the Crew Cab front row seating.

Child safety seat tether anchors are provided at all Crew Cab second row passenger seating positions. They are part of the back panel sheet metal.


Safety Belt Warning System

The safety belt warning system is a reminder to fasten the driver safety belt. Refer to Safety Belt System. Testing and Inspection


Belt-Minder(R)

The Belt-Minder(R) feature is a supplemental warning to the safety belt warning function. This feature provides additional reminders to the driver that the driver safety belt is unbuckled. Refer to Safety Belt System. Testing and Inspection