Seat Belt Systems: Service Precautions

The seat belts and shoulder belts are factory installed in their proper locations. If the seat belts or shoulder belts are removed for any reason, they should be installed according to proper service procedures. Sealer should be placed around all seat belt anchor bolt holes in the floorpan. Tighten the anchor bolts to 30-43 N.m (22-32 ft-lb).

Belt assemblies must be installed in matched sets as received and must not be interchanged between vehicle models.

If a component portion (buckle portion, retractor portion, etc.) of a seat belt or shoulder belt assembly is nonfunctional or damaged, the entire assembly (buckle, tongue and shoulder harness portions) must be replaced. The replacement assembly must be installed as a matched set and the identification labels on all portions must bear exactly the same code, date of manufacture, and manufacturer`s name. Under no circumstances are seat belt or shoulder belt components to be replaced as individual components.

WARNING: 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.