Seat Belt Buckle: 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.
All outboard safety belts, and second and third row center safety belts (if equipped) are continuous-loop, 3-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 an 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.
Safety Belt Buckles
Safety Belt Buckle and Pretensioner
All vehicles have a pretensioner system used with the front safety belt buckles. This works in conjunction with the front air bag system mounted in the steering wheel and instrument panel.
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 belts.
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 shoulder height adjusters) must be replaced.
If the ignition switch is turned to the ON or START position with the safety belt buckle pretensioner electrical connector(s) disconnected, the DTC and fault PID for an open circuit will be activated.
For safety belt buckle pretensioner diagnosis and disposal information, refer to Restraint Systems.
Rear Safety Belt Buckles
The rear bucket seat safety belt buckles are mounted to the seat cushion frames and are serviceable in-vehicle.
The rear bench seats are equipped with a dual safety belt buckle assembly used for the center and RH seat positions on the 3-passenger bench and both center seat positions on the 4-passenger bench. The rear safety belt buckles are mounted to the seat cushion frame. The LH safety belt buckle on the rear 3-passenger bench seat is part of the center safety belt retractor and is not serviced separately. To remove the LH safety belt buckle on the rear 3-passenger bench seat, refer to Safety Belt Retractor - Rear, Center, 3-Passenger Bench Seat Safety Belt Retractor - Rear, Center, 3-Passenger Bench Seat. The outboard safety belt buckles on the rear 4-passenger bench seat are part of the safety belt retractors and are not serviceable. To remove the outboard safety belt buckles on the rear 4-passenger bench seat, refer to Safety Belt Retractor - Rear, Center, 4-Passenger Bench Seat Safety Belt Retractor - Rear, Center, 4-Passenger Bench Seat.