Seat Belt Retractor: 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.

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.

The active restraint system consists of the following serviceable items:

- Front row safety belt buckles, attached to the inboard side of the seats
- Front row safety belt retractors and pretensioners, located behind the lower B-pillar trim panels
- Second row outboard safety belt retractors, located behind the rear quarter trim panels
- Second row 60 percent seat center safety belt retractor and LH safety belt buckle assembly is integrated into the 60 percent seat back
- Second row RH safety belt buckle for the 40 percent seat
- Second row RH center safety belt buckle attached to the 60 percent seat
- Second row lower anchors and tethers for children at all outboard rear seating positions, welded to the seat backrest frame
- Child safety seat tether anchors attached to the back of the rear seat


Safety Belt Retractors

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

Safety Belt Retractor and 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.

For safety belt retractor pretensioner diagnostic information or disposal information, refer to Diagnosis and Testing or General Procedures, Restraint Systems.