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 portion, 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.
The safety belt 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 24 km/h (15 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 Catalog Advantage(TM) or equivalent.
Active Restraint System Components
The active restraint system consists of the following serviceable items:
- Front row safety belt buckle and pretensioners attached to the seat tracks
- Front row safety belt shoulder height adjusters attached to the B-pillar sheet metal behind the trim panels
- Front row safety belt retractors attached to the B-pillar sheet metal behind the trim panels
- Second row center safety belt buckle attached to the 20 percent seat base
- Second row center safety belt retractor attached to the 20 percent seat backrest frame
- Second row outboard safety belt buckles attached to the 40 percent seat bases
- Second row outboard safety belt retractors attached to the quarter panel sheet metal behind the trim panels
- Third row center child safety seat tether anchor, bolted to the 60 percent seat backrest frame
- Third row center safety belt retractor attached to the 60 percent seat backrest frame
- Third row LH and center safety belt buckle assembly attached to the floor pan under the 60 percent seat
- Third row outboard safety belt retractors attached to the D-pillar sheet metal behind the trim panels
- Third row RH safety belt buckle attached to the 40 percent seat cushion frame
Safety Belt Buckles
Safety Belt Buckle and Pretensioner
The safety belt buckle and pretensioner is a pyrotechnic device that removes excess webbing from the front seat 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.
For safety belt buckle pretensioner diagnosis and disposal information, refer to Restraint Systems.
Rear Safety Belt Buckles
The second row seat safety belt buckles and third row RH safety belt buckle are attached to the seat frames. The third row LH and center safety belt buckle assembly is attached to the floor pan underneath the 60 percent seat. All rear safety belt buckles are serviceable separately.
Safety Belt Retractors
The safety belt retractors are a dual locking mode type and consist of the following features:
- Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR)
- Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) (all except driver seat)
Safety Belt Retractor and Features
Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR)
The ELR is a vehicle sensitive feature designed to activate and lock the safety belt webbing when braking hard, cornering hard or in an impact of approximately 24 km/h (15 mph). The ELR feature helps to reduce the forward movement of the occupants. 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 an outboard 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. To disengage the ALR mode, allow the safety belt webbing to fully retract back onto the spool. The ALR mode is disengaged when the webbing is free to extract and retract back into the retractor. When installing a dual locking mode retractor, the retractor should be checked to make sure it is not in the ALR mode after installation in the stowed position. Refer to the appropriate Functional Test procedure in Safety Belt System. Component Tests and General Diagnostics
Child Safety Seat Restraints
The child safety seat restraints include the following items:
- Non-serviceable second row child safety seat tether anchors welded to the seat cushion frames of the 20 and 40 percent seats
- Non-serviceable second row lower anchors and tethers for children welded to the seat cushion frames of the 20 and 40 percent seats
- Third row center child safety seat tether anchor, bolted to the 60 percent seat backrest frame
If a child safety seat was in use during a collision, inspect the child safety seat component mounting areas and repair any damage and restore the vehicle to the original production configuration.
For removal and installation of child safety seat tether anchor, refer to the appropriate procedure or Seats for seat cushion frame replacement.