Occupant Restraint System

A continuous-loop, single-retractor active restraint system is used.

Safety Belt Buckle
The inboard front safety belt buckle end is secured on the seat track for bucket seat applications or on the slide bar for flight bench seat applications. This allows the front safety belt buckle end to move with the seat.
- Attaching the safety belt tongue to front safety belt buckle end secures the occupant with both lower and upper restraints.
- This tongue and front safety belt buckle end attachment can be accomplished by a single continuous movement.

Typical Retractor:

Front Lap/Shoulder Safety Belt
- The front lap/shoulder safety belt extends from a retractor which is located on the B-pillar post for the front seat.
- This retractor is designed to let the safety belt move in or out freely at all times, except during hard braking, cornering or impacts of 8 km/h (5 mph) or more.
- The front shoulder safety belt is guided through the front safety belt guide, which is mounted on the B-pillar and inside center pillar trim panel.
- The safety belt then passes through a front safety belt guide above and behind the occupant's shoulder. This directs the safety belt at the proper downward angle over the occupant's shoulder and chest to the front safety belt buckle end.
- The safety belt has a tongue that latches to front safety belt buckle end then continues through tongue outboard to the sill and acts as a lap safety belt.

Lap-Center Safety Belt
- Lap safety belts are provided for all front center (except bucket seat applications) seats and rear center seats.
- Front seat center passenger belts are secured to seat track.
- Rear lap safety belts are secured to the rear floor pan.

Rear Lap/Shoulder Safety Belt
- The rear lap/shoulder safety belt extends from a retractor located on vehicle structure underneath (package tray trim panel on sedan and rearward of liftgate door trim panel on station wagon).
- The retractor is designed to allow the safety belt to move in or out freely at all times except during hard braking, cornering or impacts of 8 km/h (5mph) or more.
- The safety belt is routed through a front safety belt guide on station wagon and through a rear safety belt opening bezel in the package tray trim panel for sedan.
- The safety belt is then directed downward over the occupant's shoulder and chest to the rear safety belt and buckle.
- The safety belt has a tongue that latches to the rear safety belt and buckle and continues through the tongue outboard to the floor.

Jump Seat Lap Safety Belt
The auxiliary safety belt consists of a safety belt and buckle assembly on the outboard side and safety belt retractors with tongue on inside. Both are mounted to the floorpan.
- To fasten the safety belt, pull safety belt out of the retractor with a steady motion and insert the tongue into the buckle.
- Adjust safety belt snug around hips (never across the waist) and return excess safety belt into retractor. Failure to do so may result in injury, especially in a rear end collision.

Unfastening Safety Belts With Retractors
- Push the release button on the end of the buckle. This allows the tongue to unlatch from the buckle.
- While the belt retracts, guide the tongue to its original position to prevent it from striking the technician or the vehicle.

Safety Belt Extension Assembly
A safety belt that is too short even when fully extended can be lengthened. Safety belt extension assembly is available. This assembly will add approximately 20 cm (8 inches) to the length of the safety belt. Safety belt extensions are available at no cost from any authorized Ford or Lincoln/Mercury dealer.