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 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 information, 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 the safety belts 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 24 km/h (15 mph) or more, when it is automatically locked by a mechanically actuated inertia sensor (Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR)).
When replacing safety belt buckles and/or retractor assemblies, use only the replacement parts specified in the Ford Catalog(TM) Advantage or equivalent.
The active restraint system consists of the following serviceable items:
- Front safety belt shoulder height adjusters
- Front row safety belt buckle and pretensioners attached to the inboard side of the seats
- Front row adaptive load limiting safety belt retractor located behind the passenger B-pillar trim panel
- Front row safety belt retractor pretensioner located behind the driver B-pillar trim panel
- Second row and third row outboard safety belt retractors located behind the quarter trim panels
- Second row 60/40 seat center safety belt retractor and LH safety belt buckle assembly integrated into the 60 percent seat back
- Second row safety belt buckle assembly attached to the seat frame
- Third row safety belt buckle assembly attached to the seat frame
- Lower anchors and tethers for children located at the second row outboard seating positions and third row RH seating position, welded to the seat cushion frame
- Child safety seat tether anchors located at each second row seating position and third row RH seating position, welded to the seat cushion frame
Safety Belt Retractors
- Adaptive load limiting retractor (front passenger only)
- Safety belt retractor pretensioner (driver only)
- Dual locking mode
- ELR
- Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) (all except driver seat)
- Belt Tension Sensor (BTS) (front passenger only)
Adaptive load limiting
The adaptive load limiting safety belt retractor is a pyrotechnic device integrated with the front passenger safety belt retractor assembly. The adaptive load limiting safety belt retractor works in conjunction with the passenger safety belt buckle pretensioner to control the tension of the front passenger safety belt. The Restraints Control Module (RCM) monitors the readiness of the adaptive load limiting safety belt retractor. The RCM uses this information and all other information provided by the restraints system to determine what action is to be taken.
If a deployment of the adaptive load limiting safety belt retractor occurs, a new assembly must be installed. Refer to Safety Belt Retractor - Front, RH Safety Belt Retractor - Front, RH.
The adaptive load limiting safety belt retractor is installed at the front passenger position only.
For adaptive load limiting safety belt retractor diagnostic information, refer to Supplemental Restraint System Testing and Inspection.
Safety belt retractor and pretensioner
The pretensioner is a pyrotechnic device that deploys when activated by the RCM to remove excess safety belt webbing from the shoulder and lap safety belt in the event of an impact. If a deployment of the safety belt retractor and pretensioner occurs, a new assembly must be installed. Refer to Safety Belt Retractor and Pretensioner - Front, LH Safety Belt Retractor and Pretensioner - Front, LH.
The safety belt retractor and pretensioner is installed at the driver position only.
For safety belt retractor and pretensioner diagnostic and disposal information, refer to Supplemental Restraint System Testing and Inspection and Service and Repair.
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. For testing, refer to the appropriate Functional Test procedure in Safety Belt System Principles Of Operation.
Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR)
The ELR is a vehicle-sensitive feature designed to activate and lock the safety belt webbing during 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 driver and passengers. For testing, refer to the appropriate Functional Test procedure in Safety Belt System Principles Of Operation.
Belt Tension Sensor (BTS)
The BTS is located at the RH front safety belt anchor point and operates as part of the Occupant Classification Sensor (OCS) system on the front passenger seat. To diagnose the BTS or OCS system, refer to Supplemental Restraint System Testing and Inspection.
Safety Belt Buckles
Safety belt buckle and pretensioner
The safety belt buckle and pretensioners are located on the inboard side of the seat track and is for front seat occupants.
The safety belt buckle and pretensioner is a pyrotechnic device that removes excess webbing from the safety belt system when deployed. When the pretensioner deploys, the buckle moves downward, removing excess webbing from the lap and shoulder safety belts.
If the vehicle is involved in a crash that results in pretensioner deployment, a new safety belt buckle pretensioner must be installed.
For safety belt buckle pretensioner diagnosis and disposal information, refer to Supplemental Restraint System Testing and Inspection and Service and Repair.
Second and third row safety belt buckles
The second and third row safety belt buckles are attached to the seat cushion frames and can be serviced separately. After any crash, new safety belt systems components (including retractors and buckles) must be installed.
Child Safety Seat Restraints
The child safety seat restraints include the following items:
- Non-serviceable child safety seat tether anchors located at each second row seating position and third row RH seating positions welded to the seat cushion frame
- Non-serviceable lower anchors and tethers for children located at the second row outboard seating positions and third row RH seating position, welded to the seat cushion 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.