Seat Belt Systems: Description and Operation
Safety Belt System
WARNING: After a crash, the following safety belt components and attaching hardware must be inspected and tested to verify correct function:
- Retractors
- Buckles
- Child safety seat tether bracket assemblies
- Automatic locking retractor (ALR) feature for child safety seats (passenger seating positions only)
- Belt tension sensor (BTS) (if equipped)
- Front safety belt buckle support assemblies (slide bar) (if equipped)
- Safety belt shoulder belt height adjusters (if equipped)
Components that do not operate correctly or pass all Functional Tests in the Component Tests must be replaced with new components. Safety belt assembly attaching areas must be inspected. Damaged or distorted attaching areas must be restored to their original structural integrity and a new safety belt assembly with new attaching hardware must be installed.
After deployment of the front safety belt pretensioners, a new safety belt system (including retractors, buckles and height adjusters) must be installed.
Failure to follow this instruction may result in incorrect operation of the safety belt system and 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 Catalog Advantage(TM) or equivalent.
The active restraint system consists of the following serviceable items:
- Front row safety belt buckles and pretensioners, attached to the inboard side of the seats.
- Front row safety belt retractors and pretensioners, located behind the lower B-pillar trim panels.
- The Belt Tension Sensor (BTS) located at the passenger front safety belt anchor point.
- Second row outboard safety belt retractors, located behind the rear 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 dual safety belt buckle assembly for the 60/40 seat attached to the floorpan under the RH seat cushion.
- Second row lower anchors and tethers for children at all outboard seating positions, welded to the seat backrest frame.
- The child safety seat tether anchors attached to the roof near the rear liftgate door.
Safety Belt Retractors
- Safety belt retractors with pretensioners (front only)
- Dual locking mode
- Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR)
- Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) (all except driver seat)
- BTS (Belt Tension Sensor) (front passenger only)
Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR)
The ALR (Automatic Locking Retractor) mode is used when locking a child seat in an outboard seating position. The ALR (Automatic Locking Retractor) 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 (Automatic Locking Retractor) mode and the safety belt webbing will not pull back out of the safety belt retractor. To disengage the ALR (Automatic Locking Retractor) mode, allow the safety belt webbing to fully retract back onto the spool. For testing, refer to the appropriate Functional Test procedure in Safety Belt System Component Tests and General Diagnostics.
Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR)
The ELR (Emergency Locking Retractor) 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 (Emergency Locking Retractor) 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 Component Tests and General Diagnostics.
Belt Tension Sensor (BTS)
The BTS (Belt Tension Sensor) operates as part of the Occupant Classification Sensor (OCS) system on the front passenger seat. To diagnose the BTS (Belt Tension Sensor), refer to Restraints and Safety Systems &/or Air Bag Systems.
Safety Belt Buckles
Safety Belt Buckle and Pretensioner
The safety belt buckle and pretensioner is a pyrotechnic device that removes excess webbing from the safety belt 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 and pretensioner must be installed.
For safety belt buckle and pretensioner diagnosis and disposal information, refer to Restraints and Safety Systems &/or Air Bag Systems.
Second row safety belt buckles
The second row safety belt buckles 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:
- Child safety seat tether anchors.
- Non-serviceable lower anchor and tether for children 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.