Seat Belt Systems: Description and Operation
The active restraints on the front and rear seats are three-point safety belt systems. Manual fastening of the continuous safety belt employs both the lap and shoulder belt. Safety belts should always be worn by the driver and passenger(s). Each seating position has:- Safety Belt Buckle
- Safety Belt Tongue
- Continuous Safety Belt
- Locking Retractor Mechanism
- Safety Belt Guide
- Anchor Hardware
The safety belt system allows freedom of movement, locking only on hard braking, hard cornering, or impacts of approximately 8 km/h (5 mph) or more.
Front Safety Belt Buckle End
The RH and LH front safety belt buckle ends are mounted separately on the inboard side of each front seat.
Fastening the front safety belt tongue and front safety belt buckle end secures the occupant with both the lap and shoulder restraint. This is accomplished by pulling the safety belt tongue across the occupant and locking it in the proper front safety belt buckle end. Pushing the release button on the front safety belt buckle end allows the safety belt tongue to be unlatched from the front safety belt buckle end.
Rear Safety Belt and Buckle
The rear safety belt and buckle is an assembly that includes buckles for the RH and LH rear safety belt retractor and tongue. The assembly is mounted to the floor pan under the rear seat cushion and cover.
Locking Retractor Mechanism
The safety belt retractors are designed to allow the safety belt to move in and out freely, but lock during hard braking, hard cornering, or impact to the vehicle of 8 km/h (5 mph) or more.
The front safety belt retractor is mounted to the quarter panel. The rear safety belt retractor is mounted to the quarter panel and the rear strut tower.
Front Safety Belt Retractor and Tongue
The front safety belt retractor and tongue extends from a retractor mounted to the quarter panel, through a belt guide, up to the B-pillar anchor and down to the floor anchor.
Rear Safety Belt Retractor and Tongue
The rear safety belt retractor and tongue extends from a retractor mounted on the quarter panel and the rear strut tower, up through a belt guide, and down to the floor anchor bolt in the outer pivot pin bracket for the fold down rear seat back cover and cushion.
Safety Belt Extension Assembly
A safety belt assembly that is too short when fully extended over the lap of a stocky vehicle occupant can be lengthened approximately 203 mm (8 inches) with a safety belt extension assembly which is available at no charge from Ford Dealers. The safety belt extension assembly is only available with black webbing and standard buckle and must be of the same manufacture as the safety belt system to which it is attached.
Warning System, Safety Belt
The safety belt system incorporates a safety belt warning chime and safety belt warning indicator. The safety belt warning chime is grounded by a switch in the front safety belt buckle end for the driver's safety belt. The safety belt warning chime will sound for approximately eight seconds unless the drivers safety belt is fastened. The safety belt warning indicator remains on for approximately 60 seconds after the ignition switch is turned ON, unless the drivers safety belt is fastened.