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 installing new safety belt buckles and/or retractor assemblies, use only the replacement parts specified in the Ford Customer Service Division Master Parts and Accessories Catalog.
Active Restraint System Components
The active restraint system consists of the following serviceable items:
- Front safety belt shoulder height adjusters
- Front safety belt buckle and pretensioners attached to the inboard side of the seats
- Front safety belt retractors located behind the lower B-pillar trim panels
- Rear center safety belt retractor with cinch tongue attached to the parcel shelf sheet metal and LH safety belt buckle assembly attached to the floor pan under the rear seat cushion
- Rear safety belt retractors (outboard) attached to the parcel shelf sheet metal
- Rear dual safety belt buckle assembly (RH and center safety belt buckles) attached to the floor pan
- Child safety seat tether anchors located on the parcel shelf at all 3 seating positions
- Lower anchors and tethers for children attached to the floor pan at the rear outboard seating positions
Safety Belt Retractors
The safety belt retractors consist of the following features:
- Dual locking mode
- Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR)
- Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) (all except driver seat and rear center)
- Cinch tongue (rear center safety belt retractor only)
- Belt Tension Sensor (BTS) (front passenger only)
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. 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. Testing and Inspection
Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR)
The ELR is a vehicle-sensitive feature designed to activate and lock the safety belt webbing during hard braking, 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. Testing and Inspection
Belt Tension Sensor (BTS)
The BTS is located at the safety belt anchor point and operates as part of the Occupant Classification Sensor (OCS) system on the front passenger seat. To diagnose the BTS, refer to Air Bag Systems.
Cinch Tongue (rear center safety belt retractor)
The rear center safety belt retractor is equipped with a locking cinch tongue. The locking cinch tongue will slide up and down the safety belt webbing when it is in the stowed position or while putting the safety belt on. When the locking cinch tongue is latched into the buckle, the cinch tongue will allow the lap portion of the safety belt to become shorter, but locks the webbing in place to restrict it from becoming longer. Before latching a cinch tongue into the buckle, the lap portion of the safety belt may have to be lengthened. To lengthen the lap belt, pull some webbing out of the safety belt retractor. While holding the webbing below the tongue, grasp the tip (metal portion) of the tongue so that it is parallel to the webbing and slide the tongue upward. Provide enough lap belt length so the tongue can reach the buckle. To fasten a cinch tongue, pull the safety belt from the retractor so the shoulder belt portion of the safety belt crosses the occupant's shoulder and chest. Be sure the belt is not twisted. If the belt is twisted, remove the twist. For instructions on how to remove a twist, refer to Safety Belt Tongue Rotated on Belt Safety Belt Tongue Rotated on Belt. Insert the locking cinch tongue into the correct buckle for the seating position until a snap is heard and latching is felt. Make sure the tongue is securely fastened to the buckle by pulling on the tongue. Adjust the lap belt portion of the safety belt by pulling up on the shoulder belt until the lap belt fits snugly and as low as possible around the occupant's hips.
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 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 Air Bag Systems.
If the ignition is ON with the safety belt buckle pretensioner electrical connector(s) disconnected, a DTC will set.
Rear Safety Belt Buckles
The rear seat safety belt buckles are attached to the floor pan behind the rear seat cushion. The LH safety belt buckle is a part of the rear center safety belt retractor and is not serviced separately. To remove the LH safety belt buckle, refer to Safety Belt Retractor - Rear, Center Safety Belt Retractor - Rear, Center. To remove the RH and center safety belt buckles, refer to Safety Belt Buckle - Rear. Safety Belt Buckle - Rear After any crash, new safety belt systems components (including retractors, buckles and height adjusters) must be installed.
Child Safety Seat Restraints
The child safety seat restraints include the following items:
- Serviceable child safety seat tether anchor located at the rear center seating position, bolted to the parcel shelf sheet metal
- Non-serviceable child safety seat tether anchors located at rear outboard seating positions, welded to the underside of the parcel shelf sheet metal
- Serviceable lower anchors and tethers for children attachments at both rear outboard seating positions, bolted to the floor pan
If a child safety seat was in use during a collision, inspect the vehicle structure at the child safety seat component mounting areas and repair any damage and restore the vehicle to the original production configuration.