1996 FORD CONTOUR Owners Manual

14
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[SR06600(ALL)05/95]
If you need to lengthen the belt, unfasten it and tip the belt
tongue at a right angle to the belt. Pull the belt tongue over
your lap until it reaches the buckle.
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[SR07000(ALL)05/95]
If you need to shorten the belt, pull on the loose end of the
webbing until the belt fits snugly.
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[SR07100(ALL)02/95]
To unfasten the belt, push the release button on the end of the
buckle. This allows the tongue to unlatch from the buckle.
[SR07150(ALL)05/94]
10-1/2 pica
art:0000008-D
Unfastening the lap belt in center rear seating position
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[SR07300(ALL)05/95]
Safety Belt Extension Assembly
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[SR07500(ALL)05/95]
For some people, the safety belt may be too short even when it
is fully extended. You can add about eight inches (20 cm) to the
belt length with a safety belt extension assembly (part number
611C22). Safety belt extensions are available at no cost from
your dealer.
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[SR07525(ALL)05/95]
Use only extensions manufactured by the same supplier as the
safety belt. Manufacturer identification is located at the end of
the webbing on the label. Also, use the safety belt extension
only if the safety belt is too short for you when fully extended.
Do not use extension to change the fit of the shoulder belt
across the torso.
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Safety Restraints
15
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[SR07550(ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
Failure to follow these instructions will affect the
performance of the safety belts and increase the risk of
personal injury.
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[SR07600(ALL)05/95]
Safety Belt Maintenance
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[SR07650(ALL)05/95]
Check the safety belt systems periodically to make sure that
they work properly and are not damaged.
%*
[SR07700(ALL)05/95]
All safety belt assemblies, including retractors, buckles, front
seat belt buckle support assemblies (slide bar) (if equipped),
child safety seat tether bracket assemblies (if equipped), and
attaching hardware, should be inspected after any collision. Ford
recommends that all safety belt assemblies used in vehicles
involved in a collision be replaced. However, if the collision was
minor and a qualified technician finds that the belts do not
show damage and continue to operate properly, they do not
need to be replaced. Safety belt assemblies not in use during a
collision should also be inspected and replaced if either damage
or improper operation is noted.
[SR07725(ALL)05/95]
Safety Belt Warning Label
[SR07750(ALL)05/95]
A warning label has been placed on the buckle of each of your
vehicle's front seat safety belts.
[SR07760(ALL)05/95]
In a collision of sufficient severity while the safety belt is in use,
the safety belt buckle will pull out of the sleeve so that all or
part of the orange portion of the label is visible.
[SR07775(ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
Whenever the orange portion of the label is visible, the
safety belt must be replaced.
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16
[SR07800(ALL)03/95]
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The warning label on the front seat safety belt buckle
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[SR07850(ALL)05/95]
Cleaning the Safety Belts
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[SR07900(ALL)05/95]
Clean the safety belts with any mild soap solution that is
recommended for cleaning upholstery or carpets. Do not bleach
or dye the belt webbing because this may weaken it.
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[SR14300(ALL)04/95]
Air Bag Supplemental Restraint System
(SRS)
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[SR14650(ALL)05/95]
The driver and right front passenger air bags are Supplemental
Restraint Systems (SRS), provided at these seating positions in
addition to the lap/shoulder belt, and are designed to
supplement the protection provided to properly belted
occupants in moderate to severe frontal collisions. The
supplemental air bag system does not provide restraint to the
lower body.
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Safety Restraints
17
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[SR14800(ALL)05/95]
The Importance of Wearing Safety Belts
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[SR14950(ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
All occupants of the vehicle, including the driver, should
always wear their safety belts, even when an air bag
Supplemental Restraint System is provided.
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[SR15000(ALL)01/95]
There are four very important reasons to use safety belts even
with an air bag system. Use your safety belts to:
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[SR15100(ALL)01/95]
n
help keep you in the proper position (away from the air bag)
when it inflates
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[SR15200(ALL)01/95]
n
reduce the risk of harm in rollover, side or rear impact
collisions, because an air bag is not designed to inflate in
such situations
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[SR15300(ALL)01/95]
n
reduce the risk of harm in frontal collisions that are not
severe enough to activate the supplemental air bag
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[SR15400(ALL)01/95]
n
reduce the risk of being thrown from your vehicle
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[SR15500(ALL)01/95]
The Importance of Being Properly Seated
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[SR15550(ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
If a passenger is not properly seated and restrained, an
inflating air bag could cause serious injury.
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[SR15600(ALL)05/95]
In a collision, the air bag must inflate extremely fast to help
provide additional protection for you. In order to do this, the
air bag must inflate with considerable force. If you are not
seated in a normal riding position with your back against the
seatback, the air bag may not protect you properly and could
possibly hurt you as it inflates.
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Update:Thu Jan 25 12:13:11 1996

18
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[SR16050(ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
Rear-facing infant seats should never be placed in the
front seat.
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[SR16100(ALL)06/95]
In rear-facing infant seats, the infant's head is closer to the air
bag. The force of the rapidly inflating air bag could push the
top of the rear-facing seat against the vehicle seatback or center
armrests (if so equipped), or center console (if so equipped).
REAR-FACING INFANT CARRIERS MUST ALWAYS BE
SECURED IN THE REAR SEAT, and other child safety seats
and infant seats should be secured in the rear seat whenever
possible.
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[SR16250(ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
When using forward-facing child seats move the
passenger seat as far back from the instrument panel as
possible. NEVER SECURE REAR-FACING INFANT
SEATS IN THE FRONT SEAT.
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[SR16275(ALL)05/95]
Your vehicle is equipped with a right front passenger air bag.
Air bags deploy with great force, faster than the blink of an eye.
Front passengers, especially children and small adults, must
never sit on the front edge of the seat, stand near the glove
compartment of the instrument panel, or lean over near the air
bag cover when the vehicle is moving. All occupants should sit
with their backs against the seatback, move the seat to the most
rearward position if possible and use the safety belts. Children
weighing less than 40 lbs. (18 kg) always should use child or
infant seats.
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Safety Restraints
19
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[SR16300(ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
Do not place objects or mount equipment on or near the
air bag cover on the steering wheel or in front seat areas
that may come in contact with a deploying air bag.
Failure to follow this instruction may increase the risk of
personal injury in the event of a collision.
*
[SR16325(ALL)05/95]
For further information about the proper mounting of
equipment in the front seat of this vehicle, please refer to Ford's
brochure entitledSome Important Information About Air Bag
Supplemental Restraint Systemwhich can be obtained by calling
Helm Inc. at 1-800-782-4356. Ask for brochure FPS-8602.
*
[SR16400(ALL)05/95]
For additional important safety information on the proper use of
seat belts, child seats, and infant seats, please read the other
sections of this part of the Owner Guide, especially sections
entitledSafety Belts for ChildrenandSafety Seats for Children.
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20
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[SR16500(ALL)01/95]
How the Air Bag Supplemental Restraint System
Operates
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[SR16750(ALL)05/95]
The driver air bag is in the center of the steering wheel. The
front passenger seat air bag is located in the center of the
instrument panel ledge above the glove compartment. Both air
bags are designed to stay out of sight until they are activated.
[SR16775(O )05/95]
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The location of air bags and warning labels
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Update:Thu Jan 25 12:13:11 1996

Safety Restraints
21
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[SR17400(ALL)05/95]
If a collision occurs, the sensors sense the severity of the impact
and activate the air bags if necessary. The air bag system is
designed to deploy in frontal and front-angled collisions more
severe than hitting a parked vehicle (of similar size and weight)
head-on at about 28 mph (45 km/h). Because the system senses
the crash severity rather than vehicle speed, some frontal
collisions at speeds above 28 mph (45 km/h) will not inflate the
air bag.
*
[SR17500(ALL)05/95]
When the sensors activate the system, the air bags inflate
rapidly, filling with non-toxic nitrogen gas in a fraction of a
second. Immediately after inflation, the air bags deflate by
releasing the nitrogen gas through vent holes. The whole
process takes place in a matter of seconds.
*
[SR17580(ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
Air bag system components get hot after inflation. Do
not touch them after inflation.
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Update:Thu Jan 25 12:13:11 1996