1996 FORD ESCORT Owners Manual

47 [SR12525(ALL)06/95]
4. Repeat the above steps to complete the
removal of the twist at the lower (wider and
shorter) slot in the tongue. See Figure 6.
[SR12575(ALL)06/95]
half page art:0060603-D*
[SR12600(ALL)06/95]
5. When completed, the safety belt should look
like Figure 3.
File:03ctsre.ex
Update:Tue Sep 19 15:05:35 1995

48 [SR12620(ALL)06/95]Rear Lap Belt
*
[SR12630(ALL)07/95]
RWARNING
The lap belts should fit snugly and as low
as possible around the hips, not around
the waist.
[SR12640(ALL)06/95]
RWARNING
Be sure the lap belt is fitted snugly and as
low as possible around the hips, not
around the waist. Failure to do so may
increase the risk of injury in the event of
a collision.
[SR12660(ALL)06/95]
Before you fasten your lap belt, you may need
to lengthen it.
[SR12680(ALL)06/95]
To lengthen the belt, position the belt tongue at
a right angle to the belt. Pull the belt tongue
over your lap until it reaches the buckle.
*
[SR12690(ALL)06/95]
To fasten the belt, pull the belt across your hips
and insert the tongue into the correct buckle on
your seat until you hear a snap and feel it lock.
Make sure the buckle is securely fastened.
[SR12825(ALL)10/91]
Adjust the belt so that it fits snugly around your
hips, as low as possible.
[SR12850(ALL)10/91]
If you need to lengthen the belt, unfasten it and
repeat the procedure above. If you need to
shorten the belt, pull on the loose end of the
webbing.
[SR12875(ALL)12/89]
To unfasten the belt, push the release button on
the end of the buckle. This allows the tongue to
unlatch from the buckle. Because the center lap
belt does not have a retractor, it should be
shortened and fastened when not in use.
File:03ctsre.ex
Update:Tue Sep 19 15:05:35 1995

49 %
*
[SR12876(ALL)08/95]
Safety Belt Extension Assembly
[SR12878(ALL)08/95]
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. Safety belt
extensions are available from your dealer.
*
[SR12880(ALL)08/95]
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.
*
[SR12882(ALL)08/95]
RWARNING
Failure to follow these instructions will
affect the performance of the safety belts
and increase the risk of personal injury.
%
*
[SR12884(ALL)08/95]
Safety Belt Maintenance
*
[SR12886(ALL)08/95]
Check the safety belt systems periodically to
make sure that they work properly and are not
damaged.
%*
[SR12888(ALL)08/95]
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.
File:03ctsre.ex
Update:Tue Sep 19 15:05:35 1995

50 %
*
[SR12889(ALL)06/95]
Cleaning the Safety Belts
*
[SR12901(ALL)06/95]
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.
%
*
[SR12905(ALL)06/95]
Air Bag Supplemental Restraint
System (SRS)
[SR12910(ALL)02/94]
The driver and right front passenger air bag 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.
%*
[SR12920(ALL)05/95]
The Importance of Wearing Safety Belts
*
[SR12925(ALL)06/95]
RWARNING
Safety belts must be worn by all vehicle
occupants to be properly restrained and
help reduce the risk of injury in a
collision.
*
[SR12927(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.
File:03ctsre.ex
Update:Tue Sep 19 15:05:35 1995

51
*
[SR12940(ALL)01/95]
There are four very important reasons to use
safety belts even with an air bag system. Use
your safety belts to:
*
[SR12950(ALL)01/95]
q
help keep you in the proper position (away
from the air bag) when it inflates
*
[SR12960(ALL)01/95]
q
reduce the risk of harm in rollover, side or
rear impact collisions, because an air bag is
not designed to inflate in such situations
*
[SR12970(ALL)01/95]
q
reduce the risk of harm in frontal collisions
that are not severe enough to activate the
supplemental air bag
*
[SR12980(ALL)01/95]
q
reduce the risk of being thrown from your
vehicle
%*
[SR12990(ALL)01/95]
The Importance of Being Properly Seated
*
[SR13000(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.
*
[SR13002(ALL)08/95]
RWARNING
If a passenger is not properly seated and
restrained, an inflating air bag could cause
serious injury.
*
[SR13004(ALL)09/95]
RWARNING
Rear-facing infant seats should never be
placed in the front seat.
File:03ctsre.ex
Update:Tue Sep 19 15:05:35 1995

52
*
[SR13005(ALL)07/95]
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.
*
[SR13006(ALL)07/95]
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.
%*
[SR13007(ALL)07/95]
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.
*
[SR13008(ALL)08/95]
The force of the rapidly inflating passenger air
bag could push the top of the rear-facing seat
against the vehicle seatback, armrests or console.
Rear-facing infant seats must always be secured
in the rear seat.
File:03ctsre.ex
Update:Tue Sep 19 15:05:35 1995

53
*
[SR13009(ALL)07/95]
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.
%*
[SR13010(ALL)01/95]
How the Air Bag Supplemental Restraint
System Operates
*
[SR13020(ALL)09/95]
The Air Bag Supplemental Restraint System
consists of the Driver and Passenger air bags,
impact sensors, a system diagnostic module, a
readiness light and tone, and the electrical
wiring which connects the components. The
diagnostic module monitors its own internal
circuits and the supplemental air bag electrical
system readiness, including crash sensors, the
system wiring, the air bag readiness light, air
bag backup power, and the supplemental air bag
ignitors.
*
[SR13030(ALL)08/95]
The driver air bag is in the center of the steering
wheel. The front passenger seat air bag is
located in the center section of the instrument
panel ledge above the glove compartment. Both
air bags are designed to stay out of sight until
they are activated.
File:03ctsre.ex
Update:Tue Sep 19 15:05:35 1995

54 [SR13035(ALL)06/94]
half page art:0070212-BThe location of the air bag and warning labels
*
[SR13037(ALL)07/95]
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.
*
[SR13039(ALL)07/95]
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.
File:03ctsre.ex
Update:Tue Sep 19 15:05:35 1995