1996 FORD EXPLORER Owners Manual

Safety Restraints
55
[SR16290( X)02/96]
Safety Seats for Children
[SR16300( X)02/96]
Use a safety seat that is recommended for the size and weight
of the child. Always follow the safety seat manufacturer's
instructions when installing and using a safety seat.
*
[SR16310(ALL)02/96]
When possible, put children in the rear seat of your vehicle.
Accident statistics suggest that children are safer when properly
restrained in the rear seating positions than in the front seating
positions.
[SR16320( X)02/96]
Ford recommends the use of a child safety seat having a top
tether strap. Install the child safety seat in a seating position
which is capable of providing a tether anchorage. For more
information on top tether straps see your Ford or
Lincoln-Mercury dealer.
[SR16330( X)02/93]
When installing a child safety seat, be sure to use the correct
safety belt buckle for that seating position, and make sure the
tongue is securely fastened in the buckle.
[SR16340( X)02/96]
Children weighing less than 40 lb. (18 kg) should use child or
infant seats. Forward facing child seats must have the passenger
seat moved as far back from the instrument panel as possible.
[SR16350( X)02/96]
RWARNING
REAR-FACING INFANT SEATS SHOULD NEVER BE
PLACED IN THE FRONT SEAT. REAR-FACING
INFANT SEATS MUST ALWAYS BE PLACED IN THE
REAR SEAT. Failure to follow these instructions could
result in serious injury.
[SR16360( X)02/96]
All child restraint systems are designed to be secured in vehicle
seats by lap belts or by the lap portion of a lap-shoulder belt.
File:03unsrx.ex
Update:Thu Feb 29 09:02:31 1996

56
[SR16370( X)02/96]
RWARNING
If you do not properly secure the safety seat, the child
occupying the seat may be injured during a collision or
sudden stop. An unsecured safety seat could also injure
other passengers.
[SR16380( X)02/09]
RWARNING
Carefully follow all of the manufacturer's instructions
included with the safety seat you put in your vehicle. If
you do not install and use the safety seat properly, the
child may be injured in a sudden stop or collision.
[SR16390( X)02/96]
RWARNING
Always keep the buckle release button pointing upward
and away from the child seat, with the tongue button
between the child seat and the release button as shown
in the following illustration.
File:03unsrx.ex
Update:Thu Feb 29 09:02:31 1996

Safety Restraints
57
[SR16400( X)02/96]
Installing Safety Seats in Combination Lap and
Shoulder Belt Seating Positions
[SR16410( X)02/96]1.
Position the child safety seat in a seat with a combination
lap and shoulder belt.
[SR16420( X)02/96]
If you choose to install a child safety seat in the front
passenger seat, move the seat as far back as possible.
[SR16430( X)02/96]2.
Pull down on the shoulder belt and then grasp the shoulder
belt and lap belt together.
[SR16440( X)02/96]
17-1/2 pica
art:0011238-B
Pulling out belt webbing
File:03unsrx.ex
Update:Thu Feb 29 09:02:31 1996

58
[SR16450( X)02/96]
While holding the shoulder and lap belt portions together,
route the tongue through the child seat according to the
child seat manufacturer's instructions. Be sure the belt
webbing is not twisted.
[SR16460( X)02/96]
17-1/2 pica
art:0011239-B
Routing the lap/shoulder belt
File:03unsrx.ex
Update:Thu Feb 29 09:02:31 1996

Safety Restraints
59
[SR16470( X)02/96]4.
Insert the belt tongue into the proper buckle for that seating
position until you hear and feel the latch engage. Make sure
the tongue is latched securely by pulling on it.
[SR16480( X)02/96]
17-1/2 pica
art:0011240-B
Buckling the belt
File:03unsrx.ex
Update:Thu Feb 29 09:02:31 1996

60
[SR16490( X)02/96]5.
Grasp the shoulder portion of the belt and pull downward
until all of the belt is extracted and a click is heard to put
the retractor in the automatic locking mode.
[SR16500( X)02/96]
17-1/2 pica
art:0011241-A
Setting the retractor to automatic locking mode
File:03unsrx.ex
Update:Thu Feb 29 09:02:31 1996

Safety Restraints
61
[SR16510( X)02/96]6.
Allow the belt to retract. The belt will click as it retracts to
indicate it is in the automatic locking mode.
[SR16520( X)02/96]
17-1/2 pica
art:0011242-A
Allowing shoulder belt to retract
File:03unsrx.ex
Update:Thu Feb 29 09:02:31 1996

62
[SR16530( X)02/96]7.
Pull the lap belt portion across the child seat toward the
buckle and pull up on the shoulder belt while pushing down
on the child seat.
[SR16540( X)02/96]
17-1/2 pica
art:0011243-A
Removing slack from the belt
[SR16550( X)02/96]8.
Allow the safety belt to retract to remove any slack in the
belt.
[SR16560( X)02/96]9.
Before placing the child in the seat, forcibly tilt the seat
forward and back to make sure the seat is securely held in
place.
File:03unsrx.ex
Update:Thu Feb 29 09:02:31 1996