1996 FORD TAURUS Owners Manual

23
%*
[SR07950(ALL)08/95]
Safety Belt Maintenance
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[SR07970(ALL)09/95]
Check the safety belt systems periodically to
make sure that they work properly and are not
damaged.
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[SR07980(ALL)10/95]
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.
%*
[SR08400(ALL)06/95]
Cleaning the Safety Belts
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[SR08500(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.
%
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[SR14300(ALL)06/95]
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.
File:03fcsrt.ex
Update:Mon Jan 22 15:46:18 1996
ProCarManuals.com

24 %
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[SR14800(ALL)05/95]
The Importance of Wearing Safety Belts
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[SR14900(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.
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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]
q
help keep you in the proper position (away
from the air bag) when it inflates
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[SR15200(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
*
[SR15300(ALL)01/95]
q
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]
q
reduce the risk of being thrown from your
vehicle
%*
[SR15500(ALL)01/95]
The Importance of Being Properly Seated
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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.
File:03fcsrt.ex
Update:Mon Jan 22 15:46:18 1996
ProCarManuals.com

25
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[SR16000(ALL)08/95]
RWARNING
If a passenger is not properly seated and
restrained, an inflating air bag could cause
serious injury.
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[SR16050(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.
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[SR16100(ALL)09/95]
RWARNING
Rear-facing infant seats should never be
placed in the front seat.
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[SR16200(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.
File:03fcsrt.ex
Update:Mon Jan 22 15:46:18 1996
ProCarManuals.com

26 %
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[SR16250(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.
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[SR16255(ALL)11/95]
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.
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[SR16300(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.
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[SR16350(ALL)07/95]
For further information about the proper
mounting of equipment in the front seat of this
vehicle, please refer to Ford's brochure entitled
Some 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)08/95]
For additional important safety information on
the proper use of seat belts, child seats, and
infant seats, please read the other sections of this
chapter of the Owner Guide, especially sections
entitledSafety Belts for ChildrenandSafety Seats
for Children.
File:03fcsrt.ex
Update:Mon Jan 22 15:46:18 1996
ProCarManuals.com

27 %
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[SR16500(ALL)01/95]
How the Air Bag Supplemental Restraint
System Operates
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[SR16600(ALL)06/95]
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.
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[SR16750(ALL)06/95]
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(ALL)11/94]
half page art:0001373-A
The location of air bags and warning labels
File:03fcsrt.ex
Update:Mon Jan 22 15:46:18 1996
ProCarManuals.com

28
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[SR17400(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.
[SR17500(ALL)12/95]
When the sensors activate the system, the air
bags inflate rapidly, filling with non-toxic gas
mixture in a fraction of a second. Immediately
after inflation, the air bags deflate by releasing
the gas mixture through vent holes. The whole
process takes place in a matter of seconds.
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[SR17580(ALL)07/95]
RWARNING
Air bag system components get hot after
inflation. Do not touch them after
inflation.
File:03fcsrt.ex
Update:Mon Jan 22 15:46:18 1996
ProCarManuals.com

29
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[SR17710(ALL)08/95]
half page art:0011063-A
Inflated driver-side air bag
[SR17730(ALL)09/95]
half page art:0011064-A
Inflated passenger-side air bag
File:03fcsrt.ex
Update:Mon Jan 22 15:46:18 1996
ProCarManuals.com

30
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[SR18400(ALL)07/95]
RWARNING
If the air bag is inflated, THE AIR BAG
WILL NOT FUNCTION AGAIN AND
MUST BE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY. If
the air bag is not replaced, the unrepaired
area will increase the risk of injury in a
collision.
*
[SR18425(ALL)07/95]
To ensure that the air bag system will operate as
intended in a crash, the system is equipped with
a diagnostic module, which controls a readiness
lamp and a warning tone. The diagnostic
module monitors its own circuits, the air bag
electrical system, the air bag readiness light, the
air bag power, and the air bag inflators.
%*
[SR18450(ALL)05/95]
The air bag system uses a readiness light on the
instrument cluster and a tone to indicate the
condition of the system. When you turn the
ignition key to the ON position, this light will
illuminate for approximately six (6) seconds and
then turn off. This indicates that the system is
operating normally. NOTE: Maintenance of the
air bag system is not required.
%*
[SR18475(ALL)06/95]
A problem with the system is indicated by one
or more of the following:
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[SR18501(ALL)06/95]
q
the readiness light will either flash or stay lit,
*
[SR18525(ALL)06/95]
q
or it will not light immediately after ignition
is turned on,
*
[SR18550(ALL)06/95]
q
or a group of five beeps will be heard. The
tone pattern will repeat periodically until the
problem and light are repaired.
*
[SR18575(ALL)08/95]
If any of these things happen, have the air bag
system serviced at your Ford or Lincoln-Mercury
dealer immediately. Unless serviced, the air bag
Supplemental Restraint System may not function
properly in the event of a collision.
File:03fcsrt.ex
Update:Mon Jan 22 15:46:18 1996
ProCarManuals.com