1996 FORD TAURUS child seat

9
Safety Restraints
%*
[SR00500(ALL)04/95]
Important Safety Belt Information
*
[SR00600(ALL)03/95]
The use of safety belts helps to restrain you and
your passengers in case of a collision. In most
states and in Canada the law requires their use.
*
[SR00700(ALL)08/95]
Safety belts provide best restraint when:
*
[SR00800(ALL)08/95]
q
the seatback is upright
*
[SR00900(ALL)08/95]
q
the occupant is sitting upright (not slouched)
*
[SR01000(ALL)08/95]
q
the lap belt is snug and low on the hips
*
[SR01100(ALL)08/95]
q
the shoulder belt is snug against the chest
*
[SR01200(ALL)08/95]
q
the knees are straight forward
*
[SR02200(ALL)07/95]
To help you remember to fasten your safety belt,
a warning light may come on and a chime may
sound. SeeSafety Belt Warning Light and Chimein
theWarning Lights and Gaugeschapter.
*
[SR02300(ALL)07/95]
See the following sections in this chapter for
directions on how to properly use these safety
belts. Also seeSafety Restraints for Childrenin this
chapter for special instructions about using
safety belts for children.
File:03fcsrt.ex
Update:Mon Jan 22 15:46:18 1996
ProCarManuals.com

11
*
[SR02850(ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
Ford recommends that all safety belt
assemblies and attaching hardware should
be inspected by a qualified technician
after any collision. Safety belt assemblies
not in use during a collision should also
be inspected and replaced if either
damage or improper operation is noted.
*
[SR02900(ALL)08/95]
RWARNING
To reduce the risk of serious injury in a
collision, children should always ride with
the seatback upright.
*
[SR03000(ALL)08/95]
RWARNING
Never let a passenger hold a child on his
or her lap while the vehicle is moving.
The passenger cannot protect the child
from injury in a collision.
*
[SR03200(ALL)09/95]
RWARNING
Lock the doors of your vehicle before
driving to lessen the risk of the door
coming open in a collision.
File:03fcsrt.ex
Update:Mon Jan 22 15:46:18 1996
ProCarManuals.com

14 %
*
[SR05725(ALL)08/95]
Automatic locking mode
*
[SR05750(ALL)08/95]
In this operating mode, the shoulder belt
retractor will be automatically locked and will
remain locked when the combination
lap/shoulder safety belt is buckled, and does not
allow the occupant freedom of movement. This
mode provides the following:
*
[SR05775(ALL)08/95]
q
A tight lap/shoulder belt on the occupant.
*
[SR05800(ALL)08/95]
q
Child safety seat installation.
*
[SR05810(ALL)08/95]
RWARNING
Rear-facing infant seats should never be
placed in the front seats.
*
[SR05825(ALL)09/95]
This modemust be usedwhen installing a child
safety seat on the front passenger seat and rear
outboard seats where dual locking retractors are
provided.
*
[SR05830(ALL)08/95]
To switch the retractor from the emergency
locking mode to the automatic locking mode,
perform the following steps:
*
[SR05875(ALL)08/95]
1. Buckle the lap/shoulder combination belt.
*
[SR05900(ALL)09/95]
2. Grasp the shoulder portion of the belt and
pull downward until all of the belt is
extracted and, when allowed to retract, a
clicking sound is heard. At this time, the belt
retractor is in the automatic locking mode
(child restraint mode).
*
[SR05925(ALL)08/95]
3. A clicking sound will continue to be heard
as the belt is allowed to retract. This
indicates that the retractor is in the
automatic locking mode.
File:03fcsrt.ex
Update:Mon Jan 22 15:46:18 1996
ProCarManuals.com

15
*
[SR05930(ALL)08/95]
NOTE: When the combination lap/shoulder
belt is unbuckled and allowed to
retract completely, the retractor will
switch to the vehicle sensitive
(emergency) locking mode. See the
detailed instructions underSafety Seats
for Childrenin this chapter.
%*
[SR05940(ALL)08/95]
Shoulder Belt Height Adjustment
*
[SR05950(ALL)08/95]
Driver and right front passenger
*
[SR05960(ALL)06/95]
You can adjust the shoulder belt height to one of
five (5) positions.
[SR05962(ALL)06/95]
To adjust the belt down, pinch the release
button. To adjust the belt up, slide the adjuster
up. (You do not have to pinch the release
button.)
*
[SR05964(ALL)06/95]
Make sure the adjuster is firmly in one of the
five positions. The belt should be adjusted up or
down until the belt rests on your shoulder near
your neck.
[SR05966(ALL)06/95]
one third page art:0001402-B
The shoulder belt height adjuster
File:03fcsrt.ex
Update:Mon Jan 22 15:46:18 1996
ProCarManuals.com

16
*
[SR05968(ALL)06/95]
RWARNING
Position the shoulder belt height adjuster
so that the belt rests across the middle of
your shoulder. Be sure the shoulder belt is
properly positioned on your shoulder each
time you use the belt. If the shoulder belt
is off your shoulder, on your upper arm
or neck, there is a greater risk of severe
injury in a collision.
[SR06000(ALL)04/95]
Safety Belts for Rear-Facing Occupants
(Wagon)
[SR06050(ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
Never use child safety seats in the third
seat of a wagon.
[SR06060(ALL)10/95]
Your vehicle is equipped with safety seat belts
containing an adjust tongue at the rear-facing
seating positions.
[SR06075(ALL)10/95]
When the adjust tongue of the lap/shoulder
combination seat belt is latched into the buckle,
the tongue will allow the lap portion to become
shorter, but locks the webbing in place to restrict
it from becoming longer.
[SR06125(ALL)10/95]
Before you can reach and latch a combination
lap and shoulder belt having an adjust tongue
into the buckle, you may have to lengthen the
lap belt portion of it. To lengthen the lap belt,
pull some webbing out of the shoulder belt
retractor. While holding the webbing below the
tongue, grasp the tongue so that it is parallel to
the webbing and slide the tongue upward.
Provide enough lap belt length so that the
tongue can reach the buckle.
File:03fcsrt.ex
Update:Mon Jan 22 15:46:18 1996
ProCarManuals.com

23
%*
[SR07950(ALL)08/95]
Safety Belt Maintenance
*
[SR07970(ALL)09/95]
Check the safety belt systems periodically to
make sure that they work properly and are not
damaged.
%*
[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
*
[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.
%
*
[SR14300(ALL)06/95]
Air Bag Supplemental Restraint
System (SRS)
*
[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

25
*
[SR16000(ALL)08/95]
RWARNING
If a passenger is not properly seated and
restrained, an inflating air bag could cause
serious injury.
*
[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.
*
[SR16100(ALL)09/95]
RWARNING
Rear-facing infant seats should never be
placed in the front seat.
*
[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 %
*
[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.
*
[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.
*
[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.
*
[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