1996 FORD THUNDERBIRD Owners Manual

14
*
[SR05500( BCGV)03/95]
RWARNING
All front and rear seat outboard
occupants (including pregnant women)
should wear lap and shoulder belts, for
optimum protection in a collision.
*
[SR05600( ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
Failure to follow these precautions could
increase the risk and/or severity of injury
in a collision. 1) Use the shoulder belt on
the outside shoulder only. Never wear the
shoulder belt under the arm. 2) Never
swing it around your neck over the inside
shoulder. 3) Never use a single belt for
more than one person.
*
[SR05630( BC )03/95]
Due to folding rear seats, sometimes the buckles
and tongues toward the center of the vehicle
may be hidden by the rear edge of the seat
cushion. Pull them out so they will be accessible.
*
[SR05635( BC )03/95]
While you are fastened in the seat belt, the
combination lap/shoulder belt with a cinch
tongue adjusts to your movement. However, if
you brake hard, turn hard, or if your vehicle
receives an impact of 5 mph (8 km/h) or more,
the safety belt will become locked and help
reduce your forward movement.
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Update:Mon Feb 19 10:53:31 1996

15 [SR05800( ALL)05/95]
To unfasten all the belts:
[SR05900(MBC )06/93]
1. Push the release button on the end of the
buckle. This allows the tongue to unlatch
from the buckle.
[SR06200( BC )03/95]
one third page art:0011336-A
Unfastening the front outboard lap/shoulder belts
[SR06250( BC )05/95]
one third page art:0011370-A
Unfastening the rear outboard lap/shoulder belts
*
[SR06600( ALL)03/95]
2. While the belt retracts, guide the tongue to
its stowed position. If you do not guide the
tongue, it may strike you or part of the
vehicle.
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Update:Mon Feb 19 10:53:31 1996

16
% [SR09300( BC )05/95]
Lap Belts Ð Rear Center Seating
Positions
*
[SR09600( BC )05/95]
The lap belt in the center of the rear seat does
not adjust automatically. You must adjust it to
fit snugly and as low as possible around your
hips. Do not wear it around your waist.
*
[SR09701( BCGV)05/95]
Pull the belt across your hips andinsert the
tongue into the correct buckleon your seat
until you hear a snap and feel it lock. Make sure
the buckle is securely fastened.
%*
[SR09801( BCGV)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.
*
[SR09901( BCGV)05/95]
If you need to shorten the belt, pull on the loose
end of the webbing until the belt fits snugly.
*
[SR10300( BCGV)05/95]
To unfasten the belt,push the release button on
the buckle. This allows the tongue to unlatch
from the buckle.
[SR10400( BC )11/92]
Because the center lap belt does not have a
retractor, it should be shortened and fastened
when not in use.
[SR10620( BC )05/94]
one third page art:0000029-E
Unfastening center rear seat lap belt
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Update:Mon Feb 19 10:53:31 1996

17 %
*
[SR17500( ALL)05/95]
Safety Belt Extension Assembly
*
[SR17600( 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.
*
[SR17700( ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
Failure to follow these instructions will
affect the performance of the safety belts
and increase the risk of personal injury.
*
[SR17705( 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.
[SR17710( ALL)05/95]Safety Belt Maintenance
*
[SR17720(MBCG )05/95]
Check the safety belt systems periodically to
make sure that they work properly and are not
damaged.
%*
[SR17730( 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
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18during a collision should also be inspected and
replaced if either damage or improper operation
is noted.
%*
[SR17740( ALL)05/95]
Cleaning the Safety Belts
*
[SR17780( 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.
*
[SR17800( ALL)04/95]
Air Bag Supplemental Restraint
System (SRS)
*
[SR18200( ALL)04/95]
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.
*
[SR18400( ALL)02/95]
The Importance of Wearing Safety Belts
*
[SR18425( ALL)11/93]
RWARNING
Safety belts must be worn by all vehicle
occupants to be properly restrained and
help reduce the risk of injury in a
collision.
*
[SR18450( 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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Update:Mon Feb 19 10:53:31 1996

19
*
[SR18500( ALL)01/95]
There are four very important reasons to use
safety belts even with an air bag system. Use
your safety belts to:
*
[SR18600( ALL)01/95]
q
help keep you in the proper position (away
from the air bag) when it inflates
*
[SR18700( 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
*
[SR18800( ALL)01/95]
q
reduce the risk of harm in frontal collisions
that are not severe enough to activate the
supplemental air bag
*
[SR18900( ALL)01/95]
q
reduce the risk of being thrown from your
vehicle
%*
[SR19100( ALL)01/95]
The Importance of Being Properly Seated
*
[SR19200( 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.
*
[SR19230( ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
If a passenger is not properly seated and
restrained, an inflating air bag could cause
serious injury.
*
[SR19235( ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
Rear-facing infant seats should never be
placed in the front seat.
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20 [SR19240( ALL)06/09]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,
center console (if so equipped), or center
armrests (if so equipped). REAR-FACING
INFANT SEATS 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.
*
[SR19260( 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.
%*
[SR19300( 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.
[SR19350(MBC )05/95]
THE FORCE OF THE RAPIDLY INFLATING
PASSENGER AIR BAG COULD PUSH THE TOP
OF THE REAR-FACING SEAT AGAINST THE
VEHICLE SEATBACK OR CENTER
CONSOLE/ARMRESTS. REAR-FACING
INFANT SEATS MUST ALWAYS BE PLACED
IN THE REAR SEAT.
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Update:Mon Feb 19 10:53:31 1996

21
*
[SR19400( 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.
*
[SR19405( 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.
*
[SR19410( 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 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.
%*
[SR19500( ALL)01/95]
How the Air Bag Supplemental Restraint
System Operates
[SR19650( ALL)05/95]
The driver air bag is in the center of the steering
wheel. The right front passenger seat air bag is
in the upper right hand 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:rcsrb.ex
Update:Mon Feb 19 10:53:31 1996