1996 FORD THUNDERBIRD child seat

7
Safety Restraints
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[SR00500( ALL)04/95]
Important Safety Belt Information
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[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.
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[SR00800( ALL)01/95]
Safety belts provide best restraint when:
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[SR00900( ALL)01/95]
q
the seatback is upright
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[SR01000( ALL)01/95]
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the occupant is sitting upright (not slouched)
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[SR01100( ALL)01/95]
q
the lap belt is snug and low on the hips
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[SR01200( ALL)01/95]
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the shoulder belt is snug against the chest
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[SR01300( ALL)01/95]
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the knees are straight forward
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[SR02100( ALL)05/95]
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.
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[SR02500( ALL)01/95]
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.
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[SR02600( ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
Make sure that you and your passengers
wear safety belts. Always drive and ride
with your seatback upright and the lap
belt snug and low across the hips.
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Update:Mon Feb 19 10:53:31 1996

8
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[SR02700( ALL)03/95]
RWARNING
Never wear the shoulder belt under the
arm. Never swing it around the neck over
the inside shoulder. Never use a single
belt for more than one person or across
more than one seating position. Each
seating position in your vehicle has a
specific safety belt assembly which is
made up of one buckle and one tongue
that are designed to be used as a pair.
Failure to follow these precautions could
increase the risk and/or severity of injury
in a collision.
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[SR02801( ALL)01/95]
RWARNING
Never drive or ride with a twisted or
jammed safety belt. If you cannot untwist
or unjam the safety belt, see the nearest
qualified technician immediately.
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[SR02901( ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
To reduce the risk of serious injury in a
collision, children should always ride with
the seatback upright.
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[SR03001( ALL)05/95]
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.
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[SR03200( ALL)05/95]
Lock the doors of your vehicle before driving to
lessen the risk of the door coming open in a
collision.
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Update:Mon Feb 19 10:53:31 1996

11
safety belt is buckled, and does not allow the
occupant freedom of movement. This mode
provides the following:
[SR04687( ALL)03/95]
q
A tight lap/shoulder belt fit on the occupant.
[SR04688( ALL)03/95]
q
Child seat or infant carrier installation
restraint.
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[SR04689( ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
Never install a rear-facing child seat or
infant carrier in the right front passenger
seat.
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[SR04690( ALL)03/95]
This modemust be usedwhen installing a child
safety seat on the front passenger seat and rear
outboard seats where dual locking retractors are
provided.
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[SR04691( ALL)04/95]
To switch the retractor from the emergency
locking mode to the automatic locking mode,
perform the following steps:
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[SR04692( ALL)03/95]
1. Buckle the lap/shoulder combination belt.
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[SR04693( ALL)03/95]
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 will be heard. At this time,
the belt retractor is in the automatic locking
mode (child restraint mode).
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[SR04694( ALL)05/95]
3. A clicking sound will contnue to be heard as
the belt is allowed to retract.
[SR04695( ALL)03/95]
NOTE: When the combination lap/shoulder
belt is unbuckled and allowed to
retract completely, the retractor will
switch back to the vehicle sensitive
(emergency) locking mode. See the
detailed instructions underSafety Seats
for Childrenin this chapter.
File:rcsrb.ex
Update:Mon Feb 19 10:53:31 1996

17 %
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[SR17500( ALL)05/95]
Safety Belt Extension Assembly
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[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.
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[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.
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[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
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[SR17720(MBCG )05/95]
Check the safety belt systems periodically to
make sure that they work properly and are not
damaged.
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[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
File:rcsrb.ex
Update:Mon Feb 19 10:53:31 1996

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.
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[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.
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[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
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[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.
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[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.
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[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.
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[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.
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Update:Mon Feb 19 10:53:31 1996

25 %
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[SR22220( ALL)05/95]
A problem with the system is indicated by one
or more of the following:
[SR22225( ALL)05/95]
q
the readiness light will either flash or stay lit,
or
[SR22230( ALL)05/95]
q
it will not light immediately after the ignition
is turned on, or
[SR22240( ALL)05/95]
q
a group of five beeps will be heard.
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[SR22250( ALL)05/95]
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.
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[SR22260( ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
Do not attempt to service, repair, or
modify the Air Bag Supplemental
Restraint System or its fuses. See your
Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer.
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[SR22300( ALL)05/95]
Disposal of air bags or air bag equipped
vehicles
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[SR22400( ALL)05/95]
For disposal of air bags or air bag equipped
vehicles, see your local Ford or Lincoln-Mercury
dealer. Air bagsMUSTbe disposed of by
qualified personnel.
%
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[SR23500( ALL)05/95]
Safety Restraints for Children
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[SR23600( ALL)02/95]
In the U.S. and Canada, you are required by law
to use safety restraints for children. If small
children ride in your vehicle Ð this generally
includes children who are four years old or
younger and who weigh 40 pounds (18 kg) or
less Ð you must put them in safety seats that
are made specially for children. Safety belts
alone do not provide maximum protection for
these children. Check your local and state laws
for specific requirements.
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Update:Mon Feb 19 10:53:31 1996

26
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[SR23700( ALL)05/95]
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.
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[SR23800( ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
Passengers should not be allowed to ride
in the cargo area. Persons not riding in a
seat with a fastened seat belt are much
more likely to suffer serious injury in a
collision. Cargo should always be secured
to prevent it from shifting and causing
damage to the vehicle or harm to
passengers.
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[SR23900( ALL)05/95]
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.
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[SR24000( ALL)05/95]
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.
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[SR24100( ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
Safety belts and seats can become hot in a
vehicle that has been closed up in sunny
weather; they could burn a small child.
Check seat covers and buckles before you
place a child anywhere near them.
File:rcsrb.ex
Update:Mon Feb 19 10:53:31 1996