1996 Mercury Villager Owner's Manuals

Safety Restraints
23
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[SR13110(ALL)08/95]
Safety Belt Maintenance
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[SR13120(ALL)02/96]
Check the safety belt systems periodically to make sure that
they work properly and are not damaged.
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[SR13140(ALL)07/95]
All safety belt assemblies, including retractors, buckles, front
seat belt buckle support assemblies (slide bar) (if so equipped),
child safety seat tether bracket assemblies (if so 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.
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[SR13150(ALL)06/95]
Cleaning the Safety Belts
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[SR13160(ALL)04/95]
Clean the safety belts with any mild soap solution that is
recommended for cleaning upholstery or carpets. Do not bleach
or dye the belt because this may weaken it.
%*
[SR13200(ALL)06/95]
Air Bag Supplemental Restraint System
(SRS)
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[SR13215(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.
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24
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[SR13220(ALL)05/95]
The Importance of Wearing Safety Belts
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[SR13230(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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[SR13235(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.
[SR13240(ALL)09/93]
There are four very important reasons to use safety belts even
with a supplemental air bag system. Use your safety belts to:
[SR13250(ALL)09/93]
n
help keep you in the proper position when the supplemental
air bag inflates
[SR13260(ALL)05/93]
n
reduce the risk of harm in rollover, side or rear impact
accidents. The air bag supplemental restraint system is not
designed to inflate in such situations
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[SR13270(ALL)01/95]
n
reduce the risk of harm in frontal collisions that are not
severe enough to activate the supplemental air bag
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[SR13280(ALL)01/95]
n
reduce the risk of being thrown from your vehicle
%*
[SR13290(ALL)01/95]
The Importance of Being Properly Seated
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[SR13300(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.
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Safety Restraints
25
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[SR13301(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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[SR13302(ALL)09/95]
RWARNING
Rear-facing infant seats should never be placed in the
front seat.
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[SR13303(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.
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[SR13304(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.
%*
[SR13305(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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26
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[SR13306(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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[SR13307(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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[SR13308(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 entitledSome 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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[SR13309(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.
%*
[SR13310(ALL)01/95]
How the Air Bag Supplemental Restraint System
Operates
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[SR13315(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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[SR13320(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.
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Safety Restraints
27
[SR13330(ALL)07/95]
17-1/2 pica
art:0040312-A
The location of air bags and warning labels
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[SR13340(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.
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[SR13350(ALL)12/95]
When the sensors activate the system, the air bags inflate
rapidly, filling with non-toxic nitrogen gas in a fraction of a
second. Immediately after inflation, the air bags deflate by
releasing the nitrogen gas through vent holes. The whole
process takes place in a matter of seconds.
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28
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[SR13360(ALL)07/95]
RWARNING
Air bag system components get hot after inflation. Do
not touch them after inflation.
[SR13370(ALL)07/95]
half page art:0040264-A
Inflated driver side supplemental air bag
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Safety Restraints
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[SR13380(ALL)07/95]
half page art:0040297-A
Inflated passenger side supplemental air bag
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[SR13390(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.
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[SR13400(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.
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30
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[SR13410(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.
%*
[SR13420(ALL)06/95]
A problem with the system is indicated by one or more of the
following:
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[SR13430(ALL)06/95]
n
the readiness light will either flash or stay lit,
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[SR13440(ALL)06/95]
n
or it will not light immediately after ignition is turned on,
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[SR13450(ALL)06/95]
n
or a group of five beeps will be heard. The tone pattern will
repeat periodically until the problem and light are repaired.
[SR13460(ALL)06/95]
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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[SR13500(ALL)07/95]
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.
[SR13550(ALL)07/95]
Disposal of supplemental air bags or supplemental air
bag equipped vehicles
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[SR13560(ALL)06/95]
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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Update:Wed Jun 5 12:21:10 1996