1996 Mercury Villager Owner's Manuals

Safety Restraints
31
%*
[SR13970(ALL)05/95]
Safety Restraints for Children
*
[SR13980(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.
*
[SR13990(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.
*
[SR14000(ALL)07/95]
RWARNING
To prevent the risk of injury, make sure children sit
where they can be properly restrained.
*
[SR14100(ALL)12/95]
RWARNING
It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area, inside
or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people riding in
these areas are more likely to be seriously injured or
killed. Do not allow people to ride in any area of your
vehicle that is not equipped with seats and safety belts.
Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and using a
safety belt properly.
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32
[SR14150(ALL)07/95]
RWARNING
Whenever possible, put children in one of the rear seats
in your vehicle. Accident statistics indicate that children
are safer when properly restrained in the rear seats than
in the front seats.
*
[SR14901(ALL)02/96]
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.
*
[SR14920(ALL)08/95]
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.
[SR14930(ALL)05/96]
RWARNING
Do not leave children, unreliable adults, or pets
unattended in your vehicle.
%*
[SR15100(ALL)01/95]
Safety Seats for Children
*
[SR15200(ALL)05/95]
Use a safety seat that is recommended for the size and weight
of the child. Always follow the safety seat manufacturer's
instructions when installing and using the safety seat.
*
[SR15300(ALL)08/95]
Ford recommends the use of a child safety seat having a top
tether strap. Install the child safety seat in a seating position
which is capable of providing a tether anchorage. For more
information on top tether straps seeAttaching Safety Seats With
Tether Strapsin this chapter.
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Update:Wed Jun 5 12:21:10 1996

Safety Restraints
33
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[SR15320(ALL)08/95]
When installing a child safety seat, be sure to use the correct
safety belt buckle for that seating position, and make sure the
tongue is securely fastened in the buckle. For a shoulder/lap
belt combination with a sliding tongue, make sure the retractor
is in the automatic locking mode.
*
[SR15321(ALL)07/95]
All child restraint systems are designed to be secured in vehicle
seats by lap belts or by the lap portion of a lap-shoulder belt.
%*
[SR15325(ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
REAR-FACING INFANT SEATS SHOULD NEVER BE
USED IN THE FRONT SEAT. REAR-FACING INFANT
SEATS MUST ALWAYS BE PLACED IN THE REAR
SEAT. Failure to follow these instructions could result in
serious injury.
*
[SR15327(ALL)06/95]
RWARNING
If you do not properly secure the safety seat, the child
occupying the seat may be injured during a collision or
sudden stop. An unsecured safety seat could also injure
other passengers.
*
[SR15329(ALL)02/96]
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.
File:03vxsrn.ex
Update:Wed Jun 5 12:21:10 1996

34
[SR15330(ALL)06/95]
The passenger side quick-release second row bucket seat is
adjustable along a track and may be adjusted very close to the
front passenger seat to allow easier entry and exit to third row
seats.
[SR15335(ALL)06/95]
RWARNING
The quick-release seat must be adjusted to the rearmost
position when using an untethered forward-facing child
safety seat.
[SR15340(ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
The third row seat must be adjusted to the rearmost
position when using an untethered forward facing child
safety seat.
*
[SR15350(ALL)07/95]
RWARNING
Always keep the buckle release button pointing upward
and away from the child seat, with the tongue between
the child seat and the release button as shown in the
following illustration.
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Update:Wed Jun 5 12:21:10 1996

Safety Restraints
35
[SR15420(ALL)06/95]
17-1/2 pica
art:0040316-A
Safety belt buckle placement for child seats
[SR18250(ALL)09/93]
Using the Automatic Locking Mode
Retractor to Secure a Child Safety Seat
*
[SR19770(ALL)06/95]
Your vehicle is equipped with a dual locking mode retractor on
the shoulder belt portion of the combination lap/shoulder safety
belt for the front passenger seat and rear outer seats. The
automatic locking modemust be usedwhen installing a child
seat or infant carrier in the front passenger seat or rear outer
seats.
*
[SR19780(ALL)09/95]
RWARNING
Never install a rear-facing child seat or infant carrier in
the right front passenger seat.
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Update:Wed Jun 5 12:21:10 1996

36
[SR19790(ALL)04/95]
To install a child safety seat or infant carrier, follow these steps:
[SR19830(ALL)04/95]1.
Position the child seat or infant carrier in the vehicle seat. If
you are using the moveable third row seat in the third row
position, the passenger side second row bucket seat, or the
front passenger seat, slide the seat to the rearmost position.
[SR19840(ALL)04/95]2.
Follow the child seat or infant carrier manufacturer's
instructions. Route the safety belt through the child seat or
infant carrier and insert the safety belt tongue into the
buckle until you hear and feel the latch engage. Be sure to
follow the child safety seat manufacturer's instructions for
belt routing.
[SR19845(ALL)09/93]
17-1/2 pica
art:0040275-A
Routing the safety belt tongue through the child seat
[SR19850(ALL)07/93]3.
Pull on the belt until all of the stored belt is out of the
retractor and a click is heard.
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Update:Wed Jun 5 12:21:10 1996

Safety Restraints
37
[SR19860(ALL)07/93]4.
Allow the belt to retract. A clicking sound will be heard as
the belt retracts. This indicates that the retractor is in the
automatic locking mode.
[SR19870(ALL)09/93]5.
Pull up on the shoulder belt to remove slack in the belt
while you push down on the child seat.
[SR19871(ALL)09/93]
17-1/2 pica
art:0040276-B
Removing slack from the safety belt
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38
[SR19872(ALL)09/93]6.
Before placing the child in the child seat or infant carrier,
use force to tilt the seat from side to side, and tug it forward
to make sure that the seat is securely held in place.
[SR19873(ALL)06/94]
17-1/2 pica
art:0040277-B
Testing the security of the child seat
[SR19875(ALL)09/93]7.
Check that the retractor is in the automatic locking mode.
Try to pull more belt out of the retractor. If you cannot, the
belt is in the automatic locking mode.
[SR19878(ALL)04/95]8.
Check to make sure the child seat or infant carrier is
properly secured prior to each use. If the safety belt is not
locked, repeat steps 3 through 6.
[SR19885(ALL)09/95]
NOTE: When the lap/shoulder belt is unbuckled and allowed
to retract completely, the retractor will switch to the
vehicle sensitive (emergency) locking mode.
File:03vxsrn.ex
Update:Wed Jun 5 12:21:10 1996