1997 FORD ASPIRE Owners Manual

62 [SS00435(ALL)01/96]
half page art:0030104-CFolding up the rear seat cushion
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WARNING
Cargo should always be secured to
prevent it from shifting and causing
damage to the vehicle or harm to the
passengers.
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WARNING
Do not remove the floor carpet in your
vehicle. Emission controls cause high
exhaust temperatures under the floor.
[SS00455(ALL)01/96]
NOTE: When returning the folding seats to the
upright position, remember to return
rear shoulder belts to their proper
position. Routing the safety belt
webbing through the rear safety belt
guides will help keep belts from being
trapped behind or under the seats.
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63
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Important Safety Belt Information
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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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Safety belts provide best restraint when:
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q
the seatback is upright
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q
the occupant is sitting upright (not slouched)
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q
the lap belt is snug and low on the hips
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q
the shoulder belt is snug against the chest
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q
the knees are straight forward
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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
theInstrumentationchapter.
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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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[SS02100(ALL)02/96]
WARNING
Always drive and ride with your seatback
upright and the lap belt snug and low
across the hips.
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64
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WARNING
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. 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.
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WARNING
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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WARNING
Children should always ride with the
seatback in the fully upright position.
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WARNING
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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WARNING
Lock the doors of your vehicle before
driving to lessen the risk of the door
coming open in a collision.
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65
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Combination Lap and Shoulder
Belts
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While your vehicle is in motion, the combination
lap and shoulder belt 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 lap/shoulder belt locks
and helps reduce your forward movement.
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After you get into your vehicle, close the door
and lock it. Then adjust the seat to the position
that suits you best.
[SS03700(ALL)01/96]
To fasten the belt, pull the combination
lap/shoulder belt from the retractor so that the
shoulder portion of the belt crosses your
shoulder and chest. Be sure the belt is not
twisted. If it is, remove the twist. Insert the belt
tongue into the proper buckle until you hear a
snap and feel it latch. Make sure the tongue is
securely fastened to the buckle by pulling on
tongue.
[SS03800(ALL)01/96]
one third page art:0032150-A
Fastening the safety belt
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NOTE: Be sure to read and understand
Important Safety Belt Informationin
this chapter.
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66 [SS05300(ALL)01/96]
one third page art:0032252-BUnfastening the combination lap/shoulder belts Ð front
and rear outboard seating positions
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While the belt retracts, guide the tongue to its
original position to prevent it from striking you
or the vehicle.
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Passenger Seat Lap/Shoulder Belt
Retractors (Dual Locking Modes)
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Your vehicle is equipped with a dual locking
mode retractor on the shoulder belt portion of
the combination lap/shoulder safety belt for
passengers.
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Dual locking mode retractors operate in two
ways:
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Vehicle sensitive (emergency) locking mode
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In this operating mode, the shoulder belt
retractor will allow the occupant freedom of
movement, locking tight only on hard braking,
hard cornering, or impacts of approximately
5 mph (8 km/h) or more. The retractor can also
be made to lock by pulling on the belt.
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67 %
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Automatic locking mode
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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:
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q
A tight lap/shoulder belt on the occupant.
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q
Child safety seat installation.
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WARNING
Rear-facing child seats or infant carriers
should never be placed in the front seats.
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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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To switch the retractor from the emergency
locking mode to the automatic locking mode,
perform the following steps:
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1. Buckle the lap/shoulder combination belt.
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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).
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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.
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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.
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Safety Belt Extension Assembly
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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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WARNING
Failure to follow these instructions will
affect the performance of the safety belts
and increase the risk of personal injury.
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Safety Belt Maintenance
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Check the safety belt systems periodically to
make sure that they work properly and are not
damaged.
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All safety belt assemblies, including retractors,
buckles, front seat belt buckle support assemblies
(slide bar) (if equipped), shoulder belt height
adjusters (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
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69
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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Air Bag Supplemental Restraint
System (SRS)
[SS11950(ALL)05/96]
Important Air Bag Precautions
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Your vehicle is equipped with a supplemental
restraint system designed to work with the
safety belts to help protect you and your right
front seat passenger in the event of a collision.
The Air Bag Supplemental Restraint System is
primarily designed to reduce certain upper body
injuries.
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[SS11970(ALL)05/96]
WARNING
All occupants of the vehicle, including the
driver, should always wear their safety
belts, failure to do so may increase the
risk of personal injury in the event of a
collision.
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[SS11980(ALL)05/96]
WARNING
Do not place objects or mount equipment
on or near the air bag covers that may
come into contact with an inflating air
bag. Failure to follow these instructions
may increase the risk of personal injury in
the event of a collision.
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[SS12000(ALL)05/96]
WARNING
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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