1997 FORD CONTOUR Owners Manual

88
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[SS03700(ALL)02/96]
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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[SS03800(ALL)02/96]
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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[SS03900(ALL)02/96]
RWARNING
Always drive and ride with your seatback upright and
the lap belt snug and low across the hips.
*
[SS04000(ALL)02/96]
RWARNING
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.
*
[SS04100(ALL)02/96]
RWARNING
Ford recommends that all safety belt assemblies and
attaching hardware should be inspected by a qualified
technician after any collision. Safety belt assemblies not
in use during a collision should also be inspected and
replaced if either damage or improper operation is noted.
*
[SS04200(ALL)02/96]
RWARNING
Children should always ride with the seatback in the
fully upright position.
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Seating and Safety Restraints
89
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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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[SS04400(ALL)02/96]
RWARNING
Lock the doors of your vehicle before driving to lessen
the risk of the door coming open in a collision.
%*
[SS04500(ALL)02/96]
Combination Lap and Shoulder Belts
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[SS04600(ALL)02/96]
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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[SS04700(ALL)01/96]
After you get into your vehicle, close the door and lock it. Then
adjust the seat to the position that suits you best.
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[SS04800(ALL)02/96]
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.
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[SS04900(ALL)12/95]
10-1/2 pica
art:0001196-A
Fastening the front seat lap and shoulder belt
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NOTE: Be sure to read and understandImportant Safety Belt
Informationin this chapter.
%*
[SS05100(ALL)12/95]
To adjust the lap part of the belt,pull up on the shoulder belt
until the lap belt fits snugly and as low as possible around your
hips.
[SS05200(ALL)12/95]
10-1/2 pica art:0000684-E
Unfastening the combination lap and shoulder belts
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[SS05300(ALL)02/96]
While the belt retracts, guide the tongue to its original position
to prevent it from striking you or the vehicle.
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Seating and Safety Restraints
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% [SS05400(ALL)12/95]
Dual Locking Mode Lap/Shoulder Belt Retractor
[SS05500(ALL)12/95]
The front passenger seat and the rear outer seat combination lap
and shoulder belts are equipped with a dual locking mode
retractor on theshoulderbelt portion of the lap/shoulder belt.
This retractor can be switched from vehicle sensitive
(emergency) locking mode to automatic locking mode by pulling
the belt webbing all of the way out of the retractor. The
retractor modes function as follows.
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[SS05600(ALL)02/96]
Vehicle sensitive (emergency) locking mode
[SS05700(ALL)12/95]
In this operating mode, the lap/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.
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[SS05800(ALL)02/96]
Automatic locking mode
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[SS05900(ALL)12/95]
This mode must be used when installing a child seat on the
front passenger seat and rear seats where dual locking retractors
are provided. To switch the retractor from the emergency
locking mode to the automatic locking mode, perform the
following steps:
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[SS06000(ALL)03/96]
RWARNING
Rear-facing child seats or infant carriers should never be
placed in the front seats.
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[SS06100(ALL)02/96]1.
Buckle the lap/shoulder combination belt.
*
[SS06200(ALL)12/95]2.
Grasp the shoulder portion of the belt and pull downward
until all of the belt is extracted and a click is heard. At this
time, the retractor is in the automatic locking mode (child
restraint mode).
*
[SS06300(ALL)12/95]3.
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.
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[SS06400(ALL)12/95]4.
Pull up on the shoulder belt to remove slack in the lap belt.
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[SS06500(ALL)02/96]
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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[SS06600(ALL)01/96]
Shoulder Belt Height Adjustment
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[SS06700(ALL)01/96]
Driver and right front passenger
[SS06800(ALL)12/95]
You can adjust the shoulder belt height to one of four (4)
positions.
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[SS06900(ALL)12/95]
To adjust the belt down, push the release button (see figures 1
and 2). To adjust the belt up, slide the adjuster up. (You do not
have to push the release button.)
[SS07000(ALL)12/95]
17-1/2 pica
art:0001183-C
Figure 1 Ð The shoulder belt height adjuster
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Seating and Safety Restraints
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10-1/2 pica
art:0001184-D
Figure 2 Ð Adjusting the shoulder belt height
[SS07200(ALL)12/95]
Make sure the adjuster is firmly in one of the four positions.
The belt should be adjusted up or down until the belt rests on
your shoulder near your neck.
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[SS07300(ALL)01/96]
RWARNING
Position the shoulder belt height adjuster so that the belt
rests across the middle of your shoulder. Be sure the
shoulder belt is properly positioned on your shoulder
each time you use the belt. If the shoulder belt is off
your shoulder, on your upper arm or neck, there is a
greater risk of severe injury in a collision.
%*
[SS07400(ALL)12/95]
Lap Belts
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[SS07500(ALL)12/95]
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.
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[SS07600(ALL)01/96]
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.
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94
%*
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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.
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[SS07800(ALL)01/96]
If you need to shorten the belt, pull on the loose end of the
webbing until the belt fits snugly.
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[SS07900(ALL)01/96]
To unfasten the belt, push the release button on the end of the
buckle. This allows the tongue to unlatch from the buckle.
[SS08000(ALL)12/95]
10-1/2 pica
art:0000008-D
Unfastening the lap belt in center rear seating position
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Safety Belt Extension Assembly
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[SS08200(ALL)01/96]
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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[SS08300(ALL)01/96]
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.
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Seating and Safety Restraints
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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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Safety Belt Maintenance
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[SS08600(ALL)02/96]
Check the safety belt systems periodically to make sure that
they work properly and are not damaged.
[SS08700(ALL)12/95]
Ford recommends that all safety belt assemblies 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.
[SS08800(ALL)12/95]
Safety Belt Warning Label
[SS08900(ALL)12/95]
A warning label has been placed on the buckle of each of your
vehicle's front seat safety belts.
[SS09000(ALL)12/95]
In a collision of sufficient severity while the safety belt is in use,
the safety belt buckle will pull out of the sleeve so that all or
part of the orange portion of the label is visible.
[SS09100(ALL)12/95]
RWARNING
Whenever the orange portion of the label is visible, the
safety belt must be replaced.
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