1997 FORD CONTOUR Owners Manual

96
[SS09200(ALL)12/95]
17-1/2 pica
art:0001322-A
The warning label on the front seat safety belt buckle
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[SS09500(ALL)01/96]
Air Bag Supplemental Restraint System
(SRS)
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[SS09601(ALL)03/96]
Important Air Bag Precautions
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[SS09701(ALL)03/96]
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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Seating and Safety Restraints
97
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[SS09801(ALL)03/96]
RWARNING
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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[SS09901(ALL)04/96]
RWARNING
The right front passenger air bag is not designed to
restrain occupants in the center front seating position.
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[SS10001(ALL)03/96]
RWARNING
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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[SS10101(ALL)03/96]
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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[SS10201(ALL)03/96]
RWARNING
If you are close to an inflating air bag, it could seriously
injure you. Position your seat such that it is as far back
from the steering wheel as possible but still allows you
to properly control the vehicle.
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98
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[SS10301(ALL)03/96]
Children and Air Bags
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[SS10401(ALL)03/96]
NOTE: For additional important safety information on the
proper use of seat belts, child seats, and infant seats,
please read the entire Safety Restraints section in this
owner guide.
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[SS10501(ALL)03/96]
RWARNING
Children should always wear their safety belts. Failure to
follow these instructions may increase the risk of
personal injury in the event of a collision.
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[SS10601(ALL)03/96]
RWARNING
Rear-facing infant seats must always be secured in the
rear seat.
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[SS10701(ALL)03/96]
How Does the Air Bag Supplemental Restraint System
Work?
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[SS10801(ALL)04/96]
The Air Bag Supplemental Restraint System is designed to
activate when the vehicle is in a collision similar to hitting a
fixed barrier head on at 8-14 mph (13-23 km/h). The fact that
the air bags did not inflate in a collision does not mean that
something is wrong with the system. Rather, it means the forces
were not of the type sufficient to cause acitivation.
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[SS10901(ALL)04/96]
If the vehicle is in a moderate or severe frontal collision, the
system is activated and the air bags inflate rapidly. After the air
bag inflates, it will quickly deflate. After the air bag
deployment, you may notice a smoke-like, powdery residue or
smell the burnt propellant. This is normal. The residue may
consist of cornstarch or talcum powder (which is used to
lubricate the air bag) or sodium compounds, such as sodium
carbonates (e.g. baking soda) that result from the combustion
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Seating and Safety Restraints
99 process that inflates the air bag. Small amounts of sodium
hydroxide may be present which may irritate the skin and eyes,
but none of the residue is toxic. The Air Bag Supplemental
Restraint System will reduce, but not eliminate all injuries in an
accident.
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[SS11001(ALL)03/96]
RWARNING
Several air bag system components get hot after inflation.
Do not try to touch them after inflation.
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[SS11101(ALL)03/96]
RWARNING
The air bag will inflate only once. The system is
designed to function on a one-time-only basis. 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, this will increase the risk of
injury in a subsequent collision.
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[SS11201(ALL)03/96]
The Air Bag Supplemental Restraint System consists of:
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[SS11301(ALL)03/96]
n
driver and passenger air bag modules (which include the
inflators and air bags),
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[SS11401(ALL)03/96]
n
one or more impact and safing sensors,
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[SS11501(ALL)00/96]
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a system diagnostic module,
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[SS11601(ALL)03/96]
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a readiness light and tone,
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[SS11701(ALL)03/96]
n
and the electrical wiring which connects the components.
[SS11751(ALL)04/96]
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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100
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Determining if System Is Operational
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[SS11901(ALL)03/96]
The Air Bag Supplemental Restraint System uses a readiness
light and a tone to indicate the condition of the system. The
readiness light is in the instrument cluster. When you turn the
ignition key to ON, this light will illuminate for approximately
six (6) seconds and then turn off. This indicates that the system
is operating normally. NOTE: Routine maintenance of the air
bag system is not required.
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[SS12001(ALL)03/96]
A problem with the system is indicated by one or more of the
following:
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[SS12101(ALL)03/96]
n
the readiness light will either flash or stay lit,
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[SS12201(ALL)03/96]
n
the readiness light will not light immediately after ignition is
turned on,
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[SS12301(ALL)12/95]
n
a group of five beeps will be heard. The tone pattern will
repeat periodically until the problem and light are repaired.
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[SS12401(ALL)03/96]
If any of these things happen, even intermittently, have the Air
Bag Supplemental Restraint System serviced at your Ford or
Lincoln-Mercury dealer immediately. Unless serviced, the system
may not function properly in the event of a collision.
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[SS12501(ALL)03/96]
Disposal of Air Bags and Air Bag Equipped Vehicles
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[SS12601(ALL)03/96]
For disposal of air bags or air bag equipped vehicles, see your
local Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer. Air bags MUST BE
disposed of by qualified personnel.
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[SS13400(ALL)01/96]
Safety Restraints for Children
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[SS13500(ALL)01/96]
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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Seating and Safety Restraints
101
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[SS13600(ALL)02/96]
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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[SS13700(ALL)01/96]
RWARNING
Cargo should always be secured to prevent it from
shifting and causing damage to the vehicle or harm to
passengers.
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[SS13800(ALL)01/96]
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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[SS13900(ALL)03/96]
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.
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[SS14000(ALL)01/96]
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.
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[SS14100(ALL)03/96]
RWARNING
Do not leave children, unreliable adults, or pets
unattended in your vehicle.
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102
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Safety Seats for Children
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[SS14300(ALL)01/96]
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.
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[SS14400(ALL)01/96]
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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[SS14500(ALL)03/96]
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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[SS14600(ALL)03/96]
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.
[SS14700(ALL)12/95]
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. Failure to follow these
instructions could result in serious injury.
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Seating and Safety Restraints
103
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[SS14800(ALL)01/96]
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.
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[SS14900(ALL)03/96]
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.
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[SS15000(ALL)03/96]
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.
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[SS15100(ALL)01/96]
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.
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[SS15200(ALL)03/96]
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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