1997 FORD E SERIES belt

sure the belt webbing is not
twisted.
4. Insert the belt tongue into the
proper buckle for that seating
position until you hear and feel the
latch engage. Make sure the
tongue is latched securely by
pulling on it.
5. To put the retractor in the
automatic locking mode, grasp the
shoulder portion of the belt and
PRESS
Seating and safety restraints
64

pull downward until all of the belt
is extracted and a click is heard.
6. Allow the belt to retract. The
belt will click as it retracts to
indicate it is in the automatic
locking mode.
7. Pull the lap belt portion across
the child seat toward the buckle
and pull up on the shoulder belt
while pushing down with knee on
the child seat.
8. Allow the safety belt to retract
to remove any slack in the belt.
9. Before placing the child in the
seat, forcibly tilt the seat forward
and back to make sure the seat is
securely held in place.
10. Try to pull the belt out of the
retractor to make sure the
retractor is in the automatic
locking mode (you should not be
Seating and safety restraints
65

able to pull more belt out). If the
retractor is not locked, unbuckle
the belt and repeat steps two
through nine.
Check to make sure the child seat
is properly secured before each
use.
Installing a child safety seat at
the rear center seating position
with locking adjustable lap belt
1. Lengthen the lap belt. To
lengthen the belt, hold tongue so
that its bottom is perpendicular to
the direction of webbing while
sliding the tongue up the webbing.
2. Place the child safety seat in the
center seating position.
3. Route the tongue and webbing
through the child seat according to
the child seat manufacturer's
instructions.
4. Insert the belt tongue into the
proper buckle for the center
seating position until you hear a
snap and feel it latch. Make sure
the tongue is securely fastened to
the buckle by pulling on tongue.
5. Push down on the child seat
while pulling on the loose end of
the lap belt webbing to tighten the
belt.
6. Before placing the child into
child seat, forcibly tilt the child
seat from side-to-side and in
forward directions to ensure that
the seat is held securely in place.
If the child seat moves excessively,
eco_chils_seat_lap-belt
Seating and safety restraints
66

properly in the event of a collision.
7. Rotate the tether strap clip as
shown.
8. Adjust the front right-hand
passenger seat to the full rearward
position.
9. Refer to the instructions in this
section underInstalling child
safety seats in combination lap
and shoulder belt seating
positionsto secure the child
safety seat.
10. Tighten the child safety seat
tether strap according to the
manufacturers instructions.
For additional important safety
information on the proper use of
seatbelts, child seats and infant
seats, please read the entire
Seating and safety restraints
chapter in this owner's guide.
Seating and safety restraints
71

If you smell exhaust fumes
inside your vehicle, have
your dealer inspect your vehicle
immediately. Do not drive if you
smell exhaust fumes.
Preparing to start the vehicle
Engine starting is controlled by the
spark ignition system. This system
meets all Canadian
Interference-Causing Equipment
standard requirements regulating
the impulse electrical field strength
of radio noise.
When starting a fuel-injected
engine, avoid pressing the
accelerator before or during
starting. Only use the accelerator
when you have difficulty starting
the engine. For more information
on starting the vehicle, refer to
Starting the vehiclein this
chapter.
Before starting the vehicle:
1. Make sure all vehicle occupants
have buckled their safety belts. For
more information on safety belts
and their proper usage, refer to
eco_preparing_start
Starting
74

Make sure the corresponding lights
illuminate briefly. If a light fails to
illuminate, have the vehicle
serviced.
²If the driver's safety belt is
fastened, the
light does not
illuminate.
STARTING PROCEDURE
Starting the engine
1. Turn the key to 5 (Start)
without pressing the accelerator.
The key will return to 4 (On).
2. If the engine does not start
within five seconds, wait ten
seconds and try again.
3. If the engine does not start in
two attempts OR the temperature
is below Ð12ÉC (10ÉF), depress
accelerator and start the engine
while holding the accelerator
down. Release accelerator when
engine starts.
4. After idling for a few seconds,
apply the brake and release the
parking brake.
Using the engine block heater
(if equipped)
An engine block heater warms the
engine coolant, which improves
starting, warms up the engine
3
2
1
5
4
eco_start_title
com_starting_vehicle.01
com_engine_heater.01
Starting
77

5. Shift the transmission to N
(Neutral).
6. Start the vehicle.
If you need to use the above
procedure, it is possible that a fuse
has blown and your brakelamps
may not be functioning. Refer to
theRoadside emergencies
chapter for instructions on
replacing fuses.
Do not drive your vehicle
until you verify that the
brakelamps are working.
VEHICLE LOADING
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.
Before loading a vehicle, familiarize
yourself with the following terms:
²Base Curb Weight:Weight of
the vehicle including any
standard equipment, fluids,
lubricants, etc. It does not
include passengers or
aftermarket equipment.
eco_heavy-load
Driving
86

WRECKER TOWING
The recommended method to tow
your vehicle is with flatbed or
wheel lift equipment. However,
slingbelt towing is acceptable. On
vehicles equipped with an air dam,
the towbar will deform the rubber
air dam.
Never use a tow bar that
attaches to the bumper
when you tow your vehicle. This
could damage the bumper and
cause an accident.
Roadside emergencies
123