1997 FORD E SERIES length

Lap belts
The lap belts in the center seating
position of the three-passenger
bench seat and both inboard seats
of the four-passenger bench seat
do not adjust automatically. You
must adjust them to fit snugly and
low as possible around your hips.
Do not wear the lap belt around
your waist.
Make sure you insert the tongue
into the correct buckle. If you
need to lengthen the belt, turn the
tongue at a right angle to the belt
and pull across your lap until it
reaches the buckle. If you need to
tighten the belt, pull the loose end
of the webbing until it is snug
across the hips. Shorten and fasten
the belt when not in use.
Safety belt extension assembly
If the safety belt assembly is too
short, even when fully extended,
20 cm (eight inches) can be added
to the safety belt assembly by
adding a safety belt extension
assembly. Safety belt extension
assemblies are available for front
or rear seating positions and are
not interchangeable.
²Front seating positions (part
number 611C22)
²Rear seating positions (part
number 611C22)
Safety belt extension assemblies
can be obtained from your dealer
at no cost.
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50

For additional important safety
information on the proper use of
seat belts, child seats and infant
seats, please read the entire
Seating and safety restraints
chapter in this owner's guide.
How does the air bag
supplemental restraint system
work?
The Air Bag Supplemental
Restraint System is designed to
activate when the vehicle sustains
sufficient longitudinal (lengthwise)
deceleration that is equal to or
greater than hitting an immovable
barrier head on at a range of about
12±24 km/h (8±14 mph).
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 activation.
If the vehicle experiences
sufficient longitudal deceleration,
the system is activated and the air
bags inflate rapidly. After the air
bag inflates, it will quickly deflate.
This occurs so quickly that some
people may not even realize that
the air bag inflated.
After the air bag deployment, you
may notice a smoke-like, powdery
residue or smell the burnt
propellant (which is used to
lubricate the air bag) or sodium
compounds, such as sodium
carbonates (e.g., baking soda) that
result from the combustion process
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Seating and safety restraints
55

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,
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66

VEHICLE DIMENSIONS
Van/wagon models
E-150 E-250 E-350
1 = Overall
height2054.8 mm
(80.9 in.)2118.4 mm
(83.4 in.)2136.1 mm
(84.1 in.)
2 = Track
front/rear1762.8 mm (69.4 in.)/1701.8 mm (67.0 in.)
3 = Overall
width (excluding
mirrors)2014.2 mm (79.3 in.)
4 = Wheelbase 3505 mm (138 in.)
5 = Overall
lengthRegular van, 5379.7 mm (211.8 in.)
Super van, 5892.8 mm (232.0 in.)
3
2
1
5 4
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Capacities and specifications
179

Cutaway/commercial stripped
chassis models
E-250 E-350 E-Super Duty
1 = Overall
heightRefer to Body Builder for specifications.
2 = Track
front/rear1762.8 mm
(69.4 in.)/1701.8
mm (67.0 in.)1762.8 mm
(69.4 in.)/SRW
1701.8 mm
(67.0 in.), DRW
1859.3 mm
(73.2 in.)1762.8 mm
(69.4 in.)/1973.6
mm (77.7 in.)
3 = Overall
width (excluding
mirrors)Refer to Body Builder for specifications.
4 = Wheelbase 3149.6 mm
(124 in.)3505 mm
(138 in.)
4013 mm
(158 in.)
4470 mm
(176 in.)4013 mm
(158 in.)
4470 mm
(176 in.)
5 = Overall
lengthRefer to Body Builder for specifications.
VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION
NUMBER
Complete Ford built vehicles
The vehicle identification number
is attached to your vehicle in the
following places:
²On the metal tag attached to the
top of the instrument panel on
the driver's side.
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Capacities and specifications
180