1997 FORD ESCORT child seat

2. Release the cushion retention
clip.
3. Lower the child seat cushion.
If the child seat cannot be opened,
return it to the dealer for repair.
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77

4. Fold the end portion of the child
seat under the child seat cushion.
5. Disconnect the chest clip, if
connected. Squeeze together the
release tabs on the top and bottom
of the chest clip.
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78

6. Place the child in the seat and
position the shoulder belts.
7. Insert the left safety belt tongue
into the left side of the buckle.
Repeat for the right side. Verify
that the indicator window on each
tongue is green to ensure proper
safety belt connections.
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79

If both tongues do not
latch in the buckle, do not
use the child seat. See your
dealer for repairs.
8. Fasten the left and right chest
clip halves together to hold the
shoulder belts in place comfortably
on the child's shoulders. Verify
that the indicator window on the
chest clip is green to ensure a
proper chest clip connection.
²When either of the tongues or
the chest clip is unbuckled, the
red color appears in the window.
²The chest clip is designed to
pull apart easily in the event of
collision. The clip helps keep
the belts on the shoulders of a
squirming or sleeping child.
9. Pull on the safety belt tongues
to ensure they are both securely
latched. If they are not latched,
repeat steps seven and eight.
If necessary, the shoulder belts can
be put in the automatic lock mode
to limit the child's movement in
the child seat. The mode may be
used if the child is sleeping or
attempting to get out of the child
seat.
If not placed in an automatic
locking mode, the child seat
shoulder belts are in the vehicle
sensitive (emergency locking)
mode which locks the shoulder
belt in the event of a crash, hard
braking, or hard cornering.
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80

Activating the automatic locking
mode on the built-in child seat
1. Fully pull out both shoulder
belts.
2. Allow the belts to tighten snugly
against the child's shoulders.
Canceling the automatic locking
mode on the built-in child seat
1. Disconnect the chest clip. Press
the buckle release button and
remove both safety belt tongues
from the buckle.
2. Slide both shoulder belts from
the child's shoulders and arm and
allow them to retract fully.
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81

Removing your child from the
built-in child seat
1. Disconnect the chest clip by
squeezing the release tabs together
and pulling the two sides apart.
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82

2. Press the release button on the
buckle.
3. Slide the shoulder belts off the
child's shoulders and remove the
child.
4. Return the child seat cushion to
the stowed (upright) position.
5. Ensure the shoulder belts are in
the center of the built-in child
seatback and connect the cushion
retention clip.
6. Fold the child seat into the
seatback and tuck the top of the
child seat under the rear seat flap.
7. Press firmly on the center of the
built-in child seat to ensure it is
stowed properly.
When not in use, the built-in child
seat can be stowed so that the rear
center seat position may be used
or the rear seatback can be folded
down.
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83

Inspecting the built-in child seat
after a collision
All built-in child restraints,
including seats, buckles,
retractors, seat latches,
interlocks, and attaching
hardware should be inspected by
a qualified Dealer technician
after any collision. If the child
seat was in use during a
collision, Ford recommends
replacing it. However, if the
collision was minor and a
qualified technician finds that
the child restraints do not show
damage and continue to operate
properly, they do not need to be
replaced. Built-in child seats not
in use during a collision should
also be inspected and replaced if
either damage or improper
operation is noted.
For information on cleaning your
built-in child seat, refer to
Cleaning the built-in child seat
in theMaintenance and care
section.
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84