1997 FORD EXPLORER Owners Manual

anchorage. For more information
on top tether straps seeAttaching
safety seats with tether strapsin
this chapter.
When installing a child safety seat:
²Use the correct safety belt
buckle for that seating position.
²Make sure the tongue is
securely fastened in the buckle.
²Keep the buckle release button
pointing up and away from the
safety seat, with the tongue
between the child seat and the
release button, to prevent
accidental unbuckling.
²Place seatbacks in the upright
position.
²Put the safety belt in the
automatic locking mode. Refer
toUsing the automatic locking
modein this chapter.
Installing child safety seats in
combination lap and shoulder
belt seating positions
1. Position the child safety seat in
a seat with a combination lap and
shoulder belt.
If you choose to install a child
safety seat in the front passenger
com_installing_seats.01
Seating and safety restraints
98

seat, move the seat as far back as
possible.
Rear-facing child seats or
infant carriers should
never be placed in the front
seats.
2. Pull down on the shoulder belt
and then grasp the shoulder belt
and lap belt together.
3. While holding the shoulder and
lap belt portions together, route
the tongue through the child seat
according to the child seat
manufacturers' instructions. Be
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.
Seating and safety restraints
99

5. To put the retractor in the
automatic locking mode, grasp the
shoulder portion of the belt and
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
100

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.
Attaching safety seats with
tether strap
Some manufacturers make safety
seats that include a tether strap
that goes over the back of the
vehicle seat and attaches to an
anchoring point. Other
manufacturers offer the tether
strap as an accessory. Contact the
manufacturer of your child safety
seat for information about ordering
a tether strap.
Tether anchor hardware
Attachment holes (at each rear
seating position) have been
provided in your vehicle to attach
anchor hardware, if required.
Tether anchor hardware kits (part
number 613D74), including
instructions, may be obtained at no
charge from any Ford or
Lincoln-Mercury dealer.
Only use the tether
attachment hole locations
shown in the illustrations. The
tether anchor may not perform
properly if the wrong mounting
location is used.
uno_tether_straps
uno_integrated_info
Seating and safety restraints
101

Built-in child seat (if equipped)
The rear seat may be equipped
with a built-in child safety seat.
This child seat conforms to all
federal and Canadian motor vehicle
safety standards. Read the labels
located on the child seat cushion
and shoulder belt for more
information on the built-in child
seat.
Use the built-in child seatonly
under the following conditions:
Child's age Child's weight Child's height
At least one year 10-27 kg (22-60 lb)Shoulders must be
below the shoulder
harness slots on the
built-in seat.
Children not meeting these
requirements should be secured in
an approved aftermarket seat.
Refer toChildren and infant or
child safety seatsin this chapter.
Placing your child in the built-in
child seat
Failure to follow all of the
instructions on the use of
this child restraint system can
result in your child striking the
vehicle's interior during a sudden
stop or crash.
uno_placing_child_in_seat
Seating and safety restraints
102

The second row seatback
must be fully locked before
operating the child restraint
system. Check the position of the
seatback release lever.
Never use the Built-In
Child Seat as a booster
cushion with the adult safety
belts. A child using the adult
belts could slide forward and out
from under the safety belts.
1. Grasp the strap and pull toward
you approximately one inch, then
slide hand under the head restraint
and slide upwards to the full
position.
2. Pull both Velcrotstraps to
release the child seat cushion.
Seating and safety restraints
103

3. Lower the child seat cushion.
4. Unfold the cushion protector
flap onto adult seat cushion.
Seating and safety restraints
104

5. If connected, disconnect the
chest clip and buckles.
6. Place the child in the seat and
position the left shoulder belt over
the child's left shoulder first, then
place the right shoulder belt over
the child's right shoulder.
7. Insert the left and right safety
belt tongues into the left and right
slots of the crotch buckle. Verify
that the indicator window on each
tongue is green to ensure proper
safety belt connections.
Seating and safety restraints
105