1997 FORD EXPLORER Severe Duty Supplement Manual

Do not place objects or
mount equipment on or
near the air bag covers that may
come into contact with an
inflating air bag.
Important safety precautions
Do not attempt to service,
repair, or modify the Air
Bag Supplemental Restraint
System or its fuses. See your
Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer.
All occupants of the
vehicle, including the
driver, should always wear their
safety belts.
Special air bag concerns
²This vehicle cannot be special
ordered without the supplement
restraint system (SRS).
²The installation of some types of
push bumpers could affect the
timing of air bag deployment.
²When transporting a passenger
whose hands are restrained, it is
recommended that he should be
sitting upright as possible and
properly restrained with the
safety belt, seated in the rear of
the vehicle. If it is necessary to
transport the individual in the
front seat, the seat should be
adjusted as far rearward as
possible with the seat belt
fastened.
G
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25

²This vehicle is not designed nor
intended for use as an
ambulance or pursuit vehicle.
However, high speed braking or
uneven road surfaces will not
cause inadvertent air bag
inflation.
Air Bag Do's and Don'ts
Do not attempt to tamper with,
disconnect or deactivate the air
bag system.
Tampering with the air bag system
could cause the bag to inflate or
become inoperative. Disconnecting
or deactivating an air bag system
could result in liability exposure to
the vehicle owner.
Do not mount or place any
objects in the deployment path
of an air bag.
Air bags must be allowed to fully
deploy without restriction. The
deployment of air bags is not
compatible with any configuration
of aftermarket equipment
mounting that places objects in the
air bag deployment path.
Equipment mounted or placed in
the deployment area of an air bag
will reduce the effectiveness of the
air bag, damage the air bag, and
potentially damage or dislodge the
equipment.
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Do always use safety belts with
the air bag supplemental
restraint system.
There are four very important
reasons to always use safety belts
with the air bag system. Safety
belts:
²Help restrain the occupant to
increase the effectiveness of the
air bag when it inflates.
²Reduce the risk of injury in
rollover, side or rear impact
accidents for which air bags are
not designed to inflate.
²Reduce the risk of injury in
frontal collisions that are not
severe enough to activate the air
bag.
²Reduce the risk of being thrown
from the vehicle.
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27

Automatic transmission ................3
Axle ................................................3
Engine
service points ..............................2Service concerns ...........................2
Index
28