1997 FORD PROBE Owners Manual

102 [SS06100(ALL)02/96]Lap/Shoulder Belt Retractors
(Dual Locking Modes)
*
[SS06200(ALL)04/96]
Your vehicle is equipped with a dual locking
mode retractor on the shoulder belt portion of
the combination lap/shoulder safety belt for
passengers.
*
[SS06300(ALL)02/96]
Dual locking mode retractors operate in two
ways:
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[SS06400(ALL)02/96]
Vehicle sensitive (emergency) locking mode
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[SS06500(ALL)02/96]
In this operating mode, the shoulder belt
retractor will allow the occupant freedom of
movement, locking tight only on hard braking,
hard cornering or impacts of approximately
5 mph (8 km/h) or more. The retractor can also
be made to lock by pulling the belt out quickly.
%*
[SS06600(ALL)02/96]
Automatic locking mode
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[SS06700(ALL)01/96]
In this operating mode, the shoulder belt
retractor will be automatically locked and will
remain locked when the combination
lap/shoulder safety belt is buckled, and does not
allow the occupant freedom of movement. This
mode provides the following:
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[SS06800(ALL)01/96]
q
A tight lap/shoulder belt on the occupant.
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[SS06900(ALL)01/96]
q
Child safety seat installation.
*
[SS07000(ALL)05/96]
RWARNING
Rear-facing child seats or infant carriers
should never be placed in the front seats.
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103 [SS07100(ALL)02/96]
This modemust be usedwhen installing a child
seat. To switch the retractor from the emergency
locking mode to the automatic locking mode,
perform the following steps:
*
[SS07200(ALL)02/96]
1. Buckle the lap/shoulder combination belt.
[SS07300(ALL)02/96]
2. Pull on the belt until all of the stored belt is
out of the retractor and a click is heard.
*
[SS07400(ALL)02/96]
3. A clicking sound will continue to be heard
as the belt is allowed to retract. This
indicates that the retractor is in the
automatic locking mode.
*
[SS07500(ALL)02/96]
NOTE: When the combination lap/shoulder
belt is unbuckled and allowed to
retract completely, the retractor will
switch to the vehicle sensitive
(emergency) locking mode. See the
detailed instructions underSafety Seats
for Childrenin this chapter.
%*
[SS10000(ALL)02/96]
Safety Belt Extension Assembly
[SS10100(ALL)02/96]
A safety belt that is too short even when fully
extended can be lengthened. You can add about
eight inches (20 cm) to the belt length with a
safety belt extension assembly. Safety belt
extensions are available at no cost from your
dealer.
*
[SS10200(ALL)01/96]
Use only extensions manufactured by the same
supplier as the safety belt. Manufacturer
identification is located at the end of the
webbing on the label. Also, use the safety belt
extension only if the safety belt is too short for
you when fully extended. Do not use extension
to change the fit of the shoulder belt across the
torso.
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104
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[SS10300(ALL)02/96]
RWARNING
Failure to follow these instructions will
affect the performance of the safety belts
and increase the risk of personal injury.
%
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[SS10400(ALL)03/96]
Safety Belt Maintenance
*
[SS10500(ALL)02/96]
Check the safety belt systems periodically to
make sure that they work properly and are not
damaged.
%*
[SS10600(ALL)05/96]
All safety belt assemblies, including retractors,
buckles, front seat belt buckle support assemblies
(slide bar) (if equipped), shoulder belt height
adjusters (if equipped), child safety seat tether
bracket assemblies (if equipped), and attaching
hardware, should be inspected after any
collision. Ford recommends that all safety belt
assemblies used in vehicles involved in a
collision be replaced. However, if the collision
was minor and a qualified technician finds that
the belts do not show damage and continue to
operate properly, they do not need to be
replaced. Safety belt assemblies not in use
during a collision should also be inspected and
replaced if either damage or improper operation
is noted.
%
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[SS10900(ALL)05/96]
Air Bag Supplemental Restraint
System (SRS)
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[SS11000(ALL)05/96]
Important Air Bag Precautions
*
[SS11100(ALL)05/96]
Your vehicle is equipped with a supplemental
restraint system designed to work with the
safety belts to help protect you and your right
front seat passenger in the event of a collision.
The Air Bag Supplemental Restraint System is
primarily designed to reduce certain upper body
injuries.
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Update:Mon Jun 3 10:07:19 1996

105
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[SS11200(ALL)05/96]
RWARNING
All occupants of the vehicle, including the
driver, should always wear their safety
belts, failure to do so may increase the
risk of personal injury in the event of a
collision.
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[SS11250(ALL)05/96]
RWARNING
Do not place objects or mount equipment
on or near the air bag covers that may
come into contact with an inflating air
bag. Failure to follow these instructions
may increase the risk of personal injury in
the event of a collision.
*
[SS11300(ALL)05/96]
RWARNING
Do not attempt to service, repair, or
modify the air bag Supplemental Restraint
System or its fuses. See your Ford or
Lincoln-Mercury dealer.
*
[SS11350(ALL)05/96]
RWARNING
If you are close to an inflating air bag, it
could seriously injure you. Position your
seat such that it is as far back from the
steering wheel as possible but still allows
you to properly control the vehicle.
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106
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[SS11400(ALL)05/96]
Children and Air Bags
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[SS11450(ALL)05/96]
NOTE: For additional important safety
information on the proper use of seat
belts, child seats, and infant seats,
please read the entire Safety Restraints
chapter in this owner guide.
*
[SS11500(ALL)05/96]
RWARNING
Children should always wear their safety
belts. Failure to follow these instructions
may increase the risk of personal injury in
the event of a collision.
[SS11550(ALL)05/96]
RWARNING
Rear-facing child seats or infant carriers
should never be placed in the front seats.
%*
[SS11600(ALL)05/96]
How Does the Air Bag Supplemental
Restraint System Work?
[SS11650(ALL)05/96]
The Air Bag Supplemental Restraint System is
designed to activate when the vehicle is in a
collision similar to hitting a fixed barrier head
on at 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.
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107 [SS11675(ALL)05/96]
half page art:0032207-D
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[SS11700(ALL)05/96]
If the vehicle is in a moderate or severe frontal
collision, the system is activated and the air bags
inflate rapidly. After the air bag inflates, it will
quickly deflate. After the air bag deployment,
you may notice a smoke-like, powdery residue
or smell the burnt propellant. This is normal.
The residue may consist of cornstarch or talcum
powder (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 that inflates the air bag.
Small amounts of sodium hydroxide may be
present which may irritate the skin and eyes, but
none of the residue is toxic. The Air Bag
Supplemental Restraint System will reduce, but
not eliminate all injuries in an accident.
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108
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[SS11750(ALL)05/96]
RWARNING
Several air bag system components get hot
after inflation. Do not try to touch them
after inflation.
*
[SS11800(ALL)05/96]
RWARNING
The air bag will inflate only once. The
system is designed to function on a
one-time-only basis. If the air bag is
inflated, THE AIR BAG WILL NOT
FUNCTION AGAIN AND MUST BE
REPLACED IMMEDIATELY. If the air
bag is not replaced, this will increase the
risk of injury in a subsequent collision.
*
[SS11850(ALL)05/96]
The Air Bag Supplemental Restraint System
consists of:
*
[SS11900(ALL)05/96]
q
driver and passenger air bag modules (which
include the inflators and air bags),
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[SS11950(ALL)05/96]
q
one or more impact and safing sensors,
*
[SS12000(ALL)05/96]
q
a system diagnostic module,
*
[SS12050(ALL)05/96]
q
a readiness light and tone,
*
[SS12100(ALL)05/96]
q
and the electrical wiring which connects the
components.
*
[SS12150(ALL)05/96]
The diagnostic module monitors its own circuits,
the air bag electrical system, the air bag
readiness light, the air bag power and the air
bag inflators.
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109 [SS12160(ALL)05/96]
half page art:0032152-A
Inflated driver-side air bag
[SS12170(ALL)05/96]
half page art:0032153-A
Inflated passenger-side air bag
File:06prssp.ex
Update:Mon Jun 3 10:07:19 1996