1997 FORD TAURUS belt

Turn signal
Illuminates when the
left or right turn signal
or the hazard lights are
turned on.
High beams
Illuminates when the
headlamp high beams
are on.
Safety belt
Illuminates when the
ignition is switched on
to remind you to fasten
your safety belts. For
more information, refer toUsing the safety
restraints properlyin theSeating and safety
restraintschapter.
Door ajar
Illuminates when the
ignition switch is in the
ON or START position
and any door is open.
Service engine soon
This light illuminates
when the engine's
Emission Control
System requires
service. It will also
illuminate when the ignition key is in the ON
position and the engine is off.
Low fuel
If the fuel gauge
reaches approximately
1/16th of a tank, this
SERVICE
ENGINE
SOON
Instrumentation
7
ProCarManuals.com

light fails to illuminate, continue to flash or remains
on, have the system serviced immediately.
Headlamps on warning chime
Sounds when the headlamps are on, the ignition is
off (and the key is not in the ignition) and the
driver's door is opened.
Key-in-ignition warning chime
Sounds when the key is left in the ignition in the
OFF/LOCK or ACC position and the driver's door is
opened.
Low coolant chime
Sounds when the engine coolant in the coolant
reservoir is low.
Safety belt warning chime
For information on the safety belt warning chime,
refer to theSeating and safety restraintschapter.
Supplemental restraint system (SRS) warning
chime
For information on the SRS warning chime, refer to
theSeating and safety restraintschapter.
Instrumentation
10
ProCarManuals.com

To open up the seat:
1. Unlock the floor
panel with the key,
then use the handle to
fold the floor panel
toward the front of the
car.
2. Remove the cargo cover. The cargo cover must be
removed or the seatback will not latch in the upright
position.
3. Lift the remote latch
release on the left side
of the compartment
and fold the remaining
floor panel until it
latches. Make sure the
seatback is locked in
the upright position.
To close the seat, make sure the safety belts are in
their correct notches, then lift the remote latch
release and push the seat down until it latches. Pull
up on the handle and push the floor panel into
place.
Seating and safety restraints
54
ProCarManuals.com

SAFETY RESTRAINTS
Safety restraints precautions
Always drive and ride with your seatback
upright and the lap belt snug and low across
the hips.
To prevent the risk of injury, make sure
children sit where they can be properly
restrained.
It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo
area, inside or outside of a vehicle. In a
collision, people riding in these areas are more
likely to be seriously injured or killed. Do not allow
people to ride in any area of your vehicle that is
not equipped with seats and safety belts. Be sure
everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and using a
safety belt properly.
Combination lap and shoulder belts
1. To fasten, insert the
tongue into the slot in
the buckle.
2. To unfasten, push
the red release button
and remove the tongue
from the buckle.
The outboard safety restraints in the vehicle are
combination lap and shoulder belts. The front and
rear seat passenger outboard safety belts have two
types of locking modes described below:
Seating and safety restraints
55
ProCarManuals.com

To test the vehicle
sensitive (emergency)
locking mode, pull the
shoulder belt quickly to
lock.
The vehicle sensitive mode is the normal retractor
mode, adjusting shoulder belt tightness in response
to vehicle movement. For example, if the driver
brakes suddenly or turns a corner sharply or the
vehicle receives an impact of 8 km/h (5 mph) or
more, the combination safety belts would lock to
help reduce forward movement of the driver and
passengers.
Automatic locking mode
In this mode, the shoulder belt is locked in a certain
position by the occupant anddoes notadjust
tightness during vehicle movement.
The automatic locking mode is not available on the
driver belt.
When to use the automatic locking mode
²When a tight lap/shoulder fit is desired.
²Any timea child safety seat is installed in the
vehicle. Refer toChildren and infant or Child
safety seatslater in this chapter.
Seating and safety restraints
56
ProCarManuals.com

How to use the automatic locking mode
²Buckle the
combination lap and
shoulder belt.
²Grasp the shoulder
portion and pull
downward until the
entire belt is
extracted.
²Allow the belt to retract. As the belt retracts, you
will hear a clicking sound. This indicates the
safety belt is now in the automatic locking mode.
How to cancel the automatic locking mode
Disconnect the combination lap/shoulder belt and
allow it to retract completely to cancel the automatic
locking mode and activate the vehicle sensitive
(emergency) locking mode.
Safety belts for front outboard passenger and
rear outboard seating positions (except wagon
rear-facing position)
Your vehicle is equipped with a dual locking mode
retractor on theshoulderbelt portion of the
combination lap/shoulder safety belt at these
positions.
Seating and safety restraints
57
ProCarManuals.com

Front safety belt height adjustment
Your vehicle has safety belt height adjustments for
the driver and front passenger. Adjust the height of
the shoulder belt so the belt rests across the middle
of your shoulder.
To lower the shoulder
belt height, push the
button and slide the
height control down.
To raise the height of
the shoulder belt, slide
the height adjuster up.
Pull down on the
height adjustment
assembly to make sure
it is locked in place.
Center rear lap belt (sedan)
The safety belt in the center rear seating position
has a detachable shoulder belt.
Seating and safety restraints
58
ProCarManuals.com

To attach the shoulder
belt to the lap belt, pull
the shoulder belt out
from the retractor in
the seatback and insert
into the lap belt
connecting pin into the
wide end of the key
slot on the shoulder
belt. Pull the
connecting pin into the
narrow end of the key
slot until you hear a
snap and feel it latch.
Make sure the shoulder
belt is securely
fastened to the lap belt
by pulling up on the shoulder belt.
Lap belts
The lap belts in the center front seating position (if
equipped) and center rear seating position (wagon)
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 belt
through the tongue until it is snugly across the hips.
Shorten and fasten the belt when not in use.
Safety belts for rear-facing occupants (wagon
only)
Never use child safety seats in the third seat
of a wagon.
Seating and safety restraints
59
ProCarManuals.com