1997 FORD THUNDERBIRD seats

99
Seating and Safety
Restraints
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[SS00200( ALL)05/96]
Seats
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Head Restraints
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[SS00400( ALL)01/96]
If you use them properly, head restraints will
help protect your head and neck in a collision.
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[SS00500( ALL)01/96]
A head restraint helps protect you best if you
position it behind your head and not behind
your neck.
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Standard head restraints
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You can adjust the head restraints for your
comfort and protection.
[SS00800( ALL)12/95]
one third page art:0010048-C
Adjusting the head restraint
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100 % [SS01200(MBC )12/95]Adjusting Manual Seats
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[SS01400( ALL)01/96]
In the front seats, you can move the whole seat
forward or backward or tilt the back of the seat
forward or backward.
[SS01500(MBC )12/95]
To move the seats forward or backward:
[SS01700( BCGV)12/95]
1. Find the adjustment bar underneath the front
part of the seat.
[SS01900( BCGV)12/95]
2. Lift the bar to unlatch the seat.
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[SS02100( ALL)01/96]
3. Move the seat to the desired position.
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4. Release the bar to latch the seat in its new
position. Make sure the seat locks securely in
place.
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quarter page art:0010252-A
The front seat adjustment bar
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To recline the front manual seats:
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1. On the side of the seat, find the handle for
the recliner.
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2. Lift the handle up and hold it in place.
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3. Lean against the back of the seat and adjust
it to the position you want. You can tilt the
seat back or bring it forward.
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4. Release the handle to lock the seat in its new
position.
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102
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RWARNING
Check to see that the seat and seatback
are latched securely in position. Keep
floor area free of objects that would
prevent proper seat engagement. Never
attempt to adjust the seat while the
vehicle is in motion.
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[SS04500( BCGV)01/96]
Using the Power Seats (If equipped)
[SS04700( BC )12/95]
If your vehicle has power seats, you can adjust
them in several directions. The controls are on
the side of the seats.
[SS05000( BC )12/95]
half page art:0010258-F
The power controls on the driver's seat
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104
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To help you remember to fasten your safety belt,
a warning light may come on and a chime may
sound. SeeSafety Belt Warning Light and Chimein
theInstrumentationchapter.
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[SS11500( ALL)02/96]
See the following sections in this chapter for
directions on how to properly use these safety
belts. Also seeSafety Restraints for Childrenin this
chapter for special instructions about using
safety belts for children.
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RWARNING
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.
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RWARNING
Always drive and ride with your seatback
upright and the lap belt snug and low
across the hips.
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RWARNING
Ford recommends that all safety belt
assemblies and attaching hardware should
be inspected by a qualified technician
after any collision. 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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107
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Dual locking mode retractors operate in two
ways:
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Vehicle sensitive (emergency) locking mode
[SS14100( ALL)12/95]
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/jerking on the belt.
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Automatic locking mode
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In this operating mode, the shoulder belt
retractor will be automatically locked and 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:
[SS14400( ALL)04/96]
q
A tight lap/shoulder belt fit on the occupant.
[SS14500( ALL)04/96]
q
Child seat or infant carrier installation
restraint.
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RWARNING
Rear-facing child seats or infant carriers
should never be placed in the front seats.
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This modemust be usedwhen installing a child
safety seat on the front passenger seat and rear
outboard seats where dual locking retractors are
provided.
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108
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To switch the retractor from the emergency
locking mode to the automatic locking mode,
perform the following steps:
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1. Buckle the lap/shoulder combination belt.
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2. Grasp the shoulder portion of the belt and
pull downward until all of the belt is
extracted and, when allowed to retract, a
clicking sound is heard. At this time, the belt
retractor is in the automatic locking mode
(child restraint mode).
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3. A clicking sound will continue to be heard
as the belt is allowed to retract.
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NOTE: When the combination lap/shoulder
belt is unbuckled and allowed to
retract completely, the retractor will
switch back to the vehicle sensitive
(emergency) locking mode. See the
detailed instructions underSafety Seats
for Childrenin this chapter.
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[SS17600( BC )05/96]
Safety Belts with Locking Cinch Tongue
for Rear Outboard Seating Positions
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Your vehicle is equipped with safety seat belts
containing a cinch tongue at the rear outboard
seating positions.
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The locking cinch tongue will slide up and
down the belt webbing when the belt is in the
stowed position or while putting seat belts on.
When the locking cinch tongue of the
lap/shoulder combination seat belt is latched
into the buckle, the cinch tongue will allow the
lap portion to become shorter, but locks the
webbing in place to restrict it from becoming
longer.
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110
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To fasten a cinch tongue, pull the combination
lap and shoulder belt from the retractor so that
the shoulder belt portion of the safety belt
crosses your shoulder and chest. Be sure the belt
is not twisted. If the belt is twisted remove the
twist. Insert the belt tongue into the proper
buckle for your seating position until you hear a
snap and feel it latch. Make sure the tongue is
securely fastened to the buckle by pulling on the
tongue.
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[SS18300( ALL)05/96]
RWARNING
The lap belts should fit snugly and as low
as possible around the hips, not around
the waist.
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RWARNING
Front and rear seat occupants, including
pregnant women, should wear safety belts
for optimum protection in an accident.
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RWARNING
Each seating position in your vehicle has a
specific safety belt assembly which is
made up of one buckle and one tongue
that are designed to be used as a pair. 1)
Use the shoulder belt on the outside
shoulder only. Never wear the shoulder
belt under the arm. 2) Never swing it
around your neck over the inside
shoulder. 3) Never use a single belt for
more than one person.
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[SS18600( BC )01/96]
Due to folding rear seats, sometimes the buckles
and tongues toward the center of the vehicle
may be hidden by the rear edge of the seat
cushion. Pull them out so they will be accessible.
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115
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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.
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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.
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[SS22801( ALL)03/96]
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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Children and Air Bags
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NOTE: For additional important safety
information on the proper use of seat
belts, child seats, and infant seats,
please read the entire Safety Restraints
section in this owner guide.
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[SS23101( ALL)03/96]
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.
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Update:Thu May 30 10:58:44 1996