1997 FORD THUNDERBIRD warning

115
*
[SS22601( ALL)03/96]
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.
*
[SS22701( ALL)03/96]
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.
*
[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.
*
[SS22901( ALL)03/96]
Children and Air Bags
*
[SS23001( ALL)03/96]
NOTE: For additional important safety
information on the proper use of seat
belts, child seats, and infant seats,
please read the entire Safety Restraints
section in this owner guide.
*
[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.
File:06rcssb.ex
Update:Thu May 30 10:58:44 1996

116
*
[SS23201( ALL)05/96]
RWARNING
Rear-facing child seats and infant carriers
should never be placed in the front seats.
%*
[SS23301( ALL)05/96]
How Does the Air Bag Supplemental
Restraint System Work?
*
[SS23401( ALL)04/96]
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 (13-23 km/h). 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 acitivation.
[SS23501( 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.
*
[SS23601( ALL)05/96]
RWARNING
Several air bag system components get hot
after inflation. Do not try to touch them
after inflation.
File:06rcssb.ex
Update:Thu May 30 10:58:44 1996

117
*
[SS23701( 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.
[SS23801( ALL)05/96]
The Air Bag Supplemental Restraint System
consists of:
*
[SS23901( ALL)03/96]
q
driver and passenger air bag modules (which
include the inflators and air bags),
[SS24001( ALL)05/96]
q
one or more impact and safing sensors,
[SS24101( ALL)05/96]
q
a system diagnostic module,
[SS24201( ALL)05/96]
q
a readiness light and tone,
[SS24301( ALL)05/96]
q
and the electrical wiring which connects the
components.
[SS24350( ALL)04/96]
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.
[SS24401( ALL)05/96]
Determining if System Is Operational
*
[SS24501( ALL)03/96]
The Air Bag Supplemental Restraint System uses
a readiness light and a tone to indicate the
condition of the system. The readiness light is in
the instrument cluster. When you turn the
ignition key to ON, this light will illuminate for
approximately six (6) seconds and then turn off.
This indicates that the system is operating
normally. NOTE: Routine maintenance of the air
bag system is not required.
File:06rcssb.ex
Update:Thu May 30 10:58:44 1996

119
*
[SS26500( ALL)02/96]
RWARNING
Never let a passenger hold a child on his
or her lap while the vehicle is moving.
The passenger cannot protect the child
from injury in a collision.
*
[SS26600( ALL)05/96]
RWARNING
Cargo should always be secured to
prevent it from shifting and causing
damage to the vehicle or harm to
passengers.
*
[SS26700( ALL)05/96]
When possible, put children in the rear seat of
your vehicle. Accident statistics suggest that
children are safer when properly restrained in
the rear seating positions than in the front
seating positions.
*
[SS26800( ALL)03/96]
RWARNING
Carefully follow all of the manufacturer's
instructions included with the safety seat
you put in your vehicle. If you do not
install and use the safety seat properly,
the child may be injured in a sudden stop
or collision.
*
[SS26900( ALL)01/96]
RWARNING
Safety belts and seats can become hot in a
vehicle that has been closed up in sunny
weather; they could burn a small child.
Check seat covers and buckles before you
place a child anywhere near them.
*
[SS27000( ALL)03/96]
RWARNING
Do not leave children, unreliable adults,
or pets unattended in your vehicle.
File:06rcssb.ex
Update:Thu May 30 10:58:44 1996

120 %
*
[SS27100( ALL)03/96]
RWARNING
When using forward-facing child seats
move the passenger seat as far back from
the instrument panel as possible. Never
secure rear-facing infant seats in the front
seat.
%*
[SS27200( ALL)01/96]
Safety Seats for Children
*
[SS27300( ALL)01/96]
Use a safety seat that is recommended for the
size and weight of the child. Always follow the
safety seat manufacturer's instructions when
installing and using the safety seat.
*
[SS27500( ALL)01/96]
When installing a child safety seat, be sure to
use the correct safety belt buckle for that seating
position, and make sure the tongue is securely
fastened in the buckle. For a shoulder/lap belt
combination with a sliding tongue, make sure
the retractor is in the automatic locking mode.
*
[SS27600( ALL)05/96]
Children weighing less than 40 lbs. (18 kg)
should use child or infant seats. Forward facing
child seats must have the passenger seat moved
as far back from the instrument panel as
possible.
*
[SS27700( ALL)05/96]
RWARNING
Rear-facing child seats or infant carriers
should never be placed in the front seats.
*
[SS27800( ALL)05/96]
All child restraint systems are designed to be
secured in vehicle seats by lap belts or by the
lap portion of a lap-shoulder belt.
File:06rcssb.ex
Update:Thu May 30 10:58:44 1996

121
*
[SS27900( ALL)03/96]
RWARNING
If you do not properly secure the safety
seat, the child occupying the seat may be
injured during a collision or sudden stop.
An unsecured safety seat could also injure
other passengers.
*
[SS28000( ALL)03/96]
RWARNING
Carefully follow all of the manufacturer's
instructions included with the safety seat
you put in your vehicle. If you do not
install and use the safety seat properly,
the child may be injured in a sudden stop
or collision.
*
[SS28100(MBC )05/96]
RWARNING
Always keep the buckle release button
pointing upward and away from the child
seat, with the tongue between the child
seat and the release button as shown in
the following illustration.
%*
[SS30600( BC )05/96]
Installing Safety Seats in the Front
Outboard Passenger Seating Position
[SS30700( ALL)12/95]
For seating positions equipped with a dual
locking mode retractor, use the following
procedure.
[SS30800( ALL)04/96]
If you choose to install a forward-facing child
safety seat in the front seating positions, move
vehicle seat as far back as possible.
*
[SS30900( ALL)05/96]
1. Position the child seat in the center of the
passenger seating position.
File:06rcssb.ex
Update:Thu May 30 10:58:44 1996

136 [SS35320( ALL)04/96]Attaching Safety Seats with Tether Straps
*
[SS35340( ALL)04/96]
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.
%*
[SS35360( ALL)04/96]
Tether anchorage hardware
[SS35380( ALL)05/96]
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. All vehicles
built for sale in Canada include a tether anchor
hardware kit.
%*
[SS35400( ALL)01/96]
Safety Belts for Children
*
[SS35500( ALL)01/96]
Children who are too large for child safety seats
should always wear safety belts. (See instructions
with your child seat, or contact its manufacturer,
to determine maximum size of child that will
safely fit in the seat.)
*
[SS35600( ALL)01/96]
RWARNING
If safety belts are not properly worn and
adjusted as described, the risk of serious
injury to the child in a collision will be
much greater.
*
[SS35700( ALL)01/96]
If the shoulder belt portion of one of the lap and
shoulder belts can be positioned so that it does
not cross or rest in front of the child's face or
neck, the child should wear the lap and shoulder
belt. Moving the child closer to the center of the
vehicle may help provide a good shoulder belt
fit.
File:06rcssb.ex
Update:Thu May 30 10:58:44 1996

137 [SS35800( BC )12/95]
RWARNING
If the shoulder belt cannot be properly
positioned, the child should sit in the
center rear seat and use the lap belt.
*
[SS36000( ALL)01/96]
To improve the fit of lap and shoulder belts on
children who have outgrown child safety seats,
Ford recommends use of a belt-positioning
booster seat that is labelled as conforming to all
Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
Belt-positioning booster seats raise the child and
provide a shorter, firmer seating cushion that
encourages safer seating posture and better fit of
lap and shoulder belts on the child. A
belt-positioning booster should be used if the
shoulder belt rests in front of the child's face or
neck, or if the lap belt does not fit snugly on
both thighs, or if the thighs are too short to let
the child sit all the way back on the seat cushion
when the lower legs hang over the edge of the
seat cushion. You may wish to discuss the
specific needs of your child with your
pediatrician.
*
[SS36100( ALL)01/96]
RWARNING
Do not use a belt-positioning booster with
a lap-only belt.
*
[SS36200( ALL)01/96]
Lap belts and the lap belt portion of lap and
shoulder belts should always be worn snugly
and below the hips, touching the child's thighs.
*
[SS36300( ALL)02/96]
RWARNING
Children should always ride with the
seatback in the fully upright position.
File:06rcssb.ex
Update:Thu May 30 10:58:44 1996