1998 FORD ESCORT Owners Manual

BUILT-IN CHILD SEATS
Built-in child safety seat
(if equipped)
The rear seat may include a
built-in child seat. This child seat
conforms to all Federal and local
motor vehicle safety standards.
Read the labels located on the
child seat cushion and shoulder
belt for information on the built-in
child seat.
Use the built-in child seatonlyif
the child is at least 9 months old,
weighs 9±27 kg (20±60 lb) and the
child's shoulders (top) are below
the shoulder harness slots in the
built-in child seat.
Children not meeting these
requirements should be secured in
an approved aftermarket seat.
Refer toChildren and infant or
child safety seatsin this chapter.
Built-in child seat retractors
The belts on built-in child seats
are equipped with a retractor that
locks when both tongues are
latched into the crotch safety belt
buckle. The retractor will
automatically snug the belts
around the child. If the belts do
not remain snug, take the vehicle
to the dealer for child seat repair.
The belts will not snug during a
collision.
Seating and safety restraints
73

Placing your child in the built-in
child seat
Failure to follow all of the
instructions on the use of
this child restraint system can
result in your child striking the
vehicle's interior during a sudden
stop or crash.
Never use the Built-In
Child Seat as a booster
cushion with the adult safety
belts. A child using the adult
belts could slide forward and out
from under the safety belts.
The rear seatback must be
fully locked before
operating the child restraint
system.
1. Grasp the child seat at the top
of the seatback and pull the top
forward to release the latch.
2. Continue to unfold the child
seat until it rests on the seat.
Seating and safety restraints
74

3. Read all information and
warnings on the child seat cushion
and shoulder safety belt. Make
sure the child is not too large for
the child seat.
4. If connected, squeeze the top
and the bottom of the right half of
the chest clip and pull to separate
both halves.
5. Place the child on the child seat
and position the shoulder belts
over each shoulder.
Seating and safety restraints
75

6. Insert either the left or the right
safety belt tongue into the single
opening of the crotch safety belt
buckle (it doesn't matter which
tongue is inserted first). Insert
other tongue. The color green
must appear in the indicator
window on the crotch safety belt
buckle when buckled. Allow belts
to retract and fit snugly.
Seating and safety restraints
76

7. Fasten both halves of the chest
clip below the child's shoulders
and adjust it to comfortably hold
the shoulder belts in place on the
child's chest. The color green must
appear in the indicator window
when fastened.
8. Pull the shoulder belts toward
you to make sure the crotch safety
belt buckle is properly fastened
and the retractor is locked.
9. If the belts become too tight,
unbuckle the crotch safety belt
buckle to unlock the retractors,
then reinsert both belt tongues.
Seating and safety restraints
77

Removing your child from the
built-in child seat
1. Squeeze the tabs on the top and
the bottom of the chest clip and
pull the halves apart to open the
chest clip.
2. Press the release button on the
crotch safety belt buckle.
Seating and safety restraints
78

3. Slide the shoulder belts off the
child's shoulders and remove the
child.
To stow the built-in child seat
Return the child seat cushion to
the upright position, then press
firmly in the center and top of the
child seat.
Inspecting the built-in child seat
after a collision
Inspect all built-in child restraints,
including seats, buckles, retractors,
seat latches. Interlocks and
attaching hardware should be
inspected by a qualified technician
after any collision. If the child seat
was in use during a collision, Ford
recommends replacing it. Built-in
child restraints not in use during a
collision should be inspected and
replaced if either damage or
improper operation is noted.
Seating and safety restraints
79

PREPARING TO START YOUR
VEHICLE
Engine starting is controlled by the
spark ignition system. This system
meets all Canadian
Interference-Causing Equipment
standard requirements regulating
the impulse electrical field strength
of radio noise.
When starting a fuel-injected
engine, avoid pressing the
accelerator before or during
starting. Only use the accelerator
when you have difficulty starting
the engine. For more information
on starting the vehicle, refer to
Starting the enginein this
chapter.
Extended idling at high
engine speeds can produce
very high temperatures in the
engine and exhaust system,
creating the risk of fire or other
damage.
Do not park, idle, or drive
your vehicle in dry grass
or other dry ground cover. The
emission system heats up the
engine compartment and exhaust
system, which can start a fire.
Starting
80