1998 FORD MUSTANG child restraint

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 special needs of your
child with your pediatrician.
SAFETY SEATS FOR CHILDREN
Child and infant or child safety seats
Use a safety seat that is recommended for the size
and weight of the child. Carefully follow all of the
manufacturer's instructions 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.
Seating and safety restraints
78

When installing a child safety seat:
²Review and follow
the information
presented in theAir
Bag Supplemental
Restraint System
section in this
chapter.
²Use the correct
safety belt buckle for that seating position.
²Insert the belt tongue into the proper buckle until
you hear a snap and feel it latch. Make sure the
tongue is securely fastened in the buckle.
²Keep the buckle release button pointing up and
away from the safety seat, with the tongue
between the child seat and the release button, to
prevent accidental unbuckling.
²Place seat back in upright position.
²Put the safety belt in the automatic locking mode.
Refer toAutomatic locking mode(passenger
side front and outboard rear seating positions)(if
equipped).
Ford recommends the use of a child safety seat
having a top tether strap. Install the child safety seat
in a seating position which is capable of providing a
tether anchorage. For more information on top
tether straps, refer toAttaching safety seats with
tether straps.
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.
Seating and safety restraints
79

Installing child safety seats in combination lap
and shoulder belt seating positions
1. Position the child
safety seat in a seat
with a combination lap
and shoulder belt.
An air bag can kill or injure a child in a child
seat. If you must use a forward-facing child
seat in the front seat, move seat all the way back.
Children 12 and under should be properly
restrained in the rear seat whenever
possible.
2. Pull down on the
shoulder belt and then
grasp the shoulder belt
and lap belt together.
3. While holding the
shoulder and lap belt
portions together, route
the tongue through the
child seat according to
the child seat
manufacturer's
instructions. Be sure
the belt webbing is not
twisted.
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80

4. Insert the belt
tongue into the proper
buckle (the buckle
closest to the direction
the tongue is coming
from) for that seating
position until you hear
a snap and feel the
latch engage. Make
sure the tongue is
latched securely by
pulling on it.
5. To put the retractor
in the automatic
locking mode, grasp
the shoulder portion of
the belt and pull
downward until all of
the belt is extracted
and a click is heard.
6.
Allow the belt to retract. The belt will click as it
retracts to indicate it is in the automatic locking mode.
7. Pull the lap belt
portion across the child
seat toward the buckle
and pull up on the
shoulder belt while
pushing down with
your knee on the child
seat.
8. Allow the safety belt
to retract to remove
any slack in the belt.
9. Before placing the
child in the seat,
forcibly tilt the seat
forward and back to
make sure the seat is
securely held in place.
Seating and safety restraints
81

10. Try to pull the belt out of the retractor to make
sure the retractor is in the automatic locking mode
(you should not be able to pull more belt out). If the
retractor is not locked, unbuckle the belt and repeat
steps two through nine.
Check to make sure the child seat is properly
secured before each use.
Attaching safety seats with tether straps
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.
Tether anchorage hardware
Attachment holes (at each rear seating position)
have been provided in your vehicle to attach anchor
hardware, if required. Tether anchorage 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.
Be sure to follow the child safety seat
manufacturer's instructions.
Tighten the anchor according to
specifications. Otherwise, the safety seat
may not be properly secured and the child may be
injured in a sudden stop or collision.
Seating and safety restraints
82

Air bag supplemental
restraint system ........ 71
and child
safety seats ............. 73
description .............. 72
disposal .................... 76
indicator light ......... 75
passenger air bag ... 74
Automatic transmission
driving an automatic
overdrive .. 94,95,96,97
Axle
refill capacities ...... 178
Battery
voltage gauge .......... 15
Brakes ................... 88,90
anti-lock .............. 88,89
anti-lock brake
system (ABS)
warning light ........... 89
fluid, checking
and adding ............ 133
shift interlock .......... 93
Break-in period ........ 2,3
Child safety seats
attaching with
tether straps ........... 82
in rear seat .............. 80
tether anchorage
hardware ................. 82
Cleaning
your vehicle ............. 171
engine
compartment ......... 173
exterior ........... 173,176
exterior lamps ....... 174
interior ................... 175
plastic parts .......... 174
washing .................. 172
waxing ................... 172
wheels .................... 173
windows ................ 176wiper blades .......... 174
Clutch
fluid ........................ 135
operation
while driving ........... 98
recommended shift
speeds ...................... 99
Console ...................... 52
Controls
power seat ............... 64
Convertible ................ 53
cleaning ................. 176
installation
of the boot .............. 54
lowering the
convertible top ........ 53
raising the
convertible top ........ 55
Coolant ............. 139,140
checking
and adding ............ 138
refill capacities ...... 140
Defrost
rear window ............ 17
Emission
control system ......... 163
Engine
coolant ................... 137
idle speed control . 146
service points . 129,130
starting after a
collision ................. 108
Engine block heater . 86
Engine oil
checking
and adding ............ 132
dipstick .................. 130
specifications . 130,133
Exhaust fumes .......... 87
Floor mats ................. 51
Index
186

Mirrors
side view mirrors
(power) ................... 51
Motorcraft parts ...... 158
Octane rating .......... 157
Odometer ................... 14
Panic alarm feature,
remote entry system 57
Parking brake ............ 90
Power distribution box
(see Fuses) ............. 113
Power door locks ...... 51
Power steering .......... 92
fluid, checking and
adding .................... 140
Radio ................ 21,22,23
24,25,26,27,28,29,30
31,32,33,34,35,36,37
38,39,40,41,42,43
Relays ...................... 109
Remote entry
system .............. 56,60,61
illuminated entry .... 58
locking/unlocking
doors ................... 56,57
replacement/additional
transmitters ............. 58
replacing
the batteries ............ 59
Safety belts (see
Safety restraints) ...... 11
Safety restraints
cleaning the safety
belts .................. 71,176
extension assembly 70
for children ........ 76,77
warning light and
chime .................. 11,70
Seat belts (see Safety
restraints) ........ 66,68,69
Seats .......................... 63
child safety seats .... 78cleaning ................. 175
Seats-easy access/
easyout feature ......... 65
Servicing your
vehicle ............... 126,127
Spark plugs,
specifications ........... 177
Special notice .............. 3
Specification chart,
lubricants ................. 180
Speed control ............ 46
Speedometer ............. 13
Starting your
vehicle .............. 83,84,86
jump starting ........ 120
121,122,123
Steering wheel
tilting ....................... 45
Tachometer ............... 14
Tires ........... 149,150,151
changing ......... 115,116
checking
the pressure .......... 151
replacing ................ 152
rotating .................. 151
snow tires
and chains ............. 153
tire grades ............. 150
treadwear .............. 150
Towing
wrecker .................. 124
Traction control ........ 91
active light .............. 10
Traction-lok
rear axle .................. 101
Transmission ........... 142
automatic
operation ................. 93
fluid, checking and
adding
(automatic) ........... 142
143,144
Index
188