1998 Mercury Villager Owner's Manuals

NOTE: If the three-passenger bench seat is moved up to the
second-row position, the outside passenger (near the
sliding door) only needs to use the double window
tongue and the standard buckle. Because the
third-row seat is wider and is closer to the sliding door,
the single window tongue and the auxiliary buckle
are not necessary.
The auxiliary safety restraint system fastened
Seating and Safety Restraints
141

Both tongues must be attached to their appropriate buckles
whenever someone is riding in that seating position, and when a
child safety seat has been installed.
When the two-passenger bench seat is removed from the vehicle,
you must detach the single window tongue from the auxiliary
buckle.
Third-row passengers must be very careful when exiting if the
auxiliary restraint system is being used by a second-row passenger.
It is important to step over the seat belt guide and belt
webbing to avoid tripping.
Unfastening the auxiliary safety restraint system
142

Safety Belt Extension Assembly
A safety belt may be too short even when it is fully extended.
You can add about eight inches (20 cm) to the belt length with a
safety belt extension assembly. Safety belt extensions are
available at no cost (part number 611C22) from your dealer.
WARNING
Failure to follow these instructions will affect the
performance of the safety belts and increase the risk of
personal injury.
Exiting a vehicle with the auxiliary safety restraint system
Seating and Safety Restraints
143

Safety Belt Maintenance
Check the safety belt systems periodically to make sure that they
work properly and are not damaged.
All safety belt assemblies, including retractors, buckles, front seat
belt buckle support assemblies (slide bar) (if so equipped),
child safety seat tether bracket assemblies (if so equipped), and
attaching hardware, should be inspected after any collision. Ford
recommends that all safety belt assemblies used in vehicles
involved in a collision be replaced. However, if the collision was
minor and a qualified technician finds that the belts do not
show damage and continue to operate properly, they do not need
to be replaced. Safety belt assemblies not in use during a
collision should also be inspected and replaced if either damage
or improper operation is noted.
Air Bag Supplemental Restraint System
(SRS)
Important Air Bag Precautions
Your vehicle is equipped with a supplemental restraint system
designed to work with the safety belts to help protect you and your
right front seat passenger in the event of certain collisions
described in the sectionHow Does the Air Bag Supplemental Restraint
System Work?
WARNING
All occupants of the vehicle, including the driver, should
always wear their safety belts.
144

WARNING
Do not place objects or mount equipment on or near the
air bag covers that may come into contact with an inflating
air bag.
WARNING
Do not attempt to service, repair, or modify the air bag
Supplemental Restraint System or its fuses. See your Ford
or Lincoln-Mercury dealer.
WARNING
If you are close to an inflating air bag, it could seriously
injure you. Sit against the seatback and 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.
Seating and Safety Restraints
145

Children and Air Bags
NOTE: For additional important safety information on the
proper use of seat belts, child seats, and infant seats,
please read the entire Safety Restraints chapter in this
owner guide.
WARNING
Children should always wear their safety belts.
How Does the Air Bag Supplemental Restraint System
Work?
The Air Bag Supplemental Restraint System is designed to
activate when the vehicle is in a collision. 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 activation.
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.
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WARNING
Several air bag system components get hot after inflation.
Do not touch them after inflation.
WARNING
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.
The location of air bags and warning labels
Seating and Safety Restraints
147

The Air Bag Supplemental Restraint System consists of:
mdriver and passenger air bag modules (which include the
inflators and air bags),
mone or more impact and safing sensors,
ma system diagnostic module,
ma readiness light,
mand the electrical wiring which connects the components.
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.
Inflated driver side air bag
148