1998 Mercury Villager seats

Automatic locking mode
In this operating mode, the shoulder belt retractor will be
automatically locked and will 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:
mA tight lap/shoulder belt on the occupant.
mChild safety seat installation.
WARNING
Rear-facing child seats or infant carriers should never be
placed in the front seats.
This modemust be usedwhen installing a child safety seat on
the front passenger seat and rear outboard seats where dual locking
retractors are provided.
To switch the retractor from the emergency locking mode to the
automatic locking mode, perform the following steps:
1. Buckle the lap/shoulder combination belt.
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).
3. A clicking sound will continue to be heard as the belt is
allowed to retract. This indicates that the retractor is in the
automatic locking mode.
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NOTE: When the combination lap/shoulder belt is unbuckled
and allowed to retract completely, the retractor will
switch to the vehicle sensitive (emergency) locking mode.
See the detailed instructions underSafety Seats for
Childrenin this chapter.
Shoulder Belt Height Adjustment
Driver and right front passenger
You can adjust the shoulder belt height to one of five (5)
positions.
To adjust the belt down, pinch the release button and slide the
adjuster down. To adjust the belt up, pinch the release button and
slide the adjuster up.
Make sure the adjuster is firmly in one of the five positions. The
belt should be adjusted up or down until the belt rests across
the middle of your shoulder.
The shoulder belt height adjuster
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137

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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Safety Restraints for Children
In the U.S. and Canada, you are required by law to use safety
restraints for children. If small children ride in your vehicle Ð this
generally includes children who are four years old or younger
and who weigh 40 pounds (18 kg) or less Ð you must put them
in safety seats that are made specially for children. Safety
belts alone do not provide maximum protection for these children.
Check your local and state laws for specific requirements.
WARNING
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.
WARNING
To prevent the risk of injury, make sure children sit where
they can be properly restrained.
WARNING
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.
Seating and Safety Restraints
151

WARNING
Whenever possible, put children in one of the rear seats
in your vehicle. Accident statistics indicate that children are
safer when properly restrained in the rear seats than in
the front seats.
WARNING
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.
WARNING
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.
WARNING
Do not leave children, unreliable adults, or pets
unattended in your vehicle.
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Safety Seats for Children
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.
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 seeAttaching Safety Seats With
Tether Strapsin this chapter.
When installing a child safety seat, be sure to use the correct
safety belt buckle for that seating position, make sure the tongue
is securely fastened in the buckle and there is tension in the
belt. For a shoulder/lap belt combination with a sliding tongue,
make sure the retractor is in the automatic locking mode. For
more information, seeUsing the Automatic Locking Mode Retractor
to Secure a Child Safety Seatlater in this chapter.
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.
Seating and Safety Restraints
153

WARNING
Rear-facing child seats or infant carriers should never be
placed in the front seats.
WARNING
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.
The passenger side quick-release second row captain seat is
adjustable along a track and may be adjusted very close to the
front passenger seat to allow easier entry and exit to third row seats.
WARNING
The quick-release seat must be adjusted to the rearmost
position when using an untethered forward-facing child
safety seat.
WARNING
The third row seat must be adjusted to the rearmost
position when using an untethered forward facing child
safety seat.
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WARNING
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.
WARNING
Failure to follow all instructions on the proper use of
child seats or the vehicle restraint systems can result in
serious injury or death in the event of a sudden stop or
collision.
Safety belt buckle placement for child seats
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155