1998 Mercury Villager warning

Important Safety Belt Information
The use of safety belts helps to restrain you and your passengers
in case of a collision. In most states and in Canada, the law
requires their use.
Safety belts provide best restraint when:
mthe seatback is upright
mthe occupant is sitting upright (not slouched)
mthe lap belt is snug and low on the hips
mthe shoulder belt is snug against the chest
mthe knees are straight forward
To help you remember to fasten your safety belt, a warning light
may come on and a chime may sound. SeeSafety Belt Warning
Light and Chimein theInstrumentationchapter.
See the following sections in this chapter for directions on how to
properly use these safety belts. Also seeSafety Restraints for
Childrenin this chapter for special instructions about using safety
belts for children.
WARNING
Always drive and ride with your seatback upright and the
lap belt snug and low across the hips.
Seating and Safety Restraints
129

WARNING
Each seating position in your vehicle has a specific safety
belt assembly which is made up of one buckle and one
tongue that are designed to be used as a pair. 1) Use the
shoulder belt on the outside shoulder only. Never wear
the shoulder belt under the arm. 2) Never swing it around
your neck over the inside shoulder. 3) Never use a
single belt for more than one person.
WARNING
Never drive or ride with a twisted or jammed safety belt.
If you cannot untwist or unjam the safety belt, see the
nearest qualified technician immediately.
WARNING
Children should always ride with the seatback in the fully
upright position.
WARNING
Lock the doors of your vehicle before driving to lessen the
risk of the door coming open in a collision.
130

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.
136

WARNING
Position the shoulder belt height adjuster so that the belt
rests across the middle of your shoulder. Be sure the
shoulder belt is properly positioned on your shoulder each
time you use the belt. If the shoulder belt is off your
shoulder, on your upper arm or neck, there is a greater risk
of severe injury in a collision.
Lap Belt Without a Retractor (for the three-passenger
bench seat)
The center seat of the three-passenger bench seat has a lap belt
without a retractor. To make the belt longer, tip the tongue at a right
angle to the belt and pull the belt over your lap until the
tongue reaches the buckle.
To fasten the belt, pull the belt across your hips and insert the
tongue into the correct buckle on your seat until you hear a snap
and feel it lock. Make sure the buckle is securely fastened.
Pull the loose end of the webbing and adjust the belt so that it
fits snugly and as low as possible around the hips:
mIf you need to lengthen the belt, unfasten it and repeat the
procedure above.
mIf you need to shorten the belt, pull on the loose end of the
webbing.
To store the belt:
Fasten the center tongue and buckle when not in use. This will
prevent the belt from falling between the seat and the seatback.
138

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.
146