1998 Mercury Villager child lock

Using This Guide
To fully appreciate all of the features and options of your new
vehicle, we recommend that you thoroughly read through this
guide now and refer to it when you have specific needs or
questions. For your own safety and the safety of your passengers,
it is important that you completely understandallperformance
and care proceduresbeforeoperating this vehicle. For example,
without reading further, would you know:
mWhat to do if you get a flat tire? (Refer toFlat tirein the
Index)
mWhat it means if the O/D OFF light is illuminated on your
instrument panel? (Refer toOverdrivein the Index)
mHow to engage the childproof safety lock on the sliding door?
(Refer toChildproof locksin the Index)
mThat your automatic transaxle will not shift out of PARK (P)
until you apply the brake pedal? (Refer toGearshiftin the
Index)
Ford's Commitment to You
At Ford Motor Company, excellence is the continuous
commitment to achieve the best result possible. It is dedication to
learning what you want, determination to develop the right
concept, and execution of that concept with care, precision, and
attention to detail. In short, excellence means being the standard by
which others are judged.
Our Guiding Principles
mQuality comes first.For your satisfaction, the quality of our
products and services must be our number one priority.
mYou are the focus of everything we do.Our work must be
done with you in mind, providing better products and
services than our competition.
Introduction
1

Childproof Lock for the Sliding Door
Your vehicle has a childproof lock for the sliding door. If you set
the childproof lock, the sliding door cannot be opened from
inside the vehicle.
Childproof lock location
100

The childproof lock:
mprevents children inside the vehicle from opening the door.
mallows the door to be opened from the outside (if the door is
unlocked).
To set the childproof lock:
1. Open the sliding door.
2. Find the childproof lock knob above the label.
3. Pull the knob out.
To release the childproof lock:
1. Open the sliding door from the outside.
2. Push the childproof lock knob in.
Power Door Locks (If equipped)
The power door lock control switches are located in the panels of
the front doors. They control the locks on both front doors, the
sliding door and the liftgate.
Controls and Features
101

You can lock the liftgate by pushing in the lock lever before you
begin to close the liftgate. You can also lock the liftgate by
closing the liftgate, inserting your key and turning it clockwise
until you hear the lock lever engage. If you turn it too far, the
optional liftgate window will open. The liftgate can also be
locked with the optional power door locks.
The liftgate area is intended only for cargo, not passengers. It
cannot be opened from inside the vehicle.
After the lock lever is depressed, the liftgate must be unlocked
with the power door lock button or the key.
NOTE: The lock lever will be on the right side of the lock
cylinder if your vehicle is equipped with the standard
liftgate glass. The lock lever will be on the left side
of the lock cylinder if your vehicle is equipped with the
optional flip-up liftgate window.
Windows
Power Windows (If equipped)
Each of the front doors has a power control that opens and closes
the window on that door. The driver door has master controls
that operate both front door windows. You must place the ignition
in the ON position to use your power window controls. The
driver's power window controls include a lockout button which
prevents the operation of the passenger side window from
either the passenger or driver side controls.
To open the window, press down on the switch; to close the
window, lift up on the switch.
WARNING
Do not let children play with the power windows.
106

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

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
Seating and Safety Restraints
137

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