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.
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
107
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.
Seating and safety restraints
108
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.
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.
Seating and safety restraints
109
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.
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.
Installing child safety seats in the lap belt seating positions
1. Lengthen the lap belt. To lengthen the belt, hold the tongue so that its
bottom is perpendicular to the direction of webbing while sliding the
tongue up the webbing.
2. Place the child safety seat in the center seating position.
3. Route the tongue and webbing through the child seat according to the
child seat manufacturer's instructions.
4. Insert the belt tongue into the proper buckle for the center seating
position until you hear a snap and feel it latch. Make sure the tongue is
securely fastened to the buckle by pulling on tongue.
Seating and safety restraints
110
5. Push down on the child seat while pulling on the loose end of the lap
belt webbing to tighten the belt.
6. Before placing the child into the child seat, forcibly tilt the child seat
from side to side and in forward direction to make sure that the seat is
held securely in place. If the child seat moves excessively, repeat steps 5
through 6, or properly install the child seat in a different position.
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 desired. 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
111
Air bag supplemental
restraint system ........................101
and child safety seats ............102
description ..............................101
disposal ....................................105
indicator light .........................104
passenger air bag ...................103
Air conditioning
automatic temperature
control system ......27,28,29,30,32
Air suspension ...........................122
Anti-theft system ........................87
Automatic transmission
driving an automatic
overdrive ...................124,125,126
Axle
refill capacities ........................187
Brakes ........................................117
anti-lock ............................117,118
anti-lock brake system
(ABS) warning light ...............118
fluid, checking and adding ....153
shift interlock ..........................123
Break-in period .............................2
CD changer ..................61,63,64,65
Child safety seats
attaching with tether straps ..111
in rear seat .......................108,110
tether anchorage hardware ...111
Cleaning your vehicle ...............182
engine compartment ..............184
exterior .............................183,186
exterior lamps .........................185
interior .....................................186
plastic parts ............................185
washing ....................................183
waxing .....................................183
wheels ......................................184
windows ..................................186
wiper blades ............................185
Clock ............................................33
Compass, electronic ....................76calibration .................................77
set zone adjustment .................77
Controls ........................72,73,74,75
power seat ............................93,94
Coolant ......................................156
checking and adding ..............155
refill capacities ........................156
Customer Assistance
Ford accessories for
your vehicle ..............199,200,201
Ford Extended Service Plan .193
Getting assistance outside
the U.S. and Canada ..............198
Getting roadside assistance ...192
Getting the
service you need ....................194
Ordering additional
owner's literature ...................203
The Dispute Settlement
Board ..................195,196,197,198
Defrost
rear window ..............................24
Emission control system ..........176
Engine
check engine/
service engine soon light ...........7
coolant .....................................154
idle speed control ...................162
service points ..........................150
starting after a collision .........132
Engine block heater .................115
Engine oil
checking and adding ..............152
dipstick ....................................151
specifications ...................151,152
Exhaust fumes ..........................116
Fail safe cooling .................157,158
Floor mats ...................................81
Fuel
choosing the right fuel ...........171
comparisons with EPA fuel
economy estimates .................176
Index
205
detergent in fuel .....................173
filling your vehicle
with fuel ...........................169,171
quality ......................................172
running out of fuel .................173
safety information relating to
automotive fuels .....................169
Fuses ...................................133,134
Gas mileage (see Fuel
economy) ..............173,174,175,176
Gauges ....................................11,12
battery voltage gauge ...............16
engine coolant temperature
gauge .........................................15
engine oil pressure gauge ........16
fuel gauge ..................................12
odometer ...................................14
speedometer .............................13
trip odometer ............................14
Hazard flashers .........................132
Head restraints ......................91,92
Headlamps
aiming ......................................182
bulb specifications ..................182
high beam ..............................9,23
Heating ........................................25
heating and air
conditioning system ............25,27
Hood ..........................................149
Ignition .......................................189
Inspection/maintenance
(I/M) testing ..............................178
Instrument panel ..........................6
cleaning ...................................185
Keyless entry system
keypad .......................................88
programming
entry code .......................88,89,90
Keys
positions of the ignition ...........67
Lamps
autolamp system .......................24daytime running light ...............24
headlamps .................................23
headlamps, flash to pass ..........23
instrument panel, dimming .....23
interior lamps .........................181
replacing bulbs ..178,179,180,181
Lane change indicator
(see Turn signal) ........................66
Lights, warning and indicator ......6
air bag ..........................................8
air suspension ...........................10
anti-lock brakes (ABS) .........8,22
brake .......................................8,22
charging system ..........................9
low coolant ..................................9
low fuel ........................................6
oil pressure .................................9
overdrive off ..............................10
safety belt ...................................8
speed control ............................72
traction control active .........10,21
turn signal indicator ...................9
Locks
childproof ..................................81
Lumbar support, seats ...............95
Message center ...........................16
reset button ..............................17
select button .............................17
Mirrors
automatic dimming
rearview mirror .........................76
side view mirrors (power) .......80
Motorcraft parts ........................173
Octane rating ............................172
Overdrive .....................................68
Parking brake ............................118
Power distribution box
(see Fuses) ...............................136
Power door locks ...................80,83
Power steering ...................121,122
fluid, checking and adding ....159
Index
206
Radio ....34,35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42
43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50,51
52,53,54,55,56,57,58,59,60
Relays .................................133,138
Remote entry system ............81,84
illuminated entry ......................85
locking/unlocking doors ...........82
replacement/additional
transmitters ...............................86
replacing the batteries .............85
Safety Compliance
Certification Label ....................191
Safety defects, reporting ..........204
Safety restraints ...........95,96,97,98
cleaning the safety belts .100,186
extension assembly ..................99
for children .............................105
lap belt ......................................98
warning light and chime ...99,100
Seat belts
(see Safety restraints) ...............95
Seats ............................................91
child safety seats .............106,107
cleaning ...................................186
Servicing your vehicle ..............148
Spark plugs, specifications .......187
Special notice ................................3
Specification chart, lubricants .188
Speed control ..............................68
Starting your vehicle .........112,114
jump starting ............142,143,145
preparing to start your
vehicle .......................................86
Steering wheel
tilting .........................................67Tires ....................................165,166
changing ...........................138,139
checking the pressure ............166
replacing ..................................168
rotating ....................................166
snow tires and chains ............169
tire grades ...............................166
treadwear ................................165
Towing .........................128,129,130
wrecker ....................................147
Traction control ........................120
Traction-lok rear axle ...............126
Transmission .............................123
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) ...............159,160,161
Trunk ...........................................84
remote release ..........................78
Vehicle dimensions ...................189
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................191
Vehicle loading ..........................126
Ventilating your vehicle ...........116
Warning chimes ......................11,21
Washer fluid ..............................154
Water, Driving through .............130
Wheels
anti-theft lug nuts ...........141,142
Windows .................................78,79
Windshield washer fluid and
wipers
checking and cleaning ............164
operation ...................................66
replacing wiper blades ...........164
Index
207