Steps you can take to properly position yourself away from the airbag:
²Move your seat to the rear as far as you can while still reaching the
pedals comfortably.
²Recline the seat slightly (one or two degrees) from the upright
position.
Do not put anything on or over the air bag module. Placing
objects on or over the air bag inflation area may cause those
objects to be propelled by the air bag into your face and torso causing
serious injury.
Do not attempt to service, repair, or modify the Air Bag
Supplemental Restraint System or its fuses. See your Ford or
Lincoln-Mercury dealer.
Children and air bags
For additional important safety
information, read all information on
safety restraints in this guide.
Children must always be properly
restrained. Accident statistics
suggest that children are safer when
properly restrained in the rear
seating positions than in the front
seating position. Failure to follow
these instructions may increase the
risk of injury in a collision.
Air bags can kill or injure a
child in a child seat.
NEVERplace a rear-facing child
seat in front of an active air bag. If
you must use a forward-facing
child seat in the front seat, move
the seat all the way back.
Seating and safety restraints
92
How does the side air bag system work?
The side air bag system consists of
the following:
²An inflatable nylon bag (air bag)
with a gas generator concealed
behind the outboard bolster of
the driver and front passenger
seatbacks.
²A special seat cover designed to
allow airbag deployment.
²The same warning light,
electronic control and diagnostic
unit as used for the front air
bags.
²Two crash sensors located under
the outboard side of the front
seats, attached to the floor.
Side air bags, in combination with
seat belts, can help reduce the risk
of severe injuries in the event of a
significant side impact collision.
The side air bags are fitted on the outboard side of the seatbacks of the
front seats. In certain lateral collisions, the air bag on the side affected
by the collision will be inflated, even if the respective seat is not
occupied. The air bag was designed to inflate between the door panel
and occupant to further enhance the protection provided occupants in
side impact collisions.
The air bag SRS is designed to activate when the vehicle sustains
sufficient lateral deceleration sufficient to cause the sensors to close an
electrical circuit that initiates air bag inflation.
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. Side air bags are designed
to inflate in side-impact collisions, not roll-over, rear-impact, frontal or
near-frontal collisions, unless the collision causes sufficient lateral
deceleration.
Seating and safety restraints
96
Fuse/Relay
LocationFuse Amp
RatingDescription
11 10A Electronic Crash Sensor (Airbag)
12 15A Instrument Cluster, Anti-Theft, Ignition
Switch, Ignition Coils
13 10A Anti-Lock Brake Module, Traction Control
Switch
14 7.5A Transmission Control Switch, Lighting
Control Module (LCM)
15 20A Multi-Function Switch, Turn Signals
16 30A Wiper Control Module (WCM), Windshield
Wiper Motor
17 10A Digital Transmission Range (DTR) Sensor,
Back-Up Lamps, EC Mirrors
18 7.5A Lighting Control Module (LCM), Front
Radio Control Unit, Cellular Telephone
Transceiver, Electronic Day/Night Mirror,
Compass Module
19 10A EATC, Clock, Instrument Cluster, PCM
20 7.5A Lighting Control Module (LCM), ABS, Shift
Lock
21 20A Multi-Function Switch, Hazard Lamps
22 20A Multi-Function Switch, High Mounted Stop
Lamps
23 20A Datalink Connector, I/P Cigar Lighter
24 5A Front Radio Control Unit
25 15A Lighting Control Module (LCM),
Courtesy/Demand Lamps
26 5A Digital Transmission Range (DTR) Sensor,
Starter Relay Coil
27 20A Fuel Filler Door Release Switch
28 10A Heated Mirrors
29 20A LF Door Module, Door Locks, Decklid
Release
Roadside emergencies
127
