1999 Mercury Villager sensor

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.
How does the air bag supplemental restraint system work?
The air bag SRS is designed to
activate when the vehicle sustains
longitudinal 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. Air bags are designed to inflate in frontal and
near-frontal collisions, not rollover, side-impact, or rear-impacts.
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133

The air bags inflate and deflate
rapidly upon activation. After air bag
deployment, it is normal to notice a
smoke-like, powdery residue or
smell the burnt propellant. This may
consist of cornstarch, talcum
powder (to lubricate the bag) or
sodium compounds (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.
While the system is designed to help
reduce serious injuries, it may also
cause minor burns, abrasions, swelling or temporary hearing loss.
Because air bags must inflate rapidly and with considerable force, there
is the risk of death or serious injuries such as fractures, facial and eye
injuries or internal injuries, particularly to occupants who are not
properly restrained or are otherwise out of position at the time of air bag
deployment. Thus, it is extremely important that occupants be properly
restrained as far away from the air bag module as possible while
maintaining vehicle control.
Several air bag system components get hot after inflation. Do not
touch them after inflation.
If the air bag is deployed,the air bag will not function again
and must be replaced immediately.If the air bag is not
replaced, the unrepaired area will increase the risk of injury in a
collision.
The SRS consists of:
²driver and passenger air bag modules (which include the inflators and
air bags),
²one or more impact and safing sensors,
²a readiness light
²and the electrical wiring which connects the components.
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134

The diagnostic module monitors its own internal circuits and the
supplemental air bag electrical system warning (including the impact
sensors), the system wiring, the air bag system readiness light, the air
bag back up power and the air bag ignitors.
Determining if the system is operational
The SRS uses a readiness light in the instrument cluster to indicate the
condition of the system. Refer to theAir bag readinesssection in the
Instrumentationchapter. Routine maintenance of the air bag is not
required.
A difficulty with the system is indicated by one or more of the following:
²The readiness light will either
flash or stay lit.
²The readiness light will not
illuminate immediately after
ignition is turned on.
If any of these things happen, even intermittently, have the SRS serviced at
your dealership or by a qualified technician immediately. Unless serviced,
the system may not function properly in the event of a collision.
Disposal of air bags and air bag equipped vehicles (including
pretensioners)
For disposal of air bags or air bag equipped vehicles, see your local
dealership or qualified technician. Air bags MUST BE disposed of by
qualified personnel.
SAFETY RESTRAINTS FOR CHILDREN
See the following sections for directions on how to properly use safety
restraints for children. Also seeAir Bag Supplemental Restraint
System (SRS)in this chapter for special instructions about using air
bags.
Important child restraint precautions
You are required by law to use safety restraints for children in the U.S.
and Canada. If small children ride in your vehicle (generally children who
are four years old or younger and who weigh 18 kg [40 lbs] or less), you
must put them in safety seats made especially for children. Check your
local and state or provincial laws for specific requirements regarding the
safety of children in your vehicle.
AIR
BAG
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135

The fuses are coded as follows.
Fuse/Relay
LocationFuse Amp
RatingDescription
Corner Lamps 10A Front Exterior Lamps
Ð Ð Not Used
I/P Illum 7.5A Interior Panel Illumination Lamps
Electron 10A Transaxle Control Module (TCM),
Electronic Automatic
Temperature Control (EATC)
Module, Instrument Cluster, Rear
Wiper Motor Assembly
Tail Lamp 10A Rear Exterior Lamps
Air Bag 10A Airbag Diagnostic Monitor
Audio 10A Radio, Rear Radio Control, CD
Changer
Eng Cont 10A Powertrain Control Module,
Oxygen Sensors
CORNER
LAMPS
I/P ILLUM
10A BAT
7.5ABAT IGN ACC
USE SPECIFIED
FUSES ONLY
ACC 10A
10A 10A
10A 10A
15A 7.5A
20A 20A
10A 20A
15A 20A
15A 7.5A 10A 7.5A
BAT BAT BAT
10A 20A
IGNST
20A 7.5A
BAT
20A 20A 10A
BAT IGN IGN
10A 7.5A
10A 20A
IGN
UP
SIDEELECTRON
TAIL LAMP AIRBAG
AUDIO ENG CONT
ROOM LAMP MIRROR
RELAYS A/C CONT
ELECTRON
FRONT
BLOWERREAR
DEFOG
HEATED
MIRROR STOP LAMPCIGAR
LIGHTER
HAZARDRR POWER
PLUG
TURNAUDIO
AMP
FRONT
BLOWERENG CONT REAR
BLOWER
O2
SENSORFRONT
WIPER
REAR
WIPER
AUDIO
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174

Fuse/Relay
LocationFuse Amp
RatingDescription
Room Lamp 15A Interior Lamps
Mirror 7.5A Smart Entry Control (SEC),
Power Mirror Switch
Stop Lamp 20A Brake Pedal Position (BPP)
Switch, Trailer Tow Control Unit
Cigar Lighter 20A Cigar Lighter
Hazard 10A Hazard Warning Flasher Switch,
Anti-Theft Indicator
RR Pwr Plug 20A Rear Powerpoint
Rear Blower 15A Rear Blower Motor Relay, Rear
Blower Motor
Wiper 20A Front Wiper/Washer Assembly
Rear Blower 15A Rear Blower Motor Relay, Rear
Blower Motor
Rear Wiper 10A Rear Wiper/Washer Assembly
O2 Sensor 7.5A Oxygen Sensor
Audio 7.5A Radio
Turn 10A Hazard Warning Flasher Switch
Audio Amp 20A Subwoofer Amplifier
Front Blower 20A Front Blower Motor, Front Blower
Motor/Speed Controller
Eng Cont 7.5A Powertrain Control Module,
Lighting Control Module
Relays 10A Speed Control, Instrument
Cluster, Rear Blower Motor, Data
Link Connector #2, Cooling Fans
A/C Cont 7.5A Electronic Automatic
Temperature Control (EATC)
Module, A/C Relay, Front Climate
Control Panel
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175