2000 FORD CONTOUR seats

Controls and features
28• FLR/DEF – Distributes outside
air through the floor ducts and the
windshield defroster ducts.
• DEF – Distributes outside air
through the windshield defroster
ducts. It can be used to clear ice or
fog from the windshield.
Operating tips
• In humid weather, select DEF
before driving. This will help to
reduce fogging on your windshield.
After a few minutes, select any
desired position.
• To reduce humidity buildup
inside the vehicle, don’t drive with
the climate control system in the
OFF position.
• Don’t put objects under the front
seat that will interfere with the
airflow to the back seats.
• Remove any snow, ice or leaves
from the air intake area (at the
bottom of the windshield under the
hood).
• Do not place objects over the
defroster outlets. These objects
can block airflow and reduce your
ability to see through your
windshield. Also, avoid placing
small objects on top of your
instrument panel. These objects
can fall down into the defroster
outlets and block airflow and
possibly damage your climate
control system.
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Controls and features
32• DEF – Distributes outside air
through the windshield defroster
ducts. It can be used to clear ice or
fog from the windshield. If the
temperature is about 10°C (50°F)
or higher, the air conditioner will
automatically dehumidify the air to
reduce fogging.
Operating tips
• In humid weather, select DEF
before driving. This will reduce
fogging on your windshield. After a
few minutes, select any desired
position.
• To reduce humidity buildup
inside the vehicle, don’t drive with
the climate control system in the
OFF position.
• Don’t put objects under the front
seat that will interfere with the
airflow to the back seats.
• Remove any snow, ice or leaves
from the air intake area (at the
bottom of the windshield under the
hood).
• If your vehicle has been parked
with the windows closed during hot
weather, the air conditioner will do
a much faster job of cooling if you
drive for two or three minutes with
the windows open. This will force
most of the hot, stale air out of the
vehicle. Then operate your air
conditioner as you would normally.
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Seating and safety restraints
74
Adjusting the head restraints
Push or pull the head restraint to
the desired height.
SEATING
Manually adjusting the seats
Pull the lever located at the front
edge of the seat to move the seat
forward or backward.
Reclining the seats
Pull the lever on the outside of the
seat to recline the seat. HEAD RESTRAINTS
(if equipped)
Never adjust the driver’s
seat or seat back when the
vehicle is moving.
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Seating and safety restraints
75 Adjusting the power seats
(if equipped)
Move the relevant control in the
respective direction to adjust the
seat as follows:
1
2
3
4
Seat
(1) Forward and backward
(2) Height of the entire seat
(3) Height of the front of the seat
(4) Height of the rear of the seat
Lumbar support
Pull the lever to adjust lumbar
support.
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Seating and safety restraints
76
Folding rear seats (if equipped)
Pull the release knob located in the
luggage compartment. Fold down
the seat. The seat back cannot be
released while the built-in child
seat (if equipped) is open.
If you are carrying objects that
might damage the center rear
three-point safety belt, you can
unbuckle the end of the belt from
the small buckle on the seat
cushion and let the retractor reel it
up. Reconnect the belt tongue to
the buckle when you fold the seat
back up. Refer to
Center position
three-point safety beltsin this
chapter.
To raise the rear seat back, push
the seat back upward until it locks
in place. Make sure it is firmly
latched by pushing forward and
back on it.
Check to see that the seat
and seat back are latched
securely in position. Keep luggage
area free of objects that would
prevent proper engagement.
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Seating and safety restraints
79 Automatic locking mode
In this mode, the shoulder belt is
automatically prelocked; however,
the belt will react to remove any
slack in the shoulder belt.
The automatic locking mode is not
available on the driver’s safety belt.
When to use the automatic
locking mode
• When a tight lap and shoulder
belt fit is desired.
• Any time a child safety seat is
installed in the vehicle. For
information on the proper use of a
child safety seat, refer to Child
safety seatslater in this chapter.
Vehicle sensitive (emergency)
locking mode
The vehicle sensitive mode is the
normal retractor mode which locks
the belts in response to vehicle
movement. For example, if the
driver brakes suddenly, turns a
corner sharply or your vehicle
receives an impact of 8 km/h
(5 mph) or more the combination
safety belts will lock to help reduce
the forward movement of the
driver and passengers.
The retractor can be made to lock
by pulling sharply on the belt.
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Seating and safety restraints
93
Safety belts and seats can
become hot in a vehicle that
has been closed up in sunny
weather; they could burn a small
child. Check seat covers and
buckles before you place a child
anywhere near them.
Do not leave children,
unreliable adults, or pets
unattended in your vehicle.
To prevent the risk of injury,
make sure children sit where
they can be properly restrained.
CHILDREN AND SAFETY
RESTRAINTS
It is extremely dangerous to
ride in a cargo area, inside or
outside of a vehicle. In a collision,
people riding in these areas are
more likely to be seriously injured
or killed. Do not allow people to
ride in any area of your vehicle
that is not equipped with seats
and safety belts. Be sure everyone
in your vehicle is in a seat and
using a safety belt properly.
Whenever possible, put
children in one of the rear
seats in your vehicle. Accident
statistics indicate that children are
safer when properly restrained in
the rear seats than in the front
seats.
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Seating and safety restraints
94Important 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 4 years old or
younger and who weigh 18 kg
[40 lb] 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.
Never let a passenger hold a
child on his or her lap while
the vehicle is moving. The
passenger cannot protect the child
from injury in a collision.
Always follow the instructions and
warnings that come with any infant
or child restraint you might use.
When possible, place children in
the rear seat of your vehicle.
Accident statistics suggest that
children are safer when properly
restrained in the rear seating
positions than in the front seating
position.
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