Page 83 of 248

Seating and safety restraints
83 Conditions of operation
If the driver’s safety belt is not
buckled before the ignition switch
is turned to the ON position ... The Saftety belt warning light
illuminates for one or two minutes
and the warning chime sounds for
four to eight seconds.
The driver’s safety belt is buckled
while the indicator light is
illuminated and the warning chime
is sounding ...The Saftety belt warning light and
warning chime turn off.
The driver’s safety belt is buckled
before the ignition switch is turned
to the ON position ...The Saftety belt warning light and
warning chime remain off.
If ...Then ...
Belt Minder (if equipped)
The Belt Minder feature is a
supplemental warning to the safety
belt warning function. This feature
provides additional reminders to
the driver that the driver’s safety
Conditions of operation
If the driver’s safety belt is not
buckled approximately 5 seconds
after the safety belt warning light
has turned off...
The belt minder feature is
activated - the Saftety belt warning
light and the warning chime will
cycle at 4 hertz for 6 seconds every
30 seconds, repeating for
approximately 5 minutes or until
safety belt is buckled.
The driver’s safety belt is buckled
while the indicator light is
illuminated and the warning chime
is sounding ...
The belt minder feature will not
activate.
The driver’s safety belt is buckled
before the ignition switch is turned
to the ON position ...
The belt minder feature will not
activate.
If ...Then ...
belt is unbuckled by intermittently
sounding a chime and illuminating
the Safety belt warning light in the
instrument cluster.
14MSSen 24.6.99 15:15 Uhr Seite 83
Page 84 of 248

Seating and safety restraints
841. Turn the ignition switch to the
ON position (DO NOT START THE
ENGINE).
2. Wait until the Saftety belt
warning light turns off
(approximately one minute).
• Steps 3-5 must be completed
within 60 seconds or the procedure
will have to be repeated.
3. Buckle then unbuckle the safety
belt three times, ending with the
safety belt unbuckled. This can be
done before or during Belt Minder
warning activation.
4. Turn on the headlamps, turn off
the headlamps.
5. Buckle then unbuckle the safety
belt three times, ending with the
safety belt unbuckled.
• After step 5, the Saftety belt
warning light will be turned on for
three seconds.
6. Within seven seconds of the
Saftety beltwarning light turning
off, buckle then unbuckle the
safety belt.
• This will enable Belt Minder if it
is currently disabled, or disable
Belt Minder if it is currently
enabled.
To reduce the risk of injury,
do not deactivate/activate
the Belt Minder feature while
driving the vehicle.
Deactivating/activating the Belt
Minder feature
The Belt Minder feature can be
deactivated/activated by
performing the following
procedure:
Before following the procedure,
make sure that:
• the parking brake is set.
• the gearshift is in P (Park)
(automatic transaxle) or the
neutral position (manual
transaxle).
• the ignition switch is in the OFF
position.
• all vehicle doors are closed.
• the driver’s safety belt is
unbuckled.
• the parklamps/headlamps are in
OFF position.
14MSSen 24.6.99 15:15 Uhr Seite 84
Page 90 of 248
Seating and safety restraints
90
The SRS consists of the following:
• driver and passenger air bag
modules (which include the
inflators and air bags),
• one impact and one safing
sensor,
• a readiness light and secondary
warning light, and
• the electrical wiring and
components.
The diagnostic module monitors its
own internal circuits and the
supplemental air bag electrical
system readiness (including the
impact sensors), the system wiring,
the air bag system readiness light,
the air bag backup power, and the
air bag ignitors.
If the air bag is inflated, 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.
Several air bag system
components get hot after
inflation. Do not touch them after
inflation.
14MSSen 24.6.99 15:16 Uhr Seite 90
Page 91 of 248
Seating and safety restraints
91 Determining if the system is
operational
The SRS uses a readiness light in
the instrument cluster or a
secondary warning light to indicate
the condition of the system. Refer
to the Air 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:
• The readiness light will either
flash or stay lit.
• The readiness light will not
illuminate after ignition is turned
on.
• The air bag secondary warning
light will flash five times. The
pattern will repeat periodically
until the problem or the readiness
light is repaired.
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.
O/D
OFFTRACTION
CONTROL
CHECK
ENGINE
14MSSen 24.6.99 15:16 Uhr Seite 91
Page 113 of 248
Starting
113 3. Turn the key to the on position
(without turning the key to start).
Make sure the following lights
illuminate briefly. If a light fails to
illuminate, have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer or a
qualified service technician.
• If the driver’s safety belt is
fastened the safety belt warning
light does not illuminate.
BRAKE
BRAKE
CHECK
ENGINE
Alternative design
Alternative design
O/D
OFFTRACTION
CONTROL
21MSten 24.6.99 15:23 Uhr Seite 113
Page 137 of 248
Driving
137 Using a hitch
Do not use hitches that:
• Clamp onto the vehicle bumper.
• Attach to the axle.
Distribute the load so that only 10
to 15% of the total weight of the
trailer is on the tongue. Tie down
the load so that it does not shift
and change weight on the hitch.
Follow the instructions of a
reputable rental agency.
Using trailer lamps
See your local trailer retailer or
rental agency for proper
instructions and equipment for
hooking up trailer lamps.
Do not hook the trailer lamps
directly into the vehicle’s wiring
system. If the trailer lamps are not
working properly, the warning
lights in the instrument cluster may
not work properly.
22MDren 24.6.99 15:26 Uhr Seite 137
Page 145 of 248

Roadside emergencies
145 Ampere
ratingCircuits protected
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52—
7.5
20
—
—
3
20
—
15
—
20
—
20
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.5
—
20*
20*
40*
—
—
60*
—
—
—
60*
—
60*
60*Not used
Alternator
Foglamps
Not used
Not used
EEC ignition module (memory)
Horn and hazard flasher warning system
Not used
Fuel pump
Not used
Ignition, Electronic Engine Control
Not used
HEGO sensor
ABS module
Low beam headlamp (passenger’s side)
Low beam headlamp (driver’s side)
High beam headlamp (passenger’s side)
High beam headlamp (driver’s side)
Not used
Ignition, light switch, central junction box
EEC relay
Central junction box (fuse 37 to blower relay)
Not used
Not used
Ignition
Not used
Not used
Not used
Engine cooling
not used
ABS
Central junction box (central timer module, rear
window defrost relay, fuses 24, 25, 27, 28, 34) Fuse
Power distribution box (engine compartment)
* Have these fuses replaced by your dealer or qualified technician.
23MREen 24.6.99 15:28 Uhr Seite 145
Page 172 of 248
Maintenance and care
172Brake/clutch fluid reservoir
Brake and clutch fluid systems are
supplied from the same reservoir.
The level of the fluid must lie
between the MIN and MAX marks
on the side of the reservoir. If the
level falls below the MIN mark, the
brake fluid level warning light on
the instrument cluster will
illuminate. Add only DOT 3, DOT 4
or Super DOT 4 brake fluid that
meets the Ford specification (see
the chapter Capacities and
specifications).
If you use brake fluid that is not
DOT 3, DOT 4 or Super DOT 4 you
will cause permanent damage to
your brakes.
MAX
MIN
Brake fluid is toxic.
BRAKE
BRAKE
Do not let the reservoir for
the master cylinder run dry.
This may cause the brakes to fail.
Windshield washer system
If necessary, add enough washer
fluid to fill the reservoir. Follow the
instructions on the washer fluid
label.
Do not put engine coolant in
the container for the
windshield washer fluid.
Alternative design
31MMCen 24.6.99 15:30 Uhr Seite 172