2001 Mercury Sable child seat

2. Pull down on the shoulder belt
and then grasp the shoulder belt
and lap belt together.
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.
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107

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.
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.
Seating and safety restraints
108

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.
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 child safety seats with tether straps
Most new forward-facing child safety seats include a tether strap which
goes over the back of the seat and hooks to an anchoring point. Tether
straps are available as an accessory for many older safety seats. Contact
the manufacturer of your child seat for information about ordering a
tether strap.
The rear seats of your vehicle are equipped with built-in tether strap
anchors located behind the seats as described below.
The tether anchors in your vehicle are located under a cover marked
with the tether anchor symbol (shown with title).
The tether strap anchors in your
vehicle are in the following positions
(shown from top view):
Seating and safety restraints
109

Attach the tether strap only to the appropriate tether anchor as
shown. The tether strap may not work properly if attached
somewhere other than the correct tether anchor.
1. Position the child safety seat on the seat cushion.
2. Route the child safety seat tether strap over the back of the seat.
For vehicles with adjustable head restraints, route the tether strap under
the head restraint and between the head restraint posts, otherwise route
the tether strap over the top of the seatback.
3. Locate the correct anchor for the
selected seating position.
4. Open the tether anchor cover.
5. Clip the tether strap to the
anchor as shown.
If the tether strap is clipped
incorrectly, the child safety
seat may not be retained properly
in the event of a collision.
6. Refer to theInstalling child safety seats in combination lap and
shoulder belt seating positionssection of this chapter for further
instructions to secure the child safety seat.
7. Tighten the child safety seat tether strap according to the
manufacturer's instructions.
Seating and safety restraints
110

If the safety seat is not anchored properly, the risk of a child
being injured in a collision greatly increases.
Attaching child safety seats with LATCH attachments for child seat
anchors
Some child safety seats are labeled as LATCH or LATCH-compatible child
seats. These seats include two rigid or webbing mounted attachments
that connect to two anchors at specific seating positions in your vehicle.
This type of child seat eliminates the need to use seat belts to attach the
child seat. For forward-facing child seats, the tether strap must also be
attached to the proper tether anchor point. For information on using
tether straps with the child safety seats, refer toAttaching safety seats
with tether strapsin this chapter.
LATCH anchors for child seat
installation have been provided in
your vehicle at the following
locations:
The anchors at the center of the
rear seat are the same distance
apart as the lower anchors for child
seat installation at other seating
positions. A LATCH compatible child seat can also be used at this seating
position. Do not attach a child seat to any lower anchor if an adjacent
child seat is attached to that anchor.
Do not attach a child seat to any lower anchors used for child
seat installation if an adjacent child seat is attached to that
anchor. In a crash, one anchor may not be strong enough to hold two
child seat attachments and may break, causing serious injury or death.
Seating and safety restraints
111

The lower anchors for child seat
installation are located at the rear
section of the rear seat between the
cushion and seat back. Your vehicle
may have symbols near the bottom
of the rear seat back. Each lower
anchor for child seat installation is
located 2±3 inches below the locator
symbols.
Follow the child seat manufacturer's
instructions to properly install safety
seats with LATCH lower anchors and LATCH-compatible attachments.
Attach the lower anchors for child seat installation or lower
anchors for child seat installation-compatible child seat only to
the appropriate locations shown.
If you install a child seat with rigid LATCH attachments, do not tighten
the tether strap enough to lift the child seat off the seat when the child
is seated in it. Keep the tether strap just snug without raising the front
of the child seat. Keeping the child seat just touching the front of the
vehicle seat gives the best protection in a severe crash. Once you have
installed the lower anchors for child seat installation safety seat, assure
that the seat is properly attached to the lower anchors for child seat
installation and tether anchors. Also, test the safety seat before you
place the child in it. Tilt the seat from side to side. Also try to tug the
seat forward. Check to see if the anchors hold the seat in place.
If the safety seat in not anchored properly, the risk of a child
being injured in a collision greatly increases.
Seating and safety restraints
112

A
Accessory delay ..........................57
Air bag supplemental
restraint system ............96±97, 101
and child safety seats ..............99
description ........................97, 101
disposal ....................................103
driver air bag ............97, 100, 102
indicator light .....................13, 99
operation ...................97, 100, 102
passenger air bag .....97, 100, 102
side air bag ..............................101
Air cleaner filter .......................210
Air conditioning ..........................19
automatic temperature
control system ..........................23
Air filter, cabin ..........................170
Antifreeze
(see Engine coolant) ................162
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ......................118±119
Anti-theft system ........................67
arming the system ....................67
disarming a triggered system ..68
warning light .............................11
Audio system (see Radio) .........29
Automatic transaxle .................123
driving with .............................125
fluid, adding ............................168
fluid, checking ........................168
fluid, refill capacities ..............211
fluid, specification ..................213
Auxiliary power point .................29
Axle
lubricant specifications ..........212B
Battery .......................................175
acid, treating emergencies .....175
charging system
warning light .............................13
jumping a disabled battery ....147
maintenance-free ....................175
replacement, specifications ...210
servicing ..................................175
Belt minder .................................92
Brakes ........................................118
anti-lock ...........................118±119
anti-lock brake system
(ABS) warning light .........11, 119
brake warning light ..................12
fluid, checking and adding ....160
fluid, refill capacities ..............211
fluid, specifications .........212±213
lubricant specifications ..212±213
parking ....................................120
pedals (see Power
adjustable foot pedals) ............46
shift interlock ..........................123
Break-in period .............................3
C
Capacities for refilling fluids ....211
Cargo area shade ........................62
Cargo cover .................................61
Cargo net .....................................61
CD changer .................................42
Cellular telephone
Wireless Interface Module .......54
Certification Label ....................215
Child safety restraints ..............104
child safety belts ....................104
Index
231

Child safety seats ......................105
attaching with tether straps ..109
in front seat ............................106
in rear seat ......................106, 109
LATCH .....................................111
Cleaning your vehicle ...............204
engine compartment ..............207
exterior ....................................205
exterior lamps .........................206
instrument cluster lens ..........208
instrument panel ....................208
interior .............................208±209
mirrors .....................................206
plastic parts ............................206
safety belts ..............................209
washing ....................................204
waxing .....................................205
wheels ......................................206
windows ..................................209
wiper blades ............................206
woodtone trim ........................209
Climate control (see Air
conditioning or Heating) ............19
Clock ......................................35, 41
Console ........................................59
Controls
power seat .................................78
Coolant
checking and adding ..............162
refill capacities ................165, 211
specifications ..................212±213
Cruise control
(see Speed control) ....................47
Customer Assistance ................135
Ford accessories
for your vehicle ......................225
Ford Extended
Service Plan ............................217Getting assistance outside
the U.S. and Canada ..............224
Getting roadside assistance ...135
Getting the
service you need ....................217
Ordering additional
owner's literature ...................228
The Dispute
Settlement Board ...................220
Utilizing the Mediation/
Arbitration Program ...............223
D
Daytime running lamps
(see Lamps) ................................17
Defrost
rear window ..............................19
Dipstick
automatic
transmission fluid ...................168
engine oil .................................157
Doors
door ajar warning .......................9
lubricant specifications ..........212
Driving under special
conditions
through water .........................129
E
Emergencies, roadside
jump-starting ..........................147
Emission control system ..........190
Engine ........................................213
check engine/
service engine soon light ...........9
cleaning ...................................207
coolant .....................................162
Index
232