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):
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.
Seating and Safety Restraints
134
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 positions
section 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.
If the safety seat is not anchored properly, the risk of a child
being injured in a collision greatly increases.
Seating and Safety Restraints
135
Attaching safety seats with LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for
CHildren) attachments for child seat anchors
Some child safety seats have two rigid or webbing mounted attachments
that connect to two anchors at certain 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. SeeAttaching safety seats with
tether strapsin this chapter.
Your vehicle has LATCH anchors for child seat installation at the seating
positions marked with the child seat symbol.
All the LATCH lower anchors are
equally spaced, so that a single
LATCH child seat can be installed at
any rear seating position. If two
child safety seats are installed using
the LATCH lower anchors, they
must be placed in the outboard
seating positions only. If three child
safety seats are installed, use the LATCH lower anchors for the center
child safety seat; however, you must use child safety seats with
lap/shoulder belts and tether anchors for the outboard child seats.
Never attach two LATCH child safety seats to the same anchor.
In a crash, one anchor may not be strong enough to hold two
child safety seat attachments and may break, causing serious injury or
death.
The lower anchors for child seat
installation are located at the rear
section of the rear seat between the
cushion and seat back. The LATCH
anchors are below the locator
symbols on the seat back.
Seating and Safety Restraints
136
Follow the child seat manufacturer's instructions to properly install a
child seat with LATCH attachments. Two plastic LATCH guides can be
obtained at no charge from any Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer. They
snap onto the LATCH lower anchors in the seat to help attach a child
seat with rigid attachments. The guides hold the seat trim away to
expose the anchor and make it easier to attach some child seats.
Attach LATCH lower attachments of the child seat only to the
anchors 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 vehicle seat cushion
when the child is seated in it. Keep the tether strap just snug without
lifting the front of the child seat. Keeping the child seat just touching the
vehicle seat gives the best protection in a severe crash.
Each time you use the safety seat, check that the seat is properly
attached to the lower anchors and tether anchor. Try to tilt the child
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 is not anchored properly, the risk of a child
being injured in a crash greatly increases.
Seating and Safety Restraints
137
A
Accessory delay ..........................70
Air bag supplemental
restraint system ........121±122, 126
and child safety seats ............124
description ......................122, 126
disposal ....................................128
driver air bag ..........121, 125, 127
indicator light ...................12, 125
operation .................121, 125, 127
passenger air bag ...121, 125, 127
side air bag ..............................126
Air cleaner filter .......................232
Air conditioning ..........................43
manual heating and air
conditioning system .................40
Air filter, cabin ............................50
Antifreeze
(see Engine coolant) ................207
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ......................143±144
Anti-theft system ........................98
arming the system ....................98
disarming a triggered
system .......................................99
warning light .............................14
Automatic transaxle .................148
driving with .............................150
fluid, adding ............................226
fluid, checking ........................226
fluid, refill capacities ..............233
fluid, specification ..................236
Auxiliary power point .................69
Axle
lubricant specifications ..........234B
Battery .......................................205
acid, treating emergencies .....205
charging system
warning light .............................12
jumping a disabled battery ....172
maintenance-free ....................205
replacement,
specifications ..........................232
servicing ..................................205
Belt minder ...............................116
Brakes ........................................143
anti-lock ...........................143±144
anti-lock brake system
(ABS) warning light .........12, 144
brake warning light ..................12
fluid, checking and adding ....225
fluid, refill capacities ..............233
fluid, specifications .........234, 236
lubricant
specifications ..................234, 236
parking ....................................145
pedals (see Power
adjustable foot pedals) ............74
shift interlock ..........................148
Break-in period .............................6
C
Capacities for refilling fluids ....233
Cargo area shade ........................83
Cargo cover .................................82
Cargo net ...............................81±82
CD changer .................................35
Cellular telephone (see your
Cellular Phone Guide) ................79
Certification Label ....................238
Index
243
Child safety restraints ..............129
child safety belts ....................129
Child safety seats ......................130
attaching with tether straps ..134
in front seat ............................131
in rear seat ......................131, 134
Cleaning your vehicle
engine compartment ..............191
exterior ....................................195
instrument cluster lens ..........193
instrument panel ....................193
interior .....................................194
plastic parts ............................192
safety belts ..............................195
washing ....................................189
waxing .....................................189
wheels ......................................190
windows ..................................195
wiper blades ............................193
woodtone trim ........................195
Clock ................................22, 27, 33
Compass, electronic ....................71
calibration .................................73
set zone adjustment .................72
Console ........................................78
Controls
power seat ...............................103
Coolant
checking and adding ..............207
refill capacities ................211, 233
specifications ..................234, 236
Cruise control
(see Speed control) ....................75
Customer Assistance ................159
Ford accessories for
your vehicle ............................195
Ford Extended
Service Plan ............................181Getting assistance outside
the U.S. and Canada ..............185
Getting roadside assistance ...159
Getting the service
you need .................................179
Ordering additional
owner's literature ...................186
The Dispute Settlement
Board .......................................182
Utilizing the Mediation/
Arbitration Program ...............185
D
Daytime running lamps
(see Lamps) ................................51
Defrost
rear window ..............................50
Dipstick
automatic transmission
fluid ..........................................226
engine oil .................................202
Doors
door ajar warning .....................14
lubricant specifications ..........234
Driving under special
conditions
through water .........................153
E
Emergencies, roadside
jump-starting ..........................172
Emission control system ..........222
Engine ........................................236
check engine/service
engine soon light ......................10
cleaning ...................................191
coolant .....................................207
Index
244
Locks
autolock .....................................94
childproof ..................................85
doors ..........................................85
Lubricant
specifications .....................234, 236
Lumbar support, seats .............101
M
Mirrors .........................................68
automatic dimming
rearview mirror .........................71
heated ........................................74
side view mirrors (power) .......73
Moon roof ....................................78
Motorcraft parts ................218, 232
O
Octane rating ............................216
Odometer .....................................17
Oil (see Engine oil) ..................202
Overdrive ...................................149
P
Panic alarm feature, remote
entry system ................................88
Parking brake ............................145
Parts (see Motorcraft parts) ....232
Pedals (see Power
adjustable foot pedals) ...............74
Power distribution box
(see Fuses) ...............................166
Power door locks ........................85
Power steering ..........................147fluid, checking and adding ....224
fluid, refill capacity ................233
fluid, specifications .........234, 236
R
Rear window defroster ...............50
Relays ................................162, 168
Remote entry system ...........87±88
illuminated entry ................90±91
locking/unlocking doors ..........85,
87±88
opening the trunk .....................88
panic alarm ...............................88
replacement/additional
transmitters ...............................89
replacing the batteries .............89
Roof rack .....................................84
S
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ....15, 105, 108±111, 113
Safety defects, reporting ..........188
Safety restraints ........105, 108±114
belt minder .............................116
cleaning the safety
belts .................................120, 195
extension assembly ................120
for adults .........................109±111
for children .....................128±129
lap belt ....................................113
warning light
and chime ......12, 14±15, 115±116
Safety seats for children ..........130
Seat belts
(see Safety restraints) .............105
Seats ..........................................101
child safety seats ....................130
cleaning ...................................194
Index
247