2003 Mercury Mountaineer airbag

After any vehicle collision, the combination lap and shoulder belt
system at all passenger seating positions must be checked by a
qualified technician to verify that the“automatic locking retractor”
feature for child seats is still functioning properly, in addition to other
checks for proper seat belt system function.
BELT AND RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY MUST BE REPLACED if
the seat belt assembly“automatic locking retractor”feature or
any other seat belt function is not operating properly. In addition, all
seat belts should be checked for proper function. Failure to replace the
belt and retractor assembly could increase the risk of injury in
collisions.
Safety belt pretensioner
Your vehicle is equipped with safety belt pretensioners at the driver and
right front passenger seating positions.
The safety belt pretensioner is a device which removes excess webbing
from the safety belt system. The safety belt pretensioner uses the same
crash sensor system as the front air bag and Safety Canopy

supplemental restraint systems. When the safety belt pretensioner
deploys, webbing from the lap and shoulder belt is tightened.
When the Safety Canopy
system or the front airbags are activated, the
safety belt pretensioners for the driver and right front passenger seating
positions will be activated when the respective seatbelt is properly
buckled.
The driver and the right front passenger seat belt system
(including retractors, buckles and height adjusters) must be
replaced if the vehicle is involved in a collision that results in
deployment of front air bags and/or Safety Canopy
and safety belt
pretensioners.
Refer to theSafety belt maintenancesection in this chapter.
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The following are reasons most often given for not wearing safety belts:
(All statistics based on U.S. data)
Reasons given... Consider...
“Crashes are rare events”36700 crashes occur every day.The more
we drive, the more we are exposed to“rare”
events, even for good drivers.1 in 4 of us will
be seriously injured in a crash during our
lifetime.
“I’m not going far”3of4fatal crashes occur within25miles of
home.
“Belts are uncomfortable”We design our safety belts to enhance comfort.
If you are uncomfortable - try different
positions for the safety belt upper anchorage
and seatback which should be as upright as
possible; this can improve comfort.
“I was in a hurry”Prime time for an accident.BeltMinder
reminds us to take a few seconds to buckle up.
“Safety belts don’t work”Safety belts,when used properly,reduce
risk of deathto front seat occupants by45%
in cars,and by60% in light trucks.
“Traffic is light”Nearly 1 of 2 deaths occur in single-vehicle
crashes,many when no other vehicles are
around.
“Belts wrinkle my
clothes”Possibly, but a serious crash can do much more
than wrinkle your clothes, particularly if you
are unbelted.
“The people I’m with
don’t wear belts”Set the example, teen deaths occur 4 times
more often in vehicles with TWO or MORE
people. Children and younger brothers/sisters
imitate behavior they see.
“I have an air bag”Air bags offer greater protection when used
with safety belts. Frontal airbags are not
designed to inflate in rear and side crashes or
rollovers.
“I’d rather be thrown
clear”Not a good idea.Peoplewho areejected are
40 times more likely to DIE.Safety belts
help prevent ejection, WE CAN’T“PICK OUR
CRASH”.
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How does the Safety Canopysystem work?
The design and development of the
Safety Canopy
system included
recommended testing procedures
that were developed by a group of
automotive safety experts known as
the Side Airbag Technical Working
Group. These recommended testing
procedures help reduce the risk of
injuries related to the deployment of
side airbags (including the Safety
Canopy
).
The Safety Canopy
system
consists of the following:
•An inflatable nylon curtain with a
gas generator concealed behind
the headliner and above the doors
(one each side of the vehicle).
•A headliner that will flex to open
above the side doors to allow Safety Canopy
deployment.
•The same warning light, electronic control and diagnostic unit as used
for the front airbags.
•Two side crash sensors mounted at the base of the B-pillar (one on
each side).
•Two side crash sensors located at the c-pillar behind the rear doors
(one on each side).
•Roll over sensor in the restraints control module (RCM).
The Safety Canopy
system, in combination with seat belts, can help
reduce the risk of severe injuries in the event of a significant side impact
collision or rollover event.
Children 12 years old and under should always be properly restrained in
the second or third row seats (if equipped). The Safety Canopy
will
not interfere with children restrained using a properly installed child or
booster seat because it is designed to inflate downward from the
headliner above the doors along the side window openings.
The Safety Canopy
system is designed to activate when the vehicle
sustains lateral deceleration sufficient to cause the side crash sensor to
close an electrical circuit that initiates Safety Canopy
inflation or when
a certain likelihood of a rollover event is detected by the rollover sensor.
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