Page 83 of 256
Stow the tongue end of the
detachable anchor.
2. Pull the seat latch handle, then
pull the seat toward the right side of
the vehicle to disengage four pins
from the floor mount.
3. Remove the seat.
To install the seat:
Check to see that the seat and seatback is latched securely in
position. Keep floor area free of objects that would prevent
proper seat engagement. Never attempt to adjust the seat while the
vehicle is in motion.
1. Position the seat to the floor
mount.
2. Engage the four pins into the
floor mount hole and push the seat
toward the left side (driver’s side) of
the vehicle to fully engage.
3. Pull the seat latch handle downward to lock the seat in position.
4. Make sure the safety belt is not twisted, then insert the seat belt
tongue into detachable anchor until you hear a“click”and feel the latch
engage.
2004 Econoline(eco)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
83
ProCarManuals.com
Page 85 of 256

2. Pull the LH/RH seat latch
handles, located under the seat,
rearward to release the latch hook
ends from the front strikers.
3. Move the seat rearward and lift the seats rear hooks away from the
rear strikers prior to lifting the front hooks out from the front strikers.
4. With assistance, remove the seat assembly.
•To remove the 3rd, 4th, and 5th row seats (if equipped), repeat steps
2 through 4.
To install the seat:
1. Position the seat in the vehicle.
2. Align front hooks to front strikers, prior to lowering the rear hooks
and aligning them with the rear strikers.
3. Engage the LH/RH latch rod hook ends in the front striker locking
holes.
4. Rotate the LH/RH latch handles forward, and at the same time slide
the seat assembly forward to engage the strikers. Continue forward
movement until the seat reaches the end of its travel.
5. Make sure the safety belt is not twisted, then insert the seat belt
tongue into detachable anchor until you hear a“click”and feel the latch
engage (2nd row only).
Always latch the vehicle seat to the floor, whether the seat is
occupied or empty. If not latched, the seat may cause injury
during a sudden stop.
2004 Econoline(eco)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
85
ProCarManuals.com
Page 87 of 256

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.
Combination lap and shoulder belts
1. Insert the belt tongue into the
proper buckle (the buckle closest to
the direction the tongue is coming
from) until you hear a snap and feel
it latch. Make sure the tongue is
securely fastened in the buckle.
2. To unfasten, push the release
button and remove the tongue from
the buckle.
The front outboard and rear outboard safety restraints in the vehicle are
combination lap and shoulder belts. The front outboard passenger and
rear seat outboard safety belts have two types of locking modes
described below:
Vehicle sensitive mode
This is the normal retractor mode, which allows free shoulder belt length
adjustment to your movements and locking in response to vehicle
movement. For example, if the driver brakes suddenly or turns a corner
sharply, or the vehicle receives an impact of approximately 5 mph
(8 km/h) or more, the combination safety belts will lock to help reduce
forward movement of the driver and passengers.
Automatic locking mode
The automatic locking mode is not available on the driver safety belt.
2004 Econoline(eco)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
87
ProCarManuals.com
Page 88 of 256

When to use the automatic locking mode
In this mode, the shoulder belt is automatically pre-locked. The belt will
still retract to remove any slack in the shoulder belt. The automatic
locking mode is not available on the driver safety belt.
This mode should be usedany timea child safety seat is installed in a
passenger front or outboard rear seating position (if equipped). Children
12 years old and under should be properly restrained in the rear seat
whenever possible. Refer toSafety restraints for childrenorSafety
seats for childrenlater in this chapter.
How to use the automatic locking mode
•Buckle the combination lap and
shoulder belt.
•Grasp the shoulder portion and
pull downward until the entire
belt is pulled out.
•Allow the belt to retract. As the belt retracts, you will hear a clicking
sound. This indicates the safety belt is now in the automatic locking
mode.
How to disengage the automatic locking mode
Disconnect the combination lap/shoulder belt and allow it to retract
completely to disengage the automatic locking mode and activate the
vehicle sensitive (emergency) locking mode.
2004 Econoline(eco)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
88
ProCarManuals.com
Page 89 of 256

After any vehicle collision, the safety belt systems at all outboard
seating positions (except the driver position, which does not
have this feature) must be checked by a qualified technician to verify
that the automatic locking retractor feature for child seats is still
functioning properly. In addition, all seat belts should be checked for
proper 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 when checked
according to the procedures in Workshop Manual. 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
front outboard 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 supplemental restraint system
(SRS). When the safety belt pretensioner deploys, webbing from the lap
and shoulder belt is tightened. The driver and 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 safety belt pretensioners. Refer to the
Safety belt maintenancesection in this chapter.
Failure to replace the safety belt assembly under the above
conditions could result in severe personal injuries in the event of
a collision.
2004 Econoline(eco)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
89
ProCarManuals.com
Page 90 of 256

Front safety belt height adjustment
Adjust the height of the shoulder
belt so the belt rests across the
middle of your shoulder.
To adjust the shoulder belt height,
push the button and slide the height
adjuster up or down. Release the
button and pull down on the height
adjuster to make sure it is locked in
place.
Position the safety belt
height adjusters so that the
belt rests across the middle of
your shoulder. Failure to adjust
the safety belt properly could
reduce the effectiveness of the
seat belt and increase the risk of
injury in a collision.
Lap belts
Adjusting the center lap belt
The lap belt does not adjust automatically.
The lap belt should fit snugly and as low as possible around the
hips, not across the waist.
Insert the tongue into the correct
buckle (the buckle closest to the
direction the tongue is coming
from). To lengthen the belt, turn the
tongue at a right angle to the belt
and pull across your lap until it
reaches the buckle. To tighten the
belt, pull the loose end of the belt
through the tongue until it fits snugly across the hips.
2004 Econoline(eco)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
90
ProCarManuals.com
Page 105 of 256

When installing a child safety seat:
•Review and follow the information
presented in theAir Bag
Supplemental Restraint System
section in this chapter.
•Use the correct safety belt buckle
for that seating position (the
buckle closest to the direction the
tongue is coming from).
•Insert the belt tongue into the
proper buckle until you hear a
snap and feel it latch. Make sure the tongue is securely fastened in the
buckle.
•For the front passenger seat, keep the buckle release button pointing
up and away from the safety seat, with the tongue between the child
seat and the release button, to prevent accidental unbuckling.
•For the front passenger seat, place seat back in upright position.
•Put the safety belt in the automatic locking mode. Refer toAutomatic
locking mode(passenger side front and outboard rear seating
positions) (if equipped).
•LATCH lower anchors are recommended for use by children up to 48
pounds (22 kg) in a child restraint. Top tether anchors can be used
for children up to 60 pounds (27 kg) in a child restraint, and to
provide upper torso restraint for children up to 80 pounds (36 kg)
using an upper torso harness and a belt-positioning booster.
Ford recommends the use of a child safety seat having a top tether
strap. Install the child safety seat in a seating position with LATCH and
tether anchors. For more information on top tether straps and anchors,
refer toAttaching safety seats with tether strapsin this chapter. For
more information of LATCH anchors refer toAttaching safety seats with
LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) attachmentsin this
chapter.
Carefully follow all of the manufacturer’s instructions included
with the safety seat you put in your vehicle. If you do not install
and use the safety seat properly, the child may be injured in a sudden
stop or collision.
2004 Econoline(eco)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
105
ProCarManuals.com
Page 107 of 256
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.
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.
6. Allow the belt to retract. The belt will click as it retracts to indicate it
is in the automatic locking mode.
2004 Econoline(eco)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
107
ProCarManuals.com