2004 FORD FREESTAR tow

Stowing the third row seat
1. If the comfort guide is on the
center lap/shoulder belt, slip the
guide off the belt and stow the
guide in the pocket on the back of
the seat.
2. If you plan to carry very large
objects or items that might damage
the center lap/shoulder belt, detach
the belt from the seat. Use a key or
seat belt tongue to release the
buckle.
2004 Windstar(win)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
118

3. Store the tongue of the sliding
latchplate in the belt pocket.
4. Store the belt in the housing
found on the ceiling by inserting the
smaller tongue in the slot provided.
Note:The seat can be stowed with the safety belt connected if desired.
5. Push the head restraint release buttons and move the head restraints
fully down. Remove all objects from the seat and stowage tub.
2004 Windstar(win)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
119

6. From the rear of the vehicle, fold seat back bypulling and releasing
the number 1 strap.
Important:If you don’t let go of
the number 1 strap before the seat
back folds completely, the seat may
not stow flat in the tub. Refer to the
label attached to the rear of the
vehicle seat.
2004 Windstar(win)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
120

Unstowing the third row seat
Ensure seat latching area is free of objects.
1. Lift the seat out of the tub in the
floor by pulling up on the exposed
strap or handle. Once seat is at a
vertical position, push the seat over,
letting it fall onto the latches.
2. To return the seat back to the
seating position, pull the number 1
strap, then while holding the
number 1 strap, pull the number 3
strap to raise the seat back.
3. Pull up on the head restraits to adjust them.
4. If the center lap/shoulder belt is detached, remove the belt from the
ceiling storage area just ahead of the liftgate opening and buckle the
tongue on the end of the belt to the mini-buckle on the left side of the
center seat.
Ensure seat is latched to vehicle floor by pushing/pulling on seat.
If not latched, the seat may cause injury during a sudden stop.
2004 Windstar(win)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
122

Third row seat features
The seat is equipped with a recline
function to allow for adjustment of
the seat back for improved comfort.
To activate the recliner, pull and
hold the strap located near the
plastic shield in the center of the
seat. When seat is adjusted to
desired location, release the strap.
Reclining the seatback can cause an occupant to slide under the
seat’s safety belt, resulting in severe personal injuries in the
event of a collision.
Tailgate function
The 3rd row seat is equipped with a tailgate function to be utilized when
the vehicle is parked and engine turned off. This rearward-facing position
allows the customer to open the liftgate and sit facing out of the vehicle
rearward.
This is not a position suitable for driving. Do not drive the
vehicle with the seat in this position. The safety belts are not
functional when the seat is in the tailgate position.
Ensure head restraints are moved to their full down position, all seat
belts are released from the seat, seat and stowage tub are free of objects.
1. Push the head restraint release buttons and move all head restraints
fully down.
2004 Windstar(win)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
123

2. To access the tailgate function,
the seat must be in the seating
position. If the seat is not in the
seating position, follow all the steps
of the ‘Unstowing Seat Section’.
Once the seat is in the seating
position, release the cushion latches
by pulling the number 2 strap.
Then, pull the seat rearward by the
number 3 strap and set the seat on
the liftgate scuff plate. The number
1 strap is not used to access this
position.
Do not sit on the head restraints.
3. To return the seat, ensure seat
latching area is free of objects.
Then, raise the seat off the liftgate
scuff plate and push at the top of
the seat back to rotate the seat back
onto the latches. Pull up on the
head restraints to raise them.
Ensure seat is latched to vehicle floor by pushing/pulling on seat.
If not latched, the seat may cause injury during a sudden stop.
2004 Windstar(win)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
124

Third row comfort guide
The safety belt for the 3rd row
center occupant may be stowed in
the ceiling if it has been detached
from the seat to carry large cargo.
Remove the safety belt from the
stowage area on the ceiling and
buckle the small tongue on the end
of the safety belt to the mini-buckle
on the left side of the center seat
position.
The third row center lap/shoulder
belt is equipped with a Belt Comfort
Guide located in a pocket on the
back of the seat. The guide is
attached to the driver’s side head
restraint, and is used to adjust the
comfort of the shoulder belt for
smaller occupants in the center
position of the 3rd row seat. To
adjust the comfort guide:
•Slip the shoulder belt into the
belt guide.
•Slide the guide up or down along the head restraint post so that the
belt is centered on the occupant’s shoulder.
Safety belt warning light and indicator chime
The safety belt warning light illuminates in the instrument cluster and a
chime sounds to remind the occupants to fasten their safety belts.
2004 Windstar(win)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
131

Always transport children 12 years old and under in the back
seat and always properly use appropriate child restraints.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
recommends a minimum distance of at least 25 cm (10 inches)
between an occupant’s chest and the driver air bag module.
Never place your arm over the air bag module as a deploying air
bag can result in serious arm fractures or other injuries.
To properly position yourself away from the air bag:
•Move your seat to the rear as far as you can while still reaching the
pedals comfortably.
•Recline the seat slightly one or two degrees from the upright position.
Do not put anything on or over the air bag module. Placing
objects on or over the air bag inflation area may cause those
objects to be propelled by the air bag into your face and torso causing
serious injury.
Do not attempt to service, repair, or modify the air bag
supplemental restraint systems or its fuses. See your Ford or
Lincoln Mercury dealer.
Modifying or adding equipment to the front end of the vehicle
(including frame, bumper, front end body structure and tow
hooks) may affect the performance of the air bag system, increasing
the risk of injury. Do not modify the front end of the vehicle.
2004 Windstar(win)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
139