2004 FORD MUSTANG light

Conditions of operation
If... Then...
The driver’s safety belt is
not buckled before the
ignition switch is turned
to the ON position...The safety belt warning light
illuminates1-2 minutes and the
warning chime sounds 4-8
seconds.
The driver’s safety belt is
buckled while the
indicator light is
illuminated and the
warning chime is
sounding...The safety belt warning light
and warning chime turn off.
The driver’s safety belt is
buckled before the
ignition switch is turned
to the ON position...The safety belt warning light
will turn on for 3 seconds and
then turn off. The indicator
chime will remain off.
BeltMinder
The BeltMinder feature is a supplemental warning to
the safety belt warning function. This feature
provides additional reminders to the driver that the
driver’s safety belt is unbuckled by intermittently
sounding a chime and illuminating the safety belt
warning lamp in the instrument cluster.
If... Then...
The driver’s safety belt is
not buckled
approximately 5 seconds
after the safety belt
warning light has turned
off...The BeltMinder feature is
activated - the safety belt
warning light illuminates and
the warning chime sounds for 6
seconds every 30 seconds,
repeating for approximately 5
minutes or until safety belt is
buckled.
The driver’s safety belt is
buckled while the safety
belt indicator light is
illuminated and the safety
belt warning chime is
sounding...The BeltMinder feature will not
activate.
2004 Mustang(mus)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
74

If... Then...
The driver’s safety belt is
buckled before the
ignition switch is turned
to the ON position...The BeltMinder feature will not
activate.
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 death
to 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.
2004 Mustang(mus)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
75

•The gearshift is in P (Park) (automatic
transmission) or the neutral position (manual
transmission).
•The ignition switch is in the OFF position.
•All vehicle doors are closed.
•The driver’s safety belt is unbuckled.
•The parklamps/headlamps are in OFF position (If
vehicle is equipped with Autolamps, this will not
affect the procedure).
To reduce the risk of injury, do not
deactivate/activate the Belt Minder feature
while driving the vehicle.
BeltMinder activation and deactivation
procedure
1. Turn the ignition switch to the RUN (or ON)
position. (DO NOT START THE ENGINE.)
2. Wait until the safety belt warning light turns off.
(Approximately 1–2 minutes.)
•Steps 3–5 must be completed within 60 seconds
or the procedure will have to be repeated.
3. Buckle then unbuckle the safety belt three times,
ending with the safety belt unbuckled. This can be
done before or during BeltMinder warning activation.
4. Turn on the parklamps/headlamps, turn off the
parklamps/headlamps.
5. Buckle then unbuckle the safety belt three times,
ending with the safety belt unbuckled.
•After step 5 the safety belt warning light will be
turned on for three seconds.
6. Within seven seconds of the safety belt warning
light turning off, buckle then unbuckle the safety
belt.
•This will disable BeltMinder if it is currently
enabled, or enable BeltMinder if it is currently
disabled.
2004 Mustang(mus)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
77

7. Confirmation of disabling BeltMinder is provided
by the safety belt warning light flashing four times
per second for three seconds.
8. Confirmation of enabling BeltMinder is provided
by:
•The safety belt warning light flashing four times
per second for three seconds.
•Followed by three seconds with the safety belt
warning light off.
•Once again, the safety belt warning light will flash
four times per second for three seconds.
9. After receiving confirmation, the
deactivation/activation procedure is complete.
Safety belt extension assembly
If the safety belt is too short when fully extended,
there is a 20 cm (8 inch) safety belt extension
assembly that can be added (part number 611C22).
This assembly can be obtained from your dealer at
no cost.
Use only extensions manufactured by the same
supplier as the safety belt. Manufacturer
identification is located at the end of the webbing on
the label. Also, use the safety belt extension only if
the safety belt is too short for you when fully
extended.
Do not use extensions to change the fit of
the shoulder belt across the torso.
Safety belt maintenance
Inspect the safety belt systems periodically to make
sure they work properly and are not damaged.
Inspect the safety belts to make sure there are no
nicks, tears or cuts. Replace if necessary. All safety
belt assemblies, including retractors, buckles, front
seat belt buckle assemblies, buckle support
assemblies (slide bar-if equipped), shoulder belt
height adjusters (if equipped), shoulder belt guide
2004 Mustang(mus)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
78

Important SRS precautions
The SRS is designed to
work with the safety
belt to help protect the
driver and right front
passenger from certain
upper body injuries.
Air bags DO NOT
inflate slowly; there is
a risk of injury from a
deploying air bag.
All occupants of the vehicle, including the
driver, should always properly wear their
safety belts, even when an air bag (SRS) is
provided.
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.
2004 Mustang(mus)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
80

of position at the time of air bag deployment. It is
extremely important that occupants be properly
restrained as far away from the air bag module as
possible while maintaining vehicle control.
The SRS consists of:
•driver and passenger air bag modules (which
include the inflators and air bags)
•one or more impact and safing sensors
•a readiness light and tone
•a diagnostic module
•and the electrical wiring which connects the
components
The diagnostic module monitors its own internal
circuits and the supplemental air bag electrical
system wiring (including the impact sensors), the
system wiring, the air bag system readiness light, the
air bag back up power and the air bag ignitors.
Several air bag system components get hot
after inflation. Do not touch them after
inflation.
If the air bag has deployed,the air bag will
not function again and must be replaced
immediately.If the air bag is not replaced, the
unrepaired area will increase the risk of injury in a
collision.
Determining if the system is operational
The SRS uses a readiness light in the instrument
cluster or a tone to indicate the condition of the
system. Refer toAir bag readinesssection in the
Instrument clusterchapter. Routine maintenance of
the air bag is not required.
2004 Mustang(mus)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
83

A difficulty with the system is indicated by one or
more of the following:
•The readiness light
will either flash or
stay lit.
•The readiness light will not illuminate immediately
after ignition is turned on.
•A series of five beeps will be heard. The tone
pattern will repeat periodically until the problem
and/or light are repaired.
If any of these things happen, even intermittently,
have the SRS serviced at your dealership or by a
qualified technician immediately. Unless serviced,
the system may not function properly in the event of
a collision.
Disposal of air bags and air bag equipped
vehicles
See your local dealership or qualified technician. Air
bags MUST BE disposed of by qualified personnel.
SAFETY RESTRAINTS FOR CHILDREN
See the following sections for directions on how to
properly use safety restraints for children. Also see
Air bag supplemental restraint system (SRS)in
this chapter for special instructions about using air
bags.
Important child restraint precautions
You are required by law to use safety restraints for
children in the U.S. and Canada. If small children
(generally children who are four years old or
younger and who weigh 18 kg [40 lbs] or less) ride
in your vehicle, you must put them in safety seats
made especially for children. Many states require
that children use approved booster seats until they
are eight years old. Check your local and state or
provincial laws for specific requirements regarding
the safety of children in your vehicle. When possible,
always place children under age 12 in the rear seat
AIR
BAG
2004 Mustang(mus)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
84

STARTING
Positions of the ignition
1. ACCESSORY, allows
the electrical
accessories such as the
radio to operate while
the engine is not
running.
2. LOCK, locks the
steering wheel, automatic transmission gearshift
lever and allows key removal. For vehicles equipped
with a manual transmission, you must depress the
ignition release lever to release the key.
3. OFF, shuts off the engine and all accessories
without locking the steering wheel. This position
also allows the automatic transmission shift lever to
be moved from the P (Park) position without the
brake pedal being depressed.
When the key is in the ignition and in the
OFF position, the automatic transmission
shift lever can be moved from the P (Park)
position without the brake pedal depressed. To
avoid unwanted vehicle movement, always set the
parking brake.
4. ON, all electrical circuits operational. Warning
lights illuminated. Key position when driving.
5. START, cranks the engine. Release the key as
soon as the engine starts.
Preparing to start your vehicle
Engine starting is controlled by the powertrain
control system. This system meets all Canadian
Interference-Causing Equipment standard
requirements regulating the impulse electrical field
strength of radio noise.
When starting a fuel-injected engine, don’t press the
accelerator before or during starting. Only use the
3
1
2
5
4
2004 Mustang(mus)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Driving
99