2005 FORD TAURUS light

If... Then...
The driver's and front
passenger's safety belts are
buckled before the ignition
switch is turned to the ON
position or less than 1-2
minutes have elapsed since the
ignition switch has been turned
ON...The BeltMinder feature will not
activate.
The driver's or front
passenger's safety belt is not
buckled when the vehicle has
reached at least 5 km/h
(3 mph) and 1-2 minutes have
elapsed since the ignition
switch has been turned to
ON...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 the safety belts are
buckled.
The driver's or front
passenger's safety belt becomes
unbuckled for approximately 1
minute while the vehicle is
traveling at least 5 km/h
(3 mph) and more than 1-2
minutes have elapsed since the
ignition switch has been turned
to ON...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 the safety belts are
buckled.
The following are reasons most often given for not wearing safety belts:
(All statistics based on U.S. data)
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Reasons given... Consider...
ªCrashes are rare eventsº36700 crashes occur every day.The
more we drive, the more we are
exposed to ªrareº events, even for
good drivers.1 in 4 of us will be
seriously injured in a crash during
our lifetime.
ªI'm not going farº3of4fatal crashes occur within25
miles (40 km) of home.
ªBelts are uncomfortableº 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.
ªI was in a hurryºPrime time for an accident.
BeltMinder reminds us to take a few
seconds to buckle up.
ªSafety belts don't workºSafety belts,when used properly,
reduce risk of deathto front seat
occupants by45% in cars,and by
60% in light trucks.
ªTraffic is lightºNearly 1 of 2 deaths occur in
single-vehicle crashes,many when
no other vehicles are around.
ªBelts wrinkle my clothesº Possibly, but a serious crash can do
much more than wrinkle your clothes,
particularly if you are unbelted.
ªThe people I'm with don't
wear beltsºSet 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.
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To reduce the risk of injury, do not deactivate/activate the Belt
Minder feature while driving the vehicle.
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
minute)
²Step 3 must be completed within 50 seconds after the safety belt
warning light turns off.
3. For the seating position being disabled, buckle then unbuckle the
safety belt 9 times, ending in the unbuckled state. (Step 3 must be
completed within 50 seconds after the safety belt warning light turns
off.)
²After step 3, the restraint system warning light (airbag light) will be
turned on for three seconds.
4. Within 10 seconds of the light turning on, buckle then unbuckle the
safety belt.
²This will disable the BeltMinder feature for that seating position if it is
currently enabled. As confirmation, the restraint system warning light
will flash 4 times per second for 3 seconds.
²This will enable the BeltMinder feature for that seating position if it is
currently disabled. As confirmation, the restraint system warning light
will flash 4 times per second for 3 seconds, followed by 3 seconds with
the light off, then followed by the restraint system warning light
flashing 4 times per second for 3 seconds again.
Safety belt extension assembly
If the safety belt is too short when fully extended, there is a 8 inch
(20 cm) 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
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²side air bags (if equipped). Refer toSide air bag systemlater in this
chapter.
²one or more impact and safing sensors.
²the same indicator light, RCM (restraints control module) and
diagnostic unit used for the Personal safety system.
²Occupant Classification Sensor (OCS)
²Passenger air bag off indicator light.
The air bag supplemental restraints are an integral part of the Personal
Safety System. They are designed to be deployed in cases where the
Personal Safety System has determined the occupant conditions and
crash severity are appropriate to activate these devices. Refer to the
Personal Safety Systemsection in this chapter.
Important supplemental restraint system precautions
Air bags DO NOT inflate slowly or
gently and the risk of injury from a
deploying air bag is greatest close to
the trim covering the air bag
module.
All occupants of the vehicle, including the driver, should always
properly wear their safety belts, even when an air bag
supplemental restraint system (SRS) is provided.
Always transport children 12 years old and under in the back
seat and always properly use appropriate child restraints.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
recommends a minimum distance of at least 10 inches (25 cm)
between an occupant's chest and the driver air bag module.
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Never place your arm over the air bag module as a deploying air
bag can result in serious arm fractures or other injuries.
Steps you can take to properly position yourself away from the airbag:
²Move your seat to the rear as far as you can while still reaching the
pedals comfortably.
²Recline 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 system (SRS) or its fuses. See your Ford
or Lincoln Mercury dealer.
The front passenger air bag is not designed to offer protection to
an occupant in the center front seating position.
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.
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110

When the front passenger seat is
occupied and the sensing system
has turned off the passenger's
frontal airbag, the9passenger airbag
off9or9pass airbag off9indicator will
light and stay lit to remind you that
the front passenger frontal airbag is off. When the front passenger seat is
not occupied (empty seat) or in the event that the front passenger
frontal airbag is enabled (may inflate), the indicator light will be unlit.
The9pass airbag off9indicator light is located next to the climate
controls on the bottom right corner of the center stack of the instrument
panel. To confirm the indicator light is functional, it will momentarily
illuminate when the ignition is turned to the ON position.
The front passenger sensing system is designed to turn off the front
passenger's frontal airbag when a rear facing infant seat, a forward-facing
child restraint, or a booster seat is detected. If the child restraint has
been installed and the indicator is not lit, then turn the vehicle off,
remove the child restraint from the vehicle and reinstall the restraint
following the child restraint manufacturer's directions.
The front passenger sensing system is designed to enable (may inflate)
the right front passenger's frontal airbag anytime the system senses that
a person of adult size is sitting properly in the front passenger seat.
When the passenger sensing system has allowed the airbag to be
enabled, the indicator will be unlit and stay unlit to remind you that the
airbag is enabled (may inflate).
If a person of adult-size is sitting in the front passenger's seat, but the
9passenger airbag off9or9pass airbag off9indicator is lit, it is possible
that the person isn't sitting properly in the seat. If this happens, turn the
vehicle off and ask the person to place the seatback in the full upright
position, sit upright in the seat, centered on the seat cushion, with the
person's legs comfortably extended. Restart the vehicle and have the
person remain in this position for about two minutes. This will allow the
system to detect that person and enable the passenger's airbag. If the
indicator lamp remains lit even after this, the occupant should be advised
to ride in the rear seat.
After all occupants have adjusted their seats and put on safety belts, it's
very important that they continue to sit upright with their back against
the seatback, with their feet comfortably extended on the floor while the
vehicle is still in motion. Sitting improperly can increase the chance of
injury in a crash event. For example, if an occupant slouches, lies down,
turns sideways, sits forward, leans forward or sideways, or puts one or
both feet up, the chance of injury during a crash is greatly increased.
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Sitting improperly out of position or with the seat back reclined
too far can take off weight from the seat cushion and affect the
decision of the passenger sensing system, resulting in serious injury or
death in a crash. Always sit upright against your seatback, with your
feet on the floor.
The front passenger sensing system may detect small or medium objects
placed on the seat cushion. For most objects that are in the front
passenger seat, the passenger airbag will be disabled. Even though the
passenger airbag is disabled, the9pass airbag off9light may or may not
be illuminated according to the table below.
ObjectsPass Airbag Off
Indicator LightPassenger Airbag
Empty seat Unlit Disabled
Small (i.e. 3 ring
binder, small purse,
bottled water)Unlit Disabled
Medium (i.e. heavy
briefcase, fully packed
luggage)Lit Disabled
Empty seat, Small or
medium object with
safety belt buckledLit Disabled
In case there is a problem with the
passenger sensing system, the
airbag readiness light in the
instrument cluster will stay lit. DO
NOT attempt to repair or service the system; take your vehicle
immediately to the dealer.
The front passenger airbag is not designed to offer protection to
an occupant in the center seating position.
An out of position front center occupant could affect the
decision of the front passenger sensing system.
If it is necessary to modify an advanced front airbag system to
accommodate a person with disabilities, contact the Ford Customer
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Relationship Center at the phone number shown in the Customer
Assistance section of this Owners Guide.
Any alteration/modification to the front passenger seat may
affect the performance of the front passenger sensing system.
Determining if the system is operational
The supplemental restraint system uses a warning indicator in the
instrument cluster or a back-up tone to indicate the condition of the
system. Refer to theWarning lightsection in theInstrument cluster
chapter. Routine maintenance of the air bag is not required.
A difficulty with the system is indicated by one or more of the following:
²The readiness light (same light
for front and side air bag system)
will either flash or stay lit.
²The readiness light will not
illuminate immediately after ignition is turned on.
²A 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 supplemental
restraint system serviced at your dealership or by a qualified technician
immediately. Unless serviced, the system may not function properly in
the event of a collision.
Side air bag system (if equipped)
Do not place objects or mount equipment on or near the air bag
cover on the side of the seatbacks of the front seats or in front
seat areas that may come into contact with a deploying air bag. Failure
to follow these instructions may increase the risk of personal injury in
the event of a collision.
Do not use accessory seat covers. The use of accessory seat
covers may prevent the deployment of the side air bags and
increase the risk of injury in an accident.
Do not lean your head on the door. The side air bag could injure
you as it deploys from the side of the seatback.
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