2009 FORD FOCUS child restraint

Booster seats position a child so that vehicle lap/shoulder safety belts fit
better. They lift the child up so that the lap belt rests low across the hips
and the knees bend comfortably at the edge of the cushion, while
minimizing slouching. Booster seats may also make the shoulder belt fit
better and more comfortably. Try to keep the belt near the middle of the
shoulder and across the center of the chest. Moving the child closer (a
few centimeters or inches) to the center of the vehicle, but remaining in
the same seating position, may help provide a good shoulder belt fit.
When children should use booster seats
Children need to use booster seats from the time they outgrow the
toddler seat until they are big enough for the vehicle seat and
lap/shoulder belt to fit properly. Generally this is when they reach a
height of at least 4 feet 9 inches (1.45 meters) tall (around age eight to
age twelve and between 40 lb (18 kg) and 80 lb (36 kg) or upward to
100 lb (45 kg) if recommended by your child restraint manufacturer).
Many state and provincial laws require that children use approved
booster seats until they reach age eight, a height of 4 feet 9 inches
(1.45 meters) tall, or 80 lb (36 kg).
Booster seats should be used until you can answer YES to ALL of these
questions when seated without a booster seat:
•Can the child sit all the way back
against the vehicle seat back with
knees bent comfortably at the
edge of the seat cushion?
•Can the child sit without
slouching?
•Does the lap belt rest low across the hips?
•Is the shoulder belt centered on the shoulder and chest?
•Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip?
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Types of booster seats
There are generally two types of belt-positioning booster seats: backless
and high back. Always use booster seats in conjunction with the vehicle
lap/shoulder belt.
•Backless booster seats
If your backless booster seat has a
removable shield, remove the
shield. If a vehicle seating position
has a low seat back or no head
restraint, a backless booster seat
may place your child’s head (as
measured at the tops of the ears)
above the top of the seat. In this
case, move the backless booster
to another seating position with a
higher seat back or head restraint and lap/shoulder belts, or consider
using a high back booster seat.
•High back booster seats
If, with a backless booster seat,
you cannot find a seating position
that adequately supports your
child’s head, a high back booster
seat would be a better choice.
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Children and booster seats vary in size and shape. Choose a booster that
keeps the lap belt low and snug across the hips, never up across the
stomach, and lets you adjust the shoulder belt to cross the chest and
rest snugly near the center of the shoulder. The drawings below compare
the ideal fit (center) to a shoulder belt uncomfortably close to the neck
and a shoulder belt that could slip off the shoulder. The drawings below
also show how the lap belt should be low and snug across the child’s
hips.
If the booster seat slides on the vehicle seat, placing a rubberized mesh
sold as shelf or carpet liner under the booster seat may improve this
condition. Do not introduce any item thicker than this under the booster
seat. Check with the booster seat manufacturer’s instructions.
The importance of shoulder belts
Using a booster without a shoulder belt increases the risk of a child’s
head hitting a hard surface in a collision. For this reason, you should
never use a booster seat with a lap belt only. It is generally best to use a
booster seat with lap/shoulder belts in the back seat.
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Move a child to a different seating location if the shoulder belt does not
stay positioned on the shoulder during use.
Follow all instructions provided by the manufacturer of the booster seat.
WARNING:Never place, or allow a child to place, the shoulder
belt under a child’s arm or behind the back because it reduces
the protection for the upper part of the body and may increase the risk
of injury or death in a collision.
Child restraint and safety belt maintenance
Inspect the vehicle safety belts and child safety seat systems periodically
to make sure they work properly and are not damaged. Inspect the
vehicle and child seat safety belts to make sure there are no nicks, tears
or cuts. Replace if necessary. All vehicle safety belt assemblies, including
retractors, buckles, front safety belt buckle assemblies, buckle support
assemblies (slide bar-if equipped), shoulder belt height adjusters (if
equipped), shoulder belt guide on seatback (if equipped), child safety
seat LATCH and tether anchors, and attaching hardware, should be
inspected after a collision. Refer to the child restraint manufacturer’s
instructions for additional inspection and maintenance information
specific to the child restraint. Ford Motor Company recommends that all
safety belt assemblies in use in vehicles involved in a collision be
replaced. However, if the collision was minor and an authorized dealer
finds that the belts do not show damage and continue to operate
properly, they do not need to be replaced. Safety belt assemblies not in
use during a collision should also be inspected and replaced if either
damage or improper operation is noted.
For proper care of soiled safety belts, refer toInteriorin theCleaning
chapter.
WARNING:Failure to inspect and if necessary replace the
safety belt assembly or child restraint system under the above
conditions could result in severe personal injuries in the event of a
collision.
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A
AdvanceTrac ..............................173
Air cleaner filter ...............260–261
Air conditioning
manual heating and air
conditioning system .................38
Airbag supplemental restraint
system ........................103, 112, 115
and child safety seats ............105
description ..............103, 112, 115
disposal ....................................118
driver airbag ............105, 113, 116
indicator light .................112, 117
operation .................105, 113, 116
passenger airbag .....105, 113, 116
side airbag ...............................112
Ambient mood/lighting ...............45
AM/FM .........................................20
Antifreeze (see Engine
coolant) .....................................240
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ..............................170
Anti-theft system ........................77
Audio system (see Radio) .........20
Automatic transaxle
fluid, adding ............................258
fluid, checking ........................258
fluid, specification ..................263
Automatic transmission ............177
driving an automatic
overdrive .................................178
fluid, refill capacities ..............263
Auxiliary input jack (Line in) ....29
Axle
refill capacities ........................263
B
Battery .......................................238acid, treating emergencies .....238
jumping a disabled battery ....209
maintenance-free ....................238
replacement, specifications ...261
servicing ..................................238
Belt-Minder
...............................98
Booster seats .............................134
Brakes ................................169–170
anti-lock ...................................170
anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light ...........................170
fluid, checking and adding ....258
fluid, refill capacities ..............263
fluid, specifications .................263
lubricant specifications ..........263
parking ....................................171
shift interlock ..........................177
Break-in period .............................6
Bulbs ............................................45
C
Capacities for refilling fluids ....263
CD ................................................20
Cell phone use ..............................8
Child safety seats ......................123
attaching with tether straps ..132
in front seat ....................124, 127
in rear seat ......................124, 127
LATCH .....................................129
recommendations ...................121
Child safety seats - booster
seats ...........................................134
Cleaning your vehicle
engine compartment ..............226
instrument panel ....................227
interior .....................................228
plastic parts ............................226
washing ....................................224
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headlamps, flash to pass ..........42
instrument panel, dimming .....42
interior lamps .....................44, 46
replacing bulbs .........................46
LATCH anchors .........................129
Lights, warning and indicator ....12
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ..........170
Load limits .................................158
Locks
autolock .....................................68
childproof ..................................72
doors ..........................................68
Lubricant specifications ...........263
Lug nuts ....................................208
M
Manual transaxle
lubricant specifications ..........263
Manual transmission .................181
fluid capacities ........................263
reverse .....................................182
Message center ...........................61
english/metric button ...............64
system check button ................63
warning messages .....................65
Mirrors ...................................53–54
automatic dimming rearview
mirror ........................................54
heated ........................................55
side view mirrors (power) .......54
Moon roof ....................................59
Motorcraft parts ........230, 246, 261
O
Octane rating ............................250
Oil (see Engine oil) ..................236P
Parking brake ............................171
Parts (see Motorcraft parts) ....261
Passenger Occupant
Classification Sensor ...................90
Power distribution box
(see Fuses) ...............................190
Power door locks ........................68
Power mirrors .............................54
Power point .................................51
Power steering ..........................177
fluid, checking and adding ....257
fluid, refill capacity ................263
fluid, specifications .................263
Power Windows ...........................52
R
Radio ............................................20
Recommendations for
attaching safety restraints for
children ......................................121
Relays ........................................186
Remote entry system .................74
locking/unlocking doors .....74–75
opening the trunk .....................75
panic alarm ...............................75
replacement/additional
transmitters ...............................76
replacing the batteries .............76
Roadside assistance ..................184
S
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ........................89, 92–97
Safety Canopy ...........................112
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Safety defects, reporting ..222–223
Safety restraints ..............89, 92–97
Belt-Minder
.............................98
extension assembly ..................98
for adults .............................93–96
for children .............................118
Occupant Classification
Sensor ........................................90
warning light and chime ..........98
Safety restraints - LATCH
anchors ......................................129
Safety seats for children ..........123
Safety Compliance
Certification Label ....................266
Satellite Radio (if equipped) .....20
Satellite Radio Information ........34
Seats ............................................81
child safety seats ....................123
heated ........................................86
SecuriLock passive anti-theft
system ..........................................77
Servicing your vehicle ..............231
Side air curtain .........................115
Spark plugs,
specifications .............261, 265–266
Specification chart,
lubricants ...................................263
Speed control ..............................55
Starting your vehicle .......164–165,
167
jump starting ..........................209
Steering wheel
controls ......................................58
tilting .........................................51
Stereo
CD-MP3 .....................................20
SYNC ............................................37T
Temporary mobility kit .............198
Tilt steering wheel ......................51
Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS)
Tires, Wheels and Loading ....153
Tires ...................................138–139
alignment ................................146
care ..........................................142
changing ..................................196
checking the pressure ............142
inflating ...................................140
label .........................................152
replacing ..................................144
rotating ....................................146
safety practices .......................145
sidewall information ...............147
snow tires and chains ............158
spare tire .................................193
Temporary mobility kit ..........198
terminology .............................139
tire grades ...............................139
treadwear ........................138, 143
Towing .......................................162
recreational towing .................163
trailer towing ..........................162
wrecker ....................................214
Traction control ........................171
Transaxle
lubricant specifications ..........263
Transmission
automatic operation ...............177
brake-shift interlock (BSI) ....177
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................258
fluid, checking and adding
(manual) .................................260
fluid, refill capacities ..............263
manual operation ....................181
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Index
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