2009 FORD FREESTYLE child restraint

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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NOTICE TO CROSSOVER VEHICLE OWNERS
Crossover vehicles handle differently
than passenger cars in the various
driving conditions that are
encountered on streets, highways
and off-road. Crossover vehicles are
not designed for cornering at speeds
as high as passenger cars any more
than low-slung sports cars are
designed to perform satisfactorily under off-road conditions.
WARNING:Crossover vehicles have a significantly higher
rollover rate than other types of vehicles. To reduce the risk of
serious injury or death from a rollover or other crash you must:
•Avoid sharp turns and abrupt maneuvers;
•Drive at safe speeds for the conditions;
•Keep tires properly inflated;
•Never overload or improperly load your vehicle; and
•Make sure every passenger is properly restrained.
WARNING:In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is
significantly more likely to die than a person wearing a seat belt.
All occupants must wear seat belts and children/infants must use
appropriate restraints to minimize the risk of injury or ejection.
Study yourOwner’s Guidefor specific information about equipment
features, instructions for safe driving and additional precautions to
reduce the risk of an accident or serious injury.
VEHICLE CHARACTERISTICS
All Wheel Drive (AWD) System (if equipped)
Your vehicle may be equipped with a full-time All Wheel Drive (AWD)
system. With the AWD option, power will be delivered to the front
wheels and distributed to the rear wheels as needed. This increases
traction which may enable you to safely drive over terrain and road
conditions that a conventional two-wheel drive vehicle cannot. The AWD
system is active all the time and requires no input from the operator.
Note:Your AWD vehicle is not intended for off-road use. The AWD
feature gives your vehicle some limited off-road capabilities in which
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A
Accessory delay ........................104
AdvanceTrac ..............................259
Air cleaner filter ...............343–345
Air conditioning ........76, 78, 80, 82
Airbag supplemental restraint
system ................183–184, 193, 195
and child safety seats ............186
description ..............184, 193, 195
disposal ....................................199
driver airbag ............186, 193, 196
indicator light .................192, 198
operation .................186, 193, 196
passenger airbag .....186, 193, 196
side airbag ...............................193
All Wheel Drive (AWD),
driving off road .........................270
Antifreeze (see Engine
coolant) .....................................324
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ..............................257
Anti-theft system ..............149, 153
arming the system ..................153
disarming a triggered
system .....................................154
Audio system
(see Radio) ......................18, 22, 29
Automatic transaxle
fluid, refill capacities ..............346
fluid, specification ..................346
Automatic transmission
driving an automatic
overdrive .................................265
fluid, adding ............................342
fluid, checking ........................342
Auxiliary input jack (Line in) ....37
B
Battery .......................................322acid, treating emergencies .....322
jumping a disabled battery ....293
maintenance-free ....................322
replacement, specifications ...345
servicing ..................................322
Belt-Minder
.............................179
Booster seats .............................215
Brakes ........................................257
anti-lock ...................................257
anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light ...........................258
fluid, checking and adding ....341
fluid, refill capacities ..............346
fluid, specifications .................346
lubricant specifications ..........346
parking ....................................258
shift interlock ..........................264
Bulbs ............................................92
C
Capacities for refilling fluids ....346
Cargo cover ...............................132
Cargo net ...................................132
Cell phone use ..............................8
Changing a tire .........................285
Child safety seats ......................203
in front seat ............................204
in rear seat ..............................204
LATCH .....................................207
recommendations ...................201
tether anchorage hardware ...210
Child safety seats - booster
seats ...........................................215
Cleaning your vehicle
engine compartment ..............309
instrument panel ....................311
interior .....................................311
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Power mirrors ...........................106
Power point ...............................101
Power steering ..........................263
fluid, checking and adding ....341
fluid, refill capacity ................346
fluid, specifications .................346
Power Windows .........................103
R
Radio ................................18, 22, 29
Rear seat entertainment
system ..........................................45
Recommendations for
attaching safety restraints for
children ......................................201
Relays ........................................279
Remote entry system .......139, 141
illuminated entry ............144, 146
locking/unlocking doors .........141
opening the trunk ...................142
panic alarm .............................141
replacement/additional
transmitters .............................144
replacing the batteries ...........143
Reverse sensing system ...........268
Roadside assistance ..................276
Roof rack ...................................132
S
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ..........170, 173, 175–177
Safety Canopy ...................193, 195
Safety defects, reporting ..........306
Safety
restraints ...........170, 173, 175–178
Belt-Minder
...........................179extension assembly ................178
for adults .........................175–177
for children .............................199
Occupant Classification
Sensor ......................................172
warning light and
chime ...............................178–179
Safety restraints - LATCH
anchors ......................................207
Safety seats for children ..........203
Safety Compliance
Certification Label ....................349
Satellite Radio Information ........42
Seats ..........................................155
child safety seats ....................203
front seats .......................155–156
heated ............78, 80, 82, 160, 166
memory seat ...................142, 160
second row seats ............162, 165
third row seats ........165, 167–168
SecuriCode keyless entry
system ........................................147
SecuriLock passive anti-theft
system ........................................149
Servicing your vehicle ..............314
Setting the clock
AM/FM single CD .....................23
AM/FM/In-dash 6 CD ................30
Spare tire (see Changing the
Tire) ...........................................288
Spark plugs,
specifications .....................345, 348
Specification chart,
lubricants ...................................346
Speed control ............................107
Starting your vehicle ........252–254
jump starting ..........................293
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Owners Guide, 2nd Printing
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Index
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