
When to use the automatic locking mode
In this mode, the shoulder belt is automatically pre-locked. The belt will
still retract to remove any slack in the shoulder belt. The automatic
locking mode is not available on the driver safety belt.
This mode should be usedany timea child safety seat, except a
booster, is installed in passenger front or rear seating positions. Children
12 years old and under should be properly restrained in a rear seating
position whenever possible. Refer toSafety restraints for childrenor
Safety seats for childrenlater in this chapter.
How to disengage the automatic locking mode
WARNING:Ford Motor Company recommends that all
passenger safety belt assemblies and attaching hardware should
be inspected by an authorized dealer after any collision to verify that
theautomatic locking retractorfeature for child seats is still working
properly. Safety belt assemblies should be inspected by an authorized
dealer and must be replaced if either damage or improper operation is
noted. Failure to replace the belt and retractor assembly could
increase the risk of injury in a collision.
Unbuckle the combination lap/shoulder belt and allow it to retract
completely to disengage the automatic locking mode and activate the
vehicle sensitive (emergency) locking mode.
Safety belt pretensioner
Your vehicle is equipped with safety belt pretensioners at the driver and
front outboard passenger seating positions.
The safety belt pretensioner tightens the safety belts firmly against the
occupant’s body at the start of the crash.
WARNING:The driver and front passenger safety belt system
(including retractors, buckles and height adjusters) must be
replaced if the vehicle is involved in a collision that results in
deployment of front airbags, seat-mounted side airbags and side air
curtains, and safety belt pretensioners.
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Owners Guide
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
119

When installing a child safety seat:
•Review and follow the information
presented in theAirbag
supplemental restraint system
(SRS)section in this chapter.
•Carefully follow all of the
manufacturer’s instructions
included with the safety seat you
put in your vehicle. If you do not
install and use the safety seat
properly, the child may be injured
in a sudden stop or collision.
Airbags can kill or injure a child in a child seat. NEVER place a
rear-facing child seat in front of an active airbag. If you must use a
forward-facing child seat in the front seat, move the vehicle seat all the
way back.
Children 12 and under should be properly restrained in a rear seating
position whenever possible. If all children cannot be seated and
restrained properly in a rear seating position, properly restrain the
largest child in the front seat.
Installing child safety seats with combination lap and shoulder
belts
Check to make sure the child seat is properly secured before each use.
Children 12 and under should be properly restrained in a rear seating
position whenever possible. If all children cannot be seated and
restrained properly in a rear seating position, properly restrain the
largest child in the front seat.
When installing a child safety seat with combination lap/shoulder belts:
•Use the correct safety belt buckle for that seating position.
•Insert the belt tongue into the proper buckle until you hear a snap
and feel it latch. Make sure the tongue is securely fastened in the
buckle.
•Keep the buckle release button pointing up and away from the safety
seat, with the tongue between the child seat and the release button,
to help prevent accidental unbuckling.
•Place vehicle seat back in upright position.
•Put the safety belt in the automatic locking mode. Refer to step 5
below.
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Owners Guide
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
146

4. Insert the belt tongue into the
proper buckle (the buckle closest to
the direction the tongue is coming
from) for that seating position until
you hear a snap and feel the latch
engage. Make sure the tongue is
latched securely by pulling on it.
5. To put the retractor in the
automatic locking mode, grasp the
shoulder portion of the belt and pull
downward until all of the belt is
pulled out.
6. Allow the belt to retract to remove slack. The belt will click as it
retracts to indicate it is in the automatic locking mode.
7. Try to pull the belt out of the retractor to make sure the retractor is
in the automatic locking mode (you should not be able to pull more belt
out). If the retractor is not locked, repeat Steps 5 and 6.
8.
Remove remaining slack from the
belt. Force the seat down with extra
weight, e.g., by pressing down or
kneeling on the child restraint while
pulling up on the shoulder belt in
order to force slack from the belt.
This is necessary to remove the
remaining slack that will exist once
the additional weight of the child is
added to the child restraint. It also
helps to achieve the proper snugness
of the child seat to the vehicle. Sometimes, a slight lean towards the buckle
will additionally help to remove remaining slack from the belt.
2009 MKZ(378)
Owners Guide
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
148

WARNING:Keep batteries out of reach of children. Batteries
contain sulfuric acid. Avoid contact with skin, eyes or clothing.
Shield your eyes when working near the battery to protect against
possible splashing of acid solution. In case of acid contact with skin or
eyes, flush immediately with water for a minimum of 15 minutes and
get prompt medical attention. If acid is swallowed, call a physician
immediately.
WARNING:Battery posts, terminals and related accessories
contain lead and lead compounds.Wash hands after handling.
Because your vehicle’s engine is electronically controlled by a computer,
some control conditions are maintained by power from the battery. When
the battery is disconnected or a new battery is installed, the engine must
relearn its idle and fuel trim strategy for optimum driveability and
performance. To begin this process:
1. With the vehicle at a complete stop, set the parking brake.
2. Put the gearshift in P (Park), turn off all accessories and start the
engine.
3. Run the engine until it reaches normal operating temperature.
4. Allow the engine to idle for at least one minute.
5. Turn the A/C on and allow the engine to idle for at least one minute.
6. Release the parking brake. With your foot on the brake pedal and with
the A/C on, put the vehicle in D (Drive) and allow the engine to idle for
at least one minute.
7. Drive the vehicle to complete the relearning process.
•The vehicle may need to be driven 10 miles (16 km) or more to
relearn the idle and fuel trim strategy.
•If you do not allow the engine to relearn its idle trim, the idle
quality of your vehicle may be adversely affected until the idle
trim is eventually relearned.
If the battery has been disconnected or a new battery has been installed,
the clock and radio settings must be reset once the battery is
reconnected.
2009 MKZ(378)
Owners Guide
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
257

A
Accessory delay ..........................58
AdvanceTrac ..............................192
Air cleaner filter ...............278–279
Air conditioning ....................31, 33
Airbag supplemental restraint
system ........................126, 135, 138
and child safety seats ............128
description ..............126, 135, 138
disposal ....................................141
driver airbag ............128, 136, 139
indicator light .........134, 137, 140
operation .................128, 136, 139
passenger airbag .....128, 136, 139
side airbag ...............................135
All Wheel Drive (AWD),
driving off road .........................203
Antifreeze
(see Engine coolant) ................258
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ......................190–191
Anti-theft system ................96, 100
arming the system ..................100
disarming a triggered
system .....................................101
Audio system (see Radio) .........16
Automatic transmission
driving an automatic
overdrive .................................199
fluid, adding ............................276
fluid, checking ........................276
fluid, refill capacities ..............280
fluid, specification ..................280
Auxiliary input jack (Line in) ....23
Axle
lubricant specifications ..........280
B
Battery .......................................256acid, treating emergencies .....256
jumping a disabled battery ....225
maintenance-free ....................256
replacement, specifications ...279
servicing ..................................256
Belt-Minder.............................121
Booster seats .............................154
Brakes ........................................190
anti-lock ...........................190–191
anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light ...........................191
fluid, checking and adding ....275
fluid, refill capacities ..............280
fluid, specifications .................280
lubricant specifications ..........280
parking ....................................191
shift interlock ..........................198
Break-in period .............................5
Bulbs ............................................42
C
Capacities for refilling fluids ....280
Cell phone use ..............................7
Changing a tire .........................218
Child safety seats ......................145
attaching with tether straps ..151
in front seat ............................146
in rear seat ..............................146
LATCH .....................................149
recommendations ...................143
Child safety seats - booster
seats ...........................................154
Cleaning your vehicle
engine compartment ..............243
instrument panel ....................245
interior .....................................245
plastic parts ............................244
washing ....................................241
2009 MKZ(378)
Owners Guide
USA(fus)
Index
287

Keys .......................................80, 98
positions of the ignition .........185
L
Lamps
autolamp system .......................37
bulb replacement
specifications chart ..................42
daytime running light ...............38
fog lamps ...................................38
headlamps .................................37
headlamps, flash to pass ..........39
instrument panel, dimming .....39
interior lamps ...........................41
replacing bulbs .........................44
LATCH anchors .........................149
Lights, warning and indicator ....10
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ..........191
Load limits .................................178
Locks
autolock .....................................83
childproof ..................................86
doors ..........................................82
Lubricant specifications ...........280
Lug nuts ....................................224
Lumbar support, seats .............107
M
Message center .....................70–71
english/metric button ...............76
system check button ................75
warning messages .....................77
Mirrors ...................................58–59
automatic dimming rearview
mirror ........................................58
heated ........................................60
programmable memory ............91
side view mirrors (power) .......59Moon roof ..............................65, 90
Motorcraft parts ........247, 263, 279
N
Navigation system .......................30
O
Octane rating ............................267
Oil (see Engine oil) ..................252
P
Parking brake ............................191
Parts (see Motorcraft parts) ....279
Passenger Occupant
Classification Sensor .................113
Power distribution box
(see Fuses) ...............................215
Power door locks ........................82
Power mirrors .............................59
Power point .................................55
Power steering ..........................197
fluid, checking and adding ....275
fluid, refill capacity ................280
fluid, specifications .................280
Power Windows ...........................56
Power windows
opening using remote entry
system .......................................90
R
Radio ............................................16
Recommendations for
attaching safety restraints for
children ......................................143
2009 MKZ(378)
Owners Guide
USA(fus)
Index
290

Relays ........................................212
Remote entry system ...........88–89
illuminated entry ................93–94
locking/unlocking doors .....89–90
opening the trunk .....................90
opening the windows ...............90
panic alarm ...............................90
replacement/additional
transmitters ...............................92
replacing the batteries .............91
Reverse sensing system ...........201
Roadside assistance ..................210
S
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ..........112, 115, 117–120
Safety Canopy ...........................135
Safety defects, reporting ..239–240
Safety
restraints ...........112, 115, 117–120
Belt-Minder...........................121
extension assembly ................120
for adults .........................117–119
for children .............................141
Occupant Classification
Sensor ......................................113
warning light and
chime ...............................120–121
Safety restraints - LATCH
anchors ......................................149
Safety seats for children ..........145
Safety Compliance
Certification Label ....................283
Satellite Radio Information ........27
Seats ..........................................102
child safety seats ....................145
climate control ........................109front seats ...............................108
heated ........................................31
memory seat .....................91, 108
SecuriLock passive anti-theft
system ..........................................96
Servicing your vehicle ..............248
Side air curtain .........................138
Spark plugs, specifications ......279,
282
Specification chart,
lubricants ...................................280
Speed control ..............................60
Starting your vehicle ........185–187
jump starting ..........................225
Steering wheel
controls ......................................63
tilting .........................................53
SYNC ............................................30
T
Tilt steering wheel ......................53
Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS)
Tires, Wheels and Loading ....173
Tires ...........................158–159, 218
alignment ................................166
care ..........................................162
changing ..................................218
checking the pressure ............162
inflating ...................................160
label .........................................172
replacing ..................................164
rotating ....................................166
safety practices .......................165
sidewall information ...............167
snow tires and chains ............178
spare tire .................................219
terminology .............................159
2009 MKZ(378)
Owners Guide
USA(fus)
Index
291