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
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
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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
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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