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.
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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.
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 UTILITY VEHICLE AND TRUCK OWNERS
Utility vehicles and trucks handle
differently than passenger cars in
the various driving conditions that
are encountered on streets,
highways and off-road. Utility
vehicles and trucks 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:Utility 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 your “Owner’s Guide” and any supplements for specific
information about equipment features, instructions for safe driving and
additional precautions to reduce the risk of an accident or serious injury.
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Tires, Wheels and Loading
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A
Accessory delay ..........................68
AdvanceTrac ..............................206
Air cleaner filter ...............301–303
Air conditioning
automatic temperature
control system ..........................43
Airbag supplemental restraint
system ........................132, 141, 144
and child safety seats ............134
description ..............132, 141, 144
disposal ....................................147
driver airbag ............134, 142, 145
indicator light .........141, 143, 146
operation .................134, 142, 145
passenger airbag .....134, 142, 145
side airbag ...............................141
All Wheel Drive (AWD),
driving off road .........................217
Ambient mood/lighting ...............54
Ambulance packages ..................15
AM/FM .........................................25
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ......................203–204
Anti-theft system ......................103
Audio system (see Radio) .........25
Automatic transaxle
fluid, adding ............................298
fluid, checking ........................298
Automatic transmission
driving an automatic
overdrive .................................213
fluid, refill capacities ..............304
fluid, specification ..................304
Auxiliary input jack (Line in) ....33
Auxiliary power point .................65Axle
lubricant specifications ..........304
refill capacities ........................304
B
Battery .......................................278
acid, treating emergencies .....278
jumping a disabled battery ....248
maintenance-free ....................278
replacement, specifications ...303
servicing ..................................278
Belt-Minder.............................127
Booster seats .............................160
Brakes ........................................203
anti-lock ...........................203–204
anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light ...........................204
fluid, checking and adding ....298
fluid, refill capacities ..............304
fluid, specifications .................304
lubricant specifications ..........304
parking ....................................205
shift interlock ..........................212
Bulbs ............................................54
C
Capacities for refilling fluids ....304
Cargo area shade ........................86
CD ................................................25
Cell phone use ............................15
Child safety seats ......................152
attaching with tether straps ..157
in front seat ............................152
in rear seat ..............................152
LATCH .....................................155
recommendations ...................149
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Child safety seats - booster
seats ...........................................160
Cleaning your vehicle
engine compartment ..............265
instrument panel ....................267
interior .....................................267
plastic parts ............................266
washing ....................................263
waxing .....................................264
wheels ......................................264
wiper blades ............................266
Climate control (see Air
conditioning or Heating) ............43
Clock ............................................25
Compass, electronic ....................62
calibration .................................63
set zone adjustment .................62
Console ........................................64
Controls
power seat ...............................110
steering column ........................73
Coolant
checking and adding ......280–282
refill capacities ................285, 304
specifications ..........................304
Cruise control
(see Speed control) ....................70
Customer Assistance ................224
Ford Extended Service Plan...259
Getting assistance outside
the U.S. and Canada ..............260
Getting roadside assistance ...224
Getting the service you
need .........................................255
Ordering additional owner’s
literature .................................261
Utilizing the
Mediation/Arbitration
Program ...................................259D
Daytime running lamps
(see Lamps) ................................50
Dipstick
automatic transmission
fluid ..........................................298
engine oil .................................275
Driving under special
conditions ..................214, 218, 221
sand .........................................219
snow and ice ...........................222
through water .................220, 223
E
Electronic message center .........77
Emergencies, roadside
jump-starting ..........................248
running out of fuel .........247, 290
Emission control system ..........295
Engine ........................................307
cleaning ...................................265
idle speed control ...................278
lubrication specifications .......304
refill capacities ........................304
service points ..................272–273
Engine block heater .................201
Engine oil ..................................275
checking and adding ..............275
dipstick ....................................275
filter, specifications ........277, 303
recommendations ...................277
refill capacities ........................304
specifications ..........................304
Event data recording ..................14
Exhaust fumes ..........................201
F
Fluid capacities .........................304
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Remote entry system ...........96–97
illuminated entry ....................100
locking/unlocking doors .....97–98
opening the trunk .....................98
panic alarm ...............................98
replacement/additional
transmitters ...............................99
replacing the batteries .............98
Reverse sensing system ...........215
Roadside assistance ..................224
Roof rack .....................................87
S
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ..........118, 121, 123–125
Safety Canopy ...........141–142, 144
Safety defects, reporting ..261–262
Safety restraints ...............118, 121,
123–126
Belt-Minder...........................127
extension assembly ................126
for adults .........................123–125
for children .............................147
Occupant Classification
Sensor ......................................119
warning light and chime ........127
Safety restraints - LATCH
anchors ......................................155
Safety seats for children ..........152
Safety Compliance
Certification Label ....................308
Satellite Radio (if equipped) .....25
Satellite Radio Information ........39
Scheduled Maintenance
Guide .........................................312
General Maintenance
Information .............................312Normal Scheduled
Maintenance and Log .............317
Special Operating
Conditions ...............................322
What Maintenance Schedule
Should You Follow? ................315
Seats ..........................................107
child safety seats ....................152
heated ......................................112
SecuriLock passive anti-theft
system ........................................103
Servicing your vehicle ..............270
Setting the clock .........................25
Snowplowing ...............................15
Spark plugs,
specifications .....................303, 307
Special notice
ambulance conversions ............15
utility-type vehicles ..................14
Specification chart,
lubricants ...................................304
Speed control ..............................70
Starting your vehicle ........198–200
jump starting ..........................248
Steering wheel
controls ......................................73
tilting .........................................61
Stereo
CD-MP3 .....................................25
SYNC ............................................42
T
Tilt steering wheel ......................61
Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS)
Tires, Wheels and Loading ....182
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Index
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