2009 Mercury Mountaineer child restraint

both the lap and shoulder belt on children who have outgrown child
safety seats, Ford Motor Company recommends use of a belt-positioning
booster.
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?
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.
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•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 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 yourOwner’s Guideand 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.
VEHICLE CHARACTERISTICS
4WD and AWD Systems (if equipped)
A vehicle equipped with AWD or 4WD (when selected) has the ability to
use all four wheels to power itself. This increases traction which may
enable you to safely drive over terrain and road conditions that a
conventional two-wheel drive vehicle cannot.
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A
Accessory delay ........................104
AdvanceTrac ..............................269
Air cleaner filter ...............370–371
Air conditioning ..........................80
Airbag supplemental restraint
system ........................190, 199, 201
and child safety seats ............192
description ..............190, 199, 201
disposal ....................................205
driver airbag ............192, 200, 202
indicator light .................199, 204
operation .................192, 200, 202
passenger airbag .....192, 200, 202
side airbag ...............................199
All Wheel Drive (AWD),
driving off road .........................284
Ambulance packages ....................8
Antifreeze (see Engine
coolant) .....................................349
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ......................266–267
Anti-theft system ......................152
Audio system
(see Radio) ......................19, 23, 30
Automatic transmission
driving an automatic
overdrive .........................277, 279
fluid, adding ............................368
fluid, checking ........................368
fluid, refill capacities ..............372
fluid, specification ..................372
Auxiliary input jack (Line in) ....38
Auxiliary power point ...............101
Axle
lubricant specifications ..........372refill capacities ........................372
B
Battery .......................................347
acid, treating emergencies .....347
jumping a disabled battery ....313
maintenance-free ....................347
replacement, specifications ...371
servicing ..................................347
Belt-Minder
.............................185
Booster seats .............................220
Brakes ........................................266
anti-lock ...........................266–267
anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light ...........................267
fluid, checking and adding ....368
fluid, refill capacities ..............372
fluid, specifications .................372
lubricant specifications ..........372
parking ....................................267
shift interlock ..........................276
C
Calculating load ........................253
Capacities for refilling fluids ....372
Cargo cover ...............................136
Cargo management system ......136
Cell phone use ..............................8
Changing a tire .........................303
Child safety seats ......................209
attaching with tether straps ..217
in front seat ............................210
in rear seat ..............................210
LATCH .....................................213
recommendations ...................207
Child safety seats - booster
seats ...........................................220
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Index
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O
Octane rating ............................359
Oil (see Engine oil) ..................342
P
Parking brake ............................267
Parts (see Motorcraft parts) ....371
Passenger Occupant
Classification Sensor .................176
Pedals (see Power adjustable
foot pedals) ...............................106
Power adjustable foot pedals ...106
Power deployable running
boards ........................................107
Power distribution box
(see Fuses) ...............................299
Power door locks ......................140
Power mirrors ...........................105
Power point ...............................101
Power steering ..........................274
fluid, checking and adding ....367
fluid, refill capacity ................372
fluid, specifications .................372
Power Windows .........................102
Preparing to drive your
vehicle ........................................275
R
Radio ................................19, 23, 30
Rear seat entertainment
system ..........................................46
Rear window defroster ...............84Recommendations for
attaching safety restraints for
children ......................................207
Relays ........................................295
Remote entry system .......145–146
illuminated entry ....................150
locking/unlocking
doors ................................146–147
panic alarm .............................147
replacing the batteries ...........148
Reverse sensing system ...........282
Roadside assistance ..................292
Roof rack ...................................138
S
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ..........174, 178–181, 183
Safety Canopy ...........199, 201–202
Safety defects, reporting ..........327
Safety restraints ........174, 178–183
Belt-Minder
...........................185
extension assembly ................184
for adults .........................179–181
for children .............................205
Occupant Classification
Sensor ......................................176
warning light and
chime ...............................184–185
Safety restraints - LATCH
anchors ......................................213
Safety seats for children ..........209
Safety Compliance
Certification Label ....................378
Satellite Radio Information ........43
Seats ..........................................156
child safety seats ....................209
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Index
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