2010 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC child restraint

4. Clip the tether strap to the
anchor and return the seat back to
its locked position.
If the tether strap is clipped
incorrectly, the child safety seat may
not be retained properly in the
event of a collision.
5. Tighten the child safety seat tether strap according to the
manufacturer’s instructions.
To unhook the tether strap, unfasten the safety belts securing the child
seat and put some slack into the tether strap. Tip the seat back forward
enough so that you can reach behind the seat and unhook the tether
hook.
If the safety seat is not anchored properly, the risk of a child being
injured in a collision greatly increases.
If your child restraint system is equipped with a tether strap, and the
child restraint manufacturer recommends its use, Ford also recommends
its use.
Child booster seats
The belt-positioning booster (booster seat) is used to improve the fit of
the vehicle safety belt. Children outgrow a typical child seat (e.g.,
convertible or toddler seat) when they weigh about 40 lb (18 kg) and are
around four (4) years of age. Consult your child safety seat owner guide
for the weight, height, and age limits specific to your child safety seat.
Keep your child in the child safety seat if it properly fits the child,
remains appropriate for their weight, height and age AND if properly
secured to the vehicle.
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Although the lap/shoulder belt will provide some protection, children
who have outgrown a typical child seat are still too small for lap/shoulder
belts to fit properly, and wearing an improperly fitted vehicle safety belt
could increase the risk of serious injury in a crash. To improve the fit of
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?
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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.
Move a child to a different seating location if the shoulder belt does not
stay positioned on the shoulder during use.
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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.
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 ..........................88
AdvanceTrac ..............................225
Air cleaner filter ...............324–325
Air conditioning ..........................67
Airbag supplemental restraint
system ........................147, 156, 158
and child safety seats ............149
description ..............147, 156, 158
disposal ....................................161
driver airbag ............149, 157, 159
indicator light .................156, 161
operation .................149, 157, 159
passenger airbag .....149, 157, 159
side airbag ...............................156
All Wheel Drive (AWD),
driving off road .........................241
Ambulance packages ....................6
Antifreeze
(see Engine coolant) ................304
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ......................222–223
Anti-theft system ......................118
Audio system
(see Radio) ......................37, 41, 48
Automatic transmission
driving an automatic
overdrive .........................233, 235
fluid, adding ............................323
fluid, checking ........................323
fluid, refill capacities ..............326
fluid, specification ..................326
Auxiliary input jack (Line in) ....56
Auxiliary power point .................84
Axle
lubricant specifications ..........326refill capacities ........................326
B
Battery .......................................302
acid, treating emergencies .....302
jumping a disabled battery ....270
maintenance-free ....................302
replacement, specifications ...325
servicing ..................................302
Belt-Minder
.............................142
Booster seats .............................176
Brakes ........................................222
anti-lock ...........................222–223
anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light ...........................223
fluid, checking and adding ....322
fluid, refill capacities ..............326
fluid, specifications .................326
lubricant specifications ..........326
parking ....................................223
shift interlock ..........................232
C
Calculating load ........................209
Capacities for refilling fluids ....326
Cargo cage .................................100
Cargo management system ......104
Cell phone use ..............................9
Changing a tire .........................261
Child safety seats ......................166
attaching with tether
straps .......................................173
in front seat ............................167
in rear seat ..............................167
LATCH .....................................170
recommendations ...................164
Index
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Pedals (see Power adjustable
foot pedals) .................................92
Power adjustable foot pedals .....92
Power distribution box
(see Fuses) ...............................257
Power door locks ......................107
Power mirrors .............................90
Power point ...........................84–85
Power steering ..........................230
fluid, checking and adding ....322
fluid, refill capacity ................326
fluid, specifications .................326
Power Windows ...........................86
Preparing to drive your
vehicle ........................................231
R
Radio ................................37, 41, 48
Recommendations for
attaching safety restraints for
children ......................................164
Relays ........................................254
Remote entry system ...............112
illuminated entry ....................116
locking/unlocking
doors ................................113–114
panic alarm .............................114
replacing the batteries ...........114
Reverse sensing system ...........238
Roadside assistance ..................251
Roof rack ...................................105
S
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ..........132, 135–138, 140Safety Canopy ...........156, 158–159
Safety defects, reporting ..........283
Safety restraints ........132, 135–140
Belt-Minder
...........................142
extension assembly ................141
for adults .........................136–138
for children .............................162
Occupant Classification
Sensor ......................................133
warning light and
chime ...............................141–142
Safety restraints - LATCH
anchors ......................................170
Safety seats for children ..........166
Safety Compliance
Certification Label ....................332
Satellite Radio Information ........61
Seats ..........................................122
child safety seats ....................166
front seats ...............................125
heated ..............................128–129
SecuriCode keyless entry
system ........................................117
SecuriLock passive anti-theft
system ........................................118
Setting the clock
AM/FM single CD .....................43
AM/FM/In-dash 6 CD ................50
Snowplowing .................................6
SOS Post Crash Alert ...............161
Spark plugs,
specifications .....................325, 331
Special notice
ambulance conversions ..............6
utility-type vehicles ....................6
Specification chart,
lubricants ...................................326
Index
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