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.
• 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. Seating and Safety Restraints
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• 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.
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.Seating and Safety Restraints
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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.
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. Seating and Safety Restraints
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For proper care of soiled safety belts, refer to Interior in the Cleaning
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.
Seating and Safety Restraints
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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. Tires, Wheels and Loading
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A
Accessory delay ........................126
Air cleaner filter ...............388–390
Air conditioning ........................102
Airbag supplemental restraint
system ........................................185
and child safety seats ............186
description ..............................185
disposal ....................................189
driver airbag ............................187
indicator light .........................189
operation .................................187
passenger airbag .....................187
passenger deactivation
switch ......................................190
Ambulance packages ....................7
Antifreeze (see Engine
coolant) .....................................365
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ......................269–270
Anti-theft system ..............159, 162
arming the system ..........160, 162
disarming a triggered
system .....................................163
triggering .................................163
Audio system
(see Radio) ......................42, 44, 51
Automatic transmission ............275
driving an automatic
overdrive .................................275
fluid, adding ............................384
fluid, checking ........................384
fluid, refill capacities ..............391
Auxiliary Input Jack ...................58
Auxiliary power point ...............123
Axle
refill capacities ........................391 B
Battery .......................................363
acid, treating emergencies .....363
jumping a disabled battery ....331
maintenance-free ....................363
replacement, specifications ...390
servicing ..................................363
Bed extender ............................145
Belt-Minder .............................181
Booster seats .............................212
Brakes ........................................269
anti-lock ...........................269–270
anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light ...........................270
fluid, checking and adding ....383
fluid, refill capacities ..............391
parking ....................................270
shift interlock ..........................274
trailer .......................................256
Bulbs ..........................................113
C
Capacities for refilling fluids ....391
Cassette tape player ...................42
Cell phone use ............................10
Child safety seats ......................199
attaching with tether
straps .......................................207
in front seat ............200, 203, 206
in rear seat ......200, 203, 206–207
LATCH .....................................207
Child safety seats - booster
seats ...........................................212
Cleaning your vehicle
engine compartment ..............347
instrument panel ............349–350
interior .....................................351 Index
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Power adjustable foot pedals ...131
Power distribution box (see
Fuses) ........................................310
Power door locks ......................148
Power mirrors ...........................127
Power point ...............................123
Power steering ..........................272
fluid, checking and adding ....382
fluid, refill capacity ................391
Power Windows .........................124
Preparing to drive your
vehicle ........................................273
R
Radio ................................42, 44, 51
Rear seat entertainment
system ..........................................67
Rear-view camera system .........282
Relays ........................................306
Remote entry system ...............152
illuminated entry ....................157
locking/unlocking
doors ................................148, 153
replacing the batteries ...........155
Reverse sensing system ...........280
Roadside assistance ..................303
S
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ..........................173–178
Safety defects, reporting ..........344
Safety restraints ................173–178
Belt-Minder ...........................181
extension assembly ................184
for adults .........................174–178 for children .............................195
lap belt ....................................179
warning light and
chime ...............................180–181
Safety restraints - LATCH
anchors ......................................207
Safety seats for children ..........199
Safety Compliance
Certification Label ....................395
Satellite Radio Information ........64
Seats ..........................................164
child safety seats ....................199
cleaning ...................................352
heated ......................................102
memory seat ...................154, 169
SecuriCode keyless entry
system ........................................157
SecuriLock passive anti-theft
system ................................159, 161
Servicing your vehicle ..............355
Setting the clock
AM/FM/CD .................................46
AM/FM/In-dash 6 CD ................53
Snowplowing .................7, 300–301
SOS Post Crash Alert ...............189
Spark plugs,
specifications .....................390, 395
Special notice ................................8
ambulance conversions ..............7
diesel-powered vehicles .............7
four-wheel drive vehicles .......302
utility-type vehicles ....................7
Speed control ............................131
Starting your vehicle ........264–266
jump starting ..........................331
Steering wheel
controls ....................................134 Index
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