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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A
Accessory delay ..........................77
Active Park Assist .....................252
Adaptive Cruise Control .............81
AdvanceTrac ..............................234
Air cleaner filter ...............337–339
Air conditioning ....................48, 51
Airbag supplemental restraint
system ........................161, 170, 172
and child safety seats ............163
description ..............161, 170, 172
disposal ....................................175
driver airbag ............163, 171, 173
indicator light .................169, 175
operation .................163, 171, 173
passenger airbag .....163, 171, 173
side airbag ...............................170
All Wheel Drive (AWD),
driving off road .........................257
Ambient mood/lighting ...............64
Antifreeze
(see Engine coolant) ................316
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ..............................232
Anti-theft system ..............124, 132
arming the system ..................133
disarming a triggered
system .....................................134
triggering .................................134
Audio system (see Radio) .........31
Automatic transaxle
fluid, refill capacities ..............340
fluid, specification ..................340
Automatic transmission
driving an automatic
overdrive .................................240fluid, adding ............................335
fluid, checking ........................335
Selectshift (SST) ....................242
Auxiliary input jack (Line in) ....39
B
Battery .......................................314
acid, treating emergencies .....314
jumping a disabled battery ....283
maintenance-free ....................314
replacement, specifications ...339
servicing ..................................314
Belt-Minder.............................156
Blind Spot Spotter Mirror ........256
Booster seats .............................189
Brakes ........................................232
anti-lock ...................................232
anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light ...........................233
fluid, checking and adding ....335
fluid, refill capacities ..............340
fluid, specifications .................340
lubricant specifications ..........340
parking ....................................233
shift interlock ..........................240
Bulbs ............................................64
C
Capacities for refilling fluids ....340
Car2U garage door opener .........96
Cargo cover .................................77
Cargo net ...................................103
CD ................................................31
Cell phone use ..............................8
Changing a tire .........................275
Child safety seats ......................180
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attaching with tether straps ..187
in front seat ............................180
in rear seat ..............................180
LATCH .....................................184
recommendations ...................178
Child safety seats - booster
seats ...........................................189
Cleaning your vehicle
engine compartment ..............300
instrument panel ....................302
interior .....................................303
plastic parts ............................301
washing ....................................298
waxing .....................................299
wheels ......................................299
wiper blades ............................301
Climate control (see Air
conditioning or Heating) ......48, 51
Clock adjust
AM/FM/CD/MP3 ........................32
Collision Warning System .........249
Compass, electronic ....................71
calibration .................................72
set zone adjustment .................72
Console
overhead ....................................70
Controls
power seat ...............................138
steering column ........................89
Coolant
checking and adding ..............316
refill capacities ................320, 340
specifications ..........................340
Cooled Seats ..............................140
Cruise control
(see Speed control) ....................79
Cupholder(s) .............................145
Customer Assistance ................265Ford Extended Service
Plan ..........................................349
Getting assistance outside the
U.S. and Canada .....................295
Getting roadside assistance ...265
Getting the service you
need .........................................291
Ordering additional owner’s
literature .................................296
Utilizing the
Mediation/Arbitration
Program ...................................295
D
Daytime running lamps
(see Lamps) ................................61
Defrost
rear window ..............................48
rear window and rearview
mirrors .......................................51
windshield ...........................48, 51
Dipstick
automatic transmission
fluid ..........................................335
engine oil .................................311
Doors
central unlocking ....................107
Driving under special
conditions ..........................259, 262
sand .........................................260
snow and ice ...........................262
through water .................261, 264
E
Electronic message center .........18
Emergencies, roadside
jump-starting ..........................283
running out of fuel .........283, 326
Emission control system ..........331
Index
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Illuminated visor mirror .............70
Infant seats
(see Safety seats) .....................180
Inspection/maintenance (I/M)
testing ........................................333
Instrument panel
cleaning ...................................302
cluster ........................................12
lighting up panel and
interior .......................................61
Intelligent Access Key ..............105
Intelligent Access with push
button start ...............................115
J
Jack ............................................275
positioning ...............................275
storage .....................................275
Jump-starting your vehicle ......283
K
Keyless entry system
autolock ...................................107
keypad .....................................122
locking and unlocking doors ..123
programming entry code .......122
Keys ...................................104, 126
positions of the ignition .........224
L
Lamps
autolamp system .......................56
bulb replacement
specifications chart ..................65
daytime running light ...............61
fog lamps ...................................57
headlamps .................................56headlamps, flash to pass ..........61
instrument panel, dimming .....61
interior lamps .....................63, 65
LATCH anchors .........................184
Lights, warning and indicator ....12
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ..........233
Load limits .................................214
Locks
autolock ...................................107
childproof ................................111
doors ........................................106
Lubricant specifications ...........340
Lug nuts ....................................282
Lumbar support, seats .............140
M
Message center .....................18–19
english/metric button ...............23
system check button ................23
warning messages .....................23
Mirrors ...................................77–78
automatic dimming rearview
mirror ........................................78
heated ............................48, 51, 79
programmable memory ..........117
side view mirrors (power) .......78
Moon roof ....................................91
Motorcraft parts ................304, 339
MyKey ........................................129
N
Navigation system .......................47
O
Octane rating ............................325
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Oil (see Engine oil) ..................311
P
Parental MyKey
programming .............................129
Park Assist ................................252
Parking brake ............................233
Parts (see Motorcraft parts) ....339
Passenger Occupant
Classification Sensor .................149
Power distribution box
(see Fuses) ...............................271
Power door locks ......................106
Power mirrors .............................78
Power point .................................73
Power steering ..........................238
fluid, checking and adding ....334
fluid, refill capacity ................340
fluid, specifications .................340
Power Windows ...........................74
Push button start system .........227
R
Radio ............................................31
6-CD in dash .............................31
Rear heated seats .....................146
Rear-view camera system .........247
Recommendations for
attaching safety restraints for
children ......................................178
Relays ........................................267
Remote entry system .......113, 115
illuminated entry ....................120
locking/unlocking doors .........116
opening the trunk ...................117panic alarm .............................117
replacement/additional
transmitters .............................120
replacing the batteries ...........118
Reverse sensing system ...........244
Roadside assistance ..................265
S
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ..................147, 151–155
Safety Canopy ...................170, 172
Safety defects, reporting ..........297
Safety restraints ........147, 151–155
Belt-Minder...........................156
extension assembly ................155
for adults .........................152–154
for children .............................176
Occupant Classification
Sensor ......................................149
warning light and chime ........156
Safety restraints - LATCH
anchors ......................................184
Safety seats for children ..........180
Safety Compliance
Certification Label ....................344
Satellite Radio Information ........44
Seats ..........................................135
child safety seats ....................180
climate control ............48, 51, 141
Cooled .....................................140
easy access/easyout feature ..143
front seats ...............................140
heated ......................................146
Heated and Cooled .................140
memory seat ...................117, 143
SecuriCode keyless entry
system ........................................122
Index
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