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.
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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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A
Accessory delay ..........................75
AdvanceTrac ..............................205
Air cleaner filter ...............300–301
Air conditioning ..........................45
automatic temperature
control system ..........................48
Airbag supplemental restraint
system ........................137, 146, 148
and child safety seats ............139
description ..............137, 146, 148
disposal ....................................152
driver airbag ....137, 139, 146, 149
indicator light .........145, 148, 151
operation .........137, 139, 146, 149
passenger
airbag ............. 137, 139, 146, 149
side airbag ...............................146
All Wheel Drive (AWD),
driving off road .........................226
Ambient mood/lighting ...............58
AM/FM .........................................29
Antifreeze (see Engine
coolant) .....................................280
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ......................203–204
Anti-theft system ..............103, 107
arming the system ..................107
disarming a triggered
system .....................................108
Audio system (see Radio) .........29
Automatic transmission
driving an automatic
overdrive .................................211
fluid, adding ............................298
fluid, checking ........................298
fluid, refill capacities ..............302fluid, specification ..................302
Selectshift (SST) ....................213
Auxiliary input jack (Line in) ....37
Axle
lubricant specifications ..........302
B
Battery .......................................278
acid, treating emergencies .....278
jumping a disabled battery ....248
maintenance-free ....................278
replacement, specifications ...301
servicing ..................................278
Belt-Minder.............................132
Blind Spot Information
System .......................................219
Booster seats .............................167
Brakes ........................................203
anti-lock ...........................203–204
anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light ...........................204
fluid, checking and adding ....298
fluid, refill capacities ..............302
fluid, specifications .................302
lubricant specifications ..........302
parking ....................................204
shift interlock ..........................210
Break-in period .............................6
Bulbs ............................................59
C
Capacities for refilling fluids ....302
CD ................................................29
Cell phone use ..............................8
Changing a tire .........................241
Child safety seats ......................156
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Parts (see Motorcraft parts) ....301
Passenger Occupant
Classification Sensor .................124
Power distribution box
(see Fuses) ...............................238
Power door locks ........................90
Power mirrors .............................76
Power point .................................72
Power steering ..........................209
fluid, checking and adding ....297
fluid, refill capacity ................302
fluid, specifications .................302
Power Windows ...........................73
Power windows
opening using remote entry
system .................................74, 97
R
Radio ............................................29
6-CD in dash .............................29
Rear-view camera system .........217
Recommendations for
attaching safety restraints for
children ......................................154
Relays ........................................234
Remote entry system .................96
illuminated entry ............100–101
locking/unlocking doors .....96–97
opening the trunk .....................98
opening the windows .........74, 97
panic alarm ...............................97
replacement/additional
transmitters ...............................99
replacing the batteries .............99
Reverse sensing system ...........215
Roadside assistance ..................232S
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ..........123, 126, 128–130
Safety Canopy ...........................146
Safety defects, reporting ..........262
Safety
restraints ...........123, 126, 128–131
Belt-Minder...........................132
extension assembly ................131
for adults .........................128–130
for children .............................152
Occupant Classification
Sensor ......................................124
warning light and
chime ...............................131–132
Safety restraints - LATCH
anchors ......................................162
Safety seats for children ..........156
Safety Compliance
Certification Label ....................306
Satellite Radio (if equipped) .....29
Satellite Radio Information ........40
Seats ..........................................109
child safety seats ....................156
climate control ........................116
front seats ...............................115
memory seat .....................98, 114
SecuriCode keyless entry
system ........................................102
SecuriLock passive anti-theft
system ........................................103
Servicing your vehicle ..............270
Setting the clock .........................30
Side air curtain .........................148
Spark plugs,
specifications .....................301, 305
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Index
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