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 system (if equipped)
Your vehicle may be equipped with a four-wheel drive (4WD) system.
With the 4WD option, power will be delivered to the front wheels and
distributed to the rear wheels as needed. This increases traction which
may enable you to safely drive over terrain and road conditions that a
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A
Accessory delay ..........................70
Active Park Assist .....................229
AdvanceTrac ..............................214
Air cleaner filter .......316, 318, 320
Air conditioning
automatic temperature
control system ..........................47
manual heating and air
conditioning system .................44
Airbag supplemental restraint
system ........................136, 145, 148
and child safety seats ............138
description ..............136, 145, 148
disposal ....................................151
driver airbag ............138, 146, 149
indicator light .........144, 147, 150
operation .................138, 146, 149
passenger airbag .....138, 146, 149
side airbag ...............................145
All Wheel Drive (AWD),
driving off road .........................234
Ambient mood/lighting ...............57
Ambulance packages ....................6
AM/FM .........................................26
Antifreeze (see Engine
coolant) .....................................295
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ......................212–213
Anti-theft system ......................105
Audio system (see Radio) .........26
Automatic transmission
driving an automatic
overdrive .................................222
fluid, refill capacities ..............321
fluid, specification ..................321Auxiliary input jack (Line in) ....34
Auxiliary power point .................69
Axle
lubricant specifications ..........321
refill capacities ........................321
B
Battery .......................................293
acid, treating emergencies .....293
jumping a disabled battery ....263
maintenance-free ....................293
replacement, specifications ...320
servicing ..................................293
Belt-Minder.............................131
Blind spot mirror ......................233
Booster seats .............................165
Brakes ........................................212
anti-lock ...........................212–213
anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light ...........................213
fluid, checking and adding ....314
fluid, refill capacities ..............321
fluid, specifications .................321
lubricant specifications ..........321
parking ....................................213
shift interlock ..........................221
Bulbs ............................................57
C
Capacities for refilling fluids ....321
Car2UHome Automation
System .........................................78
Cargo area shade ........................85
Cargo management system ........85
CD ................................................26
Cell phone use ..............................9
Index
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O
Octane rating ............................305
Oil (see Engine oil) ..................289
Overdrive ...................................222
P
Parental MyKey programming ...90
Park Assist ................................229
Parking brake ............................213
Parts (see Motorcraft
parts) .........................................320
Passenger Occupant
Classification Sensor .................123
Power distribution box (see
Fuses) ........................................248
Power door locks ........................95
Power mirrors .............................72
Power point .................................69
Power steering ..........................220
fluid, refill capacity ................321
fluid, specifications .................321
Power Windows ...........................70
Preparing to drive your
vehicle ........................................220
R
Radio ............................................26
Rear-view camera system .........227
Recommendations for
attaching safety restraints for
children ......................................154
Relays ........................................244
Remote entry system ...............100illuminated entry ....................103
locking/unlocking
doors ................................100–101
opening the trunk ...................101
panic alarm .............................101
replacement/additional
transmitters .............................102
replacing the batteries ...........102
Reverse sensing system ...........225
Roadside assistance ..................242
Roof rack ...............................86–87
S
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ..........121, 125–127, 129
Safety Canopy ...........145–146, 148
Safety defects, reporting ..274–275
Safety restraints .......121, 125–127,
129
Belt-Minder...........................131
extension assembly ................130
for adults .........................126–127
for children .............................151
Occupant Classification
Sensor ......................................123
warning light and
chime ...............................130–131
Safety restraints - LATCH
anchors ......................................160
Safety seats for children ..........156
Safety Compliance
Certification Label ....................325
Satellite Radio Information ........40
Scheduled Maintenance Guide
Normal Scheduled
Maintenance and Log .............340
Index
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