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?
Seating and Safety Restraints
224
2012 Focus(foc)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
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.
Seating and Safety Restraints
225
2012 Focus(foc)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
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.
Seating and Safety Restraints
226
2012 Focus(foc)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
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.
Seating and Safety Restraints
227
2012 Focus(foc)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
911 Assist™ ................................83
A
Accessing call history/phone
book during active call ...............68
Accessing your media menu
features ........................................93
Accessing your phone menu
features ........................................71
Accessory delay ........................139
Active call menu options ...........68
Active Park Assist .....................289
Advanced menu options .......79, 98
Advanced menu options
(prompts, languages, defaults,
master reset, installing
applications) ................................79
AdvanceTrac ..............................268
Airbag supplemental restraint
system ........................195, 204, 206
and child safety seats ............197
description ..............195, 204, 206
disposal ....................................209
driver airbag ............197, 205, 207
indicator light .................203, 209
operation .................197, 205, 207
passenger airbag .....197, 205, 207
side airbag ...............................204
Air cleaner filter ...............365, 368
Air conditioning ................115, 118
manual heating and air
conditioning system ...............115
Ambient mood/lighting .............128
Antifreeze
(see Engine coolant) ................345Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ..............................266
Anti-theft system ..............168, 171
arming the system ..........169, 171
disarming a triggered
system .....................................172
triggering .................................172
Audio system
(see Radio) ......................37, 40, 45
Automatic transmission ............274
driving an automatic
overdrive .................................274
fluid, adding ............................364
fluid, checking ........................364
fluid, refill capacities ..............369
fluid, specification ..................369
Selectshift (SST) ....................276
Auxiliary input jack (Line in) ....50
Auxiliary power point ...............136
Axle
refill capacities ........................369
B
Battery .......................................343
acid, treating emergencies .....343
jumping a disabled battery ....314
maintenance-free ....................343
replacement, specifications ...368
servicing ..................................343
Belt-Minder.............................191
Blind spot mirror ......................293
Booster seats .............................224
Brakes ........................................266
anti-lock ...................................266
anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light ...........................267
fluid, checking and adding ....364
fluid, refill capacities ..............369
Index
400
2012 Focus(foc)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
fold away .................................141
heated ......................................140
side view mirrors (power) .....140
signal .......................................140
Moon roof ..................................144
Motorcraftparts ..............334, 368
MyFord™ system ........................49
MyKey ........................................152
O
Octane rating ............................355
Oil (see Engine oil) ..................340
P
Pairing other phones ..................65
Pairing your phone for the first
time ..............................................64
Parental MyKey
programming .............................152
Park Assist ................................289
Parking brake ............................268
Parts
(see Motorcraftparts) ...........368
Passenger Occupant
Classification Sensor .................183
Phone Bluetooth menu options
(adding, connecting, deleting,
turning on/off) ............................78
Phone dependent features .........63
Phone menu layout ....................69
Phone redial ................................71
Playing music (by artist,
album, genre, playlist, tracks,
similar) ........................................94Power distribution box
(see Fuses) ...............................304
Power door locks ......................158
Power mirrors ...........................140
Power point ...............................136
Power steering ..........................271
fluid, refill capacity ................369
fluid, specifications
.................369
Power Windows
.........................137
Privacy information
....................60
Push button start system
.........261
Putting a call on/off hold
...........68
R
Radio
................................37, 40, 45
Rear-view camera system
.........284
Receiving a text message
...........73
Recommendations for
attaching safety restraints for
children
......................................212
Relays
........................................298
Remote entry system
.......162–163
illuminated entry
....................167
locking/unlocking
doors
................................163–164
opening the trunk
...................165
panic alarm
.............................164
replacement/additional
transmitters
.............................167
replacing the batteries
...........165
Reverse sensing system
...........281
Roadside assistance
..................296
Index
404
2012 Focus(foc)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
S
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ..........185–186, 188, 190
Safety Canopy ...........................204
Safety defects, reporting ..........327
Safety information ......................60
Safety restraints ........185–188, 190
Belt-Minder...........................191
extension assembly ................189
for adults .........................186, 188
for children .............................210
Occupant Classification
Sensor ......................................183
warning light and chime ........190
Safety restraints - LATCH
anchors ......................................218
Safety seats for children ..........214
Safety Compliance
Certification Label ....................373
Satellite Radio Information ........54
Scheduled Maintenance Guide
Normal Scheduled
Maintenance and Log .............387
Seats ..........................................173
child safety seats ....................214
heated ......................................178
SecuriLock passive anti-theft
system ........................................168
Selecting your media source
(USB, Line in, BT audio) ...........93
Servicing your vehicle ..............335
Setting the clock .............37, 42, 45
Side air curtain .........................206
SOS Post Crash Alert ...............209Spark plugs,
specifications .............368, 372–373
Specification chart,
lubricants ...................................369
Speed control ............................141
Starting your
vehicle ........................258–259, 261
jump starting ..........................314
push button start system .......261
Steering wheel
controls ....................................143
tilting .......................................135
SYNCcustomer support .........107
SYNC..........................................58
SYNCServices ...........................81
T
Text messaging ...........................73
Text messaging (sending,
downloading, deleting) .........73, 75
Tilt steering wheel ....................135
Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS)
Tires, Wheels and Loading ....243
Tires ...........................228–229, 308
alignment ................................237
care ..........................................233
changing ..........................308, 311
checking the pressure ............233
inflating ...................................230
label .........................................242
replacing ..................................234
rotating ....................................237
safety practices .......................236
sidewall information ...............238
snow tires and chains ............248
spare tire .................................308
Index
405
2012 Focus(foc)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)