2012 FORD FUSION (AMERICAS) child seat

2. Locate the correct anchor for the
selected seating position.
3. Open the tether anchor cover.
4. Clip the tether strap to the
anchor as shown.
If the tether strap is clipped
incorrectly, the child safety seat may
not be retained properly in the
event of a collision.
5. Tighten the child safety seat tether strap according to the
manufacturer’s instructions.
If the safety seat is not anchored properly, the risk of a child being
injured in a collision greatly increases.
If your child restraint system is equipped with a tether strap, and the
child restraint manufacturer recommends its use, Ford also recommends
its use.
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Child booster seats
The belt-positioning booster (booster seat) is used to improve the fit of
the vehicle safety belt. Children outgrow a typical child seat (e.g.,
convertible or toddler seat) when they weigh about 40 lb (18 kg) and are
around four (4) years of age. Consult your child safety seat owner guide
for the weight, height, and age limits specific to your child safety seat.
Keep your child in the child safety seat if it properly fits the child,
remains appropriate for their weight, height and age AND if properly
secured to the vehicle.
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).
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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.
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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.
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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.
For proper care of soiled safety belts, refer toInteriorin theCleaning
chapter.
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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 ..........................81
AdvanceTrac ..............................214
Airbag supplemental restraint
system ........................145, 154, 157
and child safety seats ............147
description ..............145, 154, 157
disposal ....................................160
driver airbag ....145, 147, 155, 158
indicator light .........153, 156, 160
operation .........145, 147, 155, 158
passenger
airbag ...............145, 147, 155, 158
side airbag ...............................154
Air cleaner filter .......324–325, 330
Air conditioning
automatic temperature
control system ....................47, 50
All Wheel Drive (AWD),
driving off road .........................241
Ambient mood/lighting ...............60
Antifreeze
(see Engine coolant) ................299
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ......................212–213
Anti-theft system ..............112, 116
arming the system ..................116
disarming a triggered
system .....................................117
triggering .................................117
Audio system (see Radio) .........28
Automatic transmission
driving an automatic
overdrive .........................222, 224
fluid, adding ....................320, 324
fluid, checking ................320, 324
fluid, refill capacities ..............331fluid, specification ..................331
Selectshift (SST) ....................226
Auxiliary input jack (Line in) ....35
Axle
lubricant specifications ..........331
B
Battery .......................................297
acid, treating emergencies .....297
jumping a disabled battery ....264
maintenance-free ....................297
replacement, specifications ...330
servicing ..................................297
Belt-Minder.............................140
Blind Spot Information
System .......................................235
Blind spot mirror ......................234
Booster seats .............................174
Brakes ........................................212
anti-lock ...........................212–213
anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light ...........................213
fluid, checking and adding ....319
fluid, refill capacities ..............331
fluid, specifications .................331
lubricant specifications ..........331
parking ....................................214
shift interlock ..........................220
Break-in period .............................5
Bulbs ............................................60
C
Capacities for refilling fluids ....331
CD ................................................28
Cell phone use ..............................8
Changing a tire .........................257
Index
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Child safety seats ......................165
attaching with tether straps ..171
in front seat ............................166
in rear seat ..............................166
LATCH .....................................169
recommendations ...................163
Child safety seats - booster
seats ...........................................174
Cleaning your vehicle
engine compartment ..............280
instrument panel ....................282
interior .....................................283
plastic parts ............................281
washing ....................................278
waxing .....................................279
wheels ......................................279
wiper blades ............................282
Climate control (see Air
conditioning or Heating) ......47, 50
Clock ............................................28
Clutch
fluid ..........................................319
operation while driving ..........228
recommended shift
speeds ..............................227–228
Compass, electronic ....................76
calibration .................................77
set zone adjustment .................77
Console ........................................78
overhead ....................................76
Controls
power seat ...............................122
steering column ........................86
Coolant
checking and adding ..............299
refill capacities ................303, 331
specifications ..........................331
Cross Traffic Alert ....................235Cruise control
(see Speed control) ....................83
Cupholder(s) .............................130
Customer Assistance ................248
Ford Extended Service
Plan ..................................342, 345
Getting assistance outside the
U.S. and Canada .....................274
Getting roadside assistance ...248
Getting the service you
need .........................................270
Ordering additional owner’s
literature .................................276
Utilizing the
Mediation/Arbitration
Program ...................................274
D
Daytime running lamps
(see Lamps) ................................57
Defrost
windshield .................................50
Dipstick
automatic transmission
fluid ..................................320, 322
engine oil .................................292
Driving under special
conditions ..................228, 242, 244
sand .........................................243
snow and ice ...........................245
through water .................243, 247
E
Electronic message center .........18
Emergencies, roadside
jump-starting ..........................264
running out of fuel .........264, 311
Emission control system ..........315
Index
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Owners Guide, 3rd Printing
USA(fus)