
Using a Sliding Clip (If Equipped)
Slide the clip away from the tongue so thereis no loose webbing when an occupant orchild seat is buckled up. You can also usethe sliding clip to raise the tongue andprevent it from rattling or to ease access tothe tongue.
Using Seatbelts During Pregnancy
WARNING: Always ride and drive withyour seatback upright and properly fastenyour seatbelt. Fit the lap portion of theseatbelt snugly and low across the hips.Position the shoulder portion of the seatbeltacross your chest. Pregnant women mustfollow this practice. See the following figure.
Pregnant women should always wear theirseatbelt. Position the lap belt portion of acombination lap and shoulder belt low acrossthe hips below the belly and worn as tightas comfort allows. Position the shoulder beltto cross the middle of the shoulder and thecenter of the chest.
Seatbelt Locking Modes
WARNING: If your vehicle is involvedin a crash, have the seatbelts and associatedcomponents inspected as soon as possible.Failure to follow this instruction could resultin personal injury or death.
All safety restraints in the vehicle arecombination lap and shoulder belts. Thedriver seatbelt has the first type of lockingmode, and the front outboard passenger andrear seatbelts have both types of lockingmodes described as follows:
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Vehicle Sensitive Mode
This is the normal retractor mode, whichallows free shoulder belt length adjustmentto your movements and locking in responseto vehicle movement. For example, if thedriver brakes suddenly or turns a cornersharply, or the vehicle receives an impact ofabout 5 mph (8 km/h) or more, thecombination seatbelts lock to help reduceforward movement of the driver andpassengers.
In addition, the retractor is designed to lockif you pull the webbing out too quickly. If theseatbelt retractor locks, slowly lower theheight adjuster to allow the seatbelt toretract. If the retractor does not unlock, pullthe seatbelt out slowly then feed a smalllength of webbing back toward the stowedposition. For rear seatbelts, recline the rearseat backrest or push the seat backrestcushion away from the seatbelt. Feed a smalllength of webbing back toward the stowedposition.
Automatic Locking Mode
In this mode, the shoulder belt automaticallypre-locks. The belt still retracts to removeany slack in the shoulder belt. The automaticlocking mode is not available on the driverseatbelt.
When to Use the Automatic Locking Mode
Use this mode any time a child safety seat,except a booster, is installed in passengerfront or rear seating positions. Properlyrestrain children 12 years old and under in arear seating position whenever possible.See Child Safety (page 20).
How to Use the Automatic Locking Mode
1.Buckle the combination lap and shoulderbelt.
2. Grasp the shoulder portion and pulldownward until you pull the entire beltout. Allow the belt to retract. As the beltretracts, you will hear a clicking sound.This indicates the seatbelt is now in theautomatic locking mode.
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Deactivating and Activating the Belt-MinderFeature
WARNING: While the system allowsyou to deactivate it, this system is designedto improve your chances of being safelybelted and surviving an accident. Werecommend you leave the system activatedfor yourself and others who may use thevehicle.
Note:The driver and front passengerwarnings switch on and off independently.When you perform this procedure for oneseating position, do not buckle the otherposition as this will terminate the process.
Read Steps 1 - 4 thoroughly beforeproceeding with the programmingprocedure.
Before following the procedure, make surethat:
•The parking brake is set.
•The transmission is in park (P) or neutral(N).
•The ignition is off.
•The driver and front passenger safetybelts are unbuckled.
1. Switch the ignition on. Do not start thevehicle.
2. Wait until the safety belt warning lightturns off (about one minute). After Step2, wait an additional 5 seconds beforeproceeding with Step 3. Once you startStep 3, you must complete the procedurewithin 30 seconds.
3.For the seating position you are switchingoff, buckle then unbuckle the safety beltthree times at a moderate speed, endingin the unbuckled state. After Step 3, thesafety belt warning light turns on.
4. While the safety belt warning light is on,buckle and then unbuckle the safety belt.After Step 4, the safety belt warning lightflashes for confirmation.
•This will switch the feature off for thatseating position if it is currently on.
•This will switch the feature on for thatseating position if it is currently off.
CHILD RESTRAINT AND SEATBELT
MAINTENANCE
Inspect the vehicle seatbelts and child safetyseat systems periodically to make sure theywork properly and are not damaged. Inspectthe vehicle and child restraint seatbelts tomake sure there are no nicks, tears or cuts.Replace if necessary. All vehicle seatbeltassemblies, including retractors, buckles,front seatbelt buckle assemblies, bucklesupport assemblies (slide bar-if equipped),shoulder belt height adjusters (if equipped),shoulder belt guide on seat backrest (ifequipped), child safety seat LATCH andtether anchors, and attaching hardware,should be inspected after a crash. Read thechild restraint manufacturer's instructions foradditional inspection and maintenanceinformation specific to the child restraint.
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We recommend that all seatbelt assembliesin use in vehicles involved in a crash bereplaced. However, if the crash was minorand an authorized dealer finds that the beltsdo not show damage and continue tooperate properly, they do not need to bereplaced. Seatbelt assemblies not in useduring a crash should also be inspected andreplaced if either damage or improperoperation is noted.
Properly care for seatbelts. See VehicleCare (page 305).
SEATBELT EXTENSION
WARNING: Persons who fit into thevehicle's seatbelt should not use anextension. Unnecessary use could result inserious personal injury in the event of acrash.
WARNING: Only use extensionsprovided free of charge by Lincoln MotorCompany dealers. The dealer will providean extension designed specifically for thisvehicle, model year and seating position. Theuse of an extension intended for anothervehicle, model year or seating position maynot offer you the full protection of yourvehicle’s seatbelt restraint system.
WARNING: Never use seatbeltextensions to install child restraints.
WARNING: Do not use a seatbeltextension with an inflatable seatbelt.
WARNING: Do not use extensions tochange the fit of the belt across the torso,over the lap or to make the seatbelt buckleeasier to reach.
If, because of body size or driving position,it is not possible to properly fasten theseatbelt over your lap and shoulder, anextension that is compatible with theseatbelts is available free of charge fromLincoln Motor Company dealers. Only Lincolnseatbelt extensions made by the samecompany which made the original equipmentseatbelts, should be used with Lincolnseatbelts. Ask your authorized dealer if yourextension is compatible with your Lincolnvehicle restraint system.
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PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
WARNING: Airbags do not inflateslowly or gently, and the risk of injury from adeploying airbag is the greatest close to thetrim covering the airbag module.
WARNING: All occupants of yourvehicle, including the driver, should alwaysproperly wear their seatbelts, even when anairbag supplemental restraint system isprovided. Failure to properly wear yourseatbelt could seriously increase the risk ofinjury or death.
WARNING: Even with advancedrestraints systems, properly restrain children12 and under in a rear seating position.Failure to follow this could seriously increasethe risk of injury or death.
WARNING: Do not place your arms onthe airbag cover or through the steeringwheel. Failure to follow this instruction couldresult in personal injury.
WARNING: Keep the areas in front ofthe airbags free from obstruction. Do not affixanything to or over the airbag covers.Objects could become projectiles duringairbag deployment or in a sudden stop.Failure to follow this instruction could resultin personal injury or death.
WARNING: Airbags can kill or injure achild in a child restraint. Never place arear-facing child restraint in front of an activeairbag. If you must use a forward-facing childrestraint in the front seat, move the seat uponwhich the child restraint is installed all theway back.
WARNING: Do not attempt to service,repair, or modify the supplementary restraintsystem or associated components. Failureto follow this instruction could result inpersonal injury or death.
WARNING: Several airbag systemcomponents get hot after inflation. To reducethe risk of injury, do not touch them afterinflation.
WARNING: If a supplementary restraintsystem component has deployed, it will notfunction again. Have the system andassociated components inspected as soonas possible. Failure to follow this instructioncould result in personal injury or death.
The airbags are a supplemental restraintsystem and are designed to work with theseatbelts to help protect the driver and rightfront passenger from certain upper bodyinjuries. Airbags do not inflate slowly; thereis a risk of injury from a deploying airbag.
Note:You will hear a loud bang and see acloud of harmless powdery residue if anairbag deploys. This is normal.
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The airbags inflate and deflate rapidly uponactivation. After airbag deployment, it isnormal to notice a smoke-like, powderyresidue or smell the burnt propellant. Thismay consist of cornstarch, talcum powder (tolubricate the bag) or sodium compounds (forexample, baking soda) that result from thecombustion process that inflates the airbag. Small amounts of sodium hydroxide may bepresent which may irritate the skin and eyes,but none of the residue is toxic.
While the system is designed to help reduceserious injuries, contact with a deployingairbag may also cause abrasions or swelling.Temporary hearing loss is also a possibilityas a result of the noise associated with adeploying airbag. Because airbags mustinflate rapidly and with considerable force,there is the risk of death or serious injuriessuch as fractures, facial and eye injuries orinternal injuries, particularly to occupantswho are not properly restrained or areotherwise out of position at the time of airbagdeployment. Thus, it is extremely importantthat occupants be properly restrained as faraway from the airbag module as possiblewhile maintaining vehicle control.
Routine maintenance of the airbags is notrequired.
DRIVER AND PASSENGER
AIRBAGS
WARNING: Do not place your arms onthe airbag cover or through the steeringwheel. Failure to follow this instruction couldresult in personal injury.
WARNING: Keep the areas in front ofthe airbags free from obstruction. Do not affixanything to or over the airbag covers.Objects could become projectiles duringairbag deployment or in a sudden stop.Failure to follow this instruction could resultin personal injury or death.
WARNING: Airbags can kill or injure achild in a child restraint. Never place arear-facing child restraint in front of an activeairbag. If you must use a forward-facing childrestraint in the front seat, move the seat uponwhich the child restraint is installed all theway back.
The driver and front passenger airbags willdeploy during significant frontal and nearfrontal crashes.
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The driver and passenger front airbag systemconsists of:
•Driver and passenger airbag modules.
•Front passenger sensing system.
· Crash sensors and monitoringsystem with readiness indicator.See Crash Sensors and AirbagIndicator (page 53).
Proper Driver and Front PassengerSeating Adjustment
WARNING: National Highway TrafficSafety Administration (NHTSA) recommendsa minimum distance of at least 10 in (25 cm)between an occupant's chest and the driverairbag module.
To properly position yourself away from theairbag:
•Move your seat to the rear as far as youcan while still reaching the pedalscomfortably.
•Recline the seat slightly (one or twodegrees) from the upright position.
After all occupants have adjusted their seatsand put on seatbelts, it is very important thatthey continue to sit properly. A properlyseated occupant sits upright, leaning againstthe seatback, and centered on the seatcushion, with their feet comfortably extendedon the floor. Sitting improperly can increasethe chance of injury in a crash event. Forexample, if an occupant slouches, lies down,turns sideways, sits forward, leans forwardor sideways, or puts one or both feet up, thechance of injury during a crash is greatlyincreased.
Children and Airbags
WARNING: Airbags can kill or injure achild in a child restraint. Never place arear-facing child restraint in front of an activeairbag. If you must use a forward-facing childrestraint in the front seat, move the seat uponwhich the child restraint is installed all theway back.
Children must always be properly restrained.Accident statistics suggest that children aresafer when properly restrained in the rearseating positions than in the front seatingposition. Failure to follow these instructionsmay increase the risk of injury in a crash.
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FRONT PASSENGER SENSING
SYSTEM
WARNING: Even with advancedrestraints systems, properly restrain children12 and under in a rear seating position.Failure to follow this could seriously increasethe risk of injury or death.
WARNING: Sitting improperly, out ofposition or with the seatback reclined too farcan take weight off the seat cushion andaffect the decision of the passenger sensingsystem, resulting in serious injury or deathin the event of a crash. Always sit uprightagainst your seat back, with your feet on thefloor.
WARNING: Any alteration ormodification to the front passenger seat mayaffect the performance of the front passengersensing system. This could seriously increasethe risk of injury or death.
This system works with sensors that are partof the front passenger seat and seatbelt todetect the presence of a properly-seatedoccupant and determine if the frontpassenger frontal airbag should be enabled(may inflate) or not.
The front passenger sensing system uses apassenger airbag status indicator thatilluminates indicating that the frontpassenger frontal airbag is either ON(enabled) or OFF (disabled).
The indicator lamp is in the center stack ofthe instrument panel.
Note:The passenger airbag status indicatorOFF and ON indicator lamps illuminate fora short period of time when you first switchthe ignition on to confirm they are functional.
The front passenger sensing system isdesigned to disable (will not inflate) the frontpassenger frontal airbag when the frontpassenger seat is unoccupied, or a rearfacing infant seat, a forward-facing childrestraint, or a booster seat is detected. Evenwith this technology, parents are stronglyencouraged to always properly restrainchildren in the rear seat. The sensor alsoturns off the passenger front airbag andseat-mounted side airbag when thepassenger seat is empty.
•When the front passenger sensingsystem disables (will not inflate) the frontpassenger frontal airbag, the passengerairbag status indicator illuminates theOFF lamp and stays lit to remind you thatthe front passenger frontal airbag isdisabled.
•If you have installed the child restraintand the passenger airbag status indicatorilluminates the ON lamp, then switch thevehicle off, remove the child restraintfrom the vehicle and reinstall the restraintfollowing the child restraintmanufacturer's instructions.
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