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HOW DO THE FRONT AIRBAGS
WORK
The driver and front passenger airbagsdeploy during significant frontal and nearfrontal crashes.
The driver and passenger front airbag systemconsists of:
•Driver and passenger airbag modules.
•Front passenger sensing system.
•Crash sensors and monitoring systemwith readiness indicator. See CrashSensors and Airbag Indicator (page 68).
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.
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.
Contact with a deploying airbag may causeabrasions or swelling. Temporary hearingloss is also a possibility as a result of thenoise associated with a deploying airbag.
Because airbags must inflate rapidly and withconsiderable force, there is the risk of deathor serious injuries such as fractures, facialand eye injuries or internal injuries,particularly to occupants who are notproperly restrained or are otherwise out ofposition at the time of airbag deployment.Thus, it is extremely important that occupantsbe properly restrained as far away from theairbag module as possible while maintainingvehicle control.
Routine maintenance of the airbags is notrequired.
HOW DO THE SIDE AIRBAGS
WORK
WARNING: Do not place objects ormount equipment on or near the airbagcover, on the side of the front or rearseatbacks, or in areas that may come intocontact with a deploying airbag. Failure tofollow these instructions may increase therisk of personal injury in the event of acrash.
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WARNING: Accessory seat coversnot released by Ford Motor Companycould prevent the deployment of theairbags and increase the risk of injuries ina crash.
WARNING: Do not lean your headon the door. The side airbag could injureyou as it deploys from the side of theseatback.
The side airbags are on the outermost sideof the seat backrests of the front seats. Incertain sideways crashes or rollovers, theairbags will be inflated. The airbag wasdesigned to inflate between the door paneland occupant to further enhance theprotection provided to occupants in sideimpact crashes.
The system consists of the following:
•A label or embossed side panelindicating that side airbags are fitted toyour vehicle.
•Side airbags inside the driver and frontpassenger seat backrests.
•Crash sensors and monitoring systemwith readiness indicator. See CrashSensors and Airbag Indicator (page 68).
HOW DOES THE SAFETY CANOPY™
WORK
WARNING: Do not place objects ormount equipment on or near the headlinerat the siderail that may come into contactwith a deploying curtain airbag. Failure tofollow these instructions may increase therisk of personal injury in the event of acrash.
WARNING: Do not lean your headon the door. The curtain airbag could injureyou as it deploys from the headliner.
WARNING: To reduce risk of injury,do not obstruct or place objects in thedeployment path of the airbag.
The Safety Canopy deploys during significantside crashes or when a certain likelihood ofa rollover event is detected by the rolloversensor. The Safety Canopy is mounted tothe roof side-rail sheet metal, behind theheadliner, above each row of seats. In certainsideways crashes or rollover events, the
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Safety Canopy will be activated, regardlessof which seats are occupied. The SafetyCanopy inflates between the side windowarea and occupants to further enhanceprotection provided in side impact crashesand rollover events.
The system consists of the following:
•Safety Canopy curtain airbags above thetrim panels over the front and rear sidewindows identified by a label or wordingon the headliner or roof-pillar trim.
•A flexible headliner which opens abovethe side doors to allow air curtaindeployment
· Crash sensors and monitoringsystem with a readiness indicator.See Crash Sensors and AirbagIndicator (page 68).
Properly restrain children 12 years old andunder in the rear seats. The Safety Canopywill not interfere with children restrainedusing a properly installed child or boosterseat because it is designed to inflatedownward from the headliner above thedoors along the side window opening.
AIRBAG PRECAUTIONS
WARNING: Airbags do not inflateslowly or gently, and the risk of injury froma deploying airbag is the greatest close tothe trim covering the airbag module.
WARNING: All occupants of yourvehicle, including the driver, should alwaysproperly wear their seatbelts, even whenan airbag supplemental restraint system isprovided. Failure to properly wear yourseatbelt could seriously increase the riskof injury or death.
WARNING: Properly secure children12 years old and under in a rear seatingposition whenever possible. If you areunable to properly secure all children in arear seating position, properly secure thelargest child on the front seat. If you mustuse a forward facing child restraint on thefront seat, move the seat as far back aspossible. Failure to follow theseinstructions could result in personal injuryor death.
WARNING: Do not place your armson the airbag cover or through the steeringwheel. Failure to follow this instructioncould result in personal injury.
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WARNING: Keep the areas in frontof the airbags free from obstruction. Donot affix anything to or over the airbagcovers. Objects could become projectilesduring airbag deployment. Failure to followthis instruction could result in personalinjury or death.
WARNING: To reduce risk of injury,do not obstruct or place objects in thedeployment path of the airbag.
WARNING: Do not place a rearwardfacing child restraint in front of an activeairbag. Failure to follow this instructioncould result in personal injury or death.
WARNING: Do not attempt to service,repair, or modify the supplementaryrestraint system or associated components.Failure to follow this instruction could resultin personal injury or death.
WARNING: Several airbag systemcomponents get hot after inflation. Toreduce the risk of injury, do not touch themafter inflation.
WARNING: If a supplementaryrestraint system component has deployed,it will not function again. Have the systemand associated components inspected assoon as possible. Failure to follow thisinstruction could result in personal injuryor death.
PROPERLY ADJUSTING THE
DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER
SEATS
WARNING: National Highway TrafficSafety Administration (NHTSA)recommends a minimum distance of atleast 10 in (25 cm) between an occupant'schest and the driver airbag 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. Properly seatedoccupants sit upright, lean against the seatbackrest, and center themselves 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 greatlyincreases.
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CHILDREN AND AIRBAGS
WARNING: Do not place a rearwardfacing child restraint in front of an activeairbag. Failure to follow this instructioncould result in personal injury or death.
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.
If two adults and a child occupy a vehiclewithout rear seats, properly restrain the childin the center front seat unless doing sowould interfere with driving your vehicle. Thisprovides lap and shoulder belt protection forall occupants, and airbag protection for theadults. A child or infant properly restrainedin the center front seat should have areduced risk to serious injury from theairbags.
FRONT PASSENGER SENSING
SYSTEM
WHAT IS THE FRONT PASSENGERSENSING SYSTEM
This system detects a properly seatedoccupant and determines if the frontpassenger airbag should be enabled.
HOW DOES THE FRONT PASSENGERSENSING SYSTEM WORK
The system uses a passenger airbag statusindicator which illuminates indicating that thefront passenger frontal airbag is eitherenabled or disabled.
Note:When you first switch the ignition on,the passenger airbag status indicator off andon lamps illuminate for a short period toconfirm they are functional.
The indicator lamps are in the center stackof the instrument panel.
The front passenger sensing system isdesigned to disable the front passengerfrontal airbag under these conditions:
•The front passenger seat is unoccupied.
•The system determines an infant ispresent in a child restraint.
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•A passenger takes their weight off of theseat for a period of time.
•If there is a problem with the airbagsystem or the passenger sensing system.
Note:Even with this technology, parents arestrongly encouraged to always properlyrestrain children in the rear seat.
•When the front passenger sensingsystem disables the front passengerfrontal airbag, the passenger airbagstatus indicator illuminates the off lamp.
•If you have installed the child restraintand the passenger airbag status indicatorilluminates the on lamp, switch yourvehicle off, remove the child restraintfrom your vehicle and reinstall therestraint following the child restraintmanufacturer's instructions.
The front passenger sensing system workswith sensors that are part of the frontpassenger seat and seatbelt. The sensorsare designed to detect the presence of aproperly seated occupant and determine ifthe front passenger frontal airbag should beenabled.
•When the front passenger sensingsystem enables the front passengerfrontal airbag, the passenger airbagstatus indicator illuminates the on lamp.
If a person of adult size is sitting in the frontpassenger seat, but the passenger airbagstatus indicator off lamp is illuminated, it ispossible that the person is not sittingproperly in the seat. If this happens:
•Switch your vehicle off and ask theperson to place the seat backrest in anupright position.
•Have the person sit upright in the seat,centered on the seat cushion, with theperson's legs comfortably extended.
•Restart your vehicle and have the personremain in this position for about twominutes. This allows the system to detectthat person and enable the passengerfrontal airbag.
•If the indicator off lamp remainsilluminated even after this, you shouldadvise the person to ride in the rear seat.
After all occupants have adjusted their seatsand put on seatbelts, it is very important thatthey continue to sit upright, leaning againstthe seat backrest, and centered on the seatcushion, with their feet comfortably extendedon the floor.
Sitting improperly can increase the chanceof injury in a crash event. For example, if anoccupant slouches, lies down, turnssideways, sits forward, leans forward orsideways, or puts one or both feet up, thechance of injury during a crash greatlyincreases.
If you think that the state of the passengerairbag status indicator lamp is incorrect,check for the following:
•Objects lodged underneath the seat.
•Objects between the seat cushion andthe center console.
•Objects hanging off the seat backrest.
•Objects stowed in the seat backrest mappocket.
•Objects placed on the occupant's lap.
•Cargo interference with the seat
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•Other passengers pushing or pulling onthe seat.
•Rear passenger feet and knees restingor pushing on the seat.
The listed conditions could cause the weightof a properly seated occupant to beincorrectly interpreted by the front passengersensing system. The person in the frontpassenger seat could appear heavier orlighter due to the conditions listed.
Make sure the front passengersensing system is operatingproperly. See Crash Sensors andAirbag Indicator (page 68).
If the airbag readiness light is on, do thefollowing:
•Pull your vehicle over.
•Switch your vehicle off.
•Check for any objects lodged underneaththe front passenger seat or cargointerfering with the seat.
•Remove the obstruction if found.
•Restart your vehicle.
•Wait at least two minutes and verify thatthe airbag readiness light in theinstrument cluster is no longerilluminated.
•If the airbag readiness light in theinstrument cluster remains illuminated,there may be a problem due to the frontpassenger sensing system.
Do not attempt to repair or service thesystem. Take your vehicle in for serviceimmediately.
If it is necessary to modify an advanced frontairbag system to accommodate a personwith disabilities, contact your CustomerRelationship Center. See Contacting Us(page 17).
FRONT PASSENGER SENSINGSYSTEM PRECAUTIONS
WARNING: Sitting improperly, out ofposition or with the seatback reclined toofar can take weight off the seat cushionand affect the decision of the passengersensing system, resulting in serious injuryor death in the event of a crash. Always situpright against your seat back, with yourfeet on the floor.
WARNING: Any alteration ormodification to the front passenger seatmay affect the performance of the frontpassenger sensing system. This couldseriously increase the risk of injury ordeath.
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FRONT PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM INDICATORS
Passenger AirbagPassenger Airbag Status IndicatorOccupant
DisabledOFF: IlluminatedEmpty
ON: Not Illuminated
DisabledOFF: IlluminatedChild
ON: Not Illuminated
EnabledOFF: Not IlluminatedAdult
ON: Illuminated
CRASH SENSORS AND AIRBAG
INDICATOR
WARNING: Modifying or addingequipment to the front of your vehiclecould affect the performance of the airbagsystem, increasing the risk of injury. Thisincludes the hood, bumper system, frame,front body structure, tow hooks, hood pins,push bar and snowplows.
Your vehicle has a collection of crash andoccupant sensors. These sensors provideinformation to the restraints control modulewhich activates the following:
•Front seatbelt pretensioners.
•Adaptive steering column.
•Driver airbag.
•Passenger airbag.
•Seat mounted side airbags.
•Safety Canopy.
Based on the type of crash, the restraintscontrol module deploys the appropriatesafety devices.
The restraints control module also monitorsthe readiness of the above safety devicesplus the crash and occupant sensors. Thereadiness of the safety system is indicatedby a warning indicator light in the instrumentcluster or by a backup tone if the warninglight is not working. Routine maintenance ofthe airbag is not required.
A difficulty with the system is indicated byone or more of the following:
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