warning Mercury Villager 1998 s Owner's Guide

WARNING
Be sure to secure all four loops into the retainers. The
cargo restrained in the net must not exceed 50 lbs. (22.5 kg)
or the net may not stay secured.
To remove the cargo net, remove the loops from the four
retainers.
The rear cargo net
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Adjusting the Front Seats Manually
If you have manually adjustable front seats, you can move your
seat to a new position by lifting up on the seat adjustment
lever and sliding the seat to the position of your choice. The lever
is underneath the front of your seat.
WARNING
Never adjust the driver's seat or seatback when the
vehicle is moving.
WARNING
Cargo should always be secured to prevent it from
shifting and causing damage to the vehicle or harm to
passengers.
Seat adjustment lever location
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Reclining Seats
You can tilt back the seats in your vehicle.
WARNING
Always drive and ride with your seatback upright and the
lap belt snug and low across the hips.
To recline the seatbacks:
1. Lift up the release lever and hold it up while you lean against
the back of the seat.
2. When the seatback is tilted to the position you choose, release
the lever to lock the seatback in place.
3. To return the seatback to its upright position, lift the lever and
lean forward.
Seatback release lever location
Seating and Safety Restraints
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Rear Seat Cupholders (available on some models)
Your vehicle may have the following types of cupholders:
mtwo second row cupholders attached to the captain seats (if
equipped)
mtwo third row cupholders on the left side and one cupholder
on the right side (if equipped)
mone cupholder built into the side trim panel (without rear
radio controls)
WARNING
Objects stored on the ledges below the rear side windows
can become dangerous projectiles during a sudden stop
or collision. Put small objects only in the storage
compartments.
Third Row Seat Storage Compartment (If equipped)
Your vehicle may come equipped with a folding cupholder/storage
tray/storage compartment built into the passenger's side of the
third row seat. Find the indented ledge on the right of the
cupholder and pull it up to reveal the storage compartment.
Power Point Electrical Outlet (If equipped)
Your vehicle may be equipped with a 12 volt power point outlet
located just below the rear seat audio controls. The power
point can be used in place of the cigarette lighter for optional
electrical accessories.
NOTE: Do not plug the cigarette lighter into this power point
electrical outlet. Use the cigarette lighter.
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Important Safety Belt Information
The use of safety belts helps to restrain you and your passengers
in case of a collision. In most states and in Canada, the law
requires their use.
Safety belts provide best restraint when:
mthe seatback is upright
mthe occupant is sitting upright (not slouched)
mthe lap belt is snug and low on the hips
mthe shoulder belt is snug against the chest
mthe knees are straight forward
To help you remember to fasten your safety belt, a warning light
may come on and a chime may sound. SeeSafety Belt Warning
Light and Chimein theInstrumentationchapter.
See the following sections in this chapter for directions on how to
properly use these safety belts. Also seeSafety Restraints for
Childrenin this chapter for special instructions about using safety
belts for children.
WARNING
Always drive and ride with your seatback upright and the
lap belt snug and low across the hips.
Seating and Safety Restraints
129

WARNING
Each seating position in your vehicle has a specific safety
belt assembly which is made up of one buckle and one
tongue that are designed to be used as a pair. 1) Use the
shoulder belt on the outside shoulder only. Never wear
the shoulder belt under the arm. 2) Never swing it around
your neck over the inside shoulder. 3) Never use a
single belt for more than one person.
WARNING
Never drive or ride with a twisted or jammed safety belt.
If you cannot untwist or unjam the safety belt, see the
nearest qualified technician immediately.
WARNING
Children should always ride with the seatback in the fully
upright position.
WARNING
Lock the doors of your vehicle before driving to lessen the
risk of the door coming open in a collision.
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Automatic locking mode
In this operating mode, the shoulder belt retractor will be
automatically locked and will remain locked when the combination
lap/shoulder safety belt is buckled, and does not allow the
occupant freedom of movement. This mode provides the following:
mA tight lap/shoulder belt on the occupant.
mChild safety seat installation.
WARNING
Rear-facing child seats or infant carriers should never be
placed in the front seats.
This modemust be usedwhen installing a child safety seat on
the front passenger seat and rear outboard seats where dual locking
retractors are provided.
To switch the retractor from the emergency locking mode to the
automatic locking mode, perform the following steps:
1. Buckle the lap/shoulder combination belt.
2. Grasp the shoulder portion of the belt and pull downward
until all of the belt is extracted and, when allowed to
retract, a clicking sound is heard. At this time, the belt retractor
is in the automatic locking mode (child restraint mode).
3. A clicking sound will continue to be heard as the belt is
allowed to retract. This indicates that the retractor is in the
automatic locking mode.
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WARNING
Position the shoulder belt height adjuster so that the belt
rests across the middle of your shoulder. Be sure the
shoulder belt is properly positioned on your shoulder each
time you use the belt. If the shoulder belt is off your
shoulder, on your upper arm or neck, there is a greater risk
of severe injury in a collision.
Lap Belt Without a Retractor (for the three-passenger
bench seat)
The center seat of the three-passenger bench seat has a lap belt
without a retractor. To make the belt longer, tip the tongue at a right
angle to the belt and pull the belt over your lap until the
tongue reaches the buckle.
To fasten the belt, pull the belt across your hips and insert the
tongue into the correct buckle on your seat until you hear a snap
and feel it lock. Make sure the buckle is securely fastened.
Pull the loose end of the webbing and adjust the belt so that it
fits snugly and as low as possible around the hips:
mIf you need to lengthen the belt, unfasten it and repeat the
procedure above.
mIf you need to shorten the belt, pull on the loose end of the
webbing.
To store the belt:
Fasten the center tongue and buckle when not in use. This will
prevent the belt from falling between the seat and the seatback.
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Safety Belt Extension Assembly
A safety belt may be too short even when it is fully extended.
You can add about eight inches (20 cm) to the belt length with a
safety belt extension assembly. Safety belt extensions are
available at no cost (part number 611C22) from your dealer.
WARNING
Failure to follow these instructions will affect the
performance of the safety belts and increase the risk of
personal injury.
Exiting a vehicle with the auxiliary safety restraint system
Seating and Safety Restraints
143

Safety Belt Maintenance
Check the safety belt systems periodically to make sure that they
work properly and are not damaged.
All safety belt assemblies, including retractors, buckles, front seat
belt buckle support assemblies (slide bar) (if so equipped),
child safety seat tether bracket assemblies (if so equipped), and
attaching hardware, should be inspected after any collision. Ford
recommends that all safety belt assemblies used in vehicles
involved in a collision be replaced. However, if the collision was
minor and a qualified technician 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.
Air Bag Supplemental Restraint System
(SRS)
Important Air Bag Precautions
Your vehicle is equipped with a supplemental restraint system
designed to work with the safety belts to help protect you and your
right front seat passenger in the event of certain collisions
described in the sectionHow Does the Air Bag Supplemental Restraint
System Work?
WARNING
All occupants of the vehicle, including the driver, should
always wear their safety belts.
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