FORD E SERIES 2003 4.G Owners Manual
Manufacturer: FORD, Model Year: 2003, Model line: E SERIES, Model: FORD E SERIES 2003 4.GPages: 232, PDF Size: 3.4 MB
Page 101 of 232

Installing child safety seats with combination lap and shoulder
belts
1. Position the child safety seat in a
seat with a combination lap and
shoulder belt.
An air bag can kill or injure a child in a child seat. If you must
use a forward-facing child seat in the front seat, move seat all
the way back.
Children 12 and under should be properly restrained in the rear
seat whenever possible.
2. Pull down on the shoulder belt
and then grasp the shoulder belt
and lap belt together.
Seating and Safety Restraints
101
Page 102 of 232

3. While holding the shoulder and
lap belt portions together, route the
tongue through the child seat
according to the child seat
manufacturer’s instructions. Be sure
the belt webbing is not twisted.
4. Insert the belt tongue into the
proper buckle (the buckle closest to
the direction the tongue is coming
from) for that seating position until
you hear a snap and feel the latch
engage. Make sure the tongue is
latched securely by pulling on it.
5. To put the retractor in the
automatic locking mode, grasp the
shoulder portion of the belt and pull
downward until all of the belt is
extracted.
6. Allow the belt to retract. The belt will click as it retracts to indicate it
is in the automatic locking mode.
Seating and Safety Restraints
102
Page 103 of 232

7. Pull the lap belt portion across
the child seat toward the buckle and
pull up on the shoulder belt while
pushing down with your knee on the
child seat.
8. Allow the safety belt to retract to
remove any slack in the belt.
9. Before placing the child in the
seat, forcibly tilt the seat forward
and back to make sure the seat is
securely held in place. To check
this, grab the seat at the belt path
and attempt to move it side to side
and forward and back. There should
be no more than one inch of
movement for proper installation.
10. Try to pull the belt out of the retractor to make sure the retractor is
in the automatic locking mode (you should not be able to pull more belt
out). If the retractor is not locked, unbuckle the belt and repeat steps
two through nine.
Check to make sure the child seat is properly secured before each use.
Attaching safety seats with tether straps
Children should be placed in the rear in an appropriate child
safety seat that is properly secured to the vehicle.
When using forward-facing child safety seats in vehicles with
only two seating positions so the forward-facing child safety seat
cannot be placed in the rear of the vehicle, move the passenger seat as
far back from the instrument panel as possible.
Do notuse a forward–facing safety seat or an infant seat in the
last row of a 12–or 15–passenger Club Wagon.
Seating and Safety Restraints
103
Page 104 of 232

Air bags can kill or injure a child in a child seat.NEVERplace a
rear-facing child seat in front of an active air bag. If you must
use a forward-facing child seat in the front seat, move the seat all the
way back.
Front passenger seating position
The tether can be attached directly
to the rear of the front seat.
1. Position the child safety seat on
the front right-hand passenger seat.
2. Adjust the front right-hand
passenger seat full forward.
3. Route the child safety seat tether
strap over the back of the front
right-hand passenger seat as shown.
Seating and Safety Restraints
104
Page 105 of 232

4. Clip the tether strap hook to the
seat pedestal to the location shown.
5. Adjust the front right hand
passenger seat to the full rearward
position.
6. Refer to the instructions in this section underInstalling child safety
seats in combination lap and shoulder belt seating positionsto
secure the child safety seat.
7. Tighten the child safety seat
tether strap according to the
manufacturer’s instructions.
Seating and Safety Restraints
105
Page 106 of 232

Second row bucket seats (Chateau Quads)
The tether strap can be attached
directly to the tether bracket under
the back edge of the seat cushion.
1. Position the child safety seat on
the second row left hand or right
hand bucket seat.
2. Route the child safety tether
strap over the back of the left hand
or right hand second row bucket
seat.
3. Clip the tether strap hook to the
seat pedestal at the location shown.
4. Refer to the instructions in this section underInstalling child safety
seats in combination lap and shoulder belt seating positionsto
secure the child safety seat.
5. Tighten the child safety seat tether strap according to the
manufacturer’s instructions.
Seating and Safety Restraints
106
Page 107 of 232

Second, Third and Fourth row three passenger bench seats
The tether strap can be attached
directly to the tether bracket
provided under the back edge of the
seat cushion.
1. For second row 3–Passenger bench seat, place the child safety seat on
the left hand outboard position, the center position, or the right hand
outboard position as desired.
For third row or fourth row 3–Passenger bench seat, place the child
safety seat on the center position.
2. Route the child safety tether
strap over the back of 3–Passenger
bench seat.
3. Clip the tether strap hook to the
tether bracket mounted under rear
rail of seat cushion frame.
4. Refer to the instructions in this section underinstalling child safety
seats in combination lap and shoulder belt seating positionsto
secure the child safety seat.
Seating and Safety Restraints
107
Page 108 of 232

5. Tighten the child safety seat tether strap according to the
manufacturer’s instructions.
For additional important safety information on the proper use of seat
belts, child seats and infant seats, please read the entireSeating and
Safety Restraintschapter in this Owner’s Guide.
Attaching safety seats with LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for
Children) attachments for child seat anchors
Some child safety seats have two rigid or webbing mounted attachments
that connect to two anchors at certain seating positions in your vehicle.
This type of child seat eliminates the need to use seat belts to attach the
child seat. For forward-facing child seats, the tether strap must also be
attached to the proper tether anchor. SeeAttaching safety seats with
tether strapsin this chapter.
Your vehicle may be equipped with LATCH anchors for child seat
installation at the seating positions marked with the child seat symbol:
•Five passenger crew van
•Seven passenger wagon
Seating and Safety Restraints
108
Page 109 of 232

•Eight passenger wagon
•Twelve passenger wagon
•Fifteen passenger wagon
represents LATCH anchors.
represents tether strap anchors.
Never attach two LATCH child safety seats to the same anchor.
In a crash, one anchor may not be strong enough to hold two
child safety seat attachments and may break, causing serious injury or
death.
Seating and Safety Restraints
109
Page 110 of 232

The lower anchors for child seat
installation are located at the rear
section of the seat between the
cushion and seat back.
Follow the child seat manufacturer’s instructions to properly install a
child seat with LATCH attachments.
Attach LATCH lower attachments of the child seat only to the
anchors shown.
If you install a child seat with rigid LATCH attachments, do not tighten
the tether strap enough to lift the child seat off the vehicle seat cushion
when the child is seated in it. Keep the tether strap just snug without
lifting the front of the child seat. Keeping the child seat just touching the
vehicle seat gives the best protection in a severe crash.
Each time you use the safety seat, check that the seat is properly
attached to the lower anchors and tether anchor. Try to tilt the child
seat from side to side. Also try to tug the seat forward. Check to see if
the anchors hold the seat in place.
If the safety seat is not anchored properly, the risk of a child
being injured in a crash greatly increases.
Seating and Safety Restraints
110