child restraint FORD E SERIES 2024 User Guide

PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
WARNING: Always drive and ridewith the seat backrest upright and thelap belt snug and low across the hips.
WARNING: To reduce the risk ofinjury, make sure children sit where theycan be properly restrained.
WARNING: Never let a passengerhold a child on his or her lap while yourvehicle is moving. The passenger cannotprotect the child from injury in a crashwhich may result in serious injury ordeath.
WARNING: All occupants of thevehicle, including the driver, shouldalways properly wear their safety belts,even when an airbag supplementalrestraint system is provided. Failure toproperly wear your safety belt couldseriously increase the risk of injury ordeath.
WARNING: It is extremelydangerous to ride in a cargo area, insideor outside of a vehicle. In a crash, peopleriding in these areas are more likely to beseriously injured or killed. Do not allowpeople to ride in any area of your vehiclethat is not equipped with seats andsafety belts. Be sure everyone in yourvehicle is in a seat and using a safety beltproperly.
WARNING: In a rollover crash, anunbelted person is significantly morelikely to die than a person wearing asafety belt.
WARNING: Each seating positionin your vehicle has a specific safety beltassembly which is made up of onebuckle and one tongue that are designedto be used as a pair. 1) Use the shoulderbelt on the outside shoulder only. Neverwear the shoulder belt under the arm. 2)Never swing the safety belt around yourneck over the inside shoulder. 3) Neveruse a single belt for more than oneperson.
WARNING: When possible, allchildren 12 years old and under shouldbe properly restrained in a rear seatingposition. Failure to follow this couldseriously increase the risk of injury ordeath.
WARNING: Safety belts and seatscan become hot in a vehicle that hasbeen closed up in sunny weather; theycould burn a small child. Check seatcovers and buckles before you place achild anywhere near them.
WARNING: Front and rear seatoccupants, including pregnant women,should wear safety belts for optimumprotection in an accident.
All seating positions in this vehicle havelap and shoulder safety belts. Alloccupants of the vehicle should alwaysproperly wear their safety belts, even whenan airbag supplemental restraint systemis provided.
The safety belt system consists of:
•Lap and shoulder safety belts.
•Shoulder safety belt with automaticlocking mode, (except driver safetybelt).
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Pregnant women should always wear theirseatbelt. Position the lap belt portion of acombination lap and shoulder belt lowacross the hips below the belly and wornas tight as comfort allows. Position theshoulder belt to cross the middle of theshoulder and the center of the chest.
Seatbelt Locking Modes
WARNING: If your vehicle isinvolved in a crash, have the seatbeltsand associated components inspectedas soon as possible. Failure to follow thisinstruction could result in personal injuryor death.
All safety restraints in the vehicle arecombination lap and shoulder belts. Thedriver seatbelt has the first type of lockingmode. The front outboard passengerseatbelt has both types of locking modesdescribed as follows:
Vehicle Sensitive Mode
This is the normal retractor mode, whichallows free shoulder belt lengthadjustment to your movements andlocking in response to vehicle movement.For example, if the driver brakes suddenlyor turns a corner sharply, or the vehiclereceives an impact of about 5 mph(8 km/h) or more, the combinationseatbelts lock to help reduce forwardmovement of the driver and passengers.
In addition, the retractor is designed to lockif you pull the webbing out too quickly. Ifthe seatbelt retractor locks, slowly lowerthe height adjuster to allow the seatbeltto retract. If the retractor does not unlock,pull the seatbelt out slowly then feed a
small length of webbing back toward thestowed position. For rear seatbelts, reclinethe rear seat backrest or push the seatbackrest cushion away from the seatbelt.Feed a small length of webbing backtoward the stowed position.
Automatic Locking Mode
In this mode, the shoulder beltautomatically pre-locks. The belt will stillretract to remove any slack in the shoulderbelt. The automatic locking mode is notavailable on the driver seatbelt.
When to Use the Automatic LockingMode
Use this mode any time a child safety seat,except a booster, is installed in thepassenger front seating position. SeeChild Safety (page 20).
How to Use the Automatic LockingMode
1.Buckle the combination lap andshoulder belt.
2.Grasp the shoulder portion and pulldownward until the entire belt is pulledout.
3.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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CHILD RESTRAINT AND
SEATBELT MAINTENANCE
Inspect the vehicle seatbelts and childrestraint systems periodically to make surethey work properly and are not damaged.Inspect the vehicle seatbelts to make surethere are no nicks, tears or cuts. Replace ifnecessary. All vehicle seatbelt assemblies,including retractors, buckles, front seatbeltbuckle assemblies, buckle supportassemblies (slide bar-if equipped),shoulder belt height adjusters (ifequipped), shoulder belt guide on seatback(if equipped), rear inflatable seatbelts (ifequipped), child restraint LATCH andtether anchors, and attaching hardware,should be inspected after a crash. Readthe child restraint manufacturer'sinstructions for additional inspection andmaintenance information specific to thechild restraint.
We recommend that all seatbeltassemblies in use in vehicles involved in acrash be replaced. However, if the crashwas minor and an authorized dealer findsthat the belts do not show damage andcontinue to operate properly, they do notneed to be replaced. Seatbelt assembliesnot in use during a crash should also beinspected and replaced if either damageor improper operation is noted.
Properly care for seatbelts. See Cleaningthe Interior (page 185).
SEATBELT EXTENSIONS
WARNING: Persons who fit intothe vehicle's seatbelt should not use anextension. Unnecessary use could resultin serious personal injury in the event ofa crash.
WARNING: Only use extensionsprovided free of charge by our dealers.The dealer will provide an extensiondesigned specifically for this vehicle,model year and seating position. The useof an extension intended for anothervehicle, model year or seating positionmay not offer you the full protection ofyour vehicle's seatbelt restraint system.
WARNING: Never use seatbeltextensions to install child restraints.
WARNING: Do not use extensionsto change the way the seatbelt fitsacross the torso, over the lap or to makethe seatbelt buckle easier 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 fromour dealers. Only use our seatbeltextensions made by the original equipmentseatbelt manufacturer with our seatbelts.Ask your authorized dealer if your extensionis compatible with your vehicle restraintsystem.
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PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
WARNING: Airbags do not inflateslowly or gently, and the risk of injuryfrom a deploying airbag is the greatestclose to the trim covering the airbagmodule.
WARNING: All occupants of yourvehicle, including the driver, shouldalways properly wear their seatbelts,even when an airbag supplementalrestraint system is provided. Failure toproperly wear your seatbelt couldseriously increase the risk of injury ordeath.
WARNING: Properly securechildren 12 years old and under in a rearseating position whenever possible. Ifyou are unable to properly secure allchildren in a rear seating position,properly secure the largest child on thefront seat. If you must use a forwardfacing child restraint on the front seat,move the seat as far back as possible.Failure to follow these instructions couldresult in personal injury or death.
WARNING: Do not place your armson the airbag cover or through thesteering wheel. Failure to follow thisinstruction could result in personal injury.
WARNING: Do not place arearward facing child restraint in front ofan active airbag. Failure to follow thisinstruction could result in personal injuryor death.
WARNING: Do not attempt toservice, repair, or modify thesupplementary restraint system orassociated components. Failure tofollow this instruction could result inpersonal injury or death.
WARNING: Several airbag systemcomponents get hot after inflation. Toreduce the risk of injury, do not touchthem after inflation.
WARNING: If a supplementaryrestraint system component hasdeployed, it will not function again. Havethe system and associated componentsinspected as soon as possible. Failure tofollow this instruction could result inpersonal injury or death.
The airbags are a supplemental restraintsystem and are designed to work with theseatbelts to help protect the driver andright front passenger from certain upperbody injuries. Airbags do not inflate slowly;there is a risk of injury from a deployingairbag.
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 rapidlyupon activation. After airbag deployment,it is normal to notice a smoke-like, powderyresidue or smell the burnt propellant. Thismay consist of cornstarch, talcum powder(to lubricate the bag) or sodiumcompounds (for example, baking soda)that result from the combustion processthat inflates the airbag. Small amounts ofsodium hydroxide may be present whichmay irritate the skin and eyes, but none ofthe residue is toxic.
While the system is designed to helpreduce serious injuries, contact with adeploying airbag may also cause abrasionsor swelling. Temporary hearing loss is alsoa possibility as a result of the noiseassociated with a deploying airbag.Because airbags must inflate rapidly andwith considerable force, there is the risk ofdeath or serious injuries such as fractures,facial and eye injuries or internal injuries,
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particularly to occupants who are notproperly restrained or are otherwise out ofposition at the time of airbag deployment.Thus, it is extremely important thatoccupants 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 armson the airbag cover or through thesteering wheel. Failure to follow thisinstruction could result in personal injury.
WARNING: Do not place arearward facing child restraint in front ofan active airbag. Failure to follow thisinstruction could result in personal injuryor death.
The driver and front passenger airbagsdeploy during significant frontal and nearfrontal crashes.
The driver and passenger front airbagsystem consists of:
•Driver and passenger airbag modules.
· Crash sensors and monitoringsystem with readiness indicator.See Crash Sensors and AirbagIndicator (page 40).
Passenger Airbag On and OffSwitch (If Equipped)
WARNING: Your vehicle may havean airbag deactivation switch. Beforedriving, always look at the switch tomake sure it is in the appropriateposition. Failure to put the switch in theproper position can increase the risk ofserious injury or death in a crash.
Note:The passenger airbag on and offswitch may be on vehicles with no rearseats.
Switching the Passenger Airbag Off
WARNING: If the light does notilluminate when the passenger airbagswitch is off and you switch the ignitionon, have the passenger airbag switchserviced immediately by a qualifiedtechnician.
WARNING: To avoid switching onthe airbag, always remove the ignitionkey with the switch in the off position.
WARNING: NEVER use a rearwardfacing child restraint on a seat protectedby an ACTIVE AIRBAG in front of it,DEATH or SERIOUS INJURY to the CHILDcan occur.
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1.Insert the ignition key into thepassenger airbag on and off switch,turn the switch to off and hold it in offwhile removing the key.
2.When you switch the ignition on andthe passenger airbag switch is in theoff position, the off light illuminatesbriefly, momentarily shuts off and thenturns back on. This indicates that thepassenger airbag is deactivated.
Switching the Passenger Airbag BackOn
WARNING: The seatbelts for thedriver and right front passenger seatingpositions are specifically designed tooperate together with the airbags incertain types of crashes. When youswitch off your airbag, you not only losethe protection of the airbag, you alsomay reduce the effectiveness of yourseatbelt system. If the passenger doesnot meet the requirements stated in theNational Highway Traffic SafetyAdministration or Transport Canadadeactivation criteria, switching off theairbag can increase the risk of seriousinjury or death in a crash.
WARNING: If your vehicle has rearseats, always transport children who are12 and younger in the rear seat. Alwaysuse seatbelts and child restraintsproperly. Do not place a child in a rearfacing infant seat in the front seat unlessyour vehicle is equipped with an airbagon and off switch and the passengerairbag is turned off. This is because theback of the infant seat is too close to theinflating airbag and the risk of a fatalinjury to the infant when the airbaginflates is substantial.
WARNING: If the passenger airbagoff light is illuminated when thepassenger airbag switch is on and theignition is on, have the passenger airbagswitch serviced immediately by aqualified technician.
The passenger airbag remains off until youswitch it back on.
1.Insert the ignition key into thepassenger airbag on and off switch andturn the switch to on.
2.The off light briefly illuminates whenyou switch the ignition on. Thisindicates that the passenger airbag isoperational.
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The passenger side airbag should alwaysbe on (the airbag off light should not beilluminated) unless the passenger is aperson who meets the requirements statedeither in Category 1, 2 or 3 of the NationalHighway Traffic SafetyAdministration/Transport Canadadeactivation criteria which follows.
The vast majority of drivers and passengersare much safer with an airbag thanwithout. To do their job and reduce the riskof life threatening injuries, airbags mustopen with great force, and this force canpose a potentially deadly risk in somesituations, particularly when a front seatoccupant is not properly buckled up. Themost effective way to reduce the risk ofunnecessary airbag injuries withoutreducing the overall safety of the vehicleis to make sure all occupants are properlyrestrained in the vehicle, especially in thefront seat. This provides the protection ofseatbelts and permits the airbags toprovide the additional protection they weredesigned to provide. If you choose todeactivate your airbag, you are losing thevery significant risk reducing benefits ofthe airbag and you are also reducing theeffectiveness of the seatbelts, becauseseatbelts in modern vehicles are designedto work as a safety system with theairbags.
National Highway Traffic SafetyAdministration Deactivation Criteria(Excluding Canada)
WARNING: This vehicle has specialenergy management seatbelts for thedriver and right front passenger. Theseparticular seatbelts are specificallydesigned to work with airbags to helpreduce the risk of injury in a crash. Theenergy management seatbelt gives orreleases additional seatbelt webbing insome accidents to reduce the
concentration of force on an occupant'schest and to reduce the risk of certainbone fractures and injuries to underlyingorgans. In a crash, if the airbag is off, thisenergy management seatbelt mightpermit the passenger wearing theseatbelt to move forward enough tohave a serious or fatal injury. The moresevere the crash, and the heavier theoccupant, the greater the risk. Make surethe airbag is on for any passenger whodoes not qualify under the NationalHighway Traffic Safety Administrationdeactivation criteria.
1.Infant. An infant (less than 1 year old)must ride in the front seat because:
•The vehicle has no rear seat.
•The vehicle has a rear seat too smallto accommodate a rear-facing infantseat.
•The infant has a medical conditionwhich, according to the infant'sphysician, makes it necessary for theinfant to ride in the front so that thedriver can constantly monitor thechild's condition.
2.Child age 1 to 12. A child age 1 to 12 mustride in the front seat because:
•The vehicle has no rear seat.
•Although children ages 1 to 12 ride inthe rear seat(s) whenever possible,children ages 1 to 12 sometimes mustride in the front because no space isavailable in the rear seat(s) of thevehicle.
•The child has a medical conditionwhich, according to the child'sphysician, makes it necessary for thechild to ride in the front seat so that thedriver can constantly monitor thechild's condition.
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3. Medical condition. A passenger has amedical condition which, according to hisor her physician:
•Causes the passenger airbag to posea special risk for the passenger.
•Makes the potential harm from thepassenger airbag in a crash greaterthan the potential harm from turningoff the airbag and allowing thepassenger, even if belted, to hit thedashboard or windshield in a crash.
Transport Canada Deactivation Criteria(Canada Only)
WARNING: This vehicle has specialenergy management seatbelts for thedriver and right front passenger. Theseparticular seatbelts are specificallydesigned to work with airbags to helpreduce the risk of injury in a crash. Theenergy management seatbelt gives orreleases additional seatbelt webbing insome accidents to reduce theconcentration of force on an occupant'schest and to reduce the risk of certainbone fractures and injuries to underlyingorgans. In a crash, if the airbag is off, thisenergy management seatbelt mightpermit the passenger wearing theseatbelt to move forward enough tohave a serious or fatal injury. The moresevere the crash, and the heavier theoccupant, the greater the risk. Make surethe airbag is on for any passenger whodoes not qualify under the TransportCanada deactivation criteria.
1.Infant: An infant (less than 1 year old)must ride in the front seat because:
•My vehicle has no rear seat.
•The rear seat in my vehicle cannotaccommodate a rear-facing infantseat.
•The infant has a medical conditionwhich, according to the infant'sphysician, makes it necessary for theinfant to ride in the front seat so thatthe driver can monitor the infant'scondition.
2.Child age 12 or under: A child age 12 orunder must ride in the front seat because:
•My vehicle has no rear seat.
•Although children age 12 and under ridein the rear seat whenever possible,children age 12 and under have nooption but to sometimes ride in thefront seat because rear seat space isinsufficient.
•The child has a medical condition that,according to the child's physician,makes it necessary for the child to ridein the front seat so that the driver canmonitor the child's condition.
3.Medical condition: A passenger has amedical condition that, according to his orher physician:
•Poses a special risk for the passengerif the airbag deploys.
•Makes the potential harm from thepassenger airbag deployment greaterthan the potential harm from turningoff the airbag and experiencing a crashwithout the protection offered by theairbag.
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Proper Driver and Front PassengerSeating Adjustment
WARNING: National HighwayTraffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)recommends a minimum distance of atleast 10 in (25 cm) between anoccupant's chest and the driver airbagmodule.
To properly position yourself away fromthe airbag:
•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 theirseats and put on seatbelts, it is veryimportant that they continue to sitproperly. Properly seated occupants situpright, lean against the seat back, andcenter themselves on the seat cushion,with their feet comfortably extended onthe floor. Sitting improperly can increasethe chance of injury in a crash event. Forexample, if an occupant slouches, liesdown, turns sideways, sits forward, leansforward or sideways, or puts one or bothfeet up, the chance of injury during a crashis greatly increased.
Children and Airbags
WARNING: Do not place arearward facing child restraint in front ofan active airbag. Failure to follow thisinstruction could result in personal injuryor death.
Children must always be properlyrestrained. Accident statistics suggest thatchildren are safer when properly restrainedin the rear seating positions than in thefront seating position. Failure to followthese instructions may increase the risk ofinjury in a crash.
CRASH SENSORS AND
AIRBAG INDICATOR
WARNING: Modifying or addingequipment to the front of your vehiclecould affect the performance of theairbag system, increasing the risk ofinjury. This includes the hood, bumpersystem, frame, front body structure, towhooks, hood pins, push bar andsnowplows.
Your vehicle has a collection of crash andoccupant sensors which provideinformation to the restraints controlmodule. The restraints control moduledeploys (activates) the front seatbeltpretensioners, driver airbag and passengerairbag. Based on the type of accident, therestraints control module deploys theappropriate safety devices.
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GENERAL INFORMATION
Notice to Utility Vehicle, Van andTruck Owners
WARNING: Utility vehicles have asignificantly higher rollover rate thanother types of vehicles. To reduce therisk of serious injury or death from arollover or other crash you must avoidsharp turns and abrupt maneuvers, driveat safe speeds for the conditions, keeptires properly inflated, never overload orimproperly load your vehicle, and makesure every passenger is properlyrestrained.
WARNING: In a rollover crash, anunbelted person is significantly morelikely to die than a person wearing a seatbelt. All occupants must wear seat belts.Children and infants must useappropriate restraints to minimize therisk of injury or ejection.
Utility vehicles and trucks handledifferently than passenger cars in thevarious driving conditions that areencountered on streets, highways andoff-road. Utility vehicles and trucks are notdesigned for cornering at speeds as highas passenger cars any more than low-slungsports cars are designed to performsatisfactorily under off-road conditions.
How Your Vehicle Differs fromOther Vehicles
Sport-utility vehicles, vans and trucks candiffer from some other vehicles in a fewnoticeable ways. Your vehicle may be:
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