belt FORD EXPLORER 2006 4.G Owner's Manual

To reduce the risk of injury, do not deactivate/activate the
BeltMinderyfeature while driving the vehicle.
1. Turn the ignition switch to the RUN (or ON) position. (DO NOT
START THE ENGINE)
2. Wait until the safety belt warning light turns off. (Approximately 1
minute)
²Step 3 must be completed within 50 seconds after the safety belt
warning light turns off.
3. For the seating position being disabled, at a moderate speed, buckle
then unbuckle the safety belt 9 times, ending in the unbuckled state.
(Step 3 must be completed within 50 seconds after the safety belt
warning light turns off.)
²After Step 3, the restraint system warning light (airbag light) will be
turned on for three seconds.
4. Within 10 seconds of the light turning on, at a moderate speed, buckle
then unbuckle the safety belt.
²This will disable the BeltMinderyfeature for that seating position if it
is currently enabled. As confirmation, the restraint system warning
light will flash 4 times per second for 3 seconds.
²This will enable the BeltMinderyfeature for that seating position if it
is currently disabled. As confirmation, the restraint system warning
light will flash 4 times per second for 3 seconds, followed by 3
seconds with the light off, then followed by the restraint system
warning light flashing 4 times per second for 3 seconds again.
Safety belt maintenance
Inspect the safety belt systems periodically to make sure they work
properly and are not damaged. Inspect the safety belts to make sure
there are no nicks, tears or cuts. Replace if necessary. All safety belt
assemblies, including retractors, buckles, front safety belt buckle
assemblies, buckle support assemblies (slide bar-if equipped), shoulder
belt height adjusters (if equipped), shoulder belt guide on seatback (if
equipped), child safety seat LATCH and tether anchors, and attaching
hardware, should be inspected after a collision. Ford Motor Company
recommends that all safety belt assemblies in use in vehicles involved in
a collision be replaced. However, if the collision was minor and an
authorized dealer finds that the belts do not show damage and continue
to operate properly, they do not need to be replaced. Safety belt
Seating and Safety Restraints
140

assemblies not in use during a collision should also be inspected and
replaced if either damage or improper operation is noted.
Failure to inspect and if necessary replace the safety belt
assembly under the above conditions could result in severe
personal injuries in the event of a collision.
For proper care of soiled safety belts, refer toInteriorin theCleaning
chapter.
AIRBAG SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS)
Important SRS precautions
The SRS is designed to work with
the safety belt to help protect the
driver and right front passenger
from certain upper body injuries.
Airbags DO NOT inflate slowly;
there is a risk of injury from a
deploying airbag.
Seating and Safety Restraints
141

All occupants of the vehicle, including the driver, should always
properly wear their safety belts, even when an air bag
supplemental restraint system (SRS) is provided.
Always transport children 12 years old and under in the back
seat and always properly use appropriate child restraints.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
recommends a minimum distance of at least 10 inches (25 cm)
between an occupant's chest and the driver airbag module.
Never place your arm over the airbag module as a deploying air
bag can result in serious arm fractures or other injuries.
To properly position yourself away from the airbag:
²Move your seat to the rear as far as you can while still reaching the
pedals comfortably.
²Recline the seat slightly one or two degrees from the upright position.
Do not put anything on or over the airbag module. Placing
objects on or over the airbag inflation area may cause those
objects to be propelled by the airbag into your face and torso causing
serious injury.
Do not attempt to service, repair, or modify the airbag
supplemental restraint systems or its fuses. See your authorized
dealer.
Modifications to the front end of the vehicle, including frame,
bumper, front end body structure and non-Ford tow hooks may
effect the performance of the airbag sensors increasing the risk of
injury. Do not modify the front end of the vehicle with anything other
than authorized Ford accessories for your vehicle.
Additional equipment may affect the performance of the airbag
sensors increasing the risk of injury. Please refer to theBody
Builders Layout Bookfor instructions about the appropriate
installation of additional equipment.
Seating and Safety Restraints
142

²one or more impact and safing sensors.
²a readiness light and tone.
²diagnostic module.
²and the electrical wiring which connects the components.
²Front passenger sensing system. Refer toFront passenger sensing
system.later in this chapter.
²ªPassenger airbag offº or ªpass airbag offº indicator lamp. Refer to
Front passenger sensing systemlater in this chapter.
The diagnostic module monitors its own internal circuits and the
supplemental airbag electrical system wiring (including the impact
sensors), the system wiring, the airbag system readiness light, the airbag
back up power and the airbag ignitors.
Front passenger sensing system
The front passenger sensing system is designed to meet the regulatory
requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 208
and is designed to disable (will not inflate) the front passenger's frontal
air bag under certain conditions.
The front passenger sensing system works with sensors that are part of
the front passenger's seat and safety belt. The sensors are designed to
detect the presence of a properly seated occupant and determine if the
front passenger's frontal air bag should be enabled (may inflate) or
disabled (will not inflate).
The front passenger sensing system will disable (will not inflate) the
front passenger's frontal air bag if:
²the front passenger seat is unoccupied, or has small/medium objects in
the front seat,
²the system determines that an infant is present in a rear-facing infant
seat that is installed according to the manufacturer's instructions,
²the system determines that a small child is present in a forward-facing
child restraint that is installed according to the manufacturer's
instructions,
²the system determines that a small child is present in a booster seat,
²a front passenger takes his/her weight off of the seat for a period of
time,
Seating and Safety Restraints
145

For side airbag equipped vehicles, the front passenger sensing system
will turn off the passenger seat side airbag if:
²the seat is empty and safety belt is unbuckled.
²a child or small person occupies the front passenger seat and the child
or small person is unbuckled.
The front passenger sensing system
uses a9passenger airbag off9or
9pass airbag off9indicator which will
illuminate and stay lit to remind you
that the front passenger frontal airbag is disabled. The indicator lamp is
located in the center stack of the instrument panel above the radio.
Note: The indicator lamp will illuminate for a short period of time when
the ignition is turned to the ON position to confirm it is functional.
When the front passenger seat is not occupied (empty seat) or in the
event that the front passenger frontal airbag is enabled (may inflate), the
indicator lamp will be unlit.
The front passenger sensing system is designed to disable (will not
inflate) the front passenger's frontal airbag when a rear facing infant
seat, a forward-facing child restraint, or a booster seat is detected.
²When the front passenger sensing system disables (will not inflate)
the front passenger frontal airbag, the indicator lamp will illuminate
and stay lit to remind you that the front passenger frontal airbag is
disabled.
²If the child restraint has been installed and the indicator lamp is not
lit, then turn the vehicle off, remove the child restraint from the
vehicle and reinstall the restraint following the child restraint
manufacturer's instructions.
The front passenger sensing system is designed to enable (may inflate)
the front passenger's frontal airbag anytime the system senses that a
person of adult size is sitting properly in the front passenger seat.
²When the front passenger sensing system enables the front passenger
frontal airbag (may inflate), the indicator will be unlit and stay unlit.
If a person of adult size is sitting in the front passenger's seat, but the
9passenger airbag off9or9pass airbag off9indicator lamp is lit, it is
possible that the person isn't sitting properly in the seat. If this happens:
²Turn the vehicle off and ask the person to place the seatback in the
full upright position.
²Have the person sit upright in the seat, centered on the seat cushion,
with the person's legs comfortably extended.
Seating and Safety Restraints
146

²Restart the vehicle and have the person remain in this position for
about two minutes. This will allow the system to detect that person
and enable the passenger's frontal air bag.
²If the indicator lamp remains lit even after this, the person should be
advised to ride in the rear seat.
OccupantPass Airbag Off
Indicator LampPassenger Airbag
Empty seat Unlit Disabled
Small child in child
safety seat or boosterLit Disabled
Small child with safety
belt buckled or
unbuckledLit Disabled
Adult Unlit Enabled
Even with Advanced Restraints Systems, children 12 and under
should be properly restrained in the back seat.
After all occupants have adjusted their seats and put on safety belts, it's
very important that they continue to sit properly. A properly seated
occupant sits upright, leaning against the seat back, and centered on the
seat cushion, with their feet comfortably extended on the floor. Sitting
improperly can increase the chance of injury in a crash event. For
example, if an occupant slouches, lies down, turns sideways, sits forward,
leans forward or sideways, or puts one or both feet up, the chance of
injury during a crash is greatly increased.
Sitting improperly out of position or with the seat back reclined
too far can take off weight from the seat cushion and affect the
decision of the front passenger sensing system, resulting in serious
injury or death in a crash.
Always sit upright against your seatback, with your feet on the floor.
Seating and Safety Restraints
147

The front passenger sensing system may detect small or medium objects
placed on the seat cushion. For most objects that are in the front
passenger seat, the passenger airbag will be disabled. Even though the
passenger airbag is disabled, the9pass airbag off9lamp may or may not
be illuminated according to the table below.
ObjectsPass Airbag Off
Indicator LampPassenger Airbag
Small (i.e. 3 ring
binder, small purse,
bottled water)Unlit Disabled
Medium (i.e. heavy
briefcase, fully packed
luggage)Lit Disabled
Empty seat, Small or
medium object with
safety belt buckledLit Disabled
If you think that the status of the passenger airbag off indicator lamp is
incorrect, check for the following:
²Objects lodged underneath the seat
²Objects between the seat cushion and the center console (if
equipped)
²Objects hanging off the seat back
²Objects stowed in the seatback map pocket (if equipped)
²Objects placed on the occupant's lap
²Cargo interference with the seat
²Other passengers pushing or pulling on the seat
²Rear passenger feet and knees resting or pushing on the seat
The conditions listed above may cause the weight of a properly seated
occupant to be incorrectly interpreted by the front passenger sensing
system. The person in the front passenger seat may appear heavier or
lighter due to the conditions described in the list above.
Seating and Safety Restraints
148

Do not attempt to service, repair, or modify the airbag SRS, its
fuses or the seat cover on a seat containing an airbag. See your
authorized dealer.
All occupants of the vehicle should always wear their safety belts
even when an airbag SRS is provided.
How does the side airbag system work?
The design and development of the side airbag system included
recommended testing procedures that were developed by a group of
automotive safety experts known as the Side Airbag Technical Working
Group. These recommended testing procedures help reduce the risk of
injuries related to the deployment of side airbags.
The side airbag system consists of
the following:
²An inflatable nylon bag (airbag)
with a gas generator concealed
behind the outboard bolster of
the driver and front passenger
seatbacks.
²A special seat cover designed to
allow airbag deployment.
²The same warning light,
electronic control and diagnostic
unit as used for the front airbags.
²Crash sensors located on the
front doors and C pillars (one
sensor on each pillar on each side
of the vehicle).
Side airbags, in combination with seat belts, can help reduce the risk of
severe injuries in the event of a significant side impact collision.
The side airbags are fitted on the outboard side of the seatbacks of the
front seats. In certain lateral collisions, the airbag on the side affected by
the collision will be inflated. If the front passenger sensing system
detects an empty seat, the front passenger seat-mounted side airbag will
be deactivated. The airbag was designed to inflate between the door
panel and occupant to further enhance the protection provided
occupants in side impact collisions.
Seating and Safety Restraints
151

Do not attempt to service, repair, or modify the Safety Canopyy
system, its fuses, the A, B, or C pillar trim, or the headliner on a
vehicle containing a Safety Canopyy. See your authorized dealer.
All occupants of the vehicle including the driver should always
wear their safety belts even when an airbag SRS and Safety
Canopyysystem is provided.
To reduce risk of injury, do not obstruct or place objects in the
deployment path of the inflatable Safety Canopyy.
How does the Safety CanopyYsystem work?
The design and development of the
Safety Canopyysystem included
recommended testing procedures
that were developed by a group of
automotive safety experts known as
the Side Airbag Technical Working
Group. These recommended testing
procedures help reduce the risk of
injuries related to the deployment of
side airbags (including the Safety
Canopyy).
The Safety Canopyysystem
consists of the following:
²An inflatable nylon curtain with a
gas generator concealed behind
the headliner and above the doors
(one on each side of the vehicle).
²A headliner that will flex to open
above the side doors to allow Safety Canopyydeployment.
²The same warning light, electronic control and diagnostic unit as used
for the front airbags.
²Two side crash sensors mounted at the front doors (one on each side
of the vehicle).
²Two side crash sensors located at the c-pillar behind the rear doors
(one on each side of the vehicle).
²Roll over sensor in the restraints control module (RCM).
Seating and Safety Restraints
153

The Safety Canopyysystem, in combination with safety belts, can help
reduce the risk of severe injuries in the event of a significant side impact
collision or rollover event.
Children 12 years old and under should always be properly restrained in
the second or third row seats (if equipped). The Safety Canopyywill
not interfere with children restrained using a properly installed child or
booster seat because it is designed to inflate downward from the
headliner above the doors along the side window openings.
The Safety Canopyysystem is designed to activate when the vehicle
sustains lateral deceleration sufficient to cause the side crash sensor to
close an electrical circuit that initiates Safety Canopyyinflation or when
a certain likelihood of a rollover event is detected by the rollover sensor.
The Safety Canopyyis mounted to the roof side-rail sheet metal, behind
the headliner, above the first and second row seats. In certain lateral
collisions or rollover events, the Safety Canopyysystem will be
activated, regardless of which seats are occupied. The Safety Canopyyis
designed to inflate between the side window area and occupants to
further enhance protection provided in side impact collisions and rollover
events.
The fact that the Safety Canopyysystem did not activate in a collision
does not mean that something is wrong with the system. Rather, it
means the forces were not of the type sufficient to cause activation. The
Safety Canopyyis designed to inflate in certain side impact collisions or
rollover events, not in rear impact, frontal or near-frontal collisions,
unless the collision causes sufficient lateral deceleration or rollover
likelihood.
Several Safety Canopyysystem components get hot after
inflation. Do not touch them after inflation.
Seating and Safety Restraints
154