FORD EXPLORER 2023 Owner's Guide

5.To put the retractor in the automaticlocking mode, grasp the shoulderportion of the belt and pull downwarduntil you pull all of the belt out.
Note:The automatic locking mode isavailable on the front passenger and rearseats.
6.Allow the belt to retract to removeslack. The belt clicks as it retracts toindicate it is in the automatic lockingmode.
7.Try to pull the belt out of the retractorto make sure the retractor is in theautomatic locking mode. You shouldnot be able to pull more belt out. If theretractor did not lock, unbuckle the beltand repeat Steps 5 and 6.
8.Remove remaining slack from the belt.Force the seat down with extra weight,for example, by pressing down orkneeling on the child restraint as youpull up on the shoulder belt to forceslack from the belt. This is necessaryto remove the remaining slack thatexists once you add the extra weightof the child to the child restraint. It alsohelps to achieve the proper snugnessof the child restraint to your vehicle.Sometimes, a slight lean toward thebuckle provides extra help to removeremaining slack from the belt.
9.If the child restraint has a tether strap,attach it now.
10.Before placing the child in the seat,forcibly move the seat forward andback to make sure you have the seatsecurely held in place. To check this,grab the seat at the belt path andattempt to move it side to side andforward and back. There should beno more than 1 in (2.5 cm) ofmovement for proper installation.
We recommend checking with a NHTSACertified Child Passenger SafetyTechnician to make sure you properlyinstalled the child restraint. In Canada,check with Transport Canada for referralto a Child Car Seat Clinic.
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Using Lower Anchors and Tethersfor CHildren (LATCH)
WARNING: Do not attach two childsafety restraints to the same anchor. Ina crash, one anchor may not be strongenough to hold two child safety restraintattachments and may break, causingserious injury or death.
WARNING: Depending on whereyou secure a child restraint, anddepending on the child restraint design,you may block access to certain seatbeltbuckle assemblies and LATCH loweranchors, rendering those featurespotentially unusable. To avoid risk ofinjury, make sure occupants only useseating positions where they are able tobe properly restrained.
The LATCH system has three vehicleanchor points: two lower anchors wherethe seat backrest and seat cushion meet(called the seat bight) and one top tetheranchor behind that seating position.
LATCH compatible child restraints havetwo rigid or webbing mountedattachments that connect to the two loweranchors at the LATCH equipped seatingpositions in your vehicle. This type ofattachment method eliminates the needto use seatbelts to attach the childrestraint. However, you can still use theseatbelt to attach the child restraint. Forforward-facing child restraints, you mustalso attach the top tether strap to theproper top tether anchor if one came withyour child restraint.
Your vehicle has LATCH lower anchors forchild restraint installation at the seatingpositions marked with the child restraintsymbol.
Second Row Bucket Seats and ThirdRow Seats
Second Row Bench Seats and ThirdRow Seats
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The LATCH anchors are at the rear sectionof the rear seat between the cushion andseat backrest below the symbols asshown. Follow the child restraintmanufacturer's instructions to properlyinstall a child restraint with LATCHattachments.
Follow the instructions on attaching childrestraints with tether straps. See UsingTether Straps later in this chapter.
Attach LATCH lower attachments of thechild restraint only to the anchors shown.
Use of Inboard Lower Anchors from theOutboard Seating Positions (CenterSeating Use)
WARNING: The standardizedspacing for LATCH lower anchors is 11 in(280 mm) center to center. Do not useLATCH lower anchors for the centerseating position unless the child restraintmanufacturer's instructions permit andspecify using anchors spaced at least asfar apart as those in this vehicle.
The lower anchors at the center of thesecond row bench seat are spaced 20.5 in(52 cm) apart. The standardized spacingfor LATCH lower anchors is 11 in (28 cm)center to center. You cannot install a childrestraint with rigid LATCH attachments atthe center seating position. You can onlyuse LATCH compatible child restraints withattachments on belt webbing at thisseating position provided that the childrestraint manufacturer’s instructionspermit use with the anchor spacing stated.Do not attach a child restraint to any loweranchor if you have an adjacent childrestraint attached to that anchor.
Each time you use the child restraint, checkthat you properly attached the seat to thelower anchors and tether anchor, ifapplicable. Tug the child restraint from sideto side and forward and back where yousecured it to your vehicle. The childrestraint should move less than 1 in(2.5 cm) if you properly install the seat.
If you do not properly anchor the childrestraint, the risk of injury to a child greatlyincreases in a crash.
Combining Seatbelt and LATCH LowerAnchors for Attaching Child Restraints
When used in combination, you can attacheither the seatbelt or the LATCH loweranchors first, provided you achieve a properinstallation. Attach the tether strapafterward, if included with the childrestraint.
Using Tether Straps
Many forward-facing childrestraints include a tether strapwhich extends from the back ofthe child restraint and hooks to ananchoring point called the top tetheranchor. Tether straps are available as anaccessory for many older child restraints.
Contact the manufacturer of your childrestraint for information about ordering atether strap, or to obtain a longer tetherstrap if the tether strap on your childrestraint does not reach the appropriatetop tether anchor in your vehicle.
Once you install the child restraint usingeither the seatbelt, the lower anchors ofthe LATCH system, or both, you can attachthe top tether strap.
The tether strap anchors in your vehicleare in the following positions (shown fromtop view):
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Second Row Bucket Seats and ThirdRow Seats
Second Row Bench Seats and ThirdRow Seats
Perform the following steps to install achild restraint with tether anchors:
Note:If you install a child restraint with rigidLATCH attachments, do not tighten thetether strap enough to lift the child restraintoff your vehicle seat cushion when the childis seated in it. Keep the tether strap just snugwithout lifting the front of the child restraint.Keeping the child restraint just touching yourvehicle seat gives the best protection in asevere crash.
For second row outermost seatingpositions, route the child restraint tetherstrap over the seat backrest, under thehead restraint and between the headrestraint posts. If needed, remove the headrestraint to improve the fit of the childrestraint or tether strap.
For the second row center seating position,route the child restraint tether strap overthe top of the head restraint. If needed,remove the head restraint to improve thefit of the child restraint or tether strap. SeeHead Restraints (page 144).
For third row seating positions, route thechild restraint tether strap over the seatbackrest, under the head restraint andbetween the head restraint posts. Ifneeded, fold the head restraint down toimprove the fit of the child restraint ortether strap. See Head Restraints (page144).
1.Route the tether strap.
2.Locate the correct anchor for theselected seating position.
3.Clip the tether strap to the anchor asshown. The tether hook may betwisted ½ turn to improve installation.If you clip the tether strap incorrectly,the child restraint may not be retainedproperly in the event of a crash.
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4.Tighten the child restraint tether strapaccording to the manufacturer'sinstructions.
If you do not properly anchor the childrestraint, the risk of injury to a childincreases greatly in a crash.
If your child restraint system has a tetherstrap, and the child restraint manufacturerrecommends its use, we also recommendits use.
Second Row Bucket Seats
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Second Row Bench Seats
Third Row Seats
Note:The cargo tie downs at the rear edgeof the floor are not tether anchors.
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BOOSTER SEATS
WARNING: Do not put the shouldersection of the seatbelt or allow the childto put the shoulder section of theseatbelt under their arm or behind theirback. Failure to follow this instructioncould reduce the effectiveness of theseatbelt and increase the risk of injury ordeath in a crash.
Use a belt-positioning booster seat forchildren who have outgrown or no longerproperly fit in a child safety restraint(generally children who are less than 57 in(1.45 m) tall, are greater than age 4 andless than age 12, and between 40 lb (18 kg)and 80 lb (36 kg) and upward to 100 lb(45 kg) if recommended by your childrestraint manufacturer). Many state andprovincial laws require that children useapproved booster seats until they reachage eight, a height of 57 in (1.45 m) tall, or80 lb (36 kg).
Booster seats should be used until you cananswer YES to ALL of these questionswhen seated without a booster seat:
•Can the child sit all the way backagainst their vehicle seat backrest withknees bent comfortably at the edge ofthe seat cushion?
•Can the child sit without slouching?
•Does the lap belt rest low across thehips?
•Is the shoulder belt centered on theshoulder and chest?
•Can the child stay seated like this forthe whole trip?
Always use booster seats in conjunctionwith your vehicle lap and shoulder belt.
Types of Booster Seats
•Backless booster seats
If your backless booster seat has aremovable shield, remove the shield. If avehicle seating position has a low seatbackrest or no head restraint, a backlessbooster seat may place your child's head(as measured at the tops of the ears)above the top of the seat. In this case,move the backless booster to anotherseating position with a higher seat backrestor head restraint and lap and shoulderbelts, or consider using a high back boosterseat.
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•High back booster seats
If, with a backless booster seat, you cannotfind a seating position that adequatelysupports your child's head, a high backbooster seat would be a better choice.
Children and booster seats vary in size andshape. Choose a booster that keeps thelap belt low and snug across the hips,never up across the stomach, and lets youadjust the shoulder belt to cross the chestand rest snugly near the center of theshoulder. The following drawings comparethe ideal fit (center) to a shoulder beltuncomfortably close to the neck and ashoulder belt that could slip off theshoulder. The drawings also show how thelap belt should be low and snug across thechild's hips.
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If the booster seat slides on the vehicleseat upon which it is being used, placing arubberized mesh sold as shelf or carpetliner under the booster seat may improvethis condition. Do not introduce any itemthicker than this under the booster seat.Check with the booster seatmanufacturer's instructions.
CHILD RESTRAINT
POSITIONING
WARNING: Do not place arearward facing child restraint in front ofan active airbag. Failure to follow thisinstruction could result in personal injuryor death.
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: Always carefully followthe instructions and warnings providedby the manufacturer of any childrestraint to determine if the restraintdevice is appropriate for your child's size,height, weight, or age. Follow the childrestraint manufacturer's instructions andwarnings provided for installation anduse in conjunction with the instructions
and warnings provided by your vehiclemanufacturer. A safety seat that isimproperly installed or utilized, isinappropriate for your child's height, age,or weight or does not properly fit thechild may increase the risk of seriousinjury or death.
WARNING: Do not allow apassenger to hold a child on their lapwhen your vehicle is moving. Failure tofollow this instruction could result inpersonal injury or death in the event of asudden stop or crash.
WARNING: Do not use pillows,books or towels to boost your child'sheight. Failure to follow this instructioncould result in personal injury or death.
WARNING: Properly secure childrestraints or booster seats when they arenot in use. They could become projectilesin a sudden stop or crash. Failure tofollow this instruction could result inpersonal injury or death.
WARNING: Do not put the shouldersection of the seatbelt or allow the childto put the shoulder section of theseatbelt under their arm or behind theirback. Failure to follow this instructioncould reduce the effectiveness of theseatbelt and increase the risk of injury ordeath in a crash.
WARNING: Do not leave childrenor pets unattended in your vehicle.Failure to follow this instruction couldresult in personal injury or death.
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Recommendations for Attaching Child Safety Restraints for Children
Use Any Attachment Method as Indicated Below by X
CombinedWeight ofChild andChildRestraint
RestraintType
SeatbeltOnlySeatbeltand LATCH(LowerAnchorsand TopTetherAnchor)
Seatbeltand TopTetherAnchor
LATCH(LowerAnchorsOnly)
LATCH(LowerAnchorsand TopTetherAnchor)
XXUp to 65 lb(29.5 kg)
Rear facingchildrestraint
XOver 65 lb(29.5 kg)
Rear facingchildrestraint
XXXUp to 65 lb(29.5 kg)
Forwardfacingchildrestraint
XXOver 65 lb(29.5 kg)
Forwardfacingchildrestraint
Note:The child restraint must rest tightlyagainst the vehicle seat upon which it isinstalled. It may be necessary to lift orremove the head restraint. See Seats (page144).
CHILD SAFETY LOCKS
WARNING: You cannot open therear doors from inside if you have put thechild safety locks on.
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