child restraint FORD FLEX 2012 1.G Owner's Guide

Booster seats position a child so that vehicle lap/shoulder safety belts fit
better. They lift the child up so that the lap belt rests low across the hips
and the knees bend comfortably at the edge of the cushion, while
minimizing slouching. Booster seats may also make the shoulder belt fit
better and more comfortably. Try to keep the belt near the middle of the
shoulder and across the center of the chest. Moving the child closer (a
few centimeters or inches) to the center of the vehicle, but remaining in
the same seating position, may help provide a good shoulder belt fit.
When children should use booster seats
Children need to use booster seats from the time they outgrow the
toddler seat until they are big enough for the vehicle seat and
lap/shoulder belt to fit properly. Generally this is when they reach a
height of at least 4 feet 9 inches (1.45 meters) tall (around age eight to
age twelve and between 40 lb (18 kg) and 80 lb (36 kg) or upward to
100 lb (45 kg) if recommended by your child restraint manufacturer).
Many state and provincial laws require that children use approved
booster seats until they reach age eight, a height of 4 feet 9 inches
(1.45 meters) tall, or 80 lb (36 kg).
Booster seats should be used until you can answer YES to ALL of these
questions when seated without a booster seat:
•Can the child sit all the way back
against the vehicle seat back with
knees bent comfortably at the
edge of the seat cushion?
•Can the child sit without
slouching?
•Does the lap belt rest low across the hips?
•Is the shoulder belt centered on the shoulder and chest?
•Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip?
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Types of booster seats
There are generally two types of belt-positioning booster seats: backless
and high back. Always use booster seats in conjunction with the vehicle
lap/shoulder belt.
•Backless booster seats
If your backless booster seat has a
removable shield, remove the
shield. If a vehicle seating position
has a low seat back or no head
restraint, a backless booster 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 another seating position with a
higher seat back or head restraint and lap/shoulder belts, or consider
using a high back booster seat.
•High back booster seats
If, with a backless booster seat,
you cannot find a seating position
that adequately supports your
child’s head, a high back booster
seat would be a better choice.
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Children and booster seats vary in size and shape. Choose a booster that
keeps the lap belt low and snug across the hips, never up across the
stomach, and lets you adjust the shoulder belt to cross the chest and
rest snugly near the center of the shoulder. The drawings below compare
the ideal fit (center) to a shoulder belt uncomfortably close to the neck
and a shoulder belt that could slip off the shoulder. The drawings below
also show how the lap belt should be low and snug across the child’s
hips.
If the booster seat slides on the vehicle seat, placing a rubberized mesh
sold as shelf or carpet liner under the booster seat may improve this
condition. Do not introduce any item thicker than this under the booster
seat. Check with the booster seat manufacturer’s instructions.
The importance of shoulder belts
Using a booster without a shoulder belt increases the risk of a child’s
head hitting a hard surface in a collision. For this reason, you should
never use a booster seat with a lap belt only. It is generally best to use a
booster seat with lap/shoulder belts in the back seat.
Move a child to a different seating location if the shoulder belt does not
stay positioned on the shoulder during use.
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Follow all instructions provided by the manufacturer of the booster seat.
WARNING:Never place, or allow a child to place, the shoulder
belt under a child’s arm or behind the back because it reduces
the protection for the upper part of the body and may increase the risk
of injury or death in a collision.
Child restraint and safety belt maintenance
Inspect the vehicle safety belts and child safety seat systems periodically
to make sure they work properly and are not damaged. Inspect the
vehicle and child seat safety belts to make sure there are no nicks, tears
or cuts. Replace if necessary. All vehicle 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. Refer to the child restraint manufacturer’s
instructions for additional inspection and maintenance information
specific to the child restraint. 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 assemblies not in
use during a collision should also be inspected and replaced if either
damage or improper operation is noted.
For proper care of soiled safety belts, refer toInteriorin theCleaning
chapter.
WARNING:Failure to inspect and if necessary replace the
safety belt assembly or child restraint system under the above
conditions could result in severe personal injuries in the event of a
collision.
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NOTICE TO CROSSOVER VEHICLE OWNERS
Crossover vehicles handle differently
than passenger cars in the various
driving conditions that are
encountered on streets, highways
and off-road. Crossover vehicles are
not designed for cornering at speeds
as high as passenger cars any more
than low-slung sports cars are
designed to perform satisfactorily under off-road conditions.
WARNING:Crossover vehicles have a significantly higher
rollover rate than other types of vehicles. To reduce the risk of
serious injury or death from a rollover or other crash you must:
•Avoid sharp turns and abrupt maneuvers;
•Drive at safe speeds for the conditions;
•Keep tires properly inflated;
•Never overload or improperly load your vehicle; and
•Make sure every passenger is properly restrained.
WARNING:In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is
significantly more likely to die than a person wearing a seat belt.
All occupants must wear seat belts and children/infants must use
appropriate restraints to minimize the risk of injury or ejection.
Study your owner’s guide for specific information about equipment
features, instructions for safe driving and additional precautions to
reduce the risk of an accident or serious injury.
VEHICLE CHARACTERISTICS
All-wheel drive (AWD) system (if equipped)
Your vehicle may be equipped with a full-time all-wheel drive (AWD)
system. With the AWD option, power will be delivered to the front
wheels and distributed to the rear wheels as needed. This increases
traction which may enable you to safely drive over terrain and road
conditions that a conventional two-wheel drive vehicle cannot. The AWD
system is active all the time and requires no input from the operator.
Note:Your AWD vehicle is not intended for off-road use. The AWD
feature gives your vehicle some limited off-road capabilities in which
Tires, Wheels and Loading
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A
Accessory delay ........................101
Active Park Assist .....................273
AdvanceTrac ..............................255
Airbag supplemental restraint
system ........................179, 188, 190
and child safety seats ............181
description ..............179, 188, 190
disposal ....................................193
driver airbag ............181, 189, 191
indicator light .................187, 193
operation .................181, 189, 191
passenger airbag .....181, 189, 191
side airbag ...............................188
Air cleaner filter ...............361, 365
Air conditioning ..............67, 70, 73
manual heating and air
conditioning system .................67
All Wheel Drive (AWD),
driving off road .........................278
Ambient mood/lighting ...............85
AM/FM .........................................28
Antifreeze
(see Engine coolant) ................336
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ..............................252
Anti-theft system ..............136, 140
arming the system ..................140
disarming a triggered
system .....................................141
Audio system (see Radio) .........28
Automatic transaxle
fluid, refill capacities ..............366
fluid, specification ..................366Automatic transmission
driving an automatic
overdrive .........................263, 266
fluid, adding ............................356
fluid, checking ........................356
Selectshift (SST) ....................268
Auxiliary input jack (Line in) ....37
B
Battery .......................................334
acid, treating emergencies .....334
jumping a disabled battery ....302
maintenance-free ....................334
replacement, specifications ...365
servicing ..................................334
Belt-Minder.............................174
Booster seats .............................208
Brakes ........................................252
anti-lock ...................................252
anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light ...........................253
fluid, checking and adding ....356
fluid, refill capacities ..............366
fluid, specifications .................366
lubricant specifications ..........366
parking ....................................254
shift interlock ..........................262
Bulbs ............................................85
C
Capacities for refilling fluids ....366
Cargo net ...................................117
CD ................................................28
Cell phone use ..............................8
Changing a tire .........................294
Child safety seats ......................198
in front seat ............................198
Index
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P
Parental MyKey
programming .............................120
Park Assist ................................273
Parking brake ............................254
Parts
(see Motorcraftparts) ...........365
Passenger Occupant
Classification Sensor .................166
Power adjustable foot pedals ...103
Power distribution box
(see Fuses) ...............................291
Power door locks ......................125
Power liftgate ............................113
Power mirrors ...........................102
Power point .................................97
Power steering ..........................260
fluid, checking and adding ....355
fluid, refill capacity ................366
fluid, specifications .................366
Power Windows .........................100
R
Radio ............................................28
6-CD in dash .............................28
Rear heated seats .....................159
Rear seat entertainment
system ..........................................46
Rear-view camera system .........271
Recommendations for
attaching safety restraints for
children ......................................196
Refrigerator .................................96
Relays ........................................287Remote entry system .......128, 130
illuminated entry ....................133
locking/unlocking doors .........130
opening the trunk ...................131
panic alarm .............................130
replacement/additional
transmitters .............................133
replacing the batteries ...........132
Reverse sensing system ...........269
Roadside assistance ..................285
Roof rack ...................................118
S
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ..........168–170, 172–173
Safety Canopy ...........................190
Safety defects, reporting ..........315
Safety restraints 168–170, 172–173
Belt-Minder...........................174
extension assembly ................172
for adults .................169–170, 172
for children .............................193
Occupant Classification
Sensor ......................................166
warning light and
chime ...............................173–174
Safety restraints - LATCH
anchors ......................................202
Safety seats for children ..........198
Safety Compliance
Certification Label ....................371
Satellite Radio .............................28
Satellite Radio Information ........42
Scheduled Maintenance Guide
Normal Scheduled
Maintenance and Log .............387
Index
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