FORD MUSTANG 2001 4.G Manual Online

²Grasp the shoulder
portion and pull
downward until the
entire belt is
extracted.
²Allow the belt to retract. As the belt retracts, you
will hear a clicking sound. This indicates the
safety belt is now in the automatic locking mode.
How to disengage the automatic locking mode
Ford recommends that all safety belt
assemblies and attaching hardware should
be inspected by a qualified technician after any
collision. Safety belt assemblies not in use during a
collision should also be inspected and replaced if
either damage or improper operation is noted.
Disconnect the combination lap/shoulder belt and
allow it to retract completely to disengage the
automatic locking mode and activate the vehicle
sensitive (emergency) locking mode.
After any vehicle collision, the front
passenger outboard seat belt system must
be checked by a qualified technician to verify that
the ªautomatic locking retractorº feature for child
seats is still functioning properly. In addition, all
seat belts should be checked for proper function.
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BELT AND RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY MUST
BE REPLACED if the seat belt assembly
ªautomatic locking retractorº feature or any other
seat belt function is not operating properly when
checked according to the procedures in Workshop
Manual.
Failure to replace the Belt and Retractor
assembly could increase the risk of injury in
collisions.
Safety belt extension assembly
If the safety belt is too short when fully extended,
there is a 20 cm (8 inch) safety belt extension
assembly that can be added (part number 611C22).
This assembly can be obtained from your dealer at
no cost.
Use only extensions manufactured by the same
supplier as the safety belt. Manufacturer
identification is located at the end of the webbing on
the label. Also, use the safety belt extension only if
the safety belt is too short for you when fully
extended. Do not use extensions to change the fit of
the shoulder belt across the torso.
Safety belt warning light and indicator
chime
The seat belt warning light illuminates in the
instrument cluster and a chime sounds to remind
the occupants to fasten their safety belts.
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82

Conditions of operation
If... Then...
The driver's safety belt is not
buckled before the ignition
switch is turned to the ON
position...
The safety belt warning
light illuminates1-2 minutes
and the warning chime
sounds 4-8 seconds.
The driver's safety belt is
buckled while the indicator
light is illuminated and the
warning chime is sounding...The safety belt warning
light and warning chime
turn off.
The driver's safety belt is
buckled before the ignition
switch is turned to the ON
position...The safety belt warning
light will turn on for 3
seconds and then turn off.
The indicator chime will
remain off.
Belt minder
The Belt Minder feature is a supplemental warning
to the safety belt warning function. This feature
provides additional reminders to the driver that the
driver's safety belt is unbuckled by intermittently
sounding a chime and illuminating the safety belt
warning lamp in the instrument cluster.
If... Then...
The driver's safety belt is
not buckled approximately
5 seconds after the safety
belt warning light has
turned off...The Belt Minder feature is
activated - the safety belt
warning light illuminates and
the warning chime sounds for
6 seconds every 30 seconds,
repeating for approximately 5
minutes or until safety belt is
buckled.
The driver's safety belt is
buckled while the safety
belt indicator light is
illuminated and the safety
belt warning chime is
sounding...The Belt Minder feature will
not activate.
The driver's safety belt is
buckled before the ignition
switch is turned to the ON
position...The Belt Minder feature will
not activate.
The purpose of the Belt Minder is to remind
occasional wearers to wear safety belts all of the time.
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83

The following are reasons most often given for not
wearing safety belts: (All statistics based on U.S. data)
Reasons
given...Consider...
ªCrashes are
rare eventsº
36 700 crashes occur every day.The
more we drive, the more we are exposed
to ªrareº events, even for good drivers.1
in 4 of us will be seriously injured in
a crash during our lifetime.
ªI'm not going
farº3of4fatal crashes occur within25
miles of home.
ªBelts are
uncomfortableºFord designs its safety belts to enhance
comfort. If you are uncomfortable - try
different positions for the safety belt
upper anchorage and seatback which
should be as upright as possible; this
can improve comfort.
ªI was in a
hurryºPrime time for an accident.Belt
Minder reminds us to take a few
seconds to buckle up.
ªSeat belts
don't workºSafety belts,when used properly,
reduce risk of deathto front seat
occupants by45% in cars,and by60%
in light trucks.
ªTraffic is
lightºNearly 1 of 2 deaths occur in
single-vehicle crashes,many when no
other vehicles are around.
ªBelts wrinkle
my clothesºPossibly, but a serious crash can do
much more than wrinkle your clothes,
particularly if you are unbelted.
ªThe people
I'm with don't
wear beltsº
Set the example, teen deaths occur 4
times more often in vehicles with TWO
or MORE people. Children and younger
brothers/sisters imitate behavior they
see.
ªI have an air
bagºAir bags offer greater protection when
used with safety belts. Frontal airbags
are not designed to inflate in rear and
side crashes or rollovers.
ªI'd rather be
thrown clearºNot a good idea.Peoplewho are
ejected are 40 times more likely to
DIE.Safety belts help prevent ejection,
WE CAN'T ªPICK OUR CRASHº.
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84

Do not sit on top of a buckled safety belt to
avoid the Belt Minder chime. Sitting on the
safety belt will increase the risk of injury in an
accident. To disable (one-time) or deactivate the
Belt Minder feature please follow the directions
stated below.
One time disable
Anytime the safety belt is buckled and then
unbuckled during an ignition ON cycle, Belt Minder
will be disabled for that ignition cycle only.
Deactivating/activating the belt minder feature
Read steps1-9thoroughly before proceeding
with the deactivation/activation programming
procedure.
The Belt Minder feature can be deactivated/activated
by performing the following procedure:
Before following the procedure, make sure that:
²the parking brake is set
²the gearshift is in P (Park) (automatic
transmission) or the neutral position (manual
transmission)
²the ignition switch is in the OFF position
²all vehicle doors are closed
²the driver's safety belt is unbuckled
²the parklamps/headlamps are in OFF position (If
vehicle is equipped with Autolamps, this will not
affect the procedure.)
To reduce the risk of injury, do not
deactivate/activate the Belt Minder feature
while driving the vehicle.
1. Turn the ignition switch to the RUN (or ON)
position. (DO NOT START THE ENGINE)
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85

2. Wait until the safety belt warning light turns off.
(Approximately 1±2 minutes)
²Steps 3±5 must be completed within 60 seconds
or the procedure will have to be repeated
3. Buckle then unbuckle the safety belt three times,
ending with the safety belt unbuckled. This can be
done before or during Belt Minder warning
activation.
4. Turn on the parklamps/headlamps, turn off the
parklamps/headlamps.
5. Buckle then unbuckle the safety belt three times,
ending with the safety belt unbuckled.
²After step 5 the safety belt warning light will be
turned on for three seconds
6. Within seven seconds of the safety belt warning
light turning off, buckle then unbuckle the safety
belt.
²This will disable Belt Minder if it is currently
enabled, or enable Belt Minder if it is currently
disabled
7. Confirmation of disabling Belt Minder is provided
by the safety belt warning light flashing four times
per second for three seconds.
8. Confirmation of enabling Belt Minder is provided
by:
²The safety belt warning light flashing four times
per second for three seconds
²Followed by three seconds with the safety belt
warning light off
²Once again, the safety belt warning light will flash
four times per second for three seconds.
9. After receiving confirmation, the
deactivation/activation procedure is complete.
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86

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
seat 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 tether
bracket assemblies (if equipped), LATCH child seat
tether anchors and lower anchors (if equipped), and
attaching hardware, should be inspected after a
collision. Ford recommends that all safety belt
assemblies used in vehicles involved in a collision be
replaced. However, if the collision was minor and a
qualified technician 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.
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.
Refer toCleaning and maintaining the safety
beltsin theMaintenacne and Caresection.
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87

AIR BAG SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM
(SRS)
Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and
diagnostic module which records information about
the air bag and sensor systems. In the event of a
collision this module may save information related to
the collision including information about the air bag
system and impact severity. This information will
assist Ford in the servicing of your vehicle and may
help Ford better understand real world collisions
and further improve the safety of future vehicles.
Important supplemental restraint system (SRS)
precautions
The supplemental
restraint system is
designed to work with
the safety belt to help
protect the driver and
right front passenger
from certain upper
body injuries.
Air bags DO NOT
inflate slowly or gently
and the risk of injury
from a deploying air bag is greatest close to the trim
covering the air bag module.
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88

All occupants of the vehicle, including the
driver, should always properly wear their
safety belts, even when an air bag SRS is provided.
Always transport children 12 years old and
under in the back seat and always properly
use appropriate child restraints.
National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) recommends a
minimum distance of at least 25 cm (10 inches)
between an occupant's chest and the driver air bag
module.
Never place your arm over the air bag
module as a deploying air bag can result in
serious arm fractures or other injuries.
Steps you can take to properly position yourself
away from the air bag:
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 air bag
module. Placing objects on or over the air
bag inflation area may cause those objects to be
propelled by the air bag into your face and torso
causing serious injury.
Do not attempt to service, repair, or modify
the Air Bag Supplemental Restraint System
or its fuses. See your Ford or Lincoln Mercury
dealer.
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89

Modifications to the front end of the vehicle,
including frame, bumper, front end body
structure and tow hooks may effect the
performance of the air bag sensors increasing the
risk of injury. Do not modify the front end of the
vehicle.
Children and air bags
For additional
important safety
information, read all
information on safety
restraints in this guide.
Children must always
be properly restrained.
Accident statistics
suggest that children
are safer when
properly restrained in
the rear seating
positions than in the front seating position. Failure
to follow these instructions may increase the risk of
injury in a collision.
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.
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