FORD TAURUS 1996 Owner's Manual

19 [SR06560(ALL)04/95]
Center Occupant Rear Safety Belt (Sedan)
[SR06565(ALL)04/95]
The safety belt in the center rear seating position
has a detachable shoulder belt.
[SR06570(ALL)04/95]
To attach the shoulder belt to the lap belt, pull
the shoulder belt out from the retractor in the
seatback and insert the lap belt connecting pin
into the wide end of the key-slot on the
shoulder belt as shown in Figure 1. Pull the
connecting pin into the narrow end of the
key-slot until you hear a snap and feel it latch.
See Figure 2. Make sure the shoulder belt is
securely fastened to the lap belt by pulling up
on the shoulder belt.
[SR06575(ALL)04/95]
half page art:0001371-B
The reverse side of the lap belt and the detachable
shoulder belt
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20 [SR06580(ALL)05/95]
half page art:0001372-AThe reverse side of the shoulder belt attached to the lap
belt
[SR06585(ALL)12/95]
RWARNING
The rear center lap belt must be tightened
separately from the shoulder strap. The
lap belt must fit snugly, and as low as
possible around the hips. Do not wear
around your waist. For information about
adjusting the belt, see ªLAP BELTSº in
this chapter.
[SR06590(ALL)04/95]
Detach the shoulder belt before folding down
the passenger side rear seat. To detach the
shoulder belt, slide the connecting pin to the
wide end of the key-slot and lift the shoulder
belt off the connecting pin. As the shoulder belt
retracts, guide the belt so that it does not strike
you or the vehicle.
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21
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[SR06601(ALL)05/95]
Lap Belts
[SR06650(ALL)10/95]
The lap belts in the center front seating position
(if equipped) and center rear seat do not adjust
automatically. You must adjust them to fit
snugly and as low as possible around your hips.
Do not wear the lap belt around your waist.
[SR06675(ALL)04/95]
The front center seat belt buckle and tongue are
stowed in a pocket between the seat cushion and
seatback. Remove them from the stowage pocket
before fastening.
*
[SR06700(ALL)06/95]
Pull the belt across your hips andinsert the
tongue into the correct buckleon your seat
until you hear a snap and feel it lock. Make sure
the buckle is securely fastened.
%*
[SR06750(ALL)06/95]
If you need to lengthen the belt, unfasten it and
tip the belt tongue at a right angle to the belt.
Pull the belt tongue over your lap until it
reaches the buckle.
*
[SR06800(ALL)06/95]
If you need to shorten the belt, pull on the loose
end of the webbing until the belt fits snugly.
[SR06850(ALL)08/95]
one third page art:0000029-F
Unfastening the lap belts for the center front and center
rear seating positions
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22
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[SR06900(ALL)08/95]
To unfasten the belt, push the release button on
the end of the buckle. This allows the tongue to
unlatch from the buckle.
*
[SR06925(ALL)07/95]
RWARNING
The lap belts should fit snugly and as low
as possible around the hips, not around
the waist.
%*
[SR07750(ALL)08/95]
Safety Belt Extension Assembly
*
[SR07800(ALL)07/95]
For some people, the safety belt may be too
short even when it is fully extended. You can
add about eight inches (20 cm) to the belt length
with a safety belt extension assembly (part
number 611C22). Safety belt extensions are
available at no cost from your dealer.
[SR07850(ALL)02/95]
This assembly is not for use in the wagon
rear-facing seat.
[SR07900(ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
The use of the safety belt extension in the
wagon rear-facing seat will increase the
risk of personal injury.
*
[SR07924(ALL)08/95]
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 extension
to change the fit of the shoulder belt across the
torso.
*
[SR07925(ALL)08/95]
RWARNING
Failure to follow these instructions will
affect the performance of the safety belts
and increase the risk of personal injury.
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23
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[SR07950(ALL)08/95]
Safety Belt Maintenance
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[SR07970(ALL)09/95]
Check the safety belt systems periodically to
make sure that they work properly and are not
damaged.
%*
[SR07980(ALL)10/95]
All safety belt assemblies, including retractors,
buckles, front seat belt buckle support assemblies
(slide bar) (if equipped), child safety seat tether
bracket assemblies (if equipped), and attaching
hardware, should be inspected after any
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.
%*
[SR08400(ALL)06/95]
Cleaning the Safety Belts
*
[SR08500(ALL)06/95]
Clean the safety belts with any mild soap
solution that is recommended for cleaning
upholstery or carpets. Do not bleach or dye the
belt webbing because this may weaken it.
%
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[SR14300(ALL)06/95]
Air Bag Supplemental Restraint
System (SRS)
*
[SR14650(ALL)05/95]
The driver and right front passenger air bags are
Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS), provided
at these seating positions in addition to the
lap/shoulder belt, and are designed to
supplement the protection provided to properly
belted occupants in moderate to severe frontal
collisions. The supplemental air bag system does
not provide restraint to the lower body.
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24 %
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[SR14800(ALL)05/95]
The Importance of Wearing Safety Belts
*
[SR14900(ALL)06/95]
RWARNING
Safety belts must be worn by all vehicle
occupants to be properly restrained and
help reduce the risk of injury in a
collision.
*
[SR14950(ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
All occupants of the vehicle, including the
driver, should always wear their safety
belts, even when an air bag Supplemental
Restraint System is provided.
*
[SR15000(ALL)01/95]
There are four very important reasons to use
safety belts even with an air bag system. Use
your safety belts to:
*
[SR15100(ALL)01/95]
q
help keep you in the proper position (away
from the air bag) when it inflates
*
[SR15200(ALL)01/95]
q
reduce the risk of harm in rollover, side or
rear impact collisions, because an air bag is
not designed to inflate in such situations
*
[SR15300(ALL)01/95]
q
reduce the risk of harm in frontal collisions
that are not severe enough to activate the
supplemental air bag
*
[SR15400(ALL)01/95]
q
reduce the risk of being thrown from your
vehicle
%*
[SR15500(ALL)01/95]
The Importance of Being Properly Seated
*
[SR15600(ALL)05/95]
In a collision, the air bag must inflate extremely
fast to help provide additional protection for
you. In order to do this, the air bag must inflate
with considerable force. If you are not seated in
a normal riding position with your back against
the seatback, the air bag may not protect you
properly and could possibly hurt you as it
inflates.
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25
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[SR16000(ALL)08/95]
RWARNING
If a passenger is not properly seated and
restrained, an inflating air bag could cause
serious injury.
*
[SR16050(ALL)07/95]
Your vehicle is equipped with a right front
passenger air bag. Air bags deploy with great
force, faster than the blink of an eye. Front
passengers, especially children and small adults,
must never sit on the front edge of the seat,
stand near the glove compartment of the
instrument panel, or lean over near the air bag
cover when the vehicle is moving. All occupants
should sit with their backs against the seatback,
move the seat to the most rearward position if
possible and use the safety belts. Children
weighing less than 40 lbs. (18 kg) always should
use child or infant seats.
*
[SR16100(ALL)09/95]
RWARNING
Rear-facing infant seats should never be
placed in the front seat.
*
[SR16200(ALL)07/95]
In rear-facing infant seats, the infant's head is
closer to the air bag. The force of the rapidly
inflating air bag could push the top of the
rear-facing seat against the vehicle seatback or
center armrests (if so equipped), or center
console (if so equipped). REAR-FACING
INFANT CARRIERS MUST ALWAYS BE
SECURED IN THE REAR SEAT, and other child
safety seats and infant seats should be secured in
the rear seat whenever possible.
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26 %
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[SR16250(ALL)07/95]
RWARNING
When using forward-facing child seats
move the passenger seat as far back from
the instrument panel as possible. NEVER
SECURE REAR-FACING INFANT SEATS
IN THE FRONT SEAT.
*
[SR16255(ALL)11/95]
The force of the rapidly inflating passenger air
bag could push the top of the rear-facing seat
against the vehicle seatback, armrests or console.
Rear-facing infant seats must always be secured
in the rear seat.
*
[SR16300(ALL)07/95]
RWARNING
Do not place objects or mount equipment
on or near the air bag cover on the
steering wheel or in front seat areas that
may come in contact with a deploying air
bag. Failure to follow this instruction may
increase the risk of personal injury in the
event of a collision.
*
[SR16350(ALL)07/95]
For further information about the proper
mounting of equipment in the front seat of this
vehicle, please refer to Ford's brochure entitled
Some Important Information About Air Bag
Supplemental Restraint Systemwhich can be
obtained by calling Helm Inc. at 1-800-782-4356.
Ask for brochure FPS-8602.
*
[SR16400(ALL)08/95]
For additional important safety information on
the proper use of seat belts, child seats, and
infant seats, please read the other sections of this
chapter of the Owner Guide, especially sections
entitledSafety Belts for ChildrenandSafety Seats
for Children.
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27 %
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[SR16500(ALL)01/95]
How the Air Bag Supplemental Restraint
System Operates
*
[SR16600(ALL)06/95]
The Air Bag Supplemental Restraint System
consists of the driver and passenger air bags,
impact sensors, a system diagnostic module, a
readiness light and tone, and the electrical
wiring which connects the components.
*
[SR16750(ALL)06/95]
The driver air bag is in the center of the steering
wheel. The front passenger seat air bag is
located in the center of the instrument panel
ledge above the glove compartment. Both air
bags are designed to stay out of sight until they
are activated.
[SR16775(ALL)11/94]
half page art:0001373-A
The location of air bags and warning labels
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28
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[SR17400(ALL)07/95]
If a collision occurs, the sensors sense the
severity of the impact and activate the air bags if
necessary. The air bag system is designed to
deploy in frontal and front-angled collisions
more severe than hitting a parked vehicle (of
similar size and weight) head-on at about
28 mph (45 km/h). Because the system senses
the crash severity rather than vehicle speed,
some frontal collisions at speeds above 28 mph
(45 km/h) will not inflate the air bag.
[SR17500(ALL)12/95]
When the sensors activate the system, the air
bags inflate rapidly, filling with non-toxic gas
mixture in a fraction of a second. Immediately
after inflation, the air bags deflate by releasing
the gas mixture through vent holes. The whole
process takes place in a matter of seconds.
*
[SR17580(ALL)07/95]
RWARNING
Air bag system components get hot after
inflation. Do not touch them after
inflation.
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