ECU FORD WINDSTAR 2000 2.G User Guide

Pull control up to flip seatback to
forward flat position.
Accessing the 3rd row seat
If your vehicle has an adjustable 2nd row bench seat, it can be adjusted
to allow easier access to the 3rd row seat by sliding the seat forward,
folding the seatback to the forward flat position, or using the recline
control to adjust seatback forward.
If your vehicle has 2nd row bucket seats, it has an easy entry seat
feature which allows ready access to the 3rd row seat.
To access the 3rd row seat with 2nd
row buckets:
1. Pull the seatback recline control
up and allow seatback to flip
forward.
2. Push seatback toward front of
vehicle. This releases the seat track
automatically and the seat will move
forward.
3. After entering the 3rd row seat,
pull back the seatback until it latches. This will latch and lock the
seatback and the seat track. The seatback and seat will not return to
their original position.
Do not attempt to use this feature when the seatback is folded in the
forward flat position. The seatback must be in an upright position, as
shown, for the system to work properly.
Check to see that the seat and seatback is latched securely in
position. Keep floor area free of objects that would prevent
proper seat engagement. Never attempt to adjust the seat while the
vehicle is in motion.
Seating and safety restraints
124

To install the seat:
1. Remove (if necessary) tub covers from the floor to expose the seat
mounts.
²To remove the tub cover(s), use a
screwdriver to pry the tub cover
(where indicated) upward and
out of the floor tub.
²To install the tub cover(s), first
insert the tabs located on the
opposite side of the pry location
into the slots of the floor tub then
press down on the other side of
the cover until it snaps into place
securely. (Additional tub covers
can be purchased as an accessory
from your dealer.)
2. Position the seat in the vehicle.
The second row bench seat may be indexed to be positioned to either
the far left or right hand side of the vehicle.(4-door vehicles only).
The left side of the figure is the front of the vehicle.
²Indexed to far left
Seating and safety restraints
127

Always transport children 12 years old and under in the back
seat and always properly use appropriate child restraints.
Combination lap and shoulder belts
1. Insert the belt tongue into the
proper buckle (the buckle closest to
the direction the tongue is coming
from) until you hear a snap and feel
it latch. Make sure the tongue is
securely fastened in the buckle.
2. To unfasten, push the release
button and remove the tongue from
the buckle.
The front and rear outboard safety restraints in the vehicle are
combination lap and shoulder belts. The front and rear seat passenger
outboard safety belts have locking cinch tongues described below:
Safety belts with locking cinch tongue
The locking cinch tongue will slide up and down the belt webbing when
the belt is in the stowed position or while putting seat belts on. When
the locking cinch tongue of the lap/shoulder combination seat belt is
latched into the buckle, the cinch tongue will allow the lap portion to
become shorter, but locks the webbing in place to restrict it from
becoming longer.
Seating and safety restraints
131

Before you can reach and latch a combination lap and shoulder belt
having a cinch tongue into the buckle, you may have to lengthen the lap
belt portion of it.
1. To lengthen the lap belt, pull
some webbing out of the shoulder
belt retractor.
2. While holding the webbing below
the tongue, grasp the tip (metal
portion) of the tongue so that it is
parallel to the webbing and slide the
tongue upward.
3. Provide enough lap belt length so that the tongue can reach the
buckle.
If you grasp the tongue by the tongue cover to lengthen the belt, the
tongue cover will grab the webbing, making it difficult to slide.
How to fasten the cinch tongue
1. Pull the combination lap and shoulder belt from the retractor so that
the shoulder belt portion of the safety belt crosses your shoulder and
chest.
2. Be sure the belt is not twisted. If the belt is twisted, remove the twist.
3. Insert the belt tongue into the proper buckle for your seating position
until you hear a snap and feel it latch.
4. Make sure the tongue is securely fastened to the buckle by pulling on
the tongue.
The lap belts should fit snugly and as low as possible around the
hips, not around the waist.
Front and rear seat occupants, including pregnant women,
should wear safety belts for optimum protection in an accident.
Seating and safety restraints
132

When installing a child safety seat:
²Review and follow the information
presented in theAir Bag
Supplemental Restraint System
section in this chapter.
²Use the correct safety belt buckle
for that seating position.
²Insert the belt tongue into the
proper buckle until you hear a
snap and feel it latch. Make sure
the tongue is securely fastened in
the buckle.
²Keep the buckle release button pointing up and away from the safety
seat, with the tongue between the child seat and the release button,
to prevent accidental unbuckling.
²Place seat back in upright position.
Ford recommends the use of a child safety seat having a top tether
strap. Install the child safety seat in a seating position which is capable
of providing a tether anchorage. For more information on top tether
straps, refer toAttaching safety seats with tether straps.
Carefully follow all of the manufacturer's instructions included
with the safety seat you put in your vehicle. If you do not install
and use the safety seat properly, the child may be injured in a sudden
stop or collision.
Installing child safety seats in cinch tongue combination lap and
shoulder belt seating positions
The belt webbing below the tongue is the lap portion of the combination
lap/shoulder belt, and the belt webbing above the tongue is the shoulder
belt portion of the combination lap/shoulder belt.
Seating and safety restraints
150

4. While holding the shoulder and
lap portions together, route the
tongue and webbing through the
child seat according to the child
seat manufacturer's instructions. Be
sure that the belt webbing is not
twisted.
5. Insert the belt tongue into the
proper buckle for that seating
positions until you hear a snap and
feel it latch. Make sure the tongue is
securely latched to the buckle by
pulling on the tongue.
6. While pushing down with your
knee on the child seat pull up on
the shoulder belt portion to tighten
the lap belt portion of the
combination lap and shoulder belt.
Seating and safety restraints
152

7. Allow the safety belt to retract
and remove any slack in the belt to
securely tighten the child safety seat
in the vehicle.
8. Before placing the child into the child seat, forcibly tilt the child seat
forward and back to make sure that the seat is held securely in place.
9. Check from time to time to be sure that there is no slack in the
lap/shoulder belt. The shoulder belt must be snug to keep the lap belt
tight during a collision.
Installing child safety seats in the lap belt seating positions
1. Lengthen the lap belt. To lengthen the belt, hold the tongue so that its
bottom is perpendicular to the direction of webbing while sliding the
tongue up the webbing.
2. Place the child safety seat in the center seating position.
3. Route the tongue and webbing through the child seat according to the
child seat manufacturer's instructions.
4. Insert the belt tongue into the proper buckle for the center seating
position until you hear a snap and feel it latch. Make sure the tongue is
securely fastened to the buckle by pulling on tongue.
5. Push down on the child seat while pulling on the loose end of the lap
belt webbing to tighten the belt.
6. Before placing the child into the child seat, forcibly tilt the child seat
from side to side and in forward direction to make sure that the seat is
held securely in place. If the child seat moves excessively, repeat steps 5
through 6, or properly install the child seat in a different position.
Some manufacturers make safety seats that include a tether strap that
goes over the back of the vehicle seat and attaches to an anchoring
point. Other manufacturers offer the tether strap as an accessory.
Contact the manufacturer of your child safety seat for information about
ordering a tether strap.
Seating and safety restraints
153

Tether anchorage hardware
Children should be placed in the rear in an appropriate child
safety seat that is properly secured to the vehicle.
Rear-facing infant seats must always be secured in the rear seat.
In vehicles without a rear seat, a rear-facing infant seat should
be secured in the front seat only if your vehicle does not have a
passenger side air bag or your vehicle is equipped with a passenger air
bag deactivate switch and the switch is turned to ªOFF.º
When using forward-facing child safety seats in vehicles with
only two seating positions so the forward-facing child safety seat
cannot be placed in the rear of the vehicle, move the passenger seat as
far back from the instrument panel as possible.
Tether strap anchorage locations
have been provided in your vehicle.
The left side of the figure is the
front of the vehicle.
The tether can be attached directly to the rear of all passenger seating
except the front passenger seat equipped with power adjustment. The
front passenger seat with manual adjustment does have a tether anchor.
Seating and safety restraints
154

4. Rotate the tether strap.
5. Clip the tether strap to the seat
frame.
If the tether strap is clipped
incorrectly (as shown) the child
safety seat may not be retained
properly in the event of a
collision.
6. Rotate the tether strap clip.
7. Refer to the instructions in this
section underInstalling child
safety seats in cinch tongue
combination lap and shoulder belt
seating positionsto secure the
child safety seat.
Seating and safety restraints
156

The parking brake is not recommended to stop a moving vehicle.
However, if the normal brakes fail, the parking brake can be used to stop
your vehicle in an emergency. Since the parking brake applies only the
rear brakes, the vehicle's stopping distance will increase greatly and the
handling of your vehicle will be adversely affected.
Always set the parking brake fully and make sure that the
gearshift is securely latched in P (Park) (automatic transaxle).
Push the button on the end of the
parking brake and push the handle
down as far as possible to release
the brake. Driving with the parking
brake on will cause the brakes to
wear out quickly and reduce fuel
economy.
TRACTION CONTROLY(IF EQUIPPED)
Traction Controlyhelps the driver maintain the stability and steerability
of the vehicle. It is especially useful on slippery and/or hilly road
surfaces. The system operates by detecting and controlling wheel spin.
The system borrows many of the electronic and mechanical elements
already present in the anti-lock braking system (ABS).
Wheel-speed sensors allow excess front wheel spin to be detected by the
Traction Controlyportion of the ABS computer. The system limits front
wheel spin by automatically applying and releasing the front brakes in
conjunction with engine torque reductions. Engine torque reduction is
realized via the fully electronic spark and fuel injection systems. This
process is very sensitive to driving conditions and very fast acting. The
front wheels ªsearchº for optimum traction several times a second and
adjustments are made accordingly.
The Traction Controlysystem will assist you in making better use of
available traction on slippery surfaces. The system is a driver aid which
makes your vehicle easier to handle primarily on snow and ice covered
roads.
During Traction Controlyoperation, TRACTION CONTROL OK is
displayed on the message center (if equipped). You may hear an electric
Driving
167