warning Mercury Villager 1997 s Owner's Guide

124
[SS00114(ALL)01/96]
Adjusting the Front Seats Manually
[SS00116(ALL)01/96]
If you have manually adjustable front seats, you can move your
seat to a new position by lifting up on the seat adjustment lever
and sliding the seat to the position of your choice. The lever is
underneath the front of your seat.
[SS00118(ALL)01/96]
10-1/2 pica
art:0040119-B
Seat adjustment lever location
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[SS00120(ALL)05/96]
RWARNING
Never adjust the driver's seat or seatback when the
vehicle is moving.
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[SS00122(ALL)05/96]
RWARNING
Cargo should always be secured to prevent it from
shifting and causing damage to the vehicle or harm to
passengers.
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Seating and Safety Restraints
125
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Reclining Seats
[SS00126(ALL)01/96]
You can tilt back the seats in your vehicle.
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[SS00128(ALL)02/96]
RWARNING
Always drive and ride with your seatback upright and
the lap belt snug and low across the hips.
[SS00130(ALL)01/96]
To recline the seatbacks:
[SS00132(ALL)01/96]1.
Lift up the release lever and hold it up while you lean
against the back of the seat.
[SS00134(ALL)05/96]2.
When the seatback is tilted to the position you choose,
release the lever to lock the seatback in place.
[SS00136(ALL)01/96]3.
To return the seatback to its upright position, lift the lever
and lean forward.
[SS00138(ALL)01/96]
10-1/2 pica
art:0040104-B
Seatback release lever location
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Rear Seat Cupholders (available on some models)
[SS00192(ALL)01/96]
Your vehicle may also have rear seat cupholders built into the
side panels.
[SS00194(ALL)01/96]
RWARNING
Objects stored on the ledges below the rear side
windows can become dangerous projectiles during a
sudden stop or collision. Put small objects only in the
storage compartments.
[SS00196(ALL)01/96]
Third Row Seat Storage Compartment (If equipped)
[SS00198(ALL)01/96]
Your vehicle may come equipped with a folding
cupholder/storage tray/storage compartment built into the
passenger's side of the third row seat. Find the indented ledge
on the right of the cupholder and pull it up to reveal the
storage compartment.
[SS00200(ALL)01/96]
Power Point Electrical Outlet (If equipped)
[SS00202(ALL)01/96]
Your vehicle may be equipped with a 12 volt power point
outlet located just below the rear seat audio controls. The power
point can be used in place of the cigarette lighter for optional
electrical accessories.
[SS00204(ALL)05/96]
NOTE: Do not plug the cigarette lighter into this power point
electrical outlet. Use the cigarette lighter.
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Seating and Safety Restraints
131
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Important Safety Belt Information
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[SS00700(ALL)05/96]
The use of safety belts helps to restrain you and your
passengers in case of a collision. In most states and in Canada,
the law requires their use.
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[SS00800(ALL)02/96]
Safety belts provide best restraint when:
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[SS00900(ALL)02/96]
n
the seatback is upright
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[SS01000(ALL)02/96]
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the occupant is sitting upright (not slouched)
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[SS01100(ALL)02/96]
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the lap belt is snug and low on the hips
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[SS01200(ALL)02/96]
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the shoulder belt is snug against the chest
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[SS01300(ALL)02/96]
n
the knees are straight forward
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[SS01400(ALL)02/96]
To help you remember to fasten your safety belt, a warning
light may come on and a chime may sound. SeeSafety Belt
Warning Light and Chimein theInstrumentationchapter.
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[SS01900(ALL)02/96]
See the following sections in this chapter for directions on how
to properly use these safety belts. Also seeSafety Restraints for
Childrenin this chapter for special instructions about using
safety belts for children.
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132
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[SS02000(ALL)02/96]
RWARNING
Always drive and ride with your seatback upright and
the lap belt snug and low across the hips.
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[SS02050(ALL)05/96]
RWARNING
Each seating position in your vehicle has a specific safety
belt assembly which is made up of one buckle and one
tongue that are designed to be used as a pair. 1) Use the
shoulder belt on the outside shoulder only. Never wear
the shoulder belt under the arm. 2) Never swing it
around your neck over the inside shoulder. 3) Never use
a single belt for more than one person.
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[SS02100(ALL)01/96]
RWARNING
Never drive or ride with a twisted or jammed safety belt.
If you cannot untwist or unjam the safety belt, see the
nearest qualified technician immediately.
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[SS02200(ALL)05/96]
RWARNING
Children should always ride with the seatback in the
fully upright position.
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[SS02700(ALL)02/96]
RWARNING
Lock the doors of your vehicle before driving to lessen
the risk of the door coming open in a collision.
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138
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[SS11150(ALL)02/96]
Automatic locking mode
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[SS11160(ALL)01/96]
In this operating mode, the shoulder belt retractor will be
automatically locked and will remain locked when the
combination lap/shoulder safety belt is buckled, and does not
allow the occupant freedom of movement. This mode provides
the following:
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[SS11163(ALL)01/96]
n
A tight lap/shoulder belt on the occupant.
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[SS11165(ALL)01/96]
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Child safety seat installation.
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[SS11180(ALL)05/96]
RWARNING
Rear-facing child seats or infant carriers should never be
placed in the front seats.
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[SS11190(ALL)01/96]
This modemust be usedwhen installing a child safety seat on
the front passenger seat and rear outboard seats where dual
locking retractors are provided.
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[SS11200(ALL)01/96]
To switch the retractor from the emergency locking mode to the
automatic locking mode, perform the following steps:
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[SS11210(ALL)02/96]1.
Buckle the lap/shoulder combination belt.
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[SS11220(ALL)01/96]2.
Grasp the shoulder portion of the belt and pull downward
until all of the belt is extracted and, when allowed to retract,
a clicking sound is heard. At this time, the belt retractor is in
the automatic locking mode (child restraint mode).
*
[SS11230(ALL)02/96]3.
A clicking sound will continue to be heard as the belt is
allowed to retract. This indicates that the retractor is in the
automatic locking mode.
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140
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[SS11290(ALL)05/96]
RWARNING
Position the shoulder belt height adjuster so that the belt
rests across the middle of your shoulder. Be sure the
shoulder belt is properly positioned on your shoulder
each time you use the belt. If the shoulder belt is off
your shoulder, on your upper arm or neck, there is a
greater risk of severe injury in a collision.
[SS11295(ALL)01/96]
Lap Belt Without a Retractor (for the three-passenger
bench seat)
[SS11300(ALL)01/96]
The center seat of the three-passenger bench seat has a lap belt
without a retractor. To make the belt longer, tip the tongue at a
right angle to the belt and pull the belt over your lap until the
tongue reaches the buckle.
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[SS11700(ALL)01/96]
To fasten the belt, pull the belt across your hips and insert the
tongue into the correct buckle on your seat until you hear a
snap and feel it lock. Make sure the buckle is securely fastened.
[SS11800(ALL)05/96]
Pull the loose end of the webbing and adjust the belt so that it
fits snugly and as low as possible around the hips:
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[SS11900(ALL)01/96]
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If you need to lengthen the belt, unfasten it and repeat the
procedure above.
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[SS12000(ALL)01/96]
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If you need to shorten the belt, pull on the loose end of the
webbing.
[SS12100(ALL)01/96]
To store the belt:
[SS12200(ALL)01/96]
Fasten the center tongue and buckle when not in use. This will
prevent the belt from falling between the seat and the seatback.
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145
[SS12265(ALL)01/96]
13-1/2 pica
art:0040038-C
Exiting a vehicle with the auxiliary safety restraint system
[SS12270(ALL)01/96]
Labels are provided on the back of the second-row bench seat
to remind passengers to use care when exiting.
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[SS12900(ALL)02/96]
Safety Belt Extension Assembly
[SS13000(ALL)01/96]
A 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. Safety belt extensions are
available at no cost (part number 611C22) from your dealer.
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[SS13105(ALL)02/96]
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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Seating and Safety Restraints
147
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[SS13230(ALL)05/96]
RWARNING
All occupants of the vehicle, including the driver, should
always wear their safety belts, failure to do so may
increase the risk of personal injury in the event of a
collision.
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[SS13240(ALL)05/96]
RWARNING
Do not place objects or mount equipment on or near the
steering wheel or in front of the passenger dashboard
area that may come into contact with an inflating air bag.
Failure to follow these instructions may increase the risk
of personal injury in the event of a collision.
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[SS13250(ALL)05/96]
RWARNING
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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[SS13260(ALL)05/96]
RWARNING
If you are close to an inflating air bag, it could seriously
injure you. Sit against the seatback and position your
seat such that it is as far back from the steering wheel as
possible but still allows you to properly control the
vehicle.
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148
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[SS13270(ALL)05/96]
Children and Air Bags
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[SS13280(ALL)05/96]
NOTE: For additional important safety information on the
proper use of seat belts, child seats, and infant seats,
please read the entire Safety Restraints chapter in this
owner guide.
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[SS13290(ALL)05/96]
RWARNING
Children should always wear their safety belts. Failure to
follow these instructions may increase the risk of
personal injury in the event of a collision.
%*
[SS13310(ALL)05/96]
How Does the Air Bag Supplemental Restraint System
Work?
[SS13320(ALL)05/96]
The Air Bag Supplemental Restraint System is designed to
activate when the vehicle is in a collision similar to hitting a
fixed barrier head on at 8-14 mph. The fact that the air bags did
not inflate in a collision does not mean that something is wrong
with the system. Rather, it means the forces were not of the
type sufficient to cause activation.
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[SS13330(ALL)05/96]
If the vehicle is in a moderate or severe frontal collision, the
system is activated and the air bags inflate rapidly. After the air
bag inflates, it will quickly deflate. After the air bag
deployment, you may notice a smoke-like, powdery residue or
smell the burnt propellant. This is normal. The residue may
consist of cornstarch or talcum powder (which is used to
lubricate the air bag) or sodium compounds, such as sodium
carbonates (e.g. baking soda) that result from the combustion
process that inflates the air bag. Small amounts of sodium
hydroxide may be present which may irritate the skin and eyes,
but none of the residue is toxic. The Air Bag Supplemental
Restraint System will reduce, but not eliminate all injuries in an
accident.
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