AUX Mercury Villager 1998 Owner's Manuals

NOTE: The second row two-passenger bench seat has a unique
safety restraint system. If your vehicle has the
two-passenger bench seat it is very important that the
unique safety belt system is used properly. Please read
Auxiliary safety restraint system for the second row
bench seatin this section, which explains the unique
safety belt system. Be sure that you understand it before
anyone rides in the two-passenger bench seat.
Passenger Outboard Lap/Shoulder Belts
All seats except the driver's seat and the third seat middle
position are equipped with a dual locking mode retractor on the
shoulder belt portion of the lap/shoulder safety belt. (The
driver seat has only a vehicle sensitive locking mode and the
third seat middle position has a lap belt without a retractor Ð
description follows.)
Dual Locking Mode Retractors Operate in Two Ways:
Vehicle sensitive (emergency) locking mode
In this operating mode, the shoulder belt retractor will allow the
occupant freedom of movement, locking tight only on hard
braking, hard cornering or impacts of approximately 5 mph
(8 km/h) or more.
Seating and Safety Restraints
135

Auxiliary Safety Restraint System for the Second Row
Bench Seat (7 passenger vehicle)
There is a unique safety restraint system for the outside seating
position of the second row bench seat. It is very important that you
read and understand this section before anyone rides in the
outside seating position (near the sliding door) of the
two-passenger bench seat.
The two-passenger bench seat in the second row has a safety
restraint system made up of two buckles and two tongues. There
is an anchor location at the bottom of the C-pillar and another
anchor location at the top of the C-pillar that attach each end of the
seat belt webbing to the bodyside.
One of the seat belt tongues has two ªwindowsº (or holes) and
the other has only one ªwindow.º The seat belt tongue with one
window attaches to the buckle mounted to the side of the seat.
The seat belt tongue with two windows should be pulled across the
passenger's chest and fastened to the buckle mounted in the
middle of the seat.
Seating and Safety Restraints
139

A twisted belt may prevent the retractor from working
properly. If the unique safety belt system is twisted, disengage
the single window tongue from the buckle on the side of the seat,
remove the twist and re-install the tongue into the buckle until
you hear a snap and feel the latch engage.
The auxiliary safety retraint system for the second row bench seat
140

NOTE: If the three-passenger bench seat is moved up to the
second-row position, the outside passenger (near the
sliding door) only needs to use the double window
tongue and the standard buckle. Because the
third-row seat is wider and is closer to the sliding door,
the single window tongue and the auxiliary buckle
are not necessary.
The auxiliary safety restraint system fastened
Seating and Safety Restraints
141

Both tongues must be attached to their appropriate buckles
whenever someone is riding in that seating position, and when a
child safety seat has been installed.
When the two-passenger bench seat is removed from the vehicle,
you must detach the single window tongue from the auxiliary
buckle.
Third-row passengers must be very careful when exiting if the
auxiliary restraint system is being used by a second-row passenger.
It is important to step over the seat belt guide and belt
webbing to avoid tripping.
Unfastening the auxiliary safety restraint system
142

Safety Belt Extension Assembly
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.
WARNING
Failure to follow these instructions will affect the
performance of the safety belts and increase the risk of
personal injury.
Exiting a vehicle with the auxiliary safety restraint system
Seating and Safety Restraints
143

Using the Automatic Locking Mode Retractor to Secure
a Child Safety Seat
Your vehicle is equipped with a dual locking mode retractor on
the shoulder belt portion of the combination lap/shoulder safety
belt for the front passenger seat and rear outer seats. The
automatic locking modemust be usedwhen installing a child
seat or infant carrier in the front passenger seat or rear outer seats.
To install a child safety seat or infant carrier, follow these steps:
1. Position the child seat or infant carrier in the vehicle seat. If you
are using the moveable third row seat in the third row
position, the passenger side second row bucket seat, or the
front passenger seat, slide the seat to the rearmost position.
2. Follow the child seat or infant carrier manufacturer's
instructions. Route the safety belt through the child seat or
infant carrier and insert the safety belt tongue into the buckle
until you hear and feel the latch engage. Be sure to follow
the child safety seat manufacturer's instructions for belt
routing. When using the seating position near the sliding door
on the two-passenger bench seat, be sure that the single
window tongue is attached to the auxillary buckle on the side
of the seat.
156

Removing the Two-Passenger Bench Seat
1. Remove the floor mats. Lift the seatback release lever and fold
down the back of the seat to the fully folded position.
2. Detach the tongue from the auxiliary buckle on the sliding door
side of the seat.
3. Lift up on the floor latch levers near the front seat legs and
release the seat legs from each anchor position.
Seatback release lever location
184

Installing the Two-Passenger Bench Seat
To replace the bench seat in its original position:
1. Make sure the area around the floor anchor positions is free
from obstruction.
2. With the seatback folded down, two people should lift the seat
into the vehicle.
3. Place the seat slightly behind the floor anchor positions and
catch the rear leg anchors into each anchor position.
4. Press down on the front of the seat to secure the front legs to
the two floor latch locks. Place the seatback in the upright
position.
5. Try to move the seat to be sure that it is securely fastened.
6. Always reattach the tongue into the auxiliary buckle mounted
to the sliding door side of the seat.
Labels have been provided on the side of the seat to remind you
of important safety precautions.
7. Replace any floor mats that were removed.
WARNING
Keep foreign objects out of the floor anchors. Objects in
the floor anchors could prevent front and rear seat legs from
engaging properly.
WARNING
Before sitting in the removable seats, make sure that the
seat legs are securely attached by the floor anchors.
186

Three-Passenger Bench Seat
When entering and exiting the vehicle, third-row passengers
must be careful that they step over the auxiliary safety restraint
system that is present with the second-row bench seat. Labels are
provided on the back of the second-row bench seat to remind
passengers to use care when exiting.
The three-passenger bench seat can be positioned in any of five
positions along the seat track. Three of these positions are for
seating and two are storage positions to accommodate varying
cargo requirements.
Arranging the Seats for Maximum Cargo Space or
Passenger Seating Flexibility
NOTE: When moving the three-passenger bench seat, the seat
cushion cannot be lowered unless the seat is in a
seating position. If you cannot get the seat cushion to
lower, you may have the seat in a storage position.
NOTE: Before re-positioning seats, remove any floor mats that
may be in the way.
Adjustable Rear Seating
193