Safety Belt System - 2nd Row: Notes
Component Location
Refer to REFER to Supplemental Restraint System , Component Location for location of the inflatable safety belt components (if equipped).
Overview
- Retractors
- Buckles
- Child safety seat tether bracket assemblies
- Automatic locking retractor (ALR) feature for child safety seats (passenger seating positions only)
- Inflatable seatbelt systems
Components that do not operate correctly or pass all Functional Tests in the Component Tests must be replaced with new components. Seatbelt assembly attaching areas must be inspected. Damaged or distorted attaching areas must be restored to their original structural integrity and a new seatbelt assembly with new attaching hardware must be installed. Deployed inflatable seatbelts must be replaced with new inflatable components (including retractors, buckles and inflators) and all parts in the service kit. Failure to install new seatbelt systems and attaching hardware increases the risk of serious personal injury or death in a crash.
On vehicles without inflatable safety belts, all of the second row belts are continuous-loop, 3-point systems. The combination lap and shoulder belt (continuous-loop) uses a common slip tongue and retractor.
The center safety belt is also a continuous-loop, 3-point system on all vehicles, with or without the inflatable safety belt system. The combination lap and shoulder belt (continuous-loop) uses a common slip tongue and retractor.
On vehicles with inflatable safety belts, each outboard seating position has a 3-point system which consists of a lap belt and retractor, and a shoulder belt and retractor. The two are joined together at the buckle tongue and can be separated for service. The buckle tongue is unique to the inflatable safety belt system and is part of the inflatable shoulder belt and retractor.
When replacing safety belt buckles and/or retractor assemblies, use only the replacement parts specified in the Ford Catalog Advantage or equivalent.
System Operation
The shoulder harness retractor is designed to let the webbing move freely in and out at all times, except during vehicle hard braking, hard cornering or an impact of 24 kmh (14.9 mph) or more, when it is automatically locked by a mechanically-actuated inertia sensor (Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR)). On vehicles equipped with inflatable safety belts, the lap belt retractor is also equipped with the ELR feature.
For vehicles without inflatable safety belts, all 3 second row seating positions are equipped with ALRs.
Vehicles equipped with inflatable safety belts have ALRs at the outboard lap belt retractors and the center seating position. The outboard shoulder belt retractor is not an ALR.
Inflatable Safety Belt System (if equipped)
The inflatable safety belt system uses a pyrotechnic device mounted below the seat to release an inert gas which deploys the inflatable shoulder belt. The pyrotechnic device (safety belt inflator) deploys upon receipt of current from the Restraints Control Module. Upon deployment, gas flows through a manifold tube into the safety belt buckle. From the buckle, gas moves through the safety belt tongue and into the inflatable shoulder belt, causing the belt to expand. The Restraints Control Module monitors the readiness of the safety belt inflator and uses this information, as well as other information provided by the restraints system, to determine if inflatable safety belt deployment is appropriate.
REFER to Supplemental Restraint System , DTC Chart: Restraint Control Module (RCM) to diagnose any inflator DTCs and Safety Belt System , Symptom Chart: Safety Belt System for any concerns regarding safety belt buckle or retractor function.
When replacing safety belt buckles, retractor assemblies, or safety belt inflators, use only the replacement parts specified in the Ford Catalog Advantage or equivalent.