1998 Ford Contour Owners Manual

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Controls and features Using the FLR/DEF mode The floor/defrost mode directs outside air to flow through the floor vents and windshield defroster vents. The A/C compressor (if equipped) will function to dehumidify the windows provided the outside temperature is above 10°C (50°F). Using the DEF mode In addition to defogging and demisting the front windshield, the defrost mode of your vehicle also has the capability to demist the front side windows. The A/C compressor (if equipped) will function to dehumidify the windows provided the outside temperature is above 10°C (50°F). Passenger compartment air filter Your vehicle is equipped with an air filter that removes pollen and road dust from outside air before it is directed to the interior of the vehicle. Refer to the Maintenance and care chapter for maintenance of this filter. 26 CDW IIIC3Controls en C 5/15/97 8:44 PM Page 27 Controls and features STEERING COLUMN CONTROLS Ignition 1. Ignition off, steering wheel locked. On vehicles with automatic transaxles, the ignition key can return to this position only if the gearshift lever is in P (Park). 2. The accessory position. Steering unlocked, radio operational. Ignition and all main electrical circuits are disabled. The ignition key should not be left in this position for too long to avoid discharging the battery unnecessarily. 3. Ignition switched on, all electrical circuits operational. Warning and indicator lights illuminate. This key position is for normal driving. 4. Starter motor activated. Release the key as soon as the engine starts. N O RMAL x 1000 55 50 60 40 40 30 20 10 60 70 80 100 120 80 140 0 0 0 12 3 20 0 0 0 0 MPH 160 90 100 110 120 180 200 130 TRACTION CONTROL O/D OFF CHECK ENGINE IRRO R BRAKE 1/2 UNLEADED FUEL ONLY 27 CDW IIIC3Controls en C 5/15/97 8:44 PM Page 28 Controls and features N O RMAL x 1000 55 50 60 40 40 30 20 10 60 70 80 100 120 80 140 0 0 0 12 3 20 0 0 0 0 MPH 160 90 100 110 120 180 200 130 BRAKE 1/2 UNLEADED FUEL ONLY TRACTION CONTROL O/D OFF CHECK ENGINE H M I 0 2 0 MIRRO R LO OFF PANEL A/C MAX A/C HI PNL/FLR FLOOR FLR DEF DEF POWER AUDIO AM/FM VOLUME SCAN ANS EJECT SEEK SIDE 1-2 Tilt steering Pull the locking lever on the steering column cover up to adjust the steering column position. Secure the wheel by pushing the locking lever down. Never adjust the steering wheel while the vehicle is moving. 28 CDW IIIC3Controls en C 5/15/97 8:44 PM Page 29 Controls and features Hazard flasher control Use only in an emergency to warn traffic of vehicle breakdown or approaching danger. Depress to activate. Depress again to switch off. The hazard lights can be operated when the ignition is off. Horn Press the pad. The horn can be operated when the ignition is off. 29 CDW IIIC3Controls en C 5/15/97 8:44 PM Page 30 Controls and features N O RMAL x 1000 55 50 60 40 40 30 20 10 60 70 80 100 120 80 140 0 0 0 12 3 20 0 0 0 0 MPH 160 90 100 110 120 180 200 130 BRAKE 1/2 UNLEADED FUEL ONLY TRACTION CONTROL O/D OFF CHECK ENGINE H M I 0 2 0 MIRRO R LO OFF PANEL A/C MAX A/C HI PNL/FLR FLOOR FLR DEF DEF POWER AUDIO AM/FM VOLUME SCAN ANS EJECT SEEK SIDE 1-2 Multi-function switch The turn signal functions are available only with the ignition switch on. Right turn signal Move the lever up. Left turn signal Move the lever down. Flash-to-pass Pull the lever toward you and release quickly for “flash-to-pass” operation. High beam headlamps Push the lever toward the instrument panel. 30 CDW IIIC3Controls en C 5/15/97 8:44 PM Page 31 Controls and features Windshield wipers and washer Wipers Lift the windshield wiper lever to the desired speed interval. • Intermittent: push lever up to the first position. • Low: push lever up to the second position. • High: push lever up to the third position. For a single wipe, push the lever downward. Intermittent wiper control (if equipped) Rotate the variable intermittent wiper control to the desired speed. 1 = Short time interval 6 = Extended time interval Washer Pull the lever toward the steering wheel. The washer operates in conjunction with the windshield wipers. 31 CDW IIIC3Controls en C 5/15/97 8:44 PM Page 32 Controls and features N O RMAL x 1000 55 50 60 40 40 30 20 10 60 70 80 100 120 80 140 0 0 0 12 3 20 0 0 0 0 MPH 160 90 100 110 120 180 200 130 BRAKE 1/2 UNLEADED FUEL ONLY TRACTION CONTROL O/D OFF CHECK ENGINE H M I 0 2 0 MIRRO R On Off Res Set Acc Coast LO OFF PANEL A/C MAX A/C HI PNL/FLR FLOOR FLR DEF DEF POWER AUDIO AM/FM VOLUME SCAN ANS EJECT SEEK SIDE 1-2 Speed control (if equipped) Do not use the speed control in heavy traffic or on roads that are winding, slippery, or unpaved. To turn speed control off • Press Off or • turn off the vehicle ignition. Once speed control is switched off, the previously programmed set speed will be erased. To turn speed control on • Press On. 32 On Off CDW IIIC3Controls en C 5/15/97 8:44 PM Page 33 Controls and features To set a speed Press Set Acc. For speed control to operate, the speed control must be on and the vehicle speed must be greater than 48 km/h (30 mph). If you drive up or down a steep hill, your vehicle speed may vary momentarily slower or faster than the set speed. This is normal. Speed control cannot reduce the vehicle speed if it increases above the set speed on a downhill. If your vehicle speed is faster than the set speed while driving on a downhill in overdrive, you may want to shift to the next lower gear to reduce your vehicle speed. If your vehicle slows down more than 16 km/h (10 mph) below your set speed on an uphill, your speed control will disengage. This is normal. Press Res to re-engage it. Res Set Acc Coast Res Set Acc Coast 33 CDW IIIC3Controls en C 5/15/97 8:44 PM Page 34 Controls and features To set a higher speed • Press and hold Set Acc. Release when the desired set speed is reached, or • press and release Set Acc. Each press will increase the set speed by 1.6 km/h (1 mph) or • accelerate with your accelerator pedal, then press Set Acc. You may accelerate with the accelerator pedal at any time during speed control usage. Releasing the accelerator pedal will return your vehicle speed to the previously set speed. To set a lower speed • Press and hold Coast. Release the control when the desired vehicle speed is reached, or • press and release Coast. Each press will decrease the set speed by 1.6 km/h (1 mph), or • depress the brake pedal. When the desired vehicle speed is reached, press Set Acc. 34 Res Set Acc Coast Res Set Acc Coast CDW IIIC3Controls en C 5/15/97 8:44 PM Page 35 Controls and features Res Set Acc Coast To return to a set speed • Press Res. For Res to operate, the vehicle speed must be faster than 48 km/h (30 mph). To disengage speed control • Depress the brake pedal. Disengaging the speed control will not erase the previously programmed set speed. 35 CDW IIIC3Controls en C 5/15/97 8:45 PM Page 36 Door delay Off On 12 SEC On Off 12 SEC Open/Lift Close Controls and features OVERHEAD CONTROLS Interior lamps The interior lamps have three switch positions: door delay, off and on. When the control is switched to door delay (12 SEC), the interior light stays on for 12 seconds after the doors are closed with the ignition off. Reading lamps (if equipped) The reading lamps are operated by separate on/off switches and can be adjusted to point in the desired direction. Sunroof (if equipped) The electric sunroof can be operated only when the ignition is switched on. To open and close the sunroof Press the rear part of the control on the rocker switch in the roof console to open the sunroof. Press the front control to close it. To lift the rear of the sunroof Close the sunroof and press the front part of the control again. Press the rear control to lower the sunroof. 36 CDW IIIC3Controls en C 5/15/97 8:45 PM Page 37 DOOR MOUNTED CONTROLS Power door locks (if equipped) Push to lock or unlock all doors. Controls and features DOOR LOCK LOCK Power windows (if equipped) The windows will only operate when the ignition is switched on. Press the appropriate control to operate the power windows at each door position. All of the windows can be controlled from the control on the driver’s door. The passenger’s door window and the rear windows can be operated individually with separate door controls on the respective door. One-touch down feature (driver only) Briefly press the control to the second action point: the window opens automatically. Press again to stop the window while it is in motion. UTO UTO 37 CDW IIIC3Controls en C 5/15/97 8:45 PM Page 38 Controls and features Safety switch Move the switch to the right to prevent passengers from operating the windows. Move the switch to the left to allow passengers to operate the windows. Rear door childproof safety locks When the lever in the rear door lock is pushed inwards, the door can be opened only from the outside of the vehicle. WHEN LOCKED, DOOR WON`T OPEN FROM INSIDE. CHILD LOCK BELOW SECURITE ENFANTS CI-DESSOUS ´ ´ VERROULEE AINSI, LA PORTE NE PEUT S´OUVRIR DE L´INTERIEUR. LOCKED VERROUILLEE WHEN LOCKED, DOOR WON`T OPEN FROM INSIDE. CHILD LOCK BELOW SECURITE ENFANTS CI-DESSOUS ´ ´ VERROULEE AINSI, LA PORTE NE PEUT S´OUVRIR DE L´INTERIEUR. LOCKED VERROUILLEE 38 CDW IIIC3Controls en C 5/15/97 8:45 PM Page 39 Controls and features FLOOR MOUNTED CONTROLS Parking brake For information on the parking brake, refer to Preparing to start the vehicle in the Starting chapter. Remote luggage compartment control Pull the control located on the left of the driver’s seat to open the luggage compartment. To disable the remote luggage compartment release, depress the control on the luggage compartment latch that is marked in orange before closing the luggage compartment. 39 CDW IIIC3Controls en C 5/15/97 8:45 PM Page 40 Controls and features Fuel pump shut-off switch For information on the fuel pump shut-off switch, refer to Fuel pump shut-off switch in the Roadside emergencies chapter. Positive retention floor mat (if equipped) (Standard in Canada) Position the floor mat in the footwell. Place the mat eyelet over the pointed end of the retention post from the rear and rotate forward to install. Adjust the floor mat position to allow proper operation of accelerator pedal, brake pedal and clutch pedal (if equipped). To remove, lift the floor mat just forward of the retention post and rotate it rearward to disengage it from the retention post. 40 CDW IIIC3Controls en C 5/15/97 8:45 PM Page 41 Controls and features REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM (if equipped) If your vehicle has a remote entry system, you can lock and unlock the vehicle doors and open the luggage compartment without using a key. The remote also has a personal alarm feature. The remote entry feature only operates with the ignition in the off position. Locking the doors Press the LOCK control. To signal that the doors are locked, press the LOCK control again within five seconds. The doors will lock again and the horn will sound. Unlocking the doors Press the UNLOCK control to open the driver’s door. To unlock the other doors, press the UNLOCK control a second time within five seconds. 41 L CDW IIIC3Controls en C 5/15/97 8:45 PM Page 42 Controls and features Opening the luggage compartment Press the TRUNK control. Sounding the panic alarm Press the PANIC control. The horn will sound and the headlamps and tail lamps will flash for approximately two minutes and forty-five seconds. To deactivate the alarm, press the PANIC control again or turn the ignition key to the on position. Replacing the batteries The transmitter is powered by two coin-type, three-volt lithium batteries. A decrease in operating range can be caused by: • battery failure, • weather conditions, or • structures around the vehicle. Replacement batteries for the remote entry system transmitters may be purchased at pharmacies, watch stores or at authorized dealers. 42 CDW IIIC3Controls en C 5/15/97 8:45 PM Page 43 Controls and features To replace the batteries: 1. Twist a thin coin between the two halves of the transmitter. Do not take the front part of the transmitter apart. 2. Remove the old batteries. 3. Place the positive (+) side of the new batteries down. 4. Snap the two halves of the transmitter back together. Replacing lost transmitters Take your transmitters to the dealer for reprogramming if: • a transmitter is lost or • you want to purchase additional transmitters. This device complies with part 15 of the FCC rules. Operation is subject to the two following conditions: (1) The device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. 43 CDW IIIC3Controls en C 5/15/97 8:45 PM Page 44 0 80 20 140 2 3 0 0 160 90 100 110 120 180 200 130 BRAKE 1/2 UNLEADED FUEL ONLY CHECK ENGINE H M I 0 2 0 LO OFF PANEL A/C MAX A/C HI PNL/FLR FLOOR FLR DEF DEF POWER AUDIO AM/FM VOLUME SCAN ANS EJECT SEEK SIDE 1-2 Controls and features PASSIVE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM (if equipped) The Passive Anti-Theft-System (PATS) is an engine immobilization system. It is an additional theft protection feature which prevents the engine from being started unless a coded key is used. This system is only available with 2.5 l engines. Automatic arming The system is armed five seconds after switching off the ignition. The armed status is indicated when the control light flashes every two seconds. Automatic disarming Switching on the ignition disarms the system if the correct code is recognized. Keys Your vehicle is supplied with two coded keys. Only these keys can be used to start your vehicle. 44 CDW IIIC3Controls en C 5/15/97 8:45 PM Page 45 Controls and features H M I 0 2 0 Functional check When the ignition is switched on, the control light in the digital clock will illuminate for approximately three seconds to indicate that the system is operating correctly. If the control light flashes rapidly for approximately one minute and then repeatedly at irregular intervals, the system did not recognize the key code. Remove the key and try again. If the control light illuminates continuously for approximately one minute and then flashes repeatedly at irregular intervals, a system malfunction has occurred. Have the malfunction repaired by your dealer or a qualified technician as soon as possible. To ensure a trouble-free exchange between vehicle and key, do not shield the keys with any metal objects. 45 CDW IIIC3Controls en C 5/15/97 8:45 PM Page 46 Controls and features Key coding Replacement keys or a maximum of 15 duplicate keys can be coded. To program a key, cycle ignition switch from (3) to (1) with a programmed key. Within five seconds of this cycle, insert a new PATS key into ignition and turn to (3) or (4). If successful, the theft warning indicator will glow for two seconds, and the vehicle can be started. Repeat until all chosen keys have been programmed. The control light illuminates to indicate a successful programming operation. Repeat the procedure to program additional keys. Your dealer can also delete keys already programmed. The system is maintenance free. If keys become lost, you must have your dealer clear and reprogram the code for security reasons. 46 CDW IIIC3Controls en C 5/15/97 8:45 PM Page 47 Seating and safety restraints HEAD RESTRAINTS Adjusting the head restraints Push or pull the head restraint to the desired height. Swivel the head restraint forward or backward to the desired angle. SEATING Manually adjusting the seats Pull the lever located inside the front edge of the seat to move the seat forward or backward. Pull the lever on the outside of the seat to recline the seat. Never adjust the driver’s seat or seatback when the vehicle is moving. 47 CDW IIID Seat en C 5/15/97 8:47 PM Page 48 Seating and safety restraints Adjusting the power seats (if equipped) Move the relevant control in the respective direction to adjust the seat, seatback and lumbar as follows: Seat (1) Forward and backward (2) Height of the entire seat (3) Height of the front of the seat (4) Height of the rear of the seat Seatback (5) Seatback inclination Lumbar support (6) Lumbar support 48 CDW IIID Seat en C 5/15/97 8:47 PM Page 49 Seating and safety restraints Folding rear seats (if equipped) Pull the release knob located in the luggage compartment. Fold down the seat. The seatback cannot be released while the built-in childseat (if equipped) is open. If you are carrying objects that might damage the center rear three-point safety belt, you can unbuckle the end of the belt from the small buckle on the seat cushion and let the retractor reel it up. Reconnect the belt tongue to the buckle when you fold the seat back up. To raise the rear seatback, push the seatback upward until it locks in place. Make sure it is firmly latched by pushing forward and back on it. Check to see that the seat and seatback are latched securely in position. Keep luggage area free of objects that would prevent proper engagement. 49 CDW IIID Seat en C 5/15/97 8:48 PM Page 50 Seating and safety restraints SAFETY RESTRAINTS Important safety restraints precautions The use of safety belts helps to restrain both driver and passenger in case of a collision. In most states and Canada, the law requires the use of safety belts. Front and rear seat occupants including pregnant women, should wear safety belts for optimum protection in an accident. Always drive and ride with your seatback upright and the lap belt snug and low across the hips. Lock the doors of your vehicle before driving to lessen the risk of the door coming open in a collision. Cargo should always be secured to prevent it from shifting and causing damage to the vehicle or harm to passengers. To prevent the risk of injury, make sure children sit where they can be properly restrained. 50 CDW IIID Seat en C 5/15/97 8:48 PM Page 51 Seating and safety restraints Using safety restraints properly Combination lap and shoulder belt Insert the tongue into the slot in the buckle to fasten. Push the red release button and remove the tongue from the slot to unfasten. The passenger safety restraints in the vehicle are combination lap and shoulder belts. The front and rear seat passenger safety belts have two types of locking modes. 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. Use the shoulder belt on the outside shoulder only. Never wear the shoulder belt under the arm. Never swing it around your neck over the inside shoulder. Never use a single belt for more than one person. 51 CDW IIID Seat en C 5/15/97 8:48 PM Page 52 Seating and safety restraints Vehicle sensitive (emergency) locking mode The vehicle sensitive mode is the normal retractor mode which locks the belts in response to vehicle movement. For example, if the driver brakes suddenly, turns a corner sharply or your vehicle receives an impact of 8 km/h (5 mph) or more the combination safety belts will lock to help reduce the forward movement of the driver and passengers. The retractor can be made to lock by pulling sharply on the belt. Automatic locking mode In this mode, the shoulder belt is automatically prelocked; however, the belt will react to remove any slack in the shoulder belt. The automatic locking mode is not available on the driver’s safety belt. When to use the automatic locking mode • When a tight lap and shoulder belt fit is desired. • Any time a child safety seat is installed in the vehicle. For information on the proper use of a child safety seat, refer to Child safety seats later in this chapter. 52 CDW IIID Seat en C 5/15/97 8:48 PM Page 53 Seating and safety restraints Using automatic locking mode The automatic locking mode must be used when installing a child safety seat in any passenger seat. 1. Buckle the combination lap and shoulder belt. 2. Grasp the shoulder belt portion and pull downward until the entire belt is extracted. 3. Allow the belt to retract. As the belt retracts, you will hear a clicking sound. This indicates that the safety belt is now in the automatic locking mode. Canceling automatic locking mode Disconnect the combination lap and shoulder belt and allow it to completely retract. This will cancel the automatic locking mode and activate the vehicle sensitive (emergency) locking mode. 53 CDW IIID Seat en C 5/15/97 8:48 PM Page 54 Seating and safety restraints Front seat safety belt height adjustment 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. To lower the height of the shoulder belt: 1. Push the control down. 2. Slide down. To raise the height of the shoulder belt: 1. Slide up. 2. Pull down on the height adjuster to make sure that it is locked in place. 54 CDW IIID Seat en C 5/15/97 8:48 PM Page 55 Seating and safety restraints Center position three-point safety belts If the lower end of the belt has been unbuckled, pull the belt steadily from the reel and insert the small tongue into the small buckle until a distinct “click” is heard. This buckle should be left buckled except when the seatback is folded down and cargo that might damage the seatbelt or get it dirty is being hauled. Pull the seat belt across the hips and insert the big (sliding) tongue into the appropriate buckle until a distinct “click” is heard. Should the center rear belt need to be unlatched from its anchorage, a thin probe is required to be inserted into the hole located on the underside of the floor mounted buckle. If the buckle and tongue are not reconnected, then the belt is not save to be used. Safety belt indicator light and warning chime Illuminates in the instrument cluster and a chime sounds to remind the occupants to fasten their safety belts. Alternative design 55 CDW IIID Seat en C 5/15/97 8:48 PM Page 56 Seating and safety restraints Conditions of operation If the driver’s safety belt is not buckled before the ignition key is turned to on, the safety belt indicator illuminates for 1-2 minutes and the warning chime sounds for 4-8 seconds. If the driver’s safety belt is buckled while the indicator light is illuminated and the reminder chime is sounding, the safety belt indicator light and reminder turn off. Safety belt extension assembly The safety belt may be too short even when fully extended. Approximately 20 cm (8 inches) may be added to the length of the belt with a safety belt extension (part number 611C22). Safety belt extensions are available at no cost from your dealer. Only use extensions manufactured by the same supplier as the safety belt. Manufacturer identification is on the label located at the end of the webbing. Do not use the extension to change the fit of the shoulder belt across the torso. 56 CDW IIID Seat en C 5/15/97 8:48 PM Page 57 Seating and safety restraints Care of safety belts Periodically check the belts for damage or fraying. Check the security of the anchorage points and the locking action of the inertia reels by giving each belt a sharp tug. Belts subjected to strain, as in the result of an accident, should be replaced and the anchorages checked by your dealer or a qualified technician. Failure to follow these instructions will affect the performance of the safety belts and increase the risk of personal injury. Safety belt warning label A warning label has been placed on the buckle of each of your vehicle’s front seat safety belts. In a collision of sufficient severity while the safety belt is in use, the safety belt buckle will pull out of the sleeve so that all or part of the orange portion of the label is visible. Whenever the orange portion of the label is visible, the safety belt must be replaced. WARNING Replace buckle assembly if this vehicle is in a collision or if any orange portion of this label is visible. (See Owner Guide). Failure to replace this buckle assembly under the above conditions could result in severe personal injuries in the event of collision. AVERTISSEMENT Remplacer l'ensemble de boucle de ceinture en cas de collision avec ce véhicule, ou si la partie orange de cette étiquette est visible (Voir le Guide du proprietare). Faute de remplacer cet ensemble de boucle, des blessures graves pourraient être encourues en cas de collision. REPLACE BUCKLE/REMPLACER BOUCLE 57 CDW IIID Seat en C 5/15/97 8:48 PM Page 58 Seating and safety restraints N O RMAL x 1000 55 50 60 40 40 30 20 10 60 70 80 100 120 80 140 0 0 0 12 3 20 0 0 0 0 MPH 160 90 100 110 120 180 200 130 BRAKE 1/2 UNLEADED FUEL ONLY TRACTION CONTROL O/D OFF CHECK ENGINE H M I 0 2 0 MIRRO R LO OFF PANEL A/C MAX A/C HI PNL/FLR FLOOR FLR DEF DEF POWER AUDIO AM/FM VOLUME SCAN ANS EJECT SEEK SIDE 1-2 AIR BAG SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) Important supplemental restraint system (SRS) precautions The supplemental restraint system is designed to: • work with the safety belt to protect the driver and right front passenger. • reduce certain upper body injuries. 58 CDW IIID Seat en C 5/15/97 8:48 PM Page 59 Seating and safety restraints Do not place objects or mount equipment on or near the air bag covers that may come into contact with an inflating air bag. Do not attempt to service, repair, or modify the air bag Supplemental Restraint System or its fuses. See your Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer. Children and air bags For additional important safety information, read all information on safety restraints in this guide. Children should always wear safety belts. Failure to follow these instructions may increase the risk of injury in a collision. When installing forward- facing child seats in the front seat always move the passenger seat as far back from the instrument panel as possible. Never install rear-facing child seats or rear-facing infant seats in the front seat. A G A I R B 59 CDW IIID Seat en C 5/15/97 8:48 PM Page 60 Seating and safety restraints How does the air bag supplemental restraint system (SRS) work? The SRS is designed to activate when the vehicle is in a collision, similar to hitting a fixed barrier head on at 12-24 km/h (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. The air bags inflate and deflate rapidly upon activation. After air bag deployment, it is normal to notice a smoke-like, powdery residue or smell the burned propellant. This may consist of cornstarch, talcum powder (to lubricate the bag) or sodium compounds (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. 60 CDW IIID Seat en C 5/15/97 8:48 PM Page 61 Seating and safety restraints Several air bag system components get hot after inflation. Do not touch them after inflation. If the air bag is inflated, the air bag will not function again and must be replaced immediately. If the air bag is not replaced, the unrepaired area will increase the risk of injury in a collision. The SRS consists of the following: • driver and passenger air bag modules (which include the inflators and air bags), • one or more impact and safing sensors, • a readiness light and tone, • and the electrical wiring and components. The diagnostic module monitors its own internal circuits and the supplemental air bag electrical system readiness (including the impact sensors), the system wiring, the air bag system readiness light, the air bag back up power and the air bag ignitors. 61 CDW IIID Seat en C 5/15/97 8:48 PM Page 62 Seating and safety restraints 55 50 60 40 40 30 20 10 60 70 80 100 120 80 140 0 0 0 12 3 20 0 0 0 0 MPH 160 90 100 110 120 180 200 130 CHECK ENGINE BRAKE 1/2 UNLEADED FUEL ONLY Determining if the system is operational The SRS uses a readiness light in the instrument cluster or a chime to indicate the condition of the system. Refer to the Air bag readiness section in the Instrumentation chapter. Routine maintenance of the air bag is not required. A difficulty with the system is indicated by one or more of the following: • The readiness light will either flash or stay lit. • The readiness light will not illuminate after ignition is turned on. • A group of five beeps will be heard. The tone pattern will repeat periodically until the problem and light are repaired. If any of these things happen, even intermittently, have the SRS serviced at your dealership or by a qualified technician immediately. Unless serviced, the system may not function properly in the event of a collision. 62 CDW IIID Seat en C 5/15/97 8:48 PM Page 63 Seating and safety restraints Disposal of air bags and air bag equipped vehicles For disposal of air bags or air bag equipped vehicles, see your local dealership or a qualified technician. Air bags MUST BE disposed of by qualified personnel. 63 CDW IIID Seat en C 5/15/97 8:48 PM Page 64 Seating and safety restraints CHILDREN AND SAFETY RESTRAINTS To prevent the risk of injury, make sure children sit where they can be properly restrained. Whenever possible, put children in one of the rear seats in your vehicle. Accident statistics indicate that children are safer when properly restrained in the rear seats than in the front seats. Do not leave children, unreliable adults, or pets unattended in your vehicle. Safety belts and seats can become hot in a vehicle that has been closed up in sunny weather; they could burn a small child. Check seat covers and buckles before you place a child anywhere near them. It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area, inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people riding in these areas are more likely to be seriously injured or killed. Do not allow people to ride in any area of your vehicle that is not equipped with seats and safety belts. Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and using a safety belt properly. 64 CDW IIID Seat en C 5/15/97 8:48 PM Page 65 Seating and safety restraints Important child restraint precautions You are required by law to use safety restraints for children in the U.S. and Canada. If small children ride in your vehicle (generally children who are four years old or younger and who weigh 18 kg [40 lbs] or less), you must put them in safety seats made especially for children. Check your local and state or provincial laws for specific requirements regarding the safety of children in your vehicle. Never let a passenger hold a child on his or her lap while the vehicle is moving. The passenger cannot protect the child from injury in a collision. Always follow the instructions and warnings that come with any infant or child restraint you might use. When possible, place children in the rear seat of your vehicle. Accident statistics suggest that children are safer when properly restrained in the rear seating positions than in the front seating position. 65 CDW IIID Seat en C 5/15/97 8:48 PM Page 66 Seating and safety restraints Children and safety belts Children who are too large for child safety seats (as specified by the child safety seat manufacturer) should always wear safety belts. Follow all the important safety restraints and air bag precautions that apply to adult passengers in your vehicle. If the shoulder belt portion of a combination lap and shoulder belt can be positioned so it does not cross or rest in front of the child’s face or neck, the child should wear the lap and shoulder belt. Moving the child closer to the center of the vehicle may help provide a good shoulder belt fit. If the shoulder belt cannot be properly positioned: • move the child to one of the seats with a lap belt only (if equipped), OR • if the child is the appropriate size, restrain the child in a safety seat.

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1998 Ford Contour Owners Manual