2005 Ford Freestar Owners Manual

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stationary portion of the shoulder belt coming out of the trim panel. The end of the shoulder belt must be clipped in order to keep it from striking anything during vehicle operation. 126 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Seating and Safety Restraints 4. Position seatback in full down position. 5. From behind seat pull straight back on the release handles located on each side of the seat, releasing the rear floor latches. 6. Lift up the seat by the release handles to clear the floor latches and then pull the seat rearward until the front hooks have come out of the floor tubs. 7. Remove the seat. Installation of second row seats Second row bucket seats Prior to installation, ensure that the seats are on the correct side of the vehicle. Ensure that the seat is positioned so that the seat belt buckle is near the center aisle of the vehicle. The seatback must be folded flat prior to installation. 1. Position the seat in vehicle. Place first row seat in a forward position to allow the second row seat to be installed. 127 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Seating and Safety Restraints 2. Install seat onto rear pin of front tub at a 30 to 45 degree angle. 3. Rotate the seat forward until it latches onto the front pin. 4. Rotate seat rearward until the back of the seat latches onto the floor. 128 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Seating and Safety Restraints 5. Operate recline lever and push the seat back upright. Ensure seat is latched to vehicle floor by pushing/pulling on seat. If not latched, the seat may cause injury during a sudden stop. Before returning the seatback to its original position, make sure that cargo or any objects are not trapped behind the seatback. After returning the seatback to its original position, pull on the seatback to ensure that it has fully latched. An unlatched seat may become dangerous in the event of a sudden stop or collision. Second row bench seat 1. Position the seat in vehicle. 2. Align seat front hooks to the rear most pins of the front tub. 129 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Seating and Safety Restraints 3. Lower back of seat onto the rear tubs until both release controls latch into place. Be sure that the seat is locked in place both front and back. Do not place the seat front hooks on the front most pin of the front tub. Doing so will not allow the seat to fully install in vehicle. Ensure seat is latched to vehicle floor by pushing/pulling on seat. If not latched, the seat may cause injury during a sudden stop. Stowing the third row seat 1. If the comfort guide is on the center lap/shoulder belt, slip the guide off the belt and stow the guide in the pocket on the back of the seat. 130 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Seating and Safety Restraints 2. If you plan to carry very large objects or items that might damage the center lap/shoulder belt, detach the belt from the seat. Use a key or seat belt tongue to release the buckle. 3. Store the tongue of the sliding latchplate in the belt pocket. 131 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Seating and Safety Restraints 4. Store the belt in the housing found on the ceiling by inserting the smaller tongue in the slot provided. Note: The seat can be stowed with the safety belt connected if desired. Store the tongue of the sliding latchplate in the belt pocket to avoid potential damage to the seat. 5. Push the head restraint release buttons and move the head restraints fully down. Remove all objects from the seat and stowage tub. 6. From the rear of the vehicle, fold seat back by pulling and releasing the number 1 strap. 132 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Seating and Safety Restraints Important: If you don’t let go of the number 1 strap before the seat back folds completely, the seat may not stow flat in the tub. Refer to the label attached to the rear of the vehicle seat. 7. Release the cushion latches by pulling the number 2 strap. 133 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Seating and Safety Restraints 8. Pull the number 3 strap on the seat back to tumble seat all the way in to the tub in the floor. Do not use the seat anchors as cargo tie downs. Unstowing the third row seat Ensure seat latching area is free of objects. 1. Lift the seat out of the tub in the floor by pulling up on the exposed strap or handle. Once seat is at a vertical position, push the seat over, letting it fall onto the latches. 134 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Seating and Safety Restraints 2. To return the seat back to the seating position, pull the number 1 strap, then while holding the number 1 strap, pull the number 3 strap to raise the seat back. 3. Release the number 1 strap to allow the seat to lock, then release the number 3 strap. 4. Pull up on the head restraints to adjust them. 5. If the center lap/shoulder belt is detached, remove the belt from the ceiling storage area just ahead of the liftgate opening and buckle the tongue on the end of the belt to the mini-buckle on the left side of the center seat. Ensure seat is latched to vehicle floor by pushing/pulling on seat. If not latched, the seat may cause injury during a sudden stop. Before returning the seatback to its original position, make sure that cargo or any objects are not trapped behind the seatback. After returning the seatback to its original position, pull on the seatback to ensure that it has fully latched. An unlatched seat may become dangerous in the event of a sudden stop or collision. Third row seat features The seat is equipped with a recline function to allow for adjustment of the seat back for improved comfort. To activate the recliner, pull and hold the strap located near the plastic shield in the center of the seat. When seat is adjusted to desired location, release the strap. 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) 135 Seating and Safety Restraints Reclining the seatback can cause an occupant to slide under the seat’s safety belt, resulting in severe personal injuries in the event of a collision. Tailgate function The 3rd row seat is equipped with a tailgate function to be utilized when the vehicle is parked and engine turned off. This rearward-facing position allows the customer to open the liftgate and sit facing out of the vehicle rearward. This is not a position suitable for driving. Do not drive the vehicle with the seat in this position. The safety belts are not functional when the seat is in the tailgate position. Ensure head restraints are moved to their full down position, all seat belts are released from the seat, seat and stowage tub are free of objects. 1. Push the head restraint release buttons and move all head restraints fully down. 2. To access the tailgate function, the seat must be in the seating position. If the seat is not in the seating position, follow all the steps of the ‘Unstowing Seat Section’. Once the seat is in the seating position, release the cushion latches by pulling the number 2 strap. Then, pull the seat rearward by the number 3 strap and set the seat on the liftgate scuff plate. The number 1 strap is not used to access this position. Do not sit on the head restraints. 136 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Seating and Safety Restraints 3. To return the seat, ensure seat latching area is free of objects. Then, raise the seat off the liftgate scuff plate and push at the top of the seat back to rotate the seat back onto the latches. Pull up on the head restraints to raise them. Ensure seat is latched to vehicle floor by pushing/pulling on seat. If not latched, the seat may cause injury during a sudden stop. SAFETY RESTRAINTS Personal Safety System姟 The Personal Safety System娂 provides an improved overall level of frontal crash protection to front seat occupants and is designed to help further reduce the risk of airbag-related injuries. The system is able to analyze different occupant conditions and crash severity before activating the appropriate safety devices to help better protect a range of occupants in a variety of frontal crash situations. Your vehicle’s Personal Safety System娂 consists of: • Driver and passenger dual-stage airbag supplemental restraints. • Front safety belts with pretensioners, energy management retractors • Driver’s seat position sensor. • Passenger occupant classification sensor • Front crash severity sensor. • Restraints Control Module (RCM) with impact and safing sensors. • Restraint system warning light and back-up tone. • The electrical wiring for the airbags, crash sensor(s), safety belt pretensioners, front safety belt usage sensors, driver seat position sensor, passenger occupant classification sensor, and indicator lights. (first row only), and safety belt usage sensors. 137 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Seating and Safety Restraints How does the Personal Safety System姟 work? The Personal Safety System娂 can adapt the deployment strategy of your vehicle’s safety devices according to crash severity and occupant conditions. A collection of crash and occupant sensors provides information to the Restraints Control Module (RCM). During a crash, the RCM activates the safety belt pretensioners and/or either one or both stages of the dual-stage airbag supplemental restraints based on crash severity and occupant conditions. The fact that the pretensioners or airbags did not activate for both front seat occupants in a collision does not mean that something is wrong with the system. Rather, it means the Personal Safety System娂 determined the accident conditions (crash severity, belt usage, etc.) were not appropriate to activate these safety devices. Front airbags are designed to activate only in frontal and near-frontal collisions (not rollovers, side impacts or rear impacts) unless the collision causes sufficient longitudinal deceleration. The pretensioners are designed to activate in frontal and side collisions, and rollovers. Driver and passenger dual-stage airbag supplemental restraints The dual-stage airbags offer the capability to tailor the level of airbag inflation energy. A lower, less forceful energy level is provided for more common, moderate-severity impacts. A higher energy level is used for the most severe impacts. Refer to Airbag supplemental restraints section in this chapter. Front crash severity sensor The front crash severity sensor enhances the ability to detect the severity of an impact. Positioned up front, it provides valuable information early in the crash event on the severity of the impact. This allows your Personal Safety System娂 to distinguish between different levels of crash severity and modify the deployment strategy of the dual-stage airbags and safety belt pretensioners. Driver’s seat position sensor The driver’s seat position sensor allows your Personal Safety System娂 to tailor the deployment level of the driver dual-stage airbag based on seat position. The system is designed to help protect smaller drivers sitting close to the driver airbag by providing a lower airbag output level. Front passenger sensing system For airbags to do their job they must inflate with great force, and this force can pose a potentially deadly risk to occupants that are very close 138 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Seating and Safety Restraints to the airbag when it begins to inflate. For some occupants, this occurs because they are initially sitting very close to the airbag. For other occupants, this occurs when the occupant is not properly restrained by seat belts or child safety seats and they move forward during pre-crash braking. The most effective way to reduce the risk of unnecessary injuries is to make sure all occupants are properly restrained. Accident statistics suggest that children are much safer when properly restrained in the rear seating positions than in the front. Air bags can kill or injure a child in a child seat. NEVER place a rear-facing child seat in front of an active air bag. If you must use a forward-facing child seat in the front seat, move the seat all the way back. Always transport children 12 years old and under in the back seat and always properly use appropriate child restraints. The passenger occupant classification sensor can automatically turn off the passenger front airbag. The system is designed to help protect small (child size) occupants from airbag deployments when they are improperly seated or restrained in the front passenger seat contrary to proper child-seating or restraint usage recommendations. Even with this technology, parents are STRONGLY encouraged to always properly restrain children in the rear seat. The sensor also turns off the airbag when the passenger seat is empty to prevent unnecessary replacement of the airbag after a collision. Front safety belt usage sensors The front safety belt usage sensors detect whether or not the driver and front outboard passenger safety belts are fastened. This information allows your Personal Safety System娂 to tailor the airbag deployment and safety belt pretensioner activation depending upon safety belt usage. Refer to Safety belt section in this chapter. Front safety belt pretensioners The safety belt pretensioners at the front outboard seating positions are designed to tighten the safety belts firmly against the occupant’s body during frontal and side collisions, and rollovers. This maximizes the effectiveness of the safety belts. In frontal collisions, the safety belt pretensioners can be activated alone or, if the collision is of sufficient severity, together with the front airbags. 139 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Seating and Safety Restraints Front safety belt energy management retractors The front outboard safety belt energy management retractors allow webbing to be pulled out of the retractor in a gradual and controlled manner in response to the occupant’s forward momentum. This helps reduce the risk of force-related injuries to the occupant’s chest by limiting the load on the occupant. Refer to Energy management feature section in this chapter. Determining if the Personal Safety System is operational The Personal Safety System娂 uses a warning light in the instrument cluster or a back-up tone to indicate the condition of the system. Refer to the Warning light section in the Instrument cluster chapter. Routine maintenance of the Personal Safety System娂 is not required. The Restraints Control Module (RCM) monitors its own internal circuits and the circuits for the airbag supplemental restraints, crash sensor(s), safety belt pretensioners, front safety belt buckle sensors, driver seat position sensor, and passenger occupant classification sensor. In addition, the RCM also monitors the restraints warning light in the instrument cluster. A difficulty with the system is indicated by one or more of the following. • The warning light will either flash or stay lit. • The warning light will not illuminate immediately after ignition is • A series of five beeps will be heard. The tone pattern will repeat turned on. periodically until the problem and warning light are repaired. If any of these things happen, even intermittently, have the Personal Safety System娂 serviced at an authorized dealer immediately. Unless serviced, the system may not function properly in the event of a collision. Safety belt precautions Always drive and ride with your seatback upright and the lap belt snug and low across the hips. To reduce the risk of injury, make sure children sit where they can be properly restrained. 140 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Seating and Safety Restraints 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. All occupants of the vehicle, including the driver, should always properly wear their safety belts, even when an air bag supplemental restraint system (SRS) is provided. 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. In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is significantly more likely to die than a person wearing a seat belt. 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 the safety belt around your neck over the inside shoulder. 3) Never use a single belt for more than one person. Always transport children 12 years old and under in the back seat and always properly use appropriate child restraints. 141 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Seating and Safety 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. All restraints in the vehicle are combination lap and shoulder belts. While you are fastened in the seat belt, the combination lap/shoulder belt adjusts to your movement. However, if you brake hard, turn hard, or if your vehicle receives an impact of 5 mph (8 km/h) or more, the safety belt will become locked and help reduce your forward movement. Energy Management Feature — Outboard • This vehicle has a safety belt system with an energy management feature at the front seats to help further reduce the risk of injury in the event of a head-on collision. • This safety belt system has a retractor assembly that is designed to extend the seat belt webbing in a controlled manner. This helps reduce the belt force acting on the user’s chest. Failure to inspect and replace if necessary the Belt and Retractor assembly after an accident could increase the risk of injury in a collision. 142 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Seating and Safety Restraints Vehicle sensitive mode This is the normal retractor mode, which allows free shoulder belt length adjustment to your movements and locking in response to vehicle movement. For example, if the driver brakes suddenly or turns a corner sharply, or the vehicle receives an impact of approximately 5 mph (8 km/h) or more, the combination safety belts will lock to help reduce forward movement of the driver and passengers. Automatic locking mode When to use the automatic locking mode In this mode, the shoulder belt is automatically pre-locked. The belt will still retract to remove any slack in the shoulder belt. The automatic locking mode is not available on the driver safety belt. This mode should be used any time a child safety seat is installed in a passenger front or outboard rear seating position (if equipped). Children 12 years old and under should be properly restrained in the rear seat whenever possible. Refer to Safety restraints for children or Safety seats for children later in this chapter. How to use the automatic locking mode • Buckle the combination lap and shoulder belt. 143 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Seating and Safety Restraints • Grasp the shoulder portion and pull downward until the entire belt is pulled out. • Allow the belt to retract. As the belt retracts, you will hear a clicking sound. This indicates the safety belt is now in the automatic locking mode. How to disengage the automatic locking mode Ford Motor Company recommends that all passenger safety belt assemblies and attaching hardware should be inspected by an authorized dealer after any collision to verify that the ⬙automatic locking retractor⬙ feature for child seats is still working properly. Safety belt assemblies should be inspected according to the procedures in the Workshop Manual and must be replaced if either damage or improper operation is noted. Failure to replace the belt and retractor assembly could increase the risk of injury in a collision. Unbuckle the combination lap/shoulder belt and allow it to retract completely to disengage the automatic locking mode and activate the vehicle sensitive (emergency) locking mode. Safety belt height adjustment Your vehicle has safety belt height adjustments at the front and second row outboard seating positions. Adjust the height of the shoulder belt so the belt rests across the middle of your shoulder. To adjust the shoulder belt height, squeeze and hold the buttons on the side and slide the height adjuster up or down. Release the buttons and pull down on the height adjuster to make sure it is locked in place. 144 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Seating and Safety Restraints Position the safety belt height adjusters so that the belt rests across the middle of your shoulder. Failure to adjust the safety belt properly could reduce the effectiveness of the safety belt and increase the risk of injury in a collision. Third row comfort guide Note: Before stowing the third row seat or folding the third row seat back down, the center seat lap/shoulder belt needs to either have the cross lap tongue stowed in the pocket on the belt or the entire belt needs to be stowed in the roof. The safety belt for the 3rd row center occupant may be stowed in the ceiling if it has been detached from the seat to carry large cargo. Remove the safety belt from the stowage area on the ceiling and buckle the small tongue on the end of the safety belt to the mini-buckle on the left side of the center seat position. The third row center lap/shoulder belt is equipped with a Belt Comfort Guide located in a pocket on the back of the seat. The guide is attached to the driver’s side head restraint, and is used to adjust the comfort of the shoulder belt for smaller occupants in the center position of the 3rd row seat. To adjust the comfort guide: • Slip the shoulder belt into the • Slide the guide up or down along the head restraint post so that the belt guide. belt is centered on the occupant’s shoulder. Safety belt warning light and indicator chime The safety belt warning light illuminates in the instrument cluster and a chime sounds to remind the occupants to fasten their safety belts. 145 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Seating and Safety Restraints Conditions of operation If... The driver’s safety belt is not buckled before the ignition switch is turned to the ON position... The driver’s safety belt is buckled while the indicator light is illuminated and the warning chime is sounding... The driver’s safety belt is buckled before the ignition switch is turned to the ON position... Then... The safety belt warning light illuminates 1-2 minutes and the warning chime sounds 4-8 seconds. The safety belt warning light and warning chime turn off. The safety belt warning light and indicator chime remain off. BeltMinder姟 Note: If your vehicle is built without the passenger occupant classification sensor, the passenger BeltMinder娂 feature is not available. The BeltMinder娂 feature is a supplemental warning to the safety belt warning function. This feature provides additional reminders by intermittently sounding a chime and illuminating the safety belt warning lamp in the instrument cluster when the driver’s and front passenger’s safety belt is unbuckled. The BeltMinder娂 feature uses information from the passenger occupant classification sensor to determine if a front seat passenger is present and therefore potentially in need of a warning. To avoid activating the BeltMinder娂 feature for objects placed in the front passenger seat, warnings will only be given to large front seat occupants as determined by the passenger occupant classification sensor. Both the driver’s and passenger’s safety belt usages are monitored and either may activate the BeltMinder娂 feature. The warnings are the same for the driver and the front passenger. If the BeltMinder娂 warnings have expired (warnings for approximately 5 minutes) for one occupant (driver or front passenger), the other occupant can still activate the BeltMinder娂 feature. 146 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Seating and Safety Restraints If... The driver’s and front passenger’s safety belts are buckled before the ignition switch is turned to the ON position or less than 1-2 minutes have elapsed since the ignition switch has been turned ON... The driver’s or front passenger’s safety belt is not buckled when the vehicle has reached at least 3 mph (5 km/h) and 1-2 minutes have elapsed since the ignition switch has been turned to ON... The driver’s or front passenger’s safety belt becomes unbuckled for approximately 1 minute while the vehicle is traveling at least 3 mph (5 km/h) and more than 1-2 minutes have elapsed since the ignition switch has been turned to ON... Then... The BeltMinder娂 feature will not activate. The BeltMinder娂 feature is activated - the safety belt warning light illuminates and the warning chime sounds for 6 seconds every 30 seconds, repeating for approximately 5 minutes or until the safety belts are buckled. The BeltMinder娂 feature is activated - the safety belt warning light illuminates and the warning chime sounds for 6 seconds every 30 seconds, repeating for approximately 5 minutes or until the safety belts are buckled. 147 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Seating and Safety Restraints The following are reasons most often given for not wearing safety belts (All statistics based on U.S. data): Reasons given... “Crashes are rare events” Consider... 36700 crashes occur every day. The more we drive, the more we are exposed to “rare” events, even for good drivers. 1 in 4 of us will be seriously injured in a crash during our lifetime. 3 of 4 fatal crashes occur within 25 miles (40 km) of home. We design our safety belts to enhance comfort. If you are uncomfortable - try different positions for the safety belt upper anchorage and seatback which should be as upright as possible; this can improve comfort. Prime time for an accident. BeltMinder娂 reminds us to take a few seconds to buckle up. Safety belts, when used properly, reduce risk of death to front seat occupants by 45% in cars, and by 60% in light trucks. Nearly 1 of 2 deaths occur in single-vehicle crashes, many when no other vehicles are around. Possibly, but a serious crash can do much more than wrinkle your clothes, particularly if you are unbelted. Set the example, teen deaths occur 4 times more often in vehicles with TWO or MORE people. Children and younger brothers/sisters imitate behavior they see. “I’m not going far” “Belts are uncomfortable” “I was in a hurry” “Safety belts don’t work” “Traffic is light” “Belts wrinkle my clothes” “The people I’m with don’t wear belts” 148 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Reasons given... “I have an airbag” “I’d rather be thrown clear” Seating and Safety Restraints Consider... Airbags offer greater protection when used with safety belts. Frontal airbags are not designed to inflate in rear and side crashes or rollovers. Not a good idea. People who are ejected are 40 times more likely to DIE. Safety belts help prevent ejection, WE CAN’T “PICK OUR CRASH”. Do not sit on top of a buckled safety belt to avoid the BeltMinder娂 chime. Sitting on the safety belt will increase the risk of injury in an accident. To disable (one-time) or deactivate the BeltMinder娂 feature please follow the directions stated below. One time disable If at any time the driver/front passenger quickly buckles then unbuckles the BeltMinder娂 feature for that seating position, the BeltMinder娂 is disabled for the current ignition cycle. The BeltMinder娂 feature will re-enable during the same ignition cycle if the occupant buckles and remains buckled for approximately 30 seconds. Confirmation is not given for the one time disable. Deactivating/activating the BeltMinder姟 feature The driver and front passenger BeltMinder娂 are deactivated/activated independently. When deactivating/activating one seating position, do not buckle the other position as this will terminate the process. Read Steps 1 - 4 thoroughly before proceeding with the deactivation/activation programming procedure. Note: The driver and front passenger BeltMinder娂 features must be disabled/enabled separately. Both cannot be disable/enabled during the same key cycle. The driver and front passenger BeltMinder娂 features can be deactivated/activated by performing the following procedure: Before following the procedure, make sure that: • The parking brake is set 149 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Seating and Safety Restraints • The gearshift is in P (Park) (automatic transmission) • The ignition switch is in the OFF position • The driver and front passenger safety belts are unbuckled To reduce the risk of injury, do not deactivate/activate the BeltMinder娂 feature while driving the vehicle. 1. Turn the ignition switch to the RUN (or ON) position. (DO NOT START THE ENGINE) 2. Wait until the safety belt warning light turns off. (Approximately 1 minute) • Step 3 must be completed within 50 seconds after the safety belt warning light turns off. 3. For the seating position being disabled, at a moderate speed, buckle then unbuckle the safety belt 9 times, ending in the unbuckled state. (Step 3 must be completed within 50 seconds after the safety belt warning light turns off.) • After Step 3, the restraint system warning light (airbag light) will be turned on for three seconds. 4. Within 10 seconds of the light turning on, at a moderate speed, buckle then unbuckle the safety belt. • This will disable the BeltMinder娂 feature for that seating position if it is currently enabled. As confirmation, the restraint system warning light will flash 4 times per second for 3 seconds. • This will enable the BeltMinder娂 feature for that seating position if it is currently disabled. As confirmation, the restraint system warning light will flash 4 times per second for 3 seconds, followed by 3 seconds with the light off, then followed by the restraint system warning light flashing 4 times per second for 3 seconds again. Safety belt extension assembly If the safety belt is too short when fully extended, a 9 inch (23 cm) or 12 inch (31 cm) safety belt extension assembly can be added (part numbers 611C22–A and 611C22–B respectively). These assemblies can be obtained from an authorized dealer at no cost. Use only extensions manufactured by the same supplier as the safety belt. Manufacturer identification is located at the end of the webbing on the label. Also, use the safety belt extension only if the safety belt is too short for you when fully extended. 150 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Seating and Safety Restraints Do not use extensions to change the fit of the shoulder belt across the torso. Safety belt maintenance Inspect the safety belt systems periodically to make sure they work properly and are not damaged. Inspect the safety belts to make sure there are no nicks, tears or cuts, replacing if necessary. All safety belt assemblies, including retractors, buckles, front seat belt buckle assemblies, buckle support assemblies (slide bar-if equipped), shoulder belt height adjusters (if equipped), child safety seat tether bracket assemblies (if equipped), LATCH child seat tether anchors and lower anchors (if equipped), and attaching hardware, should be inspected after a collision. Ford recommends that all safety belt assemblies in use in vehicles involved in a collision be replaced. However, if the collision was minor and an authorized dealer finds that the belts do not show damage and continue to operate properly, they do not need to be replaced, except as described in the Replacing the front seat belt assemblies after a collision section of this chapter. Safety belt assemblies not in use during a collision should also be inspected and replaced if either damage or improper operation is noted. Failure to inspect and if necessary replace the safety belt assembly under the above conditions could result in severe personal injuries in the event of a collision. Refer to Interior in the Cleaning chapter. Replacing the front seat belt assemblies after a collision The front outboard safety belt assemblies have a special energy management retractors designed to further reduce the risk of injury in the event of a head-on collision. These retractors should be replaced if they were used in any accident in which the front airbags deploy. If the safety belt assemblies are not replaced, there may be increased risk of injury in the event of a subsequent collision. Failure to inspect and if necessary replace the safety belt assembly under the above conditions could result in severe personal injuries in the event of a collision. 151 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Seating and Safety Restraints AIRBAG SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) The airbag supplemental restraint system (SRS) is designed to work in conjunction with the safety belts to help protect the driver and front outboard passenger from certain upper body injuries. The term “supplemental restraint” means the airbags are intended as a supplement to the safety belts. Airbags alone cannot protect as well as airbags plus safety belts in impacts for which the airbags are designed to deploy, and airbags do not offer any protection in crashes for which they do not deploy. Important SRS precautions The SRS is designed to work with the safety belt to help protect the driver and right front passenger from certain upper body injuries. Airbags DO NOT inflate slowly; there is a risk of injury from a deploying airbag. All occupants of the vehicle, including the driver, should always properly wear their safety belts, even when an air bag supplemental restraint system (SRS) is provided. 152 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Seating and Safety Restraints Always transport children 12 years old and under in the back seat and always properly use appropriate child restraints. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends a minimum distance of at least 10 inches (25 cm) between an occupant’s chest and the driver airbag module. Never place your arm over the air bag module as a deploying air bag can result in serious arm fractures or other injuries. To properly position yourself away from the airbag: • Move your seat to the rear as far as you can while still reaching the • Recline the seat slightly one or two degrees from the upright position. pedals comfortably. Do not put anything on or over the air bag module. Placing objects on or over the air bag inflation area may cause those objects to be propelled by the air bag into your face and torso causing serious injury. Do not attempt to service, repair, or modify the airbag supplemental restraint systems or its fuses. See your authorized dealer. Modifying or adding equipment to the front end of the vehicle (including frame, bumper, front end body structure and tow hooks) may affect the performance of the airbag system, increasing the risk of injury. Do not modify the front end of the vehicle. 153 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Seating and Safety Restraints Children and airbags Children must always be properly restrained. Accident statistics suggest that children are safer when properly restrained in the rear seating positions than in the front seating position. Failure to follow these instructions may increase the risk of injury in a collision. Airbags can kill or injure a child in a child seat. NEVER place a rear-facing child seat in front of an active airbag. If you must use a forward-facing child seat in the front seat, move the seat all the way back. How does the airbag supplemental restraint system work? The airbag SRS is designed to activate when the vehicle sustains longitudinal deceleration sufficient to cause the sensors to close an electrical circuit that initiates airbag inflation. The fact that the airbags 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. Front airbags are designed to inflate in frontal and near-frontal collisions, not rollover, side-impact, or rear-impacts unless the collision causes sufficient longitudinal deceleration. 154 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Seating and Safety Restraints The airbags inflate and deflate rapidly upon activation. After airbag deployment, it is normal to notice a smoke-like, powdery residue or smell the burnt 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 airbag. Small amounts of sodium hydroxide may be present which may irritate the skin and eyes, but none of the residue is toxic. While the system is designed to help reduce serious injuries, contact with a deploying airbag may also cause abrasions, swelling or temporary hearing loss. Because airbags must inflate rapidly and with considerable force, there is the risk of death or serious injuries such as fractures, facial and eye injuries or internal injuries, particularly to occupants who are not properly restrained or are otherwise out of position at the time of airbag deployment. Thus, it is extremely important that occupants be properly restrained as far away from the airbag module as possible while maintaining vehicle control. Several air bag system components get hot after inflation. Do not touch them after inflation. If the air bag has deployed, 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. airbags). The SRS consists of: • driver and passenger airbag modules (which include the inflators and • side airbags (if equipped). Refer to Side airbag system later in this • one or more impact and safing sensors. • a readiness light and tone. chapter. 155 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Seating and Safety Restraints • diagnostic module. • and the electrical wiring which connects the components. The diagnostic module monitors its own internal circuits and the supplemental airbag electrical system wiring (including the impact sensors), the system wiring, the airbag system readiness light, the airbag back up power and the airbag ignitors. Front passenger sensing system The front passenger sensing system will turn off the front passenger’s frontal airbag under certain conditions. The driver’s airbag and side airbag are not part of the front passenger sensing system. The front passenger sensing system works with sensors that are part of the front passenger’s seat and safety belt. The sensors are designed to detect the presence of a properly-seated occupant and determine if the front passenger’s frontal airbag should be enabled (may inflate) or not. The front passenger sensing system is designed to meet the regulatory requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 208 and is designed to turn off the front passenger’s frontal airbag if: • the front passenger seat is unoccupied, or has small/medium objects in • the system determines that an infant is present in a rear-facing infant • the system determines that a small child is present in a forward-facing seat that is installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions, the front seat, child restraint that is installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions, • the system determines that a small child is present in a booster seat, • a front passenger takes his/her weight off of the seat for a period of • A smaller person, such as a child who has outgrown child restraints, time, or a small adult occupies the front passenger seat. Even with the front passenger sensing system, children 12 and under should be properly restrained in the back seat. 156 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Seating and Safety Restraints When the front passenger seat is occupied and the sensing system has turned off the passenger’s frontal airbag, the ⬙passenger airbag off⬙ or ⬙pass airbag off⬙ indicator will light and stay lit to remind you that the front passenger frontal airbag is off. When the front passenger seat is not occupied (empty seat) or in the event that the front passenger frontal airbag is enabled (may inflate), the indicator light will be unlit. The indicator light is located in the center stack of the instrument panel to the right of the radio. The front passenger sensing system is designed to turn off the front passenger’s frontal airbag when a rear facing infant seat, a forward-facing child restraint, or a booster seat is detected. If the child restraint has been installed and the indicator is not lit, then turn the vehicle off, remove the child restraint from the vehicle and reinstall the restraint following the child restraint manufacturer’s directions. The front passenger sensing system is designed to enable (may inflate) the right front passenger’s frontal airbag anytime the system senses that a person of adult size is sitting properly in the front passenger seat. When the passenger sensing system has allowed the airbag to be enabled, the indicator will be unlit and stay unlit to remind you that the airbag is enabled (may inflate). If a person of adult-size is sitting in the front passenger’s seat, but the ⬙passenger airbag off⬙ or ⬙pass airbag off⬙ indicator is lit, it could be that the person isn’t sitting properly in the seat. If this happens, turn the vehicle off and ask the person to place the seatback in the full upright position, then sit upright in the seat, centered on the seat cushion, with the person’s legs comfortably extended. Restart the vehicle and have the person remain in this position for about two minutes. This will allow the system to detect that person and then enable the passenger’s airbag. If the indicator lamp remains lit even after this, then the occupant should be advised to ride in the back seat. After all occupants have adjusted their seats and put on safety belts, it’s very important that they continue to sit upright, with their back against the seatback, with their feet comfortably extended on the floor while the vehicle is still in motion. Sitting improperly can increase the chance of injury in a crash event. For example, if an occupant slouches, lies down, turns sideways, sits forward, leans forward or sideways, or puts one or both feet up, the chance of injury during a crash is greatly increased. 157 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Seating and Safety Restraints Sitting improperly out of position or with the seat back reclined too far can take off weight from the seat cushion and affect the decision of the passenger sensing system, resulting in serious injury or death in a crash. Always sit upright against your seatback, with your feet on the floor. Lit Objects Disabled Disabled Passenger Airbag The front passenger sensing system may detect small or medium objects placed on the seat cushion. For most objects that are in the front passenger seat, the passenger airbag will be disabled. Even though the passenger airbag is disabled, the ⬙pass airbag off⬙ light may or may not be illuminated according to the table below. Pass Airbag Off Indicator Light Unlit Unlit Empty seat Small (i.e. 3 ring binder, small purse, bottled water) Medium (i.e. heavy briefcase, fully packed luggage) Empty seat, Small or medium object with safety belt buckled In case there is a problem with the passenger sensing system, the airbag readiness light in the instrument cluster will stay lit. DO NOT attempt to repair or service the system; take your vehicle immediately to an authorized dealer. If it is necessary to modify an advanced front airbag system to accommodate a person with disabilities, contact the Ford Customer Relationship Center at the phone number shown in the Customer Assistance section of this Owner’s Guide. Disabled Disabled Lit Any alteration/modification to the front passenger seat may affect the performance of the front passenger sensing system. 158 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Seating and Safety Restraints Determining if the system is operational The supplemental restraint system uses a warning indicator in the instrument cluster or a back-up tone to indicate the condition of the system. Refer to the Warning lights and chimes section in the Instrument Cluster chapter. Routine maintenance of the airbag is not required. A difficulty with the system is indicated by one or more of the following: • The readiness light (same light for front and side airbag system) will either flash or stay lit. • The readiness light will not • A series of five beeps will be heard. The tone pattern will repeat illuminate immediately after ignition is turned on. periodically until the problem and/or light are repaired. If any of these things happen, even intermittently, have the supplemental restraint system serviced at an authorized dealer immediately. Unless serviced, the system may not function properly in the event of a collision. Side airbag system (if equipped) Do not place objects or mount equipment on or near the airbag cover on the side of the seatbacks of the front seats or in front seat areas that may come into contact with a deploying airbag. Failure to follow these instructions may increase the risk of personal injury in the event of a collision. Do not use accessory seat covers. The use of accessory seat covers may prevent the deployment of the side airbags and increase the risk of injury in an accident. Do not lean your head on the door. The side airbag could injure you as it deploys from the side of the seatback. Do not attempt to service, repair, or modify the airbag SRS, its fuses or the seat cover on a seat containing an airbag. See your authorized dealer. 159 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Seating and Safety Restraints All occupants of the vehicle should always wear their safety belts even when an airbag SRS is provided. How does the side airbag system work? The design and development of the side airbag system included recommended testing procedures that were developed by a group of automotive safety experts known as the Side Airbag Technical Working Group. These recommended testing procedures help reduce the risk of injuries related to the deployment of side airbags. The side airbag system consists of the following: • An inflatable nylon bag (airbag) with a gas generator concealed behind the outboard bolster of the driver and front passenger seatbacks. • A special seat cover designed to • The same readiness airbag light, electronic control and diagnostic unit as used for the front airbags. • Two crash sensors located under allow airbag deployment. the outboard side of the front seats, attached to the floor. Side airbags, in combination with seat belts, can help reduce the risk of severe injuries in the event of a significant side impact collision. The side airbags are fitted on the outboard side of the seatbacks of the front seats. In certain lateral collisions, the airbag on the side affected by the collision will be inflated, even if the respective seat is not occupied. The airbag was designed to inflate between the door panel and occupant to further enhance the protection provided occupants in side impact collisions. The airbag SRS is designed to activate when the vehicle sustains lateral deceleration sufficient to cause the sensors to close an electrical circuit that initiates airbag inflation. The fact that the airbags did not inflate in a collision does not mean that something is wrong with the system. Rather, it means the forces were 160 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Seating and Safety Restraints not of the type sufficient to cause activation. Side airbags are designed to inflate in side-impact collisions, not roll-over, rear-impact, frontal or near-frontal collisions, unless the collision causes sufficient lateral deceleration. Several air bag system components get hot after inflation. Do not touch them after inflation. If the side airbag has deployed, the airbag will not function again. The side airbag system (including the seat) must be inspected and serviced by an authorized dealer. If the airbag is not replaced, the unrepaired area will increase the risk of injury in a collision. Safety Canopy姟 system (if equipped) Do not place objects or mount equipment on or near the headliner at the siderail that may come into contact with a deploying Safety Canopy娂. Failure to follow these instructions may increase the risk of personal injury in the event of a collision. Do not lean your head on the door. The Safety Canopy娂 could injure you as it deploys from the headliner. 161 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Seating and Safety Restraints Do not attempt to service, repair, or modify the Safety Canopy娂 system, its fuses, the A, B, C or D pillar trim, or the headliner on a vehicle containing a Safety Canopy娂. See your authorized dealer. All occupants of the vehicle including the driver should always wear their safety belts even when an airbag SRS and Safety Canopy娂 system is provided. To reduce risk of injury, do not obstruct or place objects in the deployment path of the inflatable Safety Canopy娂. How does the Safety Canopy姟 system work? The design and development of the Safety Canopy娂 system included recommended testing procedures that were developed by a group of automotive safety experts known as the Side Airbag Technical Working Group. These recommended testing procedures help reduce the risk of injuries related to the deployment of side airbags (including the Safety Canopy娂). The Safety Canopy娂 system consists of the following: • An inflatable nylon curtain with a gas generator concealed behind the headliner and above the doors (one on each side of vehicle). Canopy娂 deployment. • A headliner designed to flex open above the side doors to allow Safety • The same readiness airbag light, electronic control and diagnostic unit • Two crash sensors mounted under the front seats (one on each side). as used for the front airbags. 162 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) on each side). Seating and Safety Restraints • Two crash sensors located at the c-pillar behind the rear doors (one • Rollover sensor in the restraints control module (RCM). The Safety Canopy娂 system, in combination with seat belts, can help reduce the risk of severe injuries in the event of a significant side impact collision or rollover event. Children 12 years old and under should always be properly restrained in the second or third row seats. The Safety Canopy娂 will not interfere with children restrained using a properly installed child or booster seat because it is designed to inflate downward from the headliner above the doors along the side window opening. The Safety Canopy娂 system is designed to activate when the vehicle sustains lateral deceleration sufficient to cause the side crash sensor to close an electrical circuit that initiates Safety Canopy娂 inflation or when a certain likelihood of a rollover event is detected by the rollover sensor. The Safety Canopy娂 is mounted to roof side-rail sheet metal, behind the headliner, along the entire side of the vehicle. In certain lateral collisions or rollover events, the Safety Canopy娂 system will be activated, regardless of which seats are occupied. The Safety Canopy娂 is designed to inflate between the side window area and occupants to further enhance protection provided in side impact collisions and rollover events. The fact that the Safety Canopy娂 did not activate 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 Safety Canopy娂 is designed to inflate in certain side impact collisions or rollover events, not in rear impact, frontal or near-frontal collisions, unless the collision causes sufficient lateral deceleration or rollover. Several Safety Canopy娂 system components get hot after inflation. Do not touch them after inflation. 163 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Seating and Safety Restraints If the Safety Canopy娂 system has deployed, the Safety Canopy娂 will not function again unless replaced. The Safety Canopy娂 system (including the A, B, C, and D pillar trim) must be inspected and serviced by an authorized dealer. If the Safety Canopy娂 is not replaced, the unrepaired area will increase the risk of injury in a collision. Determining if the system is operational The SRS uses a readiness light in the instrument cluster or a tone to indicate the condition of the system. Refer to the Airbag readiness section in the Instrument Cluster chapter. Routine maintenance of the airbag is not required. Any difficulty with the system is indicated by one or more of the following: • The readiness airbag light (same light as for front airbag system) will • The readiness light will not illuminate immediately after ignition is • A series of five beeps will be heard. The tone pattern will repeat either flash or stay lit. turned on. periodically until the problem and light are repaired. If any of these things happen, even intermittently, have the SRS serviced at your an authorized dealer immediately. Unless serviced, the system may not function properly in the event of a collision or rollover event. Disposal of airbags and airbag equipped vehicles (including pretensioners) See your authorized dealer. Airbags MUST BE disposed of by qualified personnel. SAFETY RESTRAINTS FOR CHILDREN See the following sections for directions on how to properly use safety restraints for children. Also see Airbag supplemental restraint system (SRS) in this chapter for special instructions about using airbags. Important child restraint precautions You are required by law to use safety restraints for children in the U.S. and Canada. If small children (generally children who are four years old 164 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Seating and Safety Restraints or younger and who weigh 40 lb. [18 kg] or less) ride in your vehicle, you must put them in safety seats made especially for children. Many states require that children use approved booster seats until they are eight years old. Check your local and state or provincial laws for specific requirements regarding the safety of children in your vehicle. When possible, always place children under age 12 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. 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. Children and safety belts If the child is the proper size, restrain the child in a safety seat. Children who are too large for child safety seats (as specified by your child safety seat manufacturer) should always wear safety belts. Follow all the important safety restraint and airbag 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. Do not leave children, unreliable adults, or pets unattended in your vehicle. Child booster seats Children outgrow a typical convertible or toddler seat when they weigh 40 lb. (18 kg) and are around 4 years of age. Although the lap/shoulder belt will provide some protection, these children are still too small for lap/shoulder belts to fit properly, which could increase the risk of serious injury. To improve the fit of both the lap and shoulder belt on children who have outgrown child safety seats, Ford Motor Company recommends use of a belt-positioning booster. 165 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Seating and Safety Restraints Booster seats position a child so that safety belts fit better. They lift the child up so that the lap belt rests low across the hips and the knees bend comfortably. Booster seats also make the shoulder belt fit better and more comfortably for growing children. When children should use booster seats Children need to use booster seats from the time they outgrow the toddler seat until they are big enough for the vehicle seat and lap/shoulder belt to fit properly. Generally this is when they weigh about 80 lb. (36 kg) (about 8 to 12 years old). Booster seats should be used until you can answer YES to ALL of these questions: • Can the child sit all the way back against the vehicle seat back with knees bent comfortably at the edge of the seat without slouching? • Does the lap belt rest low across the hips? • Is the shoulder belt centered on the shoulder and chest? • Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip? Types of booster seats There are two types of belt-positioning booster seats: • Those that are backless. If your backless booster seat has a removable shield, remove the shield and use the lap/shoulder belt. If a seating position has a low seat back and no head restraint, a backless booster seat may place your child’s head (top of ear level) above the top of the seat. In this case, move the backless booster to another seating position with a higher seat back and lap/shoulder belts. 166 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Seating and Safety Restraints • Those with a high back. If, with a backless booster seat, you cannot find a seating position that adequately supports your child’s head, a high back booster seat would be a better choice. Both can be used in any vehicle in a seating position equipped with lap/shoulder belts if your child is over 40 lb. (18 kg). The shoulder belt should cross the chest, resting snugly on the center of the shoulder. The lap belt should rest low and snug across the hips, never up high across the stomach. If the booster seat slides on the vehicle seat, placing a rubberized mesh sold as shelf or carpet liner under the booster seat may improve this condition. The importance of shoulder belts Using a booster without a shoulder belt increases the risk of a child’s head hitting a hard surface in a collision. For this reason, you should never use a booster seat with a lap belt only. It is best to use a booster seat with lap/shoulder belts in the back seat- the safest place for children to ride. Follow all instructions provided by the manufacturer of the booster seat. Never put the shoulder belt under a child’s arm or behind the back because it eliminates the protection for the upper part of the body and may increase the risk of injury or death in a collision. Never use pillows, books, or towels to boost a child. They can slide around and increase the likelihood of injury or death in a collision. 167 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Seating and Safety Restraints SAFETY SEATS FOR CHILDREN Child and infant or child safety seats Use a safety seat that is recommended for the size and weight of the child. Carefully follow all of the manufacturer’s instructions 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. When installing a child safety seat: • Review and follow the information presented in the Airbag Supplemental Restraint System section in this chapter. • Use the correct safety belt buckle • Insert 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. for that seating position. • Keep 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. • Place seat back in upright position. • LATCH lower anchors are recommended for use by children up to 48 pounds (22 kg) in a child restraint. Top tether anchors can be used for children up to 60 pounds (27 kg) in a child restraint, and to provide upper torso restraint for children up to 80 pounds (36 kg) using an upper torso harness and a belt-positioning booster. Ford recommends the use of a child safety seat having a top tether strap. Install the child safety seat in a seating position with LATCH and tether anchors. For more information on top tether straps and anchors, refer to Attaching safety seats with tether straps in this chapter. For more information of LATCH anchors refer to Attaching safety seats with LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) attachments in this chapter. 168 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Seating and Safety Restraints 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 with combination lap and shoulder belts Airbags can kill or injure a child in a child seat. NEVER place a rear-facing child seat in front of an active airbag. If you must use a forward-facing child seat in the front seat, move the seat all the way back. Children 12 and under should be properly restrained in the rear seat whenever possible. 1. Position the child safety seat in a seat with a combination lap and shoulder belt. If you use the 3rd row center seat and the safety belt has been detached from the seat to carry large cargo, remove the safety belt from the stowage area on the ceiling and buckle the small tongue on the end of the belt to the mini-buckle on the left side of the center seat position. 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) 169 Seating and Safety Restraints 2. Pull down on the shoulder belt and then grasp the shoulder belt and lap belt together. 3. While holding the shoulder and lap belt portions together, route the tongue through the child seat according to the child seat manufacturer’s instructions. Be sure the belt webbing is not twisted. 4. Insert the belt tongue into the proper buckle (the buckle closest to the direction the tongue is coming from) for that seating position until you hear a snap and feel the latch engage. Make sure the tongue is latched securely by pulling on it. 170 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Seating and Safety Restraints 5. To put the retractor in the automatic locking mode, grasp the shoulder portion of the belt and pull downward until all of the belt is pulled out and a click is heard. 6. Allow the belt to retract. The belt will click as it retracts to indicate it is in the automatic locking mode. 7. Pull the lap belt portion across the child seat toward the buckle and pull up on the shoulder belt while pushing down with your knee on the child seat. 8. Allow the safety belt to retract to remove any slack in the belt. 9. Before placing the child in the seat, forcibly move the seat forward and back to make sure the seat is securely held in place. To check this, grab the seat at the belt path and attempt to move it side to side and forward. There should be no more than one inch of movement for proper installation. 10. Try to pull the belt out of the retractor to make sure the retractor is in the automatic locking mode (you should not be able to pull more belt out). If the retractor is not locked, unbuckle the belt and repeat Steps two through nine. Check to make sure the child seat is properly secured before each use. 171 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Seating and Safety Restraints Attaching child safety seats with tether straps Most new forward-facing child safety seats include a tether strap which goes over the back of the seat and hooks to an anchoring point. Tether straps are available as an accessory for many older safety seats. Contact the manufacturer of your child seat for information about ordering a tether strap. Children should be placed in the rear in an appropriate child safety seat that is properly secured to the vehicle. The tether anchors in your vehicle are in the positions shown: The front passenger seat with power adjustment does not have a tether anchor. The two tether anchors on the back of the second row bench seat can be used either for child safety seats at the two seating positions, or either anchor can be used for a single LATCH child seat installed at the center of the bench seat. 172 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Seating and Safety Restraints Front passenger seating position (manual adjusting seats only) 1. Position the child safety seat on the passenger seat cushion. 2. Route the child safety seat tether strap over the back of the seat. If the head restraint is adjustable, route the tether strap under the head restraint and between the head restraint posts. If the top of the safety seat hits the head restraint, raise the head restraint to let the child seat fit further rearward. 3. Grasp the tether strap and position it to the seat frame. 173 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Seating and Safety Restraints 4. Rotate the tether hook, and 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. 5. Rotate the tether strap clip. 6. Install the child safety seat tightly using the LATCH anchors or safety belts. Follow the instructions in this chapter. 174 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Seating and Safety Restraints 7. Tighten the child safety seat tether strap according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Rear seating positions Follow Steps 1–7 as described above for the following available seats: • 2nd row bucket • 2nd row bench • 3rd row bench 175 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Seating and Safety Restraints For additional important safety information on the proper use of safety belts, child seats and infant seats, please read the entire Seating and safety restraints chapter in this owner’s guide. Attaching safety seats with LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) attachments for child seat anchors New child safety seats have two rigid or webbing mounted attachments that connect to two anchors at certain seating positions in your vehicle. This type of child seat eliminates the need to use safety belts to attach the child seat. For forward-facing child seats, the tether strap must also be attached to the proper tether anchor. See Attaching safety seats with tether straps in this chapter. Your vehicle has LATCH anchors for child seat installation at the seating positions marked with the child seat symbol. If your vehicle has a second row bench seat, one child seat can be placed in each outboard seating position, or one LATCH child seat can be placed in the center of the seat only. Please note that the center-only position does not have a separate tether anchor. Either of the outboard tether anchors may be used for the center position. Do not use the two designated seating positions of the 2nd row bench when a LATCH child seat is installed at the center. A child seat will block access to the safety belt buckles. Never attach two LATCH child safety seats to the same anchor. In a crash, one anchor may not be strong enough to hold two child safety seat attachments and may break, causing serious injury or death. 176 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Seating and Safety Restraints The lower anchors for child seat installation are located at the rear section of the rear seat between the cushion and seat back. Follow the child seat manufacturer’s instructions to properly install a child seat with LATCH attachments. Attach LATCH lower attachments of the child seat only to the anchors shown. If you install a child seat with rigid LATCH attachments, do not tighten the tether strap enough to lift the child seat off the vehicle seat cushion when the child is seated in it. Keep the tether strap just snug without lifting the front of the child seat. Keeping the child seat just touching the vehicle seat gives the best protection in a severe crash. Adjusting the seat back angle may allow the tether strap to be tight without lifting the child seat. Each time you use the safety seat, check that the seat is properly attached to the lower anchors and tether anchor. Try to tilt the child seat from side to side. Also try to tug the seat forward. Check to see if the anchors hold the seat in place. If the safety seat is not anchored properly, the risk of a child being injured in a crash greatly increases. 177 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Tires, Wheels and Loading INFORMATION ABOUT UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY GRADING New vehicles are fitted with tires that have a rating on them called Tire Quality Grades. The Quality grades can be found where applicable on the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and maximum section width. For example: • Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A These Tire Quality Grades are determined by standards that the United States Department of Transportation has set. Tire Quality Grades apply to new pneumatic tires for use on passenger cars. They do not apply to deep tread, winter-type snow tires, space-saver or temporary use spare tires, tires with nominal rim diameters of 10 to 12 inches or limited production tires as defined in Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations Part 575.104(c)(2). U.S. Department of Transportation-Tire quality grades: The U.S. Department of Transportation requires Ford Motor Company to give you the following information about tire grades exactly as the government has written it. Treadwear The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled conditions on a specified government test course. For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and one-half (1 1/2) times as well on the government course as a tire graded 100. The relative performance of tires depends upon the actual conditions of their use, however, and may depart significantly from the norm due to variations in driving habits, service practices, and differences in road characteristics and climate. Traction AA A B C The traction grades, from highest to lowest are AA, A, B, and C. The grades represent the tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement as measured under controlled conditions on specified government test surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor traction performance. 178 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Tires, Wheels and Loading The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on straight-ahead braking traction tests, and does not include acceleration, cornering, hydroplaning or peak traction characteristics. Temperature A B C The temperature grades are A (the highest), B and C, representing the tire’s resistance to the generation of heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested under controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratory test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the material of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, and excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure. The grade C corresponds to a level of performance which all passenger car tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher levels of performance on the laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by law. The temperature grade for this tire is established for a tire that is properly inflated and not overloaded. Excessive speed, underinflation, or excessive loading, either separately or in combination, can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure. TIRES Tires are designed to give many thousands of miles of service, but they must be maintained in order to get the maximum benefit from them. Glossary of tire terminology • Tire label: A label showing the OE (Original Equipment) tire sizes, recommended inflation pressure and the maximum weight the vehicle can carry. • Tire Identification Number (TIN): A number on the sidewall of each tire providing information about the tire brand and manufacturing plant, tire size and date of manufacture. • Inflation pressure: A measure of the amount of air in a tire. • Standard load: A class of P-metric or Metric tires designed to carry a maximum load at 35 psi [37 psi (2.5 bar) for Metric tires]. Increasing the inflation pressure beyond this pressure will not increase the tire’s load carrying capability. 179 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Tires, Wheels and Loading • Extra load: A class of P-metric or Metric tires designed to carry a heavier maximum load at 41 psi [43 psi (2.9 bar) for Metric tires]. Increasing the inflation pressure beyond this pressure will not increase the tire’s load carrying capability. • kPa: Kilopascal, a metric unit of air pressure. • PSI: Pounds per square inch, a standard unit of air pressure. • Cold inflation pressure: The tire pressure when the vehicle has been stationary and out of direct sunlight for an hour or more and prior to the vehicle being driven for 1 mile (1.6 km). front door. • Recommended inflation pressure: The cold inflation pressure found on the Safety Compliance Certification Label located on the B-Pillar or the edge of the driver’s door. • B-pillar: The structural member at the side of the vehicle behind the • Bead area of the tire: Area of the tire next to the rim. • Sidewall of the tire: Area between the bead area and the tread. • Tread area of the tire: Area of the perimeter of the tire that • Rim: The metal support (wheel) for a tire or a tire and tube assembly contacts the road when mounted on the vehicle. upon which the tire beads are seated. INSPECTING AND INFLATING YOUR TIRES Safe operation of your vehicle requires that your tires are properly inflated. Remember that a tire can lose up to half of its air pressure without appearing flat. Every day before you drive, check your tires. If one looks lower than the others, use a tire gauge to check pressure of all tires, and adjust if required. At least once a month and before long trips, inspect each tire and check the tire pressure with a tire gauge (including spare, if equipped). Inflate all tires to the inflation pressure recommended by Ford Motor Company. 180 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Tires, Wheels and Loading Inspecting your tires Periodically inspect the tire treads for uneven or excessive wear and remove stones, nails, glass or other objects that may be wedged in the tread grooves. Check for holes or cuts that may permit air leakage from the tire and make necessary repairs. Also inspect the tire sidewalls for cuts, bruises and other damage. If internal damage to the tire is suspected, have the tire demounted and inspected in case it needs to be repaired or replaced. For your safety, tires that are damaged should not be used because they are more likely to blow out or fail. Tires can be damaged during off-road use, so inspection after off-road use is also recommended. Inflating your tires Use a tire gauge to check the tire inflation pressure, including the spare (if equipped), at least monthly and before long trips. You are strongly urged to buy a reliable tire pressure gauge, as automatic service station gauges may be inaccurate. Ford Motor Company recommends the use of a digital or dial-type tire pressure gauge rather than a stick-type tire pressure gauge. Use the recommended cold inflation pressure for optimum tire performance and wear. Under-inflation or over-inflation may cause uneven treadwear patterns. Under-inflation is the most common cause of tire failures and may result in severe tire cracking, tread separation or ⬙blowout⬙, with unexpected loss of vehicle control and increased risk of injury. Under-inflation increases sidewall flexing and rolling resistance, resulting in heat buildup and internal damage to the tire. It also may result in unnecessary tire stress, irregular wear, loss of vehicle control and accidents. A tire can lose up to half of its air pressure and not appear to be flat! Always inflate your tires to the Ford recommended inflation pressure even if it is less than the maximum inflation pressure information found on the tire. The Ford recommended tire inflation pressure is found on the Safety Compliance Certification Label which is located on the B-Pillar or the edge of the driver’s door. Failure to follow the tire pressure recommendations can cause uneven treadwear patterns and adversely affect the way your vehicle handles. Maximum Permissible Inflation Pressure is the tire manufactures’ maximum permissible pressure and/or the pressure at which the 181 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Tires, Wheels and Loading maximum load can be carried by the tire. This pressure is normally higher than the manufacturer’s recommended cold inflation pressure which can be found on either the Safety Compliance Certification Label which is located on the B-Pillar or the edge of the driver’s door. The cold inflation pressure should never be set lower than the recommended pressure on the Safety Compliance Certification Label. When weather temperature changes occur, tire inflation pressures also change. A 10° F (6° C) temperature drop can cause a corresponding drop of 1 psi (7 kPa) in inflation pressure. Check your tire pressures frequently and adjust them to the proper pressure which can be found on the Safety Compliance Certification Label. If you are checking tire pressure when the tire is hot, (i.e. driven more than 1 mile [1.6 km]), never “bleed” or reduce air pressure. The tires are hot from driving and it is normal for pressures to increase above recommended cold pressures. A hot tire at or below recommended cold inflation pressure could be significantly under-inflated. To check the pressure in your tire(s): 1. Make sure the tires are cool, meaning they are not hot from driving even a mile. Note: If you have to drive a distance to get air for your tire(s), check and record the tire pressure first and add the appropriate air pressure when you get to the pump. It is normal for tires to heat up and the air pressure inside to go up as you drive. Never “bleed” or reduce air pressure when tires are hot. 2. Remove the cap from the valve on one tire, then firmly press the tire gauge onto the valve and measure the pressure with the tire gauge. 3. Add enough air to reach the recommended air pressure. Note: If you overfill the tire, release air by pushing on the metal stem in the center of the valve. Then recheck the pressure with your tire gauge. 4. Replace the valve cap. 5. Repeat this procedure for each tire, including the spare. Note: Some spare tires require higher inflation pressure than the other tires. Check the Safety Compliance Certification Label on the B pillar or the edge of the driver’s door for the recommended spare tire pressure. 6. Visually inspect the tires to make sure there are no nails or other objects embedded that could poke a hole in the tire and cause an air leak. 7. Check the sidewalls to make sure there are no gouges, cuts or bulges. 182 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Tires, Wheels and Loading TIRE REPLACEMENT REQUIREMENTS Your vehicle is equipped with tires designed to provide a safe ride and handling capability. Only use replacement tires and wheels that are the same size and type (such as P-metric versus LT-metric or all-season versus all-terrain) as those originally provided by Ford. Use of any tire or wheel not recommended by Ford can affect the safety and performance of your vehicle, which could result in an increased risk of loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover, personal injury and death. Additionally the use of non-recommended tires and wheels could cause steering, suspension, axle or transfer case/power transfer unit failure. If you have questions regarding tire replacement, see an authorized dealer. Make sure all tires and wheels on the vehicle are of the same size, type, tread design, brand, load-carrying capacity and speed rating because it can affect the safety and performance of your vehicle, which could result in an increased risk of loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover, personal injury and death. Important: Remember to replace the spare tire when you replace the road tires on your vehicle. Even if it has never been used, the spare tire should be replaced because tires degrade over time. Important: Remember to replace the wheel air valves when the road tires are replaced on your vehicle. CHANGING A FLAT TIRE If you get a flat tire while driving: • do not brake heavily. • gradually decrease the vehicle’s speed. • hold the steering wheel firmly. • slowly move to a safe place on the side of the road. • If your low tire warning light is on, refer to Low tire warning in this chapter. The use of tire sealants is not recommended and may damage your tires. The use of tire sealants may also affect your Tire Pressure Monitoring System (if equipped). 183 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Tires, Wheels and Loading Temporary spare tire information Your vehicle may have a temporary spare tire. The temporary spare tire for your vehicle is labeled as such. It is smaller than a regular tire and is designed for emergency use only. Replace this tire with a full-size tire as soon as possible. Note: The Low Tire Pressure Warning system (if equipped) will detect the temporary spare tire and illuminate the low tire warning light until the spare tire is replaced with a proper full-size tire. To reset the system, refer to Low tire warning – Indirect in this chapter. If you use the temporary spare tire continuously or do not follow these precautions, the tire could fail, causing you to lose control of the vehicle, possibly injuring yourself or others. Safety Compliance Label km) total under any circumstances When driving with the temporary spare tire do not: • use more than one temporary spare tire at a time • exceed 50 mph (80 km/h) or drive further than 2,000 miles (3,200 • load the vehicle beyond maximum vehicle load rating listed on the • tow a Class III trailer • use tire chains • drive through an automatic car wash, because of the vehicle’s reduced • try to repair the temporary spare tire or remove it from its wheel • use the wheel for any other type of vehicle Use of a temporary spare tire at any one wheel location can lead to impairment of the following: • handling, stability and braking performance • comfort and noise • ground clearance and parking at curbs • Winter driving capability ground clearance 184 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Tires, Wheels and Loading Dissimilar spare tire/wheel information (if equipped) Failure to follow these guidelines could result in an increased risk of loss of vehicle control, injury or death. Your vehicle may be equipped with a dissimilar spare tire/wheel. A dissimilar spare tire/wheel is defined as a spare tire and/or wheel that is different in brand, size or appearance from the road tires and wheels. If you have a dissimilar spare tire/wheel, then it is intended for temporary use only. This means that if you need to use it, you should replace it as soon as possible with a road tire/wheel that is the same size and type as the road tires and wheels that were originally provided by Ford. If the dissimilar spare tire or wheel is damaged, it should be replaced rather than repaired. When driving with the dissimilar spare tire/wheel, do not: • Exceed 70 mph (113 km/h) • Use more than one dissimilar spare tire/wheel at a time • Use commercial car washing equipment • Use snow chains on the end of the vehicle with the dissimilar spare tire/wheel The usage of a dissimilar spare tire/wheel can lead to impairment of the following: • Handling, stability and braking performance • Comfort and noise • Ground clearance and parking at curbs • Winter weather driving capability • Wet weather driving capability • All-Wheel driving capability (if applicable) • Load leveling adjustment (if applicable) When driving with the dissimilar spare tire/wheel additional caution should be given to: • Towing a trailer • Driving vehicles equipped with a camper body • Driving vehicles with a load on the cargo rack Drive cautiously when using a dissimilar spare tire/wheel and seek service as soon as possible. 185 2005 Freestar (win) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus) Tires, Wheels and Loading Location of the spare tire and tools The spare tire and tools for your vehicle are stowed in the following locations: Item Location Spare tire Jack Jack handle Flat tire tether, wing screw Jack extension tool (cargo van model only)

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2005 Ford Freestar Owners Manual