Ford E-250 (2006 year). Manual — part 17

BELT AND RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY MUST BE REPLACED if
the safety belt assembly “automatic locking retractor” feature or

any other safety belt function is not operating properly when checked
by an authorized dealer. Failure to replace the Belt and Retractor
assembly could increase the risk of injury in collisions.

Safety belt pretensioner
Your vehicle is equipped with safety belt pretensioners at the driver and
front outboard passenger seating positions.
The safety belt pretensioner is a device which removes excess webbing
from the safety belt system. The safety belt pretensioner uses the same
crash sensor system as the front airbag supplemental restraint system
(SRS). When the safety belt pretensioner deploys, webbing from the lap
and shoulder belt is tightened. Refer to the Safety belt maintenance
section in this chapter.

The driver and front passenger safety belt system (including
retractors, buckles and height adjusters) must be replaced if the

vehicle is involved in a collision that results in deployment of front
airbags and safety belt pretensioners.

Front safety belt height adjustment

The driver and front seat outboard
positions are equipped with a height
adjuster. Adjust the height of the
shoulder belt so the belt rests
across the middle of your shoulder.

To adjust the shoulder belt height,
push the button and slide the height
adjuster up or down. Release the
button and pull down on the height
adjuster to make sure it is locked in
place.

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 seat belt and
increase the risk of injury in a collision.

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69

Lap belts

Adjusting the center lap belt

The lap belt does not adjust automatically.

The lap belt should fit snugly and as low as possible around the
hips, not across the waist.

Insert the tongue into the correct
buckle (the buckle closest to the
direction the tongue is coming
from). To lengthen the belt, turn the
tongue at a right angle to the belt
and pull across your lap until it
reaches the buckle. To tighten the
belt, pull the loose end of the belt
through the tongue until it fits snugly across the hips.

Shorten and fasten the belt when
not in use.

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.

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70

Conditions of operation

If...

Then...

The driver’s safety belt is not
buckled before the ignition switch
is turned to the ON position...

The safety belt warning light
illuminates and the warning chime
sounds 4-8 seconds.

The driver’s safety belt is buckled
while the indicator light is
illuminated and the warning chime
is sounding...

The safety belt warning light and
warning chime turn off.

The driver’s safety belt is buckled
before the ignition switch is turned
to the ON position...

The indicator chime will remain off
and the safety belt warning lamp
will illuminate for 4-8 seconds.

BeltMinder

姞

The BeltMinder

威 feature is a supplemental warning to the safety belt

warning function. This feature provides additional reminders to the
driver that the driver’s safety belt is unbuckled by intermittently
sounding a chime and illuminating the safety belt warning lamp in the
instrument cluster.

If...

Then...

The driver’s safety belt is not
buckled approximately 5 seconds
after the safety belt warning light
has turned off...

The BeltMinder

威 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
safety belt is buckled.

The driver’s safety belt is buckled
while the safety belt indicator light
is illuminated and the safety belt
warning chime is sounding...

The BeltMinder

威 feature will not

activate.

The driver’s safety belt is buckled
before the ignition switch is turned
to the ON position...

The BeltMinder

威 feature will not

activate.

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71

The following are reasons most often given for not wearing safety belts:
(All statistics based on U.S. data)

Reasons given...

Consider...

“Crashes are rare events”

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.

“I’m not going far”

3 of 4 fatal crashes occur within 25
miles of home.

“Belts are uncomfortable”

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.

“I was in a hurry”

Prime time for an accident.
BeltMinder

威 reminds us to take a few

seconds to buckle up.

“Safety belts don’t work”

Safety belts, when used properly,
reduce risk of death to front seat
occupants by 45% in cars, and by
60% in light trucks.

“Traffic is light”

Nearly 1 of 2 deaths occur in
single-vehicle crashes, many when
no other vehicles are around.

“Belts wrinkle my clothes”

Possibly, but a serious crash can do
much more than wrinkle your clothes,
particularly if you are unbelted.

“The people I’m with don’t
wear belts”

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.

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72