Ford Excursion (2005 year). Manual — part 27

How to disengage the automatic locking mode

Disconnect 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.

After any vehicle collision, the safety belt systems at all outboard
seating positions (except the driver position, which doesn’t have

this feature) must be checked by a qualified technician to verify that
the automatic locking retractor feature for child seats is still
functioning properly. In addition, all seat belts should be checked for
proper function.

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

any other seat belt function is not operating properly when checked
according to the procedures in Workshop Manual. Failure to replace
the belt and retractor assembly could increase the risk of injury in
collisions.

Energy Management Feature

• This vehicle has a seat belt system with an energy management

feature at the front outboard seating positions to help further reduce
the risk of injury in the event of a head-on collision.

• The front outboard seat belt systems have a retractor assembly that is

designed to pay out webbing in a controlled manner. This feature is
designed to help reduce the belt force acting on the occupant’s chest.

Outboard safety belt height adjustment

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.

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110

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.

Lap belts
Adjusting the lap belt

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

• 1st row and 3rd row center seating positions
The lap belt does not adjust automatically.

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.

• 2nd row center seating position (if equipped)

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111

The lap belt will not adjust automatically. To fasten, grasp the tongue,
and with a continuous motion, pull out enough webbing to buckle the
tongue into the correct buckle. If you did not pull out enough webbing to
reach the buckle, allow the tongue to retract fully before trying to pull it
out again.

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.

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 1-2 minutes 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 safety belt warning light and
indicator chime remain off.

BeltMinder

The BeltMinder 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.

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112

If...

Then...

The driver’s safety belt is not
buckled before 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 BeltMinder 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 feature will not
activate.

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

The BeltMinder feature will not
activate.

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 (40 km) 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 reminds us to take a few
seconds to buckle up.

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