Ford Escort (2003 year). Manual — part 17

Never place your armover the air bag module as a deploying air
bag can result in serious armfractures or other injuries.

To properly position yourself away fromthe air bag:
• Move your seat to the rear as far as you can while still reaching the

pedals comfortably.

• Recline the seat slightly one or two degrees fromthe upright position.

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 air bag
supplemental restraint systems or its fuses. See your Ford or

Lincoln Mercury 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 air bag system, increasing
the risk of injury. Do not modify the front end of the vehicle.

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Children and air bags

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.

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.

How does the air bag supplemental restraint system work?

The air bag SRS is designed to
activate when the vehicle sustains a
longitudinal deceleration sufficient
to cause the air bag sensors to close
an electrical circuit that initiates air
bag inflation. The fact that the air
bags did not inflate in a collision
does not mean that something is
wrong with the system. Rather, it
means the forces were not sufficient
enough to cause activation. Air bags
are designed to inflate in frontal and
near-frontal collisions, not rollover, side-impact, or rear-impacts unless
the collision causes sufficient longitudinal deceleration.

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The air bags inflate and deflate
rapidly upon activation. After air bag
deployment, it is normal to notice a
smoke-like, powdery residue or
smell the burnt propellant. This may
consist of cornstarch, talcum
powder or sodiumcompounds which
may irritate the skin and eyes, but
none of the residue is toxic.

While the SRS is designed to help
reduce serious injuries, contact with
a deploying air bag may also cause
abrasions, swelling or temporary
hearing loss. Because air bags 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 air bag deployment. It is
extremely important that occupants be properly restrained as far away
from the air bag module as possible while maintaining vehicle control.
The SRS consists of:
• driver and passenger air bag modules (which include the inflators and

air bags)

• one or more impact and safing sensors

• a readiness light and tone

• a diagnostic module

• and the electrical wiring which connects the components
The diagnostic module monitors its own internal circuits and the
supplemental air bag electrical system warning (including the impact
sensors), the systemwiring, the air bag systemreadiness light, the air
bag back up power and the air bag ignitors.

Several air bag systemcomponents get hot after inflation. Do not
touch themafter 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.

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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 Air bag readiness section
in the Instrument cluster chapter. Routine maintenance of the air bag is
not required.

A difficulty with the systemis indicated by one or more of the following:
• The readiness light will either

flash or stay lit.

• The readiness light will not

illuminate immediately after
ignition is turned on.

• A series of five beeps will be heard. The tone pattern will repeat

periodically until the problemand/or light are repaired.

If any of these things happen, even intermittently, have the SRS serviced
at your dealership or by a qualified technician immediately. Unless
serviced, the systemmay not function properly in the event of a
collision.

Disposal of air bags and air bag equipped vehicles

See your local dealership or qualified technician. Air bags 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 Air bag supplemental restraint system
(SRS) in this chapter for special instructions about using air bags.

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
or younger and who weigh 18 kg [40 lbs] or less) ride in your vehicle,
you must put them in safety seats made especially for children. Check
your local and state or provincial laws for specific requirements
regarding the safety of children in your vehicle. 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.

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