Ford Windstar (2003 year). Manual — part 26

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.

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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If...

Then...

The driver’s safety belt is not
buckled before the vehicle has
reached at least 5 km/h (3 mph)
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 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.

“Seat 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.

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Reasons given...

Consider...

“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.

“I have an air bag” Air bags offer greater protection when used with

safety belts. Frontal airbags are not designed to
inflate in rear and side crashes or rollovers.

“I’d rather be
thrown clear”

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 Belt
Minder chime. Sitting on the safety belt will increase the risk of

injury in an accident. To disable (one-time) or deactivate the Belt
Minder feature please follow the directions stated below.

One time disable

Any time the safety belt is buckled and then unbuckled during an
ignition ON cycle, BeltMinder will be disabled for that ignition cycle only.

Deactivating/activating the BeltMinder feature

Before following the procedure, make sure that:
• The ignition switch and headlamp control are in the OFF position and

all the doors are closed.

• The parking brake is set and the gearshift is in P (Park) (automatic

transmission) or neutral (manual transmission).

• The driver’s safety belt is unbuckled.
Read steps 1 - 9 before proceeding with the deactivation/activation
procedure.

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BeltMinder deactivation/activation procedure:

To reduce the risk of injury, do not deactivate/activate the Belt
Minder feature while driving the vehicle.

1. Turn the ignition switch to the RUN (or ON) position without starting
the engine.

2. Wait for the safety belt warning light to turn off. (Approximately 1–2
minutes.)
• Steps 3–5 must be completed within 60 seconds or the procedure will

have to be repeated.

3. Buckle, then unbuckle, the safety belt three times, ending with the
safety belt unbuckled. This can be done before or during BeltMinder
warning activation.

4. Turn on the headlamp control, then turn it off.

5. Buckle then unbuckle the safety belt three times, ending with the
safety belt unbuckled.
• After step 5, the safety belt warning light will be turned on for three

seconds.

6. Within seven seconds of the safety belt warning light turning off,
buckle, then unbuckle, the safety belt once.
• This will disable BeltMinder if it is currently enabled, or enable

BeltMinder if it is currently disabled.

7. Confirmation of disabling BeltMinder is provided by the safety belt
warning light flashing four times per second for three seconds.

8. Confirmation of enabling BeltMinder is provided by:
• The safety belt warning light flashing four times per second for three

seconds, followed by three seconds with the safety belt warning light
off.

• Once again, the safety belt warning light will flash four times per

second for three seconds.

9. After receiving confirmation, the deactivation/activation procedure is
complete.

Safety belt extension assembly

If the safety belt is too short when fully extended, there is a 20 cm (8
inch) safety belt extension assembly that can be added (part number
611C22). This assembly can be obtained from your dealer at no cost.

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