Ford Galaxy / Ford S-MAX. Manual — part 962

Safety Belt System - Safety Belt System

S-MAX/Galaxy 2006.5 (02/2006-)

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Diagnosis and Testing

Principles of Operation

Safety belts and anchorages subjected to strain as a result of an accident should be
checked by a trained technician and replaced in case of damage. Safety belts subjected to
an accident with pretensioner or airbag deployment must be replaced and the anchorages
checked by a trained technician. New safety belt components should also be installed where
safety belts, not in use during a collision, are inspected and found to be damaged or
operate incorrectly. Failure to follow these instructions may result in personal injury.

The front safety belt retractors are equipped with safety belt pretensioners, which are
controlled as part of the supplemental restraint system (SRS).
REFER to:

Air Bag Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)

(501-20B Supplemental Restraint

System, Diagnosis and Testing).

The safety belt retractor, mounted within the base of the B-pillar, incorporates a torsion bar
load limiting device. The device consists of a retractor reel which is mounted onto a spindle
(torsion bar) which, once the sensor has locked the retractor reel and predetermined load is
applied, twists and pays out additional webbing into the system. The deceleration force
required to initiate this sequence is approximately the same as that required to initiate the
safety belt pretensioner deployment. The torsion bar load limiting device will only react if
the safety belt is in use at the time of impact.

Rear seat safety belt retractors do not use this type of retractor, they are equipped with a
conventional retractor.

Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR)

The retractors in all seat positions feature ELR. The ELR is part of the safety belt system
that in normal operation allows free movement of the belted occupant. In an emergency
the ELR will lock, preventing webbing payout and hence forward movement of the
occupant. Locking may be achieved by one of two mechanisms:

Vehicle Motion Sensor (VMS)

VMS is operated by sudden deceleration of the vehicle or excessive tilt. Once operated the
VMS causes a locking pawl to be engaged, thus locking the retractor, preventing webbing
payout. When the vehicle is stationary, the VMS stabilizes, causing the pawl to disengage
and unlock the retractor, allowing webbing payout.

Webbing Motion Sensor (WMS)

The WMS is operated by rapid acceleration of the webbing. Once operated, it causes a
locking pawl to be engaged thus locking the retractor. Webbing payout is prevented in the
same manner as VMS.

Inspection and Verification

1. 1. Verify the customer concern.

2. 2. Visually inspect for obvious signs of mechanical or electrical damage.

Visual Inspection Chart

Mechanical

Safety belt retractor and pretensioner
Safety belt upper anchor and webbing
Safety belt buckle

3. 3. If an obvious cause for an observed or reported concern is found, correct the cause

(if possible) before proceeding to the next step

4. 4. If the cause is not visually evident, verify the symptom and refer to the Symptom

Chart.

Component Test

Poor Retraction

If a safety belt does not retract correctly, check that the anchor covers and trim bezels are
correctly installed and not rubbing against the safety belt webbing. Where necessary, check
that the safety belt webbing is not rubbing at one end of the retractor cover slot and, if so,
correct by loosening the retaining bolt, aligning the retractor to centralize the safety belt
webbing and retighten the bolt.

The safety belts are "dual sensitive" which means that they have:

a vehicle motion sensor, which locks the safety belt webbing under braking, cornering, on
steep hills and in adverse camber conditions.
a webbing motion sensor, which locks when the safety belt webbing is quickly extracted.

Both systems should be fully operational and can be checked by the tests below:

Vehicle Motion Sensor Test

Either of the following two procedures may be used to check correct operation of the
vehicle motion sensor. Both methods require two technicians but note that technicians of
larger than normal build should not be asked to conduct these tests. This is to avoid the
possibility of a fully unrolled safety belt webbing being mistaken for a correctly locked
safety belt retractor.

Test Method 1 (braking)

It is important that during this test, the driver and passenger allow the safety belts to
provide the restraint and do not attempt to anticipate the sudden deceleration. The steering
wheel should not be used as a brace. However, both driver and passenger should prepare
themselves for the possibility that the safety belt will not lock. The passenger should hold
their hands in front of them, just clear of the instrument panel or front seat backrest,
depending on which safety belt is being tested. Failure to follow these instructions may
result in personal injury.

Select for this test a quiet or private stretch of road. Make sure that the road is clear and
that full visibility is maintained at all times.
Both driver and passenger should adopt a normal, comfortable seating position. Both
occupants should wear the safety belts and the safety belt webbing must be correctly
adjusted, with no slack.
Proceed at a speed of 10 km/h (6 mph). Do not exceed 10 km/h (6 mph) for this test.
Apply the foot brake sharply to stop the vehicle. If the vehicle motion sensitive lock
mechanism is operating correctly, the safety belt webbing will lock and restrain the
wearer.
Conduct the test twice in each front and rear passenger seat position.
Any safety belt retractor which does not restrain the wearer during this test must not be
reused. A new safety belt must be installed.

Test Method 2 (turning circle)

This method requires a flat open area of private road, sufficient for the vehicle to be driven

Symptom

Possible Sources

Action

Normal mode - occupant restraint
system inoperative

Safety belt

retractor.

*

CARRY OUT the Safety Belt

Component Test in this section.

*

in a continuous circle on full steering lock.

The driver should wear the safety belt provided and the belt webbing must be correctly
adjusted, with no slack.
The passenger should occupy a rear seat with the safety belt correctly adjusted, with no
slack.
Start the engine and, with the steering on full right-hand lock, drive the vehicle in a
continuous circle at 16 km/h (10 mph). Do not exceed 16 km/h (10 mph) for this test.
When the speed is stable, the passenger should attempt to slowly extract the safety belt
webbing from each safety belt retractor in turn. If the vehicle motion sensitive lock
mechanism is operating correctly, it will not be possible to extract the webbing.
Any safety belt retractor from which it is possible to extract the webbing during this test
must not be used. A new safety belt must be installed.

Static Test

With the vehicle stationary and on level ground take firm hold of the safety belt webbing
(on the tongue side of the upper safety belt anchor) and pull out quickly. The retractor
should lock within 0.25 meter (10 inches), preventing further webbing payout. Any safety
belt retractor from which it is possible to extract further webbing must not be used. A new
safety belt must be installed.

Safety Belt System - Front Safety Belt
Retractor and Pretensioner

S-MAX/Galaxy 2006.5 (02/2006-)

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Removal and Installation

Removal

WARNINGS:

The supplemental restraint system (SRS) is active for a certain length of time after

the power supply has been disconnected. Wait for a minimum of 3 minutes before
disconnecting or removing any SRS components.

Make sure that the vehicle electrical system is fully depowered and no other power

source is connected.

Wear safety goggles.

Refer to:

Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Health and Safety Precautions

(100-

00 General Information, Description and Operation).
NOTE: Removal steps in this procedure may contain installation details.

1. Disconnect the battery ground cable.

Refer to:

Battery Disconnect and Connect

(414-

01 Battery, Mounting and Cables, General
Procedures).

2. Refer to:

Front Seat

(501-10 Seating, Removal

and Installation).

3.

4. Torque: 35 Nm