Ford Crown Victoria (2011 year). Manual — part 71

The fire suppression system is mounted beneath the vehicle and
attached to the frame above and forward of the fuel tank and rear axle.
The fire system control module is mounted inside the passenger
compartment centered underneath the rear seat cushion. The system is
designed to deploy automatically after sensing a high-speed/high-energy
rear end impact.

There is a covered manual activation switch mounted in a console on the
headliner between the visors that can be used by vehicle occupants to
manually deploy the system. The fire suppression system can be
manually deployed any time the key or engine is turned on by pushing
the button underneath the cover. The button can be accessed three
ways:

1. Pushing on the cover will release the cover latch, allowing the door to
swing open and expose the button;

2. The cover can be pulled open;

3. A firm strike on the cover (about 20 lb–ft [89 N

•m] of force) will

deploy the system any time the key or engine is turned on.

In the event of a manual deployment, nozzles will deploy to near ground
level and the underbody of the vehicle will be covered with suppressant
fluid. The suppressant contains no hazardous materials (but may cause
minor skin or eye irritation) and can be readily cleaned up by flushing
the underbody with water (or soap and water). Manual deployment
should have no adverse affect on vehicle handling; however, caution
should be exercised in moving the vehicle as ground clearance will be
compromised by the deployed nozzles. Because of reduced ground
clearance, the vehicle should not be driven through an automatic car
wash with nozzles in the deployed condition.

The fire suppression system is a single use system - all major
components will have to be replaced in the event of a manual
deployment.

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Figure A

The approved ISO symbol for fire suppression is shown in Figure A. This
symbol is printed on the manual activation switch and on the diagnostic
telltale on the instrument cluster.

The system automatically performs a diagnostic check self check and
momentarily lights the cluster lamp when the key is turned on. If the
diagnostic lamp stays on refer to the appropriate sections of the Ford
service manual for further diagnostic and service procedures.

The system is active any time the key or engine is turned on following
the diagnostic check.

The system has been designed and tested to withstand a 75 mph
(120 km/h) 50% off-set rear impact by Taurus-sized vehicle. However, in
some crashes, including very high-energy crashes, the fire suppression
system could be so damaged by the crash forces that it cannot deploy.
Like any vehicle component, the fire suppression system cannot
withstand any and all crashes. No vehicle can eliminate the risk of fires.
You should not consider the vehicle “fireproof” because it is equipped
with a fire suppression system.

Ballistic door panels (if equipped)

Your vehicle may be equipped with ballistic door panels on one or both
of the front doors. Doors equipped with a ballistic panel are marked with
a sticker on the interior door trim panel above the door handle indicating
“BALLISTIC PANEL”. Otherwise, doors with ballistic panels are visually
indistinguishable from standard doors. The ballistic panels are designed
to act as a shield for the officer at the scene of an altercation.

The door panels meet National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Level III
protection requirements. NIJ is the research, development, and
evaluation agency within the U. S. Department of Justice. The panels
have been tested and certified by a NIJ approved ballistic testing
laboratory, in accordance with the methodology included in NIJ Standard
0108.01 and Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Standard MTD
05-01E.

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Manufactured by combining ballistic grade ceramic and High
Performance Para-Aramid, this composite ballistic door panel has been
extensively tested with rounds called out in the above-referenced
specifications.

WARNING: As with body armor, protection provided by the
ballistic panel is limited. Certain rounds or combinations of

rounds may penetrate the panel and cause serious injury or death.

Use of ballistic door panels

It is critical that officers understand where the panel is located inside the
door in order to achieve optimal ballistic protection.

The door panels are designed to provide a shield for the officer at the
scene of an altercation. Any protection afforded the officer while
patrolling inside the vehicle is incidental.

The ballistic ceramic faces the outside of the door. It is imperative
that the officer using the panel as a ballistic shield has the
exterior of the door facing the threat. In other words, the officer
should be positioned behind the interior portion of the door for
ballistic protection.

The above illustration is an outside view of the left front door. The
shaded area represents the area covered by the ballistic door panel.

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Removing the panels

It is important that these panels be removed from the vehicle after the
vehicle has been impacted on the protected door, the door has been
shot, or the vehicle is being removed from active duty. For details on
panel removal, refer to the Crown Victoria Workshop Manual. After
removal, please contact the following for disposition and recycling
instructions:

Crown North America, Division of Leggett and Platt
43 Gaylord Road Unit #2
St. Thomas, ON, Canada N5P 3R9
866–402–6838

When the panels are removed, the “Ballistic Panel” label affixed to the
door trim panel must also be removed.

AIRBAGS

Dual driver/passenger airbags and side airbags (if equipped) affect the
way police equipment can be mounted in police vehicles.

Any surfaces that could come into contact with an airbag, once it has
deployed, must not damage the airbag or alter its deployment path.

Once the airbag has fully deployed, any peripheral equipment surfaces
that could come into contact with the airbag (such as when the airbag
deflates with the loading of an occupant) must not damage the airbag or
alter its deployment path. Sharp edges, corners or protrusions could
damage the nylon airbag material and reduce the effectiveness of the
airbag.

WARNING: Do not place objects or mount equipment in front of
the airbag module cover or in front of the seat areas that may

come in contact with a deploying airbag. Failure to follow this
instruction could result in personal injury.

WARNING: Dash, tunnel or console-mounted equipment should
not be placed outside of the specified zone. Failure to follow this

instruction could result in personal injury.

WARNING: Do not mount equipment between the side of front
seat to the door trim to block deployment of the side airbag.

Failure to follow this instruction could result in personal injury.

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