Ford Contour (2000 year). Manual - part 21

Seating and safety restraints

82

Safety belt indicator light and
warning chime

Illuminates in the instrument
cluster and a chime sounds to
remind the occupants to fasten
their safety belts.

Center position three-point
safety belts

If the lower end of the belt has
been unbuckled, pull the belt
steadily from the reel and insert
the small tongue into the small
buckle until a distinct “click” is
heard.

This buckle should be left buckled
except when the seatback is folded
down and cargo that might damage
the seatbelt or get it dirty is being
hauled.

Pull the seat belt across the hips
and insert the big (sliding) tongue
into the appropriate buckle until a
distinct “click” is heard.

Should the center rear belt need to
be unlatched from its anchorage, a
thin probe is required to be
inserted into the hole located on
the underside of the floor mounted
buckle. If the buckle and tongue
are not reconnected, then the belt
is not safe to be used.

Alternative design

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Seating and safety restraints

83

Conditions of operation

If the driver’s safety belt is not
buckled before the ignition switch
is turned to the ON position ... 

The Saftety belt warning light
illuminates for one or two minutes
and the warning chime sounds for
four to eight seconds.

The driver’s safety belt is buckled
while the indicator light is
illuminated and the warning chime
is sounding ...

The Saftety 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 Saftety belt warning light and
warning chime remain off.

If ...

Then ...

Belt Minder (if equipped)

The Belt Minder feature is a
supplemental warning to the safety
belt warning function. This feature
provides additional reminders to
the driver that the driver’s safety

Conditions of operation

If the driver’s safety belt is not
buckled approximately 5 seconds
after the safety belt warning light
has turned off... 

The belt minder feature is
activated - the Saftety belt warning
light and the warning chime will
cycle at 4 hertz 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 indicator light is
illuminated and the warning chime
is sounding ...

The belt minder feature will not
activate.

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

The belt minder feature will not
activate.

If ...

Then ...

belt is unbuckled by intermittently
sounding a chime and illuminating
the Safety belt warning light in the
instrument cluster.

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84

1. Turn the ignition switch to the
ON position (DO NOT START THE
ENGINE).

2. Wait until the Saftety belt
warning light turns off
(approximately one minute).

• 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 Belt Minder
warning activation.

4. Turn on the headlamps, turn off
the headlamps.

5. Buckle then unbuckle the safety
belt three times, ending with the
safety belt unbuckled.

• After step 5, the Saftety belt
warning light will be turned on for
three seconds.

6. Within seven seconds of the
Saftety belt warning light turning
off, buckle then unbuckle the
safety belt.

• This will enable Belt Minder if it
is currently disabled, or disable
Belt Minder if it is currently
enabled.

To reduce the risk of injury,
do not deactivate/activate

the Belt Minder feature while
driving the vehicle.

Deactivating/activating the Belt
Minder feature

The Belt Minder feature can be
deactivated/activated by
performing the following
procedure:

Before following the procedure,
make sure that:

• the parking brake is set.

• the gearshift is in P (Park)
(automatic transaxle) or the
neutral position (manual
transaxle).

• the ignition switch is in the OFF
position.

• all vehicle doors are closed.

• the driver’s safety belt is
unbuckled.

• the parklamps/headlamps are in
OFF position.

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85

Safety belt extension assembly

The safety belt may be too short
even when fully extended.
Approximately 20 cm (8 inches)
may be added to the length of the
belt with a safety belt extension
(part number 611C22). Safety belt
extensions are available at no cost
from your dealer.

Only use extensions manufactured
by the same supplier as the safety
belt. Manufacturer identification is
on the label located at the end of
the webbing.

Do not use the extension to change
the fit of the shoulder belt across
the torso.

7. Confirmation of enabling Belt
Minder is provided by flashing the
Saftety belt light four times per
second for three seconds, followed
by three seconds with the Saftety
belt light off, then followed by
flashing the Saftety belt light four
times per second for three seconds
again.

8. Confirmation of disabling Belt
Minder is provided by flashing the
Saftety belt light four times per
second for three seconds.

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

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