Mercury Mystique (2000 year). Manual - part 6

Seating and safety restraints

81

Front seat safety belt height
adjustment

To lower the height of the shoulder
belt:

1. Push the control down.

2. Slide down.

To raise the height of the shoulder
belt:

1. Slide up.

2. Pull down on the height adjuster
to make sure that it is locked in
place.

Position the shoulder belt
height adjuster so that the

belt rests across the middle of
your shoulder. Be sure the
shoulder belt is properly
positioned on your shoulder each
time you use the belt. If the
shoulder belt is off your shoulder,
on your upper arm or neck, there
is a greater risk of severe injury in
a collision.

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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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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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86

Care of safety belts

Periodically check the belts for
damage or fraying. Check the
security of the anchorage points
and the locking action of the inertia
reels by giving each belt a sharp
tug.

Belts subjected to strain, as in the
result of an accident, should be
replaced and the anchorages
checked by your dealer or a
qualified technician.

Failure to follow these
instructions will affect the

performance of the safety belts
and increase the risk of personal
injury.

Safety belt warning label

A warning label has been placed on
the buckle of each of your vehicle’s
front seat safety belts.

In a collision of sufficient severity
while the safety belt is in use, the
safety belt buckle will pull out of
the sleeve so that all or part of the
orange portion of the lavel is
visible.

Whenever the orange
portion of the label is visible,

the safety belt must be replaced.

      WARNING Replace buckle 
assembly if this vehicle is in a collision 
or if any orange portion of this label 
is visible. (See Owner Guide). Failure 
to replace this buckle assembly under 
the above conditions could result in 
severe personal injuries in the event 
of collision.

      AVERTISSEMENT Remplacer 
l'ensemble de boucle de ceinture en 
cas de collision avec ce véhicule, ou si 
la partie orange de cette étiquette 
est visible (Voir le Guide du 
proprietaire). Faute de remplacer cet 
ensemble de boucle, des blessures 
graves pourraient être encourues en 
cas de collision.

REPLACE BUCKLE/REMPLACER LA BOUCLE

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87

Important supplemental
restraint system (SRS)
precautions

The supplemental restraint system
(SRS) is designed to work with the
safety belt to help protect the
driver and right front passenger
from certain upper body injuries.

AIR BAG SUPPLEMENTAL
RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS)

M

IRRORS

OFF

LO

PNL/FLR

PANEL

A/C

FLOOR

DEF

FLR 

       DEF

MAX

A/C

HI

/

POWER

AUDIO

AM/FM

SCAN

SEEK

3

1

2

4

5

ANS

SIDE

1-2

EJECT

VOLUME

0 0 0 1 2 3

0 0 0 0

10

20

30

40

50

60 70 80

90

100

110

120

130

MPH

20

40

60

55

80

120

100

140

160

180

200

E

F

1

2

0

3

x 1000

4

5

6

7

8

BRAKE

CHECK
ENGINE

O/D
OFF

CLOCK

TRACTION
       TROL

C

H

Always transport children
12 years old and under in

the back seat and always use
appropriate child restraints.

All occupants of the vehicle
including the driver should

always properly wear their safety
belts even when air bag SRS is
provided.

NHTSA recommends a
minimum distance of at least

25 cm (ten [10] inches) between
an occupant’s chest and the air
bag module.

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Children and air bags

For additional important safety
information, read all information on
safety restraints in this guide.

Children should always wear safety
belts. Failure to follow these
instructions may increase the risk
of injury in a collision.

Do not attempt to service,
repair, or modify the air bag

Supplemental Restraint System
(SRS) or its fuses. See your Ford
or Lincoln-Mercury dealer.

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.

Never place your arm over
the air bag module as a

deploying air bag can result in
serious arm fractures or other
injuries.

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.

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How does the air bag
supplemental restraint system
(SRS) work?

The SRS is designed to activate
when the vehicle is in a collision,
similar to hitting a fixed barrier
head-on at 12-24 km/h (8-14 mph).

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 of the type sufficient to
cause activation.

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
burned propellant. This may
consist of cornstarch, talcum
powder (to lubricate the bag), or
sodium compounds (e.g., baking
soda) that result from the
combustion process that inflates
the air bag. Small amounts of
sodium hydroxide may be present,
which may irritate the skin and
eyes, but none of the residue is
toxic.

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The SRS consists of the following:

• driver and passenger air bag
modules (which include the
inflators and air bags),

• one impact and one safing
sensor,

• a readiness light and secondary
warning light, and 

• the electrical wiring and
components.

The diagnostic module monitors its
own internal circuits and the
supplemental air bag electrical
system readiness (including the
impact sensors), the system wiring,
the air bag system readiness light,
the air bag backup power, and the
air bag ignitors.

If the air bag is inflated, 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.

Several air bag system
components get hot after

inflation. Do not touch them after
inflation.

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Determining if the system is
operational

The SRS uses a readiness light in
the instrument cluster or a
secondary warning light to indicate
the condition of the system. Refer
to the Air bag readiness section in
the Instrumentation chapter.
Routine maintenance of the air bag
is not required.

A difficulty with the system is
indicated by one or more of the
following:

• The readiness light will either
flash or stay lit.

• The readiness light will not
illuminate after ignition is turned
on.

• The air bag secondary warning
light will flash five times. The
pattern will repeat periodically
until the problem or the readiness
light is 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 system may
not function properly in the event
of a collision.

O/D
OFF

TRACTION

CONTROL

CHECK

ENGINE

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Disposal of air bags and air bag
equipped vehicles

For disposal of air bags or air bag
equipped vehicles, see your local
dealership or a qualified technician.
Air bags MUST BE disposed of by
qualified personnel.

Res

Coast

Set

Acc

Off

On

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CHILDREN AND SAFETY
RESTRAINTS

It is extremely dangerous to
ride in a cargo area, inside or

outside of a vehicle. In a collision,
people riding in these areas are
more likely to be seriously injured
or killed. Do not allow people to
ride in any area of your vehicle
that is not equipped with seats
and safety belts. Be sure everyone
in your vehicle is in a seat and
using a safety belt properly.

Safety belts and seats can
become hot in a vehicle that

has been closed up in sunny
weather; they could burn a small
child. Check seat covers and
buckles before you place a child
anywhere near them.

Do not leave children,
unreliable adults, or pets

unattended in your vehicle.

To prevent the risk of injury,
make sure children sit where

they can be properly restrained.

Whenever possible, put
children in one of the rear

seats in your vehicle. Accident
statistics indicate that children are
safer when properly restrained in
the rear seats than in the front
seats.

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Important child restraint
precautions

You are required by law to use
safety restraints for children in the
U.S. and Canada. If small children
ride in your vehicle (generally
children who are 4 years old or
younger and who weigh 18 kg 
[40 lbs] or less), 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.

Never let a passenger hold a
child on his or her lap while

the vehicle is moving. The
passenger cannot protect the child
from injury in a collision.

Always follow the instructions and
warnings that come with any infant
or child restraint you might use.

When possible, place children 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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Children and safety belts

Children who are too large for child
safety seats (as specified by the
child safety seat manufacturer)
should always wear safety belts.

Follow all the important safety
restraints and air bag precautions
that apply to adult passengers in
your vehicle.

If the shoulder belt portion of a
combination lap and shoulder belt
can be positioned so it does not
cross or rest in front of the child’s
face or neck, the child should wear
the lap and shoulder belt. Moving
the child closer to the center of the
vehicle may help provide a good
shoulder belt fit.

If the shoulder belt cannot be
properly positioned:

• move the child to one of the
seats with a lap belt only (if
equipped).

OR

• if the child is the appropriate
size, restrain the child in a safety
seat.

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To improve the fit of lap and
shoulder belts on children who
have outgrown child safety seats,
Ford recommends use of a belt-
positioning booster seat that is
labelled as conforming to all federal
motor vehicle safety standards.
Belt-positioning booster seats raise
the child and provide a shorter,
firmer seating posture and better
fit of lap and shoulder belts on the
child. A belt-positioning booster
seat should be used if the shoulder
belt rests in front of the child’s face
or neck, or if the lap belt does not
fit snugly on both thighs, or if the
thighs are too short to let the child
sit all the way back on the seat
cushion when the lower legs hang
over the edge of the seat cushion.
You may wish to discuss the special
needs of your child with your
pediatrician.

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