The importance of shoulder belts, Child restraint and safety belt maintenance, Seating and safety restraints – FORD 2012 Explorer v.1 User Manual

Page 227

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If the booster seat slides on the vehicle seat, placing a rubberized mesh
sold as shelf or carpet liner under the booster seat may improve this
condition. Do not introduce any item thicker than this under the booster
seat. Check with the booster seat manufacturer’s instructions.

The importance of shoulder belts

Using a booster without a shoulder belt increases the risk of a child’s
head hitting a hard surface in a collision. For this reason, you should
never use a booster seat with a lap belt only. It is generally best to use a
booster seat with lap/shoulder belts in the back seat.

Move a child to a different seating location if the shoulder belt does not
stay positioned on the shoulder during use.

Follow all instructions provided by the manufacturer of the booster seat.

WARNING: Never place, or allow a child to place, the shoulder
belt under a child’s arm or behind the back because it reduces

the protection for the upper part of the body and may increase the risk
of injury or death in a collision.

Note: Some booster seat safety belt guides may not accommodate the
shoulder portion of the inflatable safety belt. Follow all instructions
provided by the manufacturer of the booster seat regarding the
necessary and proper use of the belt guide. When a child reaches the
proper height, it may not be necessary to use the belt guide.

Child restraint and safety belt maintenance

Inspect the vehicle safety belts and child safety seat systems periodically
to make sure they work properly and are not damaged. Inspect the
vehicle and child seat safety belts to make sure there are no nicks, tears
or cuts. Replace if necessary. All vehicle safety belt assemblies, including
retractors, buckles, front safety belt buckle assemblies, buckle support
assemblies (slide bar-if equipped), shoulder belt height adjusters (if
equipped), shoulder belt guide on seatback (if equipped), rear inflatable
safety belts (if equipped), child safety seat LATCH and tether anchors,
and attaching hardware, should be inspected after a collision. Refer to
the child restraint manufacturer’s instructions for additional inspection
and maintenance information specific to the child restraint. Ford Motor
Company recommends that all safety belt assemblies in use in vehicles
involved in a collision be replaced. However, if the collision was minor
and an authorized dealer finds that the belts do not show damage and
continue to operate properly, they do not need to be replaced. Safety

Seating and Safety Restraints

227

2012 Explorer (exp)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA
(fus)

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