Removal And Installation

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2008 Mercury Mariner and 2008 Ford Escape. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

WARNING: Always wear eye protection when servicing a vehicle. Failure to follow this instruction may result in serious personal injury.

WARNING: After any crash, all of the following safety belt assemblies and attaching hardware must be inspected by an authorized dealer to verify correct function:

Retractors
Buckles
Belt tension sensor (BTS) (if equipped)
Front safety belt buckle support assemblies (slide bar) (if equipped)
Safety belt shoulder belt height adjusters (if equipped)
Child safety seat tether bracket assemblies
Automatic locking retractor (ALR) feature for child safety seats (passenger seating positions only)

If any safety belt assembly is damaged, does not operate correctly or does not pass all of the Functional Tests in the Diagnosis and Testing portion of this article, a new safety belt assembly must be installed. If any safety belt assembly attaching areas are damaged or distorted, the sheet metal must be restored to its original structural integrity and new safety belt assembly and attaching hardware must be installed. Failure to install new safety belt assemblies and attaching hardware may increase the risk of serious personal injury or death in a crash.

After any crash that results in deployment of the driver and/or front outboard passenger safety belt pretensioners, new driver and/or front outboard passenger safety belt systems (including retractors, buckles and height adjusters) must be installed. Failure to install new safety belt systems increases the risk of serious personal injury or death in a crash.

WARNING: Never probe the electrical connectors on safety belt buckle/retractor pretensioners or adaptive load limiting retractors. Failure to follow this instruction may result in the accidental deployment of the safety belt pretensioners or adaptive load limiting retractors, which increases the risk of serious personal injury or death.

NOTE: The air bag warning lamp illuminates when the restraints control module (RCM) fuse is removed and the ignition switch is ON. This is normal operation and does not indicate a supplemental restraint system (SRS) fault.

NOTE: The SRS must be fully operational and free of faults before releasing the vehicle to the customer.

NOTE: Repair is made by installing a new part only. If the new part does not correct the condition, install the original part and carry out the diagnostic procedure again.

All seats

Remove the affected seat. For additional information, refer to SEATING article.
Remove the inboard seat cushion side shield.
- Remove the cushion side shield screw(s).
Disconnect the 2 safety belt buckle pretensioner electrical connectors.

NOTE: Note the wire harness routing for installation.

Detach the side air bag wiring harness pin-type retainer from the safety belt buckle pretensioner.

Fig 1: Identifying Side Air Bag Wiring Harness Pin-Type Retainer

Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.

Driver seat

Remove the seat position sensor wiring harness tie strap from the safety belt buckle pretensioner.

Fig 2: Identifying Tie Strap

Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.

All seats

Detach the safety belt buckle pretensioner and buckle switch electrical connectors from the seat track and detach the wiring harness pin-type retainer.
Remove the bolt and the safety belt buckle pretensioner.
- To install, tighten to 40 Nm (30 lb-ft).
To install, reverse the removal procedure.
Install the seat. For additional information, refer to SEATING article
Check the active restraint system for correct operation. For additional information, refer to Safety Belt System .