Safety Belt Pretensioners

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2006 Mercury Grand Marquis and 2006 Ford Crown Victoria. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The front outboard safety belt retractors use a safety belt pretensioner system. This works in conjunction with the front air bag system mounted in the steering wheel and instrument panel. The pretensioner is a pyrotechnic device that removes excess webbing slack from the safety belt. When the front air bags are deployed, the pretensioner deploys in the retractor, removing excess slack from the lap and shoulder safety belt. The pretensioners are activated when the restraints control module (RCM) detects a frontal impact force exceeding a programmed limit. If the vehicle is involved in a collision that results in deployment of the front air bags and safety belt pretensioners, a new driver and passenger seat belt system (including safety belt buckle and pretensioners or safety belt retractor and pretensioners, safety belt retractors, safety belts, buckles and height adjusters) must be installed.

Refer to SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM .