Inertia Fuel Shutoff (IFS) Switch
WARNING: This page does not describe the selected car, but rather 35 other vehicles, including the 2007 Mercury Mountaineer, 2007 Mercury Monterey, 2007 Mercury Montego, 2007 Mercury Milan, and 2007 Mercury Mariner. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
The IFS switch is used in conjunction with the electric fuel pump. The purpose of the IFS switch is to shutoff the fuel pump if a collision occurs. It consists of a steel ball held in place by a magnet. When a sharp impact occurs, the ball breaks loose from the magnet, rolls up a conical ramp and strikes a target plate which opens the electrical contacts of the switch and shuts off the electric fuel pump. Once the switch is open, it must be manually reset before restarting the vehicle. Refer to the Owner's Manual for the location of the IFS.