Mercury Mystique (2000 year). Instruction - part 7

Seating and safety restraints

97

Built-in child seat

All built-in child restraints,
including seats, buckles,

retractors, seat latches, interlocks,
and attaching hardware should be
inspected by a qualified dealer
technician after any collision.

Built-in child safety seat 
(if equipped)

The rear seat may include a built-in
child seat. This child seat conforms
to all federal and local motor
vehicle safety standards. Read the
labels located on the child seat
cushion and shoulder belt for
information on the built-in child
seat.

Use the built-in child seat only if
the child is at least one year old,
weighs 10-27 kg (22-60 lbs) and
the child’s shoulders fit below the
shoulder harness slots on the built-
in child seat.

Children not meeting these
requirements should be secured in
an aftermarket seat. Refer to Child
safety seats in this chapter.

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98

Built-in child seat retractors

The belts on built-in child seats are
equipped with a retractor. The
retractor will automatically snug
the belts around the child. If the
belts do not remain snug, take the
vehicle to your dealer or a qualified
technician for child seat repair. The
belts will not remain snug during a
collision if the retractor is not
functioning properly.

Child seat interlock safety
feature

The interlock ensures that a child
is not placed in the integrated child
seat when the folding seatback is
not securely latched.

It prevents the seatback from being
unlatched while the child seat is in
use. When the child seat is
deployed, the seatback cannot be
released.

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99

1. Make sure that the seatback is
securely latched in place.

2. Grasp the child seat cushion and
pull the top forward to release the
latch. Continue to unfold the child
seat until it rests on the seat in the
fully open position.

Placing your child in the built-in
child seat

Failure to follow all of the
instructions on the use of

this child restraint system can
result in your child striking the
vehicle’s interior during a sudden
stop or crash.

Never use the built-in child
seat as a booster cushion

with the adult safety belts. A child
using the adult belts could slide
forward and out from under the
safety belts.

The rear seatback must be
fully locked before operating

the child safety restraint system.

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4. If connected, squeeze the tabs
on the top and bottom of the chest
clip and pull the halves apart to
open the chest clip. Then release
the lower half of belt by pressing
the red button.

5. Place the child in the child seat
and position the shoulder belts
over each shoulder.

3. Read all the information and
warnings on the child seat cushion
and shoulder safety belt. Make sure
the child is not too large for the
child seat.

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If both tongues do not latch
in the buckle, do not use the

child seat. See your dealer for
repairs.

7. Fasten both halves of the chest
clip below the child’s shoulders and
adjust it to comfortably hold the
shoulder belts in place on the
child’s chest. The color green must
appear in the indicator window
when fastened.

8. Pull the lap portion of the belts
toward you to make sure the crotch
safety belt buckle is properly
fastened and the retractor is
locked.

9. If the belts become too tight,
unbuckle the crotch safety belt
buckle to unlock the retractors,
then reinsert both belt tongues.

6. Insert either the left or the right
safety belt tongue into the single
opening of the crotch safety belt
buckle (it doesn’t matter which
tongue is inserted first). Insert the
other tongue. The color green must
appear in the indicator window on
each tongue when buckled. Allow
belts to retract and fit snugly.

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102

To stow the built-in child seat

Return the child seat cushion to
the upright position, then press
firmly in the center and top of the
child seat.

Inspecting the built-in child
seat after a collision

All built-in child restraints,
including seats, buckles, retractors,
seat latches, interlocks and
attaching hardware should be
inspected by your dealer or a
qualified technician after any
collision. If the child seat was in
use during a collision, Ford
recommends replacing it. Built-in
child restraints not in use during a
collision should be inspected and
replaced if either damage or
improper operation is noted.

Removing your child from the
built-in child seat

1. Squeeze the tabs on the top and
the bottom of the chest clip and
pull the halves apart to open the
chest clip.

2. Press the release button on the
crotch safety belt buckle.

3. Slide the shoulder belts off the
child’s shoulders and remove the
child.

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Carefully follow all of the
manufacturer’s instructions

included with the safety seat you
put in your vehicle. If you do not
install and use the safety seat
properly, the child may be injured
in a sudden stop or collision.

Ford recommends the use of a
child safety seat having a top tether
strap. Install the child safety seat in
a seating position which is capable
of providing a tether anchorage.
For more information on top tether
straps see Child safety seat tether
belt anchor in this chapter.

When installing a child safety seat:

• Use the correct safety belt
buckle for that seating postion.

• Make sure the tongue is securely
fastened in the buckle.

• Keep the buckle release button
pointing up and away from the
safety seat, with the tongue
between the child seat and the
release button, to prevent
accidental unbuckling.

• Put the safety belt in the
automatic locking mode. Refer to
Using automatic locking mode in
this chapter.

Child safety seats

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Installing child safety seats in
combination lap and shoulder
belt seat positions

1. Position the child safety seat in a
seat with a combination lap and
shoulder belt.

2. Pull down on the shoulder belt
and then grasp the shoulder belt
and lap belt together.

When using forward-facing
child seats move the

passenger seat as far back from
the instrument panel as possible.
Never secure rear-facing infant
seats in the front seat.

Child safety seat tether belt
anchor

All vehicles include a tether
anchorage hardware kit for use
with child safety seats. Some
manufacturers make child safety
seats with a tether strap that goes
over the back of the vehicle seat
and attaches to an anchoring point
behind the vehicle seat.

Attachment holes (at each rear
seating position) have been
provided in your vehicle to attach
the anchorage hardware, if
required. Additional kits can be
obtained at no charge from any
authorized Ford dealer.
(Installations instructions are
included in the kit.)

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105

5. To put the retractor in the
automatic locking mode, grasp the
shoulder portion of the belt and
pull downward until all of the belt
is extracted and a click is heard.

4. Insert the belt tongue into the
proper buckle for that seating
position until you hear and feel the
latch engage. Make sure the tongue
is latched securely by pulling on it.

3. While holding the shoulder and
lap belt portions together, route
the tongue through the child seat
according to the child seat
manufacturer’s instructions. Be
sure the belt webbing is not
twisted.

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8. Allow the safety belt to retract to
remove any slack in the belt.

9. Before placing the child in the
seat, forcibly tilt the seat forward
and back to make sure the seat is
securely held in place.

10. Try to pull the belt out of the
retractor to make sure the
retractor is in automatic locking
mode (you should not be able to
pull more belt out). If the retractor
is not locked, unbuckle the belt and
repeat steps two through nine.

Check to make sure the child seat
is properly secured before each
use.

6. Allow the belt to retract. The
belt will click as it retracts to
indicate it is in the automatic
locking mode.

7. Pull the lap belt portion across
the child seat toward the buckle
and pull up on the shoulder belt
while pushing down with your knee
on the child seat.

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Tether anchor hardware

Tether anchor hardware kits (part
number 613D74), including
instructions, may be obtained at no
charge from any Ford or Lincoln-
Mercury dealer. All vehicles built
for sale include a tether hardware
kit.

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Starting

108

Extended idling at high
engine speeds can produce

very high temperatures in the
engine and exhaust system,
creating the risk of fire or other
damage.

IMPORTANT SAFETY
PRECAUTIONS

A computer system controls the
engine’s idle revolutions per minute
(rpm). When the engine starts, the
idle rpm runs faster to warm the
engine. If the engine idle speed
does not slow down automatically,
have the vehicle checked by your
dealer or a qualified service
technician. Do not allow the vehicle
to idle for more than ten minutes.

Do not park, idle, or drive
your vehicle in dry grass or

other dry ground cover. The
emission system heats up the
engine compartment and exhaust
system, which can start a fire.

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Starting

109

IMPORTANT VENTILATION
INFORMATION

If the engine is idling while the
vehicle is stopped in an open area
for long periods of time, open the
windows at least 2.5 cm (1 inch).

OFF

PLN/FLR

PANEL

A/C

FLOOR

DEF

FLR
DEF 
       

MAX

A/C

Adjust the heating or air
conditioning to bring in fresh air.

Do not start your vehicle in a
closed garage or in other

enclosed areas. Exhaust fumes
can be toxic. Always open the
garage door before you start the
engine. See Guarding against
exhaust fumes in this chapter for
more instructions.

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Starting

110

Improve vehicle ventilation by
keeping all air inlet vents clear of
snow, leaves, and other debris.

Guarding against exhaust
fumes

Although odorless and colorless,
carbon monoxide is present in
exhaust fumes. Take precautions to
avoid its dangerous effects.

Have the exhaust and body
ventilation system checked
whenever:

• the vehicle is raised for service.

• the sound of the exhaust system
changes.

• the vehicle has been damaged in
a collision.

If you ever smell exhaust
fumes of any kind inside

your vehicle, have your dealer
inspect and fix your vehicle
immediately. Do not drive if you
smell exhaust fumes. These fumes
are harmful and could kill you.

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Starting

111

PREPARING TO START THE
VEHICLE

Engine starting is controlled by the
spark ignition system. This system
meets all Canadian Interference-
Causing Equipment standard
requirements regulating the
impulse electrical field strength of
radio noise.

When starting the engine, avoid
pressing the accelerator pedal
before or during starting. Only use
the accelerator pedal when you
have difficulty starting the engine.
For more information on starting
the vehicle, refer to Starting the
engine in this chapter.

Before starting the vehicle:

1. Make sure all vehicle occupants
have buckled their safety belts. For
more information on safety belts
and their proper usage, refer to the
Seating and safety restraints
chapter.

2. Make sure the headlamps and
vehicle accessories are off.

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Starting

112

If starting a vehicle with a instruction
transaxle:

• Make sure the parking brake is
set.

• Push the clutch pedal to the
floor. Otherwise, the engine will not
crank (turn over).

• Put the gearshift into neutral.

If starting a vehicle with an
automatic transaxle:

• Make sure the parking brake is
set.

• Make sure the gearshift is in P
(Park).

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