Shown is the 4-door version
WARNING: After any collision, inspect all components of the seat belt system, including the retractors, buckles, front seat belt buckle anchors (sliding bars) (if equipped), child safety seat support brackets (if equipped), and anchors. New seat belt assemblies must be installed unless a qualified mechanic confirms that they are free of damage and functioning properly. New seat belt assemblies must also be installed if the seat belt assemblies that were not in use at the time of the collision are inspected for damage or malfunction. Failure to follow these instructions could result in injury.
WARNING: All vehicles equipped with the optional passenger air bag from the factory have a WARNING label affixed to the instrument panel PROHIBITING the use of rear-facing child restraints. Failure to follow these instructions could result in injury.
The Focus is equipped with two front and three rear inertia-reel lap and diagonal three-point seat belts.
The central rear seat belt retractor is mounted on the rear luggage rack in 4-door versions; 3-door, 5-door and Estate variants are equipped with a centre rear seat belt integrated into the rear seatback.
Operating principles
The Focus's seatbelt system uses a traditional lap and diagonal three-point harness for all seating positions, including the rear centre seat.
The front seat belts are equipped with a pyrotechnic pretensioner that is attached to the frame of each front seat. The pyrotechnic pretensioner is controlled by the supplemental restraint system. For additional information, refer to Section 501-20A / 501-20B. The rear seat belt buckles are mounted directly to the floor panel, under the rear seat cushion. The seat belt buckle, attached to the driver's seat, has a switch (depending on the equipment) connected by means of an electrical harness to a warning lamp in the instrument panel and a buzzer (depending on the equipment) built into the central timer module. When the ignition is first turned on, the warning lamp and buzzer sound only if the seat belt is unbuckled. If the seat belt is buckled before the ignition is turned on, the circuit is broken and the warning lamp remains off.
The seat belt retractor mechanism, mounted at the base of the B-pillar, includes a torsion load limiting device. This device includes a retractor coil mounted on a shaft (torsion bar) which, immediately after the retractor coil sensor locks and a predetermined load is applied, rotates and retracts an additional length of webbing into the system. The braking force required to initiate this sequence is approximately equal to the force required to initiate air bag deployment. The torsion load limiting device operates only if the seat belt is fastened at the time of the impact.
Vehicles that are not equipped with driver and passenger airbags do not use this type of retractor mechanism. Such vehicles are equipped with traditional retractor mechanisms. It should be noted that in any situation in which any of the seat belts are fully deployed, stretching of the seat belt webbing may occur, and visible discoloration may occur in the D-ring area. For this reason, in the event of a vehicle accident in which the airbag(s) deployed, all seat belts that were fastened at the time of the accident should not be used. New seat belts must be installed.
Emergency Lock Retraction (ELR) mechanism
All seat retractors have an ELR function. At the moment of any sudden deceleration or under the effect of torsional force during a high-speed turn, the load inside the seat belt retractor mechanism places a locking pawl against a tooth on the retractor gear, which locks the retractor mechanism, preventing any additional extension of the webbing. As soon as the force acting on the retractor mechanism through the webbing ceases to act, the locking pawl unlocks the retractor coil, and normal retractor movement is restored.
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