1997 Mercury Mountaineer Owner's Manual - Page 70
1997 Mercury Mountaineer Manual
Page 70 highlights
Seating and safety restraints Energy absorbing sew pattern The short plastic boot on the front passenger safety belt covers an energy absorbing sew pattern on the safety belt. In the event of an accident, the sew pattern may release, and the orange REPLACE BELT label may become visible. If any part of the orange label is exposed, the belt must be replaced. Failure to replace the safety belt assembly under the above conditions could result in severe personal injuries in the event of a collision. Lincoln-Mercury recommends that all safety belt assemblies used in vehicles involved in a collision be replaced. However, if the collision was minor and a qualified technician finds that the belts do not show damage and continue to operate properly, they do not need to be replaced. Safety belt assemblies not in use during a collision should also be inspected and replaced if either damage or improper operation is noted. 70 E AC PL RE BELT