2007 Mercury Mountaineer Owner Guide 2nd Printing - Page 157

Seating and Safety Restraints safety belt pretensioner activation depending upon safety belt usage. Refer to Safety restraints section in this chapter. Front safety belt pretensioners The safety belt pretensioners at the front outboard seating positions are designed to tighten the safety belts firmly against the occupant's body during frontal collisions, and in side collisions and rollovers when the vehicle is equipped with the optional Safety Canopy௢ system. This helps increase the effectiveness of the safety belts. In frontal collisions, the safety belt pretensioners can be activated alone or, if the collision is of sufficient severity, together with the front airbags. Front safety belt energy management retractors The front outboard safety belt energy management retractors allow webbing to be pulled out of the retractor in a gradual and controlled manner in response to the occupant's forward momentum. This helps reduce the risk of force-related injuries to the occupant's chest by limiting the load on the occupant. Refer to Safety restraints section in this chapter. Determining if the Personal Safety Systemி is operational The Personal Safety System௢ uses a warning light in the instrument cluster or a back-up tone to indicate the condition of the system. Refer to the Warning lights and chimes section in the Instrument Cluster chapter. Routine maintenance of the Personal Safety System௢ is not required. The Restraints Control Module (RCM) monitors its own internal circuits and the circuits for the airbag supplemental restraints, crash sensor(s), safety belt pretensioners, front safety belt buckle sensors, front passenger sensing system, and the driver seat position sensor. In addition, the RCM also monitors the restraints warning light in the instrument cluster. A difficulty with the system is indicated by one or more of the following: • The warning light will either flash or stay lit. • The warning light will not illuminate immediately after the ignition is turned on. • A series of five beeps will be heard. The tone pattern will repeat periodically until the problem and warning light are repaired. If any of these things happen, even intermittently, have the Personal Safety System௢ serviced at an authorized dealer immediately. Unless serviced, the system may not function properly in the event of a collision. 157 2007 Mountaineer (mnt) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus)