1996 Ford Aerostar Owner's Manual - Page 25

All safety belt assemblies, including retractors, buckles, front seat belt buckle support assemblies (slide bar) (if equipped), child safety seat tether bracket assemblies (if equipped), and attaching hardware, should be inspected after any collision. Ford 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. Cleaning the Safety Belts Clean the safety belts with any mild soap solution that is recommended for cleaning upholstery or carpets. Do not bleach or dye the belt webbing because this may weaken it. How to Untwist or Unjam a Safety Belt Retractor If you should jam the lap belt retractor by allowing the belt to retract when it is twisted, you can free the webbing with this procedure: 1. 2. Pull on the belt with both hands to tighten it on the retractor spool. Feed the belt back into the retractor until it is completely retracted. Repeat previous step if necessary. Pull the belt out of its holder as far as it will go and untwist the belt or remove the object that is jamming the belt. Let the belt retract. Then, pull the belt out and let it retract several times to make sure that the belt works properly. 23 3. 4.