Seat Belt Retractor: Description and Operation

SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR PRETENSIONER SYSTEM

All Thunderbirds have a pretensioner system in the front safety belt retractors. This works in conjunction with the front air bag system mounted in the steering wheel and instrument panel.

When the pretensioner in the retractor deploys, the retractor spool rotates. The rotating spool action removes excess webbing from the safety belt assembly, tightening the webbing around the occupant.

If the vehicle is involved in a collision that results in deployment of the safety belt pretensioners, the driver and passenger safety belt system (including safety belt retractor pretensioners, safety belt buckles, and height adjusters), must be replaced.

For retractor pretensioner diagnostic information refer to Air Bag Systems.
For retractor pretensioner disposal information, refer to Air Bag Systems.

DUAL LOCKING MODE RETRACTORS

NOTE: When replacing a dual locking mode retractor, the retractor should be checked to make sure it is not in the automatic locking retractor (ALR) mode after installation in the stowed position.

All outboard continuous-loop, three-point retractor systems, except the driver position, are equipped with the dual locking mode system.

The emergency locking retractor (ELR) mode will allow the occupant freedom of movement, locking tight only on hard braking, hard cornering, or an impact of approximately 8 km/h (5 mph). The ELR mode helps to reduce the forward movement of the driver and passenger. The ELR mode is in continuous operation at all seating positions.

The ALR portion of this system does not allow the occupant freedom of movement. The ALR mode is used when locking a child seat in an outboard seating position or when a tight belt fit is desired. The ALR mode is automatically engaged when the webbing is fully extracted from the retractor and then allowed to retract. As the webbing is retracted back onto the spool, an audible clicking sound is made indicating the retractor is in ALR mode and the webbing will not pull back out of the retractor. To disengage the ALR mode, let the webbing retract back onto the spool. The ALR mode is disengaged when the webbing is free to move out and back into the retractor.