Ford Kuga

 Service Manual

Safety Belt System
Principles of Operation

WARNING: All safety belt components including retractors, buckles, child safety seat tether brackets and attaching hardware in use during a collision must be removed and new components installed.

Failure to follow these instructions may result in personal injury.

The occupant restraint system utilizes three-point lap and diagonal safety belts in all seat positions.

Front seats are equipped with safety belt buckle pretensioners, which are controlled as part of the supplemental restraint system (SRS). For additional information, REFER to: Air Bag and Safety Belt Pretensioner Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) (501-20 Supplemental Restraint System, Description and Operation).

The rear seat safety belt buckles are mounted directly to the floor panel.

The safety belt retractor, mounted within the base of the B-pillar, incorporates a torsion bar load limiting device. The device consists of a retractor reel which is mounted onto a spindle (torsion bar) which, once the sensor has locked the retractor reel and predetermined load is applied, twists and pays out additional webbing into the system. The deceleration force required to initiate this sequence is approximately the same as that required to initiate air bag deployment. The torsion bar load limiting device will only react if the safety belt is in use at the time of impact.

Rear seat safety belt retractors do not use this type of retractor, they are equipped with a conventional retractor.

Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR)

The retractors in all seat positions feature ELR.

The ELR is part of the safety belt system that in  normal operation allows free movement of the belted occupant. In an emergency the ELR will lock, preventing webbing payout and hence forward movement of the occupant. Locking may be achieved by one of two mechanisms:

Vehicle Motion Sensor (VMS)

VMS is operated by sudden deceleration of the vehicle or excessive tilt. Once operated the VMS causes a locking pawl to be engaged, thus locking the retractor, preventing webbing payout. When the vehicle is stationary, the VMS stabilizes, causing the pawl to disengage and unlock the retractor, allowing webbing payout.

Principles of Operation

Inspection and Verification

Component Test

Vehicle Motion Sensor Test

Test Method 1 (braking)

Test Method 2 (turning circle)

Static Test

Front Safety Belt Retractor

Rear Safety Belt Retractor

Rear Center Safety Belt Retractor

Safety Belt Shoulder Height Adjuster

Front Safety Belt Buckle