Child Seat Tether Attachment: Service and Repair
Child Safety Seat Tether Strap Anchor Kit InstallationGeneral Instructions
Read these instructions carefully prior to installation of the child tether strap anchor kit.
Some manufacturers make safety seats with a tether strap that goes over the back of the vehicle seat and attaches to an anchoring point behind the vehicle seat.
Ford recommends placement of tethered safety seats in rear seating position with the tether strap attached to the tether anchoring point as shown in this instruction sheet.
Four tether strap anchor locations have been provided in your vehicle. If you want your child's safety seat located in the front, right passenger seat, you must use the tether strap anchor attachment location under the second row bench seat or right bucket seat. For second row seating positions, you must use one of the three tether strap anchor locations under the third row bench seat.
You can attach a tether strap anchor bracket to the rear floor by using a tether anchor kit, available at no charge from any Ford dealership.
The rear lap/shoulder safety belts should not be used to secure the tether strap of a safety seat located in the front seat.
WARNING: FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE PRECAUTIONS COULD INCREASE THE CHANCE AND/OR SEVERITY OF INJURY IN AN ACCIDENT.
Right Front Passenger Seat Location Installation
1. Remove the second row bench seat or both bucket seats.
2. Locate the front and rear attaching screws A and B retaining both the right and left floor well bezels to the floor.
3. From screw attachments A and B, working toward the center of the vehicle, apply a 51 mm (2-inch) strip of 15.2 cm (6-inch) wide masking tape onto the floor carpet.
4. Lay a straightedge from the right bezel attaching screw A to the left bezel attaching screw A. Draw a line on the masking tape. Repeat this procedure for screw B.
5. From screw A, measure approximately 10.8 cm (4-1/4 inches) toward the center of the vehicle and mark the tape (Point A). Refer to the previous illustration.
6. From screw B, measure the same distance and mark the tape (Point B). Refer to the previous illustration.
7. Apply a strip of tape connecting the two previously marked locations (Points A and B).
8. Lay a straightedge from Point A to Point B and draw a line on the tape. Measure from Point A toward Point B, approximately 24.5 cm (9-5/8 inches), and mark the tape.
9. After the approximate location(s) have been determined, using the masking tape, press the carpeting where you marked the tape and feel the unsupported area beneath the carpeting. This will indicate the location of the floor drill dimple provided for the tether strap anchor.
10. Feel the unsupported edge of the 51 mm x 51 mm (2 inch x 2 inch) opening under the carpet. Cut the carpet as shown in the following illustration, View A, and fold it back to expose both the drill dimple and the embossed letter "T" near the drill dimple. See view B of the following illustration.
11. Refer to the following illustrations to find the drill dimple locations underneath the vehicle. Verify, before drilling hole through the floor pan, that the drill will not damage any underbody components.
12. From inside the cargo area, drill a 9 mm (.354-inch) hole through the desired dimple(s).
13. An assistant will be needed underneath the vehicle to attach the tether anchor. Before installing the tether hardware, read the instructions on the package containing thread locking material, then open the capsule and apply thread locking material to all threads on the tether attachment bolt. Install the child tether hardware as shown in the following illustrations. It is important that the tether attachment bolt be torqued to 22-34 N.m (16-25 lb-ft).
WARNING: THE TETHER BRACKET MUST BE BOLTED DIRECTLY TO THE FLOOR SHEET METAL. INTERIOR TRIM MUST NOT BE TRAPPED BETWEEN THE ANCHOR BRACKET AND THE SHEET METAL. FAILURE TO PROPERLY INSTALL THE ANCHOR BRACKET COULD RESULT IN IMPROPER PERFORMANCE IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT.
14. Follow the child seat manufacturer's instructions to attach the tether bracket.
WARNING:
- THE THREADED HOLE IN THE TETHER ANCHOR HAS AN 8 MM METRIC THREAD. A WRENCH WILL BE NEEDED TO TIGHTEN THE 8 MM BOLT TO THE REQUIRED TORQUE. SOME CHILD RESTRAINTS COME WITH A NON-METRIC BOLT WITH A DIFFERENT THREAD. DO NOT USE A NON-METRIC BOLT AS IT MAY BE IMPOSSIBLE TO SCREW IT ALL THE WAY INTO THE HOLE, RESULTING IN INADEQUATE RETENTION OF THE CHILD RESTRAINT. USE ONLY THE METRIC ANCHOR BOLT SUPPLIED IN THIS KIT. IF YOU NEED A REPLACEMENT METRIC BOLT OR ASSISTANCE, ANY FORD DEALER WILL BE HAPPY TO ASSIST YOU.
- IF THE ANCHOR BOLT(S) ARE EVER REMOVED, THE HOLE(S) IN THE FLOOR MUST BE SEALED TO PREVENT THE POSSIBILITY OF EXHAUST FUMES ENTERING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.
Second Row Right Location Installation, Three-Passenger Bench and Bucket Seats, and Second Row Left Location Installation, Three-Passenger Bench, Two-Passenger Bench and Bucket Seats
1. Remove the third row passenger bench seat.
2. Locate front and rear attaching screws A and B retaining the floor well bezels to the floor. Refer to following illustration.
3. From screw attachments A and B, working toward the center of the vehicle, apply a 15.2 cm (6-inch) strip of 51 mm (2-inch) wide masking tape onto the floor carpet. Refer to following illustration.
4. Lay a straightedge from the right bezel attaching screw A to the left bezel attaching screw A and draw a line on the masking tape. Repeat this procedure for screw B.
5. From screw A, measure approximately 10.8 cm (4-1/4 inches) toward the center of the vehicle and mark the tape at Point A.
6. From screw B, measure the same distance and mark the tape at Point B. Refer to previous illustration.
7. Apply a strip of tape connecting the two previously marked locations (Point A and B).
8. Lay a straightedge from Point A to Point B and draw a line. Measure from Point A toward Point B, approximately 23.2 cm (9-1/8 inches), and mark the tape.
9. After the approximate location(s) have been determined, using the masking tape, press the carpeting where you marked the tape and feel the unsupported area beneath the carpeting. This will indicate the location of the floor drill dimple provided for the tether strap anchor.
10. Feel the unsupported edge of the 51 mm x 51 mm (2-inch x 2-inch) opening under the carpet. Cut the carpet as shown in the following illustration View A, and fold it back to expose both the drill dimple and the embossed letter "T" near the drill dimple. Refer to View B of the following illustration.
Second Row, Center, Three-Passenger Bench and Right Two-Passenger Bench Location
Installation
1. Remove the third row passenger bench seat.
2. Locate front and rear attaching screws A and B retaining the floor well bezels to the floor.
3. From screw attachments A and B, working toward the center of the vehicle, apply a 45.7 cm (6-inch) strip of 51 mm (2-inch) wide masking tape onto the floor carpet. Refer to the following illustration.
4. Lay a straightedge from right bezel attaching screw A to the left bezel attaching screw A. Draw a line on the masking tape. Repeat this procedure for attaching screw B.
5. From screw A, using a straightedge, measure approximately 32 cm (12-5/8 inches) toward the center of the vehicle and mark the tape. Refer to the following illustration.
6. From screw B, measure the same distance and mark the tape.
7. Apply a one 30 cm (12-inch) strip of tape connecting the two previously marked locations (Points A and B).
8. Lay a straightedge from Point A to Point B and draw a line. Measure from Point A toward Point B, approximately 23.2 cm (9-1/8 inches), and mark the tape. Refer to the following illustration.
9. After the approximate location(s) have been determined, using the masking tape, press the carpeting where you marked the tape and feel the unsupported area beneath the carpeting. This will indicate the location of the floor drill dimple provided for the tether strap anchor.
10. Feel the unsupported edge of the 51 mm x 51 mm (2-inch x 2-inch) opening under the carpet. Cut the carpet as shown in the following illustrations View A, and fold it back to expose both the drill dimple and the embossed letter "T" near the drill dimple. Refer to View B of the following illustration.
11. See views shown in the following illustration to find the drill dimple locations underneath the vehicle. Verify, before drilling hole through the floor pan, that the drill will not damage any underbody components.
12. From inside the cargo area, drill a 9 mm (.354 inch) hole through the desired dimple(s).
13. An assistant will be needed underneath the vehicle to attach the tether anchor. Before installing the tether hardware, read the instructions on the package containing thread locking material, then open the capsule and apply thread locking material to all threads on the tether attachment bolt. Install the child tether hardware as shown in the following illustrations. It is important that the tether attachment bolt be torqued to 22-34 N.m (16-25 lb-ft).
WARNING: THE TETHER BRACKET MUST BE BOLTED DIRECTLY TO THE FLOOR SHEET METAL. INTERIOR TRIM MUST NOT BE TRAPPED BETWEEN THE ANCHOR BRACKET AND THE SHEET METAL. FAILURE TO PROPERLY INSTALL THE ANCHOR BRACKET COULD RESULT IN IMPROPER PERFORMANCE IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT.
14. Follow the child seat manufacturer's instructions to attach the tether strap to the tether bracket.
WARNING:
- THE THREADED HOLE IN THE TETHER ANCHOR HAS AN 8 MM METRIC THREAD. A WRENCH WILL BE NEEDED TO TIGHTEN THE 8 MM BOLT TO THE REQUIRED TORQUE. SOME CHILD RESTRAINTS COME WITH A NON-METRIC BOLT WITH A DIFFERENT THREAD. DO NOT USE A NON-METRIC BOLT AS IT MAY BE IMPOSSIBLE TO SCREW IT ALL THE WAY INTO THE HOLE, RESULTING IN INADEQUATE RETENTION OF THE CHILD RESTRAINT. USE ONLY THE METRIC ANCHOR BOLT SUPPLIED IN THIS KIT. IF YOU NEED A REPLACEMENT METRIC BOLT OR ASSISTANCE, ANY FORD DEALER WILL BE HAPPY TO ASSIST YOU.
- IF THE ANCHOR BOLT(S) ARE EVER REMOVED, THE HOLE(S) IN THE FLOOR MUST BE SEALED TO PREVENT THE POSSIBILITY OF EXHAUST FUMES ENTERING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.