Child Seat Tether Attachment: Service and Repair
General InstructionsRead these instructions carefully prior to installation of the child tether 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. Refer to the illustration for anchor points.
Ford recommends the placement of tethered safety seats in a rear seating position with the tether strap attached to the tether anchoring point as shown in the illustration. The right front seating position may be used if it is the only seating position available.
WARNING: FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE PRECAUTIONS COULD INCREASE THE CHANCE AND/OR SEVERITY OF INJURY IN AN ACCIDENT.
Locating Tether Strap Anchorage Locations and Installing Hardware for:
- Right Front Seating Position
- Second Row Bucket Seats
1. Adjust the front seat full forward for easier access to the lower rear area of the seat.
2. Locate the hole provided in the lower seat frame behind the seat cushion.
3. Before installing the tether hardware, read the instructions on the package containing the thread locking material, then open the capsule and apply thread locking material to all threads on the tether attachment bolt.
WARNING: THE THREADED HOLE IN THE TETHER ANCHOR OR NUT HAS AN 8 mm METRIC THREAD. AN 8 mm METRIC WRENCH IS 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 ASSIST YOU.
4. Assemble the bolt, tether bracket and anchor to the frame rail at the rear of the seat. The tether bracket must be pointing rearward and assembled as shown in the illustration.
5. Tighten the retaining bolt to 22-34 N.m (16-25 ft-lb).
6. Follow the child seat manufacturer's instructions to attach the tether strap to the tether bracket.
Locating Tether Strap Anchorage Locations and Installing Hardware for:
- Second Row Three-Passenger Bench Seat
1. Remove the second row three-passenger bench seat.
2. Place the seat assembly upside down on a clean, protected surface.
3. Choose the desired seating position for the child seat (left, center or right position). Locate the corresponding tether attachment hole. The holes are located under the upholstery in the rear rail of the seat cushion frame. The "J" strip must be detached from the rear rail to release the upholstery and gain access to the three holes provided.
WARNING: USE ONLY THE TETHER ATTACHMENT HOLES LOCATIONS SHOWN. THE TETHER ANCHORAGE WILL NOT PERFORM PROPERLY IF THE WRONG MOUNTING LOCATION IS USED.
4. Before installing the tether hardware, read the instructions on the package containing the thread locking material, then open the capsule and apply thread locking material to all threads on the tether attachment bolt.
WARNING: THE THREADED HOLE IN THE TETHER ANCHOR OR NUT HAS AN 8 mm METRIC THREAD. AN 8 mm METRIC WRENCH IS 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 ASSIST YOU.
5. Assemble the bolt, tether bracket and anchor to the frame rail at the rear of the seat. The tether bracket must be pointing rearward and assembled as shown in the illustration.
6. Tighten the retaining bolt to 22-34 N.m (16-25 ft-lb).
7. Trim the plastic "J" strip where required and reattach the plastic "J" strip to the rear rail.
8. Follow the child seat manufacturer's instructions to attach the tether strap to the tether bracket.
WARNING: THE TETHER BRACKET MUST BE BOLTED DIRECTLY TO THE SHEET METAL. THE INTERIOR TRIM MUST 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.