Seat belt and airbag damaged?

CALICATINLV

MEMBER
2006 FORD ESCAPE
V6
4WD
AUTOMATIC
200,000 MILES

Hi friends, my poor vehicle was recently stolen and thankfully I was able to get it back but not without damage. The thieves sliced the passenger seat belt in half and cut a portion of wire that resulted in the airbag light on the instrument panel to remain on all the time. I'm a recent widow, financially challenged and having the worst year and a half of my life and I am hoping I can repair these myself. I'm pretty sure I already know and won't like the answer though so just give it to me straight. If this is not an easy fix, I can do myself, some advice on the best and least expensive route would be appreciated. I don't want my passengers' safety compromised any more than it is, just joking. All kidding aside, I anxiously await your response and thank you for your help and sharing your expertise with me. - Cat

3 Replies

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
42,883 POSTS

The seat belt mounting bolts will be pretty tight FYI. Here is the instructions on how to replace the seat belt which you will need to get from the dealer. Some interior panels will need to be removed which is not to difficult. Please check out the images below for further instructions.

SAFETY BELT SYSTEM

When replacing any active occupant restraint components, use only the replacement parts specified in the Ford Customer Service Division Master Parts Catalog.

The active restraint system consists of the following:
- Front row safety belt buckles and pretensioners, attached to the inboard side of the seats.
- Driver safety belt retractor pretensioner (Hybrid only).
- Front row safety belt retractors, located behind the lower B-pillar trim panels.
- Second row outboard safety belt retractors, located behind the rear quarter trim panels.
- Second row 60/40 seat center safety belt retractor and LH safety belt buckle assembly integrated into the 60 percent seat back.
- Second row dual safety belt buckle assembly for the 60/40 seat attached to the floor pan under the RH seat cushion.
- Second row lower anchors and tethers for children (LATCH) at all outboard seating positions, welded to the seat backrest frame.
- The child safety seat tether anchors are attached to the roof near the rear liftgate door.

BELT MINDER DEACTIVATING/ACTIVATING

Preparation
1. Apply the parking brake before deactivating/activating the belt minder.
2. Place the gear selector lever in PARK or NEUTRAL (manual transaxle).
3. Place the ignition switch in the OFF position.
4. Close all the vehicle doors.
5. Unbuckle the driver safety belt.
6. Place the parking lamps/headlamps switch in the OFF position.

Deactivating/Activating
1. Turn the ignition switch to the RUN position. (Do not start the engine.)
2. Wait until the safety belt warning lamp turns off (approximately 1 to 2 minutes).

3. NOTE: Steps 3 through 5 must be completed within 60 seconds or the procedure must be repeated.

Uncoil, then retract, the safety belt 3 times, ending with the safety belt retracted. This portion of the procedure can be done before or during the belt minder warning activation.

4. Turn the parking lamps/headlamps ON, then OFF.
5. Uncoil, then retract, the safety belt 3 times, ending with the safety belt retracted. After this step the safety belt warning lamp is illuminated for 3 seconds.
6. Within 7 seconds of the safety belt warning lamp turning off, uncoil then retract the safety belt. This enables the belt minder if disabled or disables the belt minder if enabled. The following sequence of events confirms the belt minder is enabled:
- flashing of the safety belt warning lamp 4 times per second for 3 seconds
- 3 seconds with the safety belt lamp off
- flashing the safety belt lamp 4 times per second for 3 seconds again

7. The safety belt lamp flashing 4 times per second for 3 seconds provides confirmation that the belt minder is disabled.
8. After confirmation, the deactivation/activation procedure is complete.

Check out the images (below). Let us know what happens and please upload pictures or videos of the problem so we can see what's going on.

Images (Click to make bigger)