2016 Ford Taurus Seatbelt Prentensioner

Prentensioners

Before we take a look at the 2016 Ford Taurus, let’s review the 3 different types of seat-belt pretensioners. Pretensioners are designed to reduce the load on the occupant in a violent crash by tightening the belt during the very first fractions of a second in a crash.  Most pretensioners use pyrotechnic devices and are usually controlled by the same sensor system as the airbags.

Pretensioner devices can be added to any of the belt anchorage points and there are typically tree different types of seat-belt pretensioners:

• 1. Retractor pretensioner
• 2. Buckle pretensioner
• 3. Lap pretensioner

The buckle mounted pretensioner usually found on the inboard side of the seat next to the center console was often used.  However, more vehicles are using lap pretensioners that mount the pyrotechnic device on the lower part of the B-pillar.  This is another reason to make sure we pulled the interior trim and see what we are cutting.  Pretensioners must be avoided during a cut.

In the images below, notice how the older Taurus has buckle mounted pretensioners found on the inboard side of the seat next to the center console and the newest Taurus has lap pretensioners mounted on the lower part of the B-Pillar.

2016 Ford Taurus

Seatbelt Prentensioner (Lap pretensioner)

2012 Ford Taurus

Seatbelt Prentensioner (Buckle pretensioner)

Still have questions about what pretensioners do?  Follow this link where we added a couple videos that demonstrate on pretensioner work.