1997 FORD F150 key

Tailgate lock (if equipped)
Your vehicle is equipped with a
tailgate lock designed to prevent
theft of the tailgate.
²Insert ignition key and turn to
the right to engage lock.
²Turn ignition key to the left to
unlock.
Tailgate removal
Your tailgate is removable to allow
more room for loading.
1. Lower the tailgate.
2. Use a screwdriver to pry the
spring clip (on each connector)
past the head of the support
screw. Disconnect cable.
3. Disconnect the other cable.
4. Lift tailgate to a 45 degree
angle.
5. Lift right side off of its hinge.
6. Lift left side off of its hinge.f12_tailgate_lock
f12_tailgate_removal
f12_antitheft
Controls and features
47

Remote entry system (if
equipped)
The remote entry system allows
you to lock or unlock all vehicle
doors without a key. The remote
entry features only operate with
the ignition key in the Off position.
It also arms and disarms the
anti-theft system (for more
information on the anti-theft
system, refer toAnti-theft system
in this chapter.)
Unlocking the doors
Press UNLOCK to unlock the
driver door. The interior lamps will
illuminate.
Press UNLOCK a second time
within five seconds to unlock all
doors.
LOCK
PANIC
UN
LOCK
LOCK
PANICUN
LOCK
f12_remote_entry
f12_unlocking_doors
f12_locking_doors
Controls and features
48

²sound the horn
²prohibit the vehicle from
starting.
The flashing headlamps and the
honking horn automatically shut
off after about three minutes and
will remain off unless another
unauthorized entry is attempted.
However, the vehicle will not start
until the system is disarmed.
Disarming an untriggered
anti-theft system
Press the UNLOCK control or
unlock either door with the key to
disarm the untriggered system. If
the driver armed the system but
did not exit the vehicle, disarm the
system by inserting the key and
turning the ignition to On.
Disarming a triggered anti-theft
system
Press either the UNLOCK or
PANIC control or unlock either
door with the key to disarm the
system.
A triggered system may also be
disarmed by inserting the key and
turning the ignition to Accessory
or On.
LOCK
PANICUN
LOCK
PANICUN
LOCKLOCK
f12_disarming_untriggered
Controls and features
52

Conditions of operation
If... Then...
The driver safety belt is not
buckled when the ignition key is
turned to On...The safety belt indicator
illuminates for 1-2 minutes and
the reminder chime sounds for 4-8
seconds.
The driver safety belt is buckled
while the indicator light is
illuminated and the reminder
chime is sounding...The safety belt indicator light and
the reminder chime turn off.
The driver safety belt is buckled
before the ignition key is turned to
On...The safety belt indicator light and
the safety belt reminder chime
remain off.
Safety belt maintenance
Check the safety belt systems
periodically to make sure that they
work properly and are not
damaged. Check the safety belts to
make sure that there are no nicks,
wear or cuts. If your vehicle has
been involved in an accident, have
all the safety belts and child seat
anchoring brackets (if equipped)
examined by a qualified technician.
Failure to replace the
safety belt assembly under
the above conditions could result
in severe personal injuries in the
event of a collision.
Safety belt extension assembly
For some people, the safety belt
may be too short even when it is
fully extended. You can add about
20 cm (8 in.) to the belt length
f12_sbelt_maint
f12_sbelt_extension
Seating and safety restraints
65

Keep the passenger air bag
turned on unless there is a
rear-facing infant seat installed in
the front seat. When the
passenger air bag switch is
turned off, the passenger air bag
will not inflate in a collision.
If the passenger air bag switch is
turned off, it increases the
likelihood of injury to forward
facing occupants in the passenger
seat.
Turning the passenger air bag
off
1. Insert the ignition key, turn the
switch to OFF and remove the key.
2. The OFF light illuminates when
the key is inserted in the ignition
and turned to On. This indicates
that the passenger air bag is
deactivated.
If the light fails to
illuminate when the
passenger air bag switch is in the
OFF position and the ignition
switch is in ON, have the
passenger air bag switch serviced
at your Ford or Lincoln-Mercury
dealer immediately.
PASSENGER AIRBAG
ON
OFF OFF
Seating and safety restraints
72

In order to avoid
inadvertent deployment of
the passenger air bag, always
remove the ignition key from the
passenger air bag deactivate
switch.
Turning the passenger air bag
back on
The passenger air bag remains off
until you turn it back on.
1. Insert the ignition key and turn
the switch to ON.
2. The OFF light will not illuminate
when the ignition is turned to On.
If the light is illuminated
when the passenger air
bag switch is in the ON position
and the ignition switch is in ON,
have the passenger air bag
switch serviced at your Ford or
Lincoln-Mercury dealer
immediately.
PASSENGER AIRBAG
ON
OFF OFF
Seating and safety restraints
73

3. Turn the key to the ON position
(without turning the key to
START).
Make sure the following lights
illuminate briefly. If a light fails to
illuminate, have the vehicle
serviced.
²If the driver's safety belt is
fastened, the
light does not
illuminate.
!MPH 1050
3070
4080
120
140
18 0
40
20
0
10090 60
8060100
20 km/h
0010
000005CH
EF
DOOR
AJARLOW
FUEL
MPH
CHECK
ENGINEABS
L H18
8
BRAKE
!
LOW
FUEL
ABS
BRAKE
3
MPH 1050
3070
4080
120
140
18 0
40
20
0
10090 60
8060100
20 km/h
0010
0000052
4
5
6 01LH
CH
EF
818RPMx1000CHECK
ENGINE
Starting
87

STARTING PROCEDURE
Starting the engine
1. Turn the key to 5 (Start)
without pressing the accelerator.
The key will return to 4 (On).
2. If the engine does not start
within five seconds, wait ten
seconds and try again.
3. If the engine does not start in
two attempts OR the temperature
is below Ð12ÉC (10ÉF), depress
accelerator and start the engine
while holding the accelerator
down. Release accelerator when
engine starts.
4. After idling for a few seconds,
apply the brake and release the
parking brake.
Using the engine block heater
(if equipped)
An engine block heater warms the
engine coolant, which improves
starting, warms up the engine
faster and allows the
heater-defroster system to respond
quickly. They are strongly
recommended if you live in a
region where temperatures reach
Ð23ÉC (±10ÉF) or below.
For best results, plug the heater in
at least three hours before starting
3
2
1
5
4
com_starting_vehicle.01
com_engine_heater.01
Starting
88