1997 FORD F150 seats

Child and infant or child safety
seats
Carefully follow all of the
manufacturer's instructions
included with the safety seat you
put in your vehicle. If you do not
install and use the safety seat
properly, the child may be
injured in a sudden stop or
collision.
Ford recommends the use of a
child safety seat having a top
tether strap. Install the child safety
seat in a seating position which is
capable of providing a tether
anchorage. For more information
on top tether straps seeAttaching
safety seats with tether strapsin
this chapter.
When installing a child safety seat:
²Use the correct safety belt
buckle for that seating position.
²Make sure the tongue is
securely fastened in the buckle.
²Keep the buckle release button
pointing up and away from the
safety seat, with the tongue
between the child seat and the
release button, to prevent
accidental unbuckling.
²Place seatbacks in the upright
position.
²Put the safety belt in the
automatic locking mode. Refer
toUsing the automatic locking
modein this chapter.
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Seating and safety restraints
77

Installing child safety seats in
combination lap and shoulder
belt seating positions
1. Position the child safety seat in
a seat with a combination lap and
shoulder belt.
If you choose to install a child
safety seat in the front passenger
seat, move the seat as far back as
possible.
Seating and safety restraints
78

able to pull more belt out). If the
retractor is not locked, unbuckle
the belt and repeat steps two
through nine.
Check to make sure the child seat is
properly secured before each use.
Using a tether strap
Ford recommends using child
safety seats with a top tether
strap. Contact the manufacturer of
your safety seat for information
about ordering a tether strap if one
is not provided to you. Contact
your Ford dealer for a free tether
strap if one is not provided to you.
Contact your Ford dealer for a free
tether anchor kit (613D74) so you
can attach a tether anchor bracket
to the back of the seat cushion. If
you have a SuperCab, attach the
bracket to the inside of the back
panel of your vehicle. Carefully
follow the instructions provided
with the kit.
If you have a SuperCab, Ford
recommends you attach tether
safety seats in a rear seating
position (if possible) with the
tether strap attached to the tether
anchor bracket as shown in the
instructions provided with the
tether anchor kit.
If the tethered seat is installed in
the front seat, put the tether strap
over the seatback and attach it to
the anchor bracket installed on the
rear edge of the seat cushion as
explained in the tether strap
instructions.
f12_tether_straps
Seating and safety restraints
82

steady pressure on the brake
pedal.
Allow more stopping distance and
drive slower than usual. Consider
using one of the lower gears.
VEHICLE LOADING
It is extremely dangerous
to ride in a cargo area,
inside or outside of a vehicle. In
a collision, people riding in these
areas are more likely to be
seriously injured or killed. Do not
allow people to ride in any area
of your vehicle that is not
equipped with seats and safety
belts. Be sure everyone in your
vehicle is in a seat and using a
safety belt properly.
Before loading a vehicle, familiarize
yourself with the following terms:
²Base Curb Weight:Weight of
the vehicle including any
standard equipment, fluids,
lubricants, etc. It does not
include passengers or
aftermarket equipment.
²Payload:Combined maximum
allowable weight of cargo,
passengers and optional
equipment. The payload equals
gross vehicle weight rating
(GVWR) minus base curb
weight.
²Gross vehicle weight (GVW):
Base curb weight plus the
payload weight (including
passengers, cargo and optional
f12_heavy_load
Driving
116

into the rear of the plastic base
until it ªsnaps.º
9. Align top and bottom ribs of
parking lamp assembly with
corresponding slots on front of
vehicle.
10. Push gently until parking lamp
assembly seats (you will hear a
snap).
11. Replace screw removed in step
1.
Replacing foglamp bulbs
1. Disconnect the electrical
connector from the back of the
foglamp assembly.
2. Twist, then pull the bulb from
the foglamp assembly.
3. Install the new bulb.
4. Connect the electrical connector
to the back of the foglamp
assembly.
f12_foglamps
f12_tail_lamps
Maintenance and care
203

Cleaning the instrument panel
Clean instrument panel with a
damp cloth, then dry with a dry
cloth.
Any cleaner or polish that
increases the gloss of the upper
portion of the instrument panel
should be avoided. The dull finish
in this area is to help protect the
driver from undesirable windshield
reflection.
Cleaning the interior fabric
Remove dust and loose dirt with a
whisk broom or a vacuum cleaner.
Remove fresh spots immediately.
Follow the directions that come
with the cleaner.
Cleaning leather seats (if
equipped)
For routine cleaning, wipe the
surface with a soft, damp cloth.
For more thorough cleaning, wipe
the surface with a leather and
vinyl cleaner or a mild soap.
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Maintenance and care
211