2000 FORD F150 ECU

objects on the key ring held away from the ignition key. Check to make
sure the encoded ignition key is an approved Ford encoded ignition key.
Spare coded keys can be purchased from your dealership and
programmed to your anti-theft system. Refer toProgramming spare
SecuriLockykeysfor more information.
If one or both of your coded keys are lost or stolen and you want to
ensure the lost or stolen key will not operate your vehicle, bring your
vehicle and all available coded keys to your dealership for reinitialization.
Theft indicator
The theft indicator in the instrument cluster will operate as follows:
²When the ignition is OFF, the theft indicator will flash briefly every
two seconds to indicate the anti-theft system is protecting your
vehicle.
²When the ignition is turned to ON or START, the theft indicator will
light for three seconds and then go out. If the theft indicator stays on
for an extended period of time or flashes rapidly, have the system
serviced by your dealership or a qualified technician.
Programming spare SecuriLockYkeys
Spare coded keys can be purchased from your dealership and
programmed to your anti-theft system (up to a total of eight keys). Your
dealership can program your new coded key(s) to your vehicle or you
can do it yourself using the following simple procedure. To program a
new coded key yourself, you will need two previously programmed coded
keys (keys that already operate your vehicle's engine). If two previously
programmed coded keys are not available (one or both of your original
keys were lost or stolen), you must bring your vehicle to your dealership
to have the spare coded key(s) programmed.
Procedure to program spare SecuriLockYkeys to your vehicle
New coded keys must have the correct mechanical key cut for your vehicle.
Conventional (non-coded) keyscannotbe programmed to your vehicle.
You will need to have two previously programmed coded keys and the
new unprogrammed SecuriLockykey readily accessible for timely
implementation of each step in the procedure. Please read and
understand the entire procedure before you begin.
Controls and features
88

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.
In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is significantly more likely
to die than a person wearing a safety belt.
Each seating position in your vehicle has a specific safety belt
assembly which is made up of one buckle and one tongue that
are designed to be used as a pair. 1) Use the shoulder belt on the
outside shoulder only. Never wear the shoulder belt under the arm. 2)
Never swing the safety belt around your neck over the inside shoulder.
3) Never use a single belt for more than one person.
Always transport children 12 years old and under in the back
seat and always properly use appropriate child restraints.
Combination lap and shoulder belts
1. Insert the belt tongue into the
proper buckle (the buckle closest to
the direction the tongue is coming
from) until you hear a snap and feel
it latch. Make sure the tongue is
securely fastened in the buckle.
Seating and safety restraints
103

When installing a child safety seat:
²Review and follow the information
presented in theAir Bag
Supplemental Restraint System
section in this chapter.
²Use the correct safety belt buckle
for that seating position (the
buckle closest to the direction the
tongue is coming from).
²Insert the belt tongue into the
proper buckle until you hear a
snap and feel it latch. Make 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 seat back in upright position.
²Put the safety belt in the automatic locking mode. Refer toAutomatic
locking mode(passenger side front and outboard rear seating
positions) (if equipped).
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, refer toAttaching safety seats with tether straps.
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.
Seating and safety restraints
124

3. While holding the shoulder and
lap belt portions together, route the
tongue through the child seat
according to the child seat
manufacturer's instructions. Be sure
the belt webbing is not twisted.
4. Insert the belt tongue into the
proper buckle (the buckle closest to
the direction the tongue is coming
from) for that seating position until
you hear a snap and feel the latch
engage. Make sure the tongue is
latched securely by pulling on it.
5. To put the retractor in the
automatic locking mode, grasp the
shoulder portion of the belt and pull
downward until all of the belt is
extracted and a click is heard.
6. Allow the belt to retract. The belt will click as it retracts to indicate it
is in the automatic locking mode.
Seating and safety restraints
126

7. Pull the lap belt portion across
the child seat toward the buckle and
pull up on the shoulder belt while
pushing down with your knee on the
child seat.
8. Allow the safety belt to retract to
remove any slack in the belt.
9. Before placing the child in the
seat, forcibly tilt the seat forward
and back to make sure the seat is
securely held in place.
10. Try to pull the belt out of the retractor to make sure the retractor is
in the automatic locking mode (you should not be 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.
Installing child safety seats in the lap belt seating positions
1. Lengthen the lap belt. To lengthen the belt, hold the tongue so that its
bottom is perpendicular to the direction of webbing while sliding the
tongue up the webbing.
2. Place the child safety seat in the center seating position.
3. Route the tongue and webbing through the child seat according to the
child seat manufacturer's instructions.
4. Insert the belt tongue into the proper buckle for the center seating
position until you hear a snap and feel it latch. Make sure the tongue is
securely fastened to the buckle by pulling on tongue.
Seating and safety restraints
127

5. Push down on the child seat while pulling on the loose end of the lap
belt webbing to tighten the belt.
6. Before placing the child into the child seat, forcibly tilt the child seat
from side to side and in forward direction to make sure that the seat is
held securely in place. If the child seat moves excessively, repeat steps 5
through 6, or properly install the child seat in a different position.
Some manufacturers make safety seats that include a tether strap that
goes over the back of the vehicle seat and attaches to an anchoring
point. Other manufacturers offer the tether strap as an accessory.
Contact the manufacturer of your child safety seat for information about
ordering a tether strap.
A tethered seat can be installed in the front passenger seat. Put the
tether strap over the seatback and attach it to an anchor bracket.
An anchor bracket can be installed on the rear edge of the front
passenger seat cushion.
The provision (attaching hole) is provided in the rear edge of the front
passenger seat cushion frame. The anchor bracket must be installed
using the instructions provided with the kit.
Tether anchorage hardware kits (part number 613D74) including
instructions, may be obtained at no charge from any Ford or
Lincoln/Mercury dealer.
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 Super Cab, Ford recommends you attach tether safety
seats in the rear seating position (if possible) with the tether strap
attached to the tether anchorage bracket as shown in the instructions
provided with the tether anchor kit.
Tighten the anchor according to specifications. Otherwise, the
safety seat may not be properly secured and the child may be
injured in a sudden stop or collision.
Attaching child safety seats with built-in tether straps
Most new forward-facing child safety seats include a tether strap which
goes over the back of the seat and hooks to an anchoring point. Tether
straps are available as an accessory for many older safety seats. Contact
the manufacturer of your child seat for information about ordering a
tether strap.
Seating and safety restraints
128

²Front seat
²Rear seats (if equipped)
5. Refer to theInstalling child safety seats in combination lap and
shoulder belt seating positionssection of this chapter for further
instructions to secure the child safety seat.
6. Tighten the child safety seat tether strap according to the
manufacturer's instructions.
If the safety seat is not anchored properly, the risk of a child
being injured in a collision greatly increases.
Seating and safety restraints
132

Parking brake
Apply the parking brake whenever
the vehicle is parked. To set the
parking brake, press the parking
brake pedal down until the pedal
stops.
The BRAKE warning lamp in the
instrument cluster illuminates and
remains illuminated (when the
ignition is turned ON) until the
parking brake is released.
Always set the parking brake fully and make sure that the
gearshift is securely latched in P (Park) (automatic
transmission) or in 1 (First) (manual transmission).
The parking brake is not recommended to stop a moving vehicle.
However, if the normal brakes fail, the parking brake can be used to stop
your vehicle in an emergency. Since the parking brake applies only the
rear brakes, the vehicle's stopping distance will increase greatly and the
handling of your vehicle will be adversely affected.
BRAKE
HOOD
!
BRAKE
Driving
141