
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 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.
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Seating and Safety Restraints
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7. Pull the lap belt portion across
the child seat toward the buckle and
pull up on the shoulder belt while
pushing down with 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. To check
this, grab the seat at the belt path
and attempt to move it side to side
and forward. There should be no
more than one inch of movement for
proper installation.
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.
Attaching child safety seats with 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.
The passenger seats of your vehicle may be equipped with built-in tether
strap anchors located behind the seats as described below.
The tether anchors in your vehicle may be straps on the seatback or an
anchor bracket on the rear edge of the seat cushion or an anchor bracket
mounted to the body shell on the back panel.
2003 F250/350/450/550(f23)
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Seating and Safety Restraints
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The SuperCab rear seat has three straps behind the top of the seat back
that function as both routing loops for the tether straps and anchor loops.
The tether strap anchors in your vehicle are in the following positions
(shown from top view):
Attach the tether strap only to the appropriate tether anchor as
shown. The tether strap may not work properly if attached
somewhere other than the correct tether anchor.
•F—Series Regular Cab
•F—Series SuperCab
•F—Series Crew Cab
Tether strap attachment
1. Position the child safety seat on the seat cushion.
2. Route the child safety seat tether strap over the back of the seat.
3. Locate the correct anchor for the selected seating position.
4. You may need to pull the seatback forward to access the tether
anchors. Make sure the seat is locked in the upright position before
installing the child seat. Refer to theFolding down the rear seats
section in this chapter for information on how to operate the rear seats.
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USA English(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
107

When lifting a plastic-cased battery, excessive pressure on the
end walls could cause acid to flow through the vent caps,
resulting in personal injury and/or damage to the vehicle or battery.
Lift the battery with a battery carrier or with your hands on opposite
corners.
Keep batteries out of reach of children. Batteries contain sulfuric
acid. Avoid contact with skin, eyes or clothing. Shield your eyes
when working near the battery to protect against possible splashing of
acid solution. In case of acid contact with skin or eyes, flush
immediately with water for a minimum of 15 minutes and get prompt
medical attention. If acid is swallowed, call a physician immediately.
Battery posts, terminals and related accessories contain lead and
lead compounds.Wash hands after handling.
For information on transmission operation after the battery has been
disconnected see“Shift strategy”in the driving section.
Because your vehicle’s engine is also electronically controlled by a
computer, some control conditions are maintained by power from the
battery. When the battery is disconnected or a new battery is installed,
the engine must relearn its idle and fuel trim strategy for optimum
driveability and performance. To begin this process:
1. With the vehicle at a complete stop, set the parking brake.
2. Put the gearshift in P (Park) (automatic transmission) or the neutral
position (manual transmission), turn off all accessories and start the
engine.
3. Run the engine until it reaches normal operating temperature.
4. Allow the engine to idle for at least one minute.
5. Turn the A/C on and allow the engine to idle for at least one minute.
6. Drive the vehicle to complete the relearning process.
•The vehicle may need to be driven 16 km (10 miles) or more to
relearn the idle and fuel trim strategy.
•If you do not allow the engine to relearn its idle trim, the idle
quality of your vehicle may be adversely affected until the idle
trim is eventually relearned.
If the battery has been disconnected or a new battery has been installed,
the clock and the preset radio stations must be reset once the battery is
reconnected.
2003 F250/350/450/550(f23)
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USA English(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
222

A
Accessory delay ..........................53
Air bag supplemental restraint
system ..........................................90
and child safety seats ..............92
description ................................90
disposal ......................................94
driver air bag ............................92
indicator light ...........................94
operation ...................................92
passenger air bag .....................92
passenger deactivation
switch ........................................95
Air cleaner filter ...............246, 253
Ambulance packages ....................8
Antifreeze (see Engine
coolant) .....................................223
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ..............................115
Audio system
AM/FM .......................................19
Audio system
(see Radio) ................19, 21, 23, 27
Automatic transmission ............118
driving an automatic
overdrive .........................119, 122
fluid, adding ............................241
fluid, checking ........................241
fluid, refill capacities ..............254
fluid, specification ..................260
Auxiliary power point .................52
Axle
lubricant specifications ..257, 260
refill capacities ........................254
traction lok ..............................117
B
Battery .......................................221acid, treating emergencies .....221
jumping a disabled battery ....192
maintenance-free ....................221
replacement, specifications ...253
servicing ..................................221
BeltMinder ...................................85
Brakes ........................................115
anti-lock ...................................115
anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light ...........................115
fluid, checking and adding ....239
fluid, refill capacities ..............254
fluid, specifications .........257, 260
lubricant specifications ..257, 260
parking ....................................116
shift interlock ..........................118
Bulbs ............................................42
C
Calculating load ........................146
Capacities for refilling fluids ....254
Cassette tape player ...................27
CD changer .................................31
CD-single premium .........19, 21, 23
Cell phone use ............................59
Certification Label ....................268
Child safety restraints ................99
child safety belts ......................99
Child safety seats ......................102
attaching with tether straps ..106
in front seat ............................104
in rear seat ..............................104
Cleaning your vehicle
engine compartment ..............209
instrument panel ....................211
interior .....................................211
interior trim ............................211
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Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Index
Index
274

Infant seats
(see Safety seats) .....................102
Inspection/maintenance (I/M)
testing ........................................238
Instrument panel
cleaning ...................................211
cluster ........................................12
lighting up panel and
interior .......................................40
J
Jump-starting your vehicle ......192
K
Keyless entry system
autolock .....................................71
Keys
positions of the ignition .........110
L
Lamps
autolamp system .......................38
bulb replacement
specifications chart ..................42
cargo lamps ...............................40
daytime running light ...............39
fog lamps ...................................39
headlamps .................................38
headlamps, flash to pass ..........40
instrument panel, dimming .....40
interior lamps .....................41–42
replacing bulbs ...................42–47
Lane change indicator
(see Turn signal) ........................41
Lights, warning and indicator ....12
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ..........115
speed control ............................58
Load limits .................................145GAWR ......................................145
GVWR ......................................145
trailer towing ..........................145
Loading instructions .................146
Locks
autolock .....................................71
childproof ..................................66
Lubricant specifications ...257, 260
Lumbar support, seats ...............76
M
Manual transmission .................124
fluid capacities ........................254
lubricant specifications ..........260
reverse .....................................126
Message center ...........................59
english/metric button ...............60
menu button .............................60
Mirrors .........................................50
fold away ...................................55
heated ........................................54
side view mirrors (power) .......53
Moon roof ....................................51
Motorcraft parts ................233, 253
O
Octane rating ............................232
Oil (see Engine oil) ..................218
Overdrive .....................................49
P
Parking brake ............................116
Parts (see Motorcraft parts) ....253
Pedals (see Power adjustable
foot pedals) .................................56
Power adjustable foot pedals .....56
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Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Index
277

Power distribution box
(see Fuses) ...............................177
Power door locks ..................65, 71
Power point .................................52
Power steering ..........................117
fluid, checking and adding ....239
fluid, refill capacity ................254
fluid, specifications .........257, 260
Power Windows ...........................52
Preparing to drive your
vehicle ........................................117
R
Radio ..........................19, 21, 23, 27
AM/FM .......................................19
Relays ........................................176
Remote entry system .................67
illuminated entry ......................70
locking/unlocking doors ...........65
Reverse sensing system ...........127
Roadside assistance ..................174
S
Safety Belt Maintenance ............89
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ..................77, 79–81, 83
Safety defects, reporting ..........207
Safety restraints ..............77, 79–83
belt minder ...............................85
extension assembly ..................89
for adults .............................79–81
for children ...............................99
lap belt ......................................84
safety belt maintenance ...........89
warning light and chime ..........85
Safety seats for children ..........102Seat belts (see Safety
restraints) ....................................77
Seats ............................................72
child safety seats ....................102
cleaning ...................................212
Servicing your vehicle ..............215
Snowplowing .................8, 170–172
Spare tire
(see Changing the Tire) ...........182
Spark plugs,
specifications .....................253, 260
Special notice ................................9
ambulance conversions ..............8
diesel-powered vehicles .............7
four-wheel drive vehicles 172–173
utility-type vehicles ....................7
Specification chart,
lubricants ...........................257, 260
Speed control ..............................56
Starting your vehicle .......110–111,
113
jump starting ..........................192
Steering wheel
tilting .........................................49
Stereo
AM/FM .......................................19
T
Tailgate ........................................64
Tilt steering wheel ......................49
Tires ...................................247–248
changing ..........................182, 184
checking the pressure ............248
replacing ..................................251
rotating ....................................249
snow tires and chains ............252
tire grades ...............................248
treadwear ................................247
2003 F250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Index
278