2003 FORD SUPER DUTY Owners Manual

pretensioner. Do NOT place objects between the seats, this could
interfere with the functioning of the pretensioner. For the SuperCab and
CrewCab base bench seats and all Regular Cab seating positions, the
safetybelts are equipped with a retractor pretensioner.
The safetybelt pretensioners are designed to activate onlyduring certain
frontal or near-frontal collisions with sufficient longitudinal deceleration.
A safetybelt pretensioner is a device which tightens the webbing of the
lap and shoulder belts during some collisions in such a waythat theyfit
more snuglyagainst the body.
The driver and front outboard passenger safetybelt system (including
retractors, buckles and height adjusters) must be replaced if the vehicle
is involved in a collision that results in the activation of the safetybelt
pretensioners. Refer to theSafety belt maintenancesection in this
chapter.
Failure to replace the safetybelt assemblyunder the above
conditions could result in severe personal injuries in the event of
a collision.
Front safety belt height adjustment
If your shoulder belts come out of the seatback, you will not have a
safetybelt height adjuster.
Adjust the height of the shoulder belt so the belt rests across the middle
of your shoulder.
•Regular Cab and 4–door CrewCab
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•4–door Super Cab (if equipped)
To adjust the shoulder belt height,
push the button and slide the height
adjuster up or down. Release the
button and pull down on the height
adjuster to make sure it is locked in
place.
Position the safetybelt height adjusters so that the belt rests
across the middle of your shoulder. Failure to adjust the safety
belt properlycould reduce the effectiveness of the seat belt and
increase the risk of injuryin a collision.
Safety belt warning light and indicator chime
The safetybelt warning light illuminates in the instrument cluster and a
chime sounds to remind the occupants to fasten their safetybelts.
Conditions of operation
If... Then...
The driver’s safetybelt is not
buckled before the ignition switch
is turned to the ON position...The safetybelt warning light
illuminates 1-2 minutes and the
warning chime sounds 4-8
seconds.
The driver’s safetybelt is buckled
while the indicator light is
illuminated and the warning chime
is sounding...The safetybelt warning light and
warning chime turn off.
The driver’s safetybelt is buckled
before the ignition switch is turned
to the ON position...The safetybelt warning light and
indicator chime remain off.
BeltMinder
The BeltMinder feature is a supplemental warning to the safetybelt
warning function. This feature provides additional reminders to the
driver that the driver’s safetybelt is unbuckled byintermittently
sounding a chime and illuminating the safetybelt warning lamp in the
instrument cluster.
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If... Then...
The driver’s safetybelt is not
buckled before the vehicle has
reached at least 5 km/h (3 mph)
and 1-2 minutes have elapsed
since the ignition switch has been
turned to ON...The BeltMinder feature is
activated - the safetybelt warning
light illuminates and the warning
chime sounds for 6 seconds every
30 seconds, repeating for
approximately5 minutes or until
safetybelt is buckled.
The driver’s safetybelt is buckled
while the safetybelt indicator light
is illuminated and the safetybelt
warning chime is sounding...The BeltMinder feature will not
activate.
The driver’s safetybelt is buckled
before the ignition switch is turned
to the ON position...The BeltMinder feature will not
activate.
The following are reasons most often given for not wearing safetybelts:
(All statistics based on U.S. data)
Reasons given... Consider...
“Crashes are rare
events”36700 crashes occur every day.The more we
drive, the more we are exposed to “rare” events,
even for good drivers.1in4ofuswillbe
seriously injured in a crash during our
lifetime.
“I’m not going far”3of4fatal crashes occur within25miles of home.
“Belts are
uncomfortable”We design our safetybelts to enhance comfort. If
you are uncomfortable - try different positions for
the safetybelt upper anchorage and seatback
which should be as upright as possible; this can
improve comfort.
“I was in a hurry”Prime time for an accident.BeltMinder reminds
us to take a few seconds to buckle up.
“Seat belts don’t
work”Safety belts,when used properly,reduce risk of
deathto front seat occupants by45% in cars,
and by60% in light trucks.
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Reasons given... Consider...
“Traffic is light”Nearly 1 of 2 deaths occur in single-vehicle
crashes,manywhen no other vehicles are around.
“Belts wrinkle my
clothes”Possibly, but a serious crash can do much more
than wrinkle your clothes, particularly if you are
unbelted.
“The people I’m
with don’t wear
belts”Set the example, teen deaths occur 4 times more
often in vehicles with TWO or MORE people.
Children and younger brothers/sisters imitate
behavior theysee.
“I have an air bag” Air bags offer greater protection when used with
safetybelts. Frontal airbags are not designed to
inflate in rear and side crashes or rollovers.
“I’d rather be
thrown clear”Not a good idea.Peoplewho areejected are 40
times more likely to DIE.Safetybelts help
prevent ejection, WE CAN’T “PICK OUR CRASH”.
Do not sit on top of a buckled safetybelt to avoid the Belt
Minder chime. Sitting on the safetybelt will increase the risk of
injuryin an accident. To disable (one-time) or deactivate the Belt
Minder feature please follow the directions stated below.
One time disable
Anytime the safetybelt is buckled and then unbuckled during an
ignition ON cycle, BeltMinder will be disabled for that ignition cycle only.
Deactivating/activating the BeltMinder feature
Read steps 1 - 9 thoroughly before proceeding with the
deactivation/activation programming procedure.
The BeltMinder feature can be deactivated/activated byperforming the
following procedure:
Before following the procedure, make sure that:
•The parking brake is set.
•The gearshift is in P (Park) (automatic transmission) or the neutral
position (manual transmission).
•The ignition switch is in the OFF position.
•All vehicle doors are closed.
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•The driver’s safetybelt is unbuckled.
•The parklamps/headlamps are in OFF position (If vehicle is equipped
with Autolamps, this will not affect the procedure).
To reduce the risk of injury, do not deactivate/activate the Belt
Minder feature while driving the vehicle.
BeltMinder activation and deactivation procedure
1. Turn the ignition switch to the RUN (or ON) position. (DO NOT
START THE ENGINE.)
2. Wait until the safetybelt warning light turns off. (Approximately1–2
minutes.)
•Steps 3–5 must be completed within 60 seconds or the procedure will
have to be repeated.
3. Buckle then unbuckle the safetybelt three times, ending with the
safetybelt unbuckled. This can be done before or during BeltMinder
warning activation.
4. Turn on the parklamps/headlamps, turn off the parklamps/headlamps.
5. Buckle then unbuckle the safetybelt three times, ending with the
safetybelt unbuckled.
•After step 5 the safetybelt warning light will be turned on for three
seconds.
6. Within seven seconds of the safetybelt warning light turning off,
buckle then unbuckle the safetybelt.
•This will disable BeltMinder if it is currentlyenabled, or enable
BeltMinder if it is currentlydisabled.
7. Confirmation of disabling BeltMinder is provided bythe safetybelt
warning light flashing four times per second for three seconds.
8. Confirmation of enabling BeltMinder is provided by:
•The safetybelt warning light flashing four times per second for three
seconds.
•Followed bythree seconds with the safetybelt warning light off.
•Once again, the safetybelt warning light will flash four times per
second for three seconds.
9. After receiving confirmation, the deactivation/activation procedure is
complete.
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Safety belt extension assembly
If the safetybelt is too short when fullyextended, there is a 20 cm
(8 inch) safetybelt extension assemblythat can be added (part number
611C22). This assemblycan be obtained from your dealer at no cost.
Use onlyextensions manufactured bythe same supplier as the safety
belt. Manufacturer identification is located at the end of the webbing on
the label. Also, use the safetybelt extension onlyif the safetybelt is too
short for you when fully extended.
Do not use extensions to change the fit of the shoulder belt
across the torso.
Safety belt maintenance
Inspect the safetybelt systems periodicallyto make sure theywork
properlyand are not damaged. Inspect the safetybelts to make sure
there are no nicks, tears or cuts. Replace if necessary. All safety belt
assemblies, including retractors, buckles, front seat belt buckle
assemblies, buckle support assemblies (slide bar-if equipped), shoulder
belt height adjusters (if equipped), shoulder belt guide on seatback (if
equipped), child safetyseat LATCH and tether anchors, and attaching
hardware, should be inspected after a collision. Ford Motor Company
recommends that all safetybelt assemblies used in vehicles involved in a
collision be replaced. However, if the collision was minor and a qualified
technician finds that the belts do not show damage and continue to
operate properly, theydo not need to be replaced. Safetybelt assemblies
not in use during a collision should also be inspected and replaced if
either damage or improper operation is noted.
Failure to inspect and if necessaryreplace the safetybelt
assemblyunder the above conditions could result in severe
personal injuries in the event of a collision.
Refer toInteriorin theCleaningchapter.
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AIR BAG SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS)
Important SRS precautions
The SRS is designed to work with
the safetybelt to help protect the
driver and right front passenger
from certain upper bodyinjuries. Air
bags DO NOT inflate slowly; there is
a risk of injuryfrom a deploying air
bag.
All occupants of the vehicle, including the driver, should always
properlywear their safetybelts, even when an air bag (SRS) is
provided.
Always transport children 12 years old and under in the back
seat and always properly use appropriate child restraints.
The National HighwayTraffic SafetyAdministration (NHTSA)
recommends a minimum distance of at least 25 cm (10 inches)
between an occupant’s chest and the driver air bag module.
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Never place your arm over the air bag module as a deploying air
bag can result in serious arm fractures or other injuries.
To properlyposition yourself awayfrom the air bag:
•Move your seat to the rear as far as you can while still reaching the
pedals comfortably.
•Recline the seat slightlyone or two degrees from the upright position.
Do not put anything on or over the air bag module. Placing
objects on or over the air bag inflation area maycause those
objects to be propelled bythe air bag into your face and torso causing
serious injury.
Do not attempt to service, repair, or modifythe air bag
supplemental restraint systems or its fuses. See your Ford or
Lincoln Mercurydealer.
The front passenger air bag is not designed to offer protection to
an occupant in the center front seating position.
Modifying or adding equipment to the front end of the vehicle
(including frame, bumper, front end bodystructure and tow
hooks) mayaffect the performance of the air bag system, increasing
the risk of injury. Do not modify the front end of the vehicle.
Additional equipment such as snowplow equipment mayeffect
the performance of the air bag sensors increasing the risk of
injury. Please refer to the Body Builders Lay out Book for instructions
about the appropriate installation of additional equipment.
Removing the blocker beam without installing snow plow
attachment hardware mayeffect air bag deployment in a crash.
Do not operate the truck unless either the blocker beam or snow plow
attachment hardware is installed on the vehicle.
Children and air bags
For additional important safetyinformation, read all information on
safetyrestraints in this guide.
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