Page 84 of 312

•any door is opened then closed while the ignition is in the 4 (ON)
position,
•the brake is pressed before reaching 5 mph (8 km/h), and
•the vehicle is traveling more than 5 mph (8 km/h).
To deactivate/reactivate the autolock feature using the keypad
Your vehicle comes with the autolock feature activated. To
deactivate/reactivate this feature:
1. Ensure that the anti-theft system is not armed.
2. Turn the ignition to the 3 (OFF) position.
3. Close all the doors, liftgate and cargo doors.
4. Enter the 5-digit entry code.
5. Press and hold the 7•8. While holding the 7•8, press and release
the 3•4.
6. Release the 7•8.
The horn will chirp once when the system has been successfully
deactivated.
The horn will chirp twice (one short and one long chirp) when the
system has been successfully reactivated.
To deactivate/reactivate the autolock feature using the power door
unlock control
You must complete Steps 1-7 within 30 seconds or the procedure will
have to be repeated. If the procedure needs to be repeated, you must
wait 30 seconds.
1. Insert the key and turn the ignition to the 4 (ON) position.
2. Press the power door unlock control three times.
3. Turn the ignition from the 4 (ON) position to the 3 (OFF) position.
4. Press the power door unlock control three times.
5. Turn the ignition back to the 4 (ON) position. The horn will chirp.
6. Press the unlock control, then press the lock control. The horn will
chirp once if autolock was deactivated or twice (one short and one long
chirp) if autolock was activated.Note:Pressing the power door
UNLOCK/LOCK button again will toggle between activating and
deactivating the autolock feature.
7. Turn the ignition to the 3 (OFF) position. The horn will chirp once to
confirm the procedure is complete.
2004 F250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Locks and Security
84
Page 93 of 312

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.
Safety belts and seats can become hot in a vehicle that has been
closed up in sunny weather; they could burn a small child. Check
seat covers and buckles before you place a child anywhere near them.
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.
2004 F250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
93
Page 117 of 312

never use a booster seat with a lap belt only. It is best to use a booster
seat with lap/shoulder belts in the back seat- the safest place for children
to ride.
Follow all instructions provided by the manufacturer of the
booster seat.
Never put the shoulder belt under a child’s arm or behind the
back because it eliminates the protection for the upper part of
the body and may increase the risk of injury or death in a collision.
Never use pillows, books, or towels to boost a child. They can
slide around and increase the likelihood of injury or death in a
collision.
SAFETY SEATS FOR CHILDREN
Child and infant or child safety seats
Use a safety seat that is recommended for the size and weight of the
child. Carefully follow all of the manufacturer’s instructions 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.
When installing a child safety seat:
•Review and follow the information
presented in theAir bag
supplemental restraint system
(SRS) section in this chapter.
•Use the correct safety belt buckle
for that seating position (the
buckle closest to the direction the
tongue is coming from).
•Insert 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.
•Keep 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.
2004 F250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
117
Page 119 of 312
An air bag can kill or injure a child in a child seat. Child seats
should NEVER be placed in the front seats, unless the passenger
air bag switch is turned off, SeePassenger air bag on/off switch.
Rear facing child seats should NEVER be placed in the front
seats unless the passenger airbag switch is turned off.
2. Pull down on the shoulder belt
and then grasp the shoulder belt
and lap belt together.
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.
2004 F250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
119
Page 120 of 312

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.
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.
2004 F250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
120
Page 123 of 312
•Rear seats (Crew Cab only)
If the tether strap is clipped incorrectly, the child safety seat
may not be retained properly in the event of a collision.
6. 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.
7. 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.
Tether strap attachment (rear SuperCab only)
There are three loops of webbing just above the back of the rear seat
(along the bottom edge of the rear window) in the SuperCab. These
loops are to be used as both routing loops and anchor loops for up to
three child safety seat tether straps.
2004 F250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
123
Page 131 of 312

Parking brake
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 until the
parking brake is released.
Pull the right side of the release
lever to release the parking brake;
the release lever pulls at an angle
toward the driver’s door. To prevent
the pedal from releasing too quickly,
place your left foot on the parking
brake pedal, then pull the release
lever, making sure the pedal fully
releases. You may want to pull the
release lever again to make sure the
parking brake is full 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).
Note:If your vehicle is equipped with a manual transmission, the engine
may be required to run while power accessories operate and the parking
brake is set. It is recommended that wheel chocks be used during this
operation.
HO
O
D
HOOD
2004 F250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Driving
131
Page 134 of 312

3. Start the vehicle.
If it is necessary to use the above procedure to move the gearshift lever,
it is possible that a fuse has blown or the vehicle’s brakelamps are not
operating properly. Refer toFuses and relaysin theRoadside
Emergencieschapter.
Do not drive your vehicle until you verify that the brakelamps
are working.
Always set the parking brake fully and make sure the gearshift is
latched in P (Park). Turn the ignition to the LOCK position and
remove the key whenever you leave your vehicle.
If the parking brake is fully released, but the brake warning lamp
remains illuminated, the brakes may not be working properly.
See your dealer or a qualified service technician.
Understanding the gearshift positions of the 4–speed automatic
transmission (if equipped-gasoline engines only)
P (Park)
This position locks the transmission and prevents the rear wheels from
turning.
To put your vehicle in gear:
•Start the engine
•Depress the brake pedal
•Move the gearshift lever into the desired gear
To put your vehicle in P (Park):
•Come to a complete stop
•Move the gearshift lever and securely latch it in P (Park)
2004 F250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Driving
134