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.
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Seating and Safety Restraints
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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.
5. Clip the tether strap to the anchor as shown.
•Front seat (SuperCab only)
•Front seats (Regular Cab) and
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.
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Seating and Safety Restraints
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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.
2004 F250/350/450/550(f23)
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USA English(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
239
A
Accessory delay ..........................56
Air bag supplemental restraint
system ........................................104
and child safety seats ............106
description ..............................104
disposal ....................................108
driver air bag ..........................106
indicator light .........................108
operation .................................106
passenger air bag ...................106
passenger deactivation
switch ......................................109
Air cleaner filter ...............263, 277
Ambulance packages ....................8
Antifreeze
(see Engine coolant) ................240
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ..............................129
Audio system
(see Radio) ..........19, 21, 23, 26, 30
Automatic transmission ............132
driving an automatic
overdrive .........................133, 135
fluid, adding ............................258
fluid, checking ........................258
fluid, refill capacities ..............278
fluid, specification ..................284
Auxiliary power point .................55
Axle
lubricant specifications ..281, 284
refill capacities ........................278
traction lok ..............................131
B
Battery .......................................238
acid, treating emergencies .....238jumping a disabled battery ....209
maintenance-free ....................238
replacement, specifications ...277
servicing ..................................238
BeltMinder ...................................99
Brakes ........................................128
anti-lock ...................................129
anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light ...........................129
fluid, checking and adding ....256
fluid, refill capacities ..............278
fluid, specifications .........281, 284
lubricant specifications ..281, 284
parking ....................................129
shift interlock ..........................132
Bulbs ............................................44
C
Calculating load ........................162
Capacities for refilling fluids ....278
Cassette tape player ...................30
CD changer .................................33
Cell phone use ............................67
Certification Label ....................292
Child safety restraints ..............113
child safety belts ....................113
Child safety seats ......................116
attaching with tether straps ..120
in front seat ............................118
in rear seat ..............................118
Cleaning your vehicle
engine compartment ..............226
instrument panel ....................228
interior .....................................228
interior trim ............................228
plastic parts ............................227
safety belts ..............................228
washing ....................................225
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Index
Index
299
Infant seats
(see Safety seats) .....................116
Inspection/maintenance (I/M)
testing ........................................255
Instrument panel
cleaning ...................................228
cluster ........................................12
lighting up panel and
interior .......................................42
J
Jump-starting your vehicle ......209
K
Keyless entry system .................80
autolock .....................................79
Keys
positions of the ignition .........124
L
Lamps
autolamp system .......................40
bulb replacement
specifications chart ..................44
daytime running light ...............41
fog lamps ...................................41
headlamps .................................40
headlamps, flash to pass ..........42
instrument panel, dimming .....42
interior lamps .....................43–44
replacing bulbs ...................44–49
Lane change indicator
(see Turn signal) ........................43
Lights, warning and indicator ....12
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ..........129
speed control ............................61
Load limits .................................159Loading instructions .................162
Locks
autolock .....................................79
childproof ..................................74
Lubricant specifications ...281, 284
Lumbar support, seats ...............88
M
Manual transmission .................138
fluid capacities ........................278
lubricant specifications ..........284
reverse .....................................140
Message center ...........................67
english/metric button ...............68
menu button .............................68
Mirrors .........................................52
fold away ...................................58
heated ........................................57
side view mirrors (power) .......56
Moon roof ....................................53
Motorcraft parts ................250, 277
O
Octane rating ............................249
Oil (see Engine oil) ..................235
Overdrive .....................................51
P
Parking brake ............................129
Parts (see Motorcraft parts) ....277
Pedals (see Power adjustable
foot pedals) .................................59
Power adjustable foot pedals .....59
Power distribution box
(see Fuses) ...............................194
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USA English(fus)
Index
302
Power door locks ..................73, 79
Power point .................................55
Power steering ..........................130
fluid, checking and adding ....256
fluid, refill capacity ................278
fluid, specifications .........281, 284
Power Windows ...........................55
Preparing to drive your
vehicle ........................................131
R
Radio ....................19, 21, 23, 26, 30
Relays ........................................193
Remote entry system .................75
illuminated entry ......................78
locking/unlocking doors ...........73
Reverse sensing system ...........141
Roadside assistance ..................191
S
Safety Belt Maintenance ..........103
Safety belts
(see Safety restraints) ...91–95, 97
Safety defects, reporting ..........224
Safety restraints ....................91–97
belt minder ...............................99
extension assembly ................103
for adults .............................92–95
for children .............................113
lap belt ......................................98
safety belt maintenance .........103
warning light and chime ..........99
Safety seats for children ..........116
Seat belts
(see Safety restraints) ...............91
Seats ............................................84child safety seats ....................116
cleaning ...................................229
Servicing your vehicle ..............232
Setting the clock
AM/FM stereo ...........................21
AM/FM/CD .................................26
AM/FM/Tape/CD .......................30
Premium In-dash Six CD .........33
Snowplowing .................8, 187–190
Spare tire
(see Changing the Tire) ...........199
Spark plugs,
specifications .....................277, 284
Special notice ................................9
ambulance conversions ..............8
diesel-powered vehicles .............7
four-wheel drive vehicles .......189
utility-type vehicles ....................7
Specification chart,
lubricants ...........................281, 284
Speed control ..............................59
Starting your
vehicle ........................124–125, 127
jump starting ..........................209
Steering wheel
tilting .........................................51
T
Tailgate ........................................72
Tilt steering wheel ......................51
Tires ...........................................264
changing ..................199, 201, 208
snow tires and chains ............276
tire grades ...............................265
treadwear ................................264
Towing .......................................162
trailer towing ..........................162
wrecker ....................................214
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Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Index
303