Page 71 of 285
Pull lever up to adjust seatback.
WARNING:Before
returning the seatback to its
original position, make sure that
cargo or any objects are not
trapped behind the seatback. After
returning the seatback to its
original position, pull on the
seatback to ensure that it has fully
latched. An unlatched seat may
become dangerous in the event of
a sudden stop or collision.
Using the manual lumbar support (if equipped)
The lumbar support control is
located on the inboard side of the
driver’s seat.
Turn the lumbar support control
clockwise to increase firmness.
Turn the lumbar support control
counterclockwise to increase
softness.
Adjusting the front power seat (if equipped)
The control is located on the outboard side of the seat cushion.
Press to raise or lower the front
portion of the seat cushion.
2008 Econoline(eco)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
71
ProCarManuals.com
Page 73 of 285
Quick-release captains chair
(7 passenger configuration- second row only)
To remove the seat:
1. Disengage the lap/shoulder belt
from the seat by inserting a key or
small screwdriver into the slot in the
detachable anchor and lifting
upward.
2. Pull the seat latch handle, then
pull the seat toward the right side of
the vehicle to disengage four pins
from the floor mount.
3. Remove the seat.
To install the seat:
WARNING:Check to see that the seat and seatback is latched
securely in position. Keep floor area free of objects that would
prevent proper seat engagement. Never attempt to adjust the seat
while the vehicle is in motion.
WARNING:Ensure that the seat is latched to the vehicle floor
by pushing/pulling on the seat. If not latched, the seat may cause
injury during a sudden stop.
2008 Econoline(eco)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
73
ProCarManuals.com
Page 76 of 285

4. With assistance, pull the LH/RH seat latch release straps (1) (located
behind the latch mechanisms) to release the latch from the rear strikers.
5. Lift the rear end of seat upward and rearward by pushing on the
seatback (2) and lifting the seat cushion (3) to disengage the front seat
hook and the rear seat latch from the striker.
6. With assistance, remove the seat assembly.
•To remove the 3rd, 4th, and 5th row seats (if equipped), repeat
Steps 1 through 6.
To install the seat:
WARNING:Ensure that the seat is installed or removed from
the striker pins with adequate ergonomic assistance. Due to the
weight of the seat, it must be handled by at least two adults during
installation or removal from the vehicle.
WARNING:Ensure that the seat is latched to the vehicle floor
by pushing/pulling on the seat or seatback (2). If not latched,
the seat may cause injury during a sudden stop.
1. Please make sure the floor striker area is clean of any debris that
would prevent the seat from latching.
2. With assistance, position the seat in the vehicle.
3. Align the front hooks to the LH/RH front striker pins prior to lowering
the rear latch mechanism and aligning them with the rear striker pins.
4. Engage the front LH/RH hooks to the LH/RH front striker pins.
2008 Econoline(eco)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
76
ProCarManuals.com
Page 77 of 285

5. After the front LH/RH hooks are engaged to the LH/RH front striker
pins, pull LH/RH seat latch release straps to allow engagement of the
latch to the striker pins. Refer to the illustration inTo remove the rear
seatsabove.
6. Pull/push seat back forward/backward to check for proper seat
installation.
WARNING:Always latch the vehicle seat to the floor, whether
the seat is occupied or empty. If not latched, the seat may cause
injury during a sudden stop.
WARNING:Do not hang or attach any cargo to the release
straps of the rear bench seats. Doing so could cause the release
straps to inadvertently unlatch the rear bench seat. If not latched, the
seat may cause serious injury during a sudden stop.
SAFETY RESTRAINTS
Safety restraints precautions
WARNING:Always drive and ride with your seatback upright
and the lap belt snug and low across the hips.
WARNING:To reduce the risk of injury, make sure children sit
in the back seat where they can be properly restrained.
WARNING:Never let a passenger hold a child on his or her lap
while the vehicle is moving. The passenger cannot protect the
child from injury in a collision.
WARNING:All occupants of the vehicle, including the driver,
should always properly wear their safety belts, even when an
airbag supplemental restraint system (SRS) is provided.
WARNING: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.
2008 Econoline(eco)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
77
ProCarManuals.com
Page 78 of 285

WARNING:In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is
significantly more likely to die than a person wearing a safety
belt.
WARNING: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.
WARNING:Always transport children 12 years old and under in
the back seat and always properly use appropriate child
restraints.
WARNING: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.
WARNING:Front and rear seat occupants, including pregnant
women, should wear safety belts for optimum protection in an
accident.
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.
2008 Econoline(eco)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
78
ProCarManuals.com
Page 81 of 285

WARNING:After any vehicle collision, the safety belt systems
at all outboard seating positions (except the driver position,
which does not have this feature) must be checked by an authorized
dealer to verify that the automatic locking retractor feature for child
seats is still functioning properly. In addition, all safety belts should be
checked for proper function.
WARNING:BELT AND RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY MUST BE
REPLACED if the safety belt assembly “automatic locking
retractor” feature or any other safety belt function is not operating
properly when checked by an authorized dealer. Failure to replace the
Belt and Retractor assembly could increase the risk of injury in
collisions.
Safety belt pretensioner
Your vehicle is equipped with safety belt pretensioners at the driver and
front outboard passenger seating positions.
The safety belt pretensioner tightens the safety belts firmly against the
occupant’s body at the start of the crash.
WARNING:The driver and front passenger safety belt system
(including retractors, buckles and height adjusters) must be
replaced if the vehicle is involved in a collision that results in
deployment of front airbags and safety belt pretensioners.
Front safety belt height adjustment
The front seat and outboard
positions are equipped with a height
adjuster. Adjust the height of the
shoulder belt so the belt rests
across the middle of your shoulder.
To adjust the shoulder belt height,
push the button and slide the height
adjuster down. Release the button
and pull down on the height
adjuster to make sure it is locked in
place. To adjust the belt upward,
slide the adjuster up. Pull down on the height adjuster to make sure it is
locked in place.
2008 Econoline(eco)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
81
ProCarManuals.com
Page 82 of 285

WARNING:Position the safety belt height adjusters so that the
belt rests across the middle of your shoulder. Failure to adjust
the safety belt properly could reduce the effectiveness of the seat belt
and increase the risk of injury in a collision.
Safety belt warning light and indicator chime
The safety belt warning light illuminates in the instrument cluster and a
chime sounds to remind the occupants to fasten their safety belts.
Conditions of operation
If... Then...
The driver’s safety belt is not
buckled before the ignition
switch is turned to the ON
position...The safety belt warning light
illuminates and the warning chime
sounds 4-8 seconds.
The driver’s safety belt is
buckled while the indicator
light is illuminated and the
warning chime is sounding...The safety belt warning light and
warning chime turn off.
The driver’s safety belt is
buckled before the ignition
switch is turned to the ON
position...The safety belt warning light and the
warning chime will remain off.
Belt-Minder
The Belt-Minderfeature is a supplemental warning to the safety belt
warning function. This feature provides additional reminders to the
driver that the driver’s safety belt is unbuckled by intermittently
sounding a chime and illuminating the safety belt warning lamp in the
instrument cluster.
2008 Econoline(eco)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
82
ProCarManuals.com
Page 83 of 285

If... Then...
The driver’s safety belt is not
buckled approximately
5 seconds after the safety belt
warning light has turned off...The Belt-Minderfeature is activated
- the safety belt warning light
illuminates and the warning chime
sounds for 6 seconds every
30 seconds, repeating for
approximately 5 minutes or until
safety belt is buckled.
The driver’s safety belt is
buckled while the safety belt
indicator light is illuminated
and the safety belt warning
chime is sounding...The Belt-Minderfeature will not
activate.
The driver’s safety belt is
buckled before the ignition
switch is turned to the ON
position...The Belt-Minderfeature will not
activate.
The following are reasons most often given for not wearing safety belts:
(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.1 in 4 of us will be
seriously injured in a crash during
our lifetime.
“I’m not going far”3of4fatal crashes occur within25
miles of home.
“Belts are uncomfortable” We design our safety belts to enhance
comfort. If you are uncomfortable -
try different positions for the safety
belt upper anchorage and seatback
which should be as upright as
possible; this can improve comfort.
2008 Econoline(eco)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
83
ProCarManuals.com