
Do not attempt to service, repair, or modify the airbag
supplemental restraint systems or its fuses. See your authorized
dealer.
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 body structure and tow
hooks) may affect the performance of the airbag system, increasing the
risk of injury. Do not modify the front end of the vehicle.
Additional equipment such as snowplow equipment may effect
the performance of the airbag sensors increasing the risk of
injury. Please refer to theFord Truck Body Builders Layout Bookfor
instructions about the appropriate installation of additional equipment.
Removing the blocker beam without installing snow plow
attachment hardware may effect airbag 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 airbags
For additional important safety information, read all information on
safety restraints in this guide.
Children must always be properly restrained. Failure to follow these
instructions may increase the risk of injury in a collision.
An infant in a rear-facing seat faces a high risk of serious or fatal
injuries from a deploying passenger airbag. Rear facing infant
seats should NEVER be placed in the front seats, unless the passenger
airbag is turned off. SeePassenger airbag ON/OFF switch.
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Seating and Safety Restraints
173

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 theAirbag
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.
•Place seat back in upright position.
•Put the safety belt in the automatic locking mode. Refer toAutomatic
locking mode(passenger side front and outboard rear seating
positions) (if equipped) section in this chapter.
2008 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
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Seating and Safety Restraints
184

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.
2008 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
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USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
187

•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 theRear folding seat system with load
floorsection in this chapter for information on how to operate the rear
seats.
5. Remove tether cover.
6. Clip the tether strap to the anchor as shown.
•Front seats (Regular Cab)
2008 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
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Seating and Safety Restraints
189

Use the following guidelines to avoid static build-up when filling an
ungrounded fuel container:
•Place approved fuel container on the ground.
•DO NOT fill a fuel container while it is in the vehicle (including the
cargo area).
•Keep the fuel pump nozzle in contact with the fuel container while
filling.
•DO NOT use a device that would hold the fuel pump handle in the fill
position.
Refueling
Fuel vapor burns violently and a fuel fire can cause bad injuries.
To help avoid injuries to you and others:
•Read and follow all the instructions on the pump island;
•Turn off your engine when you are refueling;
•Do not smoke if you are near fuel or refueling your vehicle;
•Keep sparks, flames and smoking materials away from fuel;
•Stay outside your vehicle and do not leave the fuel pump unattended
when refueling you vehicle — this is against the law in some places;
•Keep children away from the fuel pump; never let children pump
fuel.
Fuel filler cap
Your fuel tank filler cap has an indexed design with a 1/4 turn on/off
feature.
When fueling your vehicle:
1. Turn the engine off.
2. Carefully turn the filler cap counterclockwise until it stops.
3. Pull to remove the cap from the fuel filler pipe.
4. To install the cap, align the tabs on the cap with the notches on the
filler pipe.
5. Turn the filler cap clockwise until it clicks.
If the “Check Fuel Cap” indicator comes on and stays on after you start
the engine, the fuel filler cap may not be properly installed. Turn off the
engine, remove the fuel filler cap, align the cap properly and reinstall it.
2008 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
332

A
Accessory delay ..........................99
Air cleaner filter ...............348–350
Air conditioning ..........................75
Airbag supplemental restraint
system ................................171–172
and child safety seats ............173
description ..............................172
disposal ....................................175
driver airbag ............................174
indicator light .........................175
operation .................................174
passenger airbag .....................174
passenger deactivation
switch ......................................176
Ambulance packages ....................8
Antifreeze
(see Engine coolant) ................324
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ..............................235
Anti-theft system ......................148
arming the system ..................149
Audio system
(see Radio) ......................22, 24, 30
Automatic transmission ............240
driving an automatic
overdrive .................................241
fluid, adding ............................343
fluid, checking ........................343
fluid, refill capacities ..............352
Auxiliary Input Jack ...................36
Auxiliary power point .................96
Axle
refill capacities ........................352
traction lok ..............................239
B
Battery .......................................322acid, treating emergencies .....322
jumping a disabled battery ....290
maintenance-free ....................322
replacement, specifications ...350
servicing ..................................322
Belt-Minder.............................167
Brakes ........................................235
anti-lock ...................................235
anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light ...........................235
fluid, checking and adding ....342
fluid, refill capacities ..............352
parking ....................................236
shift interlock ..........................240
trailer .......................................223
Break-in period .............................5
Bulbs ............................................85
C
Capacities for refilling fluids ....352
Cassette tape player ...................22
Cell phone use ..............................7
Child safety restraints ..............181
child safety belts ....................181
Child safety seats ......................184
attaching with tether straps ..188
in front seat ............................185
in rear seat ..............................185
Cleaning your vehicle
engine compartment ..............307
instrument panel ....................309
interior .....................................310
plastic parts ............................309
safety belts ..............................310
washing ....................................306
waxing .....................................306
wheels ......................................307
wiper blades ............................309
2008 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Index
361

lighting up panel and
interior .......................................82
J
Jump-starting your vehicle ......290
K
Keyless entry system ...............146
autolock ...................................136
programming entry code .......146
Keys ...........................................149
positions of the ignition .........231
L
Lamps
autolamp system .......................80
daytime running light ...............81
fog lamps ...................................80
headlamps .................................80
headlamps, flash to pass ..........81
instrument panel, dimming .....82
interior lamps ...........................85
replacing bulbs ....... 85–86, 88–93
Lane change indicator
(see Turn signal) ........................85
Lights, warning and indicator ....12
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ..........235
Load limits .................................212
Loading instructions .................218
Locks
autolock ...................................136
childproof ................................140
Lug nuts ....................................289
Lumbar support, seats .............155
M
Manual transmission .................244fluid capacities ........................352
reverse .....................................245
Message center .................116, 122
english/metric button .............126
system check button ..............125
warning messages ...........119, 128
Mirrors ...................................96, 99
fold away .................100, 102–103
heated ......................................100
side view mirrors (power) .....100
signal .......................................103
Moon roof ..................................110
Motorcraft parts ................330, 350
N
Navigation system .......................43
O
Octane rating ............................334
Oil (see Engine oil) ..................319
Overdrive .....................................95
P
Parking brake ............................236
Parts (see Motorcraft parts) ....350
Pedals (see Power adjustable
foot pedals) ...............................104
Power adjustable foot pedals ...104
Power distribution box
(see Fuses) ...............................273
Power door locks ......................136
Power mirrors ...........................100
Power point .................................96
Power steering ..........................238
2008 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Index
364

fluid, checking and adding ....340
fluid, refill capacity ................352
Power Windows ...........................98
Preparing to drive
your vehicle ...............................239
R
Radio ................................22, 24, 30
Rear seat entertainment
system ..........................................43
Relays ........................................268
Remote entry system ...............141
illuminated entry ............144, 146
locking/unlocking doors .........136
Reverse sensing system ...........246
Roadside assistance ..................265
S
Safety Belt Maintenance ..........170
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ..........158, 160–162, 164
Safety defects,
reporting ............................304–305
Safety
restraints ...........158, 160–162, 164
Belt-Minder...........................167
extension assembly ................170
for adults .................160–162, 164
for children .....................180–181
lap belt ....................................166
safety belt maintenance .........170
warning light and
chime ...............................166–167
Safety seats for children ..........184
Safety Compliance
Certification Label ....................357Satellite Radio Information ........40
Seat belts
(see Safety restraints) .............158
Seats ..........................................151
child safety seats ....................184
cleaning ...................................311
heated ........................................75
memory seat ...................142, 156
SecuriLock passive anti-theft
system ................................148–149
Servicing your vehicle ..............314
Setting the clock
AM/FM/CD .................................25
AM/FM/In-dash 6 CD ................31
Snowplowing .................8, 262–264
Spark plugs,
specifications .....................350, 356
Special notice ................................9
ambulance conversions ..............8
diesel-powered vehicles .............8
utility-type vehicles ....................8
Speed control ............................104
Starting your vehicle ........231–233
jump starting ..........................290
Steering wheel
controls ....................................107
tilting .........................................95
T
Tailgate ......................................131
Tilt steering wheel ......................95
Tires ...................................194–195
alignment ................................204
care ..........................................200
changing ..........................279, 282
checking the pressure ............199
inflating ...................................196
2008 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Index
365