
Children and booster seats vary in size and shape. Choose a booster that
keeps the lap belt low and snug across the hips, never up across the
stomach, and lets you adjust the shoulder belt to cross the chest and
rest snugly near the center of the shoulder. The drawings below compare
the ideal fit (center) to a shoulder belt uncomfortably close to the neck
and a shoulder belt that could slip off the shoulder. The drawings below
also show how the lap belt should be low and snug across the child’s
hips.
If the booster seat slides on the vehicle seat, placing a rubberized mesh
sold as shelf or carpet liner under the booster seat may improve this
condition. Do not introduce any item thicker than this under the booster
seat. Check with the booster seat manufacturer’s instructions.
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Seating and Safety Restraints
220

The importance of shoulder belts
Using a booster without a shoulder belt increases the risk of a child’s
head hitting a hard surface in a collision. For this reason, you should
never use a booster seat with a lap belt only. It is generally best to use a
booster seat with lap/shoulder belts in the back seat.
Move a child to a different seating location if the shoulder belt does not
stay positioned on the shoulder during use.
Follow all instructions provided by the manufacturer of the booster seat.
WARNING:Never place, or allow a child to place, the shoulder
belt under a child’s arm or behind the back because it reduces
the protection for the upper part of the body and may increase the risk
of injury or death in a collision.
Child restraint and safety belt maintenance
Inspect the vehicle safety belts and child safety seat systems periodically
to make sure they work properly and are not damaged. Inspect the
vehicle and child seat safety belts to make sure there are no nicks, tears
or cuts. Replace if necessary. All vehicle safety belt assemblies, including
retractors, buckles, front safety belt buckle assemblies, buckle support
assemblies (slide bar-if equipped), shoulder belt height adjusters (if
equipped), shoulder belt guide on seatback (if equipped), child safety
seat LATCH and tether anchors, and attaching hardware, should be
inspected after a collision. Refer to the child restraint manufacturer’s
instructions for additional inspection and maintenance information
specific to the child restraint. Ford Motor Company recommends that all
safety belt assemblies in use in vehicles involved in a collision be
replaced. However, if the collision was minor and an authorized dealer
finds that the belts do not show damage and continue to operate
properly, they do not need to be replaced. Safety belt assemblies not in
use during a collision should also be inspected and replaced if either
damage or improper operation is noted.
For proper care of soiled safety belts, refer toInteriorin theCleaning
chapter.
WARNING:Failure to inspect and if necessary replace the
safety belt assembly or child restraint system under the above
conditions could result in severe personal injuries in the event of a
collision.
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Seating and Safety Restraints
221

NOTICE TO UTILITY VEHICLE AND TRUCK OWNERS
Utility vehicles and trucks handle
differently than passenger cars in
the various driving conditions that
are encountered on streets,
highways and off-road. Utility
vehicles and trucks are not designed
for cornering at speeds as high as
passenger cars any more than
low-slung sports cars are designed
to perform satisfactorily under
off-road conditions.
WARNING:Utility vehicles have a significantly higher rollover
rate than other types of vehicles. To reduce the risk of serious
injury or death from a rollover or other crash you must:
•Avoid sharp turns and abrupt maneuvers;
•Drive at safe speeds for the conditions;
•Keep tires properly inflated;
•Never overload or improperly load your vehicle; and
•Make sure every passenger is properly restrained.
WARNING:In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is
significantly more likely to die than a person wearing a seat belt.
All occupants must wear seat belts and children/infants must use
appropriate restraints to minimize the risk of injury or ejection.
Study yourOwner’s Guideand any supplements for specific information
about equipment features, instructions for safe driving and additional
precautions to reduce the risk of an accident or serious injury.
VEHICLE CHARACTERISTICS
4WD and AWD Systems (if equipped)
A vehicle equipped with AWD or 4WD (when selected) has the ability to
use all four wheels to power itself. This increases traction which may
enable you to safely drive over terrain and road conditions that a
conventional two-wheel drive vehicle cannot.
Power is supplied to all four wheels through a transfer case or power
transfer unit. 4WD vehicles allow you to select different drive modes as
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Tires, Wheels and Loading
222

A
Accessory delay ........................110
Air cleaner filter ...............401, 403
Air conditioning ..........................84
Airbag supplemental restraint
system ........................................190
and child safety seats ............192
description ..............................190
disposal ....................................195
driver airbag ............................193
indicator light .........................194
operation .................................193
passenger airbag .....................193
passenger deactivation
switch ......................................195
Ambulance packages ..................10
Antifreeze (see Engine
coolant) .....................................377
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ......................277–278
Anti-theft system ..............165, 168
arming the system ..........166, 168
disarming a triggered
system .....................................168
triggering .................................168
Audio system
(see Radio) ......................26, 28, 35
Automatic transmission ............282
driving an automatic
overdrive .................................284
fluid, adding ............................396
fluid, checking ........................396
fluid, refill capacities ..............404
Auxiliary Input Jack ...................42
Auxiliary power point ...............107
Axle
refill capacities ........................404B
Battery .......................................375
acid, treating emergencies .....375
jumping a disabled battery ....342
maintenance-free ....................375
replacement, specifications ...403
servicing ..................................375
Belt-Minder.............................186
Booster seats .............................218
Brakes ........................................277
anti-lock ...........................277–278
anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light ...........................278
fluid, checking and adding ....395
fluid, refill capacities ..............404
parking ....................................278
shift interlock ..........................282
trailer .......................................264
Bulbs ............................................95
C
Capacities for refilling fluids ....404
Cassette tape player ...................26
Cell phone use ..............................9
Child safety seats ......................204
attaching with tether straps ..212
in front seat ....................204, 208
in rear seat ..............204, 208, 212
LATCH .....................................212
Child safety seats - booster
seats ...........................................218
Cleaning your vehicle
engine compartment ..............359
instrument panel ............361–362
interior .....................................363
plastic parts ............................360
safety belts ..............................363
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Index
413

Power distribution box
(see Fuses) ...............................321
Power door locks ......................153
Power mirrors ...........................111
Power point ...............................107
Power steering ..........................280
fluid, checking and adding ....394
fluid, refill capacity ................404
Power Windows .........................108
Preparing to drive your
vehicle ........................................281
R
Radio ................................26, 28, 35
Rear seat entertainment
system ..........................................51
Relays ........................................316
Remote entry system ...............157
illuminated entry ............162–163
locking/unlocking
doors ................................153, 158
replacing the batteries ...........160
Reverse camera .........................292
Reverse sensing system ...........289
Roadside assistance ..................313
S
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ..........................178–183
Safety defects, reporting ..355–356
Safety restraints ................178–183
Belt-Minder...........................186
extension assembly ................189
for adults .........................179–183
for children .............................200lap belt ....................................184
warning light and
chime ...............................185–186
Safety restraints - LATCH
anchors ......................................212
Safety seats for children ..........204
Safety Compliance
Certification Label ....................409
Satellite Radio Information ........47
Seats ..........................................169
child safety seats ....................204
cleaning ...................................364
heated ........................................84
memory seat ...................159, 174
SecuriCode keyless entry
system ........................................163
SecuriLock passive anti-theft
system ................................165, 167
Servicing your vehicle ..............367
Setting the clock
AM/FM/CD .................................30
AM/FM/In-dash 6 CD ................37
Snowplowing ...............10, 310–311
Spark plugs,
specifications .....................403, 408
Special notice ..............................11
ambulance conversions ............10
diesel-powered vehicles ...........10
four-wheel drive vehicles .......312
utility-type vehicles ..................10
Speed control ............................116
Starting your vehicle ........272–274
jump starting ..........................342
Steering wheel
controls ....................................118
tilting .......................................104
SYNC..........................................79
2009 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
Index
417