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 1-2 minutes 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
indicator chime 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.
If... Then...
The driver’s safety belt is not
buckled before the vehicle has
reached at least 3 mph
(5 km/h) and 1-2 minutes have
elapsed since the ignition
switch has been turned to the
on position...The Belt-Minderfeature is activated
- the safety belt warning light
illuminates and the warning chime
sounds for six seconds every
30 seconds, repeating for
approximately five 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.
Seating and Safety Restraints
174
2011 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide, 4th Printing
USA(fus)
ProCarManuals.com
Belt-Minderactivation and deactivation procedure
Read Steps1-5thoroughly before proceeding with the
deactivation/activation programming procedure.
1. Turn the ignition switch to the on position. (DO NOT START THE
ENGINE)
2. Wait until the safety belt warning light turns off. (approximately one
minute)
•Step 3 must be completed within 30 seconds after the safety belt
warning light turns off.
3. Buckle then unbuckle the safety belt three times at a moderate speed,
ending with the safety belt in the unbuckled state.
•After Step 3 is complete, the safety belt warning light will be turned
on for three seconds.
•If Step 4 does not occur within 10 seconds at the end of Step 3,
Belt-Minderwill automatically exit programming mode without
changing its enable status.
4. Within seven seconds of the light turning on, buckle then unbuckle the
safety belt.
•This will disable the Belt-Minderfeature if it is currently enabled. As
confirmation, the safety belt warning light will flash four times per
second for three seconds.
•This will enable the Belt-Minderfeature if it is currently disabled. As
confirmation, the safety belt warning light will flash four times per
second for three seconds, followed by three seconds with the light off,
then followed by the safety belt warning light flashing four times per
second for three seconds again.
After receiving confirmation, the deactivation/activation procedure is
complete.
Seating and Safety Restraints
177
2011 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide, 4th Printing
USA(fus)
ProCarManuals.com
WARNING:Never place your arm over the airbag module as a
deploying airbag can result in serious arm fractures or other
injuries.
To properly position yourself away from the airbag:
•Move your seat to the rear as far as you can while still reaching the
pedals comfortably.
•Recline the seat slightly one or two degrees from the upright position.
WARNING:Do not put anything on or over the airbag module.
Placing objects on or over the airbag inflation area may cause
those objects to be propelled by the airbag into your face and torso
causing serious injury.
WARNING:Do not attempt to service, repair, or modify the
airbag supplemental restraint systems or its fuses. Contact your
authorized dealer as soon as possible.
WARNING:The front passenger airbag is not designed to offer
protection to an occupant in the center front seating position.
WARNING: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.
WARNING:Additional equipment such as snowplow equipment
may effect the performance of the airbag sensors increasing the
risk of injury. Please refer to theBody Builders Layout Bookfor
instructions about the appropriate installation of additional equipment.
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.
Seating and Safety Restraints
179
2011 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide, 4th Printing
USA(fus)
ProCarManuals.com
•one or more impact and safing sensors,
•a readiness light and tone
•and the electrical wiring which connects the components.
The diagnostic module monitors its own internal circuits and the
supplemental airbag electrical system wiring (including the impact
sensors), the system wiring, the airbag system readiness light, the airbag
backup power and the airbag ignitors.
Seat-mounted side airbag system (if equipped)
WARNING:Do not place objects or mount equipment on or
near the airbag cover on the side of the seatbacks of the front
seats or in front seat areas that may come into contact with a
deploying airbag. Failure to follow these instructions may increase the
risk of personal injury in the event of a collision.
WARNING:Do not use accessory seat covers. The use of
accessory seat covers may prevent the deployment of the side
airbags and increase the risk of injury in an accident.
WARNING:Do not lean your head on the door. The side airbag
could injure you as it deploys from the side of the seatback.
WARNING:Do not attempt to service, repair, or modify the
airbag SRS, its fuses or the seat cover on a seat containing an
airbag. See an authorized dealer.
WARNING:All occupants of the vehicle should always wear
their safety belts even when an airbag SRS is provided.
Seating and Safety Restraints
182
2011 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide, 4th Printing
USA(fus)
ProCarManuals.com
How does the side airbag system work?
The design and development of the
side airbag system included
recommended testing procedures
that were developed by a group of
automotive safety experts known as
the Side Airbag Technical Working
Group. These recommended testing
procedures help reduce the risk of
injuries related to the deployment of
side airbags.
The side airbag system consists of
the following:
•An inflatable bag (airbag) with a
gas generator concealed behind
the outboard bolster of the driver
and front passenger seatbacks.
•A special seat cover designed to
allow airbag deployment.
•The same warning light, electronic control and diagnostic unit as used
for the front airbags.
•Crash sensors located on the front doors.
•One crash sensor located on each side of the c-pillar (Crew cab and
SuperCab only).
Side airbags, in combination with safety belts, can help reduce the risk of
severe injuries in the event of a significant side impact collision.
The side airbags are fitted on the outboard side of the seatbacks of the
front seats. In certain lateral collisions, the airbag on the side affected by
the collision will be inflated. The airbag was designed to inflate between
the door panel and occupant to further enhance the protection provided
occupants in side impact collisions.
The airbag SRS is designed to activate when the vehicle sustains lateral
deceleration sufficient to cause the sensors to close an electrical circuit
that initiates airbag inflation.
Seating and Safety Restraints
183
2011 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide, 4th Printing
USA(fus)
ProCarManuals.com
WARNING:Do not attempt to service, repair, or modify the
Safety CanopySystem, its fuses, the A, B, or C pillar trim, or
the headliner on a vehicle containing a Safety Canopy. Contact your
authorized dealer as soon as possible.
WARNING:All occupants of the vehicle including the driver
should always wear their safety belts even when an airbag SRS
and Safety CanopySystem is provided.
WARNING:To reduce risk of injury, do not obstruct or place
objects in the deployment path of the inflatable Safety Canopy.
How does the Safety CanopySystem work?
The design and development of the
Safety Canopy system included
recommended testing procedures
that were developed by a group of
automotive safety experts known as
the Side Airbag Technical Working
Group. These recommended testing
procedures help reduce the risk of
injuries related to the deployment of
side airbags (including the Safety
Canopy).
The Safety Canopy system consists
of the following:
•An inflatable curtain with a gas
generator concealed behind the
headliner between the A and C
pillar.
•A headliner designed to flex open
above the side doors to allow Safety Canopy deployment.
•The same warning light, electronic control and diagnostic unit as used
for the front airbags.
Seating and Safety Restraints
185
2011 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide, 4th Printing
USA(fus)
ProCarManuals.com
WARNING:If the Safety Canopy system has deployed, the
Safety Canopy will not function again unless replaced. The
Safety Canopy system (including the A, B, C, and D pillar trim and
headliner) must be inspected and serviced by an authorized dealer. If
the Safety Canopy is not replaced, it will not function again, which will
increase the risk of injury in a future collision.
Determining if the system is operational
The SRS uses a readiness light in the instrument cluster or a tone to
indicate the condition of the system. Refer toWarning lights and
chimesin theInstrument Clusterchapter. Routine maintenance of the
side airbag is not required.
A difficulty with the system is indicated by one or more of the following:
•The readiness light (same light as for front airbag system) will either
flash or stay lit.
•The readiness light will not illuminate immediately after ignition is
turned on.
•A series of five beeps will be heard. The tone pattern will repeat
periodically until the problem and/or light are repaired.
If any of these things happen, even intermittently, have the SRS serviced
at your authorized dealer immediately. Unless serviced, the system may
not function properly in the event of a collision.
SOS Post-Crash Alert System™
The system automatically flashes the turn signal lamps and sounds the
horn three times at four second intervals in the event of a serious impact
that deploys an airbag (front, side, side curtain [if equipped] or Safety
Canopy[if equipped]) or the safety belt pretensioners.
The system can be turned off when any one of the following actions are
taken by the driver or any other person:
•pressing the hazard control button,
•or pressing the panic button on the remote entry transmitter.
The feature will continue to operate until the vehicle runs out of power.
Seating and Safety Restraints
187
2011 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide, 4th Printing
USA(fus)
ProCarManuals.com
Passenger airbag ON/OFF switch (if equipped)
WARNING:An airbag
ON/OFF switch may be
installed in this vehicle. Before
driving,alwayslook at the face of
the switch to be sure the switch is
in the proper position in
accordance with these instructions
and warnings. Failure to put the
switch in a proper position can
increase the risk of serious injury
or death in a collision.
Turning the passenger airbag off
1. Insert the ignition key, turn the
switch to OFF position and hold in
the OFF position while removing the
key.
2. When the ignition is turned to the
on position the “pass airbag off”
light illuminates briefly, momentarily
shuts off and then turns back on.
This indicates that the passenger
airbag is deactivated.
WARNING:If the light fails to illuminate when the passenger air
bag switch is in the OFF position and the ignition switch is in
on, have the passenger air bag switch serviced at your authorized
dealer immediately.
WARNING:In order to avoid inadvertent activation of the
switch, always remove the ignition key from the passenger air
bag ON/OFF switch.
Seating and Safety Restraints
188
2011 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide, 4th Printing
USA(fus)
ProCarManuals.com