Booster seats should be used until you can answer YES to ALL of these
questions when seated without a booster seat:
•Can the child sit all the way back
against the vehicle seat back with
knees bent comfortably at the
edge of the seat cushion?
•Can the child sit without
slouching?
•Does the lap belt rest low across
the hips?
•Is the shoulder belt centered on the shoulder and chest?
•Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip?
Types of booster seats
There are generally two types of belt-positioning booster seats: backless
and high back. Always use booster seats in conjunction with the vehicle
lap/shoulder belt.
•Backless booster seats
If your backless booster seat has a
removable shield, remove the
shield. If a vehicle seating position
has a low seat back or no head
restraint, a backless booster seat
may place your child’s head (as
measured at the tops of the ears)
above the top of the seat. In this
case, move the backless booster
to another seating position with a
higher seat back or head restraint and lap/shoulder belts, or consider
using a high back booster seat.
Seating and Safety Restraints
208
2011 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
•High back booster seats
If, with a backless booster seat,
you cannot find a seating position
that adequately supports your
child’s head, a high back booster
seat would be a better choice.
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.
Seating and Safety Restraints
209
2011 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
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.
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.
Seating and Safety Restraints
210
2011 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
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.
Seating and Safety Restraints
211
2011 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
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 your owner’s guide and 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.
Tires, Wheels and Loading
212
2011 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
A
Accessory delay ........................103
AdvanceTrac ..............................268
Air cleaner filter .......394–395, 399
Air conditioning ....................78, 81
manual heating and air
conditioning system .................78
Airbag supplemental restraint
system ........................176, 180, 182
and child safety seats ............177
description ..............176, 180, 182
disposal ....................................190
driver airbag ............178, 181, 183
indicator light .........................185
operation .................178, 181, 183
passenger airbag .....178, 181, 183
passenger deactivation
switch ......................................186
side airbag ...............................180
Ambulance packages ....................7
Antifreeze
(see Engine coolant) ................370
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ..............................265
Anti-theft system ..............146, 148
arming the system ..........147, 149
disarming a triggered
system .....................................149
triggering .................................149
Audio system
(see Radio) ............................60, 62
Automatic transmission ............283
driving an automatic
overdrive .................................281
fluid, adding ............................391
fluid, checking ........................391
fluid, refill capacities ..............400
Selectshift (SST) ....................286Auxiliary Input Jack ...................69
Auxiliary power point ...............100
Axle
refill capacities ........................400
B
Battery .......................................368
acid, treating emergencies .....368
jumping a disabled battery ....340
maintenance-free ....................368
replacement, specifications ...399
servicing ..................................368
Bed extender ............................123
Belt-Minder.............................172
Booster seats .............................207
Brakes ........................................265
anti-lock ...................................265
anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light ...........................266
fluid, checking and adding ....391
fluid, refill capacities ..............400
parking ....................................266
shift interlock ..........................279
trailer .......................................251
Bulbs ............................................91
C
Capacities for refilling fluids ....400
Car2UHome Automation
System .......................................115
Cassette tape player ...................60
Cell phone use ............................10
Changing a tire .........................323
Child safety seats ......................195
attaching with tether straps ..202
in front seat ....................195, 202
Index
435
2011 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
O
Octane rating ............................382
Oil (see Engine oil) ..................366
P
Parental MyKey
programming .............................126
Parking brake ............................266
Parts
(see Motorcraftparts) ...........399
Pedals (see Power adjustable
foot pedals) ...............................108
Power adjustable foot pedals ...108
Power distribution box
(see Fuses) ...............................319
Power door locks ......................134
Power mirrors ...........................104
Power point ...............................100
Power steering ..........................276
fluid, checking and adding ....390
fluid, refill capacity ................400
Power Windows .........................102
Preparing to drive your
vehicle ........................................278
R
Radio ......................................60, 62
Rear-view camera system .........291
Relays ........................................313
Remote entry system .......138–139
illuminated entry ....................142
locking/unlocking
doors ................................139–140
Remote start ...........................143replacement/additional
transmitters .............................142
replacing the batteries ...........141
Remote start .............................143
Remote start climate
operation .....................................85
Reverse sensing system ...........289
Roadside assistance ..................311
S
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ..................166–170, 172
Safety Canopy ...................181–182
Safety defects, reporting ..........351
Safety restraints ........166–170, 172
Belt-Minder...........................172
extension assembly ................171
for adults .........................167–170
for children .............................190
warning light and chime ........172
Safety restraints - LATCH
anchors ......................................202
Safety seats for children ..........195
Safety Compliance
Certification Label ....................405
Satellite Radio Information ........74
Scheduled Maintenance Guide
Normal Scheduled
Maintenance and Log .............419
What Maintenance Schedule
Should You Follow? ................417
Seats ..........................................150
child safety seats ....................195
cleaning ...................................358
climate control ..................81, 159
easy access/easyout feature ..161
memory seat ...................140, 160
Index
439
2011 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)