FORD E-450 2015 User Manual

fordowner.com ford.ca

2015 E-SERIES Owner’s Manual

July 2014

First Printing

Owner’s Manual

E-Series

Litho in U.S.A.

FC2J 19A321 AA

Table of Contents 1

Introduction 7

Child Safety 16

Child seat positioning ...................................18

Booster seats .........................................20

Installing child seats ....................................23

Safety Belts 29

Fastening the safety belts ................................31

Safety belt height adjustment .............................34

Safetybeltwarninglightandindicatorchime..................35

Safety belt-minder .....................................35

Child restraint and safety belt maintenance ...................37

Supplementary Restraints System 38

Driver and passenger airbags .............................40

Crash sensors and airbag indicator .........................46

Airbag disposal........................................47

Keys and Remote Control 48

General information on radio frequencies.....................48

Remote control .......................................48

Replacing a lost key or remote control.......................50

Locks 51

Locking and unlocking ..................................51

Security 55

SecuriLock® passive anti-theft system.......................55

Steering Wheel 58

Adjusting the steering wheel ..............................58

Wipers and Washers 59

Windshield wipers .....................................59

Windshield washers ....................................59

2 Table of Contents

Lighting 60

Lighting control .......................................60

Instrument lighting dimmer...............................61

Daytime running lamps ..................................61

Turn signal control .....................................62

Interior lamps ........................................62

Windows and Mirrors 63

Power windows .......................................63

Exteriormirrors.......................................64

Interiormirrors .......................................67

Sunvisors...........................................67

Instrument Cluster 68

Gauges .............................................68

Warning lamps and indicators .............................70

Audible warnings and indicators ...........................73

Information Displays 74

Controls.............................................74

Information messages ...................................79

Climate Control 82

Manual heating and air conditioning ........................82

Seats 86

Sitting in the correct position .............................86

Head restraints........................................87

Manual seats .........................................87

Power seats ..........................................89

Auxiliary Power Points 90

Starting and Stopping the Engine 93

Ignition switch ........................................94

Engine block heater ....................................97

Table of Contents 3

Fuel and Refueling 99

Fuel quality .........................................100

Running out of fuel....................................102

Refueling...........................................102

Fuel consumption .....................................104

Transmission 108

Transmission operation .................................108

Brakes 113

Brakes .............................................113

Hints on driving with anti-lock brakes ......................114

Parking brake........................................114

Traction Control 115

TractionControl™....................................115

Cruise Control 116

Using cruise control ...................................116

Driving Aids 118

Steering ............................................118

Load Carrying 119

Vehicle loading .......................................119

Towing 126

Trailertowing........................................126

Trailer brake controller-integrated .........................131

Wrecker towing ......................................137

Recreational towing ...................................138

Driving Hints 139

Economical driving ....................................141

Floormats..........................................143

4 Table of Contents

Roadside Emergencies 145

Getting roadside assistance ..............................145

Hazard flasher control..................................147

Fuel pump shut-off ....................................147

Jump-starting the vehicle ...............................148

Customer Assistance 151

Reporting safety defects (U.S. only) .......................158

Reporting safety defects (Canada only) .....................158

Fuses 159

Changing a fuse ......................................159

Fuse specification chart ................................160

Maintenance 168

General information ...................................168

Opening and closing the hood ............................169

Under hood overview ..................................170

Engine oil dipstick ....................................171

Engine oil check......................................171

Engine coolant check ..................................172

Automatic transmission fluid check ........................177

Brake fluid check .....................................185

Power steering fluid check ..............................185

Fuel filter...........................................185

Washer fluid check ....................................186

Changing the vehicle battery .............................186

Checking the wiper blades ..............................189

Changing the wiper blades ..............................190

Air filter(s) .........................................190

Adjusting the headlamps ................................191

Changing a bulb ......................................195

Removing a headlamp ..................................195

Table of Contents 5

Vehicle Care 201

Cleaning products.....................................201

Cleaning the exterior ..................................201

Waxing.............................................203

Repairing minor paint damage ............................203

Cleaning the engine ...................................204

Cleaning the windows and wiper blades .....................204

Cleaning the interior ...................................205

Cleaning the instrument panel and instrument cluster lens .......206

Cleaning leather seats ..................................207

Cleaning the alloy wheels ...............................208

Vehiclestorage.......................................208

Wheels and Tires 211

Tire care ...........................................213

Using snow chains ....................................232

Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) ...................232

Changing a road wheel .................................239

Technical specifications.................................246

Wheel lug nut torque ..................................246

Capacities and Specifications 248

Engine specifications ..................................248

Engine drivebelt ......................................249

Part numbers ........................................255

Vehicle identification number ............................256

Vehicle certification label ...............................257

Transmission code designation............................257

Accessories 258

Accessories .........................................258

Upfitter controls ......................................259

6 Table of Contents

Extended Service Plan 261

Audio System 264

AM/FMstereo........................................266

AM/FM/CD with SYNC .................................267

Satellite radio information ...............................269

Auxiliary input jack ...................................272

USB port ...........................................273

SYNC® 275

Pairing your phone for the first time .......................280

911 Assist™ .........................................296

Vehicle Health Report ..................................298

Appendices 327

Scheduled Maintenance 338

Normal scheduled maintenance and log .....................343

Index 354

The information contained in this publication was correct at the time of going to print. In the interest of continuous development, we reserve the right to change specifications, design or equipment at any time without notice or obligation. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, stored in a retrieval system or translated into any language in any form by any means without our written permission. Errors and omissions excepted.

Introduction 7

ABOUT THIS MANUAL

Thank you for choosing Ford. We recommend that you take some time to get to know your vehicle by reading this manual. The more that you know about it, the greater the safety and pleasure you will get from driving it.

WARNING: Always drive with due care and attention when using and operating the controls and features on your vehicle.

Note: This manual describes product features and options available throughout the range of available models, sometimes even before they are generally available. It may describe options not fitted to your vehicle.

Note: Some of the illustrations in this manual may show features as used in different models, so may appear different to you on your vehicle. However, the essential information in the illustrations is always correct.

Note: Always use and operate your vehicle in line with all applicable laws and regulations.

Note: Pass on this manual when selling your vehicle. It is an integral part of the vehicle.

Note:This vehicle was sold as an incomplete vehicle by Ford Motor Company or an authorized Ford dealer and may have since been upfitted by a vehicle modifier. As a result, some of the options and features on this vehicle may differ from what we describe in this manual.

This manual may qualify the location of a component as left-hand side or right-hand side. The side is determined when facing forward in the seat.

A. Right-hand side B. Left-hand side

8 Introduction

Protecting the Environment

You must play your part in protecting the environment. Correct vehicle usage and the authorized disposal of waste, cleaning and lubrication materials are significant steps toward this aim.

SYMBOL GLOSSARY

These are some of the symbols you may see on your vehicle.

Symbol Description Symbol Description Symbol Description

Safety alert See Owner’s

Manual

Avoid smoking, flames, or sparks

Brake fluid – non petroleum base

Check fuel cap

Child seat tether anchor

Battery Battery acid

Brake system Cabin air

Child Safety Door Lock and Unlock

Cruise control Do not open

Anti-lock braking system

filter

Child seat lower anchor

when hot

Engine air filter

Engine oil Explosive gas Fan warning

Engine coolant

Engine coolant temperature

Introduction 9

Symbol Description Symbol Description Symbol Description

Fasten safety belt

Front airbag Front fog

lamps

Fuel pump reset

Heated rear window

Lighting control

Panic alarm Parking aid

Power steering fluid

Service engine soon

Windshield defrost and demist

Fuse compartment

Interior luggage compartment release

Low tire pressure warning

system

Power windows front and rear

Side airbag Stability

Windshield washer and wiper

Hazard warning flasher

Jack

Maintain correct fluid level

Parking brake system

Power window lockout

control

10 Introduction

DATA RECORDING

Service Data Recording

Service data recorders in your vehicle are capable of collecting and storing diagnostic information about your vehicle. This potentially includes information about the performance or status of various systems and modules in the vehicle, such as engine, throttle, steering or brake systems. In order to properly diagnose and service your vehicle, Ford Motor Company, Ford of Canada, and service and repair facilities may access or share among them vehicle diagnostic information received through a direct connection to your vehicle when diagnosing or servicing your vehicle. Additionally, when your vehicle is in for service or repair, Ford Motor Company, Ford of Canada, and service and repair facilities may access or share among them data for vehicle improvement purposes. For U.S. only (if equipped), if you choose to use the SYNC® Vehicle Health Report, you consent that certain diagnostic information may also be accessed electronically by Ford Motor Company and Ford authorized service facilities, and that the diagnostic information may be used for any purpose. See the SYNC® chapter for more information.

Event Data Recording

This vehicle is equipped with an event data recorder (EDR). The main purpose of an EDR is to record, in certain crash or near crash-like situations, such as an airbag deployment or hitting a road obstacle; this data will assist in understanding how a vehicle’s systems performed. The EDR is designed to record data related to vehicle dynamics and safety systems for a short period of time, typically 30 seconds or less. The EDR in this vehicle is designed to record such data as:

• How various systems in your vehicle were operating;

• Whether or not the driver and passenger safety belts were

buckled/fastened;

• How far (if at all) the driver was depressing the accelerator and/or the brake pedal;

• How fast the vehicle was travelling;

• Where the driver was positioning the steering wheel.

This data can help provide a better understanding of the circumstances in which crashes and injuries occur.

Introduction 11

Note:

EDR data is recorded by your vehicle only if a non-trivial crash situation occurs; no data is recorded by the EDR under normal driving conditions and no personal data or information (e.g., name, gender, age, and crash location) is recorded (see limitations regarding 911 Assist and Traffic, Directions and Information privacy below). However, parties, such as law enforcement, could combine the EDR data with the type of personally identifying data routinely acquired during a crash investigation.

To read data recorded by an EDR, special equipment is required, and access to the vehicle or the EDR is needed. In addition to the vehicle manufacturer, other parties, such as law enforcement, that have such special equipment, can read the information if they have access to the vehicle or the EDR. Ford Motor Company and Ford of Canada do not access event data recorder information without obtaining consent, unless pursuant to court order or where required by law enforcement, other government authorities or other third parties acting with lawful authority. Other parties may seek to access the information independently of Ford Motor Company and Ford of Canada.

Note:

Including to the extent that any law pertaining to Event Data Recorders applies to SYNC® or its features, please note the following: Once 911 Assist (if equipped) is enabled (set ON), 911 Assist may, through any paired and connected cell phone, disclose to emergency services that the vehicle has been in a crash involving the deployment of an airbag or, in certain vehicles, the activation of the fuel pump shut-off. Certain versions or updates to 911 Assist may also be capable of being used to electronically or verbally provide to 911 operators the vehicle location (such as latitude and longitude), and/or other details about the vehicle or crash or personal information about the occupants to assist 911 operators to provide the most appropriate emergency services. If you do not want to disclose this information, do not activate the 911 Assist feature. See your SYNC® chapter for more information.

Additionally, when you connect to Traffic, Directions and Information (if equipped, U.S. only), the service uses GPS technology and advanced vehicle sensors to collect the vehicle’s current location, travel direction, and speed (“vehicle travel information”), only to help provide you with the directions, traffic reports, or business searches that you request. If you do not want Ford or its vendors to receive this information, do not activate the service. For more information, see Traffic, Directions and Information, Terms and Conditions. See your SYNC® chapter for more information.

12 Introduction

CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION 65

WARNING: Some constituents of engine exhaust, certain vehicle

components, certain fluids contained in vehicles and certain products of component wear contain or emit chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.

PERCHLORATE MATERIAL

Note: Certain components in your vehicle, such as airbag modules, safety belt pretensioners, and remote control batteries, may contain perchlorate material. Special handling may apply for service or vehicle end of life disposal. See www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate for more information.

FORD CREDIT (U.S. ONLY)

Ford Credit offers a full range of financing and lease plans to help you acquire your vehicle. If you have financed or leased your vehicle through Ford Credit, thank you for your business.

For your convenience, we offer a number of ways to contact us, as well as help manage your account.

Phone: 1-800-727-7000 For more information regarding Ford Credit, as well as access to

Account Manager, please go to www.fordcredit.com.

REPLACEMENT PARTS RECOMMENDATION

Your vehicle has been built to the highest standards using quality parts. We recommend that you demand the use of genuine Ford and Motorcraft parts whenever your vehicle requires scheduled maintenance or repair. You can clearly identify genuine Ford and Motorcraft parts by looking for the Ford, FoMoCo or Motorcraft branding on the parts or their packaging.

Scheduled Maintenance and Mechanical Repairs

One of the best ways for you to make sure that your vehicle provides years of service is to have it maintained in line with our recommendations using parts that conform to the specifications detailed in this owner’s manual. Genuine Ford and Motorcraft parts meet or exceed these specifications.

Introduction 13

Collision Repairs

We hope that you never experience a collision, but accidents do happen. Genuine Ford replacement collision parts meet our stringent requirements for fit, finish, structural integrity, corrosion protection and dent resistance. During vehicle development, we validate that these parts deliver the intended level of protection as a whole system. A great way to know for sure you are getting this level of protection is to use genuine Ford replacement collision parts.

Warranty on Replacement Parts

Genuine Ford and Motorcraft replacement parts are the only replacement parts that benefit from a Ford Warranty. Damage caused to your vehicle as a result of the failure of non-Ford parts may not be covered by the Ford Warranty. For additional information, see the terms and conditions of the Ford Warranty.

SPECIAL NOTICES

New Vehicle Limited Warranty

For a detailed description of what is covered and what is not covered by your vehicle’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty, see the warranty information that is provided to you along with your owner’s manual.

Special Instructions

For your added safety, your vehicle is fitted with sophisticated electronic controls.

WARNING: Please read the Supplementary Restraints System

chapter. Failure to follow the specific warnings and instructions could result in personal injury.

WARNING: Front seat mounted rear-facing child or infant seats

should NEVER be placed in front of an active passenger airbag.

14 Introduction

Notice to owners of pickup trucks and utility type vehicles

WARNING: Utility vehicles have a significantly higher rollover

rate than other types of vehicles.

Before you drive your vehicle, please read this Owner’s Manual carefully. Your vehicle is not a passenger car. As with other vehicles of this type, failure to operate your vehicle correctly may result in loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover, personal injury or death.

Using your vehicle as an ambulance

If your light truck is equipped with the Ford Ambulance Preparation Package, it may be utilized as an ambulance. Ford urges ambulance manufacturers to follow the recommendations of the Ford Incomplete

Vehicle Manual, Ford Truck Body Builder’s Layout Book and the Qualified Vehicle Modifiers (QVM) Guidelines as well as pertinent

supplements. For additional information, please contact the Truck Body Builders Advisory Service at http://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas/ and then by selecting “Contact Us” or by phone at 1–877–840–4338.

Use of your Ford light truck as an ambulance, without the Ford Ambulance Preparation Package voids the Ford New Vehicle Limited Warranty and may void the Emissions Warranties. In addition, ambulance usage without the preparation package could cause high underbody temperatures, overpressurized fuel and a risk of spraying fuel which could lead to fires.

If your vehicle is equipped with the Ford Ambulance Preparation Package, it will be indicated on the Safety Compliance Certification Label. The label is located on the driver’s side door pillar or on the rear edge of the driver’s door. You can determine whether the ambulance manufacturer followed Ford’s recommendations by directly contacting that manufacturer.

Introduction 15

MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT

Using mobile communications equipment is becoming increasingly important in the conduct of business and personal affairs. However, you must not compromise your own or others’ safety when using such equipment. Mobile communications can enhance personal safety and security when appropriately used, particularly in emergency situations. Safety must be paramount when using mobile communications equipment to avoid negating these benefits.

Mobile communication equipment includes, but is not limited to, cellular phones, pagers, portable email devices, text messaging devices and portable two-way radios.

WARNING: Driving while distracted can result in loss of vehicle

control, crash and injury. We strongly recommend that you use extreme caution when using any device that may take your focus off the road. Your primary responsibility is the safe operation of your vehicle. We recommend against the use of any handheld device while driving and encourage the use of voice-operated systems when possible. Make sure you are aware of all applicable local laws that may affect the use of electronic devices while driving.

EXPORT UNIQUE (NON–UNITED STATES/CANADA) VEHICLE SPECIFIC INFORMATION

For your particular global region, your vehicle may be equipped with features and options that are different from the features and options that are described in this owner’s manual. A market unique supplement may be supplied that complements this book. By referring to the market unique supplement, if provided, you can properly identify those features, recommendations and specifications that are unique to your vehicle. This owner’s manual is written primarily for the U.S. and Canadian Markets. Features or equipment listed as standard may be different on units built for Export. See this owner’s manual for all other

required information and warnings.

16 Child Safety

GENERAL INFORMATION

See the following sections for directions on how to properly use safety restraints for children.

WARNING: Always make sure your child is secured properly

in a device that is appropriate for their height, age and weight. Child safety restraints must be bought separately from your vehicle. Failure to follow these instructions and guidelines may result in an increased risk of serious injury or death to your child.

WARNING: All children are shaped differently. The

recommendations for safety restraints are based on probable child height, age and weight thresholds from NHTSA and other safety organizations, or are the minimum requirements of law. Ford recommends checking with a NHTSA Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) and consulting your pediatrician to make sure your child seat is appropriate for your child, and is compatible with and properly installed in your vehicle. To locate a child seat fitting station and CPST, contact the NHTSA toll free at 1-888-327-4236 or on the internet at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov. In Canada, check with your local St. John Ambulance office for referral to a CPST or for further information, contact your provincial ministry of transportation, or locate your local St. John Ambulance office by searching for St. John Ambulance on the internet, or Transport Canada at 1–800–333–0371 (http://www.tc.gc.ca). Failure to properly restrain children in safety seats made especially for their height, age, and weight may result in an increased risk of serious injury or death to your child.

Infants or toddlers

Recommendations for Safety Restraints for Children

Child size, height, weight, or age

Children weighing 40 lb (18 kg) or less (generally age four or younger).

Recommended restraint type

Use a child safety seat (sometimes called an infant carrier, convertible seat, or toddler seat).

Child Safety 17

Recommendations for Safety Restraints for Children

Child size, height, weight, or age

Small children

Larger children

• You are required by law to properly use safety seats for infants and toddlers in the U.S. and Canada.

• Many states and provinces require that small children use approved booster seats until they reach age eight, a height of 4 feet 9 inches (1.45 meters) tall, or 80 pounds (36 kilograms). Check your local and state or provincial laws for specific requirements about the safety of children in your vehicle.

• When possible, always properly restrain children twelve (12) years of age and under in a rear seating position of your vehicle. Accident statistics suggest that children are safer when properly restrained in the rear seating positions than in a front seating position. See Passenger Airbag ON and OFF Switch in the Supplemental Restraints System chapter for more information.

Children who have outgrown or no longer properly fit in a child safety seat (generally children who are less than 4 ft. 9 in. (1.45 m) tall, are greater than age four (4) and less than age twelve (12), and between 40 lb (18 kg) and 80 lb (36 kg) and upward to 100 lb (45 kg) if recommended by your child restraint manufacturer).

Children who have outgrown or no longer properly fit in a belt-positioning booster seat (generally children who are at least 4 ft. 9 in. (1.45 m) tall or greater than 80 lb (36 kg) or 100 lb (45 kg) if recommended by child restraint manufacturer).

Recommended restraint type

Use a belt-positioning booster seat.

Use a vehicle safety belt having the lap belt snug and low across the hips, shoulder belt centered across the shoulder and chest, and seat back upright.

18 Child Safety

CHILD SEAT POSITIONING

WARNING: Airbags can kill or injure a child in a child seat.

Never place a rear-facing child seat in front of an active airbag. If you must use a forward-facing child seat in the front seat, move the vehicle seat upon which the child seat is installed all the way back. When possible, all children age 12 and under should be properly restrained in a rear seating position. If all children cannot be seated and restrained properly in a rear seating position, properly restrain the largest child in the front seat.

WARNING: Always carefully follow the instructions and

warnings provided by the manufacturer of any child restraint to determine if the restraint device is appropriate for your child’s size, height, weight, or age. Follow the child restraint manufacturer’s instructions and warnings provided for installation and use in conjunction with the instructions and warnings provided by your vehicle manufacturer. A safety seat that is improperly installed or utilized, is inappropriate for your child’s height, age or weight, or does not properly fit the child, may increase the risk of serious injury or death.

WARNING: Never let a passenger hold a child on his or her lap

while your vehicle is moving. The passenger cannot protect the child from injury in a crash, which may result in serious injury or death.

WARNING: Never use pillows, books, or towels to boost a child.

They can slide around and increase the likelihood of injury or death in a crash.

WARNING: Always restrain an unoccupied child seat or booster

seat. These objects may become projectiles in a crash or sudden stop, which may increase the risk of serious injury.

Child Safety 19

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 crash.

WARNING: To avoid risk of injury, do not leave children or pets

unattended in your vehicle.

Recommendations for attaching child safety restraints for children

Combined

Restraint type

Rear-facing child seat

Forward-facing child seat

Note: The child seat must rest tightly against the vehicle seat upon which it is installed. It may be necessary to lift or remove the head restraint. See the Seats chapter for information on head restraints.

weight of child and

child seat

Up to 65 lb

(29.5 kg)

Over 65 lb

(29.5 kg)

Up to 65 lb

(29.5 kg)

Over 65 lb

(29.5 kg)

Use any attachment method as

indicated below by X.

Safety belt and top

tether anchor

Safety

belt only

20 Child Safety

BOOSTER SEATS

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 crash.

Use a belt-positioning booster seat for children who have outgrown or no longer properly fit in a child safety seat (generally children who are less than 4 feet 9 inches (1.45 meters) tall, are greater than age four (4) and less than age twelve (12), and between 40 pounds (18 kilograms) and 80 pounds (36 kilograms) and upward to 100 pounds (45 kilograms) if recommended by your child restraint manufacturer). Many state and provincial laws require that children use approved booster seats until they reach age eight (8), a height of 4 feet 9 inches (1.45 meters) tall, or 80 pounds (36 kilograms).

Booster seats should be used until you can answer YES to ALL of these questions when the child is seated without a booster seat.

• Can the child sit all the way back against their vehicle seat 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?

Always use booster seats in conjunction with your vehicle lap and shoulder belt.

Child Safety 21

Types of Booster Seats

• Backless booster seats

If your backless booster seat has a removable shield, remove the shield. If a vehicle seating position has a low seatback 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 seatback or head restraint and lap and shoulder belts, or consider using a high back booster seat.

• 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.

22 Child Safety

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 following drawings 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 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 upon which it is being used, 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.

Child Safety 23

INSTALLING CHILD SEATS

Child Seats

Use a child safety seat (sometimes called an infant carrier, convertible seat, or toddler seat) for infants, toddlers or children weighing 40 pounds (18 kilograms) or less (generally age four or younger).

Using Lap and Shoulder Belts

WARNING: Airbags can kill or injure a child in a child seat.

Never place a rear-facing child seat in front of an active airbag. If you must use a forward-facing child seat in the front seat, move the seat upon which the child seat is installed all the way back.

WARNING: Airbags can kill or injure a child in a child seat.

Children 12 and under should be properly restrained in the rear seat whenever possible.

WARNING: Depending on where you secure a child restraint,

and depending on the child restraint design, you may block access to certain safety belt buckle assemblies, rendering those features potentially unusable. To avoid risk of injury, occupants should only use seating positions where they are able to be properly restrained.

24 Child Safety

When installing a child safety seat with combination lap and shoulder belts:

• Use the correct safety belt buckle for that seating position.

• 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 the vehicle seat upon which the child seat will be installed in the upright position.

• Put the safety belt in the automatic locking mode. See Step 5. This vehicle does not require the use of a locking clip.

Perform the following steps when installing the child seat with lap and shoulder belts:

Note: Although the child seat illustrated is a forward facing child seat, the steps are the same for installing a rear facing child seat.

1. Position the child safety seat in a seat with a combination lap and shoulder belt.

2. Pull down on the shoulder belt and then grasp the shoulder belt and lap belt together.

Child Safety 25

3. While holding the shoulder and lap belt portions together, route the tongue through the child seat according to the child seat manufacturer’s instructions. Be sure the belt webbing is not twisted.

4. Insert the belt tongue into the proper buckle (the buckle closest to the direction the tongue is coming from) for that seating position until you hear a snap and feel the latch engage. Make sure the tongue is latched securely by pulling on it.

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 pulled out.

Note: The automatic locking mode is available on the front passenger and rear seats. This vehicle does not require the use of a locking clip.

6. Allow the belt to retract to remove slack. The belt will click as it

retracts to indicate it is in the automatic locking mode.

26 Child Safety

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 5 and 6.

8. Remove remaining slack from the belt. Force the seat down with extra weight, for example, by pressing down or kneeling on the child restraint while pulling up on the shoulder belt in order to force slack from the belt.

This is necessary to remove the remaining slack that will exist once the extra weight of the child is added to the child restraint. It also helps to achieve the proper snugness of the child seat to your vehicle. Sometimes, a slight lean toward the buckle will provide extra help to remove remaining slack from the belt.

9. Attach the tether strap (if the child seat is equipped). See Using

Tether Straps.

10. Before placing the child in the seat, forcibly move 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 and back. There should be no more than 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) of movement for proper installation.

Ford recommends checking with a NHTSA Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician to make certain the child restraint is properly installed. In Canada, check with your local St. John Ambulance office for referral to a Child Passenger Safety Technician.

Child Safety 27

Using Tether Straps

Many forward-facing child safety seats include a tether strap which extends from the back of the child safety seat and hooks to an anchoring point called the top tether anchor. Tether

straps are available as an accessory for many older safety seats. Contact the manufacturer of your child seat for information about

ordering a tether strap, or to obtain a longer tether strap if the tether strap on your safety seat does not reach the appropriate top tether anchor in the vehicle.

Attach the tether strap only to the appropriate tether anchor as shown. The tether strap may not work properly if attached somewhere other than the correct tether anchor.

Note: If you install a child seat with rigid LATCH attachments, and have attached the top tether strap to the proper top tether anchor, do not tighten the tether strap enough to lift the child seat off the vehicle seat cushion when the child is seated in it. Keep the tether strap just snug without lifting the front of the child seat. Keeping the child seat just touching the vehicle seat gives the best protection in a severe crash.

Perform the following steps to install a child safety seat with tether anchors:

You can attach the tether directly to the rear of the front seat.

28 Child Safety

1. Adjust the front passenger seat fully forward.

2. Route the child safety seat tether strap over the back of the front passenger seat as shown.

3. Clip the tether strap hook to the seat pedestal at the location shown.

If the tether strap is clipped incorrectly, the child safety seat may not be retained properly in the event of a crash.

4. Adjust the front passenger seat to the full rearward position.

5. Tighten the child safety seat tether strap according to the

manufacturer’s instructions. If the safety seat is not anchored properly, the risk of a child being

injured in a crash greatly increases.

Safety Belts 29

PRINCIPLES OF OPERATION

WARNING: Always drive and ride with your seatback upright and the lap belt snug and low across the hips.

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 crash.

WARNING: To reduce the risk of injury, make sure children sit where they can be properly restrained.

WARNING: All occupants of the vehicle, including the driver,

should always properly wear their safety belts, even when an airbag supplemental restraint system is provided. Failure to properly wear your safety belt could seriously increase the risk of injury or death.

WARNING: It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area,

inside or outside of a vehicle. In a crash, 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.

WARNING:

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.

In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is significantly

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