FORD F150 2004 11.G Owners Manual

How does the air bag supplemental restraint system work?
The air bag SRS is designed to
activate when the vehicle sustains
sufficient longitudinal deceleration.
The fact that the air bags did not
inflate in a collision does not mean
that something is wrong with the
system. Rather, it means the forces
were not of the type sufficient to
cause activation. Air bags are
designed to inflate in frontal and
near-frontal collisions, not rollover,
side-impact, or rear-impacts.
The air bags inflate and deflate
rapidly upon activation. After air bag
deployment, it is normal to notice a
smoke-like, powdery residue or
smell the burnt propellant. This may
consist of cornstarch, talcum
powder (to lubricate the bag) or
sodium compounds (e.g., baking
soda) that result from the
combustion process that inflates the
air bag. Small amounts of sodium
hydroxide may be present which
may irritate the skin and eyes, but
none of the residue is toxic.
While the system is designed to help
reduce serious injuries, it may also
cause minor abrasions, swelling or temporary hearing loss. Because air
bags must inflate rapidly and with considerable force, there is the risk of
death or serious injuries such as fractures, facial and eye injuries or
internal injuries, particularly to occupants who are not properly
restrained or are otherwise out of position at the time of air bag
deployment. Thus, it is extremely important that occupants be properly
restrained as far away from the air bag cover as possible while
maintaining vehicle control.
Several air bag system components get hot after inflation. Do not
touch them after inflation.
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If the air bag has deployed,the air bag will not function
again and must be replaced immediately.If the air bag is not
replaced, the unrepaired area will increase the risk of injury in a
collision.
The SRS consists of:
²driver and passenger air bag modules (which include the inflators,
covers and air bags),
²Occupation Classification Sensor (OCS)
²one or more impact and safing sensors, passenger air bag On/Off
switch (if equipped) and diagnostic monitor (RCM)
²a readiness light and tone,
²and the electrical wiring which connects the components.
The RCM (restraints control module) monitors its own internal circuits
and the supplemental air bag electrical system wiring (including the
passenger air bag On/Off switch, the impact sensors, the system wiring,
the air bag system readiness light, the air bag back up power and the air
bag ignitors).
Determining if the system is operational
The SRS uses readiness lights in the instrument cluster and the
passenger air bag on/off switch or a tone to indicate the condition of the
system. Refer to theAir bag readinesssection in theInstrument
clusterchapter orPassenger air bag on/off switchsection in this
chapter. Routine maintenance of the air bag is not required.
A difficulty with the system is indicated by one or more of the following:
²The readiness lights will either
flash or stay lit.
²The readiness lights will not
illuminate immediately after
ignition is turned on.
²A 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 dealership or by a qualified technician immediately. Unless
serviced, the system may not function properly in the event of a
collision.
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Disposal of air bags and air bag equipped vehicles (including
pretensioners)
See your local dealership or qualified technician. Air bags MUST BE
disposed of by qualified personnel.
Passenger air bag ON/OFF switch (if equipped)
An air bag ON/OFF switch
has been installed in this
vehicle. Before driving,always
look 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 air bag off
1. Insert the ignition key, turn the
switch to OFF position and hold in
OFF position while removing the
key.
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2. When the ignition is turned to the
ON position the ªpassenger airbag
offº indicator light illuminates
briefly, momentarily shuts off and
then turns back on. This indicates that the passenger air bag is
deactivated. Refer toFront passenger sensing systemin this chapter.
If the OFF light fails to illuminate when the passenger air bag
ON/OFF switch is in the OFF position and the ignition switch is
in ON, have the passenger air bag ON/OFF switch serviced at your
Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer immediately.
In order to avoid inadvertent activation of the switch, always
remove the ignition key from the passenger air bag ON/OFF
switch.
Turning the passenger air bag back on
The passenger air bag remains OFF until you turn it back ON.
1. Insert the ignition key and turn
the switch to ON.
2. The ªpassenger airbag offº
indicator light will briefly illuminate
when the ignition is turned to ON.
This indicates that the passenger air
bag is operational. Refer toFront passenger sensing systemin this
chapter.
The passenger-side air bag should always be turned to the ON position
(the ªpassenger airbag offº or ªpass airbag offº indicator light shouldnot
be illuminated) unless the passenger is a person who meets the
requirements stated either in Category 1, 2 or 3 of the NHTSA/Transport
Canada deactivation criteria which follows.
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The safety belts for the driver and right front passenger seating
positions have been specifically designed to function together
with the air bags in certain types of crashes. When you turn OFF your
air bag, you not only lose the protection of the air bag, you also may
reduce the effectiveness of your safety belt system, which was
designed to work with the air bag. If you are not a person who meets
the requirements stated in the NHTSA/Transport Canada deactivation
criteria turning OFF the air bag can increase the risk of serious injury
or death in a collision.
An infant in a rear-facing seat faces a high risk of serious or fatal
injuries from a deploying passenger air bag. Rear facing infant
seats should NEVER be placed in the front seats, unless the passenger
air bag is turned off (if equipped with an air bag On/Off switch). See
Passenger air bag ON/OFF switch.
The vast majority of drivers and passengers are much safer with an air
bag than without. To do their job and reduce the risk of life threatening
injuries, air bags must open with great force, and this force can pose a
potentially deadly risk in some situations, particularly when a front seat
occupant is not properly buckled up. The most effective way to reduce
the risk of unnecessary air bag injuries without reducing the overall
safety of the vehicle is to make sure all occupants are properly
restrained in the vehicle, especially in the front seat AND TO AVOID
PLACING OBJECTS ON OR OVER AIR BAG COVER. This provides the
protection of safety belts and permits the air bags to provide the
additional protection they were designed to provide. If you choose to
deactivate your air bag, you are losing the very significant risk-reducing
benefits of the air bag and you are also reducing the effectiveness of the
safety belts, because safety belts in modern vehicles are designed to
work as a safety system with the air bags.
Read all air bag Warning labels in the vehicle as well as the other
important air bag instructions and Warnings in this Owner's Guide.
NHTSA deactivation criteria (excluding Canada)
1.Infant.An infant (less than 1 year old) must ride in the front seat
because:
²the vehicle has no rear seat;
²the vehicle has a rear seat too small to accommodate a rear-facing
infant seat; or
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²the infant has a medical condition which, according to the infant's
physician, makes it necessary for the infant to ride in the front so that
the driver can constantly monitor the child's condition.
2.Child age 1 to 12.A child age 1 to 12 must ride in the front seat
because:
²the vehicle has no rear seat;
²although children ages 1 to 12 ride in the rear seat(s) whenever
possible, children ages 1 to 12 sometimes must ride in the front
because no space is available in the rear seat(s) of the vehicle; or
²the child has a medical condition which, according to the child's
physician, makes it necessary for the child to ride in the front seat so
that the driver can constantly monitor the child's condition.
3.Medical condition.A passenger has a medical condition which,
according to his or her physician:
²causes the passenger air bag to pose a special risk for the passenger;
and
²makes the potential harm from the passenger air bag in a crash
greater than the potential harm from turning OFF the air bag and
allowing the passenger, even if belted, to hit the dashboard or
windshield in a crash.
Transport Canada deactivation criteria (Canada Only)
1.Infant:An infant (less than 1 year old) must ride in the front seat
because:
²my vehicle has no rear seat;
²the rear seat in my vehicle cannot accommodate a rear-facing infant
seat; or
²the infant has a medical condition which, according to the infant's
physician, makes it necessary for the infant to ride in the front seat so
that the driver can monitor the infant's condition.
2.Child age 12 or under:A child age 12 or under must ride in the
front seat because:
²my vehicle has no rear seat;
²although children age 12 and under ride in the rear seat whenever
possible, children age 12 and under have no option but to sometimes
ride in the front seat because rear seat space is insufficient; or
²the child has a medical condition that, according to the child's
physician, makes it necessary for the child to ride in the front seat so
that the driver can monitor the child's condition.
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3.Medical condition:A passenger has a medical condition that,
according to his or her physician:
²poses a special risk for the passenger if the air bag deploys; and
²makes the potential harm from the passenger air bag deployment
greater than the potential harm from turning OFF the air bag and
experiencing a crash without the protection offered by the air bag
Front passenger sensing system
The front passenger sensing system will turn off the front passenger's
frontal air bag under certain conditions. The driver's air bag is not part of
the front passenger sensing system. The front passenger sensing system
works with sensors that are part of the front passenger's seat and safety
belt. The sensors are designed to detect the presence of a
properly-seated occupant and determine if the front passenger's frontal
air bag should be enabled (may inflate) or not.
The front passenger sensing system is designed to meet the regulatory
requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 208
and is designed to turn off the front passenger's frontal air bag if:
²the front passenger seat is unoccupied,
²the system determines that an infant is present in a rear-facing infant
seat that is properly installed according to the manufacturer's
instructions,
²the system determines that a small child is present in a forward-facing
child restraint that is properly installed according to the
manufacturer's instructions,
²the system determines that a small child is present in a booster seat,
²a front passenger takes his/her weight off of the seat for a period of
time,
²a smaller person, such as a child who has outgrown child restraints or
a very small person, occupies the front passenger seat.
Even with Advanced Restraints Systems, children 12 and under
should be properly restrained in the back seat.
When the front passenger seat is
occupied and the sensing system
has turned off the passenger's
frontal air bag, the9passenger air
bag off9or9pass air bag off9indicator will light and stay lit to remind you
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that the front passenger frontal air bag is off. When the front passenger
seat is not occupied (empty seat) or in the event that the front passenger
frontal air bag is enabled (may inflate), the indicator light will be unlit.
The indicator light is located in the center stack of the instrument panel
just above the radio.
The front passenger sensing system is designed to turn off the front
passenger's frontal air bag when a rear facing infant seat, a
forward-facing child restraint, or a booster seat is detected. If the child
restraint has been installed and the indicator is not lit, then turn the
vehicle off, remove the child restraint from the vehicle and reinstall the
restraint following the child restraint manufacturer's directions.
The front passenger sensing system is designed to enable (may inflate)
the right front passenger's frontal air bag anytime the system senses that
a person of adult size is sitting properly in the front passenger seat,
unless the air bag on/off switch (if equipped) is turned to the Off
position. When the passenger sensing system has allowed the air bag to
be enabled, the indicator will be unlit and stay unlit to remind you that
the air bag is enabled (may inflate).
If a person of adult-size is sitting in the front passenger's seat, but the
ªpassenger air bag offº or ªpass air bag offº indicator is lit, it could be
that the person isn't sitting properly in the seat , or that the air bag
on/off switch (if equipped) is in the Off position. If this happens, turn
the vehicle off and ask the person to place the seatback in the full
upright position, then sit upright in the seat, centered on the seat
cushion, with the person's legs comfortably extended. Restart the vehicle
and have the person remain in this position for about two minutes. This
will allow the system to detect that person and then enable the
passenger's air bag. If the indicator lamp remains lit even after this, then
the occupant should be advised to ride in the back seat.
After all occupants have adjusted their seats and put on seat belts, it's
very important that they continue to sit upright, with their back against
the seatback, with their feet comfortably extended on the floor while the
vehicle is still in motion. Sitting improperly can increase the chance of
injury in a crash event. For example, if an occupant slouches, lies down,
turns sideways, sits forward, leans forward or sideways, or puts one or
both feet up, the chance of injury during a crash is greatly increased.
Sitting improperly out of position or with the seatback reclined too
far can take off weight from the seat cushion and affect the decision
of the passenger sensing system, resulting in serious injury or death in a
crash. Always sit upright against your seatback, with your feet on the floor.
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If the vehicle is equipped with an Air
Bag On/Off switch, it will override the
decision from the passenger sensing
system when in the OFF mode. In case
of securing child seats (with or without
a latch system) on the front passenger
seat for vehicles that do not have a
rear seat, the air bag On/Off switch
should be turned to the OFF mode to
suppress the air bag in the presence of
a child seat. In the same way, if there
is an adult on the passenger seat, the
air bag On/Off switch should be turned
to the ON mode to enable the air bag.
Again this in ONLY recommended for
vehicles that do not have a rear seat,
otherwise all children 12 and under
and frail adults should be properly
restrained in the rear seat.
In case there is a problem with the
passenger sensing system, the air bag
readiness light in the instrument
cluster will stay lit. Do NOT attempt to
repair or service the system; take your vehicle immediately to the dealer.
The front passenger air bag is not designed to offer protection to
an occupant in the center front seating position.
An out of position front center occupant could affect the
decision of the front passenger sensing system.
If it is necessary to modify an advanced front air bag system to
accommodate a person with disabilities, contact the Ford Customer
Relationship Center at the phone number shown in the Customer
Assistance Section of this Owner's Guide.
SAFETY RESTRAINTS FOR CHILDREN
See the following sections for directions on how to properly use safety
restraints for children. Also seeAir bag supplemental restraint system
(SRS)in this chapter for special instructions about using air bags.
Important child restraint precautions
You are required by law to use safety restraints for children in the U.S.
and Canada. If small children (generally children who are four years old
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or younger and who weigh 18 kg [40 lbs] or less) ride in your vehicle,
you must put them in safety seats made especially for children. Many
states require that children use approved booster seats until they are
eight years old. Check your local and state or provincial laws for specific
requirements regarding the safety of children in your vehicle. When
possible, always place children under age 12 in the rear seat of your
vehicle. Accident statistics suggest that children are safer when properly
restrained in the rear seating positions than in the front seating position.
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 collision.
Always follow the instructions and warnings that come with any infant or
child restraint you might use.
Children and safety belts
If the child is the proper size, restrain the child in a safety seat. Children
who are too large for child safety seats (as specified by your child safety
seat manufacturer) should always wear safety belts.
Follow all the important safety restraint and air bag precautions that
apply to adult passengers in your vehicle.
If the shoulder belt portion of a combination lap and shoulder belt can
be positioned so it does not cross or rest in front of the child's face or
neck, the child should wear the lap and shoulder belt. Moving the child
closer to the center of the vehicle may help provide a good shoulder belt
fit.
Do not leave children, unreliable adults, or pets unattended in
your vehicle.
Child booster seats
Children outgrow a typical convertible or toddler seat when they weigh
40 pounds and are around 4 years of age. Although the lap/shoulder belt
will provide some protection, these children are still too small for
lap/shoulder belts to fit properly, which could increase the risk of serious
injury.
To improve the fit of both the lap and shoulder belt on children who
have outgrown child safety seats, Ford Motor Company recommends use
of a belt-positioning booster.
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