airbag off FORD F250 SUPER DUTY 2006 Owners Manual

Seating and Safety Restraints 90Seating 90
Safety restraints 97
Airbags 108
Child restraints 117
Tires, Wheels and Loading 129Tire Information 132
Tire Inflation 133
Vehicle loading 148
Trailer towing 155
Trailer Brake Controller-Integrated 159
Recreational towing 165
Driving 167Starting 167
Brakes 172
Transmission operation 176
Roadside Emergencies 202Getting roadside assistance 202
Hazard flasher switch 204
Fuel pump shut-off switch 204
Fuses and relays 205
Changing tires 214
Lug Nut Torque 225
Jump starting 226
Wrecker towing 232
Customer Assistance 234Reporting safety defects (U.S. only) 240
Cleaning 241Table of Contents
2
2006 F-250/350/450/550 (f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA (fus)

Reasons given... Consider...
“I have an airbag” Airbags offer greater protection when
used with safety belts. Frontal airbags
are not designed to inflate in rear and
side crashes or rollovers.
“I’d rather be thrown clear” Not a good idea. People who are
ejected are 40 times more likely to
DIE. Safety belts help prevent ejection,
WE CAN’T “PICK OUR CRASH”.
Do not sit on top of a buckled safety belt to avoid the
BeltMinder  chime. Sitting on the safety belt will increase the
risk of injury in an accident. To disable (one-time) or deactivate the
BeltMinder  feature please follow the directions stated below.
One time disable
Any time the safety belt is buckled and then unbuckled during an ignition
ON cycle, the BeltMinder  will be disabled for that ignition cycle only.
Deactivating/activating the BeltMinder  feature
Read Step s1-9t horoughly before proceeding with the
deactivation/activation programming procedure.
The BeltMinder  feature can be deactivated/activated by performing the
following procedure:
Before following the procedure, make sure that the following conditions
are met:
• the parking brake is set
• the gearshift is in P (Park) (automatic transmission) or the neutral
position (manual transmission)
• the ignition switch is in the OFF position
• all vehicle doors are closed
• the driver’s safety belt is unbuckled
• the parklamps/headlamps are in the OFF position (If the vehicle is
equipped with Autolamps, this will not affect the procedure)
To reduce the risk of injury, do not deactivate/activate the Belt
Minder feature while driving the vehicle.
2006 F-250/350/450/550 (f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA (fus)Seating and Safety Restraints
106

Do not attempt to service, repair, or modify the airbag
supplemental restraint systems or its fuses. See your authorized
dealer.
The front passenger air bag is not designed to offer protection to
an occupant in the center front seating position.
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.
Additional equipment such as snowplow equipment may effect
the performance of the airbag sensors increasing the risk of
injury. Please refer to the Body Builders Layout Book for instructions
about the appropriate installation of additional equipment.
Removing the blocker beam without installing snow plow
attachment hardware may effect airbag deployment in a crash.
Do not operate the truck unless either the blocker beam or snow plow
attachment hardware is installed on the vehicle.
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.
An infant in a rear-facing seat faces a high risk of serious or fatal
injuries from a deploying passenger airbag. Rear facing infant
seats should NEVER be placed in the front seats, unless the passenger
airbag is turned off. See Passenger airbag ON/OFF switch.
2006 F-250/350/450/550 (f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA (fus)Seating and Safety Restraints
110

Passenger airbag ON/OFF switch (if equipped)
An airbag 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 airbag off
1. Insert the ignition key, turn the
switch to OFF position and hold in
OFF position while removing the
key.
2. When the ignition is turned to the
ON position the OFF light
illuminates briefly, momentarily
shuts off and then turns back on.
This indicates that the passenger
airbag is deactivated.
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.
In order to avoid inadvertent activation of the switch, always
remove the ignition key from the passenger air bag ON/OFF
switch.
An infant in a rear-facing seat faces a high risk of serious or fatal
injuries from a deploying passenger airbag. Rear facing infant
seats should NEVER be placed in the front seats, unless the passenger
airbag is turned off.
2006 F-250/350/450/550 (f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA (fus) Seating and Safety Restraints
113

Turning the passenger airbag back on
The passenger airbag remains OFF until you turn it back ON.
1. Insert the ignition key and turn
the switch to ON.
2. The OFF light will briefly
illuminate when the ignition is
turned to On. This indicates that the
passenger airbag is operational.
If the OFF light is illuminated when the passenger airbag switch
is in the ON position and the ignition switch is in ON, have the
passenger airbag switch serviced at your authorized dealer
immediately.
The passenger side airbag should always be ON (the airbag OFF light
should not 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.
The safety belts for the driver and right front passenger seating
positions have been specifically designed to function together
with the airbags in certain types of crashes. When you turn OFF your
airbag, you not only lose the protection of the airbag, you also may
reduce the effectiveness of your safety belt system, which was
designed to work with the airbag. If you are not a person who meets
the requirements stated in the NHTSA/Transport Canada deactivation
criteria turning OFF the airbag can increase the risk of serious injury
or death in a collision.
If your vehicle has rear seats, always transport children who are
12 and younger in the rear seat. Always use safety belts and
child restraints properly. If a child in a rear facing infant seat must be
transported in front, the passenger airbag must be turned OFF. This is
because the back of the infant seat is too close to the inflating airbag
and the risk of a fatal injury to the infant when the airbag inflates is
substantial.
2006 F-250/350/450/550 (f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA (fus)Seating and Safety Restraints
114

• makes the potential harm from the passenger airbag in a crash greater
than the potential harm from turning OFF the airbag and allowing the
passenger, even if belted, to hit the dashboard or windshield in a crash.
This vehicle has special energy management safety belts for the
driver and right front passenger. These particular belts are
specifically designed to work with airbags to help reduce the risk of
injury in a collision. The energy management safety belt is designed to
give or release additional belt webbing in some accidents to reduce
concentration of force on an occupant’s chest and reduce the risk of
certain bone fractures and injuries to underlying organs. In a crash, if the
airbag is turned OFF, this energy management safety belt might permit
the person wearing the belt to move forward enough to incur a serious or
fatal injury. The more severe the crash, and the heavier the occupant, the
greater the risk is. Be sure the airbag is turned ON for any person who
does not qualify under the NHTSA deactivation criteria.
Transport Canada deactivation criteria (Canada Only)
1. Infant: An infant (less than 1 year old) must ride in the front seat
because:
• my vehicle has no rear seat;
• the rear seat in my vehicle cannot accommodate a rear-facing infant
seat; or
• the 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:
• my vehicle has no rear seat;
• although 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
• the 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.
3. Medical condition: A passenger has a medical condition that,
according to his or her physician:
• poses a special risk for the passenger if the airbag deploys; and
2006 F-250/350/450/550 (f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA (fus)Seating and Safety Restraints
116

• makes the potential harm from the passenger airbag deployment
greater than the potential harm from turning OFF the airbag and
experiencing a crash without the protection offered by the airbag
This vehicle has special energy management safety belts for the
driver and right front passenger. These particular belts are
specifically designed to work with airbags to help reduce the risk of
injury in a collision. The energy management safety belt is designed to
give or release additional belt webbing in some accidents to reduce
concentration of force on an occupant’s chest and reduce the risk of
certain bone fractures and injuries to underlying organs. In a crash, if
the airbag is turned OFF, this energy management safety belt might
permit the person wearing the belt to move forward enough to incur a
serious or fatal injury. The more severe the crash, and the heavier the
occupant, the greater the risk is. Be sure the airbag is turned ON for
any person who does not qualify under the NHTSA deactivation
criteria.
SAFETY RESTRAINTS FOR CHILDREN
See the following sections for directions on how to properly use safety
restraints for children. Also see Airbag supplemental restraint system
(SRS) in this chapter for special instructions about using airbags.
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
or younger and who weigh 40 lb. [18 kg] 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.
2006 F-250/350/450/550 (f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA (fus) Seating and Safety Restraints
117

Carefully follow all of the manufacturer’s instructions included
with the safety seat you put in your vehicle. If you do not install
and use the safety seat properly, the child may be injured in a sudden
stop or collision.
Rear-facing child seats or infant carriers should never be placed
in the front seats, unless the passenger airbag On/Off switch is
turned off. See Passenger airbag ON/OFF switch in this chapter.
Installing child safety seats with combination lap and shoulder
belts
1. Position the child safety seat in a
seat with a combination lap and
shoulder belt.
An airbag can kill or injure a child in a child seat. Child seats
should NEVER be placed in the front seats, unless the passenger
airbag switch is turned off, See Passenger airbag on/off switch .
Rear facing child seats should NEVER be placed in the front
seats unless the passenger airbag switch is turned off.
2006 F-250/350/450/550 (f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA (fus)Seating and Safety Restraints
122

Operating the vehicle with the snowplow attached
Do not use your vehicle for snow removal until it has been driven at
least 500 miles (800 km).
The attached snowplow blade restricts airflow to the radiator, and may
cause the engine to run at a higher temperature:
• If you are driving more than 15 miles (24 km) where outside air
temperatures are above freezing, then angle the plow blade to full left
or right to maximize airflow to the radiator.
• If you are driving less than 15 miles (24 km) at speeds up to 40 mph
(64 km/h) in cold weather you will not need to adjust blade position
Follow the severe duty schedule in your scheduled maintenance
information for engine oil and transmission fluid change intervals.
Snowplowing with your airbag-equipped vehicle
Your vehicle is equipped with a driver and passenger airbag
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) The SRS is designed to activate in
certain frontal and offset frontal collisions when the vehicle sustains
sufficient longitudinal deceleration.
Careless or high speed driving while plowing snow which results in
sufficient vehicle decelerations can deploy the airbag. Such driving also
increases the risk of accidents.
All occupants of the vehicle, including the driver, should always
properly wear their safety belts, even when an air bag
supplemental restraint system (SRS) is provided.
Never remove or defeat the “tripping mechanisms” designed into the
snow removal equipment by its manufacturer. Doing so may cause
damage to the vehicle and the snow removal equipment as well as
possible airbag deployment.
Do not attempt to service, repair, or modify the air bag
supplemental restraint system (SRS) or its fuses. See your Ford
or Lincoln Mercury dealer.
Additional equipment such as snowplow equipment may effect
the performance of the airbag sensors increasing the risk of
injury. Please refer to the Body Builders Layout Book for instructions
about the appropriate installation of additional equipment.
2006 F-250/350/450/550 (f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA (fus)Driving
200

Transmission operation while plowing
Operate the vehicle with the automatic transmission gearshift lever in
the D (Overdrive) position and Tow/Haul OFF.
• Shift transfer case to 4x4 LOW (4WD Low) when plowing in small
areas at speeds below 5 mph (8 km/h).
• Shift transfer case to 4x4 HIGH (4WD High) when plowing larger
areas or light snow at higher speeds. Do not exceed 15 mph
(24 km/h).
• Do not shift the transmission from a forward gear to R (Reverse) until
the engine is at idle and the wheels are stopped.
• If the vehicle is stuck, shift the transmission in a steady motion
between forward and reverse gears. Do not rock the vehicle for more
than a few minutes. The transmission and tires may be damaged or
the engine can overheat.
Do not rock the vehicle if the engine is not at normal operating
temperature. Do not rock the vehicle for more than a minute. The
transmission and tires may be damaged or the engine may
overheat.
Refer to Transmission temperature gauge in the Instrument Cluster
chapter for transmission fluid temperature information.
Do not spin the wheels at over 35 mph (55 km/h). The tires may
fail and injure a passenger or bystander.
Removing the snowplow frame mount
A metal crossmember is included below the front bumper on Super Duty
vehicles called a “BlockerBeam”. Typical snowplow installations require
removal of this BlockerBeam to install the snowplow mounting hardware
to the vehicle frame.
The BlockerBeam must be re-installed if the snowplow
frame-mounting hardware is removed from the vehicle to ensure
proper airbag deployment in a crash.
2006 F-250/350/450/550 (f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA (fus) Driving
201