warning FORD F550 2012 Workshop Manual

Heated and cooled seats (if equipped)
The controls for the climate controlled seats are located on the climate
control system.
Heated Seats
WARNING: Persons who are unable to feel pain to the skin
because of advanced age, chronic illness, diabetes, spinal cord
injury, medication, alcohol use, exhaustion, or other physical
conditions, must exercise care when using the seat heater. The seat
heater may cause burns even at low temperatures, especially if used
for long periods of time. Do not place anything on the seat that
insulates against heat, such as a blanket or cushion, because this may
cause the seat heater to overheat. Do not puncture the seat with pins,
needles, or other pointed objects because this may damage the heating
element which may cause the seat heater to overheat. An overheated
seat may cause serious personal injury.
• Do not place heavy objects on the seat.
• Do not operate the seat heater if water or any other liquid is spilled
on the seat. Allow the seat to dry thoroughly.
The heated seats will only function when the engine is running.
To operate the heated seats:
Press the heated seat button/symbol
to cycle through the various heat
settings and off. Warmer settings are
indicated by more indicator lights.
Cooled Seats
The cooled seats will only function when the engine is running.
To operate the cooled seats:
Press the cooled seat button/symbol
to cycle through the various cooling
settings and off. Cooler settings are
indicated by more indicator lights.
If the engine falls below 350 rpm while the cooled seats are on, the
feature will turn itself off and will need to be reactivated.
A/CSeating and Safety Restraints
161
2012 F-250/350/450/550 (f23)
Owners Guide, 4th Printing
USA (fus)

Easy-access/easy-out feature (if equipped)
The easy entry feature can be turned off or on through the vehicle
message center. Refer to Message center in the Instrument Cluster
chapter.
The easy entry feature automatically moves the driver’s seat 2 inches
(5 cm) forward when:
• the transmission is in P (Park)
• the key is inserted into the ignition cylinder
(If the seat is located less than 2 inches [5 cm] from the front of the seat
track, the seat will travel up to 1
4
inch (6 mm) to the front of the seat
track).
The easy out feature automatically moves the driver’s seat 2 inches
(5 cm) backward when:
• the transmission is in P (Park)
• the key is removed from the ignition cylinder
(If the seat is located less than 2 inches (5 cm) from the rear of the seat
track, the seat will travel up to 1
4
inch (6 mm) to the rear of the seat
track).
If the memory setting is programmed through the remote transmitter,
upon unlocking the door via remote entry system, the seat position will
travel to the desired memory setting less 2 inches (5 cm). Once entering
the vehicle and inserting the key in the ignition while in P (Park), the
easy entry feature will move the seat an additional 2 inches (5 cm) to
the desired memory location. See Locks and Security for activating the
memory seat feature through the remote entry system.
REAR SEATS
Non-adjustable second-row head restraints
Your vehicle is equipped with second row head restraints that are
non-adjustable.
WARNING: To minimize the risk of neck injury in the event of a
crash, the driver and passenger occupants should not sit in
and/or operate the vehicle, until the head restraint is placed in its
proper position. The driver should never adjust the head restraint
while the vehicle is in motion.Seating and Safety Restraints
164
2012 F-250/350/450/550 (f23)
Owners Guide, 4th Printing
USA (fus)

Outboard head restraints (Crew
Cab)
Center head restraint (Crew Cab)
The non-adjustable second row head restraints consist of :
• a trimmed energy absorbing foam and structure (1),
• two steel stems (2),
• and two guide sleeve unlock/remove buttons (3).
Removal of the second-row non-adjustable head restraints is the same as
the front row center head restraint. Refer to Front-row center
non-adjustable head restraint in this chapter.
WARNING: The non-adjustable head restraint is a safety device.
It should be installed whenever the seat is occupied.
WARNING: To minimize the risk of neck injury in the event of a
crash, head restraints must be installed properly.
Note: The SuperCab has rear outboard head restraints that are not
removable and are bolted to the back wall. 1
2
3
1
2
3Seating and Safety Restraints
165
2012 F-250/350/450/550 (f23)
Owners Guide, 4th Printing
USA (fus)

Folding Up the Rear Seats (SuperCab)
1. Pull the control to release the
seat cushion.
2. Rotate the seat cushion up until it
locks into the vertical storage
position.
Returning the Seat to the Seating Position
WARNING: Make sure that cargo or any objects are not trapped
underneath the seat cushion before returning the seat cushion to
its original position, and that the seat cushion locks into place. Failure
to do so may prevent the seat from operating properly in the event of
a crash, which could increase the risk of serious injury.
1. Pull the control on the side of the seat to release the seat cushion
from the storage position.
2. Push the seat cushion down until it locks into the horizontal position.
Folding the Rear Seat Back (Crew Cab)
1. Pull forward on the control to
fold down the seatback.
2. Pull down on the handle and lift
up on the seatback to return it
to the original position.
Folding up the Rear Seat Cushion
1. Pull the control to release the seat cushion.
2. Rotate the seat cushion up until it locks into the vertical storage
position.Seating and Safety Restraints
166
2012 F-250/350/450/550 (f23)
Owners Guide, 4th Printing
USA (fus)

Returning the Seat to the Seating Position
WARNING: Make sure that cargo or any objects are not trapped
underneath the seat cushion before returning the seat cushion to
its original position, and that the seat cushion locks into place. Failure
to do so may prevent the seat from operating properly in the event of
a crash, which could increase the risk of serious injury.
1. Pull the control on the side of the seat to release the seat cushion
from the storage position.
2. Push the seat cushion down until it locks into the horizontal position.
Rear center armrest (if equipped)
To use the armrest simply rotate it
forward from the seatback.
Rear Under Seat Storage (if equipped) (Crew Cab)
The rear seat has storage space located under the seat cushion.
Lift up the lever and flip up the seat
cushion to access the storage space
and the power point (1).
1Seating and Safety Restraints
167
2012 F-250/350/450/550 (f23)
Owners Guide, 4th Printing
USA (fus)

To remove the storage space divider,
squeeze the sides and lift it from the
storage tub.
Use your vehicle key to lock the
storage space.
SAFETY RESTRAINTS
WARNING: Always drive and ride with your seatback upright
and the lap belt snug and low across the hips.
WARNING: To reduce the risk of injury, make sure children sit
where they can be properly restrained.
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 collision.
WARNING: 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.Seating and Safety Restraints
168
2012 F-250/350/450/550 (f23)
Owners Guide, 4th Printing
USA (fus)

WARNING: It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area,
inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, 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: In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is
significantly more likely to die than a person wearing a seat 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.
WARNING: When possible, all children 12 years old and under
should be properly restrained in a rear seating position.
WARNING: Safety belts and seats can become hot in a vehicle
that has been closed up in sunny weather; they could burn a
small child. Check seat covers and buckles before you place a child
anywhere near them.
WARNING: Front and rear seat occupants, including pregnant
women, should wear safety belts for optimum protection in an
accident. Seating and Safety Restraints
169
2012 F-250/350/450/550 (f23)
Owners Guide, 4th Printing
USA (fus)

1. To lengthen the lap belt, pull
some webbing out of the shoulder
belt retractor.
2. While holding the webbing below
the tongue, grasp the tip (metal
portion) of the tongue so that it is
parallel to the webbing and slide the
tongue upward.
3. Provide enough lap belt length so that the tongue can reach the
buckle.
How to fasten the cinch tongue
1. Pull the combination lap and shoulder belt from the retractor so that
the shoulder belt portion of the safety belt crosses your shoulder and
chest.
2. Be sure the belt is not twisted. If the belt is twisted, remove the twist.
3. Insert the belt tongue into the proper buckle for your seating position
until you hear a snap and feel it latch.
4. Make sure the tongue is securely fastened to the buckle by pulling on
the tongue.
WARNING: The lap belt should fit snugly and as low as possible
around the hips, not across the waist.
WARNING: Front and rear seat occupants, including pregnant
women, should wear safety belts for optimum protection in an
accident.
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. Seating and Safety Restraints
171
2012 F-250/350/450/550 (f23)
Owners Guide, 4th Printing
USA (fus)

While you are fastened in the safety belt, the combination lap/shoulder
belt with a cinch tongue adjusts to your movement. However, if you
brake hard, turn hard, or if your vehicle receives an impact of 5 mph
(8 km/h) or more, the safety belt will become locked and help reduce
your forward movement.
Restraint of pregnant women
WARNING: Always ride and drive with your seatback upright and
the safety belt properly fastened. The lap portion of the safety belt
should fit snug and be positioned low across the hips. The shoulder
portion of the safety belt should be positioned across the chest. Pregnant
women should also follow this practice. See figure below.
Pregnant women should always
wear their safety belt. The lap belt
portion of a combination lap and
shoulder belt should be positioned
low across the hips below the belly
and worn as tight as comfort will
allow. The shoulder belt should be
positioned to cross the middle of
the shoulder and the center of the
chest.
Safety belt locking modes
All safety restraints in the vehicle are combination lap and shoulder
belts. The driver safety belt and the optional front and rear center seat
safety belt have the first locking mode described below only. All outboard
passenger and outboard rear safety belts have both types of locking
modes described as follows:
Vehicle sensitive mode
This is the normal retractor mode, which allows free shoulder belt length
adjustment to your movements and locking in response to vehicle
movement. For example, if the driver brakes suddenly or turns a corner
sharply, or the vehicle receives an impact of approximately 5 mph
(8 km/h) or more, the combination safety belts will lock to help reduce
forward movement of the driver and passengers.
In addition, the retractor is designed to lock if the webbing is pulled out
too quickly. If this occurs, let the belt retract slightly and pull webbing
out again in a slow and controlled manner.Seating and Safety Restraints
172
2012 F-250/350/450/550 (f23)
Owners Guide, 4th Printing
USA (fus)

Automatic locking mode
In this mode, the shoulder belt is automatically pre-locked. The belt will
still retract to remove any slack in the shoulder belt. The automatic
locking mode is not available on the driver safety belt or the optional
front or rear seat center safety belt.
When to use the automatic locking mode
This mode should be used any time a child safety seat is installed in a
front outboard passenger seating position or any outboard rear seating
position (if equipped). The optional front and rear seat center safety belt
have a cinch mechanism. Refer to Safety belt with cinch tongue earlier
in this chapter. Children 12 years old and under should be properly
restrained in a rear seat whenever possible. Refer to Safety restraints
for children or Safety seats for children later in this chapter.
How to use the automatic locking mode
1. Buckle the combination lap and
shoulder belt (front safety
belt/buckle shown, rear similar).
2. Grasp the shoulder portion and
pull downward until the entire belt
is pulled out.
• Allow the belt to retract. As the belt retracts, you will hear a clicking
sound. This indicates the safety belt is now in the automatic locking
mode.
How to disengage the automatic locking mode
Disconnect the combination lap/shoulder belt and allow it to retract
completely to disengage the automatic locking mode and activate the
vehicle sensitive (emergency) locking mode.
WARNING: After any vehicle collision, the safety belt system at
all passenger seating positions must be checked by an authorized
dealer to verify that the “automatic locking retractor” feature for child
seats is still functioning properly. In addition, all safety belts should be
checked for proper function. Seating and Safety Restraints
173
2012 F-250/350/450/550 (f23)
Owners Guide, 4th Printing
USA (fus)