Ford E-150 (2012 year). Manual — part 25

WARNING: BELT AND RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY MUST BE
REPLACED if the safety belt assembly “automatic locking

retractor” feature or any other safety belt function is not operating
properly when checked by an authorized dealer. Failure to replace the
belt and retractor assembly could increase the risk of injury in
collisions.

Safety belt pretensioner

Your vehicle is equipped with safety belt pretensioners at the driver and
front outboard passenger seating positions.

The safety belt pretensioner tightens the safety belts firmly against the
occupant’s body at the start of the crash.

WARNING: The driver and front passenger safety belt system
(including retractors, buckles and height adjusters) must be

replaced if the vehicle is involved in a collision that results in
deployment of front airbags and safety belt pretensioners.

Front safety belt height adjustment

The front seat and outboard
positions are equipped with a height
adjuster. Adjust the height of the
shoulder belt so the belt rests
across the middle of your shoulder.

To adjust the shoulder belt height,
push the button and slide the height
adjuster down. Release the button
and pull down on the height
adjuster to make sure it is locked in
place. To adjust the belt upward,
slide the adjuster up. Pull down on the height adjuster to make sure it is
locked in place.

WARNING: Position the safety belt height adjusters so that the
belt rests across the middle of your shoulder. Failure to adjust

the safety belt properly could reduce the effectiveness of the seat belt
and increase the risk of injury in a collision.

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101

Safety belt warning light and indicator chime
The safety belt warning light illuminates in the instrument cluster and a
chime sounds to remind the occupants to fasten their safety belts.
Conditions of operation

If...

Then...

The driver’s safety belt is not
buckled before the ignition switch
is turned to the on position...

The safety belt warning light
illuminates and the warning chime
sounds 4-8 seconds.

The driver’s safety belt is buckled
while the indicator light is
illuminated and the warning chime
is sounding...

The safety belt warning light and
warning chime turn off.

The driver’s safety belt is buckled
before the ignition switch is turned
to the on position...

The safety belt warning light and
the warning chime will remain off.

Belt-Minder

姞

The Belt-Minder

威 feature is a supplemental warning to the safety belt

warning function. This feature provides additional reminders to the
driver that the driver’s safety belt is unbuckled by intermittently
sounding a chime and illuminating the safety belt warning lamp in the
instrument cluster.

If...

Then...

The driver’s safety belt is not
buckled approximately 5 seconds
after the safety belt warning light
has turned off...

The Belt-Minder

威 feature is

activated - the safety belt warning
light illuminates and the warning
chime sounds for 6 seconds every
30 seconds, repeating for
approximately 5 minutes or until
safety belt is buckled.

The driver’s safety belt is buckled
while the safety belt indicator light
is illuminated and the safety belt
warning chime is sounding...

The Belt-Minder

威 feature will not

activate.

The driver’s safety belt is buckled
before the ignition switch is turned
to the ON position...

The Belt-Minder

威 feature will not

activate.

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102

The following are reasons most often given for not wearing safety belts:
(All statistics based on U.S. data)

Reasons given...

Consider...

“Crashes are rare events”

36700 crashes occur every day. The
more we drive, the more we are
exposed to “rare” events, even for
good drivers. 1 in 4 of us will be
seriously injured in a crash during
our lifetime.

“I’m not going far”

3 of 4 fatal crashes occur within 25
miles of home.

“Belts are uncomfortable”

We design our safety belts to enhance
comfort. If you are uncomfortable -
try different positions for the safety
belt upper anchorage and seatback
which should be as upright as
possible; this can improve comfort.

“I was in a hurry”

Prime time for an accident.
Belt-Minder

威 reminds us to take a few

seconds to buckle up.

“Safety belts don’t work”

Safety belts, when used properly,
reduce risk of death to front seat
occupants by 45% in cars, and by
60% in light trucks.

“Traffic is light”

Nearly 1 of 2 deaths occur in
single-vehicle crashes, many when
no other vehicles are around.

“Belts wrinkle my clothes”

Possibly, but a serious crash can do
much more than wrinkle your clothes,
particularly if you are unbelted.

“The people I’m with don’t
wear belts”

Set the example, teen deaths occur 4
times more often in vehicles with
TWO or MORE people. Children and
younger brothers/sisters imitate
behavior they see.

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103

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”

People who are ejected are 40
times more likely to DIE. Safety
belts help prevent ejection, WE CAN’T
“PICK OUR CRASH”.

WARNING: Do not sit on top of a buckled safety belt or insert a
latchplate into the buckle to avoid the Belt-Minder

威 chime. To

do so may adversely affect the performance of the vehicle’s air bag
system

One-time disable
Any time the safety belt is buckled and then unbuckled during an
ignition on cycle, the Belt-Minder

威 will be disabled for that ignition cycle

only.
Deactivating/activating the Belt-Minder

姞 feature

Read Steps 1 - 5 thoroughly before proceeding with the
deactivation/activation programming procedure.
The Belt-Minder

威 feature can be deactivated/activated by performing the

following procedure:
Before following the procedure, make sure that:
• the parking brake is set

• the gearshift is in P (Park)

• the ignition switch is in the off position

• all vehicle doors and the hood are closed

• the driver’s safety belt is unbuckled

• the parking lamps/headlamps are in the off position

WARNING: While the design allows you to deactivate your
Belt-Minder

威, this system is designed to improve your chances of

being safely belted and surviving an accident. We recommend you
leave the Belt-Minder

威 system activated for yourself and others who

may use the vehicle. To reduce the risk of injury, do not
deactivate/activate the Belt-Minder

威 feature while driving the vehicle.

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104