Ford E-250 (2009 year). Manual — part 7

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 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.

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.

Combination lap and shoulder belts

1. Insert the belt tongue into the proper buckle (the buckle closest to
the direction the tongue is coming from) until you hear a snap and feel it
latch. Make sure the tongue is securely fastened in the buckle.

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• Front and rear seats

2. To unfasten, push the release button and remove the tongue from the
buckle.
• Front and rear seats

All safety restraints in the vehicle are combination lap and shoulder
belts. All of the passenger combination lap and shoulder belts have three
types of locking modes described below:

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.

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Automatic locking mode

When to use the 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.

This mode should be used any time a child safety seat, except a
booster, is installed in passenger front or rear seating position (if
equipped). Children 12 years old and under should be properly
restrained in the 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
• Buckle the combination lap and

shoulder belt.

• 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.

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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 systems
at all seating positions (except the driver position, which does

not have this feature) 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.

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.

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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. There is no need to
push the button. 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.

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.

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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.

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.

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Reasons given...

Consider...

“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.

“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”.

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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 parklamps/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.

1. Turn the ignition switch to the ON position. DO NOT START THE
ENGINE.

2. Wait until the safety belt warning light turns off (Approximately one
minute).
• Step 3 must be completed within 30 seconds after the safety belt

warning light turns off.

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3. At a moderate speed, buckle then unbuckle the safety belt three
times, ending with the safety belt in the unbuckled state.
• After Step 3 is complete, the safety belt warning light will be turned

on for three seconds.

• Belt-Minder威 will automatically exit programming mode without

changing its enable status if Step 4 does not occur within 10 seconds
of the end of Step 3.

4. Within approximately seven seconds of the light turning off, buckle
then unbuckle the safety belt.
• This will disable the Belt-Minder威 feature for that seating position if it

is currently enabled. As confirmation, the safety belt warning light will
flash four times per second for three seconds.

• This will enable the Belt-Minder威 feature for that seating position if it

is currently disabled. As confirmation, the safety belt warning light will
flash four times per second for three seconds, followed by three
seconds with the light off, then followed by the safety belt warning
light flashing four times per second for three seconds again.

5. After receiving confirmation, the deactivation/activation procedure is
complete.

Safety belt extension assembly

If the safety belt is too short when fully extended, there is a 9 inch
(23 cm) or 12 inch (31 cm) safety belt extension assembly that can be
added (part number 611C22). This assembly can be obtained from an
authorized dealer.

Use only extensions manufactured by the same supplier as the safety
belt. Manufacturer identification is located at the end of the webbing on
the label. Also, use the safety belt extension only if the safety belt is too
short for you when fully extended.

Use the shortest extender assembly that will provide adequate fit.

WARNING: Do not use extensions to change the fit of the
shoulder belt across the torso.

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AIRBAG SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS)

Important SRS precautions

The SRS is designed to work with
the safety belt to help protect the
driver and right front passenger
from certain upper body injuries.
Airbags DO NOT inflate slowly;
there is a risk of injury from a
deploying airbag.

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.

WARNING: Always transport children 12 years old and under in
the back seat and always properly use appropriate child

restraints. Never place a rear-facing child seat in front of an active
airbag. If you must transport a forward-facing child in the front seat,
move the seat all the way back and use appropriate restraints.

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WARNING: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) recommends a minimum distance of at least 10 inches

(25 cm) between an occupant’s chest and the driver airbag module.

WARNING: Never place your arm over the air bag module as a
deploying air bag can result in serious arm fractures or other

injuries.

To properly position yourself away from the airbag:
• Move your seat to the rear as far as you can while still reaching the

pedals comfortably.

• Recline the seat slightly one or two degrees from the upright position.

WARNING: Do not put anything on or over the air bag module.
Placing objects on or over the air bag inflation area may cause

those objects to be propelled by the air bag into your face and torso
causing serious injury.

WARNING: Do not attempt to service, repair, or modify the
airbag supplemental restraint systems or its fuses. Contact your

authorized dealer as soon as possible.

WARNING: 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.

WARNING: Additional equipment may affect the performance of
the airbag sensors increasing the risk of injury.

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Children and airbags

Children must always be properly
restrained. Accident statistics
suggest that children are safer when
properly restrained in the rear
seating positions than in the front
seating position. Failure to follow
these instructions may increase the
risk of injury in a collision.

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 all the
way back.

How does the airbag supplemental restraint system work?

The airbag SRS is designed to
activate when the vehicle sustains a
longitudinal deceleration sufficient
to cause the airbag sensors to close
an electrical circuit that initiates
airbag inflation. The fact that the
airbags did not inflate in a collision
does not mean that something is
wrong with the system. Rather, it
means the forces were not sufficient
enough to cause activation. Airbags
are designed to inflate in frontal and
near-frontal collisions, not rollover, side-impact, or rear-impacts unless
the collision causes sufficient longitudinal deceleration.

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The airbags inflate and deflate
rapidly upon activation. After airbag
deployment, it is normal to notice a
smoke-like, powdery residue or
smell the burnt propellant. This may
consist of cornstarch, talcum
powder or sodium compounds which
may irritate the skin and eyes, but
none of the residue is toxic.

While the SRS is designed to help
reduce serious injuries, contact with
a deploying airbag may also cause
abrasions, swelling or temporary
hearing loss. Because airbags 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 airbag deployment. It is
extremely important that occupants be properly restrained as far away
from the airbag module as possible while maintaining vehicle control.

The SRS consists of:

• driver and passenger airbag modules (which include the inflators and

airbags)

• one or more impact and safing sensors
• safety belt pretensioners
• a readiness light and tone
• a diagnostic module
• and the electrical wiring which connects the components
The diagnostic module monitors its own internal circuits and the
supplemental airbag electrical system wiring (including the impact
sensors), the system wiring, the airbag system readiness light, the airbag
back up power and the airbag ignitors.

WARNING: Several air bag system components get hot after
inflation. Do not touch them after inflation.

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WARNING: 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.

Determining if the system is operational

The SRS uses a readiness light in the instrument cluster or a tone to
indicate the condition of the system. Refer to Airbag readiness section
in the Instrument Cluster chapter. Routine maintenance of the airbag is
not required.

A difficulty with the system is indicated by one or more of the following:
• The readiness light will either

flash or stay lit.

• The readiness light will not

illuminate immediately after ignition is turned on.

• A 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, contact your
authorized dealer as soon as possible. Unless serviced, the system may
not function properly in the event of a collision.

S.O.S. Post Crash Alert

The S.O.S Post Crash Alert automatically flashes the turn signal lamps
and sounds the horn three times at four second intervals in the event of
a serious impact that deploys an airbag (front, side, side curtain or
Safety Canopy

威) or the safety belt pretensioners.

The S.O.S. Post Crash Alert can be turned off when any one of the
following actions are taken by the driver or any other person:
• pressing the hazard control button,
• or pressing the panic button on the remote entry transmitter.
The feature will continue to operate until the vehicle runs out of power.

Disposal of airbags and airbag equipped vehicles
(including pretensioners)

Contact your authorized dealer as soon as possible. Airbags MUST BE
disposed of by qualified personnel.

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Passenger airbag ON/OFF switch (if equipped)

Note: The passenger airbag ON/OFF
switch (if equipped) may be on
vehicles with no rear seats and a
gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR)
greater than 8500 lb (3856 kg). See
Vehicle loading – with and
without a trailer in the Tires,
Wheels and loading chapter.

WARNING: An airbag
ON/OFF switch (if

equipped) may have 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.

WARNING: If the light fails to illuminate when the passenger air
bag switch is in the OFF position and the ignition switch is in

ON, contact your authorized dealer as soon as possible.

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WARNING: In order to avoid inadvertent activation of the
switch, always remove the ignition key from the passenger air

bag ON/OFF switch.

WARNING: 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.

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.

WARNING: 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 an 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.

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