Ford F 250 Instruction Manual

							Maintenance and Modifications
The suspension and steering systems on
your vehicle have been designed and
tested to provide predictable performance
whether loaded or empty. For this reason,
we strongly recommend that you do not
make modifications such as adding or
removing parts (i.e. lift kits or stabilizer
bars) or by using replacement parts not
equivalent to the original factory
equipment.
We recommend that you use caution when
your vehicle has either a high load or device
(i.e. ladder or luggage racks). Any
modifications to your vehicle that raise the
center of gravity may cause your vehicle
to roll over when there is a loss of vehicle
control.
Failure to maintain your vehicle correctly
may void the warranty, increase your repair
cost, reduce vehicle performance and
operational capabilities and adversely
affect you and your passenger's safety. We
recommend you frequently inspect your
vehicle's chassis components when your
vehicle is subject to off road usage.
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							LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL
This axle provides added traction on
slippery surfaces, particularly when one
wheel is on a poor traction surface. Under
normal conditions, the limited-slip axle
functions like a standard rear axle. The axle
may exhibit a slight noise or vibration
during tight turns with low vehicle speed.
This is normal behavior and indicates the
axle is working.
ELECTRONIC LOCKING
DIFFERENTIAL (If Equipped)
Note: The electronic locking differential is
for off-road use only and is not for use on
dry pavement. Using the electronic locking
differential on dry pavement will result in
increased tire wear, noise and vibration.
The electronic locking differential is a
device housed in the rear axle that allows
both rear wheels to turn at the same
speed. The electronic locking differential
can provide additional traction should your
vehicle become stuck. You can activate
the differential electronically and shift it
on the fly within the differential operating
speed range. The differential is for use in
mud, rocks, sand, or any off-road condition
where you need maximum traction. It is
not for use on dry pavement.
The following conditions will affect the
electronic locking differential:
• The electronic locking differential will
not engage if your vehicle speed is
above 
20 mph (32 km/h) in 4x2, 4x4
Auto, or 4x4 High modes.
• The electronic locking differential will
not engage if your vehicle speed is
above or 
56 mph (90 km/h) in 4X4
Low. •
The electronic locking differential may
not engage if you press your
accelerator pedal during an
engagement attempt. A message may
display in the instrument display
guiding you to release the accelerator
pedal.
• In 4x2, 4x4 Auto, and 4x4 High modes,
the electronic locking differential will
automatically disengage at speeds
above 
25 mph (41 km/h) and will
automatically reengage at speeds
below 
20 mph (32 km/h).
• In 4L (4X4 low), the electronic locking
differential will automatically
disengage at speeds above 
62 mph
(100 km/h) and will automatically
reengage at speeds below 56 mph
(90 km/h).
• The AdvanceTrac system has the
ability to take over control of the
electronic locking differential and
disable it during driving maneuvers
when necessary.
When you switch the system on, if you do
not meet the required conditions for
electronic locking differential activation,
the instrument cluster will display the
appropriate information guiding you
through the proper activation process.
Activating the Electronic Locking
Differential
Note: Do not use electronic locking
differential on dry, hard surfaced roads.
Doing so will produce excessive noise,
vibration and increase tire wear.
Note: If the electronic locking differential
has difficulty disengaging, release the
accelerator pedal and turn the steering
wheel in the opposite direction while rolling.
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							For 4WD vehicles
Pull the 4WD control knob toward you.
For 2WD vehicles
Turn the control to ON.
Once the indicator light
illuminates in the information
display, both rear wheel axle
shafts will be locked together providing
added traction.
If the indicator does not come on, or the
indicator turns off while driving, one of the
following has occurred: •
The vehicle speed is too high.
• The left and right rear wheel speed
difference is too high during an
engagement attempt.
• The system has malfunctioned and is
accompanied by CHECK LOCKING
DIFFERENTIAL in the information
display. See your authorized Ford
dealer for assistance.
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							GENERAL INFORMATION
Note:
Occasional brake noise is normal. If
a metal-to-metal, continuous grinding or
continuous squeal sound is present, the
brake linings may be worn-out. Have the
system checked by an authorized dealer. If
your vehicle has continuous vibration or
shudder in the steering wheel while braking,
have it checked by an authorized dealer.
Note: Brake dust may accumulate on the
wheels, even under normal driving
conditions. Some dust is inevitable as the
brakes wear and does not contribute to
brake noise.  See Cleaning the Wheels
(page 366). See 
Warning Lamps and
Indicators (page 105).
Wet brakes result in reduced braking
efficiency. Gently press the brake pedal a
few times when driving from a car wash or
standing water to dry the brakes.
Brake Over Accelerator
In the event the accelerator pedal
becomes stuck or entrapped, apply steady
and firm pressure to the brake pedal to
slow the vehicle and reduce engine power.
If you experience this condition, apply the
brakes and bring your vehicle to a safe
stop. Move the transmission to park (P),
switch the engine off and apply the parking
brake. Inspect the accelerator pedal for
any interference. If none are found and the
condition persists, have your vehicle towed
to the nearest authorized dealer.
Brake Assist
Brake assist detects when you brake
rapidly by measuring the rate at which you
press the brake pedal. It provides
maximum braking efficiency as long as you
press the pedal, and can reduce stopping
distances in critical situations. Anti-lock Brake System
This system helps you maintain steering
control during emergency stops by keeping
the brakes from locking. This lamp momentarily
illuminates when you switch the
ignition on. If the light does not
illuminate during start up, remains on or
flashes, the system may be disabled. Have
the system checked by an authorized
dealer. If the anti-lock brake system is
disabled, normal braking is still effective. If the brake warning lamp
remains illuminated after you
release the parking brake, have
the system checked by an authorized
dealer.
Diesel Engine Braking
 (If Equipped) WARNING
Do not use tow/haul or engine
braking when driving in icy or slippery
conditions as the increased braking
can cause the rear wheels to slide and your
vehicle to swing around with the possible
loss of vehicle control. This feature increases engine braking at
higher engine speeds to provide better
grade descent control with less brake and
transmission wear and tear. It also
improves engine braking when towing or
carrying heavy loads.
Press the button on the switch
bank next to the audio unit to
switch the system on or off.
There are two engine brake modes, manual
and automatic.
Manual Engine Braking
1. Press the button to switch on manual engine braking.
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							2. Release the accelerator pedal to
maximize engine braking.
3. Apply the brakes. The transmission downshifts to lower gears.
Note: You can shift the transmission to
lower gears with progressive range selection
(PRS) or manual shifting independent of
pressing the brakes.
Note: You can also use manual engine
braking with cruise control to improve grade
descent control.
Automatic Engine Braking
1. Press the button twice to switch on automatic engine braking.
2. Release the accelerator or brake pedal.
The system remembers your vehicle
speed.
Note: The system automatically activates
the engine brake and, if necessary,
downshifts the transmission to lower gears
to not exceed your vehicle's set speed when
the brake or accelerator were last released.
Note: Use this when driving downhill and
carrying heavy loads or trailering.
Warning Lamp Conditions
• Illuminates when this feature is
switched on and the system is
operating properly.  See Warning
Lamps and Indicators (page 105).
• Flashes when the engine brake is
disabled due to a fault or the engine
does not meet the required braking
conditions.
• Does not illuminate when the switch
or indicator is faulty.
You can switch the system on at anytime.
The system becomes active once the
braking conditions are met. Braking Conditions
•
Your vehicle is in a forward gear.
• The engine speed is above about 1500
RPM.
• Your foot is off the accelerator.
You can use this feature with tow/haul or
progressive range selection to provide
further increased engine braking. The
transmission automatically upshifts to
prevent the engine from entering the red
zone on the tachometer.
 See Automatic
Transmission (page 205).
HINTS ON DRIVING WITH
ANTI-LOCK BRAKES
Note: When the system is operating, the
brake pedal may pulse and may travel
further. Maintain pressure on the brake
pedal. You may also hear a noise from the
system. This is normal.
The anti-lock braking system will not
eliminate the risks when:
• You drive too closely to the vehicle in
front of you.
• Your vehicle is hydroplaning.
• You take corners too fast.
• The road surface is poor.
PARKING BRAKE WARNING
Always set the parking brake fully
and make sure the transmission is
placed in park (P). Failure to set the
parking brake and engage park could result
in vehicle roll-away, property damage or
bodily injury. Turn the ignition to the lock
position and remove the key whenever you
leave your vehicle. 222
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							Apply the parking brake whenever your
vehicle is parked. Press the pedal
downward to set the parking brake. The
brake warning lamp in the instrument
cluster will illuminate and remains
illuminated until the parking brake is
released.
To release, pull the brake release lever
located at the lower left side of the
instrument panel.
If you are parking your vehicle on a grade
or with a trailer, press and hold the brake
pedal down, then set the parking brake.
There may be a little vehicle movement as
the parking brake sets to hold the vehicle's
weight. This is normal and should be no
reason for concern. If needed, press and
hold the service brake pedal down, then
try reapplying the parking brake. Chock the
wheels if required. If the parking brake
cannot hold the weight of the vehicle, the
parking brake may need to be serviced or
the vehicle may be overloaded.
HILL START ASSIST
WARNINGS
The system does not replace the
parking brake. When you leave your
vehicle, always apply the parking
brake and shift the transmission into park
(P) (automatic transmission) or first gear
(1) (manual transmission). You must remain in your vehicle once
you have activated the system.
During all times, you are responsible
for controlling your vehicle,
supervising the system and
intervening, if required. If the engine is revved excessively, or
if a malfunction is detected, the
system will be deactivated. The system makes it easier to pull away
when your vehicle is on a slope without the
need to use the parking brake.
When the system is active, your vehicle will
remain stationary on the slope for two to
three seconds after you release the brake
pedal. This allows you time to move your
foot from the brake to the accelerator
pedal. The brakes release automatically
when the engine has sufficient torque to
prevent your vehicle from rolling down the
grade. This is an advantage when pulling
away on a slope, for example from a car
park ramp, traffic lights or when reversing
uphill into a parking space.
The system will activate automatically on
any slope that will cause significant vehicle
rollback. For vehicles with a manual
transmission, you can switch this feature
off using the information display.  See
Information Displays (page 111).  The
system will remain on or off depending on
how it was last set.
Note: There is no warning lamp to indicate
the system is either on or off.
Note: If your vehicle is equipped with Auto
Hold, Hill Start Assist will not be available
while Auto Hold is active.
Using Hill Start Assist
1. Bring your vehicle to a complete standstill. Keep the brake pedal
pressed and select an uphill gear (for
example, first (1) when facing uphill or
reverse (R) when facing downhill).
2. If the sensors detect that your vehicle is on a slope, the system will activate
automatically.
3. When you remove your foot from the brake pedal, your vehicle will remain
on the slope without rolling away for
about two or three seconds. This hold
time will automatically be extended if
you are in the process of driving off.
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							4. Drive off in the normal manner. The
brakes will release automatically.
Switching the System On and Off
You can switch this feature on or off if your
vehicle is equipped with a manual
transmission and an information display.
See General Information (page 111).  The
system remembers the last setting when
you start your vehicle.
If your vehicle is not equipped with a
manual transmission and an information
display, you cannot turn the system on or
off. When you switch the ignition on, the
system automatically turns on.
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							PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
The traction control system helps avoid
drive wheel spin and loss of traction.
If your vehicle begins to slide, the system
applies the brakes to individual wheels
and, when needed, reduces engine power
at the same time. If the wheels spin when
accelerating on slippery or loose surfaces,
the system reduces engine power in order
to increase traction.
USING TRACTION CONTROL
WARNING
The stability and traction control
light illuminates steadily if the
system detects a failure. Make sure
you did not manually disable the traction
control system using the information
display controls or the switch. If the
stability control and traction control light
is still illuminating steadily, have the
system serviced by an authorized dealer
immediately. Operating your vehicle with
the traction control disabled could lead to
an increased risk of loss of vehicle control,
vehicle rollover, personal injury and death. The system automatically turns on each
time you switch the ignition on.
If your vehicle is stuck in mud or snow,
switching traction control off may be
beneficial as this allows the wheels to spin.
Note:
When you switch traction control off,
stability control remains fully active.
Note: For additional information on the
traction and stability control systems.  See
Using Stability Control (page 227).
Switching the System Off
When you switch the system off or on, a
message appears in the information
display showing system status. Use the traction and stability control
switch on the instrument panel to switch
the system off or on.
The switch illuminates when traction
control is off.
When you place your vehicle into
four-wheel drive low mode the traction
control disables. Traction control resumes
full operation when you put your vehicle
back into two-wheel drive mode.
System Indicator Lights and
Messages
The stability and traction control
light:
• Temporarily illuminates on engine
start-up.
• Flashes when a driving condition
activates either of the systems.
• Illuminates if a problem occurs in either
of the systems. The stability and traction control
off light temporarily illuminates
on engine start-up and stays on
when you switch the traction control
system off.
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							PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
WARNINGS
Vehicle modifications involving
braking system, aftermarket roof
racks, suspension, steering system,
tire construction and wheel and tire size
may change the handling characteristics
of your vehicle and may adversely affect
the performance of the electronic stability
control system. In addition, installing any
stereo loudspeakers may interfere with
and adversely affect the electronic stability
control system. Install any aftermarket
stereo loudspeaker as far as possible from
the front center console, the tunnel, and
the front seats in order to minimize the risk
of interfering with the electronic stability
control sensors. Reducing the
effectiveness of the electronic stability
control system could lead to an increased
risk of loss of vehicle control, vehicle
rollover, personal injury and death. Remember that even advanced
technology cannot defy the laws of
physics. It’
s always possible to lose
control of a vehicle due to inappropriate
driver input for the conditions. Aggressive
driving on any road condition can cause
you to lose control of your vehicle
increasing the risk of personal injury or
property damage. Activation of the
electronic stability control system is an
indication that at least some of the tires
have exceeded their ability to grip the road;
this could reduce the operator ’s ability to
control the vehicle potentially resulting in
a loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover,
personal injury and death. If your electronic
stability control system activates, SLOW
DOWN. The system automatically turns on each
time you switch the ignition on. If a fault occurs in either the stability
control or the traction control system, you
may experience the following conditions:
•
The stability and traction control light
illuminates steadily.
• The stability control and traction
control systems do not enhance your
vehicle's ability to maintain traction of
the wheels.
• The Adaptive Steering system (if
equipped) automatically changes the
steering function to a fixed steering
ratio.  See Steering (page 256).
If a driving condition activates either the
stability control or the traction control
system you may experience the following
conditions:
• The stability and traction control light
flashes.
• Your vehicle slows down.
• Reduced engine power.
• A vibration in the brake pedal.
• The brake pedal is stiffer than usual.
• If the driving condition is severe and
your foot is not on the brake, the brake
pedal may move as the system applies
higher brake force.
The stability control system has several
features built into it to help you maintain
control of your vehicle:
Electronic Stability Control
The system enhances your vehicle ’s ability
to prevent skids or lateral slides by
applying brakes to one or more of the
wheels individually and, if necessary,
reducing engine power.
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							Roll Stability Control
The system enhances your vehicle
’s ability
to prevent rollovers by detecting your
vehicle ’s roll motion and the rate at which
it changes by applying the brakes to one
or more wheels individually.
Traction Control
The system enhances your vehicle ’s ability
to maintain traction of the wheels by
detecting and controlling wheel spin. See
Using Traction Control (page 225). Vehicle without stability control
skidding off its intended route.
A
Vehicle with stability control
maintaining control on a slippery
surface.
B USING STABILITY CONTROL
AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability
Control
™ (RSC®)
The system automatically turns on each
time you switch the ignition on.
The electronic stability control and roll
stability control portions of the system can
be turned off.
When you shift the transmission into
reverse R, the systems disable. Use the traction and stability
control switch on the instrument
panel to switch the systems off
or on.
You can switch the traction control portion
of the system off independently.
If you cannot turn the systems off, see the
MyKey chapter for more information.
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AA
B
BB
B E130458