automatic transmission FORD F250 1998 Owners Manual

reduce your ability to see
through your windshield. Also,
avoid placing small objects on
top of your instrument panel.
These objects can fall down into
the defroster outlets and block
airflow and possibly damage
your climate control system.
POSITIONS OF THE IGNITION
1. ACCESSORY, allows the
electrical accessories such as the
radio to operate while the engine
is not running.
2. LOCK, locks the steering wheel,
automatic transmission gearshift
lever and allows key removal.
3. OFF, shuts off the engine and all
accessories without locking the
steering wheel.
4. ON, all electrical circuits
operational. Warning lights
illuminated. Key position when
driving.
5. START, cranks the engine.
Release the key as soon as the
engine starts.
TURN SIGNAL CONTROL
²Push down to activate the left
turn signal.
²Push up to activate the right
turn signal.
1
23
4
5
Controls and features
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The overdrive function allows
automatic upshifts to second, third
and forth gear.
Deactivating overdrive
Press the transmission control at
the end of the gearshift lever. The
transmission control indicator light
TCIL (OFF) will illuminate on the
end of the gearshift lever
The transmission will operate in
gears one through three. To return
to normal overdrive mode, press
the transmission control again. The
TCIL (OFF) will no longer be
illuminated.
When you shut off and re-start
your vehicle, the transmission will
automatically return to normal
(Overdrive) mode.
INTERIOR LAMPS
Map lamps (if equipped)
The map lamps and controls are
located on the dome lamp. Press
the controls on either side of each
map lamp to activate the lamps.
OVERDRIVE
OVERDRIVEOFF
Controls and features
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Do not start your vehicle
in a closed garage or in
other enclosed areas. Exhaust
fumes can be toxic. Always open
the garage door before you start
the engine. SeeGuarding
against exhaust fumesin this
chapter for more instructions.
If you smell exhaust fumes
inside your vehicle, have
your dealer inspect your vehicle
immediately. Do not drive if you
smell exhaust fumes.
Important safety precautions
A computer system controls the
engine's idle revolutions per
minute (RPM). When the engine
starts, the idle RPM runs faster to
warm the engine. If the engine idle
speed does not slow down
automatically, have the vehicle
checked. Do not allow the vehicle
to idle for more than ten minutes.
Before starting the vehicle:
1. Make sure all vehicle occupants
have buckled their safety belts. For
more information on safety belts
and their proper usage, refer to
theSeating and safety restraints
chapter.
2. Make sure the headlamps and
vehicle accessories are off.
If starting a vehicle with an
automatic transmission:
Starting
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there is sufficient space, will
enable you to avoid obstacles
and bring the vehicle to a
controlled stop.
²We recommend that you
familiarize yourself with this
braking technique. However,
avoid taking any unnecessary
risks.
Parking brake
Apply the parking brake whenever
the vehicle is parked. To set the
parking brake, press the parking
brake pedal down until the pedal
stops.
The BRAKE warning lamp in the
instrument cluster illuminates and
remains illuminated (when the
ignition is turned ON) until the
parking brake is released.
Always set the parking
brake fully and make sure
that the gearshift is securely
latched in P (Park) (automatic
transmission) or in 1 (First)
(manual transmission).
BRAKE
HOOD
!
BRAKE
Driving
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The air suspension shut-off switch
is located behind an access panel
underneath the passenger side
instrument panel.
On vehicles equipped with
Air Suspension, turn OFF
the Air Suspension switch prior
to jacking, hoisting or towing
your vehicle.
Normal vehicle operation does not
require any action by the driver.
TRANSMISSION OPERATION
Automatic transmission
operation
Brake-shift interlock
This vehicle is equipped with a
brake-shift interlock feature that
prevents the gearshift from being
moved from P (Park) unless the
brake pedal is depressed.
If you cannot move the gearshift
out of P (Park) with the brake
pedal depressed:
1. Apply the parking brake, turn
ignition key to LOCK, then remove
the key.
2. Insert the key and turn it to
OFF. Apply the brake pedal and
shift to N (Neutral).
3. Start the vehicle.
If it is necessary to use the above
procedure to move the gearshift, it
AIR SUSPENSION
SWITCH
INTERRUPTEUR DE
LA SUSPENSION
PNEUMATIQUE
OFF
Driving
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is possible that a fuse has blown
and the vehicle's brakelamps may
not be operating properly. Refer to
Fuses and relaysin theRoadside
emergencieschapter.
Do not drive your vehicle
until you verify that the
brakelamps are working.
If your vehicle gets stuck in mud
or snow it may be rocked out by
shifting from forward and reverse
gears in a steady pattern. Press
lightly on the accelerator in each
gear.
Do not rock the vehicle for
more than a few minutes. The
transmission and tires may be
damaged or the engine may
overheat.
Always set the parking
brake fully and make sure
the gearshift is latched in P
(Park). Turn off the ignition
whenever you leave your vehicle.
Driving with a 4±speed
automatic transmission
Understanding gearshift
positions
Pull the gearshift lever towards
you and downward to move the
automatic gearshift.
Driving
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control switch on the end of the
gearshift lever.
The transmission control indicator
light (TCIL) (the word OFF) on
the end of the gearshift lever will
illuminate.
Drive± Not shown on the display.
Activate by pressing the
transmission control switch on the
end of the gearshift lever with the
gearshift in the
position. The
TCIL (the word OFF) will
illuminate on the gearshift lever.
Transmission operates in gears one
through three.
(Drive) provides
more engine braking than
(Overdrive) and is useful when:
²driving with a heavy load
²towing a trailer up or down
steep hills
²additional engine downhill
braking is desired. If towing a
trailer, refer toDriving while
you towin theTowing a trailer
chapter.
To return to
(Overdrive) mode,
press the transmission control
switch. The TCIL (the word OFF)
will no longer be illuminated.
Each time the vehicle is started,
the transmission will automatically
return to normal overdrive mode.
Every time the vehicle is shut off
and restarted, you must press the
transmission control switch to
cancel overdrive operation if
driving in overdrive is not desired.
OVERDRIVE
Driving
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2. Place the gearshift lever in N
(Neutral) (automatic transmission)
or depress the clutch (manual
transmission).
3. Pull the transfer case shift lever
through N (Neutral) directly to 4H
(4WD High) or 4L (4WD Low).
Shifting from N (Neutral) to 4H
(4WD High) or 4L (4WD Low)
With the transfer case in N
(Neutral) the vehicle is free to
move with either the automatic
transmission in P (Park) or with
the manual transmission in any
gear.
1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Depress the brake.
3. Place the gearshift in N
(Neutral) (automatic transmission)
or depress the clutch (manual
transmission).
4. Place the transfer case lever in
the desired gear.
Using the N (Neutral) position
The transfer case neutral
position overrides the
2H
4H
4L N
2H
4H
4L N
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Shifting from 2H (2WD high) to
4H (4WD High)
Move the 4WD control to the 4H at
a stop or up to 88 km/h (55 mph).
At temperatures below 0ÉC (32ÉF),
shifts from 2H to 4H should not be
performed above 72 km/h (45
mph).
²Do not shift into 4H with the
rear wheels slipping.
Shifting from 4H (4WD high) to
2H (2WD high)
Move the 4WD control to 2H at
any forward speed.
Shifting between 4H (4WD high)
and 4L (4WD low)
1. Bring the vehicle to a stop.
2. Depress the brake.
3. Place the gearshift in N
(Neutral) (automatic transmission)
or depress the clutch (manual
transmission).
4H
2H
4L
4H
2H
4L
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hill before driving over the crest.
When climbing a steep hill, start in
a lower gear rather than
downshifting to a lower gear from
a higher gear once the ascent has
started. This reduces strain on the
engine and the possibility of
stalling.
When descending a steep hill,
avoid sudden braking. Rapid
pumping of the brake pedal will
help slow the vehicle and still
maintain steering control.
When speed control is on and you
are driving uphill, your vehicle
speed may drop considerably,
especially if you are carrying a
heavy load.
If vehicle speed drops more than
15±25 km/h (8±14 mph), the speed
control will cancel automatically.
Resume speed with accelerator
pedal.
If speed control cancels after
climbing the hill, reset speed by
pressing and holding the SET
ACCEL button (to resume speeds
over 50 km/h (30 mph).
Automatic transmission may shift
frequently while driving up steep
grades. Eliminate frequent shifting
by shifting out of
D(Overdrive)
into D (Drive).
Driving on snow and ice
A 4WD vehicle has advantages
over 2WD vehicles in snow and ice
but can skid like any other vehicle.
Driving
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