check engine FORD F-150 2021 Owner's Manual
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Driving without refilling, replacing
contaminated diesel exhaust fluid, or
having the selective catalytic reduction
system repaired results in the following
actions as required by the California Air
Resources Board (CARB) and the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):
•
Within a preset distance to empty,
speed is limited upon vehicle restart.
Prior to this occurring a message
appears in the information display.
• Further vehicle operation without
refilling or replacing contaminated
diesel exhaust fluid causes the engine
to enter an idle-only condition. This
only occurs upon vehicle refueling,
vehicle idling in park for 1 hour, or
engine shutdown for 10 minutes or
more and is indicated by a message in
the information display indicating
required actions to resume normal
operation. It is required to add a
minimum of 1.0 gal (3.8 L) of diesel
exhaust fluid to the tank to exit the
idle-only condition, but your vehicle is
still in the speed-limiting mode until
you refill the tank completely.
Note: For vehicle speed limiting or idle-only
condition, normal vehicle operation resumes
when you refill the diesel exhaust fluid tank
or repair the contaminated system. If the
system is contaminated or inoperative, have
your vehicle checked as soon as possible. SELECTIVE CATALYTIC
REDUCTION SYSTEM
REQUIREMENTS Only use diesel exhaust fluid that is
certified by the American Petroleum
Institute (API).
You can purchase diesel exhaust fluid at
an authorized dealer, or contact roadside
assistance for help in finding a retailer that
sells diesel exhaust fluid.
Note:
Non-certified diesel exhaust fluid use
can cause damage that your Warranty may
not cover
SELECTIVE CATALYTIC
REDUCTION SYSTEM
GUIDELINES
• Diesel exhaust fluid is non-flammable,
non-toxic, colorless and water-soluble
liquid.
• In order for the system to operate
correctly you must maintain the diesel
exhaust fluid level.
• Do not overfill the diesel exhaust fluid
tank.
• Diesel exhaust fluid is corrosive.
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Action
Message
The diesel exhaust fluid is empty. You must replenish thediesel exhaust fluid to resume normal operation of your
vehicle. See Diesel Exhaust Fluid Capacity and Specific- ation (page 277).
DEF Level Low Speed
Limited to XX MPH/km/ h
The selective catalytic reduction system detects low exhaustfluid. The engine will eventually enter into an idle only mode.
You must replenish the diesel exhaust fluid to resume normal operation of your vehicle. See
Diesel Exhaust Fluid Capa-
city and Specification (page 277).
DEF Level Empty Engine
Idled Soon
The vehicle will enter into an idle only mode. You must
replenish the diesel exhaust fluid to resume normal operation of your vehicle. See
Diesel Exhaust Fluid Capacity and
Specification (page 277).
DEF Level Empty Engine
Idled See Manual
The selective catalytic reduction system detects a fault. Thevehicle ’s top speed will become limited in the displayed
distance and count down from this point. Have your vehicle checked as soon as possible.
DEF Fault Speed Limited
to XX MPH/km/h in XX mi/km
The selective catalytic reduction system detects a fault. The
vehicle ’s top speed will become limited upon restarting. Have
your vehicle checked as soon as possible.
DEF Fault Speed Limited
to XX MPH/km/h Upon Restart
The selective catalytic reduction system detects a fault. Thevehicle ’s top speed is limited. Have your vehicle checked as
soon as possible.
DEF Fault Speed Limited
to XX MPH/km/h
The selective catalytic reduction system detects a fault. The
engine will eventually enter into an idle only mode. Have your vehicle checked as soon as possible.
DEF Fault Engine Idled
Soon
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WHAT IS THE CATALYTIC
CONVERTER
The catalytic converter is part of your
vehicle's emissions system and filters
harmful pollutants from the exhaust gas.
CATALYTIC CONVERTER
PRECAUTIONS
WARNING: Do not park, idle or
drive your vehicle on dry grass or other
dry ground cover. The emission system
heats up the engine compartment and
exhaust system, creating the risk of fire. WARNING:
The normal operating
temperature of the exhaust system is
very high. Never work around or attempt
to repair any part of the exhaust system
until it has cooled. Use special care when
working around the catalytic converter.
The catalytic converter heats up to a very
high temperature after only a short
period of engine operation and stays hot
after the engine is switched off. WARNING:
Exhaust leaks may
result in entry of harmful and potentially
lethal fumes into the passenger
compartment. If you smell exhaust
fumes inside your vehicle, have your
vehicle inspected immediately. Do not
drive if you smell exhaust fumes.
To avoid damaging the catalytic converter:
• Do not crank the engine for more than
10 seconds at a time.
• Do not run the engine with a spark plug
lead disconnected.
• Do not push-start or tow-start your
vehicle. Use booster cables. See Jump
Starting the Vehicle
(page 486). •
Use the correct fuel.
See Fuel and
Refueling (page 255).
• Do not switch the ignition off when your
vehicle is moving.
• Avoid running out of fuel.
• Have the items listed in scheduled
maintenance information performed
according to the specified schedule.
Note: Do not make any unauthorized
changes to your vehicle or engine. By law,
vehicle owners and anyone who
manufactures, repairs, or services a fleet of
vehicles are not permitted to intentionally
remove an emission control device or
prevent it from working.
CATALYTIC CONVERTER –
TROUBLESHOOTING
CATALYTIC CONVERTER –
WARNING LAMPS
Your vehicle has an on-board diagnostics
system that monitors the emission control
system. If any of the following warning
lamps illuminate, this may indicate that
the on-board diagnostics system has
detected an emission control system
malfunction. Continuing to drive your vehicle may cause
reduced power or the engine to stop.
Failure to respond to a warning lamp may
cause damage that your vehicle Warranty
may not cover. Have your vehicle checked
as soon as possible.
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Note:
Do not store objects in the selector
lever stow bin, and be sure that the bottom
selector lever tray mat is flat inside the
selector lever stow bin.
Note: If there are objects in the stow bin
while stowing the selector lever, the selector
lever could come back to the upright park
(P) position.
MANUAL PARK RELEASE
WHAT IS MANUAL PARK RELEASE
Manual park release allows you to move
your transmission out of the park (P)
position in the event of an electrical
malfunction or emergency.
MANUAL PARK RELEASE
PRECAUTIONS WARNING: When doing this
procedure, you need to take the
transmission out of park (P) which
means your vehicle can roll freely. To
avoid unwanted vehicle movement,
always fully apply the parking brake prior
to doing this procedure. Use wheels
chocks if appropriate. WARNING:
If the parking brake is
fully released, but the brake warning
lamp remains illuminated, the brakes
may not be working properly. Have your
vehicle checked as soon as possible. WARNING:
Do not drive your
vehicle until you verify that the
stoplamps are working.
Use the manual park release to move your
transmission from the park (P) position in
the event of an electrical malfunction or
emergency. See
Emergency Towing
(page 492).
Note: Do not engage the manual park
release with the engine on.
USING MANUAL PARK RELEASE
Activating the Manual Park
Release Cable
1. Apply the parking brake. See Electric
Parking Brake
(page 311).
Note: If vehicle battery is dead, for example,
no electrical power available, an external
power source may be required to apply the
parking brake.
2. Locate the manual park release cable access cover at the bottom of the
driver dash lower panel, under the
steering wheel.
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BRAKE PRECAUTIONS
WARNING: Driving your vehicle
with the warning lamp on is dangerous.
A significant decrease in braking
performance may occur. It may take you
longer to stop your vehicle. Have your
vehicle checked as soon as possible.
Driving extended distances with the
parking brake engaged can cause brake
failure and the risk of personal injury.
Wet brakes result in reduced braking
efficiency. Gently press the brake pedal a
few times when leaving a car wash or
driving from standing water to dry the
brakes.
Note: Depending on applicable laws and
regulations in the country for which your
vehicle was originally built, the stoplamps
could flash during heavy braking. Following
this the hazard warning flashers could also
turn on when your vehicle comes to a stop.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM
ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM
LIMITATIONS
The anti-lock braking system does not
eliminate the risk of crash 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.
Note: If the system activates, the brake
pedal could pulse and travel further.
Maintain pressure on the brake pedal. BRAKE OVER ACCELERATOR
- RAPTOR
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.
Note:
Certain drive modes can disable
brake over accelerator for off-road driving.
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.
LOCATING THE BRAKE FLUID
RESERVOIR
See
Under Hood Overview (page 504).
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WHAT IS HILL START ASSIST
Hill Start Assist makes it easier for you to
pull away when your vehicle is on a slope
without using the parking brake.
HOW DOES HILL START
ASSIST WORK
When the system activates, your vehicle
remains stationary for a few seconds after
you release the brake pedal. This gives you
time to move your foot from the brake
pedal to the accelerator pedal. The brakes
release when the engine has developed
sufficient torque to prevent your vehicle
from rolling down the slope.
HILL START ASSIST
PRECAUTIONS
WARNING: The system does not
replace the parking brake. When you
leave your vehicle, always apply the
parking brake. WARNING:
You must remain in
your vehicle when the system turns on.
At all times, you are responsible for
controlling your vehicle, supervising the
system and intervening, if required.
Failure to take care may result in the loss
of control of your vehicle, serious
personal injury or death. WARNING:
The system will turn
off if a malfunction is apparent. Failure
to take care may result in the loss of
control of your vehicle, serious personal
injury or death. HILL START ASSIST –
TROUBLESHOOTING
HILL START ASSIST –
INFORMATION MESSAGES Action
Message
Displays when
system is not avail- able. Have your
vehicle checked as soon as possible.
Hill Start Assist Not
Available
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WHAT IS TRACTION CONTROL
The traction control system helps to avoid
drive wheel spin and loss of traction.
HOW DOES TRACTION
CONTROL WORK
If your wheels begin to spin, the loss of
traction can compromise steering control
and stability of the vehicle. The traction
control system applies the brakes to
individual wheels and when needed,
reduces engine power at the same time to
increase traction.
SWITCHING TRACTION
CONTROL ON AND OFF
WARNING: 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 traction control system turns on each
time you switch the ignition on.
The button for the stability and traction
control system is on the instrument panel. Press and release the button to switch
traction control off. The stability control
system remains fully active, to switch it off,
press and hold the button for a few
seconds, then release.
When you switch traction control off, a
message and an illuminated icon appear
on the instrument cluster.
Press the switch again to turn the traction
control system back on to normal
operation.
If your vehicle is stuck in mud or snow,
switching traction control off may be
beneficial as this allows the wheels to spin.
Your vehicle may have MyKey restrictions
regarding this feature. See
What Is
MyKey (page 98).
TRACTION CONTROL
INDICATOR
Stability and Traction Control
Indicator If the indicator does not
illuminate when you switch the
ignition on, or remains on when
the engine is running, this indicates a
malfunction. Have your vehicle checked
by an authorized dealer as soon as
possible. The traction control off indicator
illuminates when you switch the
traction control system off, or
when an alternative stability control mode
is selected that requires the traction
control off depending on the drive mode
selected.
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PICKUP BED PRECAUTIONS
WARNING: Do not allow people or
animals in truck beds that have
modifications, such as bed covers or
slide-in campers, when the engine is
running. Exhaust fumes are toxic. Failure
to follow this instruction could result in
personal injury or death. WARNING: It is extremely
dangerous to ride in a cargo area, inside
or outside of a vehicle. In a crash, 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
seatbelts. Make sure everyone in your
vehicle is in a seat and properly using a
seatbelt. Failure to follow this warning
could result in serious personal injury or
death.
PICKUP BED ANCHOR POINTS
PICKUP BED ANCHOR POINT
PRECAUTIONS WARNING: Always properly secure
cargo to prevent shifting cargo or cargo
falling from the vehicle. Failure to do so
could result in compromised vehicle
stability and serious personal injury to
vehicle occupants or others. WARNING:
The appropriate
loading capacity of your vehicle can be
limited either by volume capacity (how
much space is available) or by payload
capacity (how much weight the vehicle
should carry). Once you have reached the maximum payload of your vehicle,
do not add more cargo, even if there is
space available. Overloading or
improperly loading your vehicle can
contribute to loss of vehicle control and
vehicle rollover.
WARNING:
It is extremely
dangerous to ride in a cargo area, inside
or outside of a vehicle. In a crash, 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
seatbelts. Make sure everyone in your
vehicle is in a seat and properly using a
seatbelt. Failure to follow this warning
could result in serious personal injury or
death. WARNING:
Do not use the load
retaining fixtures for towing. Failure to
follow this instruction could result in
personal injury. WARNING:
Do not exceed the
maximum load rating of the load
retaining fixtures. Failure to follow this
instruction could result in personal injury. WARNING:
Check the load
retaining fixtures for damage before
using them. Failure to follow this
instruction could result in personal injury.
LOCATING THE PICKUP BED
ANCHOR POINTS
The pickup bed anchor points are located
at each corner of the pickup bed.
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Certain states require functioning trailer
brakes for trailers over a specified weight.
Be sure to check state regulations for this
specified weight.
Ford Motor Company recommends
separate functioning brake systems for
trailers weighing more than 1,500 lb
(680 kg) when loaded.
TOWING A TRAILER
LIMITATIONS
The vehicle's load capacity
designation is by weight, not by
volume, so you cannot necessarily
use all available space when
loading a vehicle or trailer.
Note: Your vehicle could have
reduced performance when
operating at high altitudes and
when heavily loaded or towing a
trailer. When driving at elevation,
to match driving performance as
perceived at sea level, reduce gross
vehicle weight and gross
combination weight by 2% per
1,000 ft (300 m)
elevation.
LOADING YOUR TRAILER
To help minimize how trailer
movement affects your vehicle
when driving:
• Load the heaviest items closest
to the trailer floor.
• Load the heaviest items
centered between the left and
right side trailer tires. •
Load the heaviest items above
the trailer axles or just slightly
forward toward the trailer
tongue. Do not allow the final
trailer tongue weight to go
above or below 10-15% of the
loaded trailer weight. The
trailer tongue weight should
never exceed 10% of the
maximum towing capacity.
• Select a ball mount with the
correct rise or drop. When both
the loaded vehicle and trailer
are connected, the trailer frame
should be level, or slightly
angled down toward your
vehicle, when viewed from the
side.
TRAILER TOWING HINTS
Towing a trailer places an extra load on
your vehicle's engine, transmission, axle,
brakes, tires and suspension. Periodically
inspect these components during and after
any towing operation.
When driving with a trailer or payload, a
slight takeoff vibration or shudder may be
present due to the increased payload
weight.
Your vehicle may have a temporary or
conventional spare tire. A temporary spare
tire is different in diameter or width,
tread-type, or is from a different
manufacturer than the road tires on your
vehicle. Consult information on the tire
label or Safety Compliance label for
limitations when using.
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When towing a trailer:
•
Obey country specific regulations for
towing a trailer.
• Do not drive faster than 70 mph
(113 km/h) during the first 500 mi
(800 km).
• Do not make full-throttle starts.
• Check your hitch, electrical connections
and trailer wheel lug nuts thoroughly
after you have traveled 50 mi (80 km).
• When stopped in congested or heavy
traffic during hot weather, place the
transmission in park (P) to aid engine
and transmission cooling and to help
A/C performance.
• Turn off the speed control with heavy
loads or in hilly terrain. The speed
control may turn off when you are
towing on long, steep slopes.
• Shift to a lower gear when driving down
a long or steep hill. Do not continuously
apply the brakes, as they may overheat
and become less effective.
• If your transmission has Grade Assist
or Tow/Haul, use this feature when
towing. This provides engine braking
and helps eliminate excessive
transmission shifting for optimum fuel
economy and transmission cooling.
• Your vehicle has AdvanceTrac with roll
stability control. When towing a trailer,
additional loads could cause the
AdvanceTrac system to engage during
cornering maneuvers. Reduce cornering
speeds to make sure that you can
maintain control of the vehicle and
trailer if the AdvanceTrac system
engages. •
Allow more distance for stopping with
a trailer attached. Anticipate stops and
gradually brake.
• Avoid parking on a slope. However, if
you must park on a slope, turn the
steering wheel to point your vehicle
tires away from traffic flow, set the
parking brake, place the transmission
in park (P) and place wheel chocks in
front and back of the trailer wheels.
Note: Chocks are not included with your
vehicle.
LAUNCHING OR RETRIEVING
A BOAT OR PERSONAL
WATERCRAFT
When backing down a ramp during boat
launching or retrieval:
• Do not allow the static water level to
rise above the bottom edge of the rear
bumper.
• Do not allow waves to break higher
than
6 in (15 cm) above the bottom
edge of the rear bumper.
Exceeding
6 in (15 cm) could allow water
to enter vehicle components, causing
internal damage to the components and
affecting driveability, emissions and
reliability.
Note: Replace the rear axle lubricant
anytime the rear axle has been submerged
in water.
Note: Disconnect the trailer wiring
connector before backing the trailer into the
water.
Note: Reconnect the trailer wiring
connector after removing the trailer from
the water.
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