FORD F150 1997 10.G Owners Manual

braking technique. However,
avoid taking any unnecessary
risks.
Parking brake
The parking brake should be used
whenever you park your vehicle. It
is not designed to stop a moving
vehicle. However, if the normal
brakes fail, the parking brake can
be used to stop your vehicle in an
emergency. Since the parking
brake applies only the rear brakes,
the vehicle's stopping distance will
increase greatly and the handling
of your vehicle will be adversely
affected.
Setting the parking brake
The!BRAKElight in the instrument
cluster will illuminate and remain
illuminated (when the ignition
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switch is turned to On) until the
parking brake is released.
²Automatic and manual
transmissions ± Fully depress
the parking brake pedal.
When you leave your
vehicle, place the gearshift
lever in P (Park). Set the
parking brake fully, and shut off
the engine. Never park your
vehicle in N (Neutral). If you do
not take these precautions, your
vehicle may move suddenly and
injure someone.
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
driving gear.
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Do not leave the vehicle
unattended with the
transfer case in the N (Neutral)
position. Always set the parking
brake fully and turn off the
ignition when leaving the vehicle.
Releasing parking brake
Pull the BRAKE lever forward.
If the parking brake is fully
released, but the Brake
System light remains on, have
the brakes checked immediately.
They may not be working
properly.
TRACTION LOKTREAR AXLE
(IF EQUIPPED)
This axle provides added drive
away traction on slippery surfaces,
BRAKE
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particularly when one or more
wheels are on a surface with poor
traction.
AIR SUSPENSION (IF
EQUIPPED)
The air suspension system for the
rear wheels is designed to keep
your vehicle at a constant level by
adding or releasing air from the
rear springs to compensate for
increases or decreases in vehicle
load.
Normal vehicle operation does not
require any action by the driver.
The air suspension switch is
located behind an access panel
underneath the passenger side
instrument panel.
Press the air suspension switch to
OFF when jacking or hoisting your
vehicle.
On vehicles equipped with
Air Suspension, turn OFF
the Air Suspension switch prior
to jacking, hoisting or towing
your vehicle.
OFF
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TRANSMISSION OPERATION
Automatic transmission
operation (if equipped)
Hold the brake pedal down
while you move the
gearshift lever from position to
position. If you do not hold the
brake pedal down, your vehicle
may move unexpectedly and
injure someone.
Pull the gearshift lever towards
you and downward to move the
automatic gearshift.
P (Park)± Always come to a
complete stop before shifting into
or out of P (Park).
When you leave your
vehicle, place the gearshift
lever in P (Park). Set the
parking brake fully, and shut off
the engine. Never park your
vehicle in N (Neutral). If you do
not take these precautions, your
vehicle may move suddenly and
injure someone.
R (Reverse)± Always come to a
complete stop before shifting into
or out of R (Reverse).
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N (Neutral)± Vehicle is free to
roll.
D(Overdrive)± The normal
driving position for the best fuel
economy. Transmission operates in
gears one through four.
D(Overdrive) can be deactivated
by pressing the transmission
control switch on the end of the
gearshift lever. The transmission
control indicator light (TCIL)
(OFF) on the end of the gearshift
lever will remain off.
D (Drive)± Not shown on the
display. Activate by pressing the
transmission control switch on the
end of the gearshift lever. The
TCIL (OFF) will illuminate on the
gearshift lever. Transmission
operates in gears one through
three. D (Drive) provides more
engine braking than
D(Overdrive) and is useful
whenever driving conditions (i.e.,
city traffic, hilly terrain, etc.) cause
the transmission to excessively
shift between
D(Overdrive) and
D (Drive). Also deactivate
D(Overdrive) when:
²driving with a heavy load
²towing a trailer up or down
steep hills
²additional engine braking is
desired.
To return to
D(Overdrive)
mode, press the transmission
control switch. The TCIL (OFF)
will no longer be illuminated.
OVERDRIVE OFF
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Each time the vehicle is started,
the transmission will automatically
return to normal overdrive mode.
2 (Second)± Use 2 (Second) to
start-up on slippery roads or to
provide additional engine braking
on downgrades. Transmission
operates in first and second gears.
1 (Low)± Use 1 (Low) to provide
maximum engine braking on steep
downgrades. Upshifts can be made
by shifting to 2 (Second) or to
D(Overdrive). Selecting 1 (Low)
at higher speeds causes a shift to 2
(Second), and will shift to 1 (Low)
after vehicle decelerates to the
proper speed.
Brake-shift interlock
The brake-shift interlock feature
prevents you from shifting from P
(Park) unless the brake pedal is
depressed (with the ignition in the
On position). If you cannot move
the gearshift out of P (Park) with
the brake pedal depressed:
1. Turn ignition key to Off.
3
2
1
5
4
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2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Turn ignition key to Lock and
remove the key.
4. Re-insert the ignition key and
turn it to Off.
5. Shift the transmission to N
(Neutral).
6. Start the vehicle.
If you need to use the above
procedure, it is possible that a fuse
has blown and your brakelamps
may not be functioning. Refer to
theRoadside emergencies
chapter for instructions on
replacing fuses.
Do not drive your vehicle
until you verify that the
brakelamps are working.
Manual transmission operation
(if equipped)
Using the clutch
Vehicles equipped with a manual
transmission have a starter
interlock that prevents cranking
the engine unless the clutch pedal
is fully depressed.
3
2
1
5
4
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When starting a vehicle with a
manual transmission, you must:
1. Put gearshift in N (Neutral).
2. Hold down brake pedal.
1
24R3D
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3. Depress clutch pedal.
4. Turn ignition key to Start to
start the engine and let it idle for a
few seconds.
5. Release the brake pedal.
6. Release clutch slowly while
pressing down slowly on the
accelerator pedal.
²Do not drive with your foot
resting on the clutch pedal and
do not use the clutch to hold
your vehicle at a standstill while
waiting on a hill. These actions
will seriously reduce clutch life.
Recommended shift speeds
Upshift and downshift according to
the following charts for your
specific engine/drivetrain
combination:
34
5
2
1
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