warning FORD E SERIES 2024 Manual Online

TOWING A TRAILER
WARNING: Do not exceedthe GVWR or the GAWRspecified on the certificationlabel.
WARNING: Towing trailersbeyond the maximumrecommended gross trailerweight exceeds the limit of yourvehicle and could result in enginedamage, transmission damage,structural damage, loss ofvehicle control, vehicle rolloverand personal injury.
Your vehicle may have electricalitems, for example fuses or relays,related to towing. See Fuses(page 150).
Your vehicle's load capacitydesignation is by weight, not byvolume, so you cannot necessarilyuse all available space whenloading your vehicle.
Towing a trailer places an extraload on your vehicle's engine,transmission, axle, brakes, tiresand suspension. Inspect thesecomponents periodically during,and after, any towing operation.
Load Placement
To help minimize how trailermovement affects your vehiclewhen driving:
•Load the heaviest items closestto the trailer floor.
•Load the heaviest itemscentered between the left andright side trailer tires.
•Load the heaviest items abovethe trailer axles or just slightlyforward toward the trailertongue. Do not allow the finaltrailer tongue weight to goabove or below 10-15% of theloaded trailer weight.
•Select a draw bar with thecorrect rise or drop. When boththe loaded vehicle and trailerare connected, the trailer frameshould be level, or slightlyangled down toward yourvehicle, when viewed from theside.
When driving with a trailer orpayload, a slight takeoff vibrationor shudder may be present due tothe increased payload weight.Additional information regardingcorrect trailer loading and settingyour vehicle up for towing islocated in another chapter of thisOwner's Manual. See Load Limit(page 122). You can also find theinformation in the RV & TrailerTowing Guide. See an authorizeddealer.
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ESSENTIAL TOWING CHECKS
Follow these guidelines for safe towing:
•Do not tow a trailer until you drive yourvehicle at least 1,000 mi (1,600 km).
•Consult your local motor vehicle lawsfor towing a trailer.
•See the instructions included withtowing accessories for the properinstallation and adjustmentspecifications.
•Service your vehicle more frequently ifyou tow a trailer. See your scheduledmaintenance information. SeeScheduled Maintenance (page 249).
•If you use a rental trailer, follow theinstructions the rental agency givesyou.
See Load limits in the Load Carryingchapter for load specification terms foundon the tire label and Safety Compliancelabel and instructions on calculating yourvehicle's load.
Remember to account for the trailertongue weight as part of your vehicle loadwhen calculating the total vehicle weight.
Trailer Towing Connector
When attaching the trailer wiring connectorto your vehicle, only use a proper fittingconnector that works with the vehicle andtrailer functions. Some seven-positionconnectors may have the SAE J2863 logo,which confirms that it is the proper wiringconnector and works correctly with yourvehicle.
FunctionColor
Left turn signal and stop lampYellow
Ground (-)White
Electric brakesBlue
Right turn signal and stoplampGreen
Battery (+)Orange
Running lightsBrown
Reverse lightsGrey
Hitches
Do not use a hitch that either clamps ontothe bumper or attaches to the axle. Youmust distribute the load in your trailer sothat 10-15% of the total weight of thetrailer is on the tongue.
Weight-distributing Hitches
WARNING: Do not adjust the springbars so that your vehicle's rear bumperis higher than before attaching the trailer.Doing so will defeat the function of theweight-distributing hitch, which maycause unpredictable handling, and couldresult in serious personal injury.
When connecting a trailer using aweight-distributing hitch, always use thefollowing procedure:
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1.Park the loaded vehicle, without thetrailer, on a level surface.
2.Measure the height to the top of yourvehicle's front wheel opening on thefender. This is H1.
3.Attach the loaded trailer to your vehiclewithout the weight-distributing barsconnected.
4.Measure the height to the top of yourvehicle's front wheel opening on thefender a second time. This is H2.
5.Install and adjust the tension in theweight-distributing bars so that theheight of your vehicle's front wheelopening on the fender is approximatelyhalfway down from H2, toward H1.
6.Check that the trailer is level or slightlynose down toward your vehicle. If not,adjust the ball height accordingly andrepeat Steps 2-6.
When the trailer is level or slightly nosedown toward the vehicle:
•Lock the bar tension adjuster in place.
•Check that the trailer tongue securelyattaches and locks onto the hitch.
•Install safety chains, lighting and trailerbrake controls as required by law or thetrailer manufacturer.
Safety Chains
Note:Do not attach safety chains to thebumper.
Always connect the safety chains to theframe or hook retainers of your vehiclehitch.
To connect the safety chains, cross thechains under the trailer tongue and allowenough slack for turning tight corners. Donot allow the chains to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
WARNING: Do not connect atrailer's hydraulic brake system directlyto your vehicle's brake system. Yourvehicle may not have enough brakingpower and your chances of having acollision greatly increase.
Electric brakes and manual, automatic orsurge-type trailer brakes are safe if youinstall them properly and adjust them tothe manufacturer's specifications. Thetrailer brakes must meet local and federalregulations.
The rating for the tow vehicle's brakingsystem operation is at the gross vehicleweight rating, not the gross combinedweight rating.
Separate functioning brake systemsare required for safe control of towedvehicles and trailers weighing morethan 1500 lb (680 kg) when loaded.
Integrated Trailer Brake Controller (IfEquipped)
WARNING: Use the integratedtrailer brake controller to properly adjustthe trailer brakes and check allconnections before towing a trailer.Failure to follow this instruction couldresult in the loss of control of yourvehicle, personal injury or death.
Note:The Ford trailer brake controller hasbeen verified to be compatible with trailershaving electric-actuated drum brakes (oneto four axles) and electric-over-hydraulicbrakes. It will not activate hydraulicsurge-style trailer brakes. It is theresponsibility of the customer to ensure thatthe trailer brakes are adjusted appropriately,functioning normally and all electricconnections are properly made.
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•Stoplamps: Using the manual controllever illuminates both the trailer brakelamps and your vehicle brake lampsexcept the center high mountedstoplamp, if you make the properelectrical connection to the trailer.Pressing your vehicle brake pedal alsoilluminates both trailer and vehiclebrake lamps.
Procedure for Adjusting Gain
Note:Only perform this procedure in atraffic-free environment at speeds ofapproximately 20-25 mph (30-40 km/h).
The gain setting sets the trailer brakecontroller for the specific towing condition.You should change the setting as towingconditions change. Changes to towingconditions include trailer load, vehicle load,road conditions and weather.
Set the gain to provide the maximumtrailer braking assistance while makingsure the trailer wheels do not lock whenusing the brakes. Locked trailer wheelsmay lead to trailer instability.
1.Make sure the trailer brakes are in goodworking condition, functioning normallyand properly adjusted. See your trailerdealer if necessary.
2.Connect the trailer and make theelectrical connections according to thetrailer manufacturer's instructions.
3.When you plug in a trailer with electricor electric-over-hydraulic brakes, amessage confirming connectionappears in the information display.
4.Use the gain adjustment (+ and -)buttons to increase or decrease thegain setting to the desired startingpoint. A gain setting of 6.0 is a goodstarting point for heavier loads.
5.In a traffic-free environment, tow thetrailer on a dry, level surface at a speedof 20-25 mph (30-40 km/h) andsqueeze the manual control levercompletely.
6.If the trailer wheels lock up, indicatedby squealing tires, reduce the gainsetting. If the trailer wheels turn freely,increase the gain setting. Repeat Steps5 and 6 until the gain setting is at apoint just below trailer wheel lock-up.If towing a heavier trailer, trailer wheellock-up may not be attainable evenwith the maximum gain setting of 10.
Explanation of Information DisplayWarning Messages
Note:An authorized dealer can diagnosethe trailer brake controller to determineexactly which trailer fault has occurred.However, your Ford warranty does not coverthis diagnosis if the fault is with the trailer.
A message indicating a trailer brakemodule fault may display in response tofaults sensed by the trailer brake controller,accompanied by a single tone. If thismessage appears, contact an authorizeddealer as soon as possible for diagnosisand repair. The controller may stillfunction, but performance may bedegraded.
A message indicating a trailer wiring faultmay display when there is a short circuiton the electric brake output wire. If thismessage displays, accompanied by asingle tone, with no trailer connected, theproblem is with your vehicle wiringbetween the trailer brake controller andthe 7-pin connector at the bumper. If themessage only displays with a trailerconnected, the problem is with the trailer
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wiring. Consult your trailer dealer forassistance. This can be a short to ground(such as a chaffed wire), short to voltage(such as a pulled pin on trailer emergencybreakaway battery) or the trailer brakesmay be drawing too much current.
Points to Remember
Note:Do not attempt removal of the trailerbrake controller without consulting theWorkshop Manual. Damage to the unit mayresult.
•Adjust gain setting before using thetrailer brake controller for the first time.
•Adjust gain setting, see Procedure forAdjusting Gain, whenever road,weather and trailer or vehicle loadingconditions change from when the gainwas initially set.
•Only use the manual control lever forproper adjustment of the gain duringtrailer setup. Misuse, such asapplication during trailer sway, couldcause instability of trailer or towvehicle.
•Avoid towing in adverse weatherconditions. The trailer brake controllerdoes not provide anti-lock control ofthe trailer wheels. Trailer wheels canlock up on slippery surfaces, resultingin reduced stability of trailer and towvehicle.
•The trailer brake controller is equippedwith a feature that reduces output atvehicle speeds below 11 mph (18 km/h)so trailer and vehicle braking is not jerkyor harsh. This feature is only availablewhen applying the brakes using yourvehicle's brake pedal, not thecontroller.
•The controller interacts with the brakecontrol system and powertrain controlsystem of your vehicle to provide thebest performance on different roadconditions.
•Your vehicle's brake system and thetrailer brake system workindependently of each other. Changingthe gain setting on the controller doesnot affect the operation of yourvehicle's brakes whether you attach atrailer or not.
•When you switch the engine off, thecontroller output is disabled and thedisplay and module shut down. Thecontroller module and display turn onwhen you switch the ignition on.
•The trailer brake controller is only afactory-installed or dealer-installeditem. Ford is not responsible forwarranty or performance of thecontroller due to misuse or customerinstallation.
Trailer Lamps
WARNING: Never connect anytrailer lamp wiring to the vehicle's taillamp wiring; this may damage theelectrical system resulting in fire. Contactyour authorized dealer as soon aspossible for assistance in proper trailertow wiring installation. Additionalelectrical equipment may be required.
Trailer lamps are required on most towedvehicles. Make sure all running lights, brakelights, direction indicators and hazard lightsare working.
Before Towing a Trailer
Practice turning, stopping and backing upto get the feel of your vehicle-trailercombination before starting on a trip.When turning, make wider turns so thetrailer wheels clear curbs and otherobstacles.
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TOWING THE VEHICLE ON
FOUR WHEELS
Emergency Towing
WARNING: If your vehicle has asteering wheel lock make sure theignition is in the accessory or on positionwhen being towed.
You can flat-tow (all wheels on theground, regardless of the powertrain ortransmission configuration) your disabledvehicle (without access to wheel dolliesor vehicle transport trailer) under thefollowing conditions:
•Your vehicle is facing forward so youtow it in a forward direction.
•You shift into neutral (N). If you cannotshift into neutral (N), you may need tooverride the transmission. SeeTransmission (page 95).
•Maximum speed is 35 mph (56 km/h).
•Maximum distance is 50 mi (80 km).
Recreational Towing
Note: Put your climate control system inrecirculated air mode to prevent exhaustfumes from entering the vehicle. SeeClimate Control (page 73).
Follow these guidelines if you have a needfor recreational vehicle towing. An exampleof recreational towing would be towingyour vehicle behind a motorhome. Theseguidelines are to make sure you do notdamage the transmission during towing.
Do not tow your vehicle with any wheelson the ground, as vehicle or transmissiondamage may occur. It is recommended totow your vehicle with all four wheels offthe ground, for example when using avehicle transport trailer. Otherwise, youcannot tow your vehicle.
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REDUCED ENGINE
PERFORMANCE
WARNING: If you continue to driveyour vehicle when the engine isoverheating, the engine could stopwithout warning. Failure to follow thisinstruction could result in the loss ofcontrol of your vehicle.
If the engine coolant temperature gaugeneedle moves to the upper limit position,the engine is overheating. See Gauges(page 58).
You must only drive your vehicle for a shortdistance if the engine overheats. Thedistance you can travel depends onambient temperature, vehicle load andterrain. The engine continues to operatewith limited power for a short period oftime.
If the engine temperature continues to rise,the fuel supply to the engine reduces. Theair conditioning switches off and the enginecooling fan operates continually.
1.Gradually reduce your speed and stopyour vehicle as soon as it is safe to doso.
2.Immediately switch the engine off toprevent severe engine damage.
3.Wait for the engine to cool down.
4.Check the coolant level. See EngineCoolant Check (page 165).
5.Have your vehicle checked as soon aspossible.
ECONOMICAL DRIVING
Fuel economy is affected by several thingssuch as how you drive, the conditions youdrive under and how you maintain yourvehicle.
There are some things to keep in mind thatmay improve fuel economy:
•Accelerate and slow down in a smooth,moderate fashion.
•Drive at reasonable and steady speeds.
•Anticipate stops.
•Minimize stop and go driving.
•Close the windows when driving athigher speed.
•Keep the tires properly inflated and useonly the recommended size.
•Use the recommended engine oil.
•Perform all regularly scheduledmaintenance.
Avoid these actions; they reduce fueleconomy:
•Sudden or hard accelerations.
•Revving the engine before turning it off.
•Idle for periods longer than one minute.
•Warm up your vehicle on coldmornings.
•Using air conditioning.
•Using speed control in hilly terrain.
•Resting your foot on the brake pedalwhile driving.
•Driving with the wheels out ofalignment.
Conditions:
•Adding certain accessories to yourvehicle may reduce fuel economy. Forexample, bug deflectors, rollbars, lightbars, running boards, ski racks orluggage racks.
•Using fuel blended with alcohol maylower fuel economy.
•Fuel economy may decrease with lowertemperatures during the first 5–10 mi(12–16 km) of driving.
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•Driving on flat terrain offers improvedfuel economy as compared to drivingon hilly terrain.
•Transmissions give their best fueleconomy when operated in the topcruise gear and with steady pressureon the gas pedal.
BREAKING-IN
You need to break in new tires forapproximately 300 mi (480 km). Duringthis time, your vehicle may exhibit someunusual driving characteristics.
Avoid driving too fast during the first1,000 mi (1,600 km). Vary your speedfrequently and change up through thegears early. Do not labor the engine.
Do not tow during the first 1,000 mi(1,600 km).
DRIVING THROUGH WATER
WARNING: Do not drive throughflowing or deep water as you may losecontrol of your vehicle.
Note:Driving through standing water cancause vehicle damage.
Note:Engine damage can occur if waterenters the air filter.
Before driving through standing water,check the depth. Never drive through waterthat is higher than the bottom of the wheelhubs.
When driving through standing water, drivevery slowly and do not stop your vehicle.Your brake performance and traction maybe limited. After driving through water andas soon as it is safe to do so:
•Lightly press the brake pedal to dry thebrakes and to check that they work.
•Check that the horn works.
•Check that the exterior lights work.
•Turn the steering wheel to check thatthe steering power assist works.
FLOOR MATS
WARNING: Use a floor matdesigned to fit the footwell of yourvehicle that does not obstruct the pedalarea. Failure to follow this instructioncould result in the loss of control of yourvehicle, personal injury or death.
WARNING: Pedals that cannotmove freely can cause loss of vehiclecontrol and increase the risk of seriouspersonal injury.
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WARNING: Secure the floor matto both retention devices so that itcannot slip out of position and interferewith the pedals. Failure to follow thisinstruction could result in the loss ofcontrol of your vehicle, personal injury ordeath.
WARNING: Do not place additionalfloor mats or any other covering on topof the original floor mats. This couldresult in the floor mat interfering with theoperation of the pedals. Failure to followthis instruction could result in the loss ofcontrol of your vehicle, personal injury ordeath.
WARNING: Always make sure thatobjects cannot fall into the driver footwell while your vehicle is moving. Objectsthat are loose can become trappedunder the pedals causing a loss ofvehicle control.
To install floor mats that have eyelets,position the floor mat eyelet over theretention post and press down to lock inposition. Repeat for all eyelets on the floormat.
To remove the floor mats, reverse theinstallation procedure.
Note:Regularly check the floor mats tomake sure they are secure.
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HAZARD FLASHERS
Note:If used when the vehicle is notrunning, the battery loses charge. As a result,there may be insufficient power to restartyour vehicle.
The hazard flasher control is located onthe instrument panel. Use it when yourvehicle is creating a safety hazard for othermotorists.
•Press the flasher control and all frontand rear direction indicators flash.
•Press the flasher control again toswitch them off.
JUMP STARTING THE VEHICLE
WARNING: Batteries normallyproduce explosive gases which cancause personal injury. Therefore, do notallow flames, sparks or lightedsubstances to come near the battery.When working near the battery, alwaysshield your face and protect your eyes.Always provide correct ventilation.
WARNING: Keep batteries out ofreach of children. Batteries containsulfuric acid. Avoid contact with skin,eyes or clothing. Shield your eyes whenworking near the battery to protectagainst possible splashing of acidsolution. In case of acid contact with skinor eyes, flush immediately with water fora minimum of 15 minutes and get promptmedical attention. If acid is swallowed,call a physician immediately.
WARNING: Use only adequatelysized cables with insulated clamps.
Preparing Your Vehicle
Do not attempt to push-start yourautomatic transmission vehicle.
Note:Attempting to push-start a vehiclewith an automatic transmission may causetransmission damage.
Note:Use only a 12-volt supply to start yourvehicle.
Note:Do not disconnect the battery of thedisabled vehicle as this could damage thevehicle electrical system.
Park the booster vehicle close to the hoodof the disabled vehicle, making sure thetwo vehicles do not touch.
Connecting the Jumper Cables
WARNING: Do not connect thenegative jumper cable to any other partof your vehicle. Use the ground point.
WARNING: Make sure that thecables are clear of any moving parts andfuel delivery system parts.
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