FORD F-150 2020 Owners Manual

Third (3) with Column-shifter - 6-speed
Note:
When pressing the button on the
gearshift lever, you can cycle through the
available drive modes.
Transmission operates in third (3) gear
only. Use third (3) gear for improved
traction on slippery roads.
Second (2) - 6-speed
Transmission operates in second (2) gear
only. Use second (2) gear to start-up on
slippery roads.
First (1) - 6-speed
• Transmission operates in first (1) gear
only.
• Provides maximum engine braking.
• Allows upshifts by moving gearshift
lever.
• Does not downshift into first (1) gear
at high speeds; allows for first (1) gear
when vehicle reaches slower speeds. Tow Mode To activate tow mode, press the
button on the gearshift lever
until tow mode is selected. The
indicator light illuminates in the instrument
cluster when the system becomes active.
The tow mode feature:
• Moves upshifts to higher engine speeds
to reduce the frequency of
transmission shifting.
• Provides engine braking in all forward
gears, which slows your vehicle and
assists you in controlling your vehicle
when descending a grade.
• Depending on driving conditions and
load conditions, may downshift the
transmission, slow your vehicle and
control your vehicle speed when
descending a hill, without pressing the
accelerator pedal. The amount of
downshift braking provided varies
based upon the amount you press the
brake pedal.
The tow mode feature improves
transmission operation when towing a
trailer or a heavy load. All transmission
gear ranges are available when using tow
mode.
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To deactivate the tow mode feature and
return to normal driving mode, press the
button on the gearshift lever twice. The
indicator light deactivates when the
system turns off. Tow mode also
deactivates when you power down your
vehicle.
Sport Mode
To activate Sport Mode, press
the button on the gearshift lever
until sport mode is selected. The
SPORT or S indicator light illuminates in
the instrument display when the system
becomes active.
The sport mode feature:
• Provides additional slope, engine
braking and extends lower gear
operation to enhance performance for
uphill climbs, hilly terrain or
mountainous areas. This increases
engine RPM during engine braking.
• Provides additional lower gear
operation through the automatic
transmission shift strategy.
• Selects gears more quickly and at
higher engine speeds.
To deactivate the sport mode feature and
return to normal driving mode, press the
button on the gearshift lever again. The
SPORT or
S indicator light deactivates
when the system turns off. The sport mode
feature also deactivates when you power
down your vehicle. Automatic Transmission Adaptive
Learning
This feature increases durability and
provides consistent shift feel over the life
of your vehicle. A new vehicle or
transmission may have firm shifts, soft
shifts or both. This operation is normal and
does not affect function or durability of the
transmission. Over time, the adaptive
learning process fully updates transmission
operation.
Understanding your SelectShift™
Automatic Transmission
Your vehicle is equipped with a SelectShift
Automatic transmission gearshift lever.
The SelectShift Automatic transmission
gives you the ability to change gears up or
down (without a clutch) as desired.
In order to prevent the engine from running
at too low an RPM, which may cause it to
stall, SelectShift still automatically makes
some downshifts if it has determined that
you have not downshifted in time.
Although SelectShift makes some
downshifts for you, it still allows you to
downshift at any time as long as
SelectShift determines that damage to
the engine from over-revving does not
occur.
SelectShift does not automatically upshift,
even if the engine is approaching the RPM
limit. It must be shifted manually by
pressing the
+ button.
Note: Engine damage may occur if you
maintain excessive engine revving without
shifting.
The SelectShift Automatic transmission
feature has two modes: PRS and M mode.
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Manual (M) with Floor-shifter
Moving the gearshift lever to the manual
(M) position allows you to manually select
the gear you desire. Only the current gear
displays. Use the buttons on the gearshift
lever or steering wheel to manually select
gears. Press the + button to upshift or the
– button to downshift. Return the
transmission to a different gearshift
position to deactivate manual control. Progressive Range Selection
Progressive Range Selection gives you the
ability to lockout gears from the automatic
shifting range. This could provide you with
an improved driving experience, for
example, in slippery conditions or when
experiencing a steep slope.
With the transmission in drive (D), press
the
– button to active PRS. The available
and selected gears are indicated on the
instrument cluster.
All available gears display with the current
gear indicated. Press the
– button again
to lock out gears beginning with the highest
gear. Only the available gears display and
the transmission automatically shifts
between the available gears. Press the
+
button to unlock gears to allow the
transmission to shift to higher gears. The
transmission shifts automatically within
the gear range you select. Brake-Shift Interlock 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.
Your vehicle is equipped with a brake-shift
interlock feature that prevents moving the
gearshift lever from park (P) when the
ignition is in the on position and the brake
pedal is not pressed.
If you cannot move the gearshift lever out
of park (P) position with the ignition in the
on position and the brake pedal pressed,
a malfunction may have occurred. It is
possible that a fuse has blown or your
vehicle ’s brake lamps are not operating
properly.
See Fuse Specification Chart
(page 344).
If the fuse is not blown and the brake
lamps are working properly, the following
procedure allows you to move the gearshift
lever from park (P):
Column-shifter
1. Apply the parking brake and switch off
your vehicle.
2. Move the steering column to the full down and full rearward position
(toward the driver ’s seat).
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3. Remove the gearshift lever boot.
4. Place fingers into gearshift lever boot
hole and pull top half of shroud up and
forward to separate it from the lower
half of the shroud. There is a hinge at
the forward edge of the top shroud.
Roll the top half of the shroud upward
on the hinge point, then pull straight
rearward toward the driver ’s seat to
remove.
5. Remove the top half of the shroud.
6. Remove the three fasteners under the column that secure the lower shroud
half to the column. 7.
Pull the lock lever into the full unlocked
position and remove the lower shroud
cover by pulling the lever handle
through the slot in the cover. 8. Apply the brake, pull the white disk
then move the shifter to neutral (N). 9. Start your vehicle.
Perform Steps 4 through 8 in reverse order,
making sure to engage the hinge pivots
between the upper and lower halves of the
shroud. Keep slight pressure in the forward
direction as the halves rotate together.
Floor-shifter
1.
Apply the parking brake and switch off
your vehicle.
2. Remove the rubber mat between the shifter and cup holder. Using a
screwdriver or similar tool, carefully pry
up the access panel from the
attachment points and disconnect it
from the console to expose the inside
of the gearshift. 3. Locate the white brake shift interlock
lever on the passenger side of the
shifter assembly. 221
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4.
Apply the brake pedal. Using light finger
pressure, move the white lever forward
when pulling the gearshift lever out of
the park (P) position and into the
neutral (N) position.
5. Install the access panel and rubber mat.
6. Apply brake pedal, start your vehicle, and release the parking brake. See your
authorized dealer as soon as possible
if this procedure is used.
If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck in Mud
or Snow
Note: Do not rock your vehicle if the engine
is not at normal operating temperature or
damage to the transmission may occur.
Note: Do not rock your vehicle for more
than a minute or damage to the
transmission and tires could occur, or the
engine could overheat.
If your vehicle gets stuck in mud or snow,
you may rock it out by shifting between
forward and reverse gears, stopping
between shifts in a steady pattern. Press
lightly on the accelerator in each gear.
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USING FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE
Note:
For important information regarding
safe operation of this type of vehicle, see
General Information in the Wheels and Tires
chapter.
Note: Do not use 4H or 4L mode on dry,
hard surfaced roads. Doing so can produce
excessive noise, increase tire wear and may
damage drive components. 4H or 4L mode
is only intended for consistently slippery or
loose surfaces. Use of 4L mode on these
surfaces may produce some noise (such as
occasional clunks), but should not damage
drive components.
Note: If 4L is selected while your vehicle is
moving above 3 mph (5 km/h), the 4WD
system should not perform a shift. This is
normal and should be no reason for concern.
Refer to Shifting to or from 4L (4X4 Low)
for proper operation.
Note: You can switch on and switch off the
electronic locking differential by pulling the
4WD control (4WD vehicles) or turning the
electronic locking differential control (2WD
vehicles). See
Electronic Locking
Differential (page 231).
4WD Indicator Lights
Note: When a 4X4 system fault is present,
the system can typically remain in whichever
4X4 mode was selected prior to the fault
condition occurring. It should not default to
4X2 in all circumstances. When this warning
is displayed, have your vehicle serviced by
an authorized dealer.
4X2 Momentarily illuminates when
2H is selected. 4X4 Auto Continuously illuminates when
4A is selected (2-Speed
Automatic 4WD vehicles only).
4X4 HIGH Continuously illuminates when
4H is selected.
4X4 LOW Continuously illuminates when
4L is selected.
CHECK 4X4 Displays when a 4X4 fault is
present.
Using the Electronic Shift on the
Fly 4WD system
(If Equipped) 2H (4X2)
For general on-road driving. Sends power
to the rear wheels only and should be used
for street and highway driving. Provides
optimal smoothness and fuel economy at
high speeds.
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4H (4X4 HIGH)
Provides mechanically locked four-wheel
drive power to both the front and rear
wheels for use in off-road or winter
conditions such as deep snow, sand or
mud. This mode is not for use on dry
pavement.
4L (4X4 LOW)
Provides mechanically locked four-wheel
drive power to both the front and rear
wheels for use on low traction surfaces,
but does so with additional gearing for
increased torque multiplication. Intended
only for off-road applications such as deep
sand, steep grades, or pulling heavy
objects. 4L (4X4 low) should not engage
while your vehicle is moving above 3 mph
(5 km/h); this is normal and should be no
reason for concern. Refer to Shifting to or
from 4L (4X4 low) for proper operation.
Shifting between system modes
Note: Momentarily releasing the accelerator
pedal while a shift in progress message
displays can improve
engagement/disengagement performance.
Note: Do not perform this operation if the
rear wheels are slipping or while applying
the accelerator pedal.
Note: You may hear some noise as the
system shifts or engages; this is normal.
You can move the control from 2H or 4H
at a stop or while driving. The information
display may display a message indicating
a 4X4 shift is in progress. Once the shift is
complete the message center can then
display the system mode selected.
Shifting to or from 4L (4X4 low)
Note: You may hear some noise as the
system shifts or engages; this is normal.
1. Bring your vehicle to a speed of
3 mph
(5 km/h) or less. 2. Place the transmission in neutral (N).
3. Move the 4WD control to the desired
position.
The information display can display a
message indicating a 4X4 shift is in
progress. The information display can then
display the system mode selected. If any
of the above shift conditions are not
present, the shift should not occur and the
information display can display
information guiding the driver through the
proper shifting procedures.
If
Shift Delayed Pull Forward displays in
the information display, a transfer case
gear tooth blockage is present. To alleviate
this condition, place the transmission in a
forward gear, move your vehicle forward
approximately
5 ft (1.5 m), and shift the
transmission back to neutral (N) to allow
the transfer case to complete the range
shift.
Using the 2-Speed Automatic 4WD
System
(If Equipped)
This system includes an electronically
controlled transfer case with a high
capacity clutch. The system is interactive
with the road, continually monitoring and
adjusting power delivery to the front and
rear wheels to optimize traction.
Note: The AdvanceTrac system has the
ability to take over control of the transfer
case clutch in 4A mode and disable it during
driving maneuvers when necessary.
Note: The information display may show
messages during 4WD operation. See
Information Messages
(page 132).
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2H (4X2)
For general on-road driving, this mode
provides optimal smoothness and fuel
economy at high speeds. Sends power to
the rear wheels only.
4A (4X4 AUTO)
Provides electronic controlled four-wheel
drive with power delivered to the front and
rear wheels, as required, for increased
traction. 4A tuning varies based on
selected Drive Mode See Drive Control
(page 278). . 4A in Normal and Sport is
appropriate for all on-road driving
conditions, including, dry road surfaces. 4A
in Snow/Wet is appropriate for slippery
on-road conditions such as snow and ice
covered roads.
4H (4X4 HIGH)
Provides electronically or mechanically
locked four-wheel drive power to both the
front and rear wheels for use in off-road or
winter conditions such as deep snow, sand
or mud. This mode is not for use on dry
pavement. 4L (4X4 LOW)
Provides electronically or mechanically
locked four-wheel drive power to both the
front and rear wheels for use on low
traction surfaces, but does so with
additional gearing for increased torque
multiplication. Intended only for off-road
applications such as deep sand, steep
grades, or pulling heavy objects. 4L (4X4
low) should not engage while your vehicle
is moving above
3 mph (5 km/h); this is
normal and should be no reason for
concern. Refer to Shifting to or from 4L
(4X4 low) for proper operation.
Shifting between system modes
Note: Momentarily releasing the accelerator
pedal while a shift in progress message
displays can improve
engagement/disengagement performance.
Note: Do not perform this operation if the
rear wheels are slipping or while applying
the accelerator pedal.
Note: You may hear some noise as the
system shifts or engages; this is normal.
You can move the control from 2H to 4A
or 4H at a stop or while driving. The
information display may display a message
indicating a 4X4 shift is in progress. Once
the shift is complete the message center
can then display the system mode
selected.
Shifting to or from 4L (4X4 low)
Note: You may hear some noise as the
system shifts or engages; this is normal.
1. Bring your vehicle to a speed of
3 mph
(5 km/h) or less.
2. Place the transmission in neutral (N).
3. Move the 4WD control to the desired position.
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The information display can display a
message indicating a 4X4 shift is in
progress. The information display can then
display the system mode selected. If any
of the above shift conditions are not
present, the shift should not occur and the
information display can display
information guiding the driver through the
proper shifting procedures.
If Shift Delayed Pull Forward displays in
the information display, a transfer case
gear tooth blockage is present. To alleviate
this condition, place the transmission in a
forward gear, move your vehicle forward
approximately
5 ft (1.5 m), and shift the
transmission back to neutral (N) to allow
the transfer case to complete the range
shift.
Operating 4WD vehicles with spare or
mismatched tires
On four-wheel drive vehicles, the size of
the spare tire can affect the 4X4 system.
If there is a significant difference between
the size of the spare tire and the remaining
tires, you may have limited four-wheel
drive functionality.
When driving with the full-size dissimilar
spare wheel and tire assembly, it is
recommended that you do not:
• Exceed
50 mph (80 km/h) with a 4WD
mode turned on.
• Turn on a 4WD mode unless the
vehicle is stationary.
• Use a 4WD mode on dry pavement.
When driving with the full-size dissimilar
spare wheel and tire assembly, 4WD
functionality may be limited, especially
when driving in a mechanically locked 4WD
mode. You may experience the following:
• Additional noise from the transfer case
or other drive components.
• Difficulty shifting out of a mechanically
locked 4WD mode. Use of a dissimilar spare wheel and tire
assembly may lead to impairment of the
following:
•
Comfort and noise.
• Winter weather driving capability.
• Wet driving capability.
• Four-wheel drive capability.
How Your Vehicle Differs From
Other Vehicles WARNING:
Vehicles with a higher
center of gravity (utility and four-wheel
drive vehicles) handle differently than
vehicles with a lower center of gravity
(passenger cars). Avoid sharp turns,
excessive speed and abrupt steering in
these vehicles. Failure to drive cautiously
increases the risk of losing control of your
vehicle, vehicle rollover, personal injury
and death.
Truck and utility vehicles can differ from
some other vehicles. Your vehicle may be
higher to allow it to travel over rough
terrain without getting hung up or
damaging underbody components.
The differences that make your vehicle so
versatile also make it handle differently
than an ordinary passenger car.
Maintain steering wheel control at all
times, especially in rough terrain. Since
sudden changes in terrain can result in
abrupt steering wheel motion, make sure
you grip the steering wheel from the
outside. Do not grip the spokes.
Drive cautiously to avoid vehicle damage
from concealed objects such as rocks and
stumps.
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(If Equipped)

You should either know the terrain or
examine maps of the area before driving.
Map out your route before driving in the
area. To maintain steering and braking
control of your vehicle, you must have all
four wheels on the ground and they must
be rolling, not sliding or spinning.
Driving Off-Road With Truck and
Utility Vehicles
Note:
On some models, the initial shift from
two-wheel drive to four-wheel drive while
your vehicle is moving can cause some
momentary clunk and ratcheting sounds.
This is the front drivetrain coming up to
speed and the automatic locking hubs
engaging and is not cause for concern.
Note: Your vehicle may have a front air
dam. Due to low ground clearance, you can
damage it when taking your vehicle off-road.
You can take the air dam off by removing
the bolts that secure it.
Note: Your vehicle may have an underbody
transmission shield and brackets. Due to
low ground clearance, you can damage
them when taking your vehicle off-road.
Remove the shield by disengaging the
fasteners at each corner of the shield. Then,
remove the shield's rear brackets by
removing the bracket to frame bolts.
Four-wheel drive vehicles are specially
equipped for driving on sand, snow, mud
and rough terrain and have operating
characteristics that are somewhat
different from conventional vehicles, both
on and off the road. The transfer case supplies power to all four
wheels. On four-wheel drive vehicles, the
transfer case allows you to select different
4WD modes when necessary. You can find
information on transfer case operation and
shifting procedures in this chapter. You can
find information on transfer case
maintenance in the Maintenance chapter.
You should become thoroughly familiar
with this information before you operate
your vehicle.
Four-wheel drive (when you select a 4WD
mode) uses all four wheels to power your
vehicle. This increases traction, enabling
you to drive over terrain and road
conditions that a conventional two-wheel
drive vehicle cannot.
Basic Operating Principles
•
Drive slower in strong crosswinds which
can affect the normal steering
characteristics of your vehicle.
• When driving your vehicle on surfaces
made slippery by loose sand, water,
gravel, snow or ice proceed with care.
• Do not use 4H or 4L on dry, hard
surfaced roads. Doing so can produce
excessive noise, increase tire wear and
may damage drive components. 4H or
4L modes are only for consistently
slippery or loose surfaces.
If Your Vehicle leaves the Road
If your vehicle leaves the road, reduce your
vehicle speed and avoid severe braking.
When your vehicle speed decreases, ease
your vehicle back onto the road. Do not
turn the steering wheel sharply while
returning your vehicle to the road.
It may be safer to stay on the shoulder of
the road and slow down gradually before
returning to the road. You may lose control
if you do not slow down or if you turn the
steering wheel too sharply or abruptly.
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