transmission FORD F-53 2019 User Guide

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WARNING: Always set the parkingbrake fully and make sure you shift thegearshift lever to first gear. Switch theignition off and remove the key wheneveryou leave your vehicle.
WARNING: Do not apply the brakepedal and accelerator pedalsimultaneously. Applying both pedalssimultaneously for more than a fewseconds will limit engine performance,which may result in difficulty maintainingspeed in traffic and could lead to seriousinjury.
Understanding the Positions ofYour Automatic Transmission
Putting your vehicle in or out of gear:
1.Fully press down the brake pedal.
2.Move the gearshift lever into thedesired gear.
3.Come to a complete stop.
4.Move the gearshift lever and securelylatch it in park (P)
The instrument cluster displays the currentgear.
Park (P)
This position locks the transmission andprevents the wheels from turning.
Reverse (R)
With the gearshift lever in reverse (R), yourvehicle moves backward. Always come toa complete stop before shifting into andout of reverse (R).
Neutral (N)
With the gearshift lever in neutral (N), yourvehicle can be started and is free to roll.Hold the brake pedal down when in thisposition.
Drive (D)
Drive (D) is the normal driving position forthe best fuel economy. The overdrivefunction allows automatic upshifts throughall available gears.
Third (3)
Transmission operates in third (3) gearonly. Use third (3) gear for improvedtraction on slippery roads.
Second (2)
Transmission operates in second (2) gearonly. Use second (2) gear to start-up onslippery roads.
First (1)
•Transmission operates in first (1) gearonly.
•Provides maximum engine braking.
•Allows upshifts by moving gearshiftlever.
•Does not downshift into first (1) gearat high speeds; allows for first (1) gearwhen vehicle reaches slower speeds.
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Tow/Haul Mode
WARNING: Do not use tow/haulwhen the road surface is slippery. Failureto follow this instruction could result inthe loss of control of your vehicle.
To activate tow/haul, press thebutton on the gearshift leveronce. The TOW HAUL indicatorlight illuminates in the instrument cluster.
To deactivate the tow/haul feature andreturn to normal driving mode, press thebutton on the gearshift lever again. TheTOW HAUL light deactivates. Tow/haulcan also deactivate when your powerdown your vehicle.
The tow/haul feature:
•Delays upshifts to reduce the frequencyof transmission shifting.
•Provides engine braking in all forwardgears, which can slow your vehicle andassist you in controlling your vehiclewhen descending a grade.
•Depending on driving conditions andload conditions, may downshift thetransmission, slow your vehicle andcontrol your vehicle speed whendescending a hill, without pressing theaccelerator pedal. The amount ofdownshift braking provided can varybased upon the amount the brakepedal is pressed.
The tow/haul feature improvestransmission operation when towing atrailer or a heavy load. All transmissiongear ranges are available when usingtow/haul.
Automatic Transmission AdaptiveLearning
This feature may increase durability andprovide consistent shift feel over the lifeof your vehicle. A new vehicle ortransmission may have firm shifts, softshifts or both. This operation is considerednormal and does not affect function ordurability of the transmission. Over time,the adaptive learning process fully updatestransmission operation.
Forced Downshifts
•Allowed in drive (D) with the tow/haulfeature on or off.
•Press the accelerator pedal to the floor.
•Allows transmission to select anappropriate gear.
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Brake-Shift Interlock
WARNING: Do not drive yourvehicle until you verify that thestoplamps are working.
WARNING: When doing thisprocedure, you need to take thetransmission out of park (P) whichmeans your vehicle can roll freely. Toavoid unwanted vehicle movement,always fully apply the parking brake priorto doing this procedure. Use wheelschocks if appropriate.
WARNING: If the parking brake isfully released, but the brake warninglamp remains illuminated, the brakesmay not be working properly. Have yourvehicle checked as soon as possible.
Your vehicle is equipped with a brake-shiftinterlock feature that prevents moving thegearshift lever from park (P) when theignition is in the on position and the brakepedal is not pressed.
If you cannot move the gearshift lever outof park (P) position with the ignition in theon position and the brake pedal pressed,a malfunction may have occurred. It ispossible that a fuse has blown or yourvehicle’s brake lamps are not operatingproperly. See Fuse Specification Chart(page 71).
If the fuse is not blown and the brakelamps are working properly, the followingprocedure can allow you to move thegearshift lever from park (P):
1.Apply the parking brake. Turn key tothe lock position, and then remove thekey.
2.Disconnect the negative black batterycable from the battery.
3.Insert the key and turn to the offposition. Shift the transmission toneutral (N).
4.Reconnect the negative black batterycable to the battery.
5.Start the vehicle.
Note:See your authorized dealer as soonas possible if this procedure is used.
If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck In Mudor Snow
Note:Do not rock your vehicle if the engineis not at normal operating temperature ordamage to the transmission may occur.
Note:Do not rock your vehicle for morethan a minute or damage to thetransmission and tires may occur, or theengine may overheat.
If your vehicle gets stuck in mud or snow,you may rock it out by shifting betweenforward and reverse gears, stoppingbetween shifts in a steady pattern. Presslightly on the accelerator in each gear.
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GENERAL INFORMATION
Note: Occasional brake noise is normal. Ifa metal-to-metal, continuous grinding orcontinuous squeal sound is present, thebrake linings may be worn-out and shouldbe inspected by an authorized dealer. If thevehicle has continuous vibration or shudderin the steering wheel while braking, thevehicle should be inspected by anauthorized dealer.
Note:Brake dust may accumulate on thewheels, even under normal drivingconditions. Some dust is inevitable as thebrakes wear and does not contribute tobrake noise. See Cleaning the Wheels(page 110).
Note:Indicators vary depending on region.
See Warning Lamps andIndicators (page 18).
Wet brakes result in reduced brakingefficiency. Gently press the brake pedal afew times when driving from a car wash orstanding water to dry the brakes.
Brake Over Accelerator
In the event the accelerator pedalbecomes stuck or entrapped, apply steadyand firm pressure to the brake pedal toslow the vehicle and reduce engine power.If you experience this condition, apply thebrakes and bring your vehicle to a safestop. Switch the engine off, shift thetransmission into park (P), apply theparking brake, and then inspect theaccelerator pedal for any interferences. Ifnone are found and the condition persists,have your vehicle towed to the nearestauthorized dealer.
Hydraulic brake booster system(Hydroboost or Hydromax)
The Hydroboost and Hydromax systemsreceive fluid pressure from the powersteering pump to provide power assistduring braking.
The Hydromax booster receives backuppressure from the reserve system electricpump whenever the fluid in the powersteering system is not flowing. When theengine is off, the pump turns on if you applythe brake pedal, or if you switch the ignitionto the on position.
The sound of the pump operating may beheard by the driver. This is a normalcharacteristic of the system.
The reserve system provides reducedbraking power, so the vehicle should beoperated under these conditions withcaution, and only to seek service repair andremoval of the vehicle from the roadway.
Note:For vehicles with the Hydromaxsystem operating under normal conditions,the noise of the fluid flowing through thebooster may be heard whenever you applythe brake. This condition is normal. Vehicleservice is not required.
If braking performance or pedal responsebecomes very poor, even when youstrongly press the pedal, it may indicatethe presence of air in the hydraulic systemor leakage of fluid. Stop the vehicle safelyas soon as possible and seek serviceimmediately.
HINTS ON DRIVING WITH
ANTI-LOCK BRAKES
The anti-lock braking system does noteliminate the risks when:
•You drive too closely to the vehicle infront of you.
•Your vehicle is hydroplaning.
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•You take corners too fast.
•The road surface is poor.
Note: If the system activates, the brakepedal may pulse and may travel further.Maintain pressure on the brake pedal. Youmay also hear a noise from the system. Thisis normal.
PARKING BRAKE
WARNING: Always fully apply theparking brake. Make sure you shift intopark (P) for vehicles with an automatictransmission. Switch the ignition off andremove the key whenever you leave yourvehicle.
Apply the parking brake whenever you parkyour vehicle.
•For vehicles with a foot operatedparking brake, press the pedal down.
•For vehicles with a hand operatedparking brake, pull the parking brakelever up.
It illuminates when you switchthe ignition on and apply theparking brake. It also illuminatesmomentarily when you switchthe ignition on to confirm thelamp is functional. if is does notilluminate when you switch the ignition onor begins to flash at any time, have thesystem checked by an authorized dealer.
If it illuminates when your vehicle ismoving, make sure you disengage theparking brake.
If the parking brake is disengaged, thisindicates a low brake fluid level or a brakesystem fault. Have your vehicle checkedas soon as possible.
To release the parking brake:
•For vehicles with a foot operatedparking brake, pull the parking brakerelease lever.
•For vehicles with a hand operatedparking brake, push the parking brakelever down.
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TOWING A TRAILER
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.
WARNING: Do not exceedthe GVWR or the GAWRspecified on the certificationlabel.
Note: See RecommendedTowing Weights (page 51).
Your vehicle may have electricalitems, such as fuses or relays,related to towing. See Fuses(page 71).
Your vehicle's load capacitydesignation is by weight, not byvolume, so you cannot necessarilyuse all available space whenloading a vehicle or trailer.
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 ball mount with thecorrect rise or drop and loadcapacity. When both theloaded vehicle and trailer areconnected, 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 regardingproper trailer loading and settingyour vehicle up for towing islocated in another chapter of thismanual. See Load Limit (page45).
You can also find information inthe RV & Trailer Towing Guideavailable at your authorizeddealer, or online.
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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.
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.
When 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 connectionsand trailer wheel lug nuts thoroughlyafter you have traveled 50 mi (80 km).
•When stopped in congested or heavytraffic during hot weather, place thegearshift in park (P) to aid engine andtransmission cooling and to help airconditioning performance.
•Switch off the speed control withheavy loads or in hilly terrain. Thespeed control may turn offautomatically when you are towing onlong, steep grades.
•Shift to a lower gear when driving downa long or steep hill. Do not apply thebrakes continuously, as they mayoverheat and become less effective.
•If your transmission is equipped with aGrade Assist or Tow/Haul feature, usethis feature when towing. This providesengine braking and helps eliminateexcessive transmission shifting foroptimum fuel economy andtransmission cooling.
•Allow more distance for stopping witha trailer attached. Anticipate stops andbrake gradually.
•Avoid parking on a grade. However, ifyou must park on a grade:
1.Turn the steering wheel to point yourvehicle tires away from traffic flow.
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2.Set your vehicle parking brake.
3.Place the automatic transmission inpark (P).
4.Place wheel chocks in the front andback of the trailer wheels. (Chocks notincluded with vehicle.)
Launching or Retrieving a Boat orPersonal Watercraft (PWC)
Note:Disconnect the wiring to the trailerbefore backing the trailer into the water.
Note:Reconnect the wiring to the trailerafter removing the trailer from the water.
When backing down a ramp during boatlaunching or retrieval:
•Do not allow the static water level torise above the bottom edge of the rearbumper.
•Do not allow waves to break higherthan 6 in (15 cm) above the bottomedge of the rear bumper.
Exceeding these limits may allow water toenter vehicle components:
•Causing internal damage to thecomponents.
•Affecting driveability, emissions andreliability.
Replace the rear axle lubricant anytimethe rear axle has been submerged in water.Water may have contaminated the rearaxle lubricant, which is not normallychecked or changed unless a leak issuspected or other axle repair is required.
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.
If your vehicle becomes inoperable(without access to wheel dollies,car-hauling trailer, or flatbed transportvehicle), it can be flat-towed (all wheelson the ground, regardless of the powertrainand transmission configuration) under thefollowing conditions:
•Your vehicle is facing forward fortowing in a forward direction.
•Place the transmission in position N. Ifyou cannot move the transmission intoN, you may need to override it.
•Maximum speed is 35 mph (56 km/h).
•Maximum distance is 50 mi (80 km).
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•Warm up your vehicle on coldmornings.
•Use the air conditioner or frontdefroster.
•Use the speed control in hilly terrain.
•Rest your foot on the brake pedal whiledriving.
•Drive a heavily loaded vehicle or tow atrailer.
•Carry unnecessary weight(approximately 1 mpg [0.4 km/L] islost for every 400 lb [180 kilogram] ofweight carried).
•Driving with the wheels out ofalignment.
Conditions
•Heavily loading a vehicle or towing atrailer may reduce fuel economy at anyspeed.
•Adding certain accessories to yourvehicle (for example bug deflectors,rollbars, light bars, running boards, skiracks or luggage racks) may reducefuel economy.
•To maximize the fuel economy, drivewith the tonneau cover installed (ifequipped).
•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.
•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.
•Four-wheel-drive operation (ifequipped) is less fuel efficient thantwo-wheel-drive operation.
•Close the windows for high-speeddriving.
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.
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Vehicles Sold in Canada: GettingRoadside Assistance
To fully assist you should you have avehicle concern, Ford Motor Company ofCanada, Limited offers a complimentaryroadside assistance program. This programis eligible within Canada or the continentalUnited States.
The service is available 24 hours a day,seven days a week.
This program is separate from the NewVehicle Limited Warranty, but the coverageis concurrent with the powertrain coverageperiod of your vehicle. Canadian roadsidecoverage and benefits may differ from theU.S. coverage.
If you require more information, please callus in Canada at 1-800-665-2006, or visitour website at www.ford.ca.
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.
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