FORD F150 1998 10.G Owners Manual

2. Place the gearshift lever in N
(Neutral) (automatic transmission)
or depress the clutch (manual
transmission).
3. Pull the transfer case shift lever
through N (Neutral) directly to 4H
(4WD High) or 4L (4WD Low).
Shifting from N (Neutral) to 4H
(4WD High) or 4L (4WD Low)
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
gear.
1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Depress the brake.
3. Place the gearshift in N
(Neutral) (automatic transmission)
or depress the clutch (manual
transmission).
4. Place the transfer case lever in
the desired gear.
Using the N (Neutral) position
The transfer case neutral
position overrides the
2H
4H
4L N
2H
4H
4L N
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transmission and puts the
vehicle in neutral regardless of
transmission gearshift lever
position. The vehicle can move
forward or backwards. Make
sure the parking brake is
applied and the vehicle is never
left unattended with the
transfer case in neutral.
This position should only be used
when towing the vehicle. Refer to
Wrecker towingin theRoadside
emergencieschapter.
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.
Using the electronic shift 4WD
system (if equipped)
Positions of the electronic shift
system
2H (2WD High)± Power to rear
axle only.
4H (4WD High)± Power
delivered to front and rear axles
for increased traction.
4L (4WD Low)± Power to front
and rear axles at low speeds.
2H
4H
4L N
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Shifting from 2H (2WD high) to
4H (4WD High)
Move the 4WD control to the 4H at
a stop or up to 88 km/h (55 mph).
At temperatures below 0ÉC (32ÉF),
shifts from 2H to 4H should not be
performed above 72 km/h (45
mph).
²Do not shift into 4H with the
rear wheels slipping.
Shifting from 4H (4WD high) to
2H (2WD high)
Move the 4WD control to 2H at
any forward speed.
Shifting between 4H (4WD high)
and 4L (4WD low)
1. Bring the vehicle to a stop.
2. Depress the brake.
3. Place the gearshift in N
(Neutral) (automatic transmission)
or depress the clutch (manual
transmission).
4H
2H
4L
4H
2H
4L
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4. Move the 4WD control to the 4H
or 4L position.
Driving off-road with 4WD
Your vehicle is specially equipped
for driving on sand, snow, mud and
rough terrain and has operating
characteristics that are somewhat
different from conventional
vehicles, both on and off the road.
The following information will help
you learn to properly use 4WD.
When using 4WD, 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.
You should either know the terrain
or examine maps of the area
before driving. Map out your route
before driving in the area. For
more information on driving
off-road, read the ªFour Wheelingº
supplement in your owner's
portfolio.4H
2H
4L
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If your vehicle gets stuck
If the vehicle is stuck, shift the
transmission in a steady motion
between forward and reverse
gears. Allow the transmission to
engage, then press lightly on the
accelerator.
DO NOT rock the vehicle
for more than a few
minutes. The transmission and
tires may be damaged or the
engine can overheat.
Do not spin the wheels at
over 35 mph (55 km/h).
The tires may fail and injure a
passenger or bystander.
Sand
When driving over sand, try to
keep all four wheels on the most
solid area of the trail. Do not
reduce the tire pressures but shift
to a lower gear and drive steadily
through the terrain. Apply the
accelerator slowly and avoid
spinning the wheels.
Mud and water
If you must drive through high
water, drive slowly. Traction or
brake capability may be limited.
When driving through water,
determine the depth; avoid water
higher than the bottom of the hubs
(if possible) and proceed slowly. If
the ignition system gets wet, the
vehicle may stall.
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Once through water, always try the
brakes. Wet brakes do not stop the
vehicle as effectively as dry brakes.
Drying can be improved by moving
your vehicle slowly while applying
light pressure on the brake pedal.
After driving through mud, clean
off residue stuck to rotating
driveshafts and tires. Excess mud
stuck on tires and rotating
driveshafts causes an imbalance
that could damage drive
components.
If the transmission and transfer
case are submerged in water, their
fluids should be checked and
changed, if necessary.
Water intrusion into the
transmission may damage
the transmission.
If the rear axle is submerged in
water, the rear axle lubricant
should be checked and changed, if
necessary. The rear axle is filled
with a synthetic lubricant and does
not normally require a lubricant
change for the life of the vehicle.
Rear axle lubricant quantities
should not need to be checked
unless a leak is suspected.
Driving on hill or slope terrain
When driving on a hill, avoid
driving crosswise or turning on
steep slopes. You could lose
traction and slip sideways. Drive
straight up, straight down or avoid
the hill completely. Know the
conditions on the other side of a
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hill before driving over the crest.
When climbing a steep hill, start in
a lower gear rather than
downshifting to a lower gear from
a higher gear once the ascent has
started. This reduces strain on the
engine and the possibility of
stalling.
When descending a steep hill,
avoid sudden braking. Rapid
pumping of the brake pedal will
help slow the vehicle and still
maintain steering control.
When speed control is on and you
are driving uphill, your vehicle
speed may drop considerably,
especially if you are carrying a
heavy load.
If vehicle speed drops more than
15±25 km/h (8±14 mph), the speed
control will cancel automatically.
Resume speed with accelerator
pedal.
If speed control cancels after
climbing the hill, reset speed by
pressing and holding the SET
ACCEL button (to resume speeds
over 50 km/h (30 mph).
Automatic transmission may shift
frequently while driving up steep
grades. Eliminate frequent shifting
by shifting out of
D(Overdrive)
into D (Drive).
Driving on snow and ice
A 4WD vehicle has advantages
over 2WD vehicles in snow and ice
but can skid like any other vehicle.
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Avoid sudden applications of
power and quick changes of
direction on snow and ice. Apply
the accelerator slowly and steadily
when starting from a full stop.
When braking, apply the brakes as
you normally would. In order to
allow the anti-lock brake system
(ABS) to operate properly, keep
steady pressure on the brake
pedal.
Allow more stopping distance and
drive slower than usual. Consider
using one of the lower gears.
VEHICLE LOADING
Before loading a vehicle, familiarize
yourself with the following terms:
²Base Curb Weight: Weight of
the vehicle including any
standard equipment, fluids,
lubricants, etc. It does not
include passengers or
aftermarket equipment.
²Payload: Combined maximum
allowable weight of cargo,
passengers and optional
equipment. The payload equals
the gross vehicle weight rating
minus base curb weight.
²GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight):
Base curb weight plus payload
weight. The GVW is not a limit
or a specification.
²GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating): Maximum total weight
of the base vehicle, passengers,
optional equipment and cargo.
The GVWR is specific to each
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vehicle and is listed on the
Safety Compliance Label on the
driver's door pillar.
²GAWR (Gross Axle Weight
Rating): Carrying capacity for
each axle system. The GAWR is
specific to each vehicle and is
listed on the Safety Compliance
Label on the driver's door pillar.
²GCWR (Gross Combined
Weight Rating): Maximum
combined weight of towing
vehicle (including passengers
and cargo) and the trailer. The
GCWR indicates the maximum
loaded weight that the vehicle is
allowed to tow.
²Maximum Trailer Weight
Rating: Maximum weight of a
trailer the vehicle is permitted
to tow. The maximum trailer
weight rating equals the vehicle
curb weight for each
engine/transmission
combination, any required
option weight for trailer towing
and the weight of the driver
from the GCWR for the towing
vehicle.
²Maximum Trailer Weight:
maximum weight of a trailer the
loaded vehicle (including
passengers and cargo) is
permitted to tow. It is
determined by subtracting the
weight of the loaded trailer
towing vehicle from the GCWR
for the towing vehicle.
²Trailer Weight Range:
Specified weight range that the
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trailer must fall within that
ranges from zero to the
maximum trailer weight rating.
Remember to figure in the tongue
load of your loaded trailer when
figuring the total weight.
Do not exceed the GVWR
or the GAWR specified on
the Safety Compliance
Certification Label.
Do not use replacement tires with
lower weight capacities than the
originals because they may lower
the vehicle's GVWR and GAWR
limitations. Replacement tires with
a higher weight limit than the
originals do not increase the
GVWR and GAWR limitations.
Calculating the load your
vehicle can carry/tow
1. Use the Safety Compliance
Certification Label to find the axle
code number and engine type for
your vehicle.
2. Use the appropriate maximum
gross combined weight rating
(GCWR) chart to find the
maximum GCWR for your type
engine and rear axle ratio.
3. Weigh your vehicle as you
customarily operate the vehicle
without cargo. To obtain correct
weights, try taking your vehicle to
a shipping company or an
inspection station for trucks.
4. Subtract your loaded vehicle
weight from the maximum GCWR
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