traction control FORD F150 2008 11.G User Guide

Be cautious of sudden changes in vehicle speed or direction when you
are driving in mud. Even 4WD vehicles can lose traction in slick mud. As
when you are driving over sand, apply the accelerator slowly and avoid
spinning your wheels. If the vehicle does slide, steer in the direction of
the slide until you regain control of the vehicle.
If the transmission, transfer case or front axle are submerged in water,
their fluids should be checked and changed, if necessary.
Driving through deep water may damage the transmission.
If the front or rear axle is submerged in water, the axle lubricant should
be replaced.
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.
“Tread Lightly” is an educational
program designed to increase public
awareness of land-use regulations
and responsibilities in our nations
wilderness areas. Ford Motor
Company joins the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land
Management in encouraging you to help preserve our national forest and
other public and private lands by “treading lightly.”
Driving on hilly or sloping terrain
Although natural obstacles may make it necessary to travel diagonally up
or down a hill or steep incline, you should always try to drive straight up
or straight down.Avoid driving crosswise or turning on steep
slopes or hills. A danger lies in losing traction, slipping sideways and
possibly rolling over. Whenever driving on a hill, determine beforehand
the route you will use. Do not drive over the crest of a hill without
seeing what conditions are on the other side. Do not drive in reverse
over a hill without the aid of an observer.
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When climbing a steep slope or 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.
If you do stall out, do not try to
turn around because you might roll
over. It is better to back down to a
safe location.
Apply just enough power to the wheels to climb the hill. Too much
power will cause the tires to slip, spin or lose traction, resulting in loss of
vehicle control.
Descend a hill in the same gear you
would use to climb up the hill to
avoid excessive brake application
and brake overheating. Do not
descend in neutral; instead,
disengage overdrive or manually
shift to a lower gear. When
descending a steep hill, avoid
sudden hard braking as you could
lose control. When you brake hard,
the front wheels can’t turn and if
they aren’t turning, you won’t be
able to steer. The front wheels have to be turning in order to steer the
vehicle. Rapid pumping of the brake pedal will help you slow the vehicle
and still maintain steering control.
If your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, apply the brakes steadily. Do not
“pump” the brakes.
Driving on snow and ice
4WD vehicles have advantages over 2WD vehicles in snow and ice but
can skid like any other vehicle.
Should you start to slide while driving on snowy or icy roads, turn the
steering wheel in the direction of the slide until you regain control.
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.
Avoid sudden braking as well. Although a 4WD vehicle may accelerate
better than a two-wheel drive vehicle in snow and ice, it won’t stop any
2008 F-150(f12)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Driving
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faster, because as in other vehicles, braking occurs at all four wheels. Do
not become overconfident as to road conditions.
Make sure you allow sufficient distance between you and other vehicles
for stopping. Drive slower than usual and consider using one of the lower
gears. In emergency stopping situations, apply the brake steadily. Do not
“pump” the brakes. Refer to theBrakessection of this chapter for
additional information on the operation of the Anti-lock Brake System
(ABS).
Never drive with chains on the front tires of 4WD vehicles without also
putting them on the rear tires. This could cause the rear to slide and
swing around during braking.
Maintenance and Modifications
The suspension and steering systems on your vehicle have been designed
and tested to provide predictable performance whether loaded or empty
and durable load carrying capability. For this reason, Ford Motor
Company strongly recommends that you do not make modifications such
as adding or removing parts (such as lift kits or stabilizer bars) or by
using replacement parts not equivalent to the original factory equipment.
Any modifications to a vehicle that raise the center of gravity can make
it more likely the vehicle will roll over as a result of a loss of control.
Ford Motor Company recommends that caution be used with any vehicle
equipped with a high load or device (such as ladder racks or pickup box
cover).
Failure to maintain your vehicle properly may void the warranty, increase
your repair cost, reduce vehicle performance and operational capabilities
and adversely affect driver and passenger safety. Frequent inspection of
vehicle chassis components is recommended if the vehicle is subjected to
heavy off-road usage.
DRIVING THROUGH WATER
If driving through deep or standing
water is unavoidable, proceed very
slowly especially when the depth is
not known. Never drive through
water that is higher than the bottom
of the wheel rims (for cars) or the
bottom of the hubs (for trucks).
When driving through water, traction or brake capability may be limited.
Also, water may enter your engine’s air intake and severely damage your
2008 F-150(f12)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
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Safety Compliance
Certification Label ....................386
Satellite Radio Information ........48
Seats ..........................................158
child safety seats ....................196
cleaning ...................................336
heated ................................87, 162
memory seat ...................149, 161
SecuriLock passive
anti-theft system ...............155–156
Servicing your vehicle ..............339
Setting the clock
AM/FM stereo ...........................28
AM/FM/CD .................................31
AM/FM/In-dash 6 CD ................38
Snowplowing .................7, 293–294
Spark plugs,
specifications .....................380, 385
Special notice
ambulance conversions ..............7
four-wheel drive vehicles .......295
utility-type vehicles ....................8
Specification chart,
lubricants ...................................381
Speed control ............................115
Starting a flex fuel vehicle .......261
Starting your
vehicle ........................258–259, 261
jump starting ..........................315
Steering wheel
controls ....................................117
tilting .......................................103
T
Tailgate ..............................134–135Temperature control
(see Climate control) .................81
Tilt steering wheel ....................103
Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS)
Tires, Wheels and Loading ....226
Tires ...........................211–212, 307
alignment ................................219
care ..........................................215
changing ..........................307, 310
checking the pressure ............215
inflating ...................................213
label .........................................225
replacing ..................................217
rotating ....................................219
safety practices .......................218
sidewall information ...............221
snow tires and chains ............236
spare tire .................................307
terminology .............................212
tire grades ...............................212
treadwear ........................211, 216
Towing .......................................243
recreational towing .................257
trailer towing ..........................243
Traction control ........................266
Traction-lok rear axle ...............268
Transfer case
fluid checking .........................376
Transmission .............................269
brake-shift interlock
(BSI) ................................269–270
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................372
fluid, checking and adding
(manual) .................................375
fluid, refill capacities ..............381
lubricant specifications ..........381
manual operation ....................275
Turn signal ..................................95
2008 F-150(f12)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Index
396