traction control FORD RANGER 2021 User Guide

After driving through mud, clean off residue
stuck to rotating driveshafts and tires.
Excess mud stuck on tires and rotating
driveshafts can cause an imbalance that
could damage drive components.
Water
If you must drive through high water, drive
slowly. Traction or brake capability may
be limited.
When driving through water, determine the
depth and avoid water higher than the
bottom of the hubs. If the ignition system
gets wet, your vehicle may stall.
Once through water, try the brakes. Wet
brakes do not stop your vehicle as
effectively as dry brakes. Drying improves
by applying light pressure to the brake
pedal when slowly moving.
Note:
Driving through deep water may
damage the transmission. If the front or rear
axle is submerged in water, the axle
lubricant and power transfer unit lubricant
should be checked and changed if
necessary. “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 drive
straight up or straight down.
Note:
Avoid turning on steep slopes or hills.
A danger lies in losing traction; slipping
sideways and possible vehicle roll over.
Whenever driving on a hill, determine
beforehand the route you intend to 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.
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 your vehicle stalls, do not try to turn
around because this could cause vehicle
roll over. It is better to reverse back to a
safe location.
Apply just enough power to the wheels to
climb the hill. Too much power could cause
the tires to slip, spin or lose traction,
resulting in loss of vehicle control. 168
Ranger (TFG) Canada/United States of America, Vehicles Built From: 23-11-2020, MB3J 19A321 AA enUSA, Edition date: 202009, First-Printing Four-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)E143950 E143949

ELECTRONIC LOCKING
DIFFERENTIAL (IF EQUIPPED)
Note: Do not operate the system on dry
hard surface roads. Doing so could lead to
excessive tire noise and wear. Use the
system only on consistently slippery or loose
surfaces.
The system locks the left and right portions
of the rear axle together to form a solid
driving axle, resulting in increased rear
wheel traction in certain conditions.
Press and hold the electronic differential
lock button for 2 seconds to activate the
system.
Note: The lock button is on the center
console. The electronic differential lock can lock
and unlock when the internal gears are
aligned and no torque load is placed on
the differential. To aid alignment, drive the
vehicle in a straight line with the
accelerator pedal released. Alternatively,
drive slowly forward and backward while
moving the steering wheel from side to side
to allow the electronic differential lock to
lock. High vehicle speed and high accelerator
pedal application inhibit the electronic
locking differential system engagement.
Follow the instruction on the instrument
cluster for engagement and
disengagement.
Note:
You can use the system in any drive
mode 2H, 4H or 4L.
Note: When you engage the system, the
Electronic Stability Program (ESP) functions
such as Stability Control, Traction Control,
Hill Descent Control, Emergency stop signal,
Hill Start Assist and Trailer Sway Control
are deactivated, the ESP Off indicator
illuminates, and the HDC on indicator turns
off.
Note: When the anti-lock braking system
is operating, the system disengages.
The electronic locking differential system
can affect various terrain modes. See
Principle of Operation
(page 180).
Operating Electronic Locking
Differential with Spare or
Mismatched Tires
The size of the spare tire can affect the
performance of the electronic locking
differential system. When there is a
significant size difference between the two
rear tires, you could have limited electronic
locking differential functionality. If your
electronic locking differential has difficulty
disengaging, release your accelerator pedal
and turn the steering wheel in the opposite
direction while rolling forward.
Note: We recommend that you engage and
disengage the electronic locking differential
when stopped, and a spare tire is mounted
on the rear axle.
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PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
The traction control system helps avoid
drive wheel spin and loss of traction.
If your vehicle begins to slide, the system
applies the brakes to individual wheels
and, when needed, reduces engine power
at the same time. If the wheels spin when
accelerating on slippery or loose surfaces,
the system reduces engine power in order
to increase traction.
USING TRACTION CONTROL
WARNING: The stability and
traction control light illuminates steadily
if the system detects a failure. Make sure
you did not manually disable the traction
control system using the information
display controls or the switch. If the
stability control and traction control light
is still illuminating steadily, have the
system serviced by an authorized dealer
immediately. Operating your vehicle with
the traction control disabled could lead
to an increased risk of loss of vehicle
control, vehicle rollover, personal injury
and death.
The system automatically turns on each
time you switch the ignition on.
If your vehicle is stuck in mud or snow,
switching traction control off may be
beneficial as this allows the wheels to spin.
Note: When you switch traction control off,
stability control remains fully active. Switching the System Off The switch for the stability and traction
control system is on the console.
When you switch the system off, a
message and an illuminated icon appear
on the instrument cluster.
Use the switch again to return the traction
control system to normal operation.
Your vehicle may have MyKey restrictions
regarding this feature. See
Principle of
Operation (page 58).
System Indicator Lights and
Messages The stability and traction control
light temporarily illuminates on
engine start-up and flashes:
• When a driving condition activates
either of the systems.
• If a problem occurs in either of the
systems. The stability and traction control
off light temporarily illuminates
on engine start-up and stays on:
• When you switch the traction control
system off.
• When you select an alternative stability
control mode.
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PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
WARNING: Vehicle modifications
involving braking system, aftermarket
roof racks, suspension, steering system,
tire construction and wheel and tire size
may change the handling characteristics
of your vehicle and may adversely affect
the performance of the electronic
stability control system. In addition,
installing any stereo loudspeakers may
interfere with and adversely affect the
electronic stability control system. Install
any aftermarket stereo loudspeaker as
far as possible from the front center
console, the tunnel, and the front seats
in order to minimize the risk of interfering
with the electronic stability control
sensors. Reducing the effectiveness of
the electronic stability control system
could lead to an increased risk of loss of
vehicle control, vehicle rollover, personal
injury and death. WARNING:
Remember that even
advanced technology cannot defy the
laws of physics. It's always possible to
lose control of a vehicle due to
inappropriate driver input for the
conditions. Aggressive driving on any
road condition can cause you to lose
control of your vehicle increasing the risk
of personal injury or property damage.
Activation of the electronic stability
control system is an indication that at
least some of the tires have exceeded
their ability to grip the road; this could
reduce the operator's ability to control
the vehicle potentially resulting in a loss
of vehicle control, vehicle rollover,
personal injury and death. If your
electronic stability control system
activates, SLOW DOWN.
The system automatically turns on each
time you switch the ignition on. If the stability control or traction control
system detects a fault, the following may
occur:
•
The stability and traction control light
illuminates steadily.
• The stability control and traction
control systems do not enhance your
vehicle's ability to maintain traction of
the wheels.
If the stability control or traction control
system activates, the following may occur:
• The stability and traction control light
flashes.
• Your vehicle slows down.
• Reduced engine power.
• A vibration in the brake pedal.
• The brake pedal is stiffer than usual.
• If the driving condition is severe and
your foot is not on the brake pedal, the
pedal may move as the system applies
higher brake force.
The stability control system has several
features built into it to help you maintain
control of your vehicle.
Electronic Stability Control
The system helps to prevent your vehicle
skidding or laterally sliding by individually
applying the brakes to one or more wheels
and, if necessary, reducing engine power.
Roll Stability Control
The system helps to prevent rollovers by
detecting your vehicle's roll motion, and
individually applying the brakes to one or
more wheels.
Traction Control
The system enhances your vehicle's ability
to maintain traction of the wheels by
detecting and controlling wheel spin. See
Using Traction Control
(page 176).
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Ranger (TFG) Canada/United States of America, Vehicles Built From: 23-11-2020, MB3J 19A321 AA enUSA, Edition date: 202009, First-Printing Stability Control

Vehicle without stability control
skidding off its intended route.
A
Vehicle with stability control
maintaining control on a slippery
surface.
B USING STABILITY CONTROL
AdvanceTrac
™ with Roll Stability
Control ™ (RSC™)
The system automatically turns on each
time you switch the ignition on. You can switch the electronic stability
control systems off.
When you shift the transmission into
reverse (R), the systems are disabled.
You can switch the traction control system
off or on independently. See Using
Traction Control (page 176). AdvanceTrac with RSC Features
Traction
control system
Electronic
stabilitycontrol
Roll stability
control
Stability
control OFF light
Button func-
tions
Enabled
Enabled
Enabled
Illuminated
during bulb check
Default at start-
up
Disabled
Enabled
Enabled
Illuminated
Button pressed
momentarily
Disabled
Disabled
After Enabled 1
Illuminated
Button pressed
and held for
more than 5 seconds
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AA
B
BB
B E277072

PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
Using the Terrain Management
System
The terrain management system optimizes
drivability and comfort by maximizing
traction when operating on different types
of terrain.
Press the TM button on the center console
to choose between the following modes:
Note:
Changing terrain modes could
automatically change your 4X4 setting for
optimal performance. Normal - For on-road
conditions. Select this mode
before driving on surfaces which
are similar to a hard road surface or once
the need for a special mode has passed.
Note: This is the default when you switch
on your vehicle and whenever you select 4x2
via the four-wheel drive control. Grass/Gravel/Snow
- For
off-road conditions. Select this
mode where loose or slippery
material such as packed snow, ice, grass,
or a thin layer of gravel or sand covers a
firm surface. If your vehicle cannot gain
traction in deep snow, switching off the
traction control system could help.
Note: Make sure you switch traction control
back on when you regain traction. Mud/Ruts
- For off-road
conditions. Select this mode for
muddy, rutted, soft or uneven
terrain. Sand
- For off-road conditions.
Select this mode in soft dry sand
or deep gravel. If crossing wet
sand that could be sufficiently deep
enough for the wheels to sink into the
surface, select Mud/Ruts mode.
Note: The Grass/Gravel/Snow, Sand and
Mud/Ruts modes are for off-road use only.
Note: The curve control portion of the
AdvanceTrac® system is unavailable when
you select Sand or Mud/Ruts. If the system
becomes inoperable, selecting some modes
may not be possible and a message
displays. If it becomes inoperable due to a
system fault, all of the mode indicators on
the control turn off and one of the following
messages appears in the information
display:
TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
FAULT
Switching the engine on and off may clear
the fault. If that does not work, have the
system serviced by an authorized dealer.
MODE CHANGE NOT ACCEPTED,
RETRY
This mode change cannot be made at the
time of your request. Try the mode change
again.
Off-road Screen
You can continuously monitor the
real-time status of your vehicle's off-road
systems using the information display.
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WHAT IS TRAIL CONTROL
WARNING: The system does not
control speed in low traction conditions
or extremely steep slopes. The system
is designed to be an aid and does not
relieve you of your responsibility to drive
with due care and attention. Failure to
follow this instruction could result in
personal injury. WARNING:
The system does not
replace the parking brake. When you
leave your vehicle, always apply the
parking brake and shift the transmission
into park (P) for automatic transmission
or first gear for manual transmission.
Trail control lets you focus on steering
during low-speed and off-road use by
controlling your vehicle's acceleration and
braking.
You can use trail control under the
following speeds:
• 20 mph (31 km/h)
in two-wheel or
four-wheel drive high range.
• 10 mph (15 km/h)
in four-wheel drive
low range.
• 5 mph (8 km/h)
in reverse (R).
You may hear a noise from the anti-lock
brake system pump motor when you use
the system. This is normal.
SWITCHING TRAIL CONTROL
ON AND OFF Press the button.
The system switches off if you press the
button again or exceed 42 mph (68 km/h). SETTING THE TRAIL CONTROL
SPEED
Note:
The buttons are on the steering
wheel.
Drive to the speed you prefer. Press the button to increase the
current set speed.
Press the button to decrease the
current set speed.
Note: The indicator changes color.
You can adjust the set speed in small or
large increments. Press the toggle button
upward or downward once to adjust the
set speed in small increments. Press and
hold the toggle button upward or
downward to adjust the set speed in large
increments.
You can also adjust the set speed by
braking.
Note: Pressing the brake pedal does not
switch off the system.
CANCELING THE SET SPEED Press the button.
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When you press the accelerator pedal, you
override the set speed and gap distance.
Use the accelerator pedal
normally to intentionally exceed
the set speed limit.
When you override the system, the green
indicator light illuminates and the vehicle
image does not appear in the information
display.
The system resumes operation when you
release the accelerator pedal. The vehicle
speed decreases to the set speed, or a
lower speed if following a slower vehicle.
Changing the Set Speed Press and release to increase the
set speed in small increments.
Press and release to decrease
the set speed in small
increments.
Press and hold either button to change the
set speed in large increments. Release the
button when you reach the speed you
prefer.
Press the accelerator or brake pedal until
you reach the speed you prefer. Press
either button.
The system may apply the brakes to slow
the vehicle to the new set speed. The set
speed displays continuously in the
information display when the system is
active.
Canceling the Set Speed Press and release the button or
tap the brake pedal.
The set speed does not erase. Resuming the Set Speed Press and release the button.
Your vehicle speed returns to the
previously set speed and gap setting. The
set speed displays continuously in the
information display when the system is
active.
Note: Only use resume if you are aware of
the set speed and intend to return to it.
Automatic Cancellation
The system is not functional at vehicle
speeds below 12 mph (20 km/h). The
information display indicates low engine
speed, an audible alarm sounds and the
automatic braking releases if the vehicle
drops below this speed.
Automatic cancellation can also occur
when:
• The tires lose traction.
• You apply the parking brake.
Note: If the engine speed drops too low, an
audible warning sounds and a message
appears in the information display.
Automatic braking releases.
Hilly Condition Usage
Note: An audible alarm sounds and the
system shuts down if it applies brakes for
an extended period of time. This allows the
brakes to cool. The system functions
normally again when the brakes have
cooled.
Select a lower gear during prolonged
downhill driving on steep slopes, such as
mountainous areas, when the system is
active. In such situations, the system needs
additional engine braking to reduce the
load on the vehicle ’s regular brake system
to prevent the brakes from overheating.
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•
Transmissions give their best fuel
economy when operated in the top
cruise gear and with steady pressure
on the gas pedal.
• Four-wheel-drive operation (if
equipped) is less fuel efficient than
two-wheel-drive operation.
COLD WEATHER
PRECAUTIONS
The functional operation of some
components and systems can be affected
at temperatures below approximately
-13°F (-25°C).
OFF-ROAD DRIVING
Before going off-roading, consult with your
local governmental agencies to determine
designated off-road trails and recreation
areas. Also, be sure to understand any
off-road vehicle registration requirements
for the area in which you plan on driving.
Before taking your vehicle off-roading, a
basic vehicle inspection should be done to
make sure that the vehicle is in top working
condition.
Basic Off-road Driving Techniques
• Grip the steering wheel with thumbs
on the outside of the rim. This reduces
the risk of injury due to abrupt steering
wheel motions that occur when
negotiating rough terrain. Do not grip
the steering wheel with thumbs inside
the rim.
• Look ahead on your route noting
upcoming obstacles, surface texture
or color changes or any other factors
which may indicate a change in
available traction, and adjust the
vehicle speed and route accordingly. •
Always keep available ground
clearance in mind and pick a route that
minimizes the risk of catching the
underside of the vehicle on an obstacle.
• When negotiating low speed obstacles,
applying light brake pressure in
conjunction with the throttle helps
prevent the vehicle from jerking and
allows you to negotiate the obstacle
in a more controlled manner. Using 4L
also helps with this.
Crossing Obstacles
• Review the path ahead before
attempting to cross any obstacle. It is
best if the obstacle is reviewed from
outside the vehicle so that there is a
good understanding of terrain condition
both in front of and behind the
obstacle.
• If a large obstacle such as a rock
cannot be avoided, choose a path that
places the rock directly under the tire
rather than the undercarriage of the
vehicle. This helps prevent damage to
your vehicle.
Hill Climbing WARNING:
Extreme care should
be used when steering the vehicle in
reverse down a slope so as not to cause
the vehicle to swerve out of control.
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•
Always attempt to climb a steep hill
along the fall line of the slope and not
diagonally.
• If the vehicle is unable to make it up
the hill, DO NOT attempt to turn back
down the slope. Place the vehicle in
low range and slowly back down in
reverse.
• When descending a steep slope, select
low gear and activate hill descent
control. Use the throttle and brake
pedals to control your descent speed
as described earlier in this section using
hill descent control. Hill descent control
is functional in reverse (R) and should
be used in this situation.
After Off-Road Driving
It is important to complete a full vehicle
inspection after off-road driving. Some
items to check include:
• Check the wheels and undercarriage
for a buildup of mud or debris, which
can cause vehicle vibration.
• Make sure that the grille and radiator
are clear of any obstructions that may
affect cooling.
• Make sure that the brakes are in proper
working order and free of any mud,
stones and debris, which can become
trapped around the brake rotor,
backing plate and caliper.
• Check that the air filter is clean and dry.
• Inspect for torn or punctured boots on
ball joints, half shafts, steering gears.
• Inspect exhaust system for damage or
looseness.
• Inspect undercarriage fasteners. If any
are loose or damaged, tighten or
replace and make sure that you use the
proper torque specification. •
Inspect the wheels for dents, cracks,
or other damage.
• Clear any debris from the exhaust
components. For example, grass or hay.
DRIVING THROUGH WATER WARNING: Do not drive through
flowing or deep water as you may lose
control of your vehicle.
Note: Driving through standing water can
cause vehicle damage.
Note: Engine damage can occur if water
enters the air filter.
Before driving through standing water,
check the depth. Never drive through water
that is higher than the bottom of the wheel
hubs. When driving through standing water, drive
very slowly and do not stop your vehicle.
Your brake performance and traction may
be limited. After driving through water and
as soon as it is safe to do so:
•
Lightly press the brake pedal to dry the
brakes and to check that they work.
• Check that the horn works.
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