brakes FORD SUPER DUTY 2008 2.G Owners Manual

Locks and Security 136
Keys 136
Locks 136
Anti-theft system 148
Seating and Safety Restraints 151
Seating 151
Safety restraints 158
Airbags 171
Child restraints 180
Tires, Wheels and Loading 192
Tire information 195
Tire inflation 196
Vehicle loading 212
Trailer towing 219
Trailer brake controller-integrated 223
Recreational towing 230
Driving 231
Starting 231
Brakes 235
Traction Control™ 237
Transmission operation 240
Roadside Emergencies 265
Getting roadside assistance 265
Hazard flasher switch 267
Fuel pump shut-off switch 267
Fuses and relays 268
Changing tires 277
Lug nut torque 289
Jump starting 290
Wrecker towing 296
Table of Contents
2
2008 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)

Setting speed control
The controls for using your speed
control are located on the steering
wheel for your convenience.
1. Press the ON control and release
it.
2. Accelerate to the desired speed.
3. Press the SET + control and
release it.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator
pedal.
5. The indicator light
on the
instrument cluster will turn on.
Note:
•Vehicle speed may vary momentarily when driving up and down a
steep hill.
•If the vehicle speed increases above the set speed on a downhill, you
may want to apply the brakes to reduce the speed.
•If the vehicle speed decreases more than 10 mph (16 km/h) below
your set speed on an uphill, your speed control will disengage.
2008 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Driver Controls
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PARK BRAKE ENGAGEDDisplayed when the parking brake is applied
(or not fully released).
CHECK BRAKE SYSTEMDisplayed when a fault has been detected by
the ABS module.
TRAILER FAULT (if equipped):Displayed if there is a short circuit on
the electric brake output wire or the trailer brakes are drawing too much
current. Refer toIntegrated trailer brake controllerin theTires,
Wheels and Loadingchapter for more information.
TBC FAULT (if equipped):Displayed in response to faults sensed by
the trailer brake controller (TBC). In the event this message is seen,
please take your vehicle to an authorized dealer for diagnosis and repair.
Refer toIntegrated trailer brake controllerin theTires, Wheels and
Loadingchapter for more information.
TRAILER DISCONNECTED (if equipped):Displayed when a trailer
connection becomes disconnected, either intentionally or unintentionally,
and has been sensed during a given ignition cycle. Refer toIntegrated
trailer brake controllerin theTires, Wheels and Loadingchapter for
more information.
CHECK AIR FILTER (Diesel engine only):Refer toInstrument
Clusterin your6.0/6.4 Liter Power Stroke Direct Injection Turbo
Diesel Owner’s Guide Supplement.
LOW BRAKE FLUID LEVELIndicates the brake fluid level is low and
the brake system should be inspected immediately. Refer toBrake fluid
in theMaintenance and Specificationschapter.
DRAIN WATER SEPARATOR (Diesel engine only)Displayed when
the water separator has reached a predetermined capacity and needs to
be drained. Refer to your6.0/6.4 Liter Power Stroke Direct Injection
Turbo Diesel Owner’s Guide Supplementfor more information.
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Driver Controls
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TRAILER FAULT (if equipped):Displayed if there is a short circuit on
the electric brake output wire or the trailer brakes are drawing too much
current. Refer toIntegrated trailer brake controllerin theTires,
Wheels and Loadingchapter for more information.
TBC FAULT (if equipped):Displayed in response to faults sensed by
the trailer brake controller (TBC). In the event this message is seen,
please take your vehicle to an authorized dealer for diagnosis and repair.
Refer toIntegrated trailer brake controllerin theTires, Wheels and
Loadingchapter for more information.
TRAILER DISCONNECTED (if equipped):Displayed when a trailer
connection becomes disconnected, either intentionally or unintentionally,
and has been sensed during a given ignition cycle. Refer toIntegrated
trailer brake controllerin theTires, Wheels and Loadingchapter for
more information.
CHECK AIR FILTER (Diesel engine only):Refer toInstrument
Clusterin your6.0/6.4 Liter Power Stroke Direct Injection Turbo
Diesel Owner’s Guide Supplement.
LOW BRAKE FLUID LEVELIndicates the brake fluid level is low and
the brake system should be inspected immediately. Refer toBrake fluid
in theMaintenance and Specificationschapter.
DRAIN WATER SEPARATOR (Diesel engine only)Displayed when
the water separator has reached a predetermined capacity and needs to
be drained. Refer to your6.0/6.4 Liter Power Stroke Direct Injection
Turbo Diesel Owner’s Guide Supplementfor more information.
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Driver Controls
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Combination lap and shoulder belts
1. Insert the belt tongue into the
proper buckle (the buckle closest to
the direction the tongue is coming
from) until you hear a snap and feel
it latch. Make sure the tongue is
securely fastened in the buckle.
2. To unfasten, push the release
button and remove the tongue from
the buckle.
Vehicle sensitive mode
Combination lap and shoulder belts in normal retractor mode allow free
shoulder belt length adjustment to your movements and locking in
response to vehicle movement. For example, if the driver brakes
suddenly or turns a corner sharply, or the vehicle receives an impact of
approximately 5 mph (8 km/h) or more, the combination safety belts will
lock to help reduce forward movement of the driver and passengers.
Belt sensitive mode
Combination lap and shoulder belts can also be made to lock manually by
quickly pulling on the shoulder belt.
Automatic locking mode
When to use the automatic locking mode
In this mode, the shoulder belt is automatically pre-locked. The belt will
still retract to remove any slack in the shoulder belt. The automatic
locking mode is not available on the driver safety belt.
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Seating and Safety Restraints
160

GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating)– is the maximum
allowable weight of the fully loaded
vehicle (including all options,
equipment, passengers and cargo).
The GVWR is shown on the
Safety Compliance Certification
Label located on the B-Pillar or
the edge of the driver’s door.
The GVW must never exceed the
GVWR.
GCW (Gross Combined Weight)– is the weight of the loaded vehicle
(GVW) plus the weight of the fully loaded trailer.
GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating)– is the maximum allowable
weight of the vehicle and the loaded trailer – including all cargo and
passengers – that the vehicle can handle without risking damage.
(Important: The towing vehicles’ braking system is rated for operation at
GVWR, not at GCWR. Separate functional brakes should be used for safe
control of towed vehicles and for trailers where the GCW of the towing
vehicle plus the trailer exceed the GVWR of the towing vehicle.The
GCW must never exceed the GCWR.
Maximum Loaded Trailer Weight– is the highest possible weight of a
fully loaded trailer the vehicle can tow. It assumes a vehicle with only
mandatory options, no cargo (internal or external), a tongue load of
10–15% (conventional trailer) or king pin weight of 15–25% (fifth wheel
trailer), and driver only (150 lb. [68 kg]).Consult your authorized
dealer (or theRV and Trailer Towing Guideprovided by your
authorized dealer) for more detailed information.
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Tires, Wheels and Loading
216

Loaded vehicles may handle differently than unloaded vehicles.
Extra precautions, such as slower speeds and increased stopping
distance, should be taken when driving a heavily loaded vehicle.
Your vehicle can haul more cargo and people than most passenger cars.
Depending upon the type and placement of the load, hauling cargo and
people may raise the center of gravity of the vehicle.
TRAILER TOWING
Note:The trailer towing charts in this section apply to vehicles equipped
with gasoline engines; for vehicles equipped with diesel engines, refer to
your6.0/6.4 Liter Power Stroke Direct Injection Turbo Diesel Owner’s
Guide Supplement.
Your vehicle may tow a Conventional/Class IV trailer or fifth wheel trailer
provided the maximum trailer weight is less than or equal to the
maximum trailer weight listed for your engine and rear axle ratio on the
following charts.
To calculate your maximum trailer weight:
For pickup trucks:Take curb weight, hitch hardware and the driver’s
weight, then subtract them from the GCWR listed for your vehicle series,
engine, transmission and drive axle ratio(refer to the chart/table in the
following text). This calculation will give you the maximum trailer
weight possible for your vehicle.
For chassis cabs and pickup trucks with aftermarket equipment:
Weigh your vehicle at a certified scale and subtract this actual curb
weight, hitch hardware, and the driver’s weight from the GCWR listed for
your vehicle series, engine, transmission and drive axle ratio(refer to
the chart/table in the following text). This calculation will give you the
maximum trailer weight possible for your vehicle.
The weight of all additional cargo and passengers must be subtracted
from the maximum trailer weight calculated above.
Further trailer/hitch restrictions and limitations exist depending on the
type of trailer and hitch used. These additional maximum trailer weight
and tongue load limitations are listed in the chart/table that follows the
listing of GCWRs.
Towing a trailer places an additional load on your vehicle’s engine,
transmission, axle, brakes, tires and suspension. Inspect these
components carefully prior to and after any towing operation. Refer to
Transmission fluid temperature gaugein theInstrument Cluster
chapter for the transmission fluid temperature information.
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Tires, Wheels and Loading
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Note:Adjusting a weight distributing hitch so the rear bumper of the
vehicle is higher than it was unloaded will defeat the function of the
weight distributing hitch and may cause unpredictable handling.
Safety chains
Always connect the trailer’s safety chains to the frame or hook retainers
of the vehicle hitch. To connect the trailer’s safety chains, cross the
chains under the trailer tongue and allow slack for turning corners.
If you use a rental trailer, follow the instructions that the rental agency
gives to you.
Do not attach safety chains to the bumper.
Trailer brakes
Electric brakes and manual, automatic or surge-type trailer brakes are
safe if installed properly and adjusted to the manufacturer’s
specifications. The trailer brakes must meet local and Federal
regulations.
If you own a trailer with a hydraulic brake system, do not
connect the trailer’s hydraulic brake system directly to your
vehicle’s brake system. The vehicle’s brake system is only designed to
carry the appropriate amount of brake fluid for the vehicle alone.
Connecting a hydraulic trailer braking system could adversely affect
your vehicle’s braking performance.
The braking system of the tow vehicle is rated for operation at the
GVWR not GCWR.
Integrated trailer brake controller (if equipped)
Your vehicle may be equipped with a fully integrated electronic Trailer
Brake Controller (TBC). When used properly, the TBC helps ensure
smooth and effective trailer braking by powering the trailer’s electric
brakes with a proportional output based on the towing vehicle’s brake
pressure.
The Ford TBC has only been verified to be compatible with
trailers having electric-actuated drum brakes (one to four axles)
and not hydraulic surge or electric-over-hydraulic types. It is the
responsibility of the customer to ensure that the trailer brakes are
adjusted appropriately, functioning normally and all electric
connections are properly made.
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Tires, Wheels and Loading
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The TBC user interface consists of
the following:
1.+/- (GAIN adjustment
buttons):Pressing these buttons
will adjust the TBC’s power output
to the trailer brakes (in 0.5
increments). The GAIN setting can
be increased to a maximum of 10.0
or decreased to a minimum of 0 (no
trailer braking). Pressing and
holding a button will raise or lower
the setting continuously.
2.Trailer connection indicator:This lamp indicates trailer electrical
connection status.
•When a successful trailer connection is detected, the indicator will be
green.
•If the electrical connection is lost, the indicator will flash red. If the
connection is lost while the vehicle is stationary, the indicator will turn
off after 30 seconds. If the connection is lost while the vehicle is
moving, the indicator will flash until the ignition is turned off, then on
again or if there is a reconnection.
•If no electrical connection is detected after the ignition is turned on,
pressing a GAIN adjustment button will display the GAIN setting.
Sliding the manual control will display the GAIN setting, OUTPUT bar
graph and light the trailer indicator red.
3.GAIN setting display:Shows the current GAIN setting. This will
illuminate when a trailer is connected, flash if the trailer becomes
disconnected, or remain off if no trailer is connected.
4.OUTPUT bar graph:When the vehicle’s brake pedal is pushed, or
when the manual control is activated, green bar indicators will illuminate
to indicate the amount of power going to the trailer brakes relative to
the brake pedal or manual control input.
5.Manual control lever:Slide the control lever to the left to activate
power to the trailer’s electric brakes independent of the tow vehicle’s
brakes (see the followingProcedure for adjusting GAINsection for
instructions on proper use of this feature). If the manual control is
activated while the brake is also applied, the greater of the two inputs
determines the power sent to the trailer brakes.
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Tires, Wheels and Loading
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•Stop Lamps:Activating the TBC manual control lever will illuminate
both the trailer brake lamps and the tow vehicle brake lamps except
the Center High-Mount Stop Lamp (presuming proper trailer electrical
connection). Pressing the vehicle brake pedal will also illuminate both
trailer and vehicle brake lamps.
GAIN
The GAIN setting is used to set the TBC for the specific towing
condition and should be changed as towing conditions change. Changes
to towing conditions include trailer load, vehicle load, road conditions
and weather.
The GAIN should be set to provide the maximum trailer braking
assistance while ensuring the trailer wheels do not lock when braking.
Locked trailer wheels may lead to trailer instability.
Procedure for adjusting GAIN:
Note:This should only be performed in a traffic free environment at
speeds of approximately 20 – 25 mph (30 – 40 km/h).
1. Make sure the trailer brakes are in good working condition,
functioning normally, and properly adjusted. See your trailer dealer if
necessary.
2. Hook-up the trailer and make the electrical connections according to
the trailer manufacturer’s instructions.
3. When a trailer with electric brakes is plugged in, the trailer connection
indicator will illuminate green on the TBC and the GAIN setting display
will illuminate.
4. Use the GAIN adjustment (+/-) buttons to increase or decrease the
GAIN setting to the desired starting point. (A GAIN setting of 6.0 is a
good starting point for heavier loads.)
5. In a traffic-free environment, tow the trailer on a dry, level surface at
a speed of 20 – 25 mph (30 – 40 km/h) and squeeze the manual control
lever completely.
6. If the trailer wheels lock-up (indicated by squealing tires), reduce the
GAIN setting; if the trailer wheels turn freely, increase the GAIN setting.
Repeat Steps 5 and 6 until the GAIN setting is at a point just below
trailer wheel lock-up. If towing a heavier trailer, trailer wheel lockup may
not be attainable even with the maximum GAIN setting of 10.
Explanation of instrument cluster messages:
The TBC interacts with the instrument cluster message center. These
messages, accompanied by a single chime, will be displayed when the
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Tires, Wheels and Loading
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