1997 FORD F150 service

Engine coolant temperature
Illuminates briefly when the
ignition key is turned to On (light
from optional cluster shown).
Illuminates when the engine
coolant temperature is high. Stop
the engine and check the engine
coolant temperature level as soon
as possible. Refer toChecking
and adding engine coolantand
What you should know about
fail-safe coolingin the
Maintenance and caresection.
Oil pressure
Illuminates briefly when the
ignition key is turned to On (light
from base cluster shown).
Illuminates when the oil pressure
is low. Stop the engine and check
the engine oil level as soon as
possible. Refer toChecking and
adding engine oilin the
Maintenance and caresection.
Door ajar
Illuminates when the ignition
switch is in the ON or START
position and any door is open.
Charging system
Briefly illuminates when the
ignition is turned on and the
engine is off. The light also
illuminates when the battery is not
charging properly, requiring
electrical system service.
DOOR
AJAR
f12_oil_pressure
com_door-ajar.02
com_charging_system.01
com_brake_system.01
Instrumentation
9

Brake system warning
Extinguishes when the parking
brake is released. Illumination after
releasing the parking brake
indicates low brake fluid level.
Safety belt
Illuminates when the ignition is
switched on to remind you to
fasten your safety belts. For more
information, refer toUsing the
safety restraints properlyin the
Seating and safety restraints
chapter.
Air bag readiness
Briefly illuminates when the
ignition is turned to On. If the light
fails to illuminate, continues to
flash or remains on, have the
system serviced. For more
information, refer to
Supplemental restraints system
(SRS)in theSeating and safety
restraintschapter.
Check engine warning light
This light illuminates when the
engine's Emission Control System
requires service. It will also
illuminate when the ignition key is
in the On position and the engine
is off. Refer toWhat you should
know about the on-board
diagnostic (OBD II) systemin the
Maintenance and carechapter.
!
BRAKE
CHECK
ENGINE
com_safety_belt.01
f12_air_bag_readiness
f12_check_engine
f12_tcil_light
Instrumentation
10

Transmission control indicator
light (TCIL)
The TCIL (OFF), located on the
end of the gearshift lever, may
flash steadily if a malfunction has
been detected. If the TCIL is
flashing, contact your Ford dealer
as soon as possible. If this
condition persists, damage to the
transmission could occur.
For more information, refer to the
Drivingchapter.
4x4 light (if equipped)
Illuminates when 4H (Four-Wheel
Drive) or 4L (Four-Wheel Drive
Low) is engaged.
4x4 low range (if equipped)
Illuminates when 4L (Four-Wheel
Drive Low) is engaged.
Anti-lock brake system (ABS)
Momentarily illuminates when the
ignition is turned on and the
engine is off. If the light stays on
or continues to flash, the ABS
needs to be serviced.
Fuel reset
Illuminates when the ignition key
is turned to the ON position and
the fuel pump shut-off switch has
been triggered. For more
information, refer toFuel pump
shut-off switchin theRoadside
emergencieschapter.
OVERDRIVE OFF
4x4
LOW
RANGE
ABS
FUEL
RESET
f12_4x4_light
f12_4x4_low
com_anti-lock_brake.01
com_fuel_reset.01
com_anti-theft_alarm.01
Instrumentation
11

warning and indicator lights shown
above will illiminate for a brief
time. If any of these lights do not
illuminate, contact your dealer for
service.
Headlamps on warning chime
Sounds when the headlamps are
on, the key is out of the ignition
and any door is opened.
Key-in-ignition warning chime
Sounds when the key is left in the
ignition and any door is opened.
The chime is not active when the
ignition key is in the On position.
Safety belt warning chime
For information on the safety belt
warning chime, refer to the
Seating and safety restraints
chapter.
Supplemental restraint system
(SRS) warning chime
For information on the SRS
warning chime, refer to the
Seating and safety restraints
chapter.
f12_headlamps_on
f12_key_in_ignition
com_safety_chime.01
com_srs_chime.01
f12_gauges
Instrumentation
13

The right front passenger
air bag is not designed to
restrain occupants in the front
seating position.
Do not place objects or
mount equipment on or
near the air bag covers that may
come into contact with an
inflating air bag.
Do not attempt to service,
repair, or modify the Air
Bag Supplemental Restraint
System or its fuses. See your
Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer.
Children and air bags
For additional important safety
information, read all information
on safety restraints in this guide.
com_children.01
Seating and safety restraints
67

A difficulty with the system is
indicated by one or more of the
following:
²The readiness light will either
flash or stay lit.
²The readiness light will not
illuminate immediately after
ignition is turned on.
²A group of five beeps will be
heard. The tone pattern will
repeat periodically until the
problem and light are repaired.
If any of these things happen, even
intermittently, have the SRS
serviced at your dealership or by a
qualified technician immediately.
Unless serviced, the system may
not function properly in the event
of a collision.
Passenger air bag deactivate
switch
Your vehicle has a passenger air
bag deactivate switch. This switch
MUST be used to activate or
deactivate the passenger air bag
whenever a rear-facing infant seat
is used in the right front or center
front passenger seat position.
PASSENGER AIRBAG
ON
OFF OFF
f12_srs_deactivate
Seating and safety restraints
71

Keep the passenger air bag
turned on unless there is a
rear-facing infant seat installed in
the front seat. When the
passenger air bag switch is
turned off, the passenger air bag
will not inflate in a collision.
If the passenger air bag switch is
turned off, it increases the
likelihood of injury to forward
facing occupants in the passenger
seat.
Turning the passenger air bag
off
1. Insert the ignition key, turn the
switch to OFF and remove the key.
2. The OFF light illuminates when
the key is inserted in the ignition
and turned to On. This indicates
that the passenger air bag is
deactivated.
If the light fails to
illuminate when the
passenger air bag switch is in the
OFF position and the ignition
switch is in ON, have the
passenger air bag switch serviced
at your Ford or Lincoln-Mercury
dealer immediately.
PASSENGER AIRBAG
ON
OFF OFF
Seating and safety restraints
72

In order to avoid
inadvertent deployment of
the passenger air bag, always
remove the ignition key from the
passenger air bag deactivate
switch.
Turning the passenger air bag
back on
The passenger air bag remains off
until you turn it back on.
1. Insert the ignition key and turn
the switch to ON.
2. The OFF light will not illuminate
when the ignition is turned to On.
If the light is illuminated
when the passenger air
bag switch is in the ON position
and the ignition switch is in ON,
have the passenger air bag
switch serviced at your Ford or
Lincoln-Mercury dealer
immediately.
PASSENGER AIRBAG
ON
OFF OFF
Seating and safety restraints
73