1997 FORD F150 wheel

increase the performance of your
vehicle up to the permitted
maximum speeds.
INFORMATION ABOUT THIS
GUIDE
The information found in this
guide was in effect at the time of
printing. Ford may change the
contents without notice and
without incurring obligation.
Notice to owners of utility type
vehicles
Before you drive your vehicle,
please read this Owner's Guide
carefully. Your vehicle is not a
passenger car. As with other
vehicles of this type, failure to
operate this vehicle correctly may
result in loss of control or an
accident.
Be sure to readDriving off road
in theDrivingchapter as well as
the ªFour Wheelingº supplement
included with 4WD and utility type
vehicles.
Using your vehicle with a
snowplow
For more information and
guidelines for using your vehicle
with a snowplow, refer to the
Drivingchapter.
Using your light truck as an
ambulance
Do not use this vehicle as
an ambulance.
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Introduction
3

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
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Instrumentation
11

Positions of the ignition
1 (Accessory)- allows electrical
accessories such as the audio
system and wiper/washer to
operate when the engine is not
running.
2 (Lock)- locks the steering
wheel and automatic gearshift
lever (if equipped).
35
2
4
1
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Controls and features
32

3 (Off)- shuts off the engine and
all accessories without locking the
steering wheel.
4 (On)- tests the warning lights.
Key remains here when engine is
running.
5 (Start)- cranks the engine. Key
returns to 4(On) when released.
Speed control (if equipped)
To turn speed control on
²Press ON
To turn speed control off
²Press OFF or
²Turn off the vehicle ignition.
Once speed control is switched off,
the previously programmed set
speed will be erased.
To set a speed
Press SET ACCEL. For speed
control to operate, the speed
control must be ON and the
vehicle speed must be greater than
48 km/h (30 mph).
ON
OFF
RES
SET
ACCEL
COAST
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Controls and features
33

Tilt steering (if equipped)
Pull the lever to adjust the
steering column angle. Push the
lever back up to lock the steering
wheel into position.
Never adjust the steering
wheel when the vehicle is
moving.
OVERHEAD CONTROLS
Dome/map lamp (if equipped)
Press either the left or right switch
to activate the left or right map
lamps.
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40

BRAKES
Rear anti-lock brake system
(ABS) (if equipped)
This system prevents one or both
rear wheels from locking up when
the brakes are applied during a
sudden stop.
Even with rear ABS, the front
brakes may lock up on any surface.
Be careful when braking, especially
on loose snow or gravel.
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) (if
equipped)
The ABS operates by detecting the
onset of wheel lock up during
brake applications and
compensating for this tendency.
The front wheels are prevented
from locking even when the brakes
are firmly applied. The
accompanying illustration depicts
the advantage of an ABS equipped
vehicle (on bottom) to a non-ABS
equipped vehicle (on top) during
hard braking.
Using ABS
²In an emergency, apply full force
on the brake. The ABS will be
activated immediately, thus
allowing you to retain full
steering control of your vehicle
and, providing there is sufficient
space, will enable you to avoid
obstacles and bring the vehicle
to a quiet stop.
²We recommend that you
familiarize yourself with this
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Driving
91

particularly when one or more
wheels are on a surface with poor
traction.
AIR SUSPENSION (IF
EQUIPPED)
The air suspension system for the
rear wheels is designed to keep
your vehicle at a constant level by
adding or releasing air from the
rear springs to compensate for
increases or decreases in vehicle
load.
Normal vehicle operation does not
require any action by the driver.
The air suspension switch is
located behind an access panel
underneath the passenger side
instrument panel.
Press the air suspension switch to
OFF when jacking or hoisting your
vehicle.
On vehicles equipped with
Air Suspension, turn OFF
the Air Suspension switch prior
to jacking, hoisting or towing
your vehicle.
OFF
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Driving
95

Removing key from ignition
Turn the ignition key to Lock.
Push the release lever forward
while removing the key from the
ignition.
FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE
OPERATION (4WD) (IF
EQUIPPED)
When Four±wheel drive (4WD) is
engaged, power is supplied to all
four wheels through a transfer
case. 4WD power can be selected
when additional driving power is
desired.
All utility-type vehicles and 4WD
vehicles have special design and
equipment features to make them
capable of performing in a wide
variety of off-road applications.
Specific design characteristics give
them higher centers of gravity than
ordinary passenger cars.
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Driving
105