1998 FORD EXPEDITION Owners Manual

Do not rock the vehicle for
more than a few minutes. The
transmission and tires may be
damaged or the engine may
overheat.
Always set the parking
brake fully and make sure
the gearshift is latched in P
(Park). Turn off the ignition
whenever you leave your vehicle.
Driving with a 4±speed
automatic transmission
Understanding gearshift
positions
Pull the gearshift lever towards
you and downward to move the
automatic gearshift.
Hold the brake pedal down
while you move the
gearshift lever from position to
position. If you do not hold the
brake pedal down, your vehicle
may move unexpectedly and
injure someone.
P (Park)
Always come to a complete stop
before shifting into P (Park). Make
sure the gearshift is securely
latched in P (Park).
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R (Reverse)
With the gearshift in R (Reverse),
the vehicle will move backward.
Always come to a complete stop
before shifting into and out of R
(Reverse).
N (Neutral)
With the gearshift in N (Neutral),
the vehicle can be started and is
free to roll. Hold the brake pedal
down while in this gear.
(Overdrive)
The normal driving position for the
best fuel economy. Transmission
operates in gears one through four.
(Overdrive) can be deactivated
by pressing the transmission
control switch on the end of the
gearshift lever.
The transmission control indicator
light (TCIL) (the word OFF) on
the end of the gearshift lever will
illuminate.
Drive± Not shown on the display.
Activate by pressing the
transmission control switch on the
end of the gearshift lever with the
gearshift in the
position. The
TCIL (the word OFF) will
illuminate on the gearshift lever.
Transmission operates in gears one
through three.
(Drive) provides
OVERDRIVEOFF
OVERDRIVE
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more engine braking than
(Overdrive) and is useful when:
²driving with a heavy load
²towing a trailer up or down
steep hills
²additional engine downhill
braking is desired. If towing a
trailer, refer toDriving while
you towin theTowing a trailer
chapter.
To return to
(Overdrive) mode,
press the transmission control
switch. The TCIL (the word OFF)
will no longer be illuminated.
Each time the vehicle is started,
the transmission will automatically
return to normal overdrive mode.
Every time the vehicle is shut off
and restarted, you must press the
transmission control switch to
cancel overdrive operation if
driving in overdrive is not desired.
2 (Second)
Use 2 (Second) to start-up on
slippery roads or to provide
additional engine braking on
downgrades.
1 (First)
Use 1 (Low) to provide maximum
engine braking on steep
downgrades. Upshifts can be made
by shifting to 2 (Second) or to
(Overdrive). Selecting 1 (Low)
at higher speeds causes the
transmission to shift to a lower
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gear, and will shift to 1 (Low) after
vehicle decelerates to the proper
speed.
CONTROL-TRAC AUTOMATIC
FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM
(IF EQUIPPED)
Your 4x4 features a heavy-duty
Control-Trac system, including a
computer-operated transfer case.
Coupled with a
center-disconnected front axle, this
unique system is interactive with
the road, continually monitoring
and adjusting torque delivery to
the front and rear wheels to
optimize vehicle control.
Positions of the Control-Trac
system
The Control-Trac A4WD system
functions in four modes:
²2Hposition delivers power only
to the rear axle.
²A4WDposition delivers power
to the rear axle. If the rear
wheels lose traction, power will
be automatically delivered to the
front axle to maintain traction
throughout the slippery
condition.
²4Hposition provides
mechanically locked four-wheel
drive power delivery to front
and rear axles.
²4Lposition provides
mechanically locked four-wheel
4H
2HA4WD4L
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drive when above average power
at reduced speeds is required.
Utility and four-wheel
drive vehicles arenot
designed for cornering at speeds
as high as passenger cars any
more than low-slung sports cars
are designed to perform
satisfactorily under off-road
conditions. Avoid sharp turns or
abrupt maneuvers in these
vehicles.
Using the Control-Trac system
Shifting to A4WD
Move the 4WD control to A4WD at
a stop or at speeds up to 88 km/h
(55 mph).
²At temperatures below 0ÉC
(32ÉF), shifts from 2H to A4WD
or 4H should not be performed
above 72 km/h (45 mph).
²Do not shift into A4WD when
only the rear wheels are
spinning.
Shifting to 2H
Move the 4WD control to 2H at
any forward speed.
4H
2HA4WD4L
4H
2HA4WD4L
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Shifting from 4H to 4L (and 4L
to 4H)
1. Bring the vehicle to a stop.
2. Depress the brake.
3. Place the gearshift in N
(Neutral).
4. Move the 4WD control to the 4H
(or 4L) position.
Shifting from A4WD to 4H
Move the 4WD control from A4WD
to 4H at any forward speed.
Shifting from 2H to 4H can be
done at speeds up to 88 km
(55 mph).
Driving off-road with 4WD
Your vehicle is specially equipped
for driving on sand, snow, mud and
rough terrain and has operating
characteristics that are somewhat
different from conventional
vehicles, both on and off the road.
Maintain steering wheel control at
all times, especially in rough
terrain. Since sudden changes in
terrain can result in abrupt
steering wheel motion, make sure
you grip the steering wheel from
4H
2HA4WD4L
4H
2HA4WD4L
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the outside. Do not grip the
spokes.
Drive cautiously to avoid vehicle
damage from concealed objects
such as rocks and stumps.
You should either know the terrain
or examine maps of the area
before driving. Map out your route
before driving in the area. For
more information on driving
off-road, read the ªFour Wheelingº
supplement in your owner's
portfolio.
If your vehicle gets stuck
If the vehicle is stuck, shift the
transmission in a steady motion
between forward and reverse
gears. Allow the transmission to
engage, then press lightly on the
accelerator.
Do not rock the vehicle for
more than a few minutes. The
transmission and tires may be
damaged or the engine can
overheat.
Do not spin the wheels at
over 56 km/h (35 mph).
The tires may fail and injure a
passenger or bystander.
Sand
When driving over sand, try to
keep all four wheels on the most
solid area of the trail. Do not
reduce the tire pressures but shift
to a lower gear and drive steadily
through the terrain. Apply the
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accelerator slowly and avoid
spinning the wheels.
Mud and water
If you must drive through high
water, drive slowly. Traction or
brake capability may be limited.
When driving through water,
determine the depth; avoid water
higher than the bottom of the hubs
(if possible) and proceed slowly. If
the ignition system gets wet, the
vehicle may stall.
Once through water, always try the
brakes. Wet brakes do not stop the
vehicle as effectively as dry brakes.
Drying can be improved by moving
your vehicle slowly while applying
light pressure on the brake pedal.
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.
If the transmission and transfer
case are submerged in water, their
fluids should be checked and
changed, if necessary.
Water intrusion into the
transmission may damage the
transmission.
If the rear axle is submerged in
water, the rear axle lubricant
should be checked and changed, if
necessary. The rear axle is filled
with a synthetic lubricant and does
not normally require a lubricant
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