1998 FORD F150 four wheel drive

contents without notice and
without incurring obligation.
SPECIAL NOTICES
Using your vehicle with a
snowplow
For more information and
guidelines for using your vehicle
with a snowplow, refer to the
Drivingchapter.
Using your vehicle as an
ambulance
Do not use this vehicle as
an ambulance.
Your vehicle is not equipped with
the Ford Ambulance Preparation
package.
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.
Introduction
3

oil pressure gaugein this chapter
for more information.
Four wheel drive low (if
equipped)
Illuminates when four-wheel drive
low is selected.
Four wheel drive indicator (if
equipped)
Illuminates when 4x4 range is
selected.
Check air suspension (if
equipped)
Illuminates briefly when the
ignition is turned to the ON
position and the engine is OFF.
The light also illuminates when the
air suspension system requires
servicing.
For information, refer toAir
suspension systemin theDriving
chapter.
Door ajar
Illuminates when the ignition
switch is in the ON or START
position and any door is open.
LOW
RANGE
4x4
CHECK
SUSP
DOOR
AJAR
Instrumentation
11

²A small LED illuminates next to
the autolamp control to indicate
that the headlamps have been
turned on by the autolamps.
²Foglamps are not controlled by
the autolamps. In order to turn
on the foglamps, you must turn
the lamp switch to the
position and pull for fog.
4WD CONTROL (IF EQUIPPED)
This control operates the 4WD.
Refer toFour-wheel drive (4WD)
operationin theDrivingchapter
for more information.
AUXILIARY POWER POINT
The auxiliary power point is
located on the instrument panel.
Do not plug optional electrical
accessories into the cigarette
lighter. Use the powerpoint.
AUDIO SYSTEM
Refer to the ªAudio Guideº for
instructions on how to operate the
audio system.
4H
2H
4L
Controls and features
19

normal driving and should not be
noticeable to the driver.
To avoid injury, never run
the engine with one wheel
off the ground, such as when
changing a tire.
AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM (IF
EQUIPPED)
The air suspension system is
designed to improve ride, handling
and general vehicle performance
for static, on and off-road driving
conditions.
²The load leveling feature of the
air suspension automatically
keeps the vehicle at a constant
level if a load is added or
removed from the vehicle.
²The height adjustment feature
automatically controls the
vehicle height over a range of
approximately 5 cm (2 inches)
based on vehicle speed, ignition
position and selection of two or
four-wheel drive modes.
Driving
87

Removing key from ignition
²Turn the ignition key until it
stops.
²Push the release lever forward
and rotate the key towards you
until it stops.
²Release the lever and remove
the key from the ignition.
FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE (4WD)
OPERATION (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.
Driving
98

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.
4WD operation is not
recommended on dry pavement.
Doing so could result in difficult
disengagement of the transfer
case, increased tire wear and
decreased fuel economy.
4WD system indicator lights
The 4WD system indicator lights
illuminate only under the following
conditions. If these lights
illuminate during normal driving,
have your vehicle serviced.
²4x4-illuminates when the
ignition is turned on or when 4H
(4WD High) is selected.
²LOW RANGE±illuminates when
the ignition is turned on and 4L
(4WD Low) is selected.
Using lever-operated 4WD
system (if equipped)
2H (2WD High)± Power to rear
axle only.
4x4
LOW
RANGE
Driving
99

4. Move the 4WD control to the 4H
or 4L position.
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.
The following information will help
you learn to properly use 4WD.
When using 4WD, 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 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.4H
2H
4L
Driving
104

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 35 mph (55 km/h).
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
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.
Driving
105