2000 FORD F150 Owners Manual

Do not connect a trailer's hydraulic brake system directly to your
vehicle's brake system. Your vehicle may not have enough
braking power and your chances of having a collision greatly increase.
The braking system of the tow vehicle is rated for operation at the
GVWR not GCWR.
Trailer lamps
Trailer lamps are required on most towed vehicles. Make sure your
trailer lamps conform to local and Federal regulations. See your dealer or
trailer rental agency for proper instructions and equipment for hooking
up trailer lamps.
Using a step bumper (if equipped)
The rear bumper is equipped with an integral hitch and only requires a
ball with a 25.4 mm (one inch) shank diameter. The bumper hasa2270
kg (5 000 lb.) trailer weight and 227 kg (500 lb.) tongue weight capacity.
If it is necessary to relocate the trailer hitch ball position, a
frame-mounted trailer hitch must be installed.
Driving while you tow
When towing a trailer:
²Ensure that you turn off your speed control. The speed control may
shut off automatically when you are towing on long, steep grades.
²Consult your local motor vehicle speed regulations for towing a trailer.
²Use a lower gear when towing up or down steep hills. This will
eliminate excessive downshifting and upshifting for optimum fuel
economy and transmission cooling.
²Anticipate stops and brake gradually.
Exceeding the GCWR rating may cause internal transmission
damage and void your warranty coverage.
Servicing after towing
If you tow a trailer for long distances, your vehicle will require more
frequent service intervals. Refer to your scheduled maintenance guide for
more information.
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Trailer towing tips
²Practice turning, stopping and backing up before starting on a trip to
get the feel of the vehicle trailer combination. When turning, make
wider turns so the trailer wheels will clear curbs and other obstacles.
²Allow more distance for stopping with a trailer attached.
²The trailer tongue weight should be no more than 10±15% of the
loaded trailer weight.
²After you have traveled 80 km (50 miles), thoroughly check your
hitch, electrical connections and trailer wheel lug nuts.
²When stopped in traffic for long periods of time in hot weather, place
the gearshift in P (Park) (automatic transmissions) or N (Neutral)
(manual transmissions). This aids engine cooling and air conditioner
efficiency.
²Vehicles with trailers should not be parked on a grade. If you must
park on a grade, place wheel chocks under the trailer's wheels.
Launching or retrieving a boat
When backing down a ramp during boat launching or retrieval,
²Do not allow the static water level to rise above the bottom edge of
the rear bumper and
²Do not allow waves to break higher than 15 cm (6 inches) above the
bottom edge of the rear bumper.
Exceeding these limits may allow water to enter critical vehicle
components, adversely affecting driveability, emissions, reliability and
causing internal transmission damage.
Replace the rear axle lubricant anytime the axle has been submerged in
water. Rear axle lubricant quantities are not to be checked or changed
unless a leak is suspected or repair required.
Disconnect the wiring to the trailer before backing the trailer into the
water. Reconnect the wiring to the trailer after the trailer is removed
from the water.
Recreational towing (all wheels on the ground)
An example of recreational towing would be towing your vehicle behind
a Motorhome. Follow these guidelines if you have the need for
recreational towing your vehicle with all four wheels on the ground.
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These guidelines are designed to ensure that your transmission is not
damaged.
2WD vehicles (with automatic transmissions)
²Place the transmission in N (Neutral)
²Maximum speed is 56 km (35 mph)
²Maximum distance is 80 km (50 miles)
If a distance of 80 km (50 miles) or a speed of 56 km (35 mph) must be
exceeded, the drive shaft will have to be removed until the vehicle is
being towed.
Ford recommends the driveshaft be removed/installed only by a qualified
technician. See your local dealer for driveshaft removal/installation.
Improper removal/installation of the driveshaft can cause
transmission fluid loss, damage to the driveshaft and internal
transmission components.
4WD vehicles electronic shift transfer case (with automatic
transmissions)
4x4 vehicles with electronic shift on the fly cannot be towed with any
wheels on the ground.
SNOWPLOWING
Ford recommends the following specifications for low speed, personal
use snow removal:
²F-150 (except F-150 Supercrew, ªLightningº and Harley Davidson)
²5.4L engine
²Heavy duty service package
²Super engine cooling
²Heavy duty front suspension package
²Automatic transmission with auxiliary automatic transmission fluid
cooling
²All-terrain tires
Do not install a snowplow and plow with your vehicle until it has been
driven at least 800 km (500 miles).
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Installing the snowplow
Removing the blocker beam without installing snowplow
attachment hardware may affect air bag deployment in a crash.
Do not operate the truck unless either the blocker beam or snowplow
attachment hardware is installed on the vehicle.
Read the following instructions before installing a snowplow:
²Front GAWR must not exceed 63% of the GVW. Add ballast weight to
the back of the vehicle, if necessary. Refer to the Safety Compliance
Certification Label to find Front GAWR.
²The Front Axle Accessory Reserve Capacity and the Total Accessory
Reserve Capacity listed on the bottom right of the Safety Compliance
Certification Label will determine whether or not the addition of a
snowplow will overload your vehicle.
²The weight of the snowplow and supporting components distributed to
the front axle must not exceed the front accessory reserve capacity.
²The total weight of the snowplow and aftermarket equipment must
not exceed the Total Accessory Reserve Capacity.
²The weight of the installed snowplow and aftermarket equipment must
not load the vehicle beyond the GAWR (front/rear) and GVWR listed
on the Safety Compliance Certification Label.
²The total weight of the snowplow and aftermarket equipment must be
considered part of the payload and must not exceed the Gross
Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) for towing.
²Federal and most local regulations require additional exterior lamps
for snowplow-equipped vehicles. Consult your dealer for additional
information.
²After installing a snowplow to the vehicle, ensure the vehicle's front
toe alignment and front ride height are within specification (reset if
required). These specifications are located in the vehicle's Workshop
Manual. Adherence to the toe, tire pressures and ride height
specification is important for proper tire wear, ride, handling and
headlight aim. Also, maintain the engine oil and transmission fluid
change intervals following the severe duty schedule.
Do not exceed the GVWR or the GAWR specified on the
certification label.
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Removing snowplow
Read the following instructions before removing a snowplow:
²After removing a snowplow from the vehicle, ensure the vehicle's front
toe alignment and front ride height are within specification (reset if
required). These specifications are located in the vehicle's Workshop
Manual. Adherence to the toe and ride height specification is
important for proper tire wear, ride, handling and headlight aim.
Snowplowing with your air bag equipped vehicle
Your vehicle is equipped with driver
and passenger air bags. The air bags
are designed to deploy in a collision
with a solid barrier at a range of 13
to 23 km/h (8 to 14 mph) or a
parked car at a range of 25 to 45
km/h (16 to 28 mph).
Careless or high speed driving while plowing snow which results in
vehicle decelerations equivalent to or greater than the air bag
deployment impact speeds listed above can deploy the air bag. Such
driving also increases the risk of accidents.
All occupants of the vehicle, including the driver, should always
properly wear their safety belts, even when an air bag SRS is
provided.
Never remove or defeat the ªtripping mechanismsº designed into the
snow removal equipment by its manufacturer. Doing so may cause
damage to the vehicle and the snow removal equipment as well as
possible air bag deployment.
Do not attempt to service, repair, or modify the Air Bag
Supplemental Restraint System or its fuses. See your Ford or
Lincoln Mercury dealer.
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Engine temperature while plowing
When driving with a plow, your
engine may run at a higher
temperature than normal because
the attached snowplow blade will
restrict airflow to the radiator.
If you are driving more than 24 km (15 miles) at temperatures above
freezing, angle the plow blade either full left or full right to provide
maximum airflow to the radiator.
If you are driving less than 24 km (15 miles) at speeds up to 64 km/h
(40 mph) in cold weather, you will not need to worry about blade
position to provide maximum airflow.
Transmission operation while plowing
²Shift transfer case to 4L (4WD Low) when plowing in small areas at
speeds below 8 km/h (5 mph).
²Shift transfer case to 4H (4WD High) when plowing larger areas or
light snow at higher speeds. Do not exceed 24 km/h (15 mph).
²Do not shift the transmission from a forward gear to R (Reverse) until
the engine is at idle and the wheels are stopped.
²If the vehicle is stuck, shift the transmission in a steady motion
between forward and reverse gears. 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 rock the vehicle if the engine is not at operating
temperature. Do not rock the vehicle for more than a few
minutes. The transmission and tires may be damaged or the
engine may overheat.
Do not spin the wheels at over 35 mph (55 km/h). The tires may
fail and injure a passenger or bystander.
H
C
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GETTING ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE
To fully assist you should you have a vehicle concern, Ford offers a
complimentary roadside assistance program. This program is separate
from the New Vehicle Limited Warranty. The service is available:
²24±hours, seven days a week
²for the Basic warranty period (Canada) or New Vehicle Limited
Warranty period (U.S.) of three years or 60,000 km (36,000 miles),
whichever comes first on Ford and Mercury vehicles, and four years or
80,000 km (50,000 miles) on Lincoln vehicles
Roadside assistance will cover:
²changing a flat tire
²jump-starts
²lock-out assistance
²fuel delivery
²towing of your disabled vehicle to the nearest Ford dealership, or your
selling dealer if within 25 kms (15.5 miles) of the nearest Ford
Dealership (one tow per disablement). Even non-warranty related
tows, like accidents or getting stuck in the mud or snow, are covered
(some exclusions apply, such as impound towing or repossession).
Using roadside assistance
Complete the roadside assistance identification card and place it in your
wallet for quick reference. In the United States, this card is found in the
Owner Guide portfolio in the glove compartment in Ford vehicles and is
mailed to you if you own a Mercury or Lincoln. In Canada, it is found in
the Roadside Assistance book in the glove compartment.
To receive roadside assistance in the United States for Ford or Mercury
vehicles, call 1-800-241-3673 or if you own a Lincoln vehicle, call
1±800±521±4140. In Canada call 1±800±665±2006.
Should you need to arrange roadside assistance for yourself, Ford will
reimburse a reasonable amount. To obtain information about
reimbursement, call 1-800-241-3673 in the United States for Ford or
Mercury vehicles; or if you own a Lincoln vehicle, call 1±800±521±4140.
Call 1±800±665±2006 in Canada.
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Roadside coverage beyond basic warranty
In the United States, you may purchase additional roadside assistance
coverage beyond this period through the Ford Auto Club by contacting
your Ford or Lincoln Mercury dealer.
Similarly in Canada, you may purchase additional coverage beyond the
basic coverage period by consulting the Ford Roadside Assistance Club
brochure or by calling 1±877±294±CLUB (1±877±294±2582).
HAZARD FLASHER
Use only in an emergency to warn traffic of vehicle breakdown,
approaching danger, etc. The hazard flashers can be operated when the
ignition is off.
²The hazard lights control is
located on top of the steering
column.
²Depress hazard lights control to
activate all hazard flashers
simultaneously.
²Depress control again to turn the
flashers off.
RESETTING THE FUEL PUMP SHUT-OFF SWITCH
FUEL
RESET
The fuel pump shut-off switch is a device intended to stop the electric
fuel pump when your vehicle has been involved in a substantial jolt.
After a collision, if the engine cranks but does not start, the fuel pump
shut-off switch may have been activated.
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