2003 FORD F350 4WD

Recommended shift speeds
Downshift according to the following charts for your specific
engine/drivetrain combination:
Maximum downshift speeds1
6-speed transmission
Shift from: Transfer case position (if equipped)2
2H or 4H 4L
D(Overdrive) -
472 km/h (45 mph) 26 km/h (16 mph)
4 - 3 56 km/h (35 mph) 19 km/h (12 mph)
3 - 2 32 km/h (20 mph) 13 km/h (8 mph)
2 - 1 8 km/h (5 mph) 3 km/h (2 mph)
1 - LO Only shift to LO when at a stop.
1Use 2H or 4H for 4WD equipped vehicles.2Downshift at lower speeds when driving on slippery surfaces.
Reverse
1. Make sure that your vehicle is at a complete stop before you shift into
R (Reverse). Failure to do so may damage the transmission.
2. Move the gearshift lever into the neutral position and wait at least
three seconds before shifting into R (Reverse).
•The gearshift lever can only be moved into R (Reverse) by moving it
from left of 3 (Third) and 4 (Fourth) before shifting into R (Reverse).
This is a lockout feature that protects the transmission from
accidentally being shifted into R (Reverse) from
(Overdrive).
Parking your vehicle
1. Apply the brake and shift into the neutral position.
2. Fully apply the parking brake, then shift into 1 (First).
3. Turn the ignition off.
Do not park your vehicle in Neutral, it may move unexpectedly
and injure someone. Use 1 (First) gear and set the parking brake
fully.
Removing the key
Turn the ignition off, push the release lever (located above the ignition),
then turn the key toward you and remove the key.
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FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE (4WD) OPERATION (IF EQUIPPED)
For important information regarding safe operation of this type
of vehicle, seePreparing to drive your vehiclein this chapter.
When four–wheel drive (4WD) is engaged, power is supplied to all four
wheels through a transfer case. 4WD can be selected when additional
driving power is desired.
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.
Manual 4x4 system (if equipped)
The 4WD system is engaged or
disengaged by rotating the control
for both front wheel hub locks from
the FREE or LOCK position, then
manually engaging or disengaging
the transfer case with the
floor-mounted shifter. For increased
fuel economy in 2WD, rotate both
hub locks to the FREE position.
•For proper operation, make
sure that the arrow and the
indicator dot on the hub are
aligned, and that both hub
locks are set to the same
position (both set to LOCK or both set to FREE).
Electronic shift on the fly (ESOF) 4x4 system (if equipped)
If equipped with the Electronic Shift 4WD System, and 4WD Low
is selected while the vehicle is moving, the 4WD system will not
engage. This is normal and should be no reason for concern.
Before 4WD Low can be engaged, the vehicle must be brought to
a complete stop, the brake pedal depressed and the transmission
placed in N (Neutral ) (on automatic transmissions or the clutch
pedal depressed on manual transmissions).
The 4WD system:
•provides 4x4 High engagement and disengagement while the vehicle is
moving.
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•is operated by a rotary control located on the instrument panel that
allows you select 2WD, 4x4 High or 4x4 Low operation.
•uses auto-manual hub locks that can be engaged and disengaged
automatically based on the 4x4 mode selected.
•auto-manual hub locks can be
manually overridden by rotating
the hub lock control from AUTO
to LOCK if desired.
•automatic operation of the
hub locks is recommended,and
will increase fuel economy
•For proper operation, make
sure that the arrow and the
indicator dot on the hub are
aligned, and that both hub
locks are set the same (both
set to AUTO or both set to
LOCK).
4WD system indicator lights
The 4WD system indicator lights illuminate only under the following
conditions. If these lights illuminate when driving in 2WD, contact your
Ford dealer as soon as possible.
•4x4- momentarily illuminates
after the engine is started.
Illuminates when 4H (4x4 High)
or 4L (4x4 Low) is engaged.
•LOW RANGE–momentarily
illuminates when the ignition is
turned to the ON position.
Illuminates when 4L (4x4 Low) is
engaged.
Using a manual 4WD system (if equipped)
Note:Some noise may be heard as the 4WD system shifts or engages.
This is normal.
2H (2WD High)–For general on-road driving. Sends power to the rear
wheels only.
4H (4WD High)–For winter and off-road conditions. Sends power to
front and rear wheels.
4x4
LOW
RANGE
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N (Neutral)–Only used when towing the vehicle.
4L (4WD Low)–For low-speed off-road applications that require extra
power such as steep grades, deep sand or pulling a boat out of the water.
Sends power to front and rear wheels.
Shifting from 2H (2WD High) to 4H (4WD High)
Engage the locking hubs by rotating
the hub lock control from FREE to
LOCK, then move the transfer case
lever from 2H (2WD High) to 4H
(4WD High).
•For proper operation, make
sure that the arrow and the
indicator dot on the hub are
aligned, and that both hubs
are set to LOCK.
•Do not shift into 4H (4WD
High) with the rear wheels
slipping.
Shifting from 4H (4WD High) to 2H (2WD High)
Move the transfer case lever to 2H
(2WD High) at a stop or any
forward speed up to 88 km/h (55
mph).
With the vehicle at complete stop,
disengage the locking hubs
(optional) by rotating the hub lock
control from LOCK to FREE.
•For proper operation, make sure that the arrow and the
indicator dot on the hub are aligned, and that both hubs are set
to FREE
2H
4H
4LN
2H
4H
4LN
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Shifting from 4H (4WD High) to 4L (4WD Low)
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Depress the brake.
3. Place the gearshift lever in N (Neutral) (automatic transmission) or
depress the clutch (manual transmission).
4. Move the transfer case shift lever
through N (Neutral) directly to 4L
(4WD Low).
5. If the transfer casewill not
engage into 4L (4WD Low), drive
the vehicle above 8 km/h (5 mph),
then repeat steps 1 through 4.
Shifting from 4L (4WD Low) to 4H (4WD High) or 2H (2WD High)
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Depress the brake.
3. Place the gearshift lever in N (Neutral) (automatic transmission) or
depress the clutch (manual transmission).
4. Move the transfer case shift lever
through N (Neutral) directly to 4H
(4WD High) or 2H (2WD High).
5. If the transfer casewill not
disengage from 4L (4WD Low),
drive the vehicle above 8 km/h (5
mph), then repeat steps 1 through
4.
6. If shifting to 2H (2WD High) with the vehicle at a complete stop,
disengage the locking hubs (optional) by rotating the hub lock control
from LOCK to FREE.
Using the N (Neutral) position
The transfer case neutral position overrides the transmission and
puts the vehicle in neutral regardless of transmission gearshift
lever position. The vehicle can move forward or backwards.
2H
4H
4LN
2H
4H
4LN
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This position should only be used
when towing the vehicle.
Do not leave the vehicle unattended with the transfer case in the
N (Neutral) position. Always set the parking brake fully and turn
off the ignition when leaving the vehicle.
Using the electronic shift 4WD system (if equipped)
Positions of the electronic shift system
The electronic shift 4WD system is designed to allow up to 45
seconds before a shift command is performed. In the event that
conflicting shift commands are selected, allow up to 45 seconds
for the shift command to be performed prior to reporting any
shift concerns to your dealer.
Note:Some noise may be heard as the 4WD system shifts or engages.
This is normal.
2H (2WD High)–For general on-road driving. Sends power to the rear
wheels only.
4H (4WD High)–For winter and off-road conditions. Sends power to
front and rear wheels.
4L (4WD Low)–For low-speed off-road cond applications that require
extra power such as steep grades, deep sand or pulling a boat out of the
water. Sends power to front and rear wheels.
2H
4H
4LN
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Shifting from 2WD (2WD High) to 4x4 HIGH (4WD High)
Rotate the 4WD control to the 4x4
HIGH position at speeds up to 88
km/h (55 mph).
•The electronic shift 4WD
system is designed to engage
4x4 HIGH (4WD High) when
the vehicle is moving. If
shifted to 4x4 HIGH (4WD
HIGH) while at complete stop,
4x4 may not engage and the
4x4 indicator may not
illuminate until the vehicle is driven above 8 km/h (5 mph).
•Do not shift into 4x4 HIGH with the rear wheels slipping.
Shifting from 4x4 HIGH (4WD High) to 2WD (2WD High)
Rotate the 4WD control to 2WD at
any forward speed. Disengagement
of the transfer case and front hubs
may be delayed due to torque bind
which is caused by driving on dry
hard surfaces or performing tight
turns while using the 4WD system.
•Yo udo notneed to operate the vehicle in R (Reverse) to disengage
your front hubs, but it will eliminate any torque bind and allow the
system to immediately disengage.
Shifting from 4x4 HIGH (4WD High) to 4x4 LOW (4WD Low)
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Depress the brake.
3. Place the gearshift in N (Neutral) (automatic transmission) or depress
the clutch (manual transmission).
4X4
HIGH
2WD4X4
LOW
4X4
HIGH
2WD4X4
LOW
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4. Move the 4WD control to the 4x4
LOW position.
5. Hold the shift conditions until the
LOW RANGE indicator light
illuminates.
6. If the LOW RANGE indicator light
does notilluminate within 15
seconds, drive the vehicle above 8
km/h (5 mph), then repeat steps 1
through 5 before reporting any shift
concerns to your dealer.
Shifting from 4x4 LOW (4WD Low) to 4x4 HIGH (4WD High) or 2WD
(2WD High)
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Depress the brake.
3. Place the gearshift in N (Neutral) (automatic transmission) or depress
the clutch (manual transmission).
4. Move the 4WD control to the 4x4
HIGH (4WD High) or 2WD (2WD
High) position.
5. Hold the shift conditions until the
LOW RANGE indicator light shuts
off.
6. If the LOW RANGE indicator light
does notshut off within 15
seconds, drive the vehicle above 8
km/h (5 mph), then repeat steps 1
through 5 before reporting any shift concerns to your dealer.
Driving off-road with truck and utility vehicles
4WD vehicles are specially equipped for driving on sand, snow, mud and
rough terrain and have operating characteristics that are somewhat
different from conventional vehicles, both on and off the road.
How your vehicle differs from other vehicles
Truck and utility vehicles can differ from some other vehicles. Your
vehicle may be higher to allow it to travel over rough terrain without
getting hung up or damaging underbody components.
The differences that make your vehicle so versatile also make it handle
differently than an ordinary passenger car.
2WD4X4
LOW4X4
HIGH
2WD4X4
LOW4X4
HIGH
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