2004 FORD E-250 Owners Manual

Forced downshifts
•Allowed in D (Drive) with Overdrive or D (Drive) without Overdrive.
•Depress the accelerator to the floor.
•Allows transmission to select an appropriate gear.
DRIVING THROUGH WATER
If driving through deep or standing water is unavoidable, proceed very
slowly especially when the depth is not known. Never drive through
water that is higher than the bottom of the hubs (for trucks) or the
bottom of the wheel rims (for cars). When driving through water,
traction or brake capability may be limited. Also, water may enter your
engine’s air intake and severely damage your engine or your vehicle may
stall.Driving through deep water where the transmission vent
tube is submerged may allow water into the transmission and
cause internal transmission damage.
Once through the water, always dry the brakes by moving your
vehicle slowly while applying light pressure on the brake pedal.
Wet brakes do not stop the vehicle as quickly as dry brakes.
EMERGENCY MANEUVERS
•In an unavoidable emergency situation where a sudden sharp turn
must be made, remember to avoid“over-driving”your vehicle, i.e.,
turn the steering wheel only as rapidly and as far as required to avoid
the emergency. Excessive steering will result in less vehicle control,
not more. Additionally, smooth variations of the accelerator and/or
brake pedal pressure should be utilized if changes in vehicle speed are
called for. Avoid abrupt steering, acceleration or braking which could
result in an increased risk of loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover
and/or personal injury. Use all available road surface to return the
vehicle to a safe direction of travel.
•In the event of an emergency stop, avoid skidding the tires and do not
attempt any sharp steering wheel movements.
Vehicles with a higher center of gravity such as utility and
four-wheel drive vehicles handle differently than vehicles with a
lower center of gravity. 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, excessive speed and abrupt
maneuvers in these vehicles. Failure to drive cautiously could result in
an increased risk of loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover, personal
injury and death.
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•If the vehicle goes from one type of surface to another (i.e., from
concrete to gravel) there will be a change in the way the vehicle
responds to a maneuver (steering, acceleration or braking). Again,
avoid these abrupt inputs.
VEHICLE LOADING–WITH AND WITHOUT A TRAILER
This section will guide you in the proper loading of your vehicle and/or
trailer, to keep your loaded vehicle weight within its design rating
capability, with or without a trailer. Properly loading your vehicle will
provide maximum return of vehicle design performance. Before loading
your vehicle, familiarize yourself with the following terms for determining
your vehicle’s weight ratings, with or without a trailer, from the vehicle’s
Safety Certification Label and Tire Label:
Base Curb Weight–is the weight of the vehicle including a full tank of
fuel and all standard equipment. It does not include passengers, cargo, or
optional equipment.
Vehicle Curb Weight–is the weight of your new vehicle when you
picked it up from your dealer plus any aftermarket equipment.
Cargo Weight–includes all weight added to the Base Curb Weight,
including cargo and optional equipment. When towing, trailer tongue load
or king pin weight is also part of cargo weight.
GAW (Gross Axle Weight)–is the total weight placed on each axle
(front and rear)–including vehicle curb weight and all payload.
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating)–is the maximum allowable
weight that can be carried by a single axle (front or rear).These
numbers are shown on the Safety Compliance Certification Label
located on the driver’s door or B-Pillar. The total load on each
axle must never exceed its GAWR.
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Exceeding the Safety Certification Label axle weight rating limits
could result in substandard vehicle handling or performance,
engine, transmission and/or structural damage, serious damage to the
vehicle, loss of control and personal injury.
Note:For trailer towing information refer toTrailer towingfound in
this chapter or theRV and Trailer Towing Guideprovided by your
dealership.
GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight)–is the Vehicle Curb Weight + cargo +
passengers.
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating)–is the maximum
allowable weight of the fully loaded
vehicle (including all options,
equipment, passengers and cargo).
The GVWR is shown on the
Safety Compliance Certification
Label located on the driver’s
door or B-Pillar. The GVW must
never exceed the GVWR.
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Exceeding the Safety Certification Label vehicle weight rating
limits could result in substandard vehicle handling or
performance, engine, transmission and/or structural damage, serious
damage to the vehicle, loss of control and personal injury.
GCW (Gross Combined Weight)–is the weight of the loaded vehicle
(GVW) plus the weight of the fully loaded trailer.
GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating)–is the maximum allowable
weight of the vehicle and the loaded trailer–including all cargo and
passengers–that the vehicle can handle without risking damage.
(Important: The towing vehicle’s braking system is rated for operation at
GVWR, not at GCWR. Separate functional brakes should be used for safe
control of towed vehicles and for trailers where the GCW of the towing
vehicle plus the trailer exceed the GVWR of the towing vehicle.The
GCW must never exceed the GCWR.
Maximum Loaded Trailer Weight–is the highest possible weight of a
fully loaded trailer the vehicle can tow. It assumes a vehicle with only
mandatory options, no cargo (internal or external), a tongue load of
10–15% (conventional trailer) or king pin weight of 15–25% (fifth wheel
trailer), and driver only (150 lbs [68 kg]).Consult your dealership (or
theRV and Trailer Towing Guideprovided by your dealership) for
more detailed information.
Tongue Load or Fifth Wheel King Pin Weight–refers to the amount
of the weight that a trailer pushes down on a trailer hitch.
Examples:For a 5,000 lbs. (2,268 kg) conventional trailer, multiply
5,000 by 0.10 and 0.15 to obtain a proper tongue load range of 500 to
750 lbs. (227 to 340 kg). For an 11,500 lbs. (5,216 kg) fifth wheel trailer,
multiply by 0.15 and 0.25 to obtain a proper king pin load range of 1,725
to 2,875 lbs. (782 to 1,304 kg)
Do not exceed the GVWR or the GAWR specified on the
certification label.
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Do not use replacement tires with lower load carrying capacities
than the originals because they may lower the vehicle’s GVWR
and GAWR limitations. Replacement tires with a higher limit than the
originals do not increase the GVWR and GAWR limitations.
Exceeding any vehicle weight rating limitation could result in
serious damage to the vehicle and/or personal injury.
Special loading instructions for owners of pickup trucks and
utility-type vehicles
For important information regarding safe operation of this type
of vehicle, see thePreparing to drive your vehiclesection in
this chapter.
Loaded vehicles may handle differently than unloaded vehicles.
Extra precautions, such as slower speeds and increased stopping
distance, should be taken when driving a heavily loaded vehicle.
Your vehicle can haul more cargo and people than most passenger cars.
Depending upon the type and placement of the load, hauling cargo and
people may raise the center of gravity of the vehicle.
Calculating the load your vehicle can carry/tow
1. Use the appropriate maximum GCWR chart (in theTrailer towing
section in this chapter) for your type of engine and rear axle ratio.
2. Weigh your vehicle without cargo. To obtain correct weights, take your
vehicle to a shipping company or an inspection station for trucks.
3. Subtract your loaded weight from the maximum GCWR in the chart.
This is the maximum trailer weight your vehicle can tow. It must be
below the maximum trailer weight shown in the chart.
TRAILER TOWING
Your vehicle may tow a class I, II or III trailer, provided the maximum
trailer weight is less than or equal to the maximum trailer weight listed
for your engine and rear axle ratio on the following charts.
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GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating)/Trailer Weights
EngineRear
axle
ratioMaximum
GCWR -
lbs. (kg)Maximum
Loaded
Trailer Weight
- lbs. (kg)Maximum
frontal area of
trailer - ft
2
(m2)
E-150 Regular Van (6700 GVWR)
4.6L 3.5511500
(5216)6400 (2903) 60 (5.52)
5.4L 3.5512000
(5443)6800 (3084) 60 (5.52)
E-150 Regular Van (Crew) (6700 GVWR)
4.6L 3.5511500
(5216)6200 (2812) 60 (5.52)
5.4L 3.5512000
(5443)6600 (2994) 60 (5.52)
E-150 Regular Van (7000 GVWR)
4.6L 3.5511500
(5216)6500 (2948) 60 (5.52)
5.4L 3.5512000
(5443)6900 (3130) 60 (5.52)
E-150 Regular Wagon (7–passenger) (7000 GVWR)
4.6L 3.5511500
(5216)5700 (2585) 60 (5.52)
5.4L 3.5512000
(5443)6200 (2812) 60 (5.52)
E-150 Regular Wagon (8–passenger) (7000 GVWR)
4.6L 3.5511500
(5216)6100 (2767) 60 (5.52)
5.4L 3.5512000
(5443)6500 (2948) 60 (5.52)
E-250 Regular Van (7200 GVWR)
4.6L 3.7310500
(4763)5100 (2313) 60 (5.52)
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GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating)/Trailer Weights
EngineRear
axle
ratioMaximum
GCWR -
lbs. (kg)Maximum
Loaded
Trailer Weight
- lbs. (kg)Maximum
frontal area of
trailer - ft
2
(m2)
.E-250 Regular Van (8600 GVWR)
4.6L 4.1011000
(4990)5600 (2540) 60 (5.52)
5.4L 3.7313000
(5897)7500 (3402) 60 (5.52)
E-250 Regular Van (Crew) (8600 GVWR)
4.6L 4.1011000
(4990)5300 (2404) 60 (5.52)
5.4L 3.7313000
(5897)7200 (3266) 60 (5.52)
E-250 Extended Van (7300 GVWR)
4.6L 3.7310500
(4763)5000 (2268) 60 (5.52)
E-250 Extended Van (8600 GVWR)
4.6L 4.1011000
(4990)5400 (2449) 60 (5.52)
5.4L 3.7313000
(5897)7300 (3311) 60 (5.52)
E-250 Extended Van (Crew) (8600 GVWR)
4.6L 4.1011000
(4990)5300 (2404) 60 (5.52)
5.4L 3.7313000
(5897)7300 (3311) 60 (5.52)
E-350 Regular Van (9500 GVWR)
5.4L 3.5512000
(5443)6300 (2858) 60 (5.52)
5.4L 4.1013000
(5897)7300 (3311) 60 (5.52)
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GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating)/Trailer Weights
EngineRear
axle
ratioMaximum
GCWR -
lbs. (kg)Maximum
Loaded
Trailer Weight
- lbs. (kg)Maximum
frontal area of
trailer - ft
2
(m2)
6.8L 3.7315000
(6804)9200 (4173) 60 (5.52)
6.8L 4.1018500
(8391)10000 (4536) 60 (5.52)
E-350 Regular Van (Crew) (9500 GVWR)
5.4L 3.5512000
(5443)6100 (2767) 60 (5.52)
5.4L 4.1013000
(5897)7100 (3221) 60 (5.52)
6.8L 3.7315000
(6804)9000 (4082) 60 (5.52)
6.8L 4.1018500
(8391)10000 (4536) 60 (5.52)
E-350 Extended Van (9400 GVWR)
5.4L 3.5512000
(5443)6200 (2812) 60 (5.52)
5.4L 4.1013000
(5897)7200 (3266) 60 (5.52)
6.8L 3.7315000
(6804)9000 (4082) 60 (5.52)
6.8L 4.1018500
(8391)10000 (4536) 60 (5.52)
E-350 Extended Van (Crew) (9250 GVWR)
5.4L 4.1013000
(5897)6900 (3130) 60 (5.52)
6.8L 3.7315000
(6804)8800 (3992) 60 (5.52)
6.8L 4.1018500
(8391)10000 (4536) 60 (5.52)
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