LOW BRAKE FLUID LEVEL. Indicates the brake fluid level is low and
the brake system should be inspected immediately. Refer to Checking
and adding brake fluid in the Maintenance and Specifications
chapter.
LOW OIL PRESSURE. Displayed when the engine oil pressure is low. If
this warning message is displayed, check the level of the engine oil.
Refer to Engine oil in the Maintenance and Specifications chapter for
information about adding engine oil. If the oil level is OK and this
warning persists, shut down the engine immediately and contact your
authorized dealer for service.
CHECK FUEL CAP. Displayed when the fuel filler cap is not properly
installed. Check the fuel filler cap for proper installation. Refer to Fuel
filler cap under the Fuel Information section in the Maintenance and
Specifications chapter.
ENGINE FAILSAFE MODE. Displayed when the engine has defaulted
to a ’limp-home’ operation. If the warning stays on or continues to come
on, contact your authorized dealer as soon as possible.
CHECK COMPASS MODULE. Displayed when the compass is not
operating properly. If the warning stays on or continues to come on,
contact your authorized dealer as soon as possible.
TRAILER DISCONNECTED (if equipped): Displayed when a trailer
connection becomes disconnected, either intentionally or unintentionally,
and has been sensed during a given ignition cycle. Refer to Integrated
trailer brake controller in the Tires, Wheels and Loading chapter for
more information.
TRAILER FAULT (if equipped): Displayed if there is a short circuit on
the electric brake output wire or the trailer brakes are drawing too much
current. Refer to Integrated trailer brake controller in the Tires,
Wheels and Loading chapter for more information.
TBC FAULT (if equipped): Displayed in response to faults sensed by
the TBC. In the event this message is seen, please take your vehicle to
an authorized dealer for diagnosis and repair. Refer to Integrated trailer
brake controller in the Tires, Wheels and Loading chapter for more
information.
WATER IN FUEL (diesel only): Refer to Instrumentation in your 6.0
Liter Power Stroke Direct Injection Turbo Diesel Owner’s Guide
Supplement.
CHECK AIR FILTER (diesel only): Refer to Instrumentation in your
6.0 Liter Power Stroke Direct Injection Turbo Diesel Owner’s Guide
Supplement.
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DATA ERR. These messages indicate improper operation of the vehicle
network communication between electronic modules.
• Odometer
• Fuel flow
• Fuel level
• Trans temp
• Fuel cap
• Engine sensor
• Brake fluid
• Auto lock
• Auto lamp delay
Contact your authorized dealer as soon as possible if these messages
occur on a regular basis.
TAILGATE LOCK (IF EQUIPPED)
Your vehicle may be equipped with a
tailgate lock designed to prevent
theft of the tailgate.
• Insert ignition key and turn to the
right to engage lock.
• Turn ignition key to the left to
unlock.
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Autolock (if equipped)
This feature automatically locks all vehicle doors when the following
conditions are met:
• the ignition key is in the 4 (ON) position,
• all the doors are closed,
• the brake is pressed before reaching 5 mph (8 km/h), and
• the vehicle is traveling more than 5 mph (8 km/h).
Relock
The autolock feature repeats when the following conditions are met:
• the vehicle’s speed is less than 5 mph (8 km/h),
• any door is opened then closed while the ignition is in the 4 (ON)
position,
• the brake is pressed before reaching 5 mph (8 km/h), and
• the vehicle is traveling more than 5 mph (8 km/h).
To deactivate/reactivate the autolock feature using the keypad
Your vehicle comes with the autolock feature activated. To
deactivate/reactivate this feature:
1. Ensure that the anti-theft system is not armed.
2. Turn the ignition to the 3 (OFF) position.
3. Close all the doors, liftgate and cargo doors.
4. Enter the 5-digit entry code.
5. Press and hold the 7 • 8. While holding the 7 • 8, press and release
the 3 • 4.
6. Release the 7 • 8.
The horn will chirp once when the system has been successfully
deactivated.
The horn will chirp twice (one short and one long chirp) when the
system has been successfully reactivated.
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2. To unfasten, push the release
button and remove the tongue from
the buckle.
The front outboard and rear outboard safety restraints in the vehicle are
combination lap and shoulder belts. The front outboard passenger and
rear seat outboard safety belts have two types of locking modes
described below:
Vehicle sensitive mode
This is the normal retractor mode, which allows free shoulder belt length
adjustment to your movements and locking in response to vehicle
movement. For example, if the driver brakes suddenly or turns a corner
sharply, or the vehicle receives an impact of approximately 5 mph (8
km/h) or more, the combination safety belts will lock to help reduce
forward movement of the driver and passengers.
On SuperCab and Crew Cab models, the front seat belt system can also
be made to lock manually by quickly pulling on the shoulder belt.
Rear seat belts (if equipped) cannot be made to lock up by pulling
quickly on the belt.
Automatic locking mode
When to use the automatic locking mode
In this mode, the shoulder belt is automatically pre-locked. The belt will
still retract to remove any slack in the shoulder belt. The automatic
locking mode is not available on the driver safety belt.
This mode should be used any time a child safety seat is installed in a
passenger front or outboard rear seating position (if equipped). Children
12 years old and under should be properly restrained in the rear seat
whenever possible. Refer to Safety restraints for children or Safety
seats for children later in this chapter.
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Reasons given... Consider...
“I have an airbag” Airbags offer greater protection when
used with safety belts. Frontal airbags
are not designed to inflate in rear and
side crashes or rollovers.
“I’d rather be thrown clear” Not a good idea. People who are
ejected are 40 times more likely to
DIE. Safety belts help prevent ejection,
WE CAN’T “PICK OUR CRASH”.
Do not sit on top of a buckled safety belt to avoid the
BeltMinder chime. Sitting on the safety belt will increase the
risk of injury in an accident. To disable (one-time) or deactivate the
BeltMinder feature please follow the directions stated below.
One time disable
Any time the safety belt is buckled and then unbuckled during an ignition
ON cycle, the BeltMinder will be disabled for that ignition cycle only.
Deactivating/activating the BeltMinder feature
Read Step s1-9t horoughly before proceeding with the
deactivation/activation programming procedure.
The BeltMinder feature can be deactivated/activated by performing the
following procedure:
Before following the procedure, make sure that the following conditions
are met:
• the parking brake is set
• the gearshift is in P (Park) (automatic transmission) or the neutral
position (manual transmission)
• the ignition switch is in the OFF position
• all vehicle doors are closed
• the driver’s safety belt is unbuckled
• the parklamps/headlamps are in the OFF position (If the vehicle is
equipped with Autolamps, this will not affect the procedure)
To reduce the risk of injury, do not deactivate/activate the Belt
Minder feature while driving the vehicle.
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SNOW TIRES AND CHAINS
Snow tires must be the same size and grade as the tires you
currently have on your vehicle.
Note: If your vehicle is equipped with 20” tires, do not use snow chains
on the front tires.
The tires on your vehicle have all weather treads to provide traction in
rain and snow. However, in some climates, you may need to use snow
tires and chains. If you need to use chains, it is recommended that steel
wheels (of the same size and specifications) be used, as chains may chip
aluminum wheels.
Follow these guidelines when using snow tires and chains:
• Use only SAE Class S chains.
• Install chains securely, verifying that the chains do not touch any
wiring, brake lines or fuel lines.
• Drive cautiously. If you hear the chains rub or bang against your
vehicle, stop and re-tighten the chains. If this does not work, remove
the chains to prevent damage to your vehicle.
• If possible, avoid fully loading your vehicle.
• Remove the tire chains when they are no longer needed. Do not use
tire chains on dry roads.
• The suspension insulation and bumpers will help prevent vehicle
damage. Do not remove these components from your vehicle when
using snow tires and chains.
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
Tire Label or Safety Compliance Certification 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.
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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 Tire
Label or Safety Compliance
Certification Label located on
the B-Pillar or the edge of the
driver’s door. The GVW must
never exceed the GVWR.
Exceeding the Tire Label or Safety Compliance 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 vehicles’ 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.
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Towing a trailer places an additional load on your vehicle’s engine,
transmission, axle, brakes, tires and suspension. Inspect these
components carefully prior to and after any towing operation. Refer to
Transmission temperature gauge in the Instrument Cluster chapter
for the transmission fluid temperature information.
The following trailer towing charts apply to vehicles equipped with
gasoline engines; for vehicles equipped with diesel engines, refer to your
6.0 Liter Power Stroke Direct Injection Turbo Diesel Owner’s Guide
Supplement .
Note: Do not exceed the GCWR listed for your vehicle on the following
chart/table, or the GVWR, GAWR or tire ratings specified on the Tire
Label or Safety Compliance Certification Label.
Towing trailers beyond the maximum recommended trailer
weight which exceeds the limit of the vehicle’s GCWR, GVWR,
GAWR or tire ratings could result in engine damage, transmission
damage, structural damage, loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover and
personal injury.
Maximum GCWR - lb. (kg.)
Engine Rear axle ratio Manual
transmission Automatic
transmission
F–250/F–350 Single Rear Wheel (SRW)
5.4L 3.73 15000 (6804) 16000 (7257)
4.10 17000 (7711) 18000 (8165)
6.8L (F-250) 4.10 20000 (9072) 21000 (9525)
4.30 22000 (9979) 22500 (10206)
6.8L (F-350) 4.10 20000 (9072) 21000 (9525)
4.30 22000 (9979) 23000 (10433)
F–350 Dual Rear Wheel (DRW)
5.4L 3.73 15000 (6804) 16500 (7484)
4.10 17500 (7938) 18500 (8391)
6.8L 4.10 20500 (9299) 21500 (9752)
4.30 22500 (10206) 23000 (10433)
F–450/F–550
6.8L 4.88/5.38 26000 (11793) 26000 (11793)
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