
Relays
An auxiliary relay box is located in the left-hand front side of the engine
compartment. This box contains relays for the Electronic Shift On the
Fly (ESOF) system. Please see your authorized dealer for
troubleshooting or service of these relays.
CHANGING A FLAT TIRE
If you get a flat tire while driving:
• do not brake heavily.
• gradually decrease the vehicle’s speed.
• hold the steering wheel firmly.
• slowly move to a safe place on the side of the road.
The use of tire sealants may damage your tires.
Dissimilar spare tire/wheel information
Failure to follow these guidelines could result in an increased
risk of loss of vehicle control, injury or death.
If you have a dissimilar spare tire/wheel, then it is intended for
temporary use only. This means that if you need to use it, you should
replace it as soon as possible with a road tire/wheel that is the same size
and type as the road tires and wheels that were originally provided by
Ford. If the dissimilar spare tire or wheel is damaged, it should be
replaced rather than repaired.
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Never use the front or rear
differential as a jacking point.
To lessen the risk of
personal injury, do not put
any part of your body under the
vehicle while changing a tire. Do
not start the engine when your
vehicle is on the jack. The jack is
only meant for changing the tire.
8. Turn the jack handle clockwise
until the wheel is completely off the
ground and high enough to install
the spare tire.
9. Remove the lug nuts with the lug
wrench.
10. Replace the flat tire with the
spare tire, making sure the valve
stem is facing outward for all front wheels and single rear wheel vehicles.
If replacing an inboard rear tire on dual rear wheel vehicles, the valve
stem must be facing outward. If replacing the outboard wheel, the valve
stem must be facing inward. Reinstall the lug nuts until the wheel is
snug against the hub. Do not fully tighten the lug nuts until the wheel
has been lowered.
11. Lower the wheel by turning the jack handle counterclockwise.
Go to step 19.
The following steps apply to F–350 DRW and F–450/F–550
vehicles only:
12. Slide the notched end of the
jack handle over the release valve
and use the handle to slide the jack
under the vehicle. Make sure the
valve is closed by turning it
clockwise.
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• Front: F–450/F–550
• Rear: F-450/F-550
14. Insert the jack handle into the
pump linkage.
15. Use an up-and-down motion
with the jack handle to raise the
wheel completely off the ground.
Hydraulic jacks are equipped
with a pressure release valve
that prevents lifting loads which
exceed the jack’s rated capacity.
16. Remove the lug nuts with the lug wrench.
17. Replace the flat tire with the spare tire, making sure the valve stem
is facing outward on all front an inboard rear wheels. If replacing the
outboard wheel, the valve stem must be facing inward. Reinstall the lug
nuts until the wheel is snug against the hub. Do not fully tighten the lug
nuts until the wheel has been lowered.
18. Lower the wheel by slowly turning the release valve
counterclockwise. Opening the release valve slowly will provide a more
controlled rate of descent.
2006 F-250/350/450/550 (f23)
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The following steps apply to all vehicles:
19. Remove the jack and fully
tighten the lug nuts in the order
shown. Refer to Wheel lug nut
torque specifications later in this
chapter for the proper lug nut
torque specification.
8–lug nut torque sequence
10–lug nut torque sequence
20. Stow the flat tire. Refer to Stowing the spare tire if the vehicle is
equipped with a spare tire carrier.
Note: If your vehicle is equipped with 20” tires, do not stow the flat tire
and wheel using the spare tire winch mechanism; store the flat in the
bed of the truck.
21. Stow the jack, jack handle and lug wrench. Make sure the jack is
securely fastened so it does not rattle when driving.
22. Unblock the wheels.
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Stowing the flat/spare tire
Note: Failure to follow spare tire stowage instructions may result in
failure of cable or loss of spare tire.
1. Lay the tire on the ground with the valve stem facing in the direction
specified on the Tire Changing Instructions located with the jack
hardware.
2. Slide the wheel partially under the vehicle and install the retainer
through the wheel center. Pull on the cable to align the components at
the end of the cable.
3. Turn the jack handle clockwise until the tire is raised to its stowed
position underneath the vehicle. The effort to turn the jack handle
increases significantly and the spare tire carrier ratchets or slips when
the tire is raised to the maximum tightness. Tighten to the best of your
ability, to the point where the ratchet/slip occurs, if possible. The spare
tire carrier will not allow you to overtighten. If the spare tire carrier
ratchets or slips with little effort, take the vehicle to your authorized
dealer for assistance at your earliest convenience.
4. Check that the tire lies flat against the frame and is properly
tightened. Try to push or pull, then turn the tire to be sure it will not
move. Loosen and retighten, if necessary. Failure to properly stow the
spare tire may result in failure of the winch cable and loss of the tire.
5. Repeat this tightness check procedure when servicing the spare tire
pressure (every six months, per scheduled maintenance information),
or at any time that the spare tire is disturbed through service of other
components.
6. If removed, install the spare tire lock (if equipped) into the bumper
drive tube with the spare tire lock key (if equipped) and jack handle.
WHEEL LUG NUT TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
On vehicles equipped with single rear wheels, retighten the lug nuts to
the specified torque at 500 miles (800 km) after any wheel disturbance
(tire rotation, changing a flat tire, wheel removal, etc.).
On vehicles equipped with dual rear wheels, retighten the wheel lug nuts
to the specified torque at 100 miles (160 km), and again at 500 miles
(800 km) of new vehicle operation and after any wheel disturbance (tire
rotation, changing a flat tire, wheel removal, etc.).
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Keep a record for at least one month and record the type of driving (city
or highway). This will provide an accurate estimate of the vehicle’s fuel
economy under current driving conditions. Additionally, keeping records
during summer and winter will show how temperature impacts fuel
economy. In general, lower temperatures give lower fuel economy.
Driving style — good driving and fuel economy habits
Give consideration to the lists that follow and you may be able to change
a number of variables and improve your fuel economy.
Habits
• Smooth, moderate operation can yield up to 10% savings in fuel.
•
Steady speeds without stopping will usually give the best fuel economy.
• Idling for long periods of time (greater than one minute) may waste fuel.
• Anticipate stopping; slowing down may eliminate the need to stop.
• Sudden or hard accelerations may reduce fuel economy.
• Slow down gradually.
• Driving at reasonable speeds (traveling at 55 mph [88 km/h] uses 15%
less fuel than traveling at 65 mph [105 km/h]).
• Revving the engine before turning it off may reduce fuel economy.
• Using the air conditioner or defroster may reduce fuel economy.
• You may want to turn off the speed control in hilly terrain if unnecessary
shifting between third and fourth gear occurs. Unnecessary shifting of
this type could result in reduced fuel economy.
• Warming up a vehicle on cold mornings is not required and may
reduce fuel economy.
• Resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving may reduce fuel
economy.
• Combine errands and minimize stop-and-go driving.
Maintenance
• Keep tires properly inflated and use only recommended size.
• Operating a vehicle with the wheels out of alignment will reduce fuel
economy.
• Use recommended engine oil. Refer to Lubricant specifications in
this chapter.
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USA (fus) Maintenance and Specifications
273

Relays ........................................205
Remote entry system .................82
illuminated entry ......................86
locking/unlocking doors ...........80
Reverse sensing system ...........182
Roadside assistance ..................202
S
Safety Belt Maintenance ..........108
Safety belts
(see Safety restraints) .......97–101
Safety defects, reporting ..........240
Safety restraints ..................97–101
belt minder .............................104
extension assembly ................107
for adults ...........................98–101
for children .....................117–118
lap belt ....................................102
safety belt maintenance .........108
warning light and
chime ...............................103–104
Safety seats for children ..........121
Safety Compliance
Certification Label ....................300
Seat belts
(see Safety restraints) ...............97
Seats ............................................90
child safety seats ....................121
cleaning ...................................246
Servicing your vehicle ..............249
Snowplowing .................8, 199–201
Spark plugs,
specifications .....................286, 293
Special notice ................................9
ambulance conversions ..............8
diesel-powered vehicles .............8 utility-type vehicles ....................8
Specification chart,
lubricants ...................................290
Speed control ..............................61
Starting your vehicle .......167–168,
171
jump starting ..........................226
Steering wheel
controls ......................................66
tilting .........................................54
T
Tailgate ..................................78–79
Tilt steering wheel ......................54
Tires ...................................131–132
alignment ................................140
care ..........................................137
changing ..................................218
checking the pressure ............136
inspecting and inflating .........133
label .........................................147
replacing ..................................139
rotating ....................................141
safety practices .......................139
sidewall information ...............142
snow tires and chains ............148
spare tire .........................214, 216
terminology .............................132
tire grades ...............................132
treadwear ........................131, 138
Towing .......................................155
Trailer Brake
Controller-Integrated ..............159
trailer towing ..........................155
wrecker ....................................232
Traction-lok rear axle ...............175
Trailer Brake
Controller-Integrated ................159
2006 F-250/350/450/550 (f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA (fus) Index
309