2006 FORD F250 SUPER DUTY automatic transmission

WARNING LIGHTS AND CHIMES
Standard instrument cluster (manual transmission)
Standard instrument cluster (automatic transmission)
Amarillo instrument cluster
Warning lights and gauges can alert you to a vehicle condition that may
become serious enough to cause expensive repairs. A warning light may
illuminate when a problem exists with one of your vehicle’s functions.
2006 F-250/350/450/550 (f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA (fus)Instrument Cluster
12

Driving a vehicle with the brake system warning light on is
dangerous. A significant decrease in braking performance may
occur. It will take you longer to stop the vehicle. Have the vehicle
checked by your authorized dealer immediately.
Anti-lock brake system: If the
ABS light stays illuminated or
continues to flash, a malfunction has
been detected, have the system
serviced immediately. Normal
braking is still functional unless the brake warning light also is
illuminated.
Airbag readiness: If this light fails
to illuminate when ignition is turned
to ON, continues to flash or remains
on, have the system serviced
immediately. A chime will also sound when a malfunction in the
supplemental restraint system has been detected.
Safety belt: Reminds you to fasten
your safety belt. A chime will also
sound to remind you to fasten your
safety belt.
Charging system: Illuminates when
the battery is not charging properly.
Transmission Tow/Haul Feature
(automatic transmission):
Illuminates when the Tow/Haul
feature has been activated. Refer to
the Driving chapter for transmission function and operation. If the light
flashes steadily, have the system serviced immediately, damage to the
transmission could occur.
Four wheel drive low: Illuminates
when four-wheel drive low is
engaged.
Four wheel drive indicator:
Illuminates when four-wheel drive is
engaged. ABS
LOW
RANGE
4x4
2006 F-250/350/450/550 (f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA (fus)Instrument Cluster
14

Transmission fluid temperature gauge (automatic transmission
only): If the gauge is in the:
Normal area (normal) - the
transmission fluid is within the
normal operating temperature
(between “H” and “C”).
Yellow area (warning) — the
transmission fluid is higher than
normal operating temperature. This
can be caused by special operation
conditions (i.e. snowplowing, towing
or off road use). Refer to Special
Operating Conditions in the
scheduled maintenance
information for instructions. Operating the transmission for extended
periods of time with the gauge in the yellow area may cause internal
transmission damage.
Altering the severity of the driving conditions is recommended to lower
the transmission temperature into the normal range.
Red area (over temperature) —
the transmission fluid is overheating.
Stop the vehicle to allow the
temperature to return to normal
range.
If the gauge is operating in the Yellow or Red area, stop the vehicle and
verify the airflow is not restricted such as snow or debris blocking airflow
through the grill. If the gauge continues to show high temperatures, see
your authorized dealer.
2006 F-250/350/450/550 (f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA (fus) Instrument Cluster
19

TRANSMISSION CONTROL
Tow/Haul feature (5–speed automatic transmission) (if equipped)
To activate, press the transmission
control switch (TCS) located on the
gearshift. The TOW/HAUL indicator
light will illuminate in the
instrument cluster. The transmission
will operate in all gears. Press the
transmission control switch again to deactivate Tow/Haul mode. When
you shut off and re-start your vehicle, the transmission will automatically
return to normal mode with Tow/Haul feature deactivated, refer to the
Driving chapter for more information.
Do not use the Tow/Haul feature when driving in icy or slippery
conditions as the increased engine braking can cause the rear
wheels to slide and the vehicle to swing around with the possible loss
of vehicle control..
ILLUMINATED VISOR MIRROR (IF EQUIPPED)
Lift the mirror cover to turn on the
visor mirror lamps.
OVERHEAD CONSOLE (IF EQUIPPED)
The appearance of your vehicle’s overhead console will vary according to
your option package. If your vehicle is equipped with a moonroof, refer
to Moonroof later in this chapter for information on its operation.
2006 F-250/350/450/550 (f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA (fus) Driver Controls
55

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.
2006 F-250/350/450/550 (f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA (fus)Seating and Safety Restraints
106

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)
2006 F-250/350/450/550 (f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA (fus)Tires, Wheels and Loading
156

Driving while you tow
When towing a trailer:
• Do not drive faster than 70 mph (112 km/h) during the first 500 miles
(800 km) of trailer towing and don’t make full-throttle starts.
• Turn off the speed control. The speed control may shut off
automatically when you are towing on long, steep grades.
• Consult your local motor vehicle speed regulations for towing a trailer.
• To eliminate excessive transmission shifting, activate the Tow/Haul
feature. This will also assist in transmission cooling. (For additional
information, refer to the Understanding the positions of the 5–speed
automatic transmission section in this chapter.
• Anticipate stops and brake gradually.
• Do not exceed the GCWR rating or transmission damage may occur.
• Your vehicle may be equipped with a temporary or conventional spare
tire. If the spare tire is different in size (diameter and/or width), tread
type (All-Season or All-Terrain) or is from a different manufacturer
other than the road tires on your vehicle, your spare tire is considered
“temporary”. Consult information on the spare Tire Label or Safety
Compliance Certification Label for limitations when using.
Servicing after towing
If you tow a trailer for long distances, your vehicle will require more
frequent service intervals. Refer to your scheduled maintenance
information for more information.
Trailer towing safety tips
General
• Ensure that the trailer, safety chains and 7–pin electrical connectors
are securely fastened.
• Make sure the truck receiver, draw bar, and coupler are properly
connected and adjusted.
• Check rear view and side mirrors for proper visibility especially when
towing trailer wider than the truck.
• When towing, operate the vehicle at lower speeds than you would
when not towing a trailer. The likelihood of trailer sway is greater at
higher speeds.
2006 F-250/350/450/550 (f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA (fus) Tires, Wheels and Loading
163

Improper removal/installation of the driveshaft can cause
transmission fluid loss, damage to the driveshaft and internal
transmission components.
4x4 with manual shift transfer case:
• Place the transfer case in N (Neutral).
• Front hub locks are in the FREE position.
4x4 electronic shift transfer case vehicles with automatic
transmissions:
Regarding recreational towing or having your vehicle towed, 4x4 vehicles
with electronic shift on the fly cannot be towed with any wheels on the
ground unless the rear driveshaft is removed and the front hub locks are
in free mode (with the exception of moving it as a disabled vehicle off
the road out of traffic). The hub locks can be set to free mode at any
time by turning them from AUTO to LOCK and back to AUTO at least
two times. Always make sure that both hub locks are set to the same
position.
2006 F-250/350/450/550 (f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA (fus)Tires, Wheels and Loading
166