Page 1 of 400
Introduction 4
Instrument Cluster 12
Warning lights and chimes 12
Gauges 19
Entertainment Systems 23
AM/FM stereo 23
AM/FM stereo with CD 25
AM/FM stereo with in-dash six CD 32
Auxiliary input jack 40
Satellite radio information 44
Navigation system 47
Family entertainment system 48
Climate Controls 76
Heater only 76
Manual heating and air conditioning 77
Dual automatic temperature control 80
Lights 85
Headlamps 85
Turn signal control 90
Bulb replacement 91
Driver Controls 98
Windshield wiper/washer control 98
Steering wheel adjustment 99
Power windows 102
Mirrors 103
Speed control 109
Upfitter controls 114
Moon roof 115
Message center 120
Tailgate 140
Table of Contents
1
2008 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
ProCarManuals.com
Page 17 of 400

Four wheel drive low
(if equipped):Illuminates when
four-wheel drive low is engaged.
Four wheel drive high
(if equipped):Illuminates when
four-wheel drive high is engaged.
Anti-theft:Flashes when the
SecuriLock™ Passive Anti-Theft
System has been activated.
Speed control (if equipped):
Illuminates when the speed control
is activated. Turns off when the
speed control system is deactivated.
Turn signal:Illuminates when the
left or right turn signal or the
hazard lights are turned on. If the
indicators stay on or flash faster, check for a burned out bulb.
High beams:Illuminates when the
high beam headlamps are turned on.
If your vehicle is equipped with a diesel engine, it has some unique
warning lights; refer toInstrument Clusterin your6.0 and 6.4 Liter
Power Stroke Direct Injection Turbo Diesel Owner’s Guide
Supplementfor detailed information on their function.
Diesel warning lights:
•Glow plug pre-heat
•Water in fuel4x4
LOW
4x4
HIGH
2008 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Instrument Cluster
17
ProCarManuals.com
Page 18 of 400

•Low oil pressure
Key-in-ignition warning chime:Sounds when the key is left in the
ignition in the OFF, LOCK or ACCESSORY position and the driver’s door
is opened.
Headlamps on warning chime:Sounds when the headlamps or parking
lamps are on, the ignition is off (the key is not in the ignition) and the
driver’s door is opened.
Parking brake on warning chime:Sounds when the parking brake is
set, the engine is running and the vehicle is driven more than 3 mph (5
km). If the warning remains on after the parking brake is off, contact
your authorized dealer as soon as possible.
Turn signal chime:Sounds when the turn signal lever has been
activated to signal a turn and not turned off after the vehicle is driven
more than 2 miles (3.2 km).
Message center activation chime:Sounds when some warning
messages appears in the message center display for the first time.
Overspeed chime (if equipped):Sounds when the vehicle speed
reaches 75 mph (120 km/h) or higher.
Airbag secondary warning chime:Sounds to inform the driver, in the
event that the airbag readiness warning lamp is inoperable, that there is
a fault in the supplemental restraint system
2008 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Instrument Cluster
18
ProCarManuals.com
Page 85 of 400

HEADLAMP CONTROL
Turns the lamps off.
Turns on the parking lamps,
instrument panel lamps, license
plate lamps and tail lamps.
Turns the headlamps on.
Autolamp control (if equipped)
The autolamp system provides light
sensitive automatic on-off control of
the exterior lights normally
controlled by the headlamp control.
The autolamp system also keeps the
lights on for approximately 20
seconds or on vehicles equipped
with a message center, you can
select a delay from 0–180 seconds,
after the ignition switch is turned to
OFF.
•To turn autolamps on, rotate the control counterclockwise.
•To turn autolamps off, rotate the control clockwise to
(OFF).
Foglamp control (if equipped)
The headlamp control also operates
the foglamps. The foglamps can be
turned on when the headlamp
control is in the
,or
positions and the high beams are
not turned on.
Pull headlamp control towards you
to turn foglamps on. The foglamp
indicator light (
) will illuminate.
2008 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Lights
85
ProCarManuals.com
Page 86 of 400
Daytime running lamps (DRL) (if equipped)
Turns the headlamps on with a reduced output.
To activate:
•the ignition must be in the on position,
•the headlamp control is in the
(OFF) or parking lamp position
and
•the parking brake must be disengaged.
Always remember to turn on your headlamps at dusk or during
inclement weather. The Daytime Running Lamp (DRL) system
does not activate the tail lamps and generally may not provide
adequate lighting during these conditions. Failure to activate your
headlamps under these conditions may result in a collision.
High beams
Push the lever toward the
instrument panel to activate. Pull
the lever towards you to deactivate.
Flash-to-pass
Pull toward you slightly to activate
and release to deactivate.
OFF
2008 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Lights
86
ProCarManuals.com
Page 87 of 400

PANEL DIMMER CONTROL
Use to adjust the brightness of the
instrument panel and all applicable
illuminated switches in the vehicle
during headlamp and parklamp
operation.
Move the control to the full upright
position, past detent, to turn on the
interior lamps.
Note:If the battery is disconnected,
discharged, or a new battery is
installed, the dimmer switch requires re-calibration. Rotate the dimmer
switch from the full dim position to the full Dome/ON position to reset.
This will ensure that your displays are visible under all lighting
conditions
AIMING THE HEADLAMPS
Your vehicle may be equipped with a sealed beam or aerodynamic
headlamp system. Sealed beam headlamps may be aimed in the vertical
(up/down) and the horizontal (left/right) directions using the procedures
following. The aerodynamic headlamps can only be aimed in the vertical
direction (up/down) using the following procedures. The headlamps on
your vehicle are properly aimed at the assembly plant and should not
normally need adjusting.
Vertical and horizontal aim adjustment (sealed beam headlamps)
The headlamps on your vehicle are intended to be aimed using
mechanical aimers. If mechanical aimers are used and the cross-car sight
line is in any way blocked, set the legs of the universal adaptor all to the
same setting, such that the cross-car sight line is no longer blocked, per
the instructions for the brand of mechanical aimer used. You can also
aim the headlamps visually using the procedure below.
2008 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Lights
87
ProCarManuals.com
Page 88 of 400

To adjust the headlamps:
1. Park your vehicle on a level
surface about 25 feet (7.6 meters)
away from a vertical plain surface
(3). Check your headlamp alignment
at night or in a dark area so that
you can see the headlamp beam
pattern.
•(1) 8 feet (2.4 meters)
•(2) Center height of lamp to
ground
•(3) 25 feet (7.6 meters)
•(4) Horizontal reference line
•(5) Center of headlamps
•(6) Center line of the vehicle
2. The center of the headlamp is marked either on the lens (a circle or
cross marker) or on the bulb shield, internal to the lamp (mark or
feature). Measure the height from the center of your headlamp to the
ground (2) and mark an 8 foot (2.4 meter) long horizontal line on the
wall or screen (1) at this height (masking tape works well).
3. Turn on the low beam headlamps
and open the hood.
4. Locate the high intensity area of
the beam pattern and place the top
edge of the intensity zone even with
the horizontal reference line (4). If
the top edge of the high intensity
area is not even with the horizontal
line, follow the next step to adjust
it.
2008 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Lights
88
ProCarManuals.com
Page 89 of 400

5. Locate the vertical adjuster (2)
for each headlamp. Adjust the aim
by turning the adjuster control
either clockwise (to adjust up) or
counterclockwise (to adjust down).
6. In addition to the horizontal line
marked in step 2, a pair of vertical
lines (5) must be marked at the
center line of the headlamps on the
wall or screen.
7. On the wall or screen, locate the high intensity area of the beam
pattern. The left edge of the high intensity area should be even with the
vertical line corresponding to the headlamp under adjustment. If the left
edge of the high intensity area is not even with the vertical line, follow
the next step to adjust it.
8. Locate the horizontal adjuster (1) for each headlamp. Turn it
clockwise or counterclockwise, to place the left edge of the high
intensity area even with the vertical line corresponding to the headlamp
under adjustment.
Vertical aim adjustment (aerodynamic headlamps)
The headlamps on your vehicle can only be vertically adjusted. Your
vehicle does not require horizontal aim adjustments.
To adjust the headlamps:
1. Park the vehicle directly in front of a wall or screen on a level surface,
approximately 25 feet (7.6 meters) away.
•(1) 8 feet (2.4 meters)
•(2) Center height of lamp to ground
•(3) 25 feet (7.6 meters)
2008 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Lights
89
ProCarManuals.com