
4. Driving through deep water - the electrical system may be wet.
These temporary malfunctions can be corrected by filling the fuel tank
with good quality fuel, properly tightening the fuel cap or letting the
electrical system dry out. After three driving cycles without these or any
other temporary malfunctions present, the
indicator should stay off
the next time the engine is started. A driving cycle consists of a cold
engine startup followed by mixed city/highway driving. No additional
vehicle service is required.
If the
indicator remains on, have your vehicle serviced at the first
available opportunity. Although some malfunctions detected by the
OBD-II may not have symptoms that are apparent, continued driving
with the
indicator on can result in increased emissions, lower fuel
economy, reduced engine and transmission smoothness, and lead to more
costly repairs.
Readiness for Inspection/Maintenance (I/M) testing
In some localities, it may be a legal requirement to pass an I/M test of
the on-board diagnostics system. If the
indicator is on, refer to the
description in the Warning lights and chimes section of the Instrument
Cluster chapter. Your vehicle may not pass the I/M test with the
indicator on.
If the vehicle’s powertrain system or its battery has just been serviced,
the on-board diagnostics system is reset to a “not ready for I/M test”
condition. To ready the on-board diagnostics system for I/M testing, a
minimum of 30 minutes of city and highway driving is necessary as
described below:
•First, at least 10 minutes of driving on an expressway or highway.
•Next, at least 20 minutes driving in stop-and-go, city-type traffic with
at least four idle periods.
Allow the vehicle to sit for at least eight hours without starting the
engine. Then, start the engine and complete the above driving cycle. The
engine must warm up to its normal operating temperature. Once started,
do not turn off the engine until the above driving cycle is complete.
POWER STEERING FLUID
Check the power steering fluid. Refer to thescheduled maintenance
informationfor the service interval schedules. If adding fluid is
necessary, use only MERCONAT F.
2008 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
340

A
Accessory delay ..........................99
Air cleaner filter ...............348–350
Air conditioning ..........................75
Airbag supplemental restraint
system ................................171–172
and child safety seats ............173
description ..............................172
disposal ....................................175
driver airbag ............................174
indicator light .........................175
operation .................................174
passenger airbag .....................174
passenger deactivation
switch ......................................176
Ambulance packages ....................8
Antifreeze
(see Engine coolant) ................324
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ..............................235
Anti-theft system ......................148
arming the system ..................149
Audio system
(see Radio) ......................22, 24, 30
Automatic transmission ............240
driving an automatic
overdrive .................................241
fluid, adding ............................343
fluid, checking ........................343
fluid, refill capacities ..............352
Auxiliary Input Jack ...................36
Auxiliary power point .................96
Axle
refill capacities ........................352
traction lok ..............................239
B
Battery .......................................322acid, treating emergencies .....322
jumping a disabled battery ....290
maintenance-free ....................322
replacement, specifications ...350
servicing ..................................322
Belt-Minder.............................167
Brakes ........................................235
anti-lock ...................................235
anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light ...........................235
fluid, checking and adding ....342
fluid, refill capacities ..............352
parking ....................................236
shift interlock ..........................240
trailer .......................................223
Break-in period .............................5
Bulbs ............................................85
C
Capacities for refilling fluids ....352
Cassette tape player ...................22
Cell phone use ..............................7
Child safety restraints ..............181
child safety belts ....................181
Child safety seats ......................184
attaching with tether straps ..188
in front seat ............................185
in rear seat ..............................185
Cleaning your vehicle
engine compartment ..............307
instrument panel ....................309
interior .....................................310
plastic parts ............................309
safety belts ..............................310
washing ....................................306
waxing .....................................306
wheels ......................................307
wiper blades ............................309
2008 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Index
361

Climate control (see Air
conditioning or Heating) ............75
Clock adjust
6-CD in dash .............................31
AM/FM/CD .................................25
Clutch
fluid ..........................................342
operation while driving ..........244
recommended shift speeds ....244
Compass, electronic
set zone adjustment
...............127
Console
......................................116
overhead
....................................96
Controls
power seat
...............................154
steering column
......................107
Coolant
checking and adding
..............324
refill capacities
................327, 352
Cruise control
(see Speed control)
..................104
Customer Assistance
................265
Ford accessories for your
vehicle
.....................................313
Ford Extended Service
Plan
..........................................302
Getting assistance outside the
U.S. and Canada
.....................303
Getting roadside assistance
...265
Getting the service you
need
.........................................298
Ordering additional owner’s
literature
.................................304
Utilizing the
Mediation/Arbitration
Program
...................................302D
Daytime running lamps
(see Lamps) ................................81
Dipstick
automatic transmission
fluid ..........................................343
engine oil .................................319
Driveline universal joint and
slip yoke ....................................348
Driving under special
conditions ..................243, 256, 259
sand .........................................258
snow and ice ...........................260
through water .................258, 262
DVD system .................................43
E
Electronic message
center .................................116, 122
Emergencies, roadside
jump-starting ..........................290
Emergency Flashers .................267
Emission control system ..........338
Engine ........................................356
cleaning ...................................307
coolant .....................................324
diesel ...........................................8
fail-safe cooling .......................328
idle speed control ...................322
refill capacities ........................352
service points ..................316–317
starting after a collision .........267
Engine block heater .................234
Engine oil ..................................319
checking and adding ..............319
dipstick ....................................319
filter, specifications ........321, 350
2008 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Index
362

recommendations ...................321
refill capacities ........................352
Exhaust fumes ..........................234
F
Fail safe cooling ........................328
Family entertainment system ....43
Fluid capacities .........................352
Foglamps .....................................80
Four-Wheel Drive vehicles .......248
description ..............................252
driving off road .......................254
electronic shift ................248, 252
indicator light .........................249
lever operated shift ................250
manual locking hubs ..............248
preparing to drive your
vehicle .....................................239
Fuel ............................................330
calculating fuel
economy ..........................124, 335
cap ...........................................332
capacity ...................................352
choosing the right fuel ...........333
comparisons with EPA fuel
economy estimates .................338
detergent in fuel .....................334
filling your vehicle
with fuel ..................330, 332, 335
filter, specifications ........330, 350
fuel pump shut-off switch .....267
improving fuel economy ........335
octane rating ...................334, 356
quality ......................................334
running out of fuel .................334
safety information relating to
automotive fuels .....................330
Fuel pump shut-off switch .......267
Fuses ..................................268–269G
Gas cap (see Fuel cap) ............332
Gas mileage
(see Fuel economy) .................335
Gauges .........................................18
transmission fluid
temperature gauge ...................22
H
Hazard flashers .........................267
Head restraints .........................151
Headlamps ...................................80
aiming ..................................82, 84
autolamp system .......................80
daytime running lights .............81
flash to pass ..............................81
high beam .................................81
replacing bulbs .............86, 88–90
turning on and off ....................80
Heating
heating and air conditioning
system ...........................71–72, 75
Homelink wireless control
system ........................................112
Hood ..........................................315
I
Ignition ...............................231, 356
Infant seats
(see Safety seats) .....................184
Inspection/maintenance (I/M)
testing ........................................340
Instrument panel
cleaning ...................................309
cluster ........................................12
2008 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Index
363