2010 FORD F150 Owners Manual

When AdvanceTrac
with RSC
performs a normal system self-check,
some drivers may notice a slight movement of the brake, and/or a
rumble, grunting, or grinding noise after startup and when driving off.
When an event occurs that activates AdvanceTrac
with RSC
you may
experience the following:
•A slight deceleration of the vehicle
•The “sliding car”
indicator light will flash.
•A vibration in the pedal when your foot is on the brake pedal
•If the driving condition is severe and your foot is not on the brake, the
brake pedal may move as the systems applies higher brake forces. You
may also hear a whoosh of air from under the instrument panel during
this severe condition.
•The brake pedal may feel stiffer than usual.
Traction control system (TCS)
Traction control is a driver aid feature that helps your vehicle maintain
traction of the wheels, typically when driving on slippery and/or hilly
road surfaces, by detecting and controlling wheel spin.
Excessive wheel spin is controlled in two ways, which may work
separately or in tandem: engine traction control and brake traction
control. Engine traction control works to limit drive-wheel spin by
momentarily reducing engine power. Brake traction control works to limit
wheel spin by momentarily applying the brakes to the wheel that is
slipping. Traction control is most active at low speeds.
During TCS events the “sliding car” icon
in the instrument cluster
will flash.
If the TCS is activated excessively in a short period of time, the braking
portion of the system may become temporarily disabled to allow the
brakes to cool down. In this situation, TCS will use only engine power
reduction or transfer to help control the wheels from over-spinning.
When the brakes have cooled down, the system will regain all features.
Anti-lock braking, RSC
, and ESC are not affected by this condition and
will continue to function during the cool-down period.
The engine traction control and brake traction control system may be
deactivated in certain situations. See theSwitching off AdvanceTrac

with RSC
section following.
Driving
281
2010 F-150(f12)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

Electronic stability control (ESC)
Electronic stability control (ESC) may enhance your vehicle’s directional
stability during adverse maneuvers, for example when cornering severely
or avoiding objects in the roadway. ESC operates by applying brakes to
one or more of the wheels individually and, if necessary, reducing engine
power if the system detects that the vehicle is about to skid or slide
laterally.
During ESC events the “sliding car” icon
in the instrument cluster
will flash.
Certain adverse driving maneuvers may activate the ESC system, which
include but are not limited to:
•Taking a turn too fast
•Maneuvering quickly to avoid an accident, pedestrian or obstacle
•Driving over a patch of ice or other slippery surfaces
•Changing lanes on a snow-rutted road
•Entering a snow-free road from a snow-covered side street, or vice
versa
•Entering a paved road from a gravel road, or vice versa
•Cornering while towing a heavily loaded trailer (refer toTrailer
towingin theTires, Wheels and Loadingchapter).
The Electronic Stability Control system may be deactivated in certain
situations. See theSwitching Off AdvanceTrac
with RSC
section
following.
Roll Stability Control™ (RSC
)
Roll Stability Control™ (RSC
) may help to maintain roll stability of the
vehicle during adverse maneuvers. RSC
operates by detecting the
vehicle’s roll motion and the rate at which it changes and by applying the
brakes to one or more wheels individually.
During an event that activates the Roll Stability Control™ (RSC
)the
“sliding car” icon
in the instrument cluster will flash.
Certain adverse driving maneuvers may activate the Roll Stability
Control™ system, which include:
•Emergency lane-change
•Taking a turn too fast
•Quick maneuvering to avoid an accident, pedestrian or obstacle
Driving
282
2010 F-150(f12)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

The Roll Stability Control™ system may be deactivated in certain
situations. See theSwitching off AdvanceTrac
with RSC
section
following.
Switching off AdvanceTrac
with RSC

If the vehicle is stuck in snow, mud or sand, and seems to lose engine
power, switching off certain features of the AdvanceTrac
with RSC

system may be beneficial because the wheels are allowed to spin. This
will restore full engine power and will enhance momentum through the
obstacle. To switch off the AdvanceTrac
with RSC
system press the
AdvanceTrac
with RSC
button. Full features of the AdvanceTrac
with
RSC
system can be restored by pressing the AdvanceTrac
with RSC

button again or by turning off and restarting the engine.
If you switch off the AdvanceTrac
with RSC
system, the “sliding car”
icon
will illuminate steadily. Pressing the AdvanceTrac
with RSC

button again will turn off the “sliding car” icon
.
In R (Reverse), ABS and the engine traction control and brake traction
control features will continue to function; however, ESC and RSC
are
disabled.
AdvanceTrac
with RSC
Features
Button
functions“Sliding car”
icon
RSC
ESC TCS
Default at
start-upIlluminated
during bulb
checkEnabled Enabled Enabled
Button pressed
momentarilyIlluminated
solidEnabled Enabled Disabled
Button pressed
and held for
more than five
seconds at
vehicle speed
under 35 mph
(56 km/h)Flashes then
illuminated
solidDisabled Disabled Disabled
Driving
283
2010 F-150(f12)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

AdvanceTrac
with RSC
Features
Button
functions“Sliding car”
icon
RSC
ESC TCS
Vehicle speed
exceeds 35 mph
(56 km/h) after
button is
pressed and
held for more
than five
secondsIlluminated
solidEnabled Enabled Disabled
Button pressed
again after
deactivationNot illuminated Enabled Enabled Enabled
Trailer sway control
Your vehicle may be equipped with trailer sway control. When properly
equipped, trailer sway control will use the vehicle’s AdvanceTrac
with
RSC
system to detect and help reduce trailer sway by applying brake
force at individual wheels and, if necessary, by reducing engine power.
WARNING:Trailer sway control does not prevent a trailer from
swaying, it mitigates the sway from increasing once it has
occurred. If you are experiencing trailer sway it is likely that the trailer
is improperly loaded for the correct tongue weight or the speed of the
vehicle and trailer is too high. Pull the vehicle-trailer over to a safe
location to check the trailer weight distribution and tongue load and
reduce speed to a safe level while towing. If trailer sway is
experienced, SLOW DOWN.
During trailer sway control events the “sliding car”
icon in the
instrument cluster will flash momentarily. The message center will also
displayTRAILER SWAY REDUCE SPEED.In some cases when trailer
sway is detected, the vehicle speed is too high and may be above a
speed at which trailer sway will not grow continuously. This may cause
the system to activate multiple times, causing a gradual reduction in
speed.
Note:The trailer sway control will only activate at speeds greater than
40 mph (64 km/h).
Driving
284
2010 F-150(f12)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

Disabling trailer sway control
Trailer sway control can be disabled during any key cycle. See trailer
sway control under theMessage centerin theInstrument Cluster
chapter. Note that regardless of chosen enable state, trailer sway control
will be re-enabled at each new key cycle.
WARNING:Turning off trailer sway control increases the risk of
loss of vehicle control, serious injury, or death. Ford does not
recommend disabling this feature except in situations where speed
reduction may be detrimental (e.g., hill climbing), the driver has
significant trailer towing experience, and can control trailer sway and
maintain safe operation.
STEERING
To help prevent damage to the power steering system:
•Never hold the steering wheel at its furthest turning points (until it
stops) for more than a few seconds when the engine is running.
•Do not operate the vehicle with a low power steering fluid level
(below the MIN mark on the reservoir).
•Some noise is normal during operation. If the noise is excessive, check
for a low power steering fluid level before seeking service by your
authorized dealer.
•Heavy or uneven steering efforts may be caused by a low power
steering fluid level. Check for a low power steering fluid level before
seeking service by your authorized dealer.
•Do not fill the power steering fluid reservoir above the MAX mark on
the reservoir.
If the power steering system breaks down (or if the engine is turned
off), you can steer the vehicle manually, but it takes more effort.
If the steering wanders or pulls, check for:
•an improperly inflated tire
•uneven tire wear
•loose or worn suspension components
•loose or worn steering components
•improper steering alignment
A high crown in the road or high crosswinds may also make the steering
seem to wander/pull.
Driving
285
2010 F-150(f12)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

LIMITED-SLIP AXLE (IF EQUIPPED)
This axle provides added traction on slippery surfaces, particularly when
one wheel is on a poor traction surface. Under normal conditions, the
Limited-slip axle functions like a standard rear axle. The axle may
exhibit a slight noise or vibration in tight turns with low vehicle speed.
This is normal behavior and indicates the axle is working.
Electronic locking differential (ELD) axle (if equipped)
This axle provides added traction on slippery and/or off road surfaces,
particularly when one wheel is on a poor traction surface. In normal
driving conditions the rear axle function as a standard axle. The ELD
may be locked or unlocked by the vehicle operator. Refer toFour-wheel
drive (4WD) operationsection in this chapter for further detail on ELD
function and usage. When the axle is unlocked it will function like a
standard rear axle. When the axle is locked it will not allow the rear
wheels to rotate at different speeds when turning. The ELD axle is not
recommended for use on good traction surfaces such as dry pavement.
Doing so may result in abnormal driving behavior while cornering and
excessive tire wear.
PREPARING TO DRIVE
WARNING:Utility vehicles have a significantly higher rollover
rate than other types of vehicles.
WARNING:In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is
significantly more likely to die than a person wearing a seat belt.
Utility vehicles and trucks have larger tires and increased ground
clearance, giving the vehicle a higher center of gravity than a passenger
car.
WARNING:Vehicles with a higher center of gravity such as
utility vehicles and trucks handle differently than vehicles with a
lower center of gravity. Utility vehicles and trucks arenotdesigned for
cornering at speeds as high as passenger cars any more than low-slung
sports cars are designed to perform satisfactorily under off-road
conditions. Avoid sharp turns, excessive speed or abrupt maneuvers in
these vehicles. Failure to drive cautiously could result in an increased
risk of loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover, personal injury and
death.
Driving
286
2010 F-150(f12)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

WARNING:Loaded vehicles, with a higher center of gravity,
may handle differently than unloaded vehicles. Do not overload
your vehicle and use extra precautions, such as driving at slower
speeds, avoiding abrupt steering changes and allowing for increased
stopping distance, when driving a heavily loaded vehicle. Over-loading
or loading the vehicle improperly can deteriorate handling capability
and contribute to loss of vehicle control and vehicle rollover.
BRAKE-SHIFT INTERLOCK - COLUMN-SHIFT TRANSMISSION
This vehicle is equipped with a park/brake-shift interlock feature that
prevents the gearshift lever from being moved from P (Park) when the
ignition is in the on position unless the brake pedal is pressed.
If you cannot move the gearshift lever out of P (Park) with ignition in
the on position and the brake pedal pressed, it is possible that a fuse has
blown or the vehicle’s brakelamps are not operating properly. Refer to
Fuses and relaysin theRoadside Emergencieschapter.
If the fuse is not blown, perform the following procedure:
Note:The following procedure is easier to perform when the steering
column is adjusted to the full up position. Refer toTilt steering wheelin
theDriver Controlschapter.
1. Apply the parking brake, turn the ignition to the off position, then
remove the key.
2. Move the shift lever boot by
pressing on the edges and moving it
up the gearshift lever.
Driving
287
2010 F-150(f12)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

3. Turn the steering wheel one-half
turn to access the slots on each side
of the steering wheel.
4. Insert a flat head screwdriver into
each slot to unsnap and remove the
steering column cover. Rotate the
column up on its hinges and pull
rearward to remove the cover from
the hinges.
5. With the ignition in the on
position, pull back on the BSI
solenoid found on top of the
uncovered steering column and at
the same time, apply the brake
pedal and shift the transmission into
N (Neutral).
Driving
288
2010 F-150(f12)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)