2010 FORD F250 Owners Manual

3. Move the transfer case shift lever
through N (Neutral) directly to 4L
(4x4 Low).
4. If the shift lever does not, or only
partially moves to the 4L (4x4 Low)
position, perform a shift with the
transmission in N (Neutral) (or
clutch pedal depressed) and the
vehicle rolling at a speed below 5 mph (8 km/h). This will ensure the
transfer case is fully engaged into 4L (4x4 Low).
Shifting from 4L (4x4 Low) to 4H (4x4 High) or 2H (2WD)
1. Bring the vehicle to a stop or a speed below 5 mph (8 km/h).
2. Place the gearshift lever in N (Neutral). If the vehicle is equipped with
a manual transmission, also depress the clutch pedal.
3. Move the transfer case shift lever
through N (Neutral) directly to 4H
(4x4 High) or 2H (2WD).
4. If the transfer casewill not
engage into 4H (4x4 High) or 2H
(2WD), perform a shift with the
transmission in N (Neutral) (or
clutch pedal depressed) and the
vehicle rolling at a speed below 5 mph (8 km/h).
5. If shifting to 2H (2WD) with the vehicle at a complete stop, disengage
the locking hubs (optional) by rotating the hub lock control from LOCK
to FREE.
Using the N (Neutral) position
The transfer case neutral
position overrides the
transmission and puts the
vehicle in neutral regardless of
transmission gearshift lever
position. The vehicle can move
forward or backwards.
This position should only be used
when towing the vehicle.2H
4H
4LN
2H
4H
4LN
2H
4H
4LN
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WARNING:Do not leave the vehicle unattended with the
transfer case in the N (Neutral) position. Always set the parking
brake fully and turn off the ignition when leaving the vehicle.
Using the Electronic Shift On the Fly (ESOF) 4x4 system
(if equipped)
Positions of the electronic shift system
Note:Some noise may be heard as the 4WD system shifts or engages.
This is normal.
2WD– For general on-road driving. Sends power to the rear wheels only.
4x4 HIGH– For winter and off-road conditions. Sends power to front
and rear wheels.This mode is not intended for use on dry
pavement.
4x4 LOW– For low-speed off-road applications that require extra power
such as steep grades, deep sand or pulling a boat out of the water. Sends
power to front and rear wheels.This mode is not intended for use on
dry pavement.
Shifting from 2WD to 4x4 HIGH
Rotate the 4x4 control to the 4x4
HIGH position at speeds up to
55 mph (88 km/h).
•The electronic shift 4x4
system is designed to engage
4x4 HIGH when the vehicle is
moving. If shifted to 4x4
HIGH while at complete stop,
4x4 may not engage and the
4x4 indicator may flash
continuously until the vehicle
is allowed to move at a speed above 1 mph (1.6 km/h).
•Do not shift into 4x4 HIGH with the rear wheels slipping.
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Shifting from 4x4 HIGH to 2WD
Rotate the 4x4 control to 2WD at
any forward speed. Disengagement
of the transfer case and front hubs
may be delayed due to torque bind
which is caused by driving on dry
hard surfaces or performing tight
turns while using the 4x4 system.
•Yo udo notneed to operate the
vehicle in R (Reverse) to
disengage your front hubs, but it
will eliminate any torque bind and
allow the system to immediately disengage.
Shifting from 4x4 HIGH to 4x4 LOW
If the range shift requirements are not met, the 4x4 Low
indicator will flash continuously.
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Place the gearshift in N (Neutral). If the vehicle is equipped with a
manual transmission, also depress the clutch pedal.
3. Move the 4x4 control to the 4x4
LOW position.
4. Hold the shift conditions until the
4x4 LOW indicator light illuminates.
5. If the 4x4 LOW indicator light
flashes continuously for more than
10 seconds, allow the vehicle to
move at a speed below 5 mph
(8 km/h), then repeat steps 2
through 5 while the vehicle is rolling
before reporting any shift concerns to your authorized dealer.
Shifting from 4x4 LOW to 4x4 HIGH or 2WD
If the range shift requirements are not met, the 4x4 Low or 4x4
High indicator will flash continuously, depending on which mode
the shift began.
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Place the gearshift in N (Neutral).
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3. Move the 4x4 control to the 4x4
HIGH or 2WD position.
4. Hold the shift conditions until the
4x4 LOW indicator light shuts off.
5. If the 4x4 LOW or 4x4 High
indicator light flashes continuously
for more than 10 seconds, allow the
vehicle to move at a speed below
5 mph (8 km/h), then repeat steps 2
through 5 while the vehicle is rolling
before reporting any shift concerns to your authorized dealer.
Driving off-road with truck and utility vehicles
4WD vehicles are specially equipped for driving on sand, snow, mud and
rough terrain and have operating characteristics that are somewhat
different from conventional vehicles, both on and off the road.
Your vehicle may be equipped with a long front air dam that may become
damaged (due to reduced ground clearance) when taking your vehicle
off-road. This air dam can either be removed or a shorter air dam can be
purchased from your authorized dealer. In either case, if the air dam is
to be removed (or replaced) before going off-road, refer to the
Workshop Manualfor the procedure or have your authorized dealer
perform the work for you.
How your vehicle differs from other vehicles
Truck and utility vehicles can differ from some other vehicles. Your
vehicle may be higher to allow it to travel over rough terrain without
getting hung up or damaging underbody components.
The differences that make your vehicle so versatile also make it handle
differently than an ordinary passenger car.
Maintain steering wheel control at all times, especially in rough terrain.
Since sudden changes in terrain can result in abrupt steering wheel
motion, make sure you grip the steering wheel from the outside. Do not
grip the spokes.
Drive cautiously to avoid vehicle damage from concealed objects such as
rocks and stumps.
You should either know the terrain or examine maps of the area before
driving. Map out your route before driving in the area. To maintain
steering and braking control of your vehicle, you must have all four
wheels on the ground and they must be rolling, not sliding or spinning.
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Basic operating principles
•Do not use 4WD on dry, hard surfaced roads. Doing so will produce
excessive noise, increase tire wear and may damage drive components.
4WD modes are only intended for consistently slippery or loose
surfaces.
•Drive slower in strong crosswinds which can affect the normal steering
characteristics of your vehicle.
•Be extremely careful when driving on pavement made slippery by
loose sand, water, gravel, snow or ice.
If your vehicle goes off the edge of the pavement
•If your vehicle goes off the edge of the pavement, slow down, but
avoid severe brake application, ease the vehicle back onto the
pavement only after reducing your speed. Do not turn the steering
wheel too sharply while returning to the road surface.
•It may be safer to stay on the apron or shoulder of the road and slow
down gradually before returning to the pavement. You may lose
control if you do not slow down or if you turn the steering wheel too
sharply or abruptly.
•It often may be less risky to strike small objects, such as highway
reflectors, with minor damage to your vehicle rather than attempt a
sudden return to the pavement which could cause the vehicle to slide
sideways out of control or roll over. Remember, your safety and the
safety of others should be your primary concern.
WARNING:Vehicles with a higher center of gravity such as
utility and four-wheel drive vehicles handle differently than
vehicles with a lower center of gravity. Utility and four-wheel drive
vehicles 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 and 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.
If your vehicle gets stuck
If your vehicle gets stuck in mud or snow it may be rocked out by
shifting between forward and reverse gears, stopping between shifts, in a
steady pattern. Press lightly on the accelerator in each gear.
Do not rock the vehicle if the engine is not at normal operating
temperature or damage to the transmission may occur.
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Do not rock the vehicle for more than a few minutes or damage
to the transmission and tires may occur or the engine may
overheat.
WARNING:Do not spin the wheels at over 35 mph (56 km/h).
The tires may fail and injure a passenger or bystander.
Refer toTransmission fluid temperature gaugein theInstrument
Clusterchapter for transmission fluid temperature information.
Emergency maneuvers
•In an unavoidable emergency situation where a sudden sharp turn
must be made, remember to avoid “over-driving” your vehicle, i.e.,
turn the steering wheel only as rapidly and as far as required to avoid
the emergency. Excessive steering will result in less vehicle control,
not more. Additionally, smooth variations of the accelerator and/or
brake pedal pressure should be utilized if changes in vehicle speed are
called for. Avoid abrupt steering, acceleration or braking which could
result in an increased risk of loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover
and/or personal injury. Use all available road surface to return the
vehicle to a safe direction of travel.
•In the event of an emergency stop, avoid skidding the tires and do not
attempt any sharp steering wheel movements.
WARNING:Vehicles with a higher center of gravity such as
utility and four-wheel drive vehicles handle differently than
vehicles with a lower center of gravity. Utility and four-wheel drive
vehicles 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 and 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.
•If the vehicle goes from one type of surface to another (i.e., from
concrete to gravel) there will be a change in the way the vehicle
responds to a maneuver (steering, acceleration or braking). Again,
avoid these abrupt inputs.
Parking
On some 4WD vehicles, when the transfer case is in the N (Neutral)
position, the engine and transmission are disconnected from the rest of
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the driveline. Therefore, the vehicle is free to roll even if the automatic
transmission is in P (Park) or the manual transmission is in gear. Do not
leave the vehicle unattended with the transfer case in the N (Neutral)
position. Always set the parking brake fully and turn off the ignition
when leaving the vehicle.
WARNING:Always set the parking brake fully and make sure
the gearshift is latched in P (Park). Turn the ignition to the off
position and remove the key whenever you leave your vehicle.
WARNING:If the parking brake is fully released, but the brake
warning lamp remains illuminated, the brakes may not be
working properly. See your authorized dealer.
4WD Systems
4WD (when you select a 4WD mode), uses all four wheels to power the
vehicle. This increases traction, enabling you to drive over terrain and
road conditions that a conventional two-wheel drive vehicle cannot.
Power is supplied to all four wheels through a transfer case. On 4WD
vehicles, the transfer case allows you to select 4WD when necessary.
Information on transfer case operation and shifting procedures can be
found in theDrivingchapter. Information on transfer case maintenance
can be found in theMaintenance and Specificationschapter. You
should become thoroughly familiar with this information before you
operate your vehicle.
Normal characteristics
On some 4WD models, the initial shift from two-wheel drive to 4x4 while
the vehicle is moving can cause some momentary clunk and ratcheting
sounds. This is the front drivetrain coming up to speed and the
automatic locking hubs engaging and is not cause for concern.
Sand
When driving over sand, try to keep all four wheels on the most solid
area of the trail. Avoid reducing the tire pressures but shift to a lower
gear and drive steadily through the terrain. Apply the accelerator slowly
and avoid spinning the wheels.
Avoid excessive speed because vehicle momentum can work against you
and cause the vehicle to become stuck to the point that assistance may
be required from another vehicle. Remember, you may be able to back
out the way you came if you proceed with caution.
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Note:If air is released from your tires, the Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS) indicator light may illuminate (if equipped).
Mud and water
If you must drive through high
water, drive slowly. Traction or
brake capability may be limited.
When driving through water,
determine the depth; avoid water
higher than the bottom of the hubs
(if possible) and proceed slowly. If
the ignition system gets wet, the
vehicle may stall.
Once through water, always try the brakes. Wet brakes do not stop the
vehicle as effectively as dry brakes. Drying can be improved by moving
your vehicle slowly while applying light pressure on the brake pedal.
Be cautious of sudden changes in vehicle speed or direction when you
are driving in mud. Even 4WD vehicles can lose traction in slick mud. As
when you are driving over sand, apply the accelerator slowly and avoid
spinning your wheels. If the vehicle does slide, steer in the direction of
the slide until you regain control of the vehicle.
If the transmission, transfer case or front axle are submerged in water,
their fluids should be checked and changed, if necessary.
Driving through deep water may damage the transmission.
Refer toTransmission temperature gaugein theInstrument Cluster
chapter for transmission fluid temperature information.
If the front or rear axle is submerged in water, the axle lubricant should
be replaced.
After driving through mud, clean off residue stuck to rotating driveshafts
and tires. Excess mud stuck on tires and rotating driveshafts causes an
imbalance that could damage drive components.
“Tread Lightly” is an educational
program designed to increase public
awareness of land-use regulations
and responsibilities in our nations
wilderness areas. Ford Motor
Company joins the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land
Management in encouraging you to help preserve our national forest and
other public and private lands by “treading lightly.”
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