
Information on transfer case operation and shifting procedures can be
found in this chapter. 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.
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
322
2012 F-150(f12)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

Maintenance and modifications
The suspension and steering systems on your vehicle have been designed
and tested to provide predictable performance whether loaded or empty
and durable load carrying capability. For this reason, Ford Motor
Company strongly recommends that you do not make modifications such
as adding or removing parts (such as lift kits or stabilizer bars) or by
using replacement parts not equivalent to the original factory equipment.
Snow plow restriction
WARNING:Ford does not recommend the use of any F-150
model to be upfitted and equipped with snow plow hardware for
use as a snow plow vehicle.
Any modifications to a vehicle that raise the center of gravity can make it
more likely the vehicle will roll over as a result of a loss of control. Ford
Motor Company recommends that caution be used with any vehicle equipped
with a high load or device (such as ladder racks or pickup box cover).
Failure to maintain your vehicle properly may void the warranty, increase
your repair cost, reduce vehicle performance and operational capabilities
and adversely affect driver and passenger safety. Frequent inspection of
vehicle chassis components is recommended if the vehicle is subjected to
heavy off-road usage.
DRIVING THROUGH WATER
If driving through deep or standing
water is unavoidable, proceed very
slowly. Never drive through water
that is higher than the bottom of
the wheel rims (for cars) or the
bottom of the hubs (for trucks).
When driving through water, traction
or brake capability may be limited.
Also, water may enter your engine’s air intake and severely damage your
engine or your vehicle may stall.Driving through deep water where the
transmission vent tube is submerged may allow water into the
transmission and cause internal transmission damage.
Once through the water, always dry the brakes by moving your
vehicle slowly while applying light pressure on the brake pedal.
Wet brakes do not stop the vehicle as quickly as dry brakes.
Driving
325
2012 F-150(f12)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

Fuse/Relay
LocationFuse Amp
RatingProtected Circuits
12 15A Interior lighting, Puddle lamps,
Backlighting, Cargo lamp
13 15A Right turn signals/stop lamps
14 15A Left turn signals/stop lamps
15 15A Reverse lights, High-mounted stop
lamp
16 10A Right low-beam headlamp
17 10A Left low-beam headlamp
18 10A Brake-shift interlock, Keypad
illumination, PCM wakeup, PATS
19 20A Audio amplifier
20 20A Power door locks
21 10A Ambient lighting
22 20A Horn
23 15A Steering wheel control module
24 15A Datalink connector, Steering
wheel control module
25 15A Not used (spare)
26 5A Radio frequency module
27 20A Not used (spare)
28 15A Ignition switch
29 20A Radio/Navigation
30 15A Front parking lamps
31 5A BOO – IP, BOO – Engine
32 15A Delay/accessory – moon roof,
power windows, locks, Automatic
dimming mirror/Compass
33 10A Heated seats
34 10A Reverse sensing system, 4x4
switch, Rear video, Off road
indicator (SVT Raptor)
35 5A Hill descent switch (SVT Raptor)
Roadside Emergencies
331
2012 F-150(f12)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

Fuse/Relay
LocationFuse Amp
RatingProtected Circuits
13 30A** Starter relay power
14 30A** Passenger power seat
1540A** Electric fan
50A** Electric fan (6.2L with max
trailer tow, SVT Raptor)
16 — Not used
17 30A** Trailer brake control
18 30A** Upfitter 1 (SVT Raptor)
19 30A** Upfitter 2 (SVT Raptor)
20 20A** 4x4 module (electronic shift)
21 30A** TT battery charge relay power
22 20A** Cigar lighter
23 — A/C clutch relay
24 — Not used
25 — Vacuum pump relay (3.5L engine)
26 10A* PCM – keep alive power, PCM
relay coil, canister vent solenoid
(3.7L, 5.0L and 6.2L engines)
27 20A* Fuel pump relay power
28 10A* Upfitter 4 (SVT Raptor)
29 10A* 4x4 IWE solenoid
30 10A* A/C clutch
31 15A* Run/start relay power
32 40A** Rear window defroster relay
power, Heated mirror relay power
33 40A** 110V AC power point
34 40A** PCM relay power (3.7L, 5.0L and
6.2L engines)
50A** PCM relay power (3.5L engine)
35 — Not used
Roadside Emergencies
334
2012 F-150(f12)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

Fuse/Relay
locationFuse amp
ratingDescription
4 — Upfitter 4 relay
5 — Front camera washer relay
6 — Not used
CHANGING THE TIRES
If you get a flat tire while driving, do not apply the brake heavily.
Instead, gradually decrease your speed. Hold the steering wheel firmly
and slowly move to a safe place on the side of the road.
Note:If your vehicle is equipped with the tire pressure monitoring
system (TPMS), the indicator light will illuminate when the spare tire is
in use. To restore the full functionality of the monitoring system, all road
wheels equipped with tire pressure monitoring sensors must be mounted
on the vehicle.
If your vehicle is equipped with TPMS, have a flat serviced by an
authorized dealer in order to prevent damage to the TPMS sensors, refer
toTire pressure monitoring system (TPMS)in theTires, Wheels and
Loadingchapter. Replace the spare tire with a road tire as soon as
possible. During repairing or replacing of the flat tire, have the
authorized dealer inspect the TPMS sensor for damage.
WARNING:The use of tire sealants may damage your tire
pressure monitoring system (TPMS) and should not be used.
However, if you must use a sealant, the TPMS sensor and valve stem
on the wheel must be replaced by an authorized Ford dealer.
WARNING:Refer toTire pressure monitoring system (TPMS)
in theTires, Wheels and Loadingchapter for important
information. If the tire pressure monitor sensor becomes damaged, it
will no longer function.
Roadside Emergencies
338
2012 F-150(f12)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

2. Fully insert the jack handle
through the bumper hole and into
the guide tube through the access
hole in the rear bumper.
3. Turn the handle counterclockwise until tire is lowered to the ground,
the tire can be slid rearward and the cable is slightly slack.
4. Slide the retainer through the center of the wheel.
Tire change procedure
WARNING:To help prevent the vehicle from moving when you
change a tire, be sure the parking brake is set, then block (in
both directions) the wheel that is diagonally opposite (other side and
end of the vehicle) to the tire being changed.
WARNING:If the vehicle slips off the jack, you or someone else
could be seriously injured.
WARNING:Do not attempt to change a tire on the side of the
vehicle close to moving traffic. Pull far enough off the road to
avoid the danger of being hit when operating the jack or changing the
wheel.
Note:Passengers should not remain in the vehicle when the vehicle is
being jacked.
Refer to the instruction sheet (located with the jack) for detailed tire
change instructions.
1. Block the diagonally opposite
wheel.
2. Obtain the spare tire and jack
from their storage locations.Note:
F-150 SVT Raptor also includes a
chock, saddle extension and wing
bolt.
Roadside Emergencies
342
2012 F-150(f12)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

•Warming up a vehicle on cold mornings is not required and may
reduce fuel economy.
•Resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving may reduce fuel
economy.
•Combine errands and minimize stop-and-go driving.
Maintenance
•Keep tires properly inflated and use only recommended size.
•Operating a vehicle with the wheels out of alignment will reduce fuel
economy.
•Use recommended engine oil. Refer toMaintenance product
specifications and capacitiesin this chapter.
•Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance items. Follow the
recommended maintenance schedule and owner maintenance checks
found inscheduled maintenance information.
Conditions
•Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a trailer may reduce fuel economy
at any speed.
•Carrying unnecessary weight may reduce fuel economy (approximately
1 mpg [0.4 km/L] is lost for every 400 lb [180 kg] of weight carried).
•Adding certain accessories to your vehicle (for example bug
deflectors, rollbars/light bars, running boards, ski/luggage racks) may
reduce fuel economy.
•To maximize the fuel economy, drive with the tonneau cover installed
(if equipped).
•Using fuel blended with alcohol may lower fuel economy.
•Fuel economy may decrease with lower temperatures during the first
8–10 miles (12–16 km) of driving.
•Driving on flat terrain offers improved fuel economy as compared to
driving on hilly terrain.
•Transmissions give their best fuel economy when operated in the top
cruise gear and with steady pressure on the gas pedal.
•Four-wheel-drive operation (if equipped) is less fuel efficient than
two-wheel-drive operation.
•Close windows for high speed driving.
Maintenance and Specifications
402
2012 F-150(f12)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

Note:Failure to use the correct air filter element may result in severe
engine damage. The customer warranty may be void for any damage to
the engine if the correct air filter element is not used.
VEHICLE STORAGE
If you plan on storing your vehicle for an extended period of time
(30 days or more), refer to the following maintenance recommendations
to ensure your vehicle stays in good operating condition.
All motor vehicles and their components were engineered and tested for
reliable, regular driving. Long term storage under various conditions may
lead to component degradation or failure unless specific precautions are
taken to preserve the components.
General
•Store all vehicles in a dry, ventilated place.
•Protect from sunlight, if possible.
•If vehicles are stored outside, they require regular maintenance to
protect against rust and damage.
Body
•Wash vehicle thoroughly to remove dirt, grease, oil, tar or mud from
exterior surfaces, rear-wheel housing and underside of front fenders.
See theCleaningchapter for more information.
•Periodically wash vehicles stored in exposed locations.
•Touch-up raw or primed metal to prevent rust.
•Cover chrome and stainless steel parts with a thick coat of auto wax
to prevent discoloration. Re-wax as necessary when the vehicle is
washed. See theCleaningchapter for more information.
•Lubricate all hood, door and trunk lid hinges, and latches with a light
grade oil. See theCleaningchapter for more information.
•Cover interior trim to prevent fading.
•Keep all rubber parts free from oil and solvents.
Engine
•The engine oil and filter should be changed prior to storage, as used
engine oil contain contaminates that may cause engine damage.
•Start the engine every 15 days. Run at fast idle until it reaches normal
operating temperature.
•With your foot on the brake, shift through all the gears while the
engine is running.
Maintenance and Specifications
412
2012 F-150(f12)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)