2012 FORD F450 Owners Manual

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.
• the transmission is not in P (Park)
WARNING: 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.
PANEL DIMMER CONTROL
Use to adjust the brightness of the
instrument panel and all applicable
lit components in the vehicle during
headlamp and parking lamp
operation.
• Tapthetoporbottomofthe
control to brighten/dim all interior
lit components incrementally, or
• Press and hold at the first
position the top or bottom of the
control until the desired lighting level is reached.
• Press and hold the top of the control to the full on position to activate
the “dome on” feature. This will turn on the interior courtesy lights.
The lights will remain on until the bottom of the control is pressed. Lights
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Owners Guide, 4th Printing
USA (fus)

AIMING THE HEADLAMPS
Your vehicle is equipped with an aerodynamic headlamp system. The
aerodynamic headlamps can only be aimed in the vertical direction
(up/down) using the procedure following. The headlamps on your vehicle
are properly aimed at the assembly plant and should not normally need
adjustment.
Vertical aim adjustment
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)
• (4) Horizontal reference line
2. Measure the height from the
center of your headlamp (indicated
by a 3.0 mm circle on the lens) to
the ground and mark an 8 foot
(2.4 meter) horizontal reference line
on the vertical wall or screen at this height (a piece of masking tape
works well).
3. Turn on the low beam headlamps to illuminate the wall or screen and
open the hood. Cover one of the headlamps so no light from that lamp
hits the wall.
4. On the wall or screen you will
observe a light pattern with a
distinct horizontal edge towards the
right. If this edge is not at the
horizontal reference line, the beam will need to be adjusted so the edge
is at the same height as the horizontal reference line.Lights
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Owners Guide, 4th Printing
USA (fus)

5. Locate the vertical adjuster on
each headlamp, then use a #2
Phillips head to turn the adjuster
either counterclockwise (to adjust
down) or clockwise (to adjust up)
aligning the upper edge of the light
pattern up to the horizontal line.
6. Repeat Steps 3–5 for the other
headlamp.
7. Close the hood and turn off the lamps.
TURN SIGNAL CONTROL
The turn signal lever does not mechanically lock in the upward or
downward position when activated. The turn signal control activation and
cancellation is electronic.
• To operate the left turn signal,
push the lever down until it stops
and release.
• To operate the right turn signal,
push the lever up until it stops
and release.
• To manually cancel turn signal operation, push the lever again in
either direction.
Lane change
To indicate a left or right lane change:
• Push the lever up/down to the first stop position and release. The turn
signals will flash three times and stop.
• Push the lever up/down to the first stop position and hold. The turn
signals will flash for as long as the lever is held in this position. Lights
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2012 F-250/350/450/550 (f23)
Owners Guide, 4th Printing
USA (fus)

INTERIOR LAMPS
Front map lamps (if equipped)
The map lamps are located on the overhead console. Press the controls
on either side of each map lamp to turn on the lamps. The map lamps
also light when:
• any door is opened,
• the instrument panel dimmer
switch is rotated up until the
courtesy lamps come on, and
• any of the remote entry controls
are pressed and the ignition is
off.
Rear dome/map lamps
Your vehicle may have map lamps
within the rear dome lamp. Press
the switches on either side of the
dome lamp to turn the lamps on.
BULB REPLACEMENT
Lamp assembly condensation
Exterior lamps are vented to accommodate normal changes in pressure.
Condensation can be a natural by-product of this design. When moist air
enters the lamp assembly through the vents, there is a possibility that
condensation can occur when the temperature is cold. When normal
condensation occurs, a thin film of mist can form on the interior of the
lens. The thin mist eventually clears and exits through the vents during
normal operation. Clearing time may take as long as 48 hours under dry
weather conditions.
Examples of acceptable condensation are:
• Presence of thin mist (no streaks, drip marks or droplets)
• Fine mist covers less than 50% of the lensLights
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2012 F-250/350/450/550 (f23)
Owners Guide, 4th Printing
USA (fus)

Examples of unacceptable moisture (usually caused by a lamp water
leak) are:
• Water puddle inside the lamp
• Large water droplets, drip marks or streaks present on the interior of
the lens
Take your vehicle to a dealer for service if any of the above conditions of
unacceptable moisture are present.
Replacing exterior bulbs
Check the operation of all the bulbs frequently.
Function Number
of bulbs Trade number
Headlamps 2 H13/9008
Park/Turn lamp 2 3157NA
Sidemarker 2 W5W
Tail/stop/turn/sidemarker (pick-up only) 2 3157
Tail/stop/turn/sidemarker (chassis cabs
only; if equipped) 2 3157
Back-up (pick-ups only) 2 921
Back-up (chassis cabs only) 2 3157
High-mount brake lamp 1 912
Fog lamp 2 9145
License plate lamp 2 194
Cargo lamp 2 912
Map lamp 2 12V6W
Dome/reading lamps 3 578
Interior visor lamp (if equipped) 4 194
Mirror turn signal 2 2825
Mirror clearance lamp 2 2825
*Front clearance lamps (2) and front
identification lamps (3) 5 194
*Rear fender clearance 4 LED**
*Rear identification 3 193**
To replace all instrument panel lights - see your authorized dealer
* Dual rear wheels, or if equipped.
** See your authorized dealer to replace the lamp assembly. Lights
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2012 F-250/350/450/550 (f23)
Owners Guide, 4th Printing
USA (fus)

Replacing headlamps, park lamps, turn lamps
1. Make sure that the exterior lamps are off, then open the hood.
2. Using masking tape or a marker,
make an alignment mark between
one of the grille brackets and the
vehicle radiator support to ensure
correct grille alignment during
re-assembly. Do not scratch the
black coating from the radiator
support.
3. Remove the two grille to
headlamp assembly push pins and
the four bolts attaching the top of
the grille to the radiator support.
4. Pull the top of the grille forward to gain access to the lower grille
spring clips.
5. Depress the spring clips through the lower inner grille access openings
using a flat head screwdriver.
6. Pull the grill straight out to remove.
7. Remove the four bolts from the
headlamp assembly.
8. Pull the assembly straight out
disengaging one snap clip from the
fender.
9. Disconnect the electrical
connector by squeezing the release
tab and pushing the connector
forward, then pulling it rearward.Lights
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Owners Guide, 4th Printing
USA (fus)

10. For the headlamp bulb, remove
the bulb by turning it
counterclockwise and pulling it
straight out.
11. For the park or turn lamp bulb,
remove the bulb by turning it
counterclockwise and pulling it
straight out.
WARNING: Handle a halogen headlamp bulb carefully and keep
out of children’s reach. Grasp the bulb only by its plastic base
and do not touch the glass. The oil from your hand could cause the
bulb to break the next time the headlamps are operated.
Install the new bulb(s) in reverse order.
Replacing brake/tail/turn/back-up lamp bulbs (pick-ups only)
1. Make sure the headlamps are off,
then open the tailgate to expose the
lamp assemblies.
2. Remove the two bolts from the
tail lamp assembly and carefully pull
the lamp assembly from the tailgate
pillar by releasing the two retaining
tabs. Lights
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Owners Guide, 4th Printing
USA (fus)

3. Rotate the bulb socket counterclockwise and remove from lamp
assembly.
4. Pull the bulb straight out of the socket.
Install the new bulb(s) in reverse order.
Replacing brake/tail/turn/back-up lamp bulbs (chassis cabs only)
(if equipped)
1. Make sure the headlamps are off.
2. Remove the four screws and the
lamp lens from lamp assembly.
3. Carefully pull the bulb straight
out of the socket and push in the
new bulb.
Replacing cargo lamp and high-mount brake lamp bulbs
1. Make sure the headlamps are off.
2. Remove the screws and lamp
assembly from the vehicle as wiring
permits.
3. Remove the bulb socket by
rotating it counterclockwise.
4. Pull the bulb straight out of the
socket.Lights
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2012 F-250/350/450/550 (f23)
Owners Guide, 4th Printing
USA (fus)