Truck Apps
Trailer Trailer disconnected. Disregard this status if your vehicle
is not equipped with a factory installed trailer brake
controller. This message may appear when an aftermarket
TBC is used even when the trailer is connected.
Active trailer name or default trailer
Accumulated trailer distance
Trailer gain and output
Press OK for
optionsOptions
Change
Active TrailerWhen this is highlighted,
press the right arrow key to
change the currently
selected trailer. Use the up
and down arrows to select a
trailer and press the OK
button to choose the
highlighted trailer.
Adding a new trailer– Use
the up/down arrows to
highlight New Trailer and
press the right arrow key to
enter the New Trailer input
screen. Use the up/down
arrow keys to choose alpha,
numeric and symbol
characters and then press
the right arrow to move the
character space over.
Continue adding characters
as needed. Press the left
arrow to go back and
change a previously
selected character. When
finished with the new trailer
name, press OK to accept
the new trailer name.
11 8Information Displays
2013 F-150(f12)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
Truck Apps
Trailer Press OK for
optionsOptions
Connection
Checklist (if
equipped)Conventional, Fifth Wheel
and Gooseneck. Use the
up/down arrows to
highlight one of these
choices and press OK to
display the connection
checklist. Follow the
on-screen instructions to
go through the connections
list.
Delete
TrailerUse the up/down arrows to
highlight the trailer you
want to delete and press
OK to delete. Follow the
on-screen prompts to exit
or confirm delete.
Information
ScreenTow Haul mode, Trailer
Brake Controller.
Rename
TrailerUse the up/down buttons
to highlight a trailer and
press OK to select it. Use
the up/down arrow buttons
to change the characters
as needed. When done,
press OK to accept the
change.
Reset Trailer
Mileage /
Kilometers
(if equipped)Use the up/down buttons
to select a trailer, then
press and hold OK to reset
the trailer mileage
(kilometers).
Information Displays11 9
2013 F-150(f12)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
IGNITION SWITCH
Note:To switch the engine off when your vehicle is moving, move the
transmission selector lever to positionN.Use the brakes to bring your
vehicle to a safe stop. After your vehicle has stopped, switch the engine
off and move the transmission selector lever to positionP.Turn the key
to the accessory or off position.
Note:Do not store the key in the ignition after the vehicle is turned off
and you have left the vehicle. This could cause a drain on the battery.
A.Off:The ignition is off.
B.Accessory:Allows the electrical accessories, such as the radio, to
operate while the engine is not running.
C.On:All the electrical circuits are operational. Warning lights are
illuminated. This is the key position when driving.
D.Start:Cranks the engine. Release the key as soon as the engine
starts.
STARTING A GASOLINE ENGINE
When the engine starts, the idle RPM runs faster to warm the engine. If
the engine idle speed does not slow down automatically, have the vehicle
checked.
Before starting the vehicle:
•Make sure all occupants buckle their safety belts.
•Make sure the headlamps and electrical accessories are off.
•Make sure the parking brake is set.
•Make sure the gearshift is in positionP.
•Turn the key to on without turning the key to start.
Some warning lights briefly illuminate.
Note:Do not touch the accelerator pedal.
1. Fully press the brake pedal.
2. Select positionPorN.
C
D
B
A
Starting and Stopping the Engine189
2013 F-150(f12)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
3. Turn the key to start the engine. The engine may continue cranking
for up to 15 seconds or until the vehicle starts.
Note:If the engine does not start on the first try, wait for a short period
of time and try again.
If you have difficulty starting the engine when the temperature is below
-13°F (-25°C), press the accelerator pedal slightly and try again.
If the engine does not start after three attempts, wait 10 seconds and
follow this flooded engine procedure:
1. Fully press the brake pedal.
2. Fully press the accelerator pedal and hold it there.
3. Select positionPorN.
4. Start the engine.
Cold Weather Starting (Flexible Fuel Vehicles Only)
The starting characteristics of all grades of E-85 ethanol make it
unsuitable for use when ambient temperatures fall below 0°F (-18°C).
Consult your fuel distributor for the availability of winter grade ethanol.
As the outside temperature approaches freezing, ethanol fuel distributors
should supply winter grade ethanol (same as with unleaded gasoline). If
summer grade ethanol is used in cold weather conditions, 0°F to 32°F
(-18°C to 0°C), you may experience increased cranking times, rough idle
or hesitation until the engine has warmed up.
You may experience a decrease in peak performance when the engine is
cold when operating on E-85 ethanol.
Do not crank the engine for more than 10 seconds at a time as starter
damage may occur. If the engine fails to start, turn the key to off and
wait 30 seconds before trying again.
Do not use starting fluid such as ether in the air intake system. Such
fluid could cause immediate explosive damage to the engine and possible
personal injury.
If you should experience cold weather starting problems on E-85
ethanol, and neither an alternative brand of E-85 ethanol nor an engine
block heater is available, the addition of unleaded gasoline to your tank
improves cold starting performance. Your vehicle is designed to operate
on E-85 ethanol alone, unleaded gasoline alone, or any mixture of the
two.
190Starting and Stopping the Engine
2013 F-150(f12)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
D (Drive) with Tow/Haul On
The Tow/Haul feature improves transmission operation when towing a
trailer or a heavy load. All transmission gear ranges are available when
using Tow/Haul.
Tow/Haul can be activated by pressing the transmission control switch on
the end of the gearshift lever (column-shift transmission) or on the side
of the gearshift lever (floor-shift transmission).
•Column-shift transmission
•Floor-shift transmission
The TOW HAUL indicator light will
illuminate in the instrument cluster.
Tow/haul delays upshifts to reduce frequency of transmission shifting.
Tow/haul also provides engine braking in all forward gears when the
transmission is in the D (Drive) position; this engine braking will slow
the vehicle and assist the driver in controlling the vehicle when
descending a grade. Depending on driving conditions and load
conditions, the transmission may downshift, slow the vehicle and control
the vehicle speed when descending a hill, without the accelerator pedal
being pressed. The amount of downshift braking provided will vary based
upon the amount the brake pedal is pressed.
TOW/H
AUL
T
/H
T
/H
PR
N
D
M
2
1
+
- +
-
204Transmission
2013 F-150(f12)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
7. Pull the lock lever into the full
unlocked position and remove the
lower shroud cover by pulling the
lever handle through the slot in the
cover.
8. Apply the brake and move the gearshift lever into N (Neutral).
9. Start the vehicle.
Perform Steps 4 through 8 in reverse order, making sure to engage the
hinge pivots between the upper and lower halves of the shroud. Keep
slight pressure in the forward direction as the halves are rotated
together.
Brake-Shift Interlock – Floor-Shifter Assembly
WARNING:Do not drive your vehicle until you verify that the
brakelamps are working.
WARNING:When doing this procedure, you will be taking the
vehicle out of park which means the vehicle can roll freely. To
avoid unwanted vehicle movement, always fully set the parking brake
prior to doing this procedure. Use wheel chocks if appropriate.
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.
This vehicle is equipped with a 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 brake lamps are not operating properly. Refer to
theFuseschapter for more information.
Transmission209
2013 F-150(f12)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
If the fuse is not blown and the brake lamps are working properly, the
following procedure will allow you to move the gearshift lever from P
(Park):
1. Apply the parking brake, turn the
ignition key to the off position, and
remove the key.
2. Starting at the rear of the trim
panel, using a screwdriver (or
similar tool) carefully pry up the
trim panel from rear attachments
and disconnect it from the console
to expose the inside of the
gearshift.
3. Locate the brake shift interlock
lever on the passenger side of the
shifter assembly.
4. Apply the brake pedal. Using a
screwdriver (or similar tool), press
and hold the brake shift interlock
lever while pulling the gearshift lever
out of the P (Park) position and into
the N (Neutral) position.
5. Install the trim panel.
6. Apply brake pedal, start the vehicle, and release the parking brake.
See your authorized dealer as soon as possible if this procedure is used.
If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck in Mud or Snow
Note:Do not rock the vehicle if the engine is not at normal operating
temperature or damage to the transmission may occur.
Note:Do not rock the vehicle for more than a minute or damage to the
transmission and tires may occur, or the engine may overheat.
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.
210Transmission
2013 F-150(f12)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
HILL START ASSIST
WARNING:The hill start assist feature does not replace the
parking brake. When you leave the vehicle, always apply the
parking brake and shift the transmission into P (Park).
WARNING:You must remain in the vehicle once you have
activated the hill start assist feature.
WARNING:During all times, you are responsible for controlling
the vehicle, supervising the hill start assist system and
intervening, if required.
WARNING:If the engine is revved excessively, or if a
malfunction is detected when the hill start assist feature is active,
the hill start assist feature will be deactivated.
Note:This feature will not operate if the parking brake is activated.
Hill start assist keeps your vehicle stationary long enough to move your
foot from the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal when your vehicle is
on a slope.
The brakes are released automatically once the engine has developed
sufficient drive to prevent the vehicle from rolling down the slope. This
is an advantage when pulling away on a slope, (for example from a car
park ramp, traffic lights or when reversing uphill into a parking space).
Using Hill Start Assist
1. Press the brake pedal to bring the vehicle to a complete standstill.
Keep the brake pedal pressed.
2. If the sensors detect that the vehicle is on a slope, the hill start assist
feature will be activated automatically.
3. When you remove your foot from the brake pedal, the vehicle will
remain on the slope without rolling away for approximately two or three
seconds. This hold time will automatically be extended if you are in the
process of driving off.
4. Drive off in the normal manner. The brakes will be released
automatically.
Transmission211
2013 F-150(f12)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing
USA(fus)