Trailer Lamps
WARNING:Never connect any trailer lamp wiring to the
vehicle’s tail lamp wiring; this may damage the electrical system
resulting in a fire. Contact an authorized dealer as soon as possible for
assistance in proper trailer tow wiring installation. Additional electrical
equipment may be required.
Trailer lamps are required on most towed vehicles. Make sure all running
lights, brake lights, turn signals and hazard lights are working.
Using a Step Bumper (If Equipped)
The rear bumper is equipped with an integral hitch and only requires a
ball with a one-inch (25.4 millimeter) shank diameter. The bumper has a
5000-pound (2268 kilogram) trailer weight and a 500-pound (227 kilogram)
tongue weight capacity.
If it is necessary to relocate the hitch ball position, you must install a
frame-mounted trailer hitch.
Before Towing a Trailer
Practice turning, stopping and backing up to get the feel of your
vehicle-trailer combination before starting on a trip. When turning,
make wider turns so the trailer wheels clear curbs and other obstacles.
When Towing a Trailer
•Do not drive faster than 70 mph (113 km/h) during the first 500 miles
(800 kilometers).
•Do not make full-throttle starts.
•Check your hitch, electrical connections and trailer wheel lug nuts
thoroughly after you have traveled 50 miles (80 kilometers).
•When stopped in congested or heavy traffic during hot weather, place
the gearshift in positionPto aid engine and transmission cooling and
to help A/C performance.
•Turn off the speed control with heavy loads or in hilly terrain.
The speed control may turn off automatically when you are towing
on long, steep grades.
•Shift to a lower gear when driving down a long or steep hill. Do not
apply the brakes continuously, as they may overheat and become less
effective.
Towing263
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Low tire
pressure
warning lightPossible cause Customer action required
Flashing warning
lightSpare tire in use Repair the damaged road wheel and
tire and reinstall it on the vehicle to
restore system function. For a
description on how the system
functions, seeWhen your
temporary spare tire is installedin
this section.
Tire pressure
monitoring
system
malfunctionIf the tires are properly inflated and
the spare tire is not in use but the
light remains on, contact your
authorized dealer as soon as possible.
When inflating your tires
When putting air into your tires (such as at a gas station or in your
garage), the tire pressure monitoring system may not respond
immediately to the air added to your tires.
It may take up to two minutes of driving over 20 mph (32 km/h) for the
light to turn off after you have filled your tires to the recommended
inflation pressure.
How temperature affects your tire pressure
The tire pressure monitoring system monitors tire pressure in each
pneumatic tire. While driving in a normal manner, a typical passenger tire
inflation pressure may increase approximately 2 to 4 psi (14 to 28 kPa)
from a cold start situation. If the vehicle is stationary overnight with the
outside temperature significantly lower than the daytime temperature, the
tire pressure may decrease approximately 3 psi (21 kPa) for a drop of 30°F
(17°C) in ambient temperature. This lower pressure value may be detected
by the system as being significantly lower than the recommended inflation
pressure and activate the system warning light for low tire pressure. If the
low tire pressure warning light is on, visually check each tire to verify that
no tire is flat. If one or more tires are flat, repair as necessary. Check air
pressure in the road tires. If any tire is under-inflated, carefully drive the
vehicle to the nearest location where air can be added to the tires. Inflate
all the tires to the recommended inflation pressure.
368Wheels and Tires
2013 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide gf, 3rd Printing, December 2012
USA(fus)
Owner Checks and Services
Certain basic maintenance checks and inspections should be performed
every month or at six month intervals.
Check every month
Engine oil level.
Function of all interior and exterior lights.
Tires (including spare) for wear and proper pressure.
Windshield washer fluid level.
Check every six months
Battery connections. Clean if necessary.
Body and door drain holes for obstructions. Clean if necessary.
Cooling system fluid level and coolant strength.
Door weatherstrips for wear. Lubricate if necessary.
Hinges, latches and outside locks for proper operation. Lubricate if
necessary.
Parking brake for proper operation.
Safety belts and seat latches for wear and function.
Safety warning lamps (brake, ABS, airbag, safety belt) for operation.
Washer spray and wiper operation. Clean or replace blades as
necessary.
Scheduled Maintenance405
2013 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide gf, 3rd Printing, December 2012
USA(fus)
interior lamps ...........................89
replacing bulbs .......327, 329–330
Lane change indicator
(see Turn signal) ........................88
LATCH anchors ...........................31
Lights, warning and indicator ....99
Listening to music ....................478
Loading instructions .................247
Load limits .................................241
Locks
autolock .....................................73
childproof ..................................35
doors ..........................................72
Lug nuts ....................................387
Lumbar support, seats .............158
M
Making and receiving calls .......502
Manual transmission
fluid capacities ........................391
MAP DVD - Loading and
Unloading ..................................502
Map icons ..................................545
Map mode ..................................543
Map preferences .......................542
Map updates ..............................546
Media Bluetooth menu options
(adding, connecting, deleting,
turning on/off) ..........................458
Message center .................104–105
warning messages ...................119
Mirrors ...................................92, 94
fold away .............................93–94
programmable memory ............63
side view mirrors (power) .......92Moon roof ....................................96
Motorcraft® parts .............332, 395
MyFord Touch™ system ..........466
MyKey ..........................................67
N
Navigation features ...................537
Navigation voice commands ....547
Notifications ..............................515
O
Octane rating ............................191
P
Pairing other phones ........426, 502
Pairing your phone ...................501
Pairing your phone for
the first time .....................426, 501
Parental MyKey programming ...67
Parking brake ............................224
Parts
(see Motorcraft® parts) ..........395
Phone Bluetooth menu options
(adding, connecting, deleting,
turning on/off) ..........................437
Phone redial ..............................431
Phone settings ..................505, 528
Phone voice commands ............507
Playing music (by artist,
album, genre, playlist,
tracks, similar) ..........................455
POI categories ...........................539
Point of Interest (POI) .............539
Index573
2013 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
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USA(fus)
terminology .............................347
tire grades ...............................346
treadwear ........................346, 358
Touchscreen features
(climate) ....................................534
Towing .......................253, 266, 268
recreational towing .................268
Trailer Brake
Controller-Integrated ..............259
trailer towing ..........................253
wrecker ....................................266
Traction control ........................225
Traffic, Directions and
Information ................................445
Traffic preferences ...................542
Trailer Brake
Controller-Integrated ................259
Trailer sway control ..................254
Transfer case
fluid checking .........................316
Transmission .............................199
brake-shift interlock (BSI) ....206
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................313
fluid, refill capacities ..............391
Turn signal ..................................88
U
Universal garage door opener ..168
Upfitter controls .......................300
USB port ....................142–143, 494Using privacy mode ..................429
V
Vehicle health report ........443, 518
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................395
Vehicle loading ..........................241
Ventilating your vehicle ...........186
Voice commands in media
mode ..........................................451
Voice commands in phone
mode ..........................................427
Voice recognition ......................472
W
Warning lights (see Lights) .......99
Washer fluid ..............................318
reservoir ..................................304
Water, Driving through .............270
Wi-Fi ..........................................531
Windows
power .........................................90
Windshield washer fluid and
wipers ..........................................84
checking and adding fluid .....318
replacing wiper blades ...........322
reservoir ..................................304
Wrecker towing .........................266
576Index
2013 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide gf, 3rd Printing, December 2012
USA(fus)