Maintenance 302
General information...................................302
Opening and closing the hood............................303
Under hood overview..................................304
Engine oil dipstick....................................306
Engine oil check......................................306
Engine coolant check..................................307
Automatic transmission fluid check........................313
Brake fluid check.....................................317
Power steering fluid check..............................317
Fuel filter...........................................317
Washer fluid check....................................318
Changing the vehicle battery.............................318
Checking the wiper blades..............................321
Air filter(s).........................................323
Adjusting the headlamps................................325
Changing a bulb......................................326
Bulb specification chart.................................331
Vehicle Care 332
Cleaning products.....................................332
Cleaning the exterior..................................332
Waxing.............................................334
Repairing minor paint damage............................334
Cleaning the engine...................................334
Cleaning the windows and wiper blades.....................335
Cleaning the interior...................................335
Cleaning the instrument panel and instrument cluster lens.......336
Cleaning the alloy wheels...............................340
Vehicle storage.......................................340
6Table of Contents
2013 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide gf, 3rd Printing, December 2012
USA(fus)
If... Then...
The driver’s safety belt becomes
unbuckled for about one minute
while the vehicle is traveling at
least 6 mph (9.7 km/h) and more
than 1-2 minutes have elapsed
since the ignition switch has
been turned to on...The Belt-Minder feature is activated -
the safety belt warning light illuminates
and the warning chime sounds for six
seconds every 25 seconds, repeating for
about five minutes or until the safety
belts are buckled.
Deactivating and Activating the Belt-Minder® Feature (Driver Only)
WARNING:While the design allows you to deactivate your
Belt-Minder, this system is designed to improve your chances of
being safely belted and surviving an accident. We recommend you leave
the Belt-Minder system activated for yourself and others who may use
the vehicle. To reduce the risk of injury, do not deactivate or activate
the Belt-Minder feature while driving the vehicle.
Note:If you are using MyKey®, the Belt-Minder cannot be disabled.
Also, if the Belt-Minder has been previously disabled, it will be
re-enabled during the use of MyKey®. See theMyKey®chapter.
Read Steps1-4thoroughly before proceeding with the programming
procedure.
Before following the procedure, make sure that:
•the parking brake is set
•the transmission selector lever is in positionP
•the ignition is off
•all vehicle doors are closed
•the driver’s safety belt is unbuckled
•the parking lamps and headlamps are off.
1. Turn the ignition on. DO NOT START THE ENGINE.
2. Wait until the safety belt warning light turns off (about one minute).
•Step 3 must be completed within 30 seconds after the safety belt
warning light turns off.
44Safety Belts
2013 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide gf, 3rd Printing, December 2012
USA(fus)
LIGHTING CONTROL
•Rotate the headlamp control
clockwise to the first position to
turn on the parking lamps.
•Rotate clockwise to the second
position to also turn on the
headlamps.
High Beams
Pull the lever fully past the detent
to switch the high beams on.
Pull the lever fully again switch the
high beams off.
Headlamp Flasher
Pull the lever toward you slightly
and release it to flash the
headlamps.
OF
F
OF
F
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2013 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide gf, 3rd Printing, December 2012
USA(fus)
AUTOLAMPS (IF EQUIPPED)
The autolamp system provides light
sensitive automatic on-off control of
the exterior lights normally controlled
by the headlamp control.
•To turn autolamps on, rotate the
control to the fourth position.
•To turn autolamps off, rotate the
control to the first, second, or
third position.
Note:If the vehicle is equipped with autolamps, it will have the
headlamps on with windshield wipers feature. If the windshield wipers
are turned on, the exterior lamps will turn on with the headlamp control
in the autolamp position.
The autolamp system also keeps the lights on for a predetermined
amount of time after the ignition switch is turned to off. You can change
the amount of time the lamps stay on by using the programming
procedure that follows:
Autolamps - Programmable Exit Delay
Programmable exit delay allows the length of the autolamp exit delay to
be changed.
To program the auto lamp exit time delay:
1. Start with the ignition in the off position and the headlamp control in
the autolamp position.
2. Turn the headlamp control to off.
3. Turn the ignition switch to on and then back to off.
4. Turn the headlamp control to the autolamp position. The headlamps
will turn on.
5. Wait the desired amount of time for the exit delay you want (up to
three minutes), then turn the headlamps off.A
86Lighting
2013 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide gf, 3rd Printing, December 2012
USA(fus)
INSTRUMENT LIGHTING DIMMER
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.
DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS (DRL) (IF EQUIPPED)
WARNING:Always remember to switch your headlamps on in
low light situations or during inclement weather. The system
does not activate the tail lamps and may not provide adequate lighting
during these conditions. Failure to activate your headlamps under these
conditions may result in a collision.
The system switches the headlamps on with a reduced output in daylight
conditions.
To switch the system on:
1. Switch the ignition on.
2. Switch the lighting control to the off or parking lamp position.
3. Disengage the parking brake.
4. Make sure the transmission selector lever is not in position P.
Lighting87
2013 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide gf, 3rd Printing, December 2012
USA(fus)
FRONT FOG LAMPS (IF EQUIPPED)
The headlamp control also operates
the fog lamps. The fog lamps can be
turned on only when the headlamp
control is in the parking lamp
(second) position, headlamps on
(third) position, or autolamp
(fourth) position, and the high
beams are not turned on.
Pull headlamp control towards you
to turn fog lamps on. The fog lamp
indicator light will illuminate.
DIRECTION INDICATORS
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.
A
OF
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88Lighting
2013 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide gf, 3rd Printing, December 2012
USA(fus)
Fold-Away Exterior Mirrors
Push the mirror toward the door window glass. Make sure that you fully
engage the mirror in its support when returning it to its original position.
Power-Folding Mirrors (If Equipped)
Note:Activating the mirrors 10 or more times within one minute, or
repeated folding and unfolding of the mirrors while holding the control
down during full travel, may disable the system to protect motors from
overheating. Wait approximately three minutes with the vehicle running,
and up to 10 minutes with the vehicle off, for the system to reset and for
function to return to normal.
Pull the control back to fold the
mirrors in or out.
Loose Mirror
A mirror may also be manually folded by pulling it toward the door
window glass. This may cause the mirror to appear loose and it will need
to be re-synchronized. Pull and hold the control to fold the mirrors in
until movement stops. A click will be heard indicating re-synchronization.
If the click is not heard, use the control to fold the mirrors all the way
out, then in again. Once the click is heard the mirrors will operate
normally until they are again manually folded.
Heated Exterior Mirror (If Equipped)
The heated exterior mirrors switch on with the heated rear window.
SeeHeated Windows and Mirrorsin theClimate Controlchapter.
Memory Mirrors (If Equipped)
You can save and recall the mirror positions through the memory
function. SeeMemory functionin theSeatschapter.
Signal Indicator Mirrors (If Equipped)
The outer portion of the appropriate mirror housing blinks when you
activate the turn signal.
Clearance Lamps (If Equipped)
The lower, outer portion of the mirror housings illuminates when the
headlamps or parking lamps are switched on.
Windows and Mirrors93
2013 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide gf, 3rd Printing, December 2012
USA(fus)
Fasten Safety belt
It will illuminate and a chime will sound to remind you to fasten
your safety belt.
High Beam
It will illuminate when the headlamp high beam is switched on.
It will flash when you use the headlamp flasher.
Hill Descent (if equipped)
Illuminates when hill descent is turned on.
Low Fuel Level
It will illuminate when the fuel level is low or near empty.
Refuel as soon as possible.
Low Tire Pressure Warning
It will illuminate when your tire pressure is low. If the lamp
remains on with the engine running or when driving, check
your tire pressure as soon as possible.
The lamp also illuminates momentarily when you switch the ignition on
to confirm the lamp is functional. If it does not illuminate when you
switch the ignition on, or begins to flash at any time, have the system
checked by your authorized dealer.
Powertrain Malfunction/Reduced Power/Electronic Throttle
Control
Illuminates when a powertrain fault has been detected. Contact
your authorized dealer as soon as possible.
Instrument Cluster101
2013 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide gf, 3rd Printing, December 2012
USA(fus)