
Ignition Modes
The keyless starting system has three
modes:
Off: Turns the ignition off.
• Without applying the brake pedal,
press and release the button once
when the ignition is in the on mode, or
when the engine is running but the
vehicle is not moving.
On:
All electrical circuits are operational
and the warning lamps and indicators
illuminate.
• Without applying the brake pedal,
press and release the button once.
Start:
Starts the vehicle. The engine may
not start when the vehicle starts.
• Press the brake pedal, and then press
the button for any length of time. An
indicator light on the button illuminates
when then ignition is on and when the
engine starts.
STEERING WHEEL LOCK
(If
Equipped) WARNING
Always check that the steering is
unlocked before attempting to move
your vehicle. To lock the steering wheel:
1. Remove the key from the ignition.
2. Rotate the steering wheel 180° from
the straight ahead position to engage
the lock.
To unlock the steering wheel:
1. Insert the key in the ignition.
2. Turn the key to the on position.
Note: You may need to rotate the steering
wheel slightly to assist unlocking if there is
a steering wheel load applied.
STARTING A GASOLINE
ENGINE
When you start the engine, the idle speed
increases. This helps to warm up the
engine. If the engine idle speed does not
slow down automatically, have your
vehicle checked by an authorized dealer.
Note: You can crank the engine for a total
of 60 seconds (without the engine starting)
before the starting system temporarily
disables. The 60 seconds does not have to
be all at once. For example, if you crank the
engine three times for 20 seconds each
time, without the engine starting, you
reached the 60-second time limit. A
message appears in the information display
alerting you that you exceeded the cranking
time. You cannot attempt to start the engine
for at least 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, you
are limited to a 15-second engine cranking
time. You need to wait 60 minutes before
you can crank the engine for 60 seconds
again.
Before starting the engine, check the
following:
• Make sure all occupants have fastened
their safety belts.
• Make sure the headlamps and
electrical accessories are off.
• Make sure the parking brake is on.
169
F-150 (TFC) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, First Printing Starting and Stopping the EngineE144447

Stopping the Engine When Your
Vehicle is Moving
WARNING
Switching off the engine when the
vehicle is still moving will result in a
loss of brake and steering assistance.
The steering will not lock, but higher effort
will be required. When the ignition is
switched off, some electrical circuits,
including air bags, warning lamps and
indicators may also be off. If the ignition
was turned off accidentally, you can shift
into neutral (N) and re-start the engine. Vehicles with an Ignition Key
1. Move the transmission selector lever
to position N and use the brakes to
bring your vehicle to a safe stop.
2. When your vehicle has stopped, move the transmission selector lever to
position
P and turn the key to off.
3. Apply the parking brake.
Vehicles with Keyless Start
1. Move the transmission selector lever to position
N and use the brakes to
bring your vehicle to a safe stop.
2. When your vehicle has stopped, move the transmission selector lever to
position
P.
3. Press and hold the button for one second, or press it three times within
two seconds.
4. Apply the parking brake. Guarding Against Exhaust Fumes WARNING
Exhaust leaks may result in entry of
harmful and potentially lethal fumes
into the passenger compartment. If
you smell exhaust fumes inside your
vehicle, have your vehicle inspected
immediately. Do not drive if you smell
exhaust fumes. Important Ventilating Information
If you stop your vehicle and leave the
engine idling for long periods, we
recommend that you do one of the
following:
•
Open the windows at least
1 in
(2.5 cm).
• Set your climate control to outside air.
ENGINE BLOCK HEATER
(If
Equipped) WARNINGS
Failure to follow engine block heater
instructions could result in property
damage or serious personal injury.
Do not use your heater with
ungrounded electrical systems or
two-pronged adapters. There is a risk
of electrical shock. Do not fully close the hood, or allow
it to drop under its own weight when
using the engine block heater. This
could damage the power cable and may
cause an electrical short resulting in fire,
injury and property damage. Note:
The heater is most effective when
outdoor temperatures are below 0°F
(-18°C).
172
F-150 (TFC) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, First Printing Starting and Stopping the Engine

AUTO-START-STOP (If Equipped)
The system helps reduce fuel consumption
by automatically stopping and restarting
the engine when your vehicle has stopped.
The engine restarts automatically when
you release the brake pedal.
In some situations, your vehicle may restart
automatically, for example:
• To maintain interior comfort.
• To recharge the battery.
Note: Power assist steering turns off when
the engine is off. WARNINGS
The engine may restart
automatically if required by the
system.
Switch the ignition off before
opening the hood or performing any
maintenance. Failure to do so may
result in serious injuries due to automatic
engine restart. Always switch the ignition off before
leaving your vehicle, as the system
may have turned the engine off, but
the ignition will still be on and automatic
restart may occur. The Auto StartStop system status is
available at a glance within the information
display. See Information Displays (page
110
).
Enabling Auto StartStop
The system automatically enables every
time you start your vehicle if:
• You do not press the Auto StartStop
button (not illuminated).
• Your vehicle exceeds an initial speed
of
3 mph (5 km/h) after you have
initially started your vehicle.
• You have stopped your vehicle. •
Your foot is on the brake pedal.
• The transmission is in drive (D) or Sport
mode (enable by pressing the Auto
StartStop button).
• The driver door is closed.
• There is adequate brake vacuum.
• The interior compartment has cooled
or warmed to an acceptable level.
• The front windshield defroster is off.
• You have not turned the steering wheel
rapidly or you do not have it at a sharp
angle.
• The vehicle is not on a steep road
grade.
• The battery is within optimal operating
conditions (battery state of charge and
temperature in range).
• The engine coolant is at operating
temperature.
• Elevation is below about 10000 feet
(3048 meters).
• Ambient temperature is moderate.
• You have selected 4X2 or Auto mode.
• If equipped with Terrain mode, and you
select auto snow/ice mode only.
• The trailer is not connected.
• You have not selected Tow haul.
• You have not selected Manual mode.
Note: The system allows multiple
successive Auto StartStop events, but it
may not operate in conditions of heavy
traffic or in extended low speed operation. The green Auto StartStop
indicator light on the instrument
cluster will illuminate to indicate
when the automatic engine stop occurs.
174
F-150 (TFC) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, First Printing Unique Driving Characteristics

The sport mode feature:
•
Provides additional grade (engine)
braking and extends lower gear
operation to enhance performance for
uphill climbs, hilly terrain or
mountainous areas. This will increase
engine RPM during engine braking.
• Provides additional lower gear
operation through the automatic
transmission shift strategy.
• Selects gears more quickly and at
higher engine speeds.
To deactivate the sport mode feature and
return to normal driving mode, press the
button on the gearshift lever once. The
SPORT or S indicator light will deactivate.
The sport mode feature will also
deactivate when your vehicle is powered
down.
Automatic Transmission Adaptive
Learning
This feature increases durability and
provides consistent shift feel over the life
of your vehicle. A new vehicle or
transmission may have firm shifts, soft
shifts or both. This operation is considered
normal and will not affect function or
durability of the transmission. Over time,
the adaptive learning process will fully
update transmission operation.
Forced Downshifts
• Allowed in drive (D) with the tow/haul
feature on or off.
• Press the accelerator to the floor.
• Allows transmission to select an
appropriate gear. Understanding your SelectShift™
Automatic transmission
(If Equipped)
Your vehicle is equipped with a SelectShift
Automatic transmission gearshift lever.
The SelectShift Automatic transmission
gives you the ability to change gears up or
down (without a clutch) as desired.
In order to prevent the engine from running
at too low an RPM, which may cause it to
stall, SelectShift will still automatically
make some downshifts if it has determined
that you have not downshifted in time.
Although SelectShift will make some
downshifts for you, it will still allow you to
downshift at any time as long as the
SelectShift determines that damage will
not be caused to the engine from
over-revving.
SelectShift will not automatically upshift,
even if the engine is approaching the RPM
limit. It must be shifted manually by
pressing the
+ button.
Note: Engine damage may occur if you
maintain excessive engine revving without
shifting.
The SelectShift Automatic transmission
feature has two modes: PRS and M mode.
Manual (M) with floor shifter
Moving the gearshift lever to the manual
(M) position will allow you to manually
select the gear you desire. Only the current
gear will display. Use the buttons on the
gearshift lever or steering wheel to
manually select gears. Press the
+ button
to upshift or the – button to downshift.
Return the transmission to a different
gearshift position to deactivate manual
control.
188
F-150 (TFC) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, First Printing Transmission

Floor Shifter Steering Wheel (If Equipped)
Upshift to the recommended shift speeds
according to the following chart:
6-speed Upshifts when accelerating (recommended for best fuel economy)
Shift from:15 mph (24 km/h)
1 – 2
25 mph (40 km/h)
2 – 3
40 mph (64 km/h)
3 – 4
45 mph (72 km/h)
4 – 5
50 mph (80 km/h)
5 – 6
10-speed Upshifts when accelerating (recommended for best fuel economy)
Shift from:15 mph (24 km/h)
1 – 2
20 mph (32 km/h)
2 – 3
27 mph (43 km/h)
3 – 4
32 mph (51 km/h)
4 – 5
37 mph (60 km/h)
5 – 6
42 mph (68 km/h)
6 – 7
189
F-150 (TFC) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, First Printing TransmissionE192285 E144821

Upshifts when accelerating (recommended for best fuel economy)
48 mph (77 km/h)
7 – 8
52 mph (84 km/h)
8 – 9
60 mph (97 km/h)
9 – 10
Progressive Range Selection
Progressive Range Selection gives you the
ability to lockout gears from the automatic
shifting range. This may provide you with
an improved driving experience (for
example, in slippery conditions or when
experiencing a steep grade).
• With the gearshift lever in drive (D),
press the – button to active PRS. All
available gears will display with the
current gear indicated.
• Press the
– button again to lock out
gears beginning with the highest gear.
• Only the available gears will display
and the transmission will automatically
shift between the available gears.
• Press the
+ button to unlock gears to
allow the transmission to shift to higher
gears. The transmission will shift
automatically within the gear range
you select.
Brake-Shift Interlock WARNINGS
Do not drive your vehicle until you
verify that the brake lamps are
working.
When doing this procedure, you need
to take the transmission out of park
(P) which means your vehicle can
roll freely. To avoid unwanted vehicle
movement, always fully set the parking
brake prior to doing this procedure. Use
wheels chocks if appropriate. WARNINGS
If the parking brake is fully released,
but the brake warning lamp remains
illuminated, the brakes may not be
working properly. Have your vehicle
checked as soon as possible. Your vehicle is equipped with a brake-shift
interlock feature that prevents moving the
gearshift lever from park (P) when the
ignition is in the on position and the brake
pedal is not pressed.
If you cannot move the gearshift lever out
of park (P) position with the ignition in the
on position and the brake pedal pressed,
a malfunction may have occurred. It is
possible that a fuse has blown or your
vehicle
’s brake lamps are not operating
properly. See Fuse Specification Chart
(page 307).
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 park (P):
Column-shifter
1. Apply the parking brake and switch off
your vehicle.
2. Move the steering column to the full down and full rearward position
(toward the driver ’s seat).
3. Remove the gearshift lever boot.
190
F-150 (TFC) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, First Printing Transmission

If Shift Delayed Pull Forward displays in
the information display, a transfer case
gear tooth blockage is present. To alleviate
this condition, place the transmission in a
forward gear, move your vehicle forward
approximately
5 ft (1.5 m), and shift the
transmission back to neutral (N) to allow
the transfer case to complete the range
shift.
How Your Vehicle Differs From
Other Vehicles WARNING
Vehicles with a higher center of
gravity such as utility and four-wheel
drive vehicles handle differently than
vehicles with a lower center of gravity.
Utility and four-wheel drive vehicles are
not designed for cornering at speeds as
high as passenger cars any more than
low-slung sports cars are designed to
perform satisfactorily under off-road
conditions. Avoid sharp turns, excessive
speed and abrupt maneuvers in these
vehicles. Failure to drive cautiously could
result in an increased risk of loss of vehicle
control, vehicle rollover, personal injury and
death. Truck and utility vehicles can differ from
some other vehicles. Your vehicle may be
higher to allow it to travel over rough
terrain without getting hung up or
damaging underbody components.
The differences that make your vehicle so
versatile also make it handle differently
than an ordinary passenger car.
Maintain steering wheel control at all
times, especially in rough terrain. Since
sudden changes in terrain can result in
abrupt steering wheel motion, make sure
you grip the steering wheel from the
outside. Do not grip the spokes. Drive cautiously to avoid vehicle damage
from concealed objects such as rocks and
stumps.
You should either know the terrain or
examine maps of the area before driving.
Map out your route before driving in the
area. To maintain steering and braking
control of your vehicle, you must have all
four wheels on the ground and they must
be rolling, not sliding or spinning.
Driving Off-Road With Truck and
Utility Vehicles
Note:
On some models, the initial shift from
two-wheel drive to four-wheel drive while
your 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.
Note: Your vehicle may be equipped with
a front air dam that can become damaged
(due to reduced ground clearance) when
taking your vehicle off-road. You may
remove this air dam by removing eight bolts.
Note: Vehicles equipped with 2.7L
Ecoboost, 3.5L Ecoboost and 3.5L TiVCT
engines have an underbody transmission
shield and brackets that may become
damaged (due to reduced ground
clearance) when taking your vehicle
off-road. Remove the shield by disengaging
the fasteners at each corner of the shield.
Then, remove the shield rear brackets by
removing the bracket to frame bolts.
Four-wheel drive vehicles are specially
equipped for driving on sand, snow, mud
and rough terrain and have operating
characteristics that are somewhat
different from conventional vehicles, both
on and off the road.
196
F-150 (TFC) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, First Printing Four-Wheel Drive
(If Equipped)

The transfer case supples power to all four
wheels. On four-wheel drive vehicles, the
transfer case allows you to select different
4WD modes when necessary. You can find
information on transfer case operation and
shifting procedures in this chapter. You can
find information on transfer case
maintenance in the Maintenance chapter.
You should become thoroughly familiar
with this information before you operate
your vehicle.
Four-wheel drive (when you select a 4WD
mode) uses all four wheels to power your
vehicle. This increases traction, enabling
you to drive over terrain and road
conditions that a conventional two-wheel
drive vehicle cannot.
Basic Operating Principles
•
Drive slower in strong crosswinds which
can affect the normal steering
characteristics of your vehicle.
• When driving your vehicle on surfaces
made slippery by loose sand, water,
gravel, snow or ice proceed with care.
• Do not use four-wheel drive on dry,
hard surfaced roads. Doing so will
produce excessive noise, increase tire
wear and may damage drive
components. Four-wheel drive modes
are only for consistently slippery or
loose surfaces.
If Your Vehicle leaves the Road
If your vehicle leaves the road, reduce your
vehicle speed and avoid severe braking.
When your vehicle speed decreases, ease
your vehicle back onto the road. Do not
turn the steering wheel sharply while
returning your vehicle to the road.
It may be safer to stay on the shoulder of
the road and slow down gradually before
returning to the road. You may lose control
if you do not slow down or if you turn the
steering wheel too sharply or abruptly. It may be less risky to strike small objects,
such as freeway reflectors, with minor
damage to your vehicle rather than
attempt a sudden return to the road which
could cause your vehicle to slide sideways
out of control or roll over. Remember, your
safety and the safety of others should be
your primary concern.
Emergency Maneuvers
In an unavoidable emergency situation
where a sudden sharp turn must be made,
remember to avoid over-driving your
vehicle (i.e. turn the steering wheel only as
rapidly and as far as required to avoid the
emergency). Excessive steering can result
in loss of vehicle control. Apply smooth
pressure to the accelerator pedal or brake
pedal when changes in vehicle speed are
required. Avoid abrupt steering,
acceleration and braking. This could result
in an increased risk of vehicle roll over, loss
of vehicle control and personal injury. Use
all available road surface to bring your
vehicle to a safe direction of travel.
In the event of an emergency stop, avoid
skidding the tires and do not attempt any
sharp steering wheel movements.
If your vehicle goes from one type of
surface to another (i.e. from concrete to
gravel) there will be a change in the way
your vehicle responds to a maneuver (i.e.
steering, acceleration or braking).
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 excessive wheel slip.
When driving at slow speeds in deep sand
under high outside temperatures, use a low
gear when possible. Low gear operation
will maximize the engine and transmission
cooling capability.
197
F-150 (TFC) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, First Printing Four-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)