2017 FORD F250 SUPER DUTY light

If this message displays, with no trailerconnected, the problem is with your vehiclewiring or trailer brake controller. Contactan authorized dealer.
If the message only displays with a trailerconnected, the problem is with the trailerwiring. Consult your trailer dealer forassistance. This can be a short to ground(such as a chaffed wire), short to voltage(such as a pulled pin on trailer emergencybreakaway battery) or the trailer brakesmay be drawing too much current.
Points to Remember
Note:Do not attempt removal of the trailerbrake controller without consulting theWorkshop Manual. Damage to the unit mayresult.
•Adjust gain setting before using thetrailer brake controller.
•Adjust gain setting, using the procedureabove, whenever road, weather, traileror vehicle loading conditions changefrom when the gain was initially set.
•Only use the manual control lever forproper adjustment of the gain duringtrailer setup. Misuse, such asapplication during trailer sway, couldcause instability of trailer or towvehicle.
•Avoid towing in adverse weatherconditions. The trailer brake controllerdoes not provide anti-lock control ofthe trailer wheels. Trailer wheels canlock up on slippery surfaces, resultingin reduced stability of trailer and towvehicle.
•The trailer brake controller is equippedwith a feature that reduces output atvehicle speeds below 11 mph (18 km/h)so trailer and vehicle braking is not jerkyor harsh. This feature is only activewhen applying the brakes using yourvehicle's brake pedal, not thecontroller.
•The controller interacts with the brakecontrol system and powertrain controlsystem of your vehicle to provide thebest performance on different roadconditions.
•Your vehicle's brake system and thetrailer brake system workindependently of each other. Changingthe gain setting on the controller doesnot affect the operation of yourvehicle's brakes.
•When you switch the engine off, thecontroller output is disabled and thedisplay and module shut down.
Trailer Lamps
WARNING
Never connect any trailer lamp wiringto the vehicle's tail lamp wiring; thismay damage the electrical systemresulting in fire. Contact your authorizeddealer as soon as possible for assistancein proper trailer tow wiring installation.Additional electrical equipment may berequired.
Trailer lamps are required on most towedvehicles. Make sure all running lights, brakelights, turn signals and hazard lights areworking.
Before Towing a Trailer
Practice turning, stopping and backing upto get the feel of your vehicle-trailercombination before starting on a trip.When turning, make wider turns so thetrailer wheels clear curbs and otherobstacles.
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Towing

Note:You can check four-wheel-downtowing status at any time by opening thedriver's door or turning the ignition to theaccessory or on position and verifying amessage displays in the cluster.
To exit four-wheel-down towing and returnthe transfer case to its 2H position:
1.With your vehicle still properly securedto the tow vehicle, put the ignition inthe on position, but do not start theengine. If your vehicle has an ignitionkey, switch the key to on. If your vehiclehas intelligent access, press the engineSTART/STOP button once withoutpressing the brake pedal.
2. Press and hold the brake pedal.
3. Shift the transmission out of neutral(N) and into any other gear.
4. Release the brake pedal.
Note:If completed successfully, the 2Hindicator light illuminates and aconfirmation message displays in theinstrument cluster.
Note:If the indicator light and message donot display, you must perform the procedureagain from the beginning.
Note:You may hear an audible noise as thetransfer case shifts out of its neutralposition. This is normal.
Note:If a message displays in theinstrument cluster stating there is a shiftdelay, transfer case gear tooth blockagemay be present. See Resolving the ShiftDelay Issue after this section.
5.Apply the parking brake and disconnectthe vehicle from the tow vehicle.
6. Release the parking brake, start theengine and shift the transmission todrive (D) to make sure the transfercase is out of neutral (N).
7. If the transfer case does notsuccessfully shift out of neutral (N),set the parking brake until you can haveyour vehicle serviced.
Resolving the Shift Delay Issue
If the instrument cluster displays a shiftdelay message, See InformationMessages (page 128). You need toperform the following steps:
1. Press and hold the brake pedal.
2. Put the transmission into neutral (N),and then start the engine.
3. With the engine running, shift thetransmission to drive (D) and let thevehicle roll forward, up to 3 ft (1 m).You may hear an audible noise as thetransfer case shifts out of its neutralposition. This is normal.
4. When the issue is resolved, theinstrument cluster displays a messagestating neutral tow is disabled.
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Towing

BREAKING-IN
You need to break in new tires forapproximately 300 mi (480 km). Duringthis time, your vehicle may exhibit someunusual driving characteristics.
Avoid driving too fast during the first1,000 mi (1,600 km). Vary your speedfrequently and change up through thegears early. Do not labor the engine.
Drive your new vehicle at least 1,000 mi(1,600 km) before towing a trailer. Makesure you use the specified engine oil. SeeCapacities and Specifications (page422).
Do not add friction modifier compoundsor special break-in oils during the first fewthousand miles (kilometers) of operation.These additives may prevent piston ringseating.
ECONOMICAL DRIVING
Your fuel economy is affected by severalthings, such as how you drive, theconditions you drive under, and how youmaintain your vehicle.
You may improve your fuel economy bykeeping these things in mind:
•Accelerate and slow down in a smooth,moderate fashion.
•Drive at steady speeds withoutstopping.
•Anticipate stops; slowing down mayeliminate the need to stop.
•Combine errands and minimizestop-and-go driving.
•Close the windows for high-speeddriving.
•Drive at reasonable speeds (travelingat 55 mph [88 km/h] uses 15% lessfuel than traveling at 65 mph [105km/h]).
•Keep the tires properly inflated and useonly the recommended size.
•Use the recommended engine oil.
•Perform all regularly scheduledmaintenance.
Avoid these actions; they reduce your fueleconomy:
•Sudden accelerations or hardaccelerations.
•Revving the engine before turning it off.
•Idle for periods longer than one minute.
•Warm up your vehicle on coldmornings.
•Use the air conditioner or frontdefroster.
•Use the speed control in hilly terrain.
•Rest your foot on the brake pedal whiledriving.
•Drive a heavily loaded vehicle or tow atrailer.
•Carry unnecessary weight(approximately 1 mpg [0.4 km/L] islost for every 400 lb [180 kilogram] ofweight carried).
•Driving with the wheels out ofalignment.
Conditions
•Heavily loading a vehicle or towing atrailer may reduce fuel economy at anyspeed.
•Adding certain accessories to yourvehicle (for example bug deflectors,rollbars, light bars, running boards, skiracks or luggage racks) may reducefuel economy.
•To maximize the fuel economy, drivewith the tonneau cover installed (ifequipped).
•Using fuel blended with alcohol maylower fuel economy.
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Driving Hints

•Fuel economy may decrease with lowertemperatures during the first 8–10miles (12–16 kilometers) of driving.
•Driving on flat terrain offers improvedfuel economy as compared to drivingon hilly terrain.
•Transmissions give their best fueleconomy when operated in the topcruise gear and with steady pressureon the gas pedal.
•Four-wheel-drive operation (ifequipped) is less fuel efficient thantwo-wheel-drive operation.
•Close the windows for high-speeddriving.
DRIVING THROUGH WATER
WARNING
Do not drive through flowing or deepwater as you may lose control of yourvehicle.
Note:Driving through standing water cancause vehicle damage.
Note:Engine damage can occur if waterenters the air filter.
Before driving through standing water,check the depth. Never drive through waterthat is higher than the bottom of the wheelhubs.
When driving through standing water, drivevery slowly and do not stop your vehicle.Your brake performance and traction maybe limited. After driving through water andas soon as it is safe to do so:
•Lightly press the brake pedal to dry thebrakes and to check that they work.
•Check that the horn works.
•Check that the exterior lights work.
•Turn the steering wheel to check thatthe steering power assist works.
FLOOR MATS
WARNINGS
Always use floor mats that aredesigned to fit the foot well of yourvehicle. Only use floor mats thatleave the pedal area unobstructed. Onlyuse floor mats that are firmly secured toretention posts so that they cannot slip outof position and interfere with the pedalsor impair safe operation of your vehicle inother ways.
Pedals that cannot move freely cancause loss of vehicle control andincrease the risk of serious personalinjury.
Always make sure that the floormats are properly attached to theretention posts in the carpet that aresupplied with your vehicle. Floor mats mustbe properly secured to both retention poststo make sure mats do not shift out ofposition.
Never place floor mats or any othercovering in the vehicle foot well thatcannot be properly secured toprevent them from moving and interferingwith the pedals or the ability to control thevehicle.
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WARNINGS
Never place floor mats or any othercovering on top of already installedfloor mats. Floor mats should alwaysrest on top of vehicle carpeting surface andnot another floor mat or other covering.Additional floor mats or any other coveringwill reduce the pedal clearance andpotentially interfere with pedal operation.
Check attachment of floor mats ona regular basis. Always properlyreinstall and secure floor mats thathave been removed for cleaning orreplacement.
Always make sure that objectscannot fall into the driver foot wellwhile the vehicle is moving. Objectsthat are loose can become trapped underthe pedals causing a loss of vehicle control.
Failure to properly follow floor matinstallation or attachmentinstructions can potentially causeinterference with pedal operation causinga loss of vehicle control.
To install floor mats, position the floor matso that the eyelet is over the retention postand press down to lock in.
To remove the floor mat, reverse theinstallation procedure.
SNOWPLOWING
Ford recommends that the Super DutyF-Series used for snow removal includethe snowplow package option.
Installing the Snowplow
Weight limits and guidelines for selectingand installing the snowplow are in the FordTruck Body Builders Layout Book,snowplow section, found atwww.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas. A typicalinstallation affects the following:
•Certification to government safety lawssuch as occupant protection and airbagdeployment, braking, and lighting. Lookfor an Alterer’s Label on the vehiclefrom the snowplow installer certifyingthat the installation meets allapplicable Federal Motor VehicleSafety Standards (FMVSS).
•The Total Accessory Reserve Capacity(TARC) is on the lower right side of thevehicle’s Safety ComplianceCertification Label. This applies toFord-completed vehicles of 10,000 lb(4,536 kg) GVWR or less. This is theweight of permanently-attachedauxiliary equipment, such as snowplowframe-mounting hardware, that canbe added to the vehicle and satisfyFord compliance certification toFMVSS. Exceeding this weight mayrequire the auxiliary equipment installeradditional safety certificationresponsibility. The Front AccessoryReserve Capacity (FARC) is forcustomer convenience.
•Rear ballast weight behind the rearaxle may be required to preventexceeding the FGAWR, and providefront-to-rear weight balance for properbraking and steering.
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•Front wheel toe may requirere-adjustment to prevent prematureuneven tire wear. Specifications are inthe Ford Workshop Manual.
•Headlight aim may requirere-adjustment.
•The tire air pressures recommendedfor general driving are on the vehicle’sSafety Certification Label. Themaximum cold inflation pressure forthe tire and associated load rating ison the tire sidewall. Tire air pressuremay require re-adjustment within thesepressure limits to accommodate theadditional weight of the snowplowinstallation.
•Federal and some local regulationsrequire additional exterior lamps forsnowplow-equipped vehicles. Consultyour authorized dealer for additionalinformation.
Operating the Vehicle with theSnowplow Attached
Note:Do not use your vehicle for snowremoval until you have driven at least500 mi (800 km).
Ford recommends vehicle speed does notexceed 45 mph (72 km/h) whensnowplowing.
The attached snowplow blade restrictsairflow to the radiator, and may cause theengine to run at a higher temperature:Attention to engine temperature isespecially important when outsidetemperatures are above freezing. Anglethe blade to maximize airflow to theradiator and monitor engine temperatureto determine whether a left or right angleprovides the best performance.
Follow the severe duty schedule in yourScheduled Maintenance information forengine oil and transmission fluid changeintervals.
Snowplowing with your AirbagEquipped Vehicle
WARNINGS
Do not attempt to service, repair, ormodify the airbag supplementalrestraint system (SRS) or its fuses.Contact an authorized dealer.
Additional equipment for examplesnowplow equipment may affect theperformance of the airbag sensorsincreasing the risk of injury. Please refer tothe Body Builders Layout Book forinstructions about the appropriateinstallation of additional equipment.
All occupants of the vehicle,including the driver, should alwaysproperly wear their seatbelt, evenwhen provided with an airbagsupplemental restraint system (SRS).
Your vehicle is equipped with a driver andpassenger airbag supplemental restraintsystem. The supplemental restraint systemwill activate in certain frontal and offsetfrontal collisions when the vehicle sustainssufficient frontal deceleration.
Careless or high speed driving whileplowing snow that results in sufficientvehicle decelerations can deploy theairbags. Such driving also increases the riskof accidents.
Never remove or defeat the trippingmechanisms designed into the snowremoval equipment by its manufacturer.Doing so may cause damage to the vehicleand the snow removal equipment as wellas possible airbag deployment.
Engine temperature while plowing
When driving with a plow, your engine mayrun at a higher temperature than normalbecause the attached snowplow blade willrestrict airflow to the radiator.
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Driving Hints

•If you are driving more than 15 mi(24 km) at temperatures abovefreezing, angle the plow blade eitherfull left or full right to providemaximum airflow to the radiator.
•If you are driving less than 15 mi(24 km) at speeds up to 45 mph(72 km/h) in cold weather, you will notneed to worry about blade position toprovide maximum airflow.
Transmission operation whileplowing
WARNING
Do not spin the wheels at over34 mph (55 km/h). The tires may failand injure a passenger or bystander.
•Shift transfer case to 4L (4WD Low)when plowing in small areas at speedsbelow 5 mph (8 km/h).
•Shift transfer case to 4H (4WD High)when plowing larger areas or light snowat higher speeds. Do not exceed 15 mph(24 km/h).
•Do not shift the transmission from aforward gear to R (Reverse) until theengine is at idle and the wheels havestopped.
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Driving Hints

Note:When you try to restart your vehicleafter a fuel shutoff, your vehicle makes surethat various systems are safe to restart.Once your vehicle determines that thesystems are safe, then your vehicle willallow you to restart.
In the event of a moderate to severecollision, your vehicle is equipped with afuel pump shut-off feature that stops theflow of fuel to the engine. Not every impactwill cause a shutoff.
After an accident, if the engine cranks butdoes not start, this switch may have beenactivated.
This switch is located on the passenger’sside of the instrument panel. Open thefront passenger door and remove the smallaccess panel.
The switch has a red button on top of it.
To reset the switch:
1. Turn the ignition off.
2. Check the fuel system for leaks.
3. If no leaks are apparent, reset theswitch by pushing in on the resetbutton.
4. Turn the ignition on.
5.Wait a few seconds and return the keyto off.
6. Make another check for leaks.
Running Out Of DEF (DieselExhaust Fluid)
If your vehicle runs out of DEF, it will enterinto a speed limited mode and can alsoenter into an idle-only mode. Normalvehicle operation will not resume until DEFis refilled. See Selective CatalyticReduction System (page 188).
Contact roadside assistance for help infinding a retailer that sells DEF. SeeCustomer Assistance (page 305).
JUMP STARTING THE VEHICLE
WARNINGS
Batteries normally produce explosivegases which can cause personalinjury. Therefore, do not allowflames, sparks or lighted substances tocome near the battery. When working nearthe battery, always shield your face andprotect your eyes. Always provide correctventilation.
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