2017 FORD F250 SUPER DUTY Owners Manual

If Shift Delayed Pull Forward appears inthe information display, transfer case geartooth blockage is present. To alleviate thiscondition, place the transmission in aforward gear, move the vehicle forwardapproximately 5 ft (1.5 m), and shift thetransmission back to neutral to allow thetransfer case to complete the range shift.
How Your Vehicle Differs FromOther Vehicles
WARNING
Vehicles with a higher center ofgravity (utility and four-wheel drivevehicles) handle differently thanvehicles with a lower center of gravity(passenger cars). Avoid sharp turns,excessive speed and abrupt steering inthese vehicles. Failure to drive cautiouslyincreases the risk of losing control of yourvehicle, vehicle rollover, personal injury anddeath.
Truck and utility vehicles can differ fromsome other vehicles. Your vehicle may behigher to allow it to travel over roughterrain without getting hung up ordamaging underbody components.
The differences that make your vehicle soversatile also make it handle differentlythan an ordinary passenger car.
Maintain steering wheel control at alltimes, especially in rough terrain. Sincesudden changes in terrain can result inabrupt steering wheel motion, make sureyou grip the steering wheel from theoutside. Do not grip the spokes.
Drive cautiously to avoid vehicle damagefrom concealed objects such as rocks andstumps.
You should either know the terrain orexamine maps of the area before driving.Map out your route before driving in thearea. To maintain steering and brakingcontrol of your vehicle, you must have allfour wheels on the ground and they mustbe rolling, not sliding or spinning.
Driving Off-Road With Truck andUtility Vehicles
Note:On some models, the initial shift fromtwo-wheel drive to four-wheel drive whilethe vehicle is moving can cause somemomentary clunk and ratcheting sounds.This is the front drivetrain coming up tospeed and the automatic locking hubsengaging and is not cause for concern.
Note:Your vehicle may be equipped witha front air dam that can become damaged(due to reduced ground clearance) whentaking your vehicle off-road. This air damcan be taken off by removing 15 bolts.
Four-wheel drive vehicles are speciallyequipped for driving on sand, snow, mudand rough terrain and have operatingcharacteristics that are somewhatdifferent from conventional vehicles, bothon and off the road.
Power is supplied to all four wheelsthrough a transfer case. On four-wheeldrive vehicles, the transfer case allows youto select 4WD when necessary.Information on transfer case operation andshifting procedures can be found in thischapter. Information on transfer casemaintenance can be found in theMaintenance chapter. You should becomethoroughly familiar with this informationbefore you operate your vehicle.
Four-wheel drive (when you select a 4WDmode) uses all four wheels to power thevehicle. This increases traction, enablingyou to drive over terrain and roadconditions that a conventional two-wheeldrive vehicle cannot.
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Four-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)

Basic Operating Principles
•Drive slower in strong crosswinds whichcan affect the normal steeringcharacteristics of your vehicle.
•When driving your vehicle on surfacesmade slippery by loose sand, water,gravel, snow or ice proceed with care.
•Do not use 4H or 4L on dry, hardsurfaced roads. Doing so will produceexcessive noise, increase tire wear andmay damage drive components. 4H or4L modes are only intended forconsistently slippery or loose surfaces.
If Your Vehicle leaves the Road
If your vehicle leaves the road, reduce yourvehicle speed and avoid severe braking.When your vehicle speed has been reducedease your vehicle back onto the road. Donot turn the steering wheel sharply whilereturning your vehicle to the road.
It may be safer to stay on the shoulder ofthe road and slow down gradually beforereturning to the road. You may lose controlif you do not slow down or if you turn thesteering wheel too sharply or abruptly.
It may be less risky to strike small objects,such as freeway reflectors, with minordamage to your vehicle rather thanattempt a sudden return to the road whichcould cause your vehicle to slide sidewaysout of control or roll over. Remember, yoursafety and the safety of others should beyour primary concern.
Emergency Maneuvers
In an unavoidable emergency situationwhere a sudden sharp turn must be made,remember to avoid over-driving yourvehicle (i.e. turn the steering wheel only asrapidly and as far as required to avoid theemergency). Excessive steering can resultin loss of vehicle control. Apply smoothpressure to the accelerator pedal or brakepedal when changes in vehicle speed are
required. Avoid abrupt steering,acceleration and braking. This could resultin an increased risk of vehicle roll over, lossof vehicle control and personal injury. Useall available road surface to bring yourvehicle to a safe direction of travel.
In the event of an emergency stop, avoidskidding the tires and do not attempt anysharp steering wheel movements.
If your vehicle goes from one type ofsurface to another (i.e. from concrete togravel) there will be a change in the wayyour vehicle responds to a maneuver (i.e.steering, acceleration or braking).
Sand
When driving over sand, try to keep all fourwheels on the most solid area of the trail.Avoid reducing the tire pressures but shiftto a lower gear and drive steadily throughthe terrain. Apply the accelerator slowlyand avoid excessive wheel slip.
When driving at slow speeds in deep sandunder high outside temperatures, use a lowgear when possible. Low gear operationwill maximize the engine and transmissioncooling capability.
Avoid driving at excessive speeds, thiscauses vehicle momentum to work againstyou and your vehicle could become stuckto the point that assistance may berequired from another vehicle. Remember,you may be able to back out the way youcame if you proceed with caution.
Mud and Water
Mud
Be cautious of sudden changes in vehiclespeed or direction when you are driving inmud. Even four-wheel drive vehicles canlose traction in slick mud. If your vehicledoes slide, steer in the direction of the slideuntil you regain control of your vehicle.
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Four-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)

After driving through mud, clean off residuestuck to rotating driveshafts and tires.Excess mud stuck on tires and rotatingdriveshafts can cause an imbalance thatcould damage drive components.
Water
If you must drive through high water, driveslowly. Traction or brake capability maybe limited.
When driving through water, determine thedepth and avoid water higher than thebottom of the hubs. If the ignition systemgets wet, your vehicle may stall.
Once through water, always try the brakes.Wet brakes do not stop your vehicle aseffectively as dry brakes. Drying can beimproved by applying light pressure to thebrake pedal while moving slowly.
Note:Driving through deep water maydamage the transmission. If the front or rearaxle is submerged in water, the axlelubricant and power transfer unit lubricantshould be checked and changed ifnecessary.
Driving on Hilly or Sloping Terrain
Although natural obstacles may make itnecessary to travel diagonally up or downa hill or steep incline, you should alwaystry to drive straight up or straight down.
Note:Avoid turning on steep slopes or hills.A danger lies in losing traction, slippingsideways and possible vehicle roll over.Whenever driving on a hill, determinebeforehand the route you will use. Do notdrive over the crest of a hill without seeingwhat conditions are on the other side. Donot drive in reverse over a hill without theaid of an observer.
When climbing a steep slope or hill, startin a lower gear rather than downshifting toa lower gear from a higher gear once theascent has started. This reduces strain onthe engine and the possibility of stalling.
If your vehicle stalls, do not try to turnaround because this could cause vehicleroll over. It is better to reverse back to asafe location.
Apply just enough power to the wheels toclimb the hill. Too much power will causethe tires to slip, spin or lose traction,resulting in loss of vehicle control.
Descend a hill in the same gear you woulduse to climb up the hill to avoid excessivebrake application and brake overheating.Do not descend in neutral. Disengageoverdrive or move the transmissionselector lever to a lower gear. Whendescending a steep hill, avoid sudden hardbraking as you could lose control. The frontwheels have to be turning in order to steeryour vehicle.
If your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, applythe brakes steadily. Do not pump thebrakes.
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Four-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)E143949

Driving on Snow and Ice
WARNING
If you are driving in slipperyconditions that require tire chains orcables, then it is critical that you drivecautiously. Keep speeds down, allow forlonger stopping distances and avoidaggressive steering to reduce the chancesof a loss of vehicle control which can leadto serious injury or death. If the rear end ofyour vehicle slides while cornering, steer inthe direction of the slide until you regaincontrol of your vehicle.
Note:Excessive tire slippage can causetransmission damage.
Four-wheel drive vehicles have advantagesover two-wheel drive vehicles in snow andice but can skid like any other vehicle.Should you start to slide while driving onsnowy or icy roads, turn the steering wheelin the direction of the slide until you regaincontrol.
Avoid sudden applications of power andquick changes of direction on snow andice. Apply the accelerator slowly andsteadily when starting from a full stop.
Avoid sudden braking. Although afour-wheel drive vehicle may acceleratebetter than a two-wheel drive vehicle insnow and ice, it will not stop any faster asbraking occurs at all four wheels. Do notbecome overconfident as to roadconditions.
Make sure you allow sufficient distancebetween you and other vehicles forstopping. Drive slower than usual andconsider using one of the lower gears. Inemergency stopping situations, apply thebrake steadily. Do not pump the brakepedal. See Hints on Driving WithAnti-Lock Brakes (page 222).
If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck In Mud orSnow
WARNING
Do not spin the wheels at over34 mph (55 km/h). The tires may failand injure a passenger or bystander.
If your vehicle gets stuck in mud or snow,it may be rocked out by shifting betweenforward and reverse gears, stoppingbetween shifts in a steady pattern. Presslightly on the accelerator in each gear.
Note:Do not rock your vehicle if the engineis not at normal operating temperature,damage to the transmission may occur.
Note:Do not rock your vehicle for morethan a minute, damage to the transmissionand tires may occur or the engine mayoverheat.
Parking
WARNINGS
If the parking brake is fully released,but the brake warning lamp remainsilluminated, the brakes may not beworking properly. Have your vehiclechecked as soon as possible.
Always set the parking brake andleave your vehicle with thetransmission in park (P).
On some four-wheel drive vehicles, whenthe transfer case is in the N (Neutral)position, the engine and transmission aredisconnected from the rest of the driveline.Therefore, the vehicle is free to roll even ifthe automatic transmission is in P (Park)or the manual transmission is in gear. Donot leave the vehicle unattended with thetransfer case in the N (Neutral) position.Always set the parking brake fully and turnoff the ignition when leaving the vehicle.
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Four-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)

Maintenance and Modifications
The suspension and steering systems onyour vehicle have been designed andtested to provide predictable performancewhether loaded or empty. For this reason,we strongly recommend that you do notmake modifications such as adding orremoving parts (i.e. lift kits or stabilizerbars) or by using replacement parts notequivalent to the original factoryequipment.
We recommend that you use caution whenyour vehicle has either a high load or device(i.e. ladder or luggage racks). Anymodifications to your vehicle that raise thecenter of gravity may cause your vehicleto roll over when there is a loss of vehiclecontrol.
Failure to maintain your vehicle correctlymay void the warranty, increase your repaircost, reduce vehicle performance andoperational capabilities and adverselyaffect you and your passenger's safety. Werecommend you frequently inspect yourvehicle's chassis components when yourvehicle is subject to off road usage.
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Four-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)

LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL
This axle provides added traction onslippery surfaces, particularly when onewheel is on a poor traction surface. Undernormal conditions, the limited-slip axlefunctions like a standard rear axle. The axlemay exhibit a slight noise or vibrationduring tight turns with low vehicle speed.This is normal behavior and indicates theaxle is working.
ELECTRONIC LOCKING
DIFFERENTIAL (If Equipped)
Note:The electronic locking differential isfor off-road use only and is not for use ondry pavement. Using the electronic lockingdifferential on dry pavement will result inincreased tire wear, noise and vibration.
The electronic locking differential is adevice housed in the rear axle that allowsboth rear wheels to turn at the samespeed. The electronic locking differentialcan provide additional traction should yourvehicle become stuck. You can activatethe differential electronically and shift iton the fly within the differential operatingspeed range. The differential is for use inmud, rocks, sand, or any off-road conditionwhere you need maximum traction. It isnot for use on dry pavement.
The following conditions will affect theelectronic locking differential:
•The electronic locking differential willnot engage if your vehicle speed isabove 20 mph (32 km/h) in 4x2, 4x4Auto, or 4x4 High modes.
•The electronic locking differential willnot engage if your vehicle speed isabove or 56 mph (90 km/h) in 4X4Low.
•The electronic locking differential maynot engage if you press youraccelerator pedal during anengagement attempt. A message maydisplay in the instrument displayguiding you to release the acceleratorpedal.
•In 4x2, 4x4 Auto, and 4x4 High modes,the electronic locking differential willautomatically disengage at speedsabove 25 mph (41 km/h) and willautomatically reengage at speedsbelow 20 mph (32 km/h).
•In 4L (4X4 low), the electronic lockingdifferential will automaticallydisengage at speeds above 62 mph(100 km/h) and will automaticallyreengage at speeds below 56 mph(90 km/h).
•The AdvanceTrac system has theability to take over control of theelectronic locking differential anddisable it during driving maneuverswhen necessary.
When you switch the system on, if you donot meet the required conditions forelectronic locking differential activation,the instrument cluster will display theappropriate information guiding youthrough the proper activation process.
Activating the Electronic LockingDifferential
Note:Do not use electronic lockingdifferential on dry, hard surfaced roads.Doing so will produce excessive noise,vibration and increase tire wear.
Note:If the electronic locking differentialhas difficulty disengaging, release theaccelerator pedal and turn the steeringwheel in the opposite direction while rolling.
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Rear Axle

For 4WD vehicles
Pull the 4WD control knob toward you.
For 2WD vehicles
Turn the control to ON.
Once the indicator lightilluminates in the informationdisplay, both rear wheel axleshafts will be locked together providingadded traction.
If the indicator does not come on, or theindicator turns off while driving, one of thefollowing has occurred:
•The vehicle speed is too high.
•The left and right rear wheel speeddifference is too high during anengagement attempt.
•The system has malfunctioned and isaccompanied by CHECK LOCKINGDIFFERENTIAL in the informationdisplay. See your authorized Forddealer for assistance.
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Rear AxleE191852 E183740 E163170

GENERAL INFORMATION
Note:Occasional brake noise is normal. Ifa metal-to-metal, continuous grinding orcontinuous squeal sound is present, thebrake linings may be worn-out. Have thesystem checked by an authorized dealer. Ifyour vehicle has continuous vibration orshudder in the steering wheel while braking,have it checked by an authorized dealer.
Note:Brake dust may accumulate on thewheels, even under normal drivingconditions. Some dust is inevitable as thebrakes wear and does not contribute tobrake noise. See Cleaning the Wheels(page 370).
See Warning Lamps andIndicators (page 105).
Wet brakes result in reduced brakingefficiency. Gently press the brake pedal afew times when driving from a car wash orstanding water to dry the brakes.
Brake Over Accelerator
In the event the accelerator pedalbecomes stuck or entrapped, apply steadyand firm pressure to the brake pedal toslow the vehicle and reduce engine power.If you experience this condition, apply thebrakes and bring your vehicle to a safestop. Move the transmission to park (P),switch the engine off and apply the parkingbrake. Inspect the accelerator pedal forany interference. If none are found and thecondition persists, have your vehicle towedto the nearest authorized dealer.
Brake Assist
Brake assist detects when you brakerapidly by measuring the rate at which youpress the brake pedal. It providesmaximum braking efficiency as long as youpress the pedal, and can reduce stoppingdistances in critical situations.
Anti-lock Brake System
This system helps you maintain steeringcontrol during emergency stops by keepingthe brakes from locking.
This lamp momentarilyilluminates when you switch theignition on. If the light does notilluminate during start up, remains on orflashes, the system may be disabled. Havethe system checked by an authorizeddealer. If the anti-lock brake system isdisabled, normal braking is still effective.
If the brake warning lampremains illuminated after yourelease the parking brake, havethe system checked by an authorizeddealer.
Diesel Engine Braking (If Equipped)
WARNING
Do not use tow/haul or enginebraking when driving in icy or slipperyconditions as the increased brakingcan cause the rear wheels to slide and yourvehicle to swing around with the possibleloss of vehicle control.
This feature increases engine braking athigher engine speeds to provide bettergrade descent control with less brake andtransmission wear and tear. It alsoimproves engine braking when towing orcarrying heavy loads.
Press the button on the switchbank next to the audio unit toswitch the system on or off.
There are two engine brake modes, manualand automatic.
Manual Engine Braking
1. Press the button to switch on manualengine braking.
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BrakesE144522 E144522 E171217