2018 FORD F-53 manual transmission

Introduction
About This Manual
..........................................5
Symbols Glossary ............................................
5
California Proposition 65 ..............................
7
Perchlorate .........................................................
7
Ford Credit ..........................................................
8
Replacement Parts Recommendation ........................................................................\
.....
8
Special Notices ................................................
8
Mobile Communications Equipment ........................................................................\
.....
9
Export Unique Options ................................
10
Environment
Protecting the Environment ........................
11
Steering Wheel
Adjusting the Steering Wheel ....................
12
Cruise Control ..................................................
12
Wipers and Washers
Windshield Wipers .........................................
13
Windshield Washers .....................................
13
Lighting
Lighting Control ..............................................
14
Instrument Lighting Dimmer .....................
14
Daytime Running Lamps .............................
15
Direction Indicators .......................................
15
Instrument Cluster
Gauges ...............................................................
16
Warning Lamps and Indicators .................
18
Audible Warnings and Indicators ............
20
Information Displays
General Information ......................................
21
Information Messages .................................
22Starting and Stopping the
Engine
General Information .....................................
25
Ignition Switch ................................................
25
Starting a Gasoline Engine ........................
25
Engine Block Heater .....................................
27
Fuel and Refueling
Safety Precautions .......................................
28
Fuel Quality .....................................................
28
Running Out of Fuel .....................................
29
Refueling ..........................................................
29
Fuel Consumption .........................................
31
Engine Emission Control
Emission Law ..................................................
33
Catalytic Converter .......................................
34
Transmission
Automatic Transmission .............................
37
Brakes
General Information ....................................
40
Hints on Driving With Anti-Lock Brakes ........................................................................\
..
40
Parking Brake ...................................................
41
Cruise Control
Principle of Operation .................................
42
Using Cruise Control ....................................
42
Load Carrying
Load Limit ........................................................
43
Towing
Towing a Trailer ..............................................
48
Recommended Towing Weights .............
49
Essential Towing Checks .............................
51
Towing the Vehicle on Four Wheels .......
53
1
Motorhome (TY3) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201712, Second Printing Table of Contents

TOWING A TRAILER
WARNINGS
Towing trailers beyond the
maximum recommended
gross trailer weight exceeds the
limit of your vehicle and could
result in engine damage,
transmission damage, structural
damage, loss of vehicle control,
vehicle rollover and personal
injury. Do not exceed the GVWR or
the GAWR specified on the
certification label. Note:
See Recommended
Towing Weights (page 49).
Your vehicle may have electrical
items, such as fuses or relays,
related to towing. See
Fuses
(page 68).
Your vehicle's load capacity
designation is by weight, not by
volume, so you cannot necessarily
use all available space when
loading a vehicle or trailer.
Towing a trailer places an extra
load on your vehicle's engine,
transmission, axle, brakes, tires
and suspension. Inspect these
components periodically during,
and after, any towing operation. Load Placement
To help minimize how trailer
movement affects your vehicle
when driving:
•
Load the heaviest items closest
to the trailer floor.
• Load the heaviest items
centered between the left and
right side trailer tires.
• Load the heaviest items above
the trailer axles or just slightly
forward toward the trailer
tongue. Do not allow the final
trailer tongue weight to go
above or below 10-15% of the
loaded trailer weight.
• Select a ball mount with the
correct rise or drop and load
capacity. When both the
loaded vehicle and trailer are
connected, the trailer frame
should be level, or slightly
angled down toward your
vehicle, when viewed from the
side.
When driving with a trailer or
payload, a slight takeoff vibration
or shudder may be present due to
the increased payload weight.
Additional information regarding
proper trailer loading and setting
your vehicle up for towing is
located in another chapter of this
manual. See
Load Limit (page
43).
You can also find information in
the
RV & Trailer Towing Guide
available at your authorized
dealer, or online.
48
Motorhome (TY3) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201712, Second Printing Towing

Trailer Brakes
WARNING
Do not connect a trailer's hydraulic
brake system directly to your
vehicle's brake system. Your vehicle
may not have enough braking power and
your chances of having a collision greatly
increase. Electric brakes and manual, automatic or
surge-type trailer brakes are safe if you
install them properly and adjust them to
the manufacturer's specifications. The
trailer brakes must meet local and federal
regulations.
The rating for the tow vehicle's braking
system operation is at the gross vehicle
weight rating, not the gross combined
weight rating.
Separate functioning brake systems
are required for safe control of towed
vehicles and trailers weighing more
than 1500 pounds (680 kilograms)
when loaded.
Trailer Lamps
WARNING
Never connect any trailer lamp wiring
to the vehicle's tail lamp wiring; this
may damage the electrical system
resulting in fire. Contact your 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, direction indicators and hazard lights
are working. 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 mi
(800 km).
• Do not make full-throttle starts.
• Check your hitch, electrical connections
and trailer wheel lug nuts thoroughly
after you have traveled 50 mi (80 km).
• When stopped in congested or heavy
traffic during hot weather, place the
gearshift in park (P) to aid engine and
transmission cooling and to help air
conditioning performance.
• Switch 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.
• If your transmission is equipped with a
Grade Assist or Tow/Haul feature, use
this feature when towing. This provides
engine braking and helps eliminate
excessive transmission shifting for
optimum fuel economy and
transmission cooling.
• Allow more distance for stopping with
a trailer attached. Anticipate stops and
brake gradually.
• Avoid parking on a grade. However, if
you must park on a grade:
1. Turn the steering wheel to point your vehicle tires away from traffic flow.
52
Motorhome (TY3) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201712, Second Printing Towing

We recommend the use of a wheel lift and
dollies or flatbed equipment to tow your
vehicle. Do not tow with a slingbelt. Ford
Motor Company has not approved a
slingbelt towing procedure. Vehicle
damage may occur if towed incorrectly, or
by any other means.
Ford Motor Company produces a towing
manual for all authorized tow truck
operators. Have your tow truck operator
refer to this manual for proper hook-up
and towing procedures for your vehicle.
It is acceptable to have your front-wheel
drive vehicle towed from the front if using
proper wheel lift equipment to raise the
front wheels off the ground. When towing
in this manner, the rear wheels can remain
on the ground.
Front-wheel drive vehicles must have the
front wheels placed on a tow dolly when
towing your vehicle from the rear using
wheel lift equipment. This prevents
damage to the transmission.
Towing an all-wheel or four-wheel drive
vehicle requires that all wheels be off the
ground, such as using a wheel lift and
dollies or flatbed equipment. This prevents
damage to the transmission, all-wheel or
four-wheel drive system and vehicle.
60
Motorhome (TY3) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201712, Second Printing Roadside Emergencies

A
About This Manual...........................................5
ABS
See: Brakes............................................................. 40
ABS driving hints See: Hints on Driving With Anti-Lock
Brakes.................................................................. 40
Accessories See: Replacement Parts
Recommendation.............................................. 8
Adjusting the Steering Wheel.....................12
Air Filter See: Changing the Engine Air Filter.............103
Appendices.....................................................158
Audible Warnings and Indicators.............20 Fail-Safe Cooling Warning Chime.................20
Headlamps On Warning Chime...................... 20
Key in Ignition Warning Chime........................ 20
Parking Brake On Warning Chime.................20
Shift to Park Warning Chime........................... 20
Automatic Transmission..............................37
Brake-Shift Interlock........................................... 39
If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck In Mud or Snow.................................................................... 39
Understanding the Positions of Your Automatic Transmission............................... 37
Automatic Transmission Fluid Check...............................................................97
Adjusting automatic transmission fluid levels.................................................................... 98
Automatic transmission fluid filter...............99
Correct fluid level................................................. 98
High fluid level....................................................... 98
Low fluid level....................................................... 98
B
Battery See: Changing the 12V Battery....................... 101
Brake Fluid Check..........................................99 Hydroboost.......................................................... 100
Hydromax............................................................... 99
Brakes................................................................40 General Information........................................... 40
Breaking-In.......................................................54 C
California Proposition 65...............................7
Capacities and Specifications
.................133
Alternative Engine Oil for Extremely Cold
Climates............................................................ 136
Specifications...................................................... 134
Car Wash See: Cleaning the Exterior............................... 105
Catalytic Converter........................................34 On-Board Diagnostics (OBD-II)..................... 35
Readiness for Inspection and Maintenance (I/M) Testing..................................................... 35
Changing a Fuse
.............................................87
Fuses........................................................................\
. 87
Changing a Road Wheel............................125 Dissimilar Spare Wheel and Tire Assembly
Information....................................................... 125
Tire Change Procedure..................................... 126
Changing the 12V Battery...........................101 Battery relearn..................................................... 102
Changing the Engine Air Filter.................103
Cleaning the Engine....................................106
Cleaning the Exterior...................................105 Cleaning the Headlamps................................. 105
Exterior Chrome Parts...................................... 105
Exterior Plastic Parts......................................... 105
Stripes or Graphics............................................ 105
Underbody............................................................ 106
Under Hood.......................................................... 106
Cleaning the Wheels
...................................106
Coolant Check See: Engine Coolant Check.............................. 93
Cruise Control
...................................................12
Principle of Operation......................................... 42
Cruise control See: Using Cruise Control.................................. 42
Customer Assistance....................................61
D
Daytime Running Lamps..............................15
Direction Indicators
........................................15
Driving Hints.....................................................54
Driving Through Water.................................55
DRL See: Daytime Running Lamps.......................... 15
161
Motorhome (TY3) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201712, Second Printing Index

Information Messages..................................22
Engine....................................................................... 23
Maintenance.......................................................... 23
Transmission.......................................................... 24
Instrument Cluster..........................................16
Instrument Lighting Dimmer......................14
Introduction........................................................5
J
Jump Starting the Vehicle...........................57 Connecting the Jumper Cables...................... 58
Jump Starting........................................................ 59
Preparing Your Vehicle....................................... 58
Removing the Jumper Cables......................... 59
L
Lighting Control
...............................................14
Headlamp Flasher................................................ 14
High Beams............................................................. 14
Lighting...............................................................14
Load Carrying
...................................................43
Load Limit.........................................................43 Special Loading Instructions for Owners of
Pick-up Trucks and Utility-type
Vehicles............................................................... 47
Vehicle Loading - with and without a Trailer................................................................... 43
Lug Nuts See: Changing a Road Wheel......................... 125
M
Maintenance....................................................89 General Information........................................... 89
Message Center See: Information Displays.................................. 21
Mobile Communications Equipment
........9
Motorcraft Parts............................................129
N
Normal Scheduled Maintenance...........143 O
Oil Change Indicator Reset.........................93
Resetting the Oil Life Monitoring
System................................................................ 93
Oil Check See: Engine Oil Check.......................................... 91
Ordering Additional Owner's Literature........................................................65
Obtaining a French Owner ’s Manual...........66
P
Parking Brake....................................................41
Perchlorate..........................................................7
Power Steering Fluid Check.....................100 Steering linkage lubrication points...............101
Protecting the Environment.........................11
R
Recommended Towing Weights
..............49
Reduced Engine Performance..................54
Refueling...........................................................29
Replacement Parts Recommendation.........................................8
Collision Repairs...................................................... 8
Scheduled Maintenance and Mechanical Repairs................................................................... 8
Warranty on Replacement Parts...................... 8
Reporting Safety Defects (Canada Only)................................................................66
Reporting Safety Defects (U.S. Only)................................................................66
Roadside Assistance....................................56 Vehicles Sold in Canada: Getting Roadside
Assistance.......................................................... 57
Vehicles Sold in Canada: Roadside Assistance Program Coverage.................... 57
Vehicles Sold in Canada: Using Roadside Assistance.......................................................... 57
Vehicles Sold in the United States: Getting Roadside Assistance..................................... 56
Vehicles Sold in the United States: Using Roadside Assistance..................................... 56
Roadside Emergencies
................................56
Running-In See: Breaking-In................................................... 54
163
Motorhome (TY3) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201712, Second Printing Index