2020 FORD F-150 warning

GENERAL INFORMATION
WARNING: Extended idling at high
engine speeds can produce very high
temperatures in the engine and exhaust
system, creating the risk of fire or other
damage. WARNING:
Do not park, idle or
drive your vehicle on dry grass or other
dry ground cover. The emission system
heats up the engine compartment and
exhaust system, creating the risk of fire. WARNING: Do not start the engine
in a closed garage or in other enclosed
areas. Exhaust fumes can be toxic.
Always open the garage door before you
start the engine. 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.
If you disconnect the battery, your vehicle
may exhibit some unusual driving
characteristics for approximately
5 mi
(8 km) after you reconnect it. This is
because the engine management system
must realign itself with the engine. You
can disregard any unusual driving
characteristics during this period.
The powertrain control system meets all
Canadian interference-causing equipment
standard requirements regulating the
impulse electrical field or radio noise.
When you start the engine, avoid pressing
the accelerator pedal before and during
operation. Only use the accelerator pedal
when you have difficulty starting the
engine. IGNITION SWITCH
0
(off) - The ignition is off.
Note: When you switch the ignition off and
leave your vehicle, do not leave your key in
the ignition. This could cause your vehicle
battery to lose charge.
I
(accessory) - Allows the electrical
accessories, such as the radio, to operate
while the engine is not running.
Note: Do not leave the ignition key in this
position for too long. This could cause your
vehicle battery to lose charge.
II
(on) - All electrical circuits are
operational and the warning lamps and
indicators illuminate.
III
(start) - Cranks the engine.
KEYLESS STARTING
(IF EQUIPPED)
Note: The keyless starting system may not
function if the key is close to metal objects
or electronic devices such as cellular
phones.
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Note:
A valid key must be located inside
your vehicle to switch the ignition on and
start the engine.
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 -
VEHICLES WITHOUT: PUSH
BUTTON START 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.
STEERING WHEEL LOCK -
VEHICLES WITH: PUSH
BUTTON START
Your vehicle has an electronically
controlled steering wheel lock that
automatically operates.
The steering wheel will lock shortly after
you have parked your vehicle and the
passive key is outside it or when you lock
your vehicle.
Note: The steering wheel will not lock when
the ignition is on or when your vehicle is
moving.
Unlocking the Steering Wheel
The steering wheel unlocks when the
system detects a valid passive key inside
your vehicle. If the steering wheel relocks,
switch the ignition on to unlock it.
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Automatic Engine Shutdown
If your vehicle is equipped with a keyless
ignition, it has a feature that automatically
shuts down the engine if it has been idling
for an extended period. The ignition also
turns off in order to save battery power.
Before the engine shuts down, a message
appears in the information display showing
a timer counting down from 30 seconds.
If you do not intervene within 30 seconds,
the engine shuts down. Another message
appears in the information display to
inform you that the engine has shut down
in order to save fuel. Start your vehicle as
you normally do.
Automatic Engine Shutdown Override
Note:
You cannot permanently switch off
the automatic engine shutdown feature.
When you switch it off temporarily, it turns
on at the next ignition cycle.
You can stop the engine shutdown, or reset
the timer, at any point before the
30-second countdown has expired by
doing any of the following:
• You can reset the timer by interacting
with your vehicle (such as pressing the
brake pedal or accelerator pedal).
• You can temporarily switch off the
shutdown feature any time the ignition
is on (for the current ignition cycle
only). Use the information display to
do so. See Information Displays
(page 120).
• During the countdown before engine
shutdown, you are prompted to press
OK or RESET (depending on your type
of information display) to temporarily
switch the feature off (for the current
ignition cycle only). Stopping the Engine When Your
Vehicle is Stationary
Vehicles with an Ignition Key
1. Move the transmission selector lever
to position
P.
2. Turn the key to off.
3. Apply the parking brake.
Vehicles with Keyless Start
1. Move the transmission selector lever to position
P.
2. Press the button once.
3. Apply the parking brake.
Note: This switches off the ignition, all
electrical circuits, warning lamps and
indicators.
Note: If the engine is idling for 30 minutes,
the ignition and engine automatically shut
down.
Stopping the Engine When Your
Vehicle is Moving WARNING:
Switching off the
engine when your vehicle is still moving
results in a significant decrease in
braking assistance. Higher effort is
required to apply the brakes and to stop
your vehicle. A significant decrease in
steering assistance could also occur. The
steering does not lock, but higher effort
could be required to steer your vehicle.
When you switch the ignition off, some
electrical circuits, for example airbags,
also turn off. If you unintentionally switch
the ignition off, shift into neutral (N) and
restart 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.
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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.
STARTING A DIESEL ENGINE (IF
EQUIPPED)
Read all starting instructions carefully
before you start your vehicle. For temperatures below
32°F (0°C), the
use of the correct grade engine oil is
essential for proper operation. Refer to
Engine oil specifications for more
information. See
Capacities and
Specifications (page 433).
Your vehicle may be equipped with a cold
weather starting strategy that prevents
severe engine damage by assisting in
engine lubrication warm-up. In extremely
cold ambient temperatures, this strategy
activates and prevents the accelerator
pedal from being used for 30 seconds after
starting your vehicle. A message will
appear in the information display as your
vehicle warms up. By not allowing the
accelerator pedal to be used, the engine
oil is allowed to properly lubricate the
bearings preventing engine damage due
to lack of proper lubrication. After the 30
second warm-up period, the accelerator
pedal will be operational again and a
message will appear informing you the
vehicle is ok to drive.
When starting the engine in extremely cold
temperatures
-15°F (-26°C), it is
recommended to allow the engine to idle
for several minutes before driving the
vehicle.
Before starting the engine check the
following:
• Make sure all occupants have fastened
their seatbelts.
• Make sure the headlamps and
electrical accessories are off.
• Make sure the parking brake is on.
• Make sure the transmission is in park
(P).
Note: Do not press the accelerator during
starting.
Vehicles with Keyless Start
Note: Do not touch the accelerator pedal.
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Note:
If the push button ignition switch is
pressed again prior to the engine starting,
the ignition switches to accessory mode and
does not start.
Note: If the brake pedal is released before
the engine has started, follow the engine
start sequence again.
1. Fully depress the brake pedal.
2. Press the center of the push button ignition switch.
Note: A message displays Engine Start
Pending, Please Wait.
3. When the engine starts, release the brake pedal.
Diesel Engine Fast Start Glow Plug
System
The diesel engine glow system consists of:
• Six or eight glow plugs (one per
cylinder)
• Glow Plug Control Module
• Engine Coolant Temperature sensor
• Barometric pressure sensor
• Environmental temperature sensor
The powertrain and glow plug control
modules electronically control the glow
plug system. After you switch the ignition
on the glow plug control module
immediately energizes the glow plugs. The
glow plug control module using the engine
coolant temperature, barometric pressure
sensor and environmental temperature
sensor will determine how long the glow
plugs stay energized. The required time for
the glow plugs to be energized decreases
as the coolant temperature, barometric
pressure and environmental temperature
increase. Automatic Engine Shutdown
If your vehicle is equipped with a keyless
ignition, it has a feature that automatically
shuts down the engine if it has been idling
for an extended period. The ignition also
turns off in order to save battery power.
Before the engine shuts down, a message
appears in the information display showing
a timer counting down from 30 seconds.
If you do not intervene within 30 seconds,
the engine shuts down. Another message
appears in the information display to
inform you that the engine has shut down
in order to save fuel. Start your vehicle as
you normally do.
Cold Weather Starting
WARNING: Do not use starting
fluid, for example ether, in the air intake
system. Such fluid could cause
immediate explosive damage to the
engine and possible personal injury. WARNING:
Do not mix diesel with
gasoline, gasohol or alcohol. This could
cause an explosion.
It is recommended that the engine block
heater be used for starting when the
temperature is -9°F (-23°C) or colder. See
Engine Block Heater
(page 188).
When operating in cold weather,
Motorcraft® cetane improvers or
non-alcohol-based cetane improvers from
a reputable manufacturer may be used as
needed.
Do not crank the engine for more than 10
seconds as starter damage may occur. If
the engine fails to start, switch the ignition
off and wait 30 seconds before trying
again. Switch the ignition on. Do not
start the engine until the
glow-plug indicator turns off.
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WARNING: To reduce the risk of
vehicle damage and personal burn
injuries, do not start your engine with the
air cleaner removed and do not remove
it while the engine is running.
In order to operate the engine in
temperatures of 32°F (0°C) or lower, read
the following instructions:
• Make sure that the batteries are of
sufficient size and are fully charged.
Check other electrical components to
make sure they are in optimum
condition.
• Use the proper coolant solution at the
concentration recommended
protecting the engine against damage
from freezing.
• Try to keep the fuel tank full as much
as possible at the end of operation to
prevent condensation in the fuel
system.
• Make sure you use proper cold weather
engine oil and that it is at its proper
level. Also, if necessary, make sure to
follow the engine oil and filter change
schedule found under the Special
operating conditions section listed in
the scheduled maintenance
information.
• At temperatures of
-9°F (-23°C) or
below, it is recommended that you use
an engine block heater to improve cold
engine starting.
• If operating in arctic temperatures of
-20°F (-29°C)
or lower, consult your
truck dealer for information about
special cold weather equipment and
precautions. The following cold weather idling
guidelines are recommended:
•
You can use Motorcraft® cetane
improvers or non-alcohol-based
cetane improvers from a reputable
manufacturer as needed.
• Maintain the engine cooling system
properly.
• Avoid shutting the engine down after
an extensive idling period. Drive your
vehicle for several miles with the
engine at normal operating
temperatures under a moderate load.
• Consider using an engine block heater.
• For extended idle times use an
approved idle speed increase device.
Winter Operating Tips for Arctic
Operation -20°F (-29°C) and Below
The following information is a guideline
only and is not to be the only source of
possible solutions in resolving extreme
cold temperature issues.
Starting Aids WARNING:
Do not use starting
fluid, for example ether, in the air intake
system. Such fluid could cause
immediate explosive damage to the
engine and possible personal injury.
The use of the factory engine block heater
assists in engine starting in extreme cold
ambient temperatures
See Engine Block
Heater (page 188).
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Idle Control
Your vehicle may have a factory option for
a stationary elevated idle control through
dash-mounted upfitter switches that
allows the operator to elevate the idle rpm
for extended idle periods, as well as
aftermarket equipment such as PTO
operation. You must configure this feature
even if ordered from the factory. See your
authorized dealer for required upfitting.
Operation in Snow and Rain
Vehicle operation in heavy snowfall or
extreme rain conditions may feed
excessive amounts of snow or water into
the air intake system. This could plug the
air filter with snow and may cause the
engine to lose power and possibly shut
down.
We recommend the following actions after
operating your vehicle up to 200 mi
(320 km) in snowfall or extreme rain:
• Snow: At the earliest opportunity, open
the hood and clear all the snow and ice
from the air filter housing inlet (do not
remove the foam filter) and reset the
air filter restriction gauge.
Note: Removal of the foam filter degrades
your vehicle performance during snow and
hot weather conditions.
• Extreme rain: The air filter dries after
about 15– 30 minutes at highway
speeds. At the earliest opportunity,
open the hood and reset the air filter
restriction gauge.
Refer to Air filter and restriction gauge in
the Maintenance chapter for more
information. See
Changing the Engine
Air Filter (page 364). Operation in Standing Water
Ingestion of water into the diesel engine
can result in immediate and severe
damage to the engine. If driving through
water, slow down to avoid splashing water
into the intake. If the engine stalls, and you
suspect ingestion of water into the engine,
do not try to restart the engine. Consult
your dealer for service immediately.
Your fuel tank vents to the atmosphere by
valves on top of the tank and through the
fuel cap. If water reaches the top of the
tank, the valves may pull water into the
fuel tank. Water in the fuel can cause
performance issues and damage the fuel
injection system.
SWITCHING OFF THE ENGINE
Allow the engine to idle for three to five
minutes before shutting it down. The larger
the engine, the greater the need is for this
idling period.
Note:
Try to limit engine idle to 10 minutes.
Excessive idling reduces fuel economy.
ENGINE BLOCK HEATER
(IF
EQUIPPED) WARNING:
Failure to follow engine
block heater instructions could result in
property damage or serious personal
injury. WARNING: Do not use your heater
with ungrounded electrical systems or
two-pronged adapters. There is a risk of
electrical shock.
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WARNING: 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).
The heater acts as a starting aid by
warming the engine coolant. This allows
the climate control system to respond
quickly. The equipment includes a heater
element, installed in the engine block and
a wire harness. You can connect the
system to a grounded 120-volt AC
electrical source.
We recommend that you do the following
for a safe and correct operation:
• Use a 16-gauge outdoor extension cord
that is product certified by
Underwriter ’s Laboratory (UL) or
Canadian Standards Association
(CSA). This extension cord must be
suitable for use outdoors, in cold
temperatures, and be clearly marked
Suitable for Use with Outdoor
Appliances. Do not use an indoor
extension cord outdoors. This could
result in an electric shock or become a
fire hazard.
• Use as short an extension cord as
possible.
• Do not use multiple extension cords.
• Make sure that when in operation, the
extension cord plug and heater cord
plug connections are free and clear of
water. This could cause an electric
shock or fire. •
If the block heater cord is under the
hood, Do Not remove the wiring from
its original location. Do Not close the
hood on the extension wiring.
• Make sure your vehicle is parked in a
clean area, clear of combustibles.
• Make sure the heater, heater cord and
extension cord are firmly connected.
• Check for heat anywhere in the
electrical hookup once the system has
been operating for approximately 30
minutes.
• Make sure the system is unplugged and
properly stowed before starting and
driving your vehicle. Make sure the
protective cover seals the prongs of the
block heater cord plug when not in use.
• Make sure the heater system is
checked for proper operation before
winter.
Using the Engine Block Heater
Make sure the receptacle terminals are
clean and dry prior to use. Clean them with
a dry cloth if necessary.
The heater uses 0.4 to 1.0 kilowatt-hours
of energy per hour of use. The system does
not have a thermostat. It achieves
maximum temperature after
approximately three hours of operation.
Using the heater longer than three hours
does not improve system performance and
unnecessarily uses electricity.
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