2020 FORD F-53 brake light

TOWING A TRAILER
WARNING: 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. WARNING:
Do not exceed
the GVWR or the GAWR
specified on the certification
label.
Note: See
Recommended
Towing Weights (page 81).
Your vehicle may have electrical
items, such as fuses or relays,
related to towing. See
Fuses
(page 101).
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
75).
You can also find information in
the
RV & Trailer Towing Guide
available at your authorized
dealer, or online.
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ESSENTIAL TOWING CHECKS
Follow these guidelines for safe towing:
•
Do not tow a trailer until you drive your
vehicle at least 1,000 mi (1,600 km).
• Consult your local motor vehicle laws
for towing a trailer.
• See the instructions included with
towing accessories for the proper
installation and adjustment
specifications.
• Service your vehicle more frequently if
you tow a trailer.
See Scheduled
Maintenance (page 166).
• If you use a rental trailer, follow the
instructions the rental agency gives
you.
Another chapter of this manual contains
load specification terms found on the tire
label and Safety Compliance label and
instructions on calculating your vehicle's
load. See
Load Limit (page 75).
Remember to account for the trailer
tongue weight as part of your vehicle load
when calculating the total vehicle weight.
Hitches
Do not use a hitch that either clamps onto
the bumper or attaches to the axle.
Distribute the trailer load so 10-15% of the
total trailer weight is on the tongue.
Weight-Distributing Hitches WARNING: Do not adjust the spring
bars so that your vehicle's rear bumper
is higher than before attaching the trailer.
Doing so will defeat the function of the
weight-distributing hitch, which may
cause unpredictable handling, and could
result in serious personal injury. When hooking-up a trailer using a
weight-distributing hitch, always use the
following procedure:
1. Park the loaded vehicle, without the
trailer, on a level surface.
2. Measure the height to the top of your vehicle ’s front wheel opening on the
fender. This is H1.
3. Securely attach the loaded trailer to your vehicle without the
weight-distributing bars connected.
4. Measure the height to the top of your vehicle ’s front wheel opening on the
fender a second time. This is H2.
5. Install and adjust the tension in the weight-distributing bars so that the
height of your vehicle ’s front wheel
opening on the fender is approximately
halfway between H1 and H2.
6. Check that the trailer is level or slightly
nose down toward your vehicle. If not,
adjust the ball height accordingly and
repeat Steps 1-6.
7. Lock the bar tension adjuster in place.
8. Check that the trailer tongue securely attaches and locks onto the hitch.
9. Install safety chains, lighting and trailer
brake controls as required by law or the
trailer manufacturer.
Safety Chains
Note: Never attach safety chains to the
bumper.
Always connect the safety chains to the
hook retainers of your vehicle hitch.
To connect the safety chains, cross them
under the trailer tongue and allow enough
slack for turning tight corners. Do not allow
the chains to drag on the ground.
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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 lb (680 kg) 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.
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•
Carry unnecessary weight
(approximately 1 mpg [0.4 km/L] is
lost for every 400 lb [180 kilogram] of
weight carried).
• Driving with the wheels out of
alignment.
Conditions
• Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a
trailer may reduce fuel economy at any
speed.
• Adding certain accessories to your
vehicle (for example bug deflectors,
rollbars, light bars, running boards, ski
racks or luggage racks) may reduce
fuel economy.
• To maximize the fuel economy, drive
with the tonneau cover installed (if
equipped).
• Using fuel blended with alcohol may
lower fuel economy.
• Fuel economy may decrease with lower
temperatures during the first 5–10 mi
(12 –16 km) of driving.
• Driving on flat terrain offers improved
fuel economy as compared to driving
on hilly terrain.
• Transmissions give their best fuel
economy when operated in the top
cruise gear and with steady pressure
on the gas pedal.
• Four-wheel-drive operation (if
equipped) is less fuel efficient than
two-wheel-drive operation.
BREAKING-IN
You need to break in new tires for
approximately
300 mi (480 km). During
this time, your vehicle may exhibit some
unusual driving characteristics. Avoid driving too fast during the first
1,000 mi (1,600 km)
. Vary your speed
frequently and change up through the
gears early. Do not labor the engine.
Do not tow during the first
1,000 mi
(1,600 km).
DRIVING THROUGH WATER WARNING:
Do not drive through
flowing or deep water as you may lose
control of your vehicle.
Note: Driving through standing water can
cause vehicle damage.
Note: Engine damage can occur if water
enters the air filter.
Before driving through standing water,
check the depth. Never drive through water
that is higher than the bottom of the wheel
hubs. When driving through standing water, drive
very slowly and do not stop your vehicle.
Your brake performance and traction may
be limited. After driving through water and
as soon as it is safe to do so:
•
Lightly press the brake pedal to dry the
brakes and to check that they work.
• Check that the horn works.
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VEHICLE STORAGE
If you plan on storing your vehicle for 30
days or more, read the following
maintenance recommendations to make
sure your vehicle stays in good operating
condition.
We engineer and test all motor vehicles
and their components for reliable, regular
driving. Under various conditions,
long-term storage may lead to degraded
engine performance or failure unless you
use specific precautions to preserve engine
components.
General
•
Store all vehicles in a dry, ventilated
place.
• Protect from sunlight, if possible.
• If vehicles are stored outside, they
require regular maintenance to protect
against rust and damage.
Body
• Wash your vehicle thoroughly to
remove dirt, grease, oil, tar or mud from
exterior surfaces, rear-wheel housing
and the underside of front fenders.
• Periodically wash your vehicle if it is
stored in exposed locations.
• Touch-up exposed or primed metal to
prevent rust.
• Cover chrome and stainless steel parts
with a thick coat of auto wax to prevent
discoloration. Re-wax as necessary
when you wash your vehicle.
• Lubricate all hood, door and luggage
compartment hinges and latches with
a light grade oil.
• Cover interior trim to prevent fading.
• Keep all rubber parts free from oil and
solvents. Engine
•
Change the engine oil and filter prior to
storage because used engine oil
contains contaminates which may
cause engine damage.
• Start the engine every 15 days for a
minimum of 15 minutes. Run at fast
idle with the climate controls set to
defrost until the engine reaches normal
operating temperature.
• With your foot on the brake, shift
through all the gears while the engine
is running.
• We recommend that you change the
engine oil before you use your vehicle
again.
Fuel system
• Fill the fuel tank with high-quality fuel
until the first automatic shutoff of the
fuel pump nozzle.
Cooling system
• Protect against freezing temperatures.
• When removing your vehicle from
storage, check coolant fluid level.
Confirm that there are no cooling
system leaks and that fluid is at the
recommended level.
Disconnecting Your 12 Volt Battery
• Check and recharge as necessary. Keep
connections clean.
• If storing your vehicle for more than 30
days without recharging the battery,
we recommend that you disconnect
the battery cables to maintain battery
charge for quick starting.
Note: It is necessary to reset memory
features if you disconnect the battery
cables.
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Fuel Consumption..........................................41
Advertised Capacity............................................. 41
Fuel Economy........................................................ 42
Fuel Filter.........................................................126
Fuel Quality......................................................38 Choosing the Right Fuel.................................... 38
Fuses..................................................................101
Fuse Specification Chart............................101 Engine Compartment Fuse Box..................... 101
Passenger Compartment Fuse Box............106
G
Gauges.................................................................21 2.3 Inch Display....................................................... 21
8 Inch Display......................................................... 22
Configurable Gauge............................................. 23
Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge.............23
Engine Oil Pressure Gauge................................ 23
Fuel Gauge.............................................................. 23
Voltmeter................................................................. 23
Gearbox See: Transmission................................................ 47
General Maintenance Information........166 Multi-point Inspection...................................... 168
Owner Checks and Services........................... 167
Protecting Your Investment........................... 166
Why Maintain Your Vehicle?.......................... 166
Why Maintain Your Vehicle at Your Dealership? ...................................................... 166
Getting Assistance Outside the U.S. and Canada...........................................................98
Getting the Services You Need.................95 Away From Home................................................ 95
H
Handbrake See: Parking Brake............................................... 52
Hazard Flashers...............................................91
Hill Start Assist
................................................52
Switching the System On and Off.................53
Using Hill Start Assist......................................... 53
Hints on Driving With Anti-Lock Brakes
...............................................................51
Horn......................................................................17 I
Ignition Switch.................................................34
In California (U.S. Only)...............................96
Information Display Control........................17
Information Displays
.....................................27
General Information............................................ 27
Information Messages
.................................30
Battery and Charging System......................... 30
Engine........................................................................\
31
Fuel........................................................................\
..... 31
Maintenance........................................................... 31
Power Steering...................................................... 32
Transmission.......................................................... 32
Instrument Cluster..........................................21
Instrument Lighting Dimmer.....................20
Introduction........................................................5
J
Jump Starting the Vehicle............................91 Connecting the Jumper Cables....................... 92
Jump Starting........................................................ 93
Preparing Your Vehicle........................................ 91
Removing the Jumper Cables......................... 93
L
Lane Keeping System..................................66 Switching the System On and Off.................67
System Display...................................................... 67
System Settings.................................................... 67
Troubleshooting................................................... 68
Lighting Control...............................................19 Flashing the Headlamp High Beam...............19
Headlamp High Beam......................................... 19
Lighting...............................................................19
Load Carrying
...................................................75
Load Limit..........................................................75
Special Loading Instructions for Owners of
Pick-up Trucks and Utility-type
Vehicles............................................................... 79
Vehicle Loading - with and without a Trailer.................................................................... 75
Lug Nuts See: Changing a Road Wheel......................... 147
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Starter Switch
See: Ignition Switch............................................. 34
Starting a Gasoline Engine.........................34 Failure to Start....................................................... 35
Guarding Against Exhaust Fumes.................35
Important Ventilating Information................35
Stopping the Engine When Your Vehicle is Moving................................................................. 35
Stopping the Engine When Your Vehicle is Stationary........................................................... 35
Starting and Stopping the Engine...........34 General Information............................................ 34
Steering.............................................................69 Adaptive Learning................................................ 70
Adaptive Steering................................................. 70
Hydraulic Power Steering................................. 69
Steering Wheel................................................16
Switching Cruise Control On and Off......................................................................57
Switching Cruise Control Off............................ 57
Switching Cruise Control On............................ 57
Symbols Glossary.............................................5
T
Technical Specifications See: Capacities and Specifications.............152
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) Auto Line Program (U.S. Only)..........................97
Tire Care
............................................................131
Glossary of Tire Terminology.......................... 132
Information About Uniform Tire Quality Grading............................................................... 131
Information Contained on the Tire Sidewall............................................................. 133
Temperature A B C............................................. 132
Traction AA A B C................................................. 131
Treadwear............................................................... 131
Tires See: Wheels and Tires....................................... 131
Towing a Trailer..............................................80 Load Placement................................................... 80
Towing the Vehicle on Four Wheels.......86 Emergency Towing.............................................. 86
Towing...............................................................80
Traction Control
..............................................54
Principle of Operation........................................ 54
Transmission Code Designation
.............155 Transmission....................................................47
Transporting the Vehicle.............................93
U
Under Hood Overview - Commercial
Chassis.............................................................111
Under Hood Overview - Motorhome Chassis............................................................112
Using Adaptive Cruise Control..................58 Automatic Cancellation...................................... 61
Blocked Sensor..................................................... 63
Canceling the Set Speed................................... 61
Changing the Set Speed.................................... 61
Detection Issues................................................... 62
Following a Vehicle............................................. 59
Hilly Condition and Trailer Tow Usage..........61
Overriding the Set Speed................................. 60
Resuming the Set Speed................................... 61
Setting the Adaptive Cruise Speed...............59
Setting the Gap Distance................................. 60
Switching Adaptive Cruise Control Off.........61
Switching Adaptive Cruise Control On........58
Switching to Normal Cruise Control.............64
System Not Available......................................... 63
Using Snow Chains......................................147
Using Traction Control
.................................54
System Indicator Light....................................... 54
V
Vehicle Care.....................................................127 General Information........................................... 127
Vehicle Certification Label........................155
Vehicle Identification Number
.................154
Vehicle Storage.............................................129
Body........................................................................\
. 129
Brakes..................................................................... 130
Cooling system.................................................... 129
Disconnecting Your 12 Volt Battery..............129
Engine..................................................................... 129
Fuel system........................................................... 129
General................................................................... 129
Miscellaneous...................................................... 130
Removing Vehicle From Storage.................. 130
Tires........................................................................\
. 130
VIN See: Vehicle Identification Number.............154
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