TRAILER REVERSE GUIDANCE – TROUBLESHOOTING
TRAILER REVERSE GUIDANCE – INFORMATION MESSAGES
Description
Message
Displays when the system turns on and is
initializing.
Detecting Trailer Please Wait…
A condition exists that prevents the system
from turning on. If the message continues
to display, visit your authorized dealer to
have your vehicle checked.
Trailer Reverse Guidance System is Not
Available
The steering system needs to learn internal
parameters to fully enable the feature.
Drive your vehicle straight forward above
25 mph (40 km/h) for approximately 5
minutes.
Trailer Reverse Guidance Driving Required
to Initialize Steering Press OK to Exit
Displays when you exceed the maximum
controllable trailer angle for the system.
Place your vehicle in drive (D) and pull
forward to get your vehicle and trailer back
to an in-line position, then activate the
system by selecting the connected trailer
and following the instructions on the
touchscreen.
Stop now. Deactivated by trailer angle.
If this message consistently displays, you
may need to repeat the trailer setup and
calibration. Delete the trailer from the
system and repeat the setup and calibra-
tion process.
Displays when the system does not detect
the sensor. Check the sensor connection,
check that there is no damaged wiring
between the connector and sensor and
check that there is only one sensor
connected.
Trailer Reverse Guidance Sensor Not
Detected Refer to Owner's Manual Press
OK to Exit
If you do not want to use the sensor for this
trailer, delete the trailer in the touchscreen
then repeat the setup process with the
sticker.
465
F-150 (TFD) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 202104, Second-Printing Trailer Reverse Guidance
Description
Message
Displays when the system does not detect
the trailer.
If your trailer is setup with a sticker, make
sure the rear camera is clean, and the
sticker is clearly visible in the camera image.
You can also move the trailer forward or
backward to change the trailer position and
lighting conditions.
If your trailer is setup with a sensor, check
that the sensor is correctly installed and
the trailer length is within the allowed
range.
If this message continues to display, visit
your authorized dealer to have your vehicle
checked.
Trailer Reverse Guidance Trailer Not
Detected. Refer to Owner's Manual. Press
OK to Exit
Displays when your vehicle has not moved
after the trailer sensor is connected or
extended operation below 1 mph (1 km/h).
Drive forward above 2 mph (3 km/h) to
initialize the system.
Trailer Reverse Guidance Trailer Not
Detected Pull Forward to Initialize Press
OK to Exit
466
F-150 (TFD) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 202104, Second-Printing Trailer Reverse Guidance
TRAILER REVERSE GUIDANCE –
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why does the trailer not reverse
straight?
Verify the sensor is correctly installed.
Other factors such as the hitch
connection, road camber, road slope
and trailer suspension could influence
how straight the system can reverse
the trailer when the control knob is not
turned. You can compensate for the
trailer drifting to the right or left by
slowly turning the knob until the trailer
is following your desired path and then
holding the knob in that position.
Why does the system not detect a
sensor? There could be an issue with the
connection, the wiring harness could
be damaged, you could have multiple
sensors connected or the sensor could
be incorrectly installed. Check that the
12-way connector is fully inserted into
the 12-way socket. The red rubber seal
is not visible when the connector is
fully inserted. Also check that the
wiring harness sensor connection is
fully inserted at the trailer sensor, and
check for damaged wiring between
the 12-way connector and the trailer
sensor. Also, check that the sensor is
installed on a vertical surface with the
arrows pointing straight up. What does it mean if the system
remains on one message for an
extended time during calibration when
setting up the system with the sticker?
The camera could need to be cleaned,
the sticker could be blocked, the
drawbar could be outside the allowed
range of 4–19 in (10–48 cm) or you
could need to move to a different area
to change the lighting and background.
Verify the sticker is in the proper
location. See
Applying the Trailer
Reverse Aid Sticker (page 461). You
can move to a different area or change
the direction you are driving or setup
the system at a different time of day.
Some trailers are not compatible with
the sticker and camera system. If the
issue persists with the sticker setup,
you may choose to setup the trailer
with a sensor.
What does it mean if the system pauses
during calibration? There could be steering input or trailer
movement during the straight drive
portion of the calibration process.
What does it mean if the system
remains on one message for an
extended time during calibration when
setting up the system with the sensor? The sensor could be incorrectly
installed, the trailer length could be
outside the allowed range or the road
surface could be too rough or bumpy.
What does it mean if the system
displays hold steering steady during
turn? Part of the calibration process for the
sticker setup requires a steady turn. If
you are continually moving the
steering wheel during the turn, this
delays the calibration process. To
enable the calibration process, hold
the steering wheel at the same
position when turning.
467
F-150 (TFD) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 202104, Second-Printing Trailer Reverse Guidance
What does it mean if the system
displays that it is not available?
There could be a sub-system that the
system uses that is not correctly
operating or there could be a battery
voltage issue. If the system continues
to display it is not available, visit your
authorized dealer to have your vehicle
checked.
What does it mean if the system
displays that driving is required to
initialize steering? The steering system needs to learn
internal parameters to fully turn on the
feature. Drive your vehicle straight
forward above 25 mph (40 km/h) for
approximately 5 minutes. This could
also occur when your vehicle is new,
there is a battery voltage issue or if the
steering system has been serviced.
What does it mean if the system does
not detect a trailer when configured
with a sensor? Verify that the sensor is properly
connected. See
Trailer Sensor
Installation (page 461). Repeat
calibration on a different route if you
have verified sensor installation.
What does it mean if the system
requires you to pull forward to
initialize? This occurs when the vehicle has not
moved during the current key cycle
after you connect and select the trailer
in the touchscreen or you operate the
system at speeds below
1 mph
(1 km/h) for an extended period of
time. Drive forward above 2 mph
(3 km/h) and the system indicates
when it initializes. What does it mean if the trailer is at its
maximum angle or the system
deactivated by trailer angle?
You are at the maximum controllable
trailer angle for the system. Place your
vehicle in drive (D) and pull forward to
get the truck and trailer back to an
in-line position. If this message
consistently displays, this could
indicate the sensor is incorrectly
installed, the trailer needs to be
recalibrated or the drawbar or the
trailer dimensions are outside of the
supported range. The system is
designed to work with drawbars that
have a license plate to hitch ball center
measurement of
9–18 in (23–46 cm)
when installed. The system is designed
to work with trailers that have a hitch
point to center of the axle or axles
measurement of
6– 33 ft
(1.85– 10.05 m). Do not attempt to use
drawbars or trailers that have a length
outside of this range as the system
performance degrades and could
cause improper system function.
Check that the correct trailer is
selected in the touchscreen. Verify the
sensor is installed according to the
instructions included in the sensor kit
and check that the drawbar and the
trailer dimensions are within the
allowed range. Then, delete the trailer
from the system and repeat the setup
process to calibrate the trailer.
468
F-150 (TFD) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 202104, Second-Printing Trailer Reverse Guidance
What does it mean when the system
tells you to take control of the steering
wheel?
The system is no longer steering the
vehicle and you must take over
steering. There are four reasons the
system could display this message.
The first reason the system could
display this message is that you have
touched the steering wheel when the
system is steering. The second reason
the system could display this message
is that you have exceeded the
maximum speed for the feature. The
third reason the system could display
this message is that the trailer is not
detected. The final reason the system
could display this message is that an
internal condition for system operation
is not met that requires your vehicle to
return to manual control of the
steering.
How do I use a sticker if I have
previously setup a trailer with the
sensor? Disconnect the sensor wiring and add
a new trailer to the system and follow
the instructions for setup with a
sticker. See Applying the Trailer
Reverse Aid Sticker (page 461). If
your vehicle does not support the
sticker option, the touchscreen
instructs you to install the sensor
again.
What if I want to use a sensor for the
trailer instead of a sticker? Install the sensor and connect the
sensor wiring before adding the new
trailer to the system. You must
connect the sensor before you add the
trailer. If your vehicle did not come with
a sensor, you can purchase one from
your authorized dealer. What does it mean if the system does
not detect a trailer that is setup with a
sticker?
The system requires a clear view of the
sticker placed on the trailer. You must
keep the camera lens and sticker clean
for the system to correctly operate. If
the system cannot initially detect the
trailer, it could be necessary for you to
change the lighting conditions by
moving your vehicle and trailer or
waiting until the conditions change.
See
Applying the Trailer Reverse
Aid Sticker (page 461). Some trailers
are not compatible with the sticker
and camera system. If the system
consistently does not detect the trailer
with the sticker setup, you may choose
to setup the trailer with a sensor.
Note: The system is designed to be used
with the same trailer connection every time
you choose the trailer from the touchscreen.
When using a different drawbar or a
different pin hole on drawbars with more
than one, connecting the drawbar to your
vehicle affects the trailer position and you
may need to repeat the trailer setup and
calibration process.
469
F-150 (TFD) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 202104, Second-Printing Trailer Reverse Guidance
When operating your vehicle with a
snowplow:
•
Do not exceed 45 mph (72 km/h).
• Your engine could run at a higher
temperature than normal.
•If you are driving more than
15 mi
(24 km) at temperatures above
freezing, angle the plow blade
either full left or full right to provide
maximum 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 do
not need to worry about blade
position to provide maximum
airflow.
• Shift to 4L when plowing in small areas
at speeds below
5 mph (8 km/h).
• Shift to
4H when plowing larger areas
or light snow at higher speeds above
5 mph (8 km/h)
. Do not exceed
15 mph (24 km/h).
• Do not shift the transmission from a
forward gear to reverse (R) until the
engine is at idle and the wheels have
stopped.
Note: Careless or high-speed driving when
snowplowing, which results in significant
vehicle decelerations, can deploy the airbag.
Such driving also increases the risk of
accidents.
Note: Drive your vehicle at least
500 mi
(800 km) before using your vehicle for
snowplowing.
Note: Follow the severe duty schedule for
engine oil and transmission fluid change
intervals. See
Special Operating
Conditions Scheduled Maintenance (page
675
). SNOWPLOW MODE
WHAT IS SNOWPLOW MODE
Snowplow mode reduces vehicle electrical
load to allow the electrical system to have
sufficient power to support residential
snowplow use.
SWITCHING SNOWPLOW MODE
ON AND OFF
Vehicles receive a physical button in the
instrument panel or an option in the SYNC
menu to enable snowplow mode.
Snowplow mode does not remember the
setting when you switch your vehicle off.
You must re-enable the mode every time
you wish to use it.
The following features turn off and are
disabled in snowplow mode and cannot
be turned back on until snowplow mode
is switched off:
•
120 V
inverter.
• Fog lamps.
• Heated and cooled front seats.
The body module also activates the
snowplow relay that provides power to
aftermarket snowplow controls.
Note: The electrical system supports the
addition of a residential snowplow of up to
60 A
continuous, and snowplow lights of
up to 20 A continuous using snowplow
mode. The system does not support
snowplow usage with additional electrical
aftermarket accessories.
Push Button
(If Equipped)
Press the snowplow button on the
instrument panel to switch on snowplow
mode. The snowplow button illuminates
and a message displays.
481
F-150 (TFD) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 202104, Second-Printing Snow Plowing - Vehicles With: Snow Plow Mode
TOWING YOUR VEHICLE
PRECAUTIONS
Use the following guidelines when towing
your vehicle. Failure to follow this
instruction could result in vehicle damage
not covered by the vehicle warranty.
Note:
Make sure you properly secure your
vehicle to the tow vehicle.
Note: If you are unsure of the vehicle ’s
configuration, contact an authorized dealer.
RECREATIONALLY TOWING
YOUR VEHICLE - 4X4 WARNING: Do not disconnect the
battery when recreationally towing your
vehicle. This prevents the transfer case
from shifting properly and could cause
the vehicle to roll, even if the
transmission is in park (P). WARNING:
Placing the transfer
case in its neutral position could cause
your vehicle to freely roll. Make sure you
press and hold the brake pedal and the
vehicle is in a secure, safe position when
you place the transfer case in its neutral
position.
Follow these guidelines if you have a need
for recreational towing. An example of
recreational towing would be towing your
vehicle behind a motorhome. These
guidelines are to make sure that you do
not damage the transmission. You can only tow your vehicle with all
wheels on the ground by placing the
transfer case in its neutral position and
engaging the recreational tow feature.
Perform the following steps after
positioning your vehicle behind the tow
vehicle and properly securing them
together.
Note:
Put your climate control system in
recirculated air mode to prevent exhaust
fumes from entering your vehicle.
Note: Failure to put the transfer case in its
neutral position can damage vehicle
components.
Note: You can check the towing status at
any time by opening the driver door or
turning the ignition to the accessory or on
position. Neutral Tow Enabled Leave
Transmission in Neutral
appears in the
instrument cluster display to confirm you
can recreationally tow your vehicle.
Note: If your vehicle has an anti-theft
alarm, make sure you switch perimeter
sensing on when towing. See
Setting the
Alarm Security Level (page 135).
Switching
Neutral Tow On
1. Start your vehicle.
2. Press the 2H button on the four-wheel
drive mode control.
3. Place your vehicle in temporary neutral
mode. See
Entering Temporary
Neutral Mode (page 286).
4. Switch your vehicle off by pressing the
push button ignition switch once or
turning the key as far toward the off
position as possible. A message
appears in the instrument cluster
display.
5. Switch your vehicle to accessory mode
by pressing the push button ignition
switch once without pressing the brake
pedal or by turning the key to the on
position.
490
F-150 (TFD) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 202104, Second-Printing Towing Your Vehicle
6. Press and hold the brake pedal.
7. Using the instrument cluster controls
on the steering wheel, select Settings.
8. Select Neutral Tow.
9. Press and hold the
OK button until a
confirmation message appears in the
information display.
Note: If completed successfully, the
information display shows
Neutral Tow
Enabled Leave Transmission in Neutral.
This indicates that your vehicle is safe to
tow with all wheels on the ground.
Note: If you do not see a confirmation
message in the instrument cluster display,
you must perform the procedure again from
the beginning.
Note: You may hear noise as the transfer
case shifts into its neutral position. This is
normal.
10. Release the brake pedal.
11. Leave the transmission in neutral (N)
and switch your vehicle off by
pressing the push button ignition
switch once without pressing the
brake pedal or turning the key as far
toward the off position.
Note: Vehicles with keys do not turn to the
off position when the transmission is in
neutral (N). You must leave the key in the
ignition when towing. Use the keyless entry
keypad or an extra set of keys to lock and
unlock your vehicle.
Switching
Neutral Tow Off
1. With your vehicle properly secured to the tow vehicle, press and hold the
brake pedal and start the engine.
2. Switch your vehicle off by pressing the
push button ignition switch once or
turning the key as far towards the off
position and release the brake pedal. 3. Place your vehicle in accessory mode
by pressing the push button ignition
switch once without pressing the brake
pedal or by turning the ignition key to
the on position.
4. Press and hold the brake pedal.
5. Shift into park (P).
6. Release the brake pedal.
Note: If completed successfully, the
instrument cluster displays 2H and Neutral
Tow Disabled
.
Note: You must perform the switching
neutral tow on and switching neutral tow
off procedures again from the beginning if
the indicator light and message do not
display.
Note: You may hear a noise as the transfer
case shifts out of its neutral position. This
is normal.
7. Apply the parking brake, then disconnect your vehicle from the tow
vehicle.
8. Release the parking brake, start the engine, and shift into drive (D) to make
sure the transfer case is out of the
neutral tow position.
9. If the transfer case does not successfully shift out of its neutral
position, set the parking brake. Have
your vehicle checked as soon as
possible.
Resolving the
Shift Delayed Drive
Forward Message
1. Press and hold the brake pedal.
2. Start your vehicle.
3. Shift into neutral (N).
4. With the vehicle running, shift into drive
(D) and let the vehicle roll forward up
to
3 ft (1 m).
491
F-150 (TFD) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 202104, Second-Printing Towing Your Vehicle