
OFF-ROAD DRIVING
WHAT IS OFF-ROAD DRIVING
Bronco 4x4 Systems
Off-road driving is driving your vehicle onunsurfaced roads or trails, made from dirt,rocks, sand and mud.
Your vehicle has been designed andequipped to explore those places wherethe road cannot take you, whether youchoose a forest trail or the open desert.
OFF-ROAD DRIVINGPRECAUTIONS
WARNING: If you continue to driveyour vehicle when the engine isoverheating, the engine could stopwithout warning. Failure to follow thisinstruction could result in the loss ofcontrol of your vehicle.
Before going off-road, consult with yourlocal governmental agencies to determinedesignated off-road trails and recreationareas. Also, be sure to understand anyoff-road vehicle registration requirementsfor the area in which you plan on driving.
Tread Lightly is an educational programdesigned to increase public awareness ofland-use regulations and responsibilitiesin our nation’s wilderness areas. The U.S.Forest Service and Bureau of LandManagement is encouraging you to helppreserve our national forest and otherpublic and private lands by treading lightly.
Before taking your vehicle off-road,perform a basic vehicle inspection to makesure the vehicle is in top working condition.
Before you venture off road, have a clearmental picture of the underside of yourvehicle. Learn the location of any lowhanging items and any skid plates that maybe on the vehicle. You can avoid snaggingthem on rocks and other obstacles if youknow where they are.
Memorizing some basic dimensions helpsyou confidently deal with off-roadobstacles. Get to know your vehicle’sheight and width, its lowest point, itswading depth and angles. Familiarizeyourself with your vehicle’s on-boardtechnology features.
We recommend driving at least twovehicles when driving off-road. The buddysystem helps make sure that help is closeat hand should a vehicle become stuck ordamaged.
We recommend taking supplies such as afirst aid kit, supply of water, tow strap andcell or satellite phone with you any timeyou plan an off-road excursion.
Note:Remove the front license plate beforeoff-road driving to achieve optimalperformance.
BASIC OFF-ROAD DRIVINGTECHNIQUES
Grip the steering wheel with your thumbson the outside of the rim. This reduces therisk of injury due to abrupt steering wheelmotions that occur when negotiating roughterrain.
Control your throttle, brake and steeringinputs in a smooth manner. Sudden inputsto the controls can cause a loss of tractionfor the vehicle, especially when on slopedterrain or crossing obstacles such as rocksor logs.
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WARNING: Do not remove thecoolant reservoir cap when the engine ison or the cooling system is hot. Wait 10minutes for the cooling system to cooldown. Cover the coolant reservoir capwith a thick cloth to prevent thepossibility of scalding and slowly removethe cap. Failure to follow this instructioncould result in personal injury.
WARNING: Do not add coolantwhen the vehicle is on or the coolingsystem is hot. Failure to follow thisinstruction could result in personal injury.
WARNING: Do not add coolantfurther than the MAX mark.
WARNING: Do not put coolant inthe windshield washer reservoir. Ifsprayed on the windshield, coolant couldmake it difficult to see through thewindshield.
WARNING: Do not allow the fluidto touch your skin or eyes. If thishappens, rinse the affected areasimmediately with plenty of water andcontact your physician.
Note: Do not use stop leak pellets, coolingsystem sealants, or non-specified additivesas they can cause damage to the enginecooling or heating systems. Resultingcomponent damage may not be covered bythe vehicle Warranty.
Note:Automotive fluids are notinterchangeable.
It is very important to use predilutedcoolant approved to the correctspecification in order to avoid plugging thesmall passageways in the engine coolingsystem. See Capacities andSpecifications (page 461). Do not mixdifferent colors or types of coolant in yourvehicle. Mixing of engine coolants or usingan incorrect coolant may harm the engineor cooling system components and couldvoid the vehicle Warranty.
Note:If prediluted coolant is not available,use the approved concentrated coolantdiluting it to 50/50 with deionized ordistilled water. See Capacities andSpecifications (page 461). Using water thathas not been deionized may contribute todeposit formation, corrosion and pluggingof the small cooling system passageways.
To top up the coolant level do thefollowing:
1.Unscrew the cap slowly. Any pressureescapes as you unscrew the cap.
2.Add enough prediluted coolant toreach the correct level.
Note:We do not recommend the use ofrecycled coolant.
3.Replace the coolant reservoir cap. Turnthe cap clockwise until it contacts thehard stop.
4.Check the coolant level in the coolantreservoir the next few times you driveyour vehicle. If necessary, repeat step2.
If you have to add more than 1.1 qt (1 L) ofengine coolant per month, have yourvehicle checked as soon as possible.Operating an engine with a low level ofcoolant can result in engine overheatingand possible engine damage.
In case of emergency, you can add a largeamount of water without engine coolantin order to reach a vehicle service location.Service your vehicle as soon as possible.
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Water alone, without engine coolant, cancause engine damage from corrosion,overheating or freezing.
Do not use the following as a coolantsubstitute, as they can cause enginedamage from overheating or freezing:
•Alcohol.
•Methanol.
•Brine.
•Any coolant mixed with alcohol ormethanol antifreeze.
Do not add extra inhibitors or additives tothe coolant. These can be harmful andcompromise the corrosion protection ofthe coolant.
Severe Climates
If you drive in extremely cold climates, youmay need to increase the coolantconcentration above 50%.
Note:A coolant concentration of 60%provides improved freeze point protection.Coolant concentrations above 60%decrease the overheat protectioncharacteristics of the coolant and couldcause engine damage.
If you drive in extremely hot climates, youmay need to decrease the coolantconcentration to 40%.
Note:A coolant concentration of 40%provides improved overheat protection.Coolant concentrations below 40%decrease the overheat and corrosionprotection characteristics of the coolant andcould cause engine damage.
Coolant Change
WARNING: Do not dispose ofcoolant in the household refuse or thepublic sewage system. Use an authorizedwaste disposal facility.
Change the coolant at specific mileageintervals. Refer to the scheduledmaintenance information. See NormalScheduled Maintenance (page 531).
Note:Dispose of used coolant in theappropriate manner.
Follow your community's regulations andstandards for recycling and disposing ofautomotive fluids.
Fail-Safe Cooling
Fail-safe cooling allows you to temporarilydrive your vehicle before any incrementalcomponent damage occurs. The fail-safedistance depends on ambienttemperature, vehicle load and terrain.
How Fail-Safe Cooling Works
WARNING: If you continue to driveyour vehicle when the engine isoverheating, the engine could stopwithout warning. Failure to follow thisinstruction could result in the loss ofcontrol of your vehicle.
If the engine begins to overheat,the coolant temperature gaugemoves toward the red zone:
A warning lamp illuminates anda message may appear in theinformation display.
If the engine reaches a presetover-temperature condition, the engineautomatically switches to alternatingcylinder operation. Each disabled cylinderacts as an air pump and cools the engine.
When this occurs, your vehicle stilloperates, however:
•Engine power is limited.
•The air conditioning system turns off.
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You may notice a reduction in vehiclespeed caused by reduced engine power inorder to manage the engine coolanttemperature. Your vehicle may enter thismode if certain high-temperature andhigh-load conditions take place. Theamount of speed reduction depends onvehicle loading, grade and ambienttemperature. If this occurs, there is noneed to stop your vehicle. You cancontinue to drive.
The air conditioning may automaticallyturn on and off during severe operatingconditions to protect the engine fromoverheating. When the coolanttemperature decreases to the normaloperating temperature, the air conditioningturns on.
If the coolant temperature gauge movesfully into the red zone, or if the coolanttemperature warning or service enginesoon messages appear in your informationdisplay, do the following:
1.Stop your vehicle as soon as it is safeto do so. Fully apply the parking brake,shift into park (P) or neutral (N).
2.Leave the engine running until thecoolant temperature gauge needlereturns to the normal position. If thetemperature does not drop afterseveral minutes, follow the remainingsteps.
3.Switch the engine off and wait for it tocool. Check the coolant level.
4.If the coolant level is at or below theminimum mark, add prediluted coolantimmediately.
5.If the coolant level is normal, restartthe engine and continue.
CHANGING THE ENGINE AIR
FILTER - 2.3L ECOBOOST™/
2.7L ECOBOOST™
WARNING: To reduce the risk ofvehicle damage and personal burninjuries, do not start your engine with theair cleaner removed and do not removeit while the engine is running.
Change the air filter element at the properintervals. See Scheduled Maintenance(page 528).
When changing the air filter element, useonly the air filter element listed. SeeCapacities and Specifications (page461).
Note:Failure to use the correct air filterelement could result in severe enginedamage that the vehicle Warranty may notcover.
Note: When servicing the air cleaner, donot allow foreign material to enter the airinduction system. The engine is susceptibleto damage from even small particles.
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You can also drive your vehicle in such away that dilutes and increases the level ofoil by frequent short trips that do not allowthe engine to get to operating temperature,extended idling and low speed driving forlong periods of time.
It is important to rely upon your dealershipto properly diagnose and repair yourvehicle.
We strongly recommend only using ourgenuine or our authorized re-manufacturedreplacement parts engineered for yourvehicle.
Additives and Chemicals
We do not recommend using chemicals oradditives not approved by us as part ofyour vehicle’s normal maintenance. Pleaseconsult your warranty information.
Oils, Fluids and Flushing
In many cases, fluid discoloration is anormal operating characteristic and, byitself, does not necessarily indicate aconcern or that the fluid needs to bechanged. Have discolored fluids that alsoshow signs of overheating or foreignmaterial contamination checkedimmediately.
Make sure to change the vehicle’s oils andfluids at the specified intervals or inconjunction with a repair. Flushing is aviable way to change fluid for many vehiclesub-systems during scheduledmaintenance. It is critical that systems areflushed only with new fluid that is the sameas that required to fill and operate thesystem or using our approved flushingchemical.
Owner Checks and Services
Make sure you perform the following basicmaintenance checks and inspections.
Check Every Month
The air filter restriction gauge.1
The engine oil level.
Function of all interior and the exterior lights.
The tires including the spare for wear and proper pressure.
The windshield washer fluid level.
The fuel and water separator. Drain if necessary or if indicated by the instrument cluster
display.1
The holes and slots in the tail pipe to make sure they are functional and clear of debris.1
1 Diesel vehicles only.
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Heated Seats.................................................146Heated Seat Precautions................................146Switching the Heated Seats On andOff.......................................................................146HeatingSee: Climate Control - Vehicles With:Automatic Temperature Control...............131See: Climate Control - Vehicles With: ManualTemperature Control....................................136Hill Descent Control....................................235Hill Descent Control –Troubleshooting............................................236Hill Descent Control Indicator.................235Hill Descent Control Precautions..........235Hill Descent Control –Troubleshooting........................................236Hill Descent Control – InformationMessages.........................................................236Hill Start Assist..............................................216Hill Start Assist – Troubleshooting..............216Hill Start Assist Precautions.....................216Hill Start Assist – Troubleshooting........216Hill Start Assist – InformationMessages..........................................................216Hood LockSee: Opening and Closing the Hood..........349See: Opening and Closing the Hood -Raptor...............................................................350Horn....................................................................99How Does 911 Assist Work...........................77How Does Adaptive Cruise ControlWork...............................................................252How Does Blind Spot InformationSystem Work..............................................279How Does Cross Traffic AlertWork..............................................................283How Does Driver Alert Work....................293How Does Four-Wheel Drive Work - 4x4with Part Time Engagement.................195How Does Four-Wheel Drive Work -Advanced 4x4 with 4A Mode...............195How Does G.O.A.T. Mode ControlWork..............................................................260How Does Hill Descent ControlWork...............................................................235How Does Hill Start Assist Work............216How Does Pre-Collision AssistWork..............................................................286
How Does Stability Control Work...........219How Does the 360 Degree CameraWork...............................................................247How Does the Lane Keeping SystemWork...............................................................272How Does the Personal Safety SystemWork.................................................................67How Does the Rear Occupant AlertSystem Work...............................................150How Does the Safety Canopy™Work.................................................................69How Does Traction Control Work...........217How Does Trailer Sway ControlWork................................................................313How Do the Front Airbags Work..............68How Do the Side Airbags Work................68
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Identifying Fuse Types..............................348Identifying the Audio Unit........................488Identifying the Auxiliary Switch Wiring -Excluding: Raptor.....................................524Identifying the Auxiliary Switch Wiring -Raptor...........................................................525Identifying the Climate Control Unit......131Inflating the Tires..........................................441Information On Demand Screen -Vehicles With: 12 Inch Screen..............499Information on the Tire Sidewall............431Inspecting the Tire for Damage.............442Inspecting the Tire for Wear....................442Inspecting the Wheel ValveStems............................................................443Installing Child Restraints...........................53Combining the Seatbelt and Lower Anchorsfor Attaching Child Restraints....................56Installing a Child Restraint in a CenterSeat......................................................................56Using Lower Anchors and Tethers forChildren...............................................................55Using Seatbelts.....................................................53Using Tether Straps.............................................57Instrument Cluster Display.......................126Personalized Settings.......................................128Trip Computer.......................................................127Instrument Cluster Display Main Menu -Excluding: Raptor......................................126
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