SITTING IN THE CORRECT
POSITION
WARNING: Sitting improperly, outof position or with the seatback reclinedtoo far can take weight off the seatcushion and affect the decision of thepassenger sensing system, resulting inserious injury or death in the event of acrash. Always sit upright against yourseat back, with your feet on the floor.
WARNING: Do not recline the seatbackrest too far as this can cause theoccupant to slide under the seatbelt,resulting in personal injury in the eventof a crash.
WARNING: Do not place objectshigher than the top of the seat backrest.Failure to follow this instruction couldresult in personal injury or death in theevent of a sudden stop or crash.
When you use them properly, the seat,head restraint, seatbelt and airbags willprovide optimum protection in the eventof a crash.
We recommend that you follow theseguidelines:
•Sit in an upright position with the baseof your spine as far back as possible.
•Do not recline the seat backrest so thatyour torso is more than 30 degreesfrom the upright position.
•Adjust the head restraint so that thetop of it is level with the top of yourhead and as far forward as possible.Make sure that you remaincomfortable.
•Keep sufficient distance betweenyourself and the steering wheel. Werecommend a minimum of 10 in(25 cm) between your breastbone andthe airbag cover.
•Hold the steering wheel with your armsslightly bent.
•Bend your legs slightly so that you canpress the pedals fully.
•Position the shoulder strap of theseatbelt over the center of yourshoulder and position the lap straptightly across your hips.
Make sure that your driving position iscomfortable and that you can maintain fullcontrol of your vehicle.
HEAD RESTRAINTS
WARNING: Fully adjust the headrestraint before you sit in or operate yourvehicle. This will help minimize the riskof neck injury in the event of a crash. Donot adjust the head restraint when yourvehicle is moving.
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could be required to steer your vehicle.When you switch the ignition off, someelectrical circuits, for example airbags,also turn off. If you unintentionally switchthe ignition off, shift into neutral (N) andrestart the engine.
1.Put the transmission into neutral (N)and use the brakes to bring your vehicleto a safe stop.
2.When your vehicle has stopped, putthe transmission in park (P).
3.Press and hold the push button ignitionswitch for one second, or press it threetimes within two seconds.
4.Apply the parking brake.
Guarding Against Exhaust Fumes
WARNING: Exhaust leaks mayresult in entry of harmful and potentiallylethal fumes into the passengercompartment. If you smell exhaustfumes inside your vehicle, have yourvehicle inspected immediately. Do notdrive if you smell exhaust fumes.
Important Ventilating Information
If you stop your vehicle and then leave theengine idling for long periods of time, werecommend that you do one of thefollowing:
•Open the windows at least 1 in (3 cm).
•Set your climate control to outside air.
ENGINE BLOCK HEATER (IF
EQUIPPED)
WARNING: Failure to follow engineblock heater instructions could result inproperty damage or serious personalinjury.
WARNING: Do not use your heaterwith ungrounded electrical systems ortwo-pronged adapters. There is a risk ofelectrical shock.
WARNING: Do not fully close thehood, or allow it to drop under its ownweight when using the engine blockheater. This could damage the powercable and may cause an electrical shortresulting in fire, injury and propertydamage.
Note:The heater is most effective whenoutdoor temperatures are below 0°F(-18°C).
The heater acts as a starting aid bywarming the engine coolant. This allowsthe climate control system to respondquickly. The equipment includes a heaterelement, installed in the engine block anda wire harness. You can connect thesystem to a grounded 120-volt ACelectrical source.
We recommend that you do the followingfor a safe and correct operation:
•Use a 16-gauge outdoor extension cordthat is product certified byUnderwriter’s Laboratory (UL) orCanadian Standards Association(CSA). This extension cord must besuitable for use outdoors, in cold
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•Incorrect fuel for climatic conditions.
•Incorrect engine oil viscosity forclimactic conditions.
Note:Some vehicles have a lifetime fuelfilter that is integrated with the fuel tank.Regular maintenance or replacement is notneeded.
Note:If these checks do not help youcorrect the concern, have your vehiclechecked as soon as possible.
Noise Emissions Warranty,Prohibited Tampering Acts andMaintenance
On January 1, 1978, Federal regulationbecame effective governing the noiseemission on trucks over 10,000 lb(4,536 kg) Gross Vehicle Weight Rating(GVWR). The preceding statementsconcerning prohibited tampering acts andmaintenance, and the noise warrantyfound in the Warranty Guide, areapplicable to complete chassis cabs over10,000 lb (4,536 kg) GVWR.
CATALYTIC CONVERTER
WARNING: Do not park, idle ordrive your vehicle on dry grass or otherdry ground cover. The emission systemheats up the engine compartment andexhaust system, creating the risk of fire.
WARNING: The normal operatingtemperature of the exhaust system isvery high. Never work around or attemptto repair any part of the exhaust systemuntil it has cooled. Use special care whenworking around the catalytic converter.The catalytic converter heats up to a veryhigh temperature after only a shortperiod of engine operation and stays hotafter the engine is switched off.
WARNING: Exhaust leaks mayresult in entry of harmful and potentiallylethal fumes into the passengercompartment. If you smell exhaustfumes inside your vehicle, have yourvehicle inspected immediately. Do notdrive if you smell exhaust fumes.
Your vehicle has various emission controlcomponents and a catalytic converter thatenables it to comply with applicableexhaust emission standards.
To make sure that the catalytic converterand other emission control componentscontinue to work properly:
•Do not crank the engine for more than10 seconds at a time.
•Do not run the engine with a spark pluglead disconnected.
•Do not push-start or tow-start yourvehicle. Use booster cables. See JumpStarting the Vehicle (page 293).
•Use only the specified fuel listed.
•Do not switch the ignition off when yourvehicle is moving.
•Avoid running out of fuel.
•Have the items listed in scheduledmaintenance information performedaccording to the specified schedule.
Note:Resulting component damage maynot be covered by the vehicle Warranty.
The scheduled maintenance items listedin scheduled maintenance information areessential to the life and performance ofyour vehicle and to its emissions system.
If you use anything other than Ford,Motorcraft or Ford-authorized parts formaintenance replacements or for serviceof components affecting emission control,such non-Ford parts should be equivalentto genuine Ford Motor Company parts inperformance and durability.
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GENERAL INFORMATION
WARNING: Make sure that youproperly secure objects in the luggagecompartment. Failure to follow thisinstruction could result in personal injuryin the event of a sudden stop or crash.
WARNING: Do not place objectson the luggage cover. Failure to followthis instruction could result in personalinjury or death in the event of a suddenstop or crash.
WARNING: The appropriateloading capacity of your vehicle can belimited either by volume capacity (howmuch space is available) or by payloadcapacity (how much weight the vehicleshould carry). Once you have reachedthe maximum payload of your vehicle,do not add more cargo, even if there isspace available. Overloading orimproperly loading your vehicle cancontribute to loss of vehicle control andvehicle rollover.
WARNING: Make sure that you fullyclose the liftgate to prevent exhaustfumes from entering your vehicle. If youare unable to fully close the liftgate,open the air vents or the windows toallow fresh air to enter your vehicle.Failure to follow this instruction couldresult in personal injury or death.
WARNING: Do not exceed themaximum front and rear axle loads foryour vehicle.
Note:When loading long objects into yourvehicle, for example pipes, timber orfurniture be careful not to damage theinterior trim.
REAR UNDER FLOOR
STORAGE
Spare Tire Cover (If Equipped)
The system is in the floor of the cargo area.
Remove the additional cover to access thespare tire and fuel filler.
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Adjustable Load Floor (If Equipped)
Vehicles with the standard size spare tirecan adjust the load floor to two positions.At the high position, you can place the frontof the load floor on the ledge behind therear seat and on the ledge of the liftgatescuff trim. At the low position, you can tuckthe front of the load floor into the lowerforward area of the spare tire cover andrest the load floor on top of the spare tirecover, or spare tire cover weather mat.
CARGO NETS
WARNING: This net is not designedto restrain objects during a collision orheavy braking.
The cargo net secures lightweight objectsin the cargo area. Attach the net to theanchors provided. Repeat the attachmenton both sides of the vehicle.
ROOF RACKS AND LOAD
CARRIERS
WARNING: When loading the roofracks, we recommend you evenlydistribute the load, as well as maintaina low center of gravity. Loaded vehicles,with higher centers of gravity, mayhandle differently than unloadedvehicles. Take extra precautions, suchas slower speeds and increased stoppingdistance, when driving a heavily loadedvehicle.
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For correct roof rack system function, youmust place loads directly on crossbarsaffixed to the roof rack side rails. Whenusing the roof rack system, we recommendyou use Ford Genuine Accessory crossbarsdesigned specifically for your vehicle.
Make sure that you securely fasten theload. Check the tightness of the loadbefore driving and at each fuel stop.
Note: Never place loads directly on the roofpanel. The roof panel is not designed todirectly carry a load.
Maximum Recommended LoadAmounts
Note:The maximum recommended loadis based on the load being evenly distributedon the crossbars.
Maximum Recommended LoadDescription
75 lb (35 kg)Vehicles with Moonroof
165 lb (75 kg)Vehicles without Moonroof
Adjusting the Crossbar (If Equipped)
1.Loosen the crossbar bolt by using thesupplied tool or similar tool.
2.Move the crossbar to the new position.
3.Tighten the bolt by using the suppliedtool or similar tool.
Note:For less wind noise and betteraerodynamics, only install the crossbarswhen you need them for carrying cargo.
LOAD LIMIT
Vehicle Loading - with andwithout a Trailer
This section guides you in the
proper loading of your vehicle,trailer, or both. Keep your loadedvehicle weight within its designrating capability, with or withouta trailer. Properly loading yourvehicle provides maximum returnof vehicle design performance.Before you load your vehicle,become familiar with thefollowing terms for determiningyour vehicle’s weight rating, withor without a trailer, from thevehicle’s Tire and LoadingInformation label or SafetyCompliance Certification label.
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Tire and Loading Label InformationExample:
Payload
Payload is the combined weightof cargo and passengers that yourvehicle is carrying. The maximumpayload for your vehicle appearson the Tire and Loading label. Thelabel is either on the B-pillar or theedge of the driver door. Vehiclesexported outside the US andCanada may not have a tire andloading label. Look for “Thecombined weight of occupantsand cargo should never exceedXXX kg OR XXX lb” for maximumpayload. The payload listed on theTire and Loading Information label
is the maximum payload for yourvehicle as built by the assemblyplant. If you install any additionalequipment on your vehicle, youmust determine the new payload.Subtract the weight of theequipment from the payload listedon the Tire and Loading label.When towing, trailer tongueweight or king pin weight is alsopart of payload.
WARNING: Theappropriate loading capacity ofyour vehicle can be limited eitherby volume capacity (how muchspace is available) or by payloadcapacity (how much weight thevehicle should carry). Once youhave reached the maximumpayload of your vehicle, do notadd more cargo, even if there isspace available. Overloading orimproperly loading your vehiclecan contribute to loss of vehiclecontrol and vehicle rollover.
GAWR (Gross Axle WeightRating)
GAWR is the maximum allowableweight that a single axle (front orrear) can carry. These numbersare on the Safety ComplianceCertification label. The label islocated on the door hinge pillar,door-latch post, or the door edgethat meets the door-latch post,next to the driver seating position.
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The total load on each axle mustnever exceed its Gross AxleWeight Rating.
GVWR (Gross Vehicle WeightRating)
GVWR is the maximum allowableweight of the fully loaded vehicle.This includes all options,equipment, passengers and cargo.It appears on the SafetyCompliance Certification label.The label is located on the doorhinge pillar, door-latch post, or thedoor edge that meets thedoor-latch post, next to the driverseating position.
The gross vehicle weight mustnever exceed the Gross VehicleWeight Rating.
Safety Compliance Certification LabelExample:
WARNING: Exceeding theSafety Compliance Certificationlabel vehicle weight limits canadversely affect theperformance and handling ofyour vehicle, cause vehicledamage and can result in theloss of control of your vehicle,serious personal injury or death.
Maximum Loaded TrailerWeight
Maximum loaded trailer weight isthe highest possible weight of afully loaded trailer the vehicle cantow. Consult an authorized dealer(or the RV and Trailer TowingGuide available at an authorizeddealer) for more detailed
information.
GCWR (Gross CombinedWeight Rating)
GCWR is the maximum allowableweight of the vehicle and theloaded trailer, including all cargoand passengers, that the vehiclecan handle without riskingdamage. (Important: The towingvehicle’s braking system is ratedfor operation at Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating, not at GrossCombined Weight Rating.)Separate functional brakes should
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