Vehicles with Automatic Transmission
You cannot turn the system on or off.
When you switch the ignition on, the
system automatically turns on.
AIR BRAKES (IF EQUIPPED)
WARNING: Do not drive or continue
to drive if the low air pressure buzzer is
sounding or the brake warning light is lit.
These warnings indicate that air pressure
is not to normal operating level.
Continued use of the vehicle could result
in loss of braking ability.
WARNING: Avoid repeated light
application of the brake pedal. This
depletes air pressure faster and could
result in loss of braking capability.
WARNING: Do not move the
vehicle when the air pressure is
insufficient because the brake system
may be inoperative.
After starting the engine, give the air
compressor time to build up the air
pressure to 60 psi (414 kPa) before moving
your vehicle.
E210336
Periodically check the air pressure gauge
while driving. Pressure should range
between approximately 100 psi (690 kPa)
to 130 psi (896 kPa). The air compressor
governor cut-in and cutout pressure
settings are set at the factory and are not
adjustable.
E206772
When air pressure is insufficient
(below 60 psi (414 kPa)), a
warning light illuminates and a
buzzer sounds when the ignition is in the
on position. This may happen because
excessive brake applications are depleting
the system air pressure. If this condition
occurs, stop driving your vehicle until the
compressor has fully recharged the air
system.
Select a gear ratio to help slow your vehicle
before descending grades. Supplementing
with brakes, as required, help to safely slow
the vehicle and avoids overspeeding the
engine.
Air Chamber Stroke Indication
Air chamber push rods have orange stroke
indicator markers that warn when the
braking system requires adjustment or
repair. The painted orange indicator is on
the air chamber push rod at the slack
adjuster stroke dimension that requires
service when visible during brake
application.
A qualified service technician should
perform air brake inspection and
adjustment or repairs keeping to the
instructions in the service manual.
142
Brakes
Cam Brakes - Automatic Slack
Adjusters
WARNING: Do not manually adjust
the automatic slack adjusters to correct
excessive push rod stroke as it may result
in reduced brake effectiveness and a
vehicle crash. Excessive push rod stroke
indicates that a problem exists with the
automatic adjuster, with the installation
of the adjuster, or with foundation brake
components that manual adjustment
does not remedy. Seek service from a
qualified facility for excessive push rod
stroke.
E210337
Standard air brakes (cam) are equipped
with automatic brake adjusters. Automatic
adjustment occurs during brake
applications. Inspect brakes for proper
adjustment at the specified intervals. See
Scheduled Maintenance (page 319).
Emergency Air Brake
WARNING: Do not continue to
operate the vehicle with a failure of one
of the brake systems. Take the vehicle
to your dealer for service immediately.All vehicles are equipped with a dual brake
system. In the unlikely event of a failure of
one system, the second system functions
for emergency stopping. The brake pedal
controls all these systems in the same
manner as for normal stops.
EXHAUST BRAKE (IF EQUIPPED)
WARNING: Do not use tow/haul
when the road surface is slippery. Failure
to follow this instruction could result in
the loss of control of your vehicle.
WARNING: Do not use diesel
engine exhaust braking when the road
surface is slippery. Failure to follow this
instruction could result in the loss of
control of your vehicle.
Note:Installing an exhaust or auxiliary
brake does not necessarily protect the
engine from exceeding the maximum
governed speed. Use the primary brakes to
make sure the engine never exceeds the
maximum governed speed under any
circumstance.
Note:Engine speed has a major influence
on limiting performance. When engine
speed stays at the maximum allowable
level, the exhaust brake operates at peak
performance.
Note:Exhaust brakes operate effectively
with automatic transmissions. However,
performance varies with engine speed and
the gear selected by the transmission.
An exhaust brake is an auxiliary braking
system that assists, but does not replace,
the primary brake system. It helps control
vehicle speed. It is not a vehicle-stopping
device.
143
Brakes
Use the button on the instrument panel, in
combination with the accelerator pedal,
to maximize the use of the exhaust brake
in the following conditions:
• Off-highway driving.
• Mountain driving.
• Heavy traffic.
• High-speed highway driving.
E215226
To switch the exhaust brake on, press the
button. A light on the instrument cluster
indicates the system is on. Press the button
again to switch it off.
While approaching a steep grade, make
sure that the exhaust brake switch is on.
The exhaust brake begins working as soon
as you remove your foot from the
accelerator pedal.
Before descending a hill or steep grade,
always select the proper gear. If you take
the transmission out of gear while
descending, you may not be able to select
another gear because of maximum
governed RPM.Make sure the engine speed does not
exceed the maximum allowable engine
RPM. Exceeding the maximum allowable
engine RPM can result in damage to the
engine. Apply the service brakes to reduce
the engine RPM or make a slower descent
by using a lower gear.
While driving down a grade, use a low
enough gear to descend safely with a
minimum application of the service brakes.
As a general guideline, use the same gear
as you use to ascend the hill.
Exhaust Brake Operating
Characteristics
The exhaust brake switches on when you
remove your feet from the accelerator
pedal and the exhaust brake is on.
If the brake is working properly, you may
notice:
• A slight change in engine sound when
the exhaust brake turns on.
• A smooth braking effect. Do not expect
a retarding effect similar to sudden,
hard application of the service brakes.
• A retarding force possibly felt acting
against your body during brake
application, depending on the grade
and vehicle load. This force helps your
vehicle resist increasing speeds down
grades.
• Engine temperatures remaining in the
normal operating range.
• A drop in engine RPM, depending on
grade and vehicle load, during a
descent.
• A decrease in road speed when
applying the exhaust brake during a
descent, except when your vehicle is
carrying a heavy load or the grade is
extremely steep. In these instances,
you may need to apply the service
brakes occasionally.
144
Brakes
• Your vehicle speed falls below 12 mph
(20 km/h).
• You set a new gap distance.
The system applies the brakes to slow your
vehicle to maintain a safe gap distance
from the vehicle in front. The system only
applies limited braking. You can override
the system by applying the brakes.
If the system determines that its maximum
braking level is not sufficient, an audible
warning sounds, a message appears in the
information display and an indicator
flashes when the system continues to
brake. Take immediate action.
Setting the Gap Distance
You can decrease or increase the distance
between your vehicle and the vehicle in
front by pressing the gap control.
There are four gap settings from shortest
to longest.
E263697
Press and release to decrease
the gap distance.
E263696
Press and release to increase the
gap distance.
E233874E233874
The selected gap appears in the
information display as shown by the bars
in the image.
Each time you switch the system on, it
selects the last chosen gap setting.Note:The gap setting is time dependent
and therefore the distance adjusts with your
vehicle speed.
Note:It is your responsibility to select a gap
appropriate to the driving conditions.
Overriding the Set Speed
WARNING: If you override the
system by pressing the accelerator
pedal, it does not automatically apply
the brakes to maintain a gap from any
vehicle ahead.
When you press the accelerator pedal, you
override the set speed and gap distance.
E144529
Use the accelerator pedal
normally to intentionally exceed
the set speed limit.
When you override the system, the green
indicator light illuminates and the vehicle
image does not appear in the information
display.
The system tunes the engine, transmission
controls and the stability and traction
control modes to normal mode. The
vehicle speed decreases to the set speed,
or a lower speed if following a slower
vehicle.
Changing the Set Speed
Press and release to increase the
set speed in small increments.
Press and release to decrease
the set speed in small
increments.
Press and hold either button to change the
set speed in large increments. Release the
button when the set speed has reached
the desired speed.
157
Cruise Control - Vehicles With: Adaptive Cruise Control
TOWING A TRAILER
WARNING: Do not exceed
the GVWR or the GAWR
specified on the certification
label.
WARNING: Towing trailers
beyond the maximum
recommended gross trailer
weight exceeds the limit of the
vehicle and could result in engine
damage, transmission damage,
structural damage, loss of
vehicle control, vehicle rollover
and personal injury.
Your vehicle may have electrical
items, such as fuses or relays,
related to towing. See Fuses
(page 200).
Your vehicle's load capacity
designation is by weight, not by
volume, so you cannot necessarily
use all available space when
loading a vehicle.
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.
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
175).
You can also find information in
the RV & Trailer Towing Guide
available at your authorized
dealer, or online.
RV & Trailer Towing Guide Online
http://www.fleet.ford.com/towing-guides/ Website
178
Towing
ESSENTIAL TOWING CHECKS
See Load limits in the Load Carrying
chapter for load specification terms found
on the tire label and Safety Compliance
label and instructions on calculating your
vehicle's load.
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. You
must distribute the load in your trailer so
that 10-15% of the total weight of the
trailer is on the tongue.
Safety Chains
Note:Do not attach safety chains to the
bumper.
Always connect the safety chains to the
frame or hook retainers of your vehicle
hitch.
To connect the safety chains, cross the
chains under the trailer tongue and allow
enough slack for turning tight corners. Do
not allow the chains to drag on the ground.
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.
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, turn signals 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
• Check your hitch, electrical connections
and trailer wheel lug nuts thoroughly
after you have traveled 50 mph
(80 km/h).
• When stopped in congested or heavy
traffic during hot weather, place the
transmission in park (P) or neutral (N)
to aid engine and transmission cooling
and to help air conditioning
performance.
• Turn 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.
180
Towing
• 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
the 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.
FIFTH WHEEL OPERATION
WARNING: Failure to follow the
fifth wheel manufacturer’s instructions
for hooking and unhooking as well as
sliding the fifth wheel could result in an
accident, personal injury or death.
WARNING: When the tractor and
trailer are parked unattended, the trailer
brake hand control should never be used
to apply the brake, since air may leak
from the system, allowing vehicle
movement, resulting in possible property
damage, personal injury or death.
Before hook-up, make sure:
• The fifth wheel jaws are fully open.
• The fifth wheel is fully tilted back to
prevent body damage when the tractor
is backed under a trailer.
• You block the trailer wheels and adjust
and apply the trailer spring brakes.
Never chase a trailer.
• The brake hoses and light cords are
clear of the fifth wheel.
Hook-up
1. Back the tractor squarely under the
trailer, engaging the fifth-wheel jaws
on the kingpin. Always back up slowly;
make sure the trailer is neither too high
nor too low. Avoid backing under the
trailer from an angle.
2. Connect the service and emergency
brake hoses and trailer light connector.
3. Inspect the jaws of the fifth wheel to
be sure they have fully closed on the
trailer kingpin and the trailer plate is
resting securely on the fifth wheel.
4. Make sure the coupler release lever is
in the locked position.
5. Charge the trailer brake system. Set
the trailer brakes, with either the hand
valve or tractor protection valve. Pull
against the trailer for an extra check of
proper hook-up. Do not pull hard
enough to damage or strain the
equipment.
6. Set the tractor parking brakes and fully
raise the trailer landing gear.
7. Check the operation of all trailer lights
and correct any lights that may be
faulty.
Un-hook
1. Try to keep the tractor and trailer in a
straight line.
2. Apply the parking brakes.
3. Lower the trailer landing gear, making
sure it is on solid, level ground. The
weight of the trailer is to be on the
landing gear.
4. Block the trailer wheels.
5. Disconnect the brake hoses and light
cords. Be sure hoses and cords are
clear.
6. Pull coupler release lever to disengage
the fifth wheel jaws.
181
Towing
GENERAL DRIVING POINTS
General Information
• Accelerate smoothly and evenly. Rapid
acceleration increases fuel
consumption without increasing engine
performance.
• When approaching a hill, press the
accelerator smoothly to start the
incline at full power, and then shift
down as needed to maintain vehicle
speed.
• When going down a hill, or long steep
grades, prevent overspeeding of the
engine. Normally, choose the same
gear to descend the hill that you use to
ascend the hill. The engine governor
has no control over engine speed when
it is being pushed by a loaded vehicle.
• Do not operate in a gear that permits
an engine speed more than the
maximum governed speed or high-idle
RPM (no load).
• Always shift to a lower gear at high
altitudes to prevent engine smoking.
Backing Up
WARNING: All vehicles have blind
spots. To reduce the risk of severe injury
or property damage, never move your
vehicle to the side or rear or change lanes
without being sure your way is clear on
both sides and to your rear.
WARNING: To reduce the risk of
the possibility of personal injury while
backing up the vehicle, always be sure
your vehicle’s path is clear.Before backing up your vehicle, be sure you
can do so safely. If anything behind the cab
limits your view, do not rely on mirrors
alone to make sure that your intended path
is clear. If other people are in the vicinity,
have someone standing well behind your
vehicle and outside of your intended path
(visible through an exterior mirror) guide
you as you back up.
Although OSHA or some governmental
regulations may require the use of an
electrical or mechanical back up alarm to
warn bystanders, such an alarm does not
guarantee that the intended path is clear.
When in doubt, get out of your vehicle and
visually check the intended path is clear.
Back up slowly as to allow others time to
move, if necessary.
If you install an electrical back up alarm,
connect it to the backup lamp circuit.
Parking
WARNING: When parking your
vehicle, do not leave the transmission in
gear; if the key is in the on position and
the vehicle rolls, the engine could start.
Failure to follow these instructions could
result in an unattended vehicle moving,
possibly causing personal injury or
property damage.
Always use the parking brake. When
parking on a grade, block the wheels and
turn the front wheels to one side so that if
your vehicle rolls, the front tires act against
the curb to stop your vehicle. The front
wheels are more effective at stopping a
rolling vehicle than the rear wheels.
183
Driving Hints