2023 FORD RANGER warning

FunctionColor
Running lightsBrown
Reverse lightsGrey
1 Your vehicle must recognize the trailerbefore the trailer can receive power.
Safety Chains
Note:Do not attach safety chains to thebumper. Always connect the safety chainsto the frame or hook retainers of your trailerhitch.
Install trailer safety chains to the trailerhitch as recommended by themanufacturer. Cross the chains under thetrailer tongue and allow enough slack forturning tight corners. Do not allow thechains to drag on the ground.
If the trailer safety chain hook has a latch,make sure the latch is fully closed.
Trailer Brakes
WARNING: Do not connect atrailer's hydraulic brake system directlyto your vehicle's brake system. Yourvehicle may not have enough brakingpower and your chances of having acollision greatly increase.
Electric brakes and manual, automatic orsurge-type trailer brakes are safe if youinstall them properly and adjust them tothe manufacturer's specifications. Thetrailer brakes must meet local and federalregulations.
The rating for the tow vehicle's brakingsystem operation is at the gross vehicleweight rating, not the gross combinedweight rating.
Separate functioning brake systemsare required for safe control of towedvehicles and trailers weighing morethan 1500 lb (680 kg) when loaded.
Trailer Lamps
WARNING: Never connect anytrailer lamp wiring to the vehicle's taillamp wiring; this may damage theelectrical system resulting in fire. Contactyour authorized dealer as soon aspossible for assistance in proper trailertow wiring installation. Additionalelectrical equipment may be required.
Trailer lamps are required on most towedvehicles. Make sure all running lights, brakelights, turn signals and hazard lights areworking.
Before Towing a Trailer
Practice turning, stopping and backing upto get the feel of your vehicle-trailercombination before starting on a trip.When turning, make wider turns so thetrailer wheels clear curbs and otherobstacles.
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.
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TOWING THE VEHICLE ON
FOUR WHEELS
WARNING: If your vehicle has asteering wheel lock make sure theignition is in the accessory or on positionwhen being towed.
Emergency Towing
If your vehicle becomes inoperable withoutaccess to wheel dollies, a car-haulingtrailer or a flatbed transport vehicle, youcan flat-tow with all wheels on the ground,regardless of the powertrain andtransmission configuration, under thefollowing conditions:
•Your vehicle is facing forward fortowing in a forward direction.
•Place the transmission in neutral (N).If you cannot move the transmissioninto neutral (N), you may need tooverride the gear shifter. SeeAutomatic Transmission (page 161).
•Maximum speed is 35 mph (55 km/h).
•Maximum distance is 50 mi (80 km).
Recreational Towing
WARNING: Do not disconnect thebattery when recreationally towing yourvehicle. This prevents the transfer casefrom shifting properly and could causethe vehicle to roll, even if thetransmission is in park (P).
WARNING: Placing the transfercase in its neutral position could causeyour vehicle to freely roll. Make sure youpress and hold the brake pedal and thevehicle is in a secure, safe position whenyou place the transfer case in its neutralposition.
Follow these guidelines if you have a needfor recreational towing. An example ofrecreational towing would be towing yourvehicle behind a motorhome. Theseguidelines are to make sure that you donot damage the transmission.
You can only tow your vehicle with allwheels on the ground by placing thetransfer case in its neutral position andengaging the recreational tow feature.Perform the following steps afterpositioning your vehicle behind the towvehicle and properly securing themtogether.
Note:Put your climate control system inrecirculated air mode to prevent exhaustfumes from entering your vehicle.
Note:Failure to put the transfer case in itsneutral position can damage vehiclecomponents.
Note: You can check the towing status atany time by opening the driver door orturning the ignition to the accessory or onposition.Neutral Tow Enabled LeaveTransmission in Neutral appears in theinstrument cluster display to confirm youcan recreationally tow your vehicle.
Switching Neutral Tow On
1.Switch your vehicle to accessory modeby pressing the push button ignitionswitch without pressing the brakepedal or by turning the key to the onposition.
2.Press and hold the brake pedal.
3.Rotate the four-wheel drive control to2H.
4.Shift the transmission to neutral (N).
5.Using the instrument cluster controlson the steering wheel, select Settings.
6.Select Vehicle.
7.Select Neutral Tow.
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•Transmissions give their best fueleconomy when operated in the topcruise gear and with steady pressureon the gas pedal.
•Four-wheel-drive operation (ifequipped) is less fuel efficient thantwo-wheel-drive operation.
COLD WEATHER
PRECAUTIONS
The functional operation of somecomponents and systems can be affectedat temperatures below approximately-13°F (-25°C).
OFF-ROAD DRIVING
Before going off-roading, 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.
Before taking your vehicle off-roading, abasic vehicle inspection should be done tomake sure that the vehicle is in top workingcondition.
Basic Off-road Driving Techniques
•Grip the steering wheel with thumbson the outside of the rim. This reducesthe risk of injury due to abrupt steeringwheel motions that occur whennegotiating rough terrain. Do not gripthe steering wheel with thumbs insidethe rim.
•Look ahead on your route notingupcoming obstacles, surface textureor color changes or any other factorswhich may indicate a change inavailable traction, and adjust thevehicle speed and route accordingly.
•Always keep available groundclearance in mind and pick a route thatminimizes the risk of catching theunderside of the vehicle on an obstacle.
•When negotiating low speed obstacles,applying light brake pressure inconjunction with the throttle helpsprevent the vehicle from jerking andallows you to negotiate the obstaclein a more controlled manner. Using 4Lalso helps with this.
Crossing Obstacles
•Review the path ahead beforeattempting to cross any obstacle. It isbest if the obstacle is reviewed fromoutside the vehicle so that there is agood understanding of terrain conditionboth in front of and behind theobstacle.
•If a large obstacle such as a rockcannot be avoided, choose a path thatplaces the rock directly under the tirerather than the undercarriage of thevehicle. This helps prevent damage toyour vehicle.
Hill Climbing
WARNING: Extreme care shouldbe used when steering the vehicle inreverse down a slope so as not to causethe vehicle to swerve out of control.
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•Always attempt to climb a steep hillalong the fall line of the slope and notdiagonally.
•If the vehicle is unable to make it upthe hill, DO NOT attempt to turn backdown the slope. Place the vehicle inlow range and slowly back down inreverse.
•When descending a steep slope, selectlow gear and activate hill descentcontrol. Use the throttle and brakepedals to control your descent speedas described earlier in this section usinghill descent control. Hill descent controlis functional in reverse (R) and shouldbe used in this situation.
After Off-Road Driving
It is important to complete a full vehicleinspection after off-road driving. Someitems to check include:
•Check the wheels and undercarriagefor a buildup of mud or debris, whichcan cause vehicle vibration.
•Make sure that the grille and radiatorare clear of any obstructions that mayaffect cooling.
•Make sure that the brakes are in properworking order and free of any mud,stones and debris, which can becometrapped around the brake rotor,backing plate and caliper.
•Check that the air filter is clean and dry.
•Inspect for torn or punctured boots onball joints, half shafts, steering gears.
•Inspect exhaust system for damage orlooseness.
•Inspect undercarriage fasteners. If anyare loose or damaged, tighten orreplace and make sure that you use theproper torque specification.
•Inspect the wheels for dents, cracks,or other damage.
•Clear any debris from the exhaustcomponents. For example, grass or hay.
DRIVING THROUGH WATER
WARNING: Do not drive throughflowing or deep water as you may losecontrol of your vehicle.
Note:Driving through standing water cancause vehicle damage.
Note:Engine damage can occur if waterenters the air filter.
Before driving through standing water,check the depth. Never drive through waterthat is higher than the bottom of the wheelhubs.
When driving through standing water, drivevery slowly and do not stop your vehicle.Your brake performance and traction maybe limited. After driving through water andas soon as it is safe to do so:
•Lightly press the brake pedal to dry thebrakes and to check that they work.
•Check that the horn works.
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•Check that the exterior lights work.
•Turn the steering wheel to check thatthe steering power assist works.
FLOOR MATS
WARNING: Use a floor matdesigned to fit the footwell of yourvehicle that does not obstruct the pedalarea. Failure to follow this instructioncould result in the loss of control of yourvehicle, personal injury or death.
WARNING: Pedals that cannotmove freely can cause loss of vehiclecontrol and increase the risk of seriouspersonal injury.
WARNING: Secure the floor matto both retention devices so that itcannot slip out of position and interferewith the pedals. Failure to follow thisinstruction could result in the loss ofcontrol of your vehicle, personal injury ordeath.
WARNING: Do not place additionalfloor mats or any other covering on topof the original floor mats. This couldresult in the floor mat interfering with theoperation of the pedals. Failure to followthis instruction could result in the loss ofcontrol of your vehicle, personal injury ordeath.
WARNING: Always make sure thatobjects cannot fall into the driver footwell while your vehicle is moving. Objectsthat are loose can become trappedunder the pedals causing a loss ofvehicle control.
To install floor mats that have eyelets,position the floor mat eyelet over theretention post and press down to lock inposition. Repeat for all eyelets on the floormat.
To remove the floor mats, reverse theinstallation procedure.
Note:Regularly check the floor mats tomake sure they are secure.
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Vehicles Sold in Canada: GettingRoadside Assistance
To fully assist you should you have avehicle concern, Ford Motor Company ofCanada, Limited offers a complimentaryroadside assistance program. This programis eligible within Canada or the continentalUnited States.
The service is available 24 hours a day,seven days a week.
This program is separate from the NewVehicle Limited Warranty, but the coverageis concurrent with the powertrain coverageperiod of your vehicle. Canadian roadsidecoverage and benefits may differ from theU.S. coverage.
If you require more information, please callus in Canada at 1-800-665-2006, or visitour website at www.ford.ca.
HAZARD FLASHERS
Note:The hazard flashers operate whenthe ignition is in any position, or if the key isnot in the ignition. If used when the vehicleis not running, the battery loses charge. Asa result, there may be insufficient power torestart your vehicle.
The flasher control is on theinstrument panel. Use yourhazard flashers when yourvehicle is creating a safety hazard for othermotorists.
•Press the flasher control and all frontand rear direction indicators flash.
•Press the button again to switch themoff.
JUMP STARTING THE VEHICLE
WARNING: The gases around thebattery can explode if exposed to flames,sparks, or lit cigarettes. An explosioncould result in personal injury or vehicledamage.
WARNING: Batteries containsulfuric acid which can burn skin, eyesand clothing, if contacted.
WARNING: Use only anadequate-sized cable with insulatedclamps.
Preparing Your Vehicle
Note:Do not attempt to push-start yourautomatic transmission vehicle. Automatictransmissions do not have push-startcapability. Attempting to push-start avehicle with an automatic transmission maycause transmission damage.
Note:Use only a 12-volt supply to start yourvehicle.
Note:Do not disconnect the battery of thedisabled vehicle as this could damage thevehicle's electrical system.
Park the booster vehicle close to the hoodof the disabled vehicle, making sure thetwo vehicles do not touch. Turn allaccessories off.
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Connecting the Jumper Cables
WARNING: Do not attach thecables to fuel lines, engine rocker covers,the intake manifold or electricalcomponents as grounding points. Stayclear of moving parts. To avoid reversepolarity connections, make sure that youcorrectly identify the positive (+) andnegative (-) terminals on both thedisabled and booster vehicles beforeconnecting the cables. Battery positionsmay vary.
Note:In the illustration, the bottom vehiclerepresents the booster vehicle.
1.Connect the positive (+) jumper cableto the positive (+) terminal of thedischarged battery.
2.Connect the other end of the positive(+) cable to the positive (+) terminalof the assisting battery.
3.Connect the negative (-) cable to thenegative (-) terminal of the assistingbattery.
4.Make the final connection of thenegative (-) cable to an exposed metalpart of the stalled vehicle's engine, orconnect the negative (-) cable to theground connection point, if available.
WARNING: Do not connect the endof the second cable to the negative (-)terminal of the battery to be jumped. Aspark may cause an explosion of thegases that surround the battery.
Jump Starting
1.Start the engine of the booster vehicleand rev the engine moderately, or pressthe accelerator gently to keep yourengine speed between 2000 and 3000rpms, as shown in your tachometer.
2.Start the engine of the disabled vehicle.
3.After starting the disabled vehicle, runboth vehicle engines for an additionalthree minutes before disconnecting thejumper cables.
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Removing the Jumper Cables
Remove the jumper cables in the reverseorder that they were connected.
1.Remove the jumper cable from theground metal surface or connectingpoint, if available.
2.Remove the jumper cable on thenegative (-) terminal of the boostervehicle's battery.
3.Remove the jumper cable from thepositive (+) terminal of the boostervehicle's battery.
4.Remove the jumper cable from thepositive (+) terminal of the disabledvehicle's battery.
After starting your disabled vehicle andremoving the jumper cables, allow yourvehicle to idle for several minutes so thebattery can recharge.
TRANSPORTING THE VEHICLE
WARNING: Block the wheels tohelp prevent the vehicle from moving.
WARNING: Unexpected andpossibly sudden vehicle movement mayoccur if you do not take theseprecautions.
If you need to tow your vehicle, contact aprofessional towing service or, if you are amember of a roadside assistance program,your roadside assistance service provider.
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