ActionMessage
There is a fault with your trailer turn lamp. Check yourlamp.Trailer Right Turn Lamps FaultCheck Lamps
There is a fault with your trailer battery. See Towinga Trailer (page 224).Trailer Battery Not Charging SeeManual
There is a fault with your vehicle trailer lighting module.See Towing a Trailer (page 224).Trailer Lighting Module FaultSee Manual
4WD
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A 4X4 system fault is present. Have your vehiclechecked as soon as possible.Check 4x4
The 4X4 system is making a shift.4x4 Shift in Progress
Displays when you attempt to switch to 4X4 LOW andyou do not shift the transmission to neutral (N).For 4x4 LOW Shift to N
Displays when you attempt to switch to 4X4 LOW andyour vehicle's speed is greater than 3 mph (5 km/h).For 4x4 LOW Slow to 3 MPH
Displays when you attempt to switch from 4X4 LOWand you do not shift the transmission to neutral (N).To Exit 4x4 LOW Shift to N
Displays when you attempt to switch from 4X4 LOWand your vehicle's speed is greater than 3 mph(5 km/h).
To Exit 4x4 LOW Slow to 3 MPH
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PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
The four-wheel drive system in your vehicleis a part-time system activated using therotary switch mounted in the centerconsole. In normal rear-wheel drive, the 2Hdrive operation system directs torque tothe rear axle. Moving the switch to 4H or4L directs drive torque to both the frontand rear axles, providing four-wheel drive.
Depending on your vehicle, furtherfour-wheel drive options may be availableon the switch panel located on the centerconsole.
USING FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE
Note:There is additional importantinformation regarding the safe operation ofthis type of vehicle in this manual. SeeGeneral Information (page 292).
Note:Do not use 4H or 4L modes on dry,hard surfaced roads. Doing so can produceexcessive noise, increase tire wear and coulddamage drive components. We intend 4Hor 4L modes only for consistently slipperyor loose surfaces. Use of 4L mode on thesesurfaces could produce some noise, suchas occasional clunks, but should notdamage drive components.
Note: When you select 4L when yourvehicle is moving, it does not perform a shiftuntil your vehicle is stationary. This is normaland is no reason for concern.
Note:You can switch on and switch off theelectronic locking differential by pressingthe locking differential button. SeeElectronic Locking Differential (page 173).
4WD Indicator Lights
Note:When a 4X4 system fault is present,the system typically remains in whichever4X4 mode you selected prior to the faultcondition occurring. It should never defaultto 4X2. When the warning displays, haveyour vehicle serviced by an authorizeddealer.
4X4 HIGH
Continuously illuminates whenyou select 4H.
4X4 LOW
Continuously illuminates whenyou select 4L.
CHECK 4X4
Displays when a 4X4 fault ispresent.
Using the Electronic Shift on theFly 4WD system
2H (4X2)
For general on-road driving, this modeprovides optimal smoothness and fueleconomy. Sends power to the rear wheelsonly.
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Note:2H may engage or disengage basedon terrain mode selection. See Principle ofOperation (page 165).
4H (4X4 HIGH)
Provides mechanically locked four-wheeldrive power to both the front and rearwheels for use in off-road or winterconditions such as deep snow, sand ormud. This mode is not for use on drypavement.
Note:4H may engage or disengage basedon terrain mode selection. See Principle ofOperation (page 165).
4L (4X4 LOW)
Provides mechanically locked four-wheeldrive power to both the front and rearwheels with additional gearing forincreased torque multiplication. Intendedonly for off-road applications such as deepsand, steep slopes, or pulling heavyobjects.
Note:4L may engage or disengage basedon terrain mode selection. See Principle ofOperation (page 165).
Shifting Between 4WD System Modes
Note:Momentarily releasing the acceleratorpedal when performing a shift aids theperformance of engagement ordisengagement.
Note:Do not perform this operation if therear wheels are slipping, or when applyingthe accelerator pedal.
Note:It is normal to hear some noise as thesystem shifts or engages.
You can move the control between 2H to4H at a stop or when driving up to 68 mph(110 km/h). The information display maydisplay a message indicating a 4X4 shiftand the LED for the selected mode flashes.Once the shift is complete, the LED lightfor the selected mode remains illuminated.
Shifting To or From 4L (4X4 Low)
Note:It is normal to hear some noise as thesystem shifts or engages.
1.Stop your vehicle when it is safe to doso.
2.Place the transmission in neutral (N).
3.Move the transfer shift switch to thedesired position.
The information display displays amessage indicating a 4X4 shift is inprogress followed by the system modeselected. If any of the above shiftconditions are not present, the shift doesnot occur and the information displayshows information guiding you through theproper shifting procedures.
How Your Vehicle Differs FromOther Vehicles
WARNING: Vehicles with a highercenter of gravity (utility and four-wheeldrive vehicles) handle differently thanvehicles with a lower center of gravity(passenger cars). Avoid sharp turns,excessive speed and abrupt steering inthese vehicles. Failure to drive cautiouslyincreases the risk of losing control of yourvehicle, vehicle rollover, personal injuryand death.
Truck and utility vehicles can differ fromsome other vehicles. Your vehicle may behigher to allow it to travel over roughterrain without getting hung up ordamaging underbody components.
The differences that make your vehicle soversatile also make it handle differentlythan an ordinary passenger car.
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Maintain steering wheel control at alltimes, especially in rough terrain. Sincesudden changes in terrain can result inabrupt steering wheel motion, make sureyou grip the steering wheel from theoutside. Do not grip the spokes of thesteering wheel.
Drive cautiously to avoid vehicle damagefrom concealed objects such as rocks andstumps.
Either know the terrain or examine mapsof the area before driving. Map out yourroute before driving in the area. Tomaintain steering and braking control ofyour vehicle, have all four wheels on theground and they need to be rolling, notsliding or spinning.
Driving Off-Road With Truck andUtility Vehicles
Note:Your vehicle may have a front airdam. Due to low ground clearance, you candamage it when taking your vehicle off-road.You can take the air dam off by removingthe bolts that secure it.
We design four-wheel drive vehicles fordriving on sand, snow, mud and roughterrain and they have operatingcharacteristics that are somewhatdifferent from conventional vehicles, bothon and off the road.
The transfer case supplies power to all fourwheels. On four-wheel drive vehicles, thetransfer case allows you to select different4WD modes when necessary. Becomethoroughly familiar with this informationbefore you operate your vehicle.
Four-wheel drive uses all four wheels topower your vehicle. This increases traction,enabling you to drive over terrain and roadconditions that a conventional two-wheeldrive vehicle cannot.
Basic Operating Principles
•Drive slower in strong crosswinds whichcan affect the normal steeringcharacteristics of your vehicle.
•When driving your vehicle on surfacesmade slippery by loose sand, water,gravel, snow or ice, proceed with care.
•Do not use 4H or 4L on dry, hardsurfaced roads. Doing so can produceexcessive noise, increase tire wear andcould damage drive components. Use4H or 4L modes for consistentlyslippery or loose surfaces.
If Your Vehicle Leaves the Road
If your vehicle leaves the road, reduce yourvehicle speed and avoid severe braking.When your vehicle speed decreases, easeyour vehicle back onto the road. Do notsharply turn the steering wheel whenreturning your vehicle to the road.
It may be safer to stay on the shoulder ofthe road and gradually slow down beforereturning to the road. You may lose controlif you do not slow down or if you toosharply or abruptly turn the steering wheel.
It may be less risky to strike small objects,such as freeway reflectors, with minordamage to your vehicle rather thanattempt a sudden return to the road whichcould cause your vehicle to slide sidewaysout of control or roll over. Remember, yoursafety and the safety of others should beyour primary concern.
Emergency Maneuvers
In an unavoidable emergency situationwhere you must make a sudden sharp turn,remember to avoid over-driving yourvehicle and turn the steering wheel only asrapidly and as far as required to avoid theemergency. Excessive steering can resultin loss of vehicle control. Apply smoothpressure to the accelerator pedal or brakepedal when you require changes in vehicle
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AdvanceTrac with RSC Features
EnabledEnabledEnabledNot illuminatedButton pressedagain afterdeactivation
DisabledDisabledEnabled1IlluminatedTransfer caseswitched to4WD Low
1 Roll Stability Control is disabled in the Sand Terrain Mode.
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GENERAL INFORMATION
Notice to utility vehicle and truckowners
WARNING: Utility vehicles have asignificantly higher rollover rate thanother types of vehicles.
WARNING: Vehicles with a highercenter of gravity (utility and four-wheeldrive vehicles) handle differently thanvehicles with a lower center of gravity(passenger cars). Avoid sharp turns,excessive speed and abrupt steering inthese vehicles. Failure to drive cautiouslyincreases the risk of losing control of yourvehicle, vehicle rollover, personal injuryand death.
WARNING: In a rollover crash, anunbelted person is significantly morelikely to die than a person wearing aseatbelt.
WARNING: Do not becomeoverconfident in the ability of four-wheeldrive vehicles. Although a four-wheeldrive vehicle may accelerate better thana two-wheel drive vehicle in low tractionsituations, it won't stop any faster thantwo-wheel drive vehicles. Always driveat a safe speed.
Utility vehicles and trucks handledifferently than passenger cars in thevarious driving conditions that areencountered on streets, highways andoff-road. Utility vehicles and trucks are notdesigned for cornering at speeds as highas passenger cars any more than low-slungsports cars are designed to performsatisfactorily under off-road conditions.
Study your owner's manual and anysupplements for specific information aboutequipment features, instructions for safedriving and additional precautions toreduce the risk of an accident or seriousinjury.
Four-wheel drive system (If Equipped)
A vehicle equipped with four-wheel drive(when selected) has the ability to use allfour wheels to power itself. This increasestraction which could enable you to safelydrive over terrain and road conditions thata conventional two-wheel drive vehiclecannot.
On some four-wheel drive models, theinitial shift from two-wheel drive tofour-wheel drive while the vehicle ismoving can cause a momentary clunk andratcheting sound. These sounds are normalas the front drivetrain comes up to speedand are not cause for concern.
Note:In four-wheel drive vehicles, the sizeof the spare tire relative to the remainingtires can have an effect on the 4x4 system'sability to engage and disengage.
Operating 4WD Vehicles with aSpare tire or Mismatched Tires
On four-wheel drive vehicles, the size ofthe spare tire can affect the 4X4 system.If there is a significant difference betweenthe size of the spare tire and the remainingtires, the four-wheel drive functionality willbe limited.
When driving with the full-size dissimilarspare wheel and tire assembly, werecommend that you do not:
•Exceed 50 mph (80 km/h) with 4WDmode turned on.
•Turn on a 4WD mode unless thevehicle is stationary.
•Use 4WD mode on dry pavement.
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2023 Ranger (TFG) Canada/United States of America, Vehicles Built From: 10-10-2022, enUSA, Edition date: 202208, First-PrintingWheels and Tires
When driving with the full-size dissimilarspare wheel and tire assembly, 4WDfunctionality could be limited, especiallywhen driving in a mechanically locked 4WDmode. You could experience the following:
•Additional noise from the transfer caseor other drive components.
•Difficulty shifting out of a mechanicallylocked 4WD mode.
Use of a dissimilar spare wheel and tireassembly could lead to impairment of thefollowing:
•Comfort and noise.
•Winter weather driving capability.
•Wet driving capability.
•Four-wheel drive capability.
How your vehicle differs fromother vehicles
Sport utility vehicles and trucks can differfrom some other vehicles in a fewnoticeable ways. Your vehicle could be:
•Higher - to allow higher load carryingcapacity and to allow it to travel overrough terrain without damagingunderbody components.
•Shorter - to give it the capability toapproach inclines and drive over thecrest of a hill without damagingunderbody components. All otherthings held equal, a shorter wheelbasecould make your vehicle quicker torespond to steering inputs than avehicle with a longer wheelbase.
•Narrower - to provide greatermaneuverability in tight spaces,particularly in off-road use.
As a result of the above dimensionaldifferences, Sport utility vehicles andtrucks often will have a higher center ofgravity and a greater difference in centerof gravity between the loaded andunloaded condition. These differences thatmake your vehicle so versatile also makeit handle differently than an ordinarypassenger car.
TIRE CARE
Information About UniformTire Quality Grading
Tire Quality Grades apply to newpneumatic passenger car tires.The Quality grades can be foundwhere applicable on the tiresidewall between tread shoulderand maximum section width. Forexample: Treadwear 200Traction AA Temperature A.
These Tire Quality Grades aredetermined by standards that theUnited States Department ofTransportation has set.
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Note:Uneven tread depthbetween the front and rear tirescould lead to degradation in 4WDengagement and disengagementperformance, additional noise fromthe 4WD system or damage.
Rotating your tires at therecommended interval (asindicated in the ScheduledMaintenance chapter) will helpyour tires wear more evenly,providing better tire performanceand longer tire life.
Rear-wheel drive vehicles andfour-wheel drive vehicles (fronttires at left of diagram)
Sometimes irregular tire wear canbe corrected by rotating the tires.
USING SNOW CHAINS
WARNING: Do not exceed 30 mph(50 km/h). Failure to follow thisinstruction could result in the loss ofcontrol of your vehicle, personal injury ordeath.
WARNING: Do not use snow chainson snow-free roads.
WARNING: Only fit snow chains tospecified tires.
WARNING: If your vehicle is fittedwith wheel trims, remove them beforefitting snow chains.
WARNING: Snow tires must be thesame size, load index and speed ratingas those originally provided by Ford. Useof any tire or wheel not recommendedby Ford can affect the safety andperformance of your vehicle, which couldresult in an increased risk of loss ofcontrol, vehicle rollover, personal injuryand death. Additionally, the use ofnon-recommended tires and wheels cancause steering, suspension, axle, transfercase or power transfer unit failure.Follow the Ford recommended tireinflation pressure found on the SafetyCompliance Certification Label (on thedoor hinge pillar, door latch post or thedoor edge that meets the door latchpost, next to the driver seat), or TireLabel on the B-Pillar or the edge of thedriver door. Failure to follow the tirepressure recommendations can causeuneven treadwear patterns andadversely affect the way your vehiclehandles.
Note:The suspension insulation andbumpers help prevent vehicle damage. Donot remove these components from yourvehicle when using snow tires and chains.
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