User manual FORD F250-2000

[. . . ] Contents Before driving Introduction Instrumentation Controls and features Seating and safety restraints Starting and driving Starting Driving Roadside emergencies Servicing Maintenance and care Capacities and specifications Customer assistance Reporting safety defects Index 172 222 234 246 247 104 109 145 2 8 25 72 All rights reserved. Reproduction by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system or translation in whole or part is not permitted without written authorization from Ford Motor Company. Ford may change the contents without notice and without incurring obligation. Copyright © 1999 Ford Motor Company 1 Introduction The following warning may be required by California law: CALIFORNIA Proposition 65 Warning Engine exhaust, some if its constituents, and certain vehicle components contain or emit chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, or birth defects or other reproductive harm. [. . . ] 129 Driving Drive cautiously to avoid vehicle damage from concealed objects such as rocks and stumps. You should either know the terrain or examine maps of the area before driving. For more information on driving off-road, read the "Four Wheeling" supplement in your owner's portfolio. If your vehicle gets stuck If the vehicle is stuck it may be rocked out by shifting from forward and reverse gears, stopping between shifts, in a steady pattern. Do not rock the vehicle if the engine is not at normal operating temperature or damage to the transmission may occur. Do not rock the vehicle for more than a few minutes or damage to the transmission and tires may occur or the engine may overheat. Sand When driving over sand, try to keep all four wheels on the most solid area of the trail. Do not reduce the tire pressures but shift to a lower gear and drive steadily through the terrain. When driving through water, determine the depth; avoid water higher than the bottom of the hubs (if possible) and proceed slowly. Drying can be improved by moving your vehicle slowly while applying light pressure on the brake pedal. After driving through mud, clean off residue stuck to rotating driveshafts and tires. Excess mud stuck on tires and rotating driveshafts causes an imbalance that could damage drive components. 130 Driving If the transmission, transfer case or front axle are submerged in water, their fluids should be checked and changed, if necessary. If the front or rear axle is submerged in water, the axle lubricant should be replaced. Driving on hilly or sloping terrain When driving on a hill, avoid driving crosswise or turning on steep slopes. Know the conditions on the other side of a hill before driving over the crest. When climbing a steep hill, start in a lower gear rather than downshifting to a lower gear from a higher gear once the ascent has started. When speed control is on and you are driving uphill, your vehicle speed may drop considerably, especially if you are carrying a heavy load. If vehicle speed drops more than 16 km/h (10 mph), the speed control will cancel automatically. If speed control cancels after climbing the hill, reset speed by pressing and holding the SET ACCEL button (to resume speeds over 50 km/h [30 mph]). Automatic transmissions may shift frequently while driving up steep (Overdrive) into grades. Driving on snow and ice A 4WD vehicle has advantages over 2WD vehicles in snow and ice but can skid like any other vehicle. Avoid sudden applications of power and quick changes of direction on snow and ice. [. . . ] Box 07150 Detroit, Michigan 48207 For a free publication catalog, order toll free: 1-800-782-4356 Monday-Friday 8:00 a. m. EST, for credit card holders only Obtaining a French owner's guide French Owner's Guides can be obtained from your dealer or by writing to Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited, Service Publications, P. O. Box 1580, Station B, Mississauga, Ontario L4Y 4G3. 245 Reporting safety defects REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS (U. S. ONLY) If you believe that your vehicle has a defect that could cause a crash, or could cause injury or death, you should immediately inform the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in addition to notifying Ford Motor Company. If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open an investigation, and if it finds that a safety defect exists in a group of vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy campaign. [. . . ]