03 f250 4wd Info

This position should only be usedwhen towing the vehicle.

Do not leave the vehicle unattended with the transfer case in theN (Neutral) position. Always set the parking brake fully and turn

off the ignition when leaving the vehicle.

Using the electronic shift 4WD system (if equipped)

Positions of the electronic shift system

The electronic shift 4WD system is designed to allow up to 45seconds before a shift command is performed. In the event thatconflicting shift commands are selected, allow up to 45 secondsfor the shift command to be performed prior to reporting anyshift concerns to your dealer.

Note: Some noise may be heard as the 4WD system shifts or engages.This is normal.

2H (2WD High) – For general on-road driving. Sends power to the rearwheels only.

4H (4WD High) – For winter and off-road conditions. Sends power tofront and rear wheels.

4L (4WD Low)– For low-speed off-road cond applications that requireextra power such as steep grades, deep sand or pulling a boat out of thewater. Sends power to front and rear wheels.

2H

4H

4L

N

2003 F250/350/450/550 (f23)Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)USA English (fus)

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Shifting from 2WD (2WD High) to 4x4 HIGH (4WD High)

Rotate the 4WD control to the 4x4HIGH position at speeds up to88 km/h (55 mph).

• The electronic shift 4WDsystem is designed to engage4x4 HIGH (4WD High) whenthe vehicle is moving. Ifshifted to 4x4 HIGH (4WDHIGH) while at complete stop,4x4 may not engage and the4x4 indicator may notilluminate until the vehicle is driven above 8 km/h (5 mph).

• Do not shift into 4x4 HIGH with the rear wheels slipping.

Shifting from 4x4 HIGH (4WD High) to 2WD (2WD High)

Rotate the 4WD control to 2WD atany forward speed. Disengagementof the transfer case and front hubsmay be delayed due to torque bindwhich is caused by driving on dryhard surfaces or performing tightturns while using the 4WD system.

• You do not need to operate the vehicle in R (Reverse) to disengageyour front hubs, but it will eliminate any torque bind and allow thesystem to immediately disengage.

Shifting from 4x4 HIGH (4WD High) to 4x4 LOW (4WD Low)

1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.

2. Depress the brake.

3. Place the gearshift in N (Neutral) (automatic transmission) or depressthe clutch (manual transmission).

4X4HIGH

2WD4X4LOW

4X4HIGH

2WD4X4LOW


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4. Move the 4WD control to the 4x4LOW position.

5. Hold the shift conditions until theLOW RANGE indicator lightilluminates.

6. If the LOW RANGE indicator lightdoes not illuminate within 15seconds, drive the vehicle above8 km/h (5 mph), then repeat steps 1through 5 before reporting any shiftconcerns to your dealer.

Shifting from 4x4 LOW (4WD Low) to 4x4 HIGH (4WD High) or 2WD(2WD High)

1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.

2. Depress the brake.

3. Place the gearshift in N (Neutral) (automatic transmission) or depressthe clutch (manual transmission).

4. Move the 4WD control to the 4x4HIGH (4WD High) or 2WD (2WDHigh) position.

5. Hold the shift conditions until theLOW RANGE indicator light shutsoff.

6. If the LOW RANGE indicator lightdoes not shut off within 15seconds, drive the vehicle above8 km/h (5 mph), then repeat steps 1through 5 before reporting any shift concerns to your dealer.

Driving off-road with truck and utility vehicles

4WD vehicles are specially equipped for driving on sand, snow, mud andrough terrain and have operating characteristics that are somewhatdifferent from conventional vehicles, both on and off the road.

How your vehicle differs from other vehiclesTruck and utility vehicles can differ from some other vehicles. Yourvehicle may be higher to allow it to travel over rough terrain withoutgetting hung up or damaging underbody components.

The differences that make your vehicle so versatile also make it handledifferently than an ordinary passenger car.

2WD4X4LOW

4X4HIGH

2WD4X4LOW

4X4HIGH


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Maintain steering wheel control at all times, especially in rough terrain.Since sudden changes in terrain can result in abrupt steering wheelmotion, make sure you grip the steering wheel from the outside. Do notgrip the spokes.

Drive cautiously to avoid vehicle damage from concealed objects such asrocks and stumps.

You should either know the terrain or examine maps of the area beforedriving. Map out your route before driving in the area. To maintainsteering and braking control of your vehicle, you must have all fourwheels on the ground and they must be rolling, not sliding or spinning.

Basic operating principles

• Do not use 4WD on dry, hard surfaced roads. Doing so will produceexcessive noise, increase tire wear and may damage drive components.4WD modes are only intended for consistently slippery or loosesurfaces.

• Drive slower in strong crosswinds which can affect the normal steeringcharacteristics of your vehicle.

• Be extremely careful when driving on pavement made slippery byloose sand, water, gravel, snow or ice.

If your vehicle goes off the edge of the pavement

• If your vehicle goes off the edge of the pavement, slow down, butavoid severe brake application, ease the vehicle back onto thepavement only after reducing your speed. Do not turn the steeringwheel too sharply while returning to the road surface.

• It may be safer to stay on the apron or shoulder of the road and slowdown gradually before returning to the pavement. You may losecontrol if you do not slow down or if you turn the steering wheel toosharply or abruptly.

• It often may be less risky to strike small objects, such as highwayreflectors, with minor damage to your vehicle rather than attempt asudden return to the pavement which could cause the vehicle to slidesideways out of control or roll over. Remember, your safety and thesafety of others should be your primary concern.


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Vehicles with a higher center of gravity such as utility andfour-wheel drive vehicles handle differently than vehicles with a

lower center of gravity. Utility and four-wheel drive vehicles are notdesigned for cornering at speeds as high as passenger cars any morethan low-slung sports cars are designed to perform satisfactorily underoff-road conditions. Avoid sharp turns, excessive speed and abruptmaneuvers in these vehicles. Failure to drive cautiously could result inan increased risk of loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover, personalinjury and death.

If your vehicle gets stuck

If your vehicle gets stuck in mud or snow it may be rocked out byshifting between forward and reverse gears, stopping between shifts, in asteady pattern. Press lightly on the accelerator in each gear.

Do not rock the vehicle if the engine is not at normal operatingtemperature or damage to the transmission may occur.

Do not rock the vehicle for more than a few minutes or damageto the transmission and tires may occur or the engine mayoverheat.

Always set the parking brake fully and make sure the gearshift islatched in P (Park). Turn the ignition to the LOCK position and

remove the key whenever you leave your vehicle.

If the parking brake is fully released, but the brake warning lampremains illuminated, the brakes may not be working properly.

See your dealer or a qualified service technician.

Do not spin the wheels at over 56 km/h (35 mph). The tires mayfail and injure a passenger or bystander.

Refer to Transmission temperature gauge in the Instrument clusterchapter for transmission fluid temperature information.

Emergency maneuvers

• In an unavoidable emergency situation where a sudden sharp turnmust be made, remember to avoid “over-driving” your vehicle, i.e.,turn the steering wheel only as rapidly and as far as required to avoidthe emergency. Excessive steering will result in less vehicle control,


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not more. Additionally, smooth variations of the accelerator and/orbrake pedal pressure should be utilized if changes in vehicle speed arecalled for. Avoid abrupt steering, acceleration or braking which couldresult in an increased risk of loss of vehicle control, vehicle rolloverand/or personal injury. Use all available road surface to return thevehicle to a safe direction of travel.

• In the event of an emergency stop, avoid skidding the tires and do notattempt any sharp steering wheel movements.

Vehicles with a higher center of gravity such as utility andfour-wheel drive vehicles handle differently than vehicles with a

lower center of gravity. Utility and four-wheel drive vehicles are notdesigned for cornering at speeds as high as passenger cars any morethan low-slung sports cars are designed to perform satisfactorily underoff-road conditions. Avoid sharp turns, excessive speed and abruptmaneuvers in these vehicles. Failure to drive cautiously could result inan increased risk of loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover, personalinjury and death.

• If the vehicle goes from one type of surface to another (i.e., fromconcrete to gravel) there will be a change in the way the vehicleresponds to a maneuver (steering, acceleration or braking). Again,avoid these abrupt inputs.

Parking

On some 4WD vehicles, when the transfer case is in the N (Neutral)position, the engine and transmission are disconnected from the rest ofthe driveline. Therefore, the vehicle is free to roll even if the automatictransmission is in P (Park) or the manual transmission is in gear. Do notleave the vehicle unattended with the transfer case in the N (Neutral)position. Always set the parking brake fully and turn off the ignitionwhen leaving the vehicle.

4WD Systems

4WD (when you select a 4WD mode), uses all four wheels to power thevehicle. This increases traction, enabling you to drive over terrain androad conditions that a conventional two-wheel drive vehicle cannot.


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Power is supplied to all four wheelsthrough a transfer case. On 4WDvehicles, the transfer case allowsyou to select 4WD when necessary.Information on transfer caseoperation and shifting procedurescan be found in the Drivingchapter. Information on transfer

case maintenance can be found in the Maintenance and specifications

chapter. You should become thoroughly familiar with this information

before you operate your vehicle.

Normal characteristics

On some 4WD models, the initial shift from two-wheel drive to 4x4 while

the vehicle is moving can cause some momentary clunk and ratcheting

sounds. This is the front drivetrain coming up to speed and the

automatic locking hubs engaging and is not cause for concern.

Sand

When driving over sand, try to keep all four wheels on the most solid

area of the trail. Avoid reducing the tire pressures but shift to a lower

gear and drive steadily through the terrain. Apply the accelerator slowlyand avoid spinning the wheels.

If you must reduce the tire pressure for whatever reason in sand, makesure you re-inflate the tires as soon as possible.

Avoid excessive speed because vehicle momentum can work against youand cause the vehicle to become stuck to the point that assistance maybe required from another vehicle. Remember, you may be able to backout the way you came if you proceed with caution.

Mud and water

If you must drive through highwater, drive slowly. Traction orbrake capability may be limited.

When driving through water,determine the depth; avoid waterhigher than the bottom of the hubs(if possible) and proceed slowly. Ifthe ignition system gets wet, thevehicle may stall.


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Once through water, always try the brakes. Wet brakes do not stop thevehicle as effectively as dry brakes. Drying can be improved by movingyour vehicle slowly while applying light pressure on the brake pedal.

Be cautious of sudden changes in vehicle speed or direction when youare driving in mud. Even 4WD vehicles can lose traction in slick mud. Aswhen you are driving over sand, apply the accelerator slowly and avoidspinning your wheels. If the vehicle does slide, steer in the direction ofthe slide until you regain control of the vehicle.

If the transmission, transfer case or front axle are submerged in water,their fluids should be checked and changed, if necessary.

Driving through deep water may damage the transmission.

Refer to Transmission temperature gauge in the Instrument clusterchapter for transmission fluid temperature information.

If the front or rear axle is submerged in water, the axle lubricant shouldbe replaced.

After driving through mud, clean off residue stuck to rotating driveshaftsand tires. Excess mud stuck on tires and rotating driveshafts causes animbalance that could damage drive components.

“Tread Lightly” is an educationalprogram designed to increase publicawareness of land-use regulationsand responsibilities in our nationswilderness areas. Ford MotorCompany joins the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of LandManagement in encouraging you to help preserve our national forest andother public and private lands by “treading lightly.”

Driving on hilly or sloping terrain

Although natural obstacles may make it necessary to travel diagonally upor down a hill or steep incline, you should always try to drive straight upor straight down. Avoid driving crosswise or turning on steepslopes or hills. A danger lies in losing traction, slipping sideways andpossibly rolling over. Whenever driving on a hill, determine beforehandthe route you will use. Do not drive over the crest of a hill withoutseeing what conditions are on the other side. Do not drive in reverseover a hill without the aid of an observer.


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When climbing a steep slope or hill,start in a lower gear rather thandownshifting to a lower gear from ahigher gear once the ascent hasstarted. This reduces strain on theengine and the possibility of stalling.

If you do stall out, do not try toturn around because you might rollover. It is better to back down to asafe location.

Apply just enough power to thewheels to climb the hill. Too muchpower will cause the tires to slip,spin or lose traction, resulting inloss of vehicle control.

Descend a hill in the same gear youwould use to climb up the hill toavoid excessive brake applicationand brake overheating. Do notdescend in neutral; instead,disengage overdrive or manuallyshift to a lower gear. Whendescending a steep hill, avoidsudden hard braking as you couldlose control. When you brake hard,the front wheels can’t turn and ifthey aren’t turning, you won’t beable to steer. The front wheels have to be turning in order to steer thevehicle. Rapid pumping of the brake pedal will help you slow the vehicleand still maintain steering control.

If your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, apply the brakes steadily. Do not“pump” the brakes.

Driving on snow and ice

4WD vehicles have advantages over 2WD vehicles in snow and ice butcan skid like any other vehicle.

Should you start to slide while driving on snowy or icy roads, turn thesteering wheel in the direction of the slide until you regain control.

Avoid sudden applications of power and quick changes of direction onsnow and ice. Apply the accelerator slowly and steadily when startingfrom a full stop.


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03 f250 4wd Info