Ford F-250 Heavy-Duty 1997 Owner's Manual

Table of Contents

Introduction ......................................................1

Instrumentation .............................................. 11

Audio ................................................................ 27

Controls and Features .................................. 57

Seating and Safety Restraints ....................95

Starting ........................................................... 137

Driving ........................................................... 145

Roadside Emergencies ................................ 223

Maintenance and Care ............................... 257

Capacities and Specifications ................... 317

Reporting Safety Defects ........................... 333

Customer Assistance ................................... 335

Accessories ....................................................347

Quick Index.................................................... 359

Index ............................................................... 367

Introduction

At Ford Motor Company, excellence is the continuous commitment to achieve the best result possible. It is dedication to learning what you want, determination to develop the right concept, and execution of that concept with care, precision, and attention to detail. In short, excellence means being the standard by which others are judged.

Our Guiding Principles

Quality comes first. For your satisfaction, the

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quality of our products and services must be our number one priority.

You are the focus of everything we do. Our

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work must be done with you in mind, providing better products and services than our competition.

Continuous improvement is essential to our

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success. We must strive for excellence in everything we do: in our products — in their safety and value — and in our services, our human relations, our competitiveness, and our profitability.

Employee involvement is our way of life.

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We are a team. We must treat one another with trust and respect.

Dealers and suppliers are our partners. We

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must maintain mutually beneficial relationships with dealers, suppliers, and our other business associates.

Integrity is never compromised. Our conduct

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worldwide must be pursued in a manner that is socially responsible and commands respect for its integrity and for its positive contributions to society.

This Guide

Congratulations on the purchase of your new vehicle. This guide has information about the equipment and the options for your new vehicle. You may not have bought all of the options available to you. If you do not know which information applies to your vehicle, talk to your dealer.

This guide describes equipment and gives specifications for equipment that was in effect when this guide was approved for printing. Ford may discontinue models or change specifications or design without any notice and without incurring obligation.

NOTES and WARNINGS

NOTES give you additional information about

the subject matter you are referencing. WARNINGS remind you to be especially careful

in those areas where carelessness can cause damage to your vehicle or personal injury to yourself, your passengers or other people. Please read all WARNINGS carefully.

RWARNING

Finding Information in This Guide

After you have read this guide once, you will probably return to it when you have a specific question or need additional information. To help you find specific information quickly, you can use the table of contents or the index.

The Quick Index at the end of the book provides a page number following each item which indicates where detailed information can be found.

This guide has a table of contents at the beginning of the book to show chapter titles.

To use the Index, turn to the back of the book and search in the alphabetical listing for the word that best describes the information you need. If the word you chose is not listed, think of other related words and look them up. We have designed the Index so that you can find information under a technical term.

Canadian Owners — French Version

French Owner 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.

Booklet

The Maintenance Schedule booklet lists the services that are most important for keeping your vehicle in good condition. A record log is also provided to help you keep track of all services performed.

Your vehicle is covered by three types of warranties: Basic Vehicle Warranty, Extended Warranties on certain parts, and Emissions Warranties.

Read your Warranty Information Booklet carefully to find out about your vehicle’s warranties and your basic rights and responsibilities.

If you lose your Warranty Information Booklet, you can get a new one free of charge. Contact any Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer, or refer to the addresses and phone numbers on the first page of this Owner’s Guide.

Ford Extended Service Plan

More Protection for Your Vehicle

You can get more protection for your new car or light truck by purchasing a Ford Extended Service Plan (Ford ESP). Ford ESP is the only extended service program with the Ford name on it and the only service contract backed by Ford Motor Company.

Ford ESP is an optional service contract, backed and administered by Ford. It provides:

protection against repair costs after your

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Bumper to Bumper Warranty expires;

other benefits during the warranty period

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(such as: reimbursement for rentals; coverage for certain maintenance and wear items).

You may purchase Ford ESP from any participating Ford Motor Company dealer. There are several Ford ESP plans available in various time-and-mileage combinations. Each plan can be tailored to fit your own driving needs, including reimbursement benefits for towing and rental. (In Hawaii, rules vary. See your dealer for details.)

When you buy Ford ESP, you receive peace-of-mind protection throughout the United States and Canada, provided by a network of more than 5,100 participating Ford Motor Company dealers.

NOTE: Repairs performed outside the United

States and Canada are not eligible for ESP coverage.

This information is subject to change. Ask your dealer for complete details about Ford ESP coverage.

FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES

As with other vehicles of this type, failure to operate this vehicle correctly may result in loss of control or an accident. Be sure to read the

Additional Special Driving Instructions for Four-Wheel Drive Vehicle Operators in this book

and the special supplement included with four-wheel drive vehicles entitled 4-Wheeling.

LIGHT TRUCK AMBULANCE CONVERSIONS

If your light truck is equipped with the Ford Ambulance Preparation Package, it can be

utilized as an ambulance. Ford urges ambulance manufacturers to follow the recommendations of the Ford Incomplete Vehicle Manual, Ford

Truck Body Builder’s Layout Book, and the QVM Guidelines as well as pertinent

supplements. For further information, please call the Light Truck Body Builders Advisory Service on 1-800-635-5560.

Use of your Ford light truck as an ambulance, without the Ford Ambulance Preparation Package voids the Ford New Vehicle Limited Warranty and may void the Emissions Warranties. In addition, ambulance usage without the preparation package could cause high underbody temperatures, overpressurized fuel, and a risk of spraying fuel which could lead to fires. If your light truck is equipped with the Ford Ambulance Preparation Package it will say so on its information decal. The decal is located on the driver’s side door pillar or on the rear edge of the driver’s door. You can determine whether the ambulance manufacturer followed Ford’s recommendations by directly contacting that manufacturer. NOTE: Ford Ambulance Preparation Package is only available on certain 7.3L Diesel F-Series vehicles.

DIESEL-POWERED VEHICLES

Read the 7.3L Diesel Engine Owner’s Guide Supplement for information regarding correct

operation and maintenance of your diesel-powered light truck.

Number (VIN)

You should include your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) any time you write to Ford Motor Company about your vehicle.

The Vehicle Identification Number is attached to your vehicle in the following places:

Complete Ford Built Vehicles

on the metal tag attached to the top of the

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instrument panel on the driver’s side — you can see the tag by looking through the windshield from outside your vehicle.

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN/Serial Number)

on the Safety Compliance Certification Label

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—this label is attached to the left front door lock facing or the door latch post pillar. It is required by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and is made of special material. If someone tampers with it, it will be destroyed and/or a destruction pattern will appear.

The label contains the name of the manufacturer, the month and year of manufacture, the certification statement and the Vehicle Identification Number. The label also contains Gross Vehicle Weight Rating and Gross Axle Weight Ratings, wheel and tire data and information codes for additional vehicle data. For further information about the Safety Compliance Certification Label and the information contained on it, refer to the Index.

Incomplete Vehicles

On completed derivations of incomplete vehicles, the Safety Compliance Certification Label is affixed at a location determined by a subsequent stage manufacturer of the completed vehicle. In these cases the completed vehicle is manufactured in two (or more) stages by two (or more) separate manufacturers, with the manufacture of the completed vehicle occurring at a later date than the manufacture of the incomplete vehicle. Consequently, the model year of the completed vehicle may be later than the model year of its chassis.

Federal Highway Administration Regulation

Regulations such as those issued by the Federal Highway Administration or issued pursuant to the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), and/or state and local laws and regulations may require additional equipment for the way you intend to use the vehicle. It is the responsibility of the registered owner to determine the applicability of such laws and regulations to your intended use for the vehicle, and to arrange for the installation of required equipment. Your Ford dealer has information about the availability of many items of equipment which may be ordered for your vehicle.

Your new vehicle goes through an adjustment or break-in period during the first 1,000 miles (1,600 km) that you drive it. During the break-in period, you need to pay careful attention to how you drive your vehicle.

Avoid sudden stops. Because your vehicle

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has new brake linings, you should take these steps:

— Watch traffic carefully so that you can

anticipate when to stop. — Begin braking well in advance. — Apply the brakes gradually.

The break-in period for new brake linings lasts for 100 miles (160 km) of city driving or 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of highway driving.

Wheel lug nuts must be retightened to proper

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torque specifications at 500 miles/800 km of new vehicle operation. Proper torque specifications are provided in this guide. Also retighten to proper torque specifications at 500 miles/800 km after any wheel change or any other time the wheel lug nuts have been loosened.

Use only the type of engine oil that Ford

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recommends. See Engine oil recommendations in the Index. Do not use special “break-in” oils.

Instrumentation

The instrument panel (dashboard) on your vehicle is divided into several different sections. The illustrations on the following pages show the major parts of the instrument panel that are described in this chapter. Some items shown may not be on all vehicles.

Your vehicle has one of the following clusters:

A mechanical cluster

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A mechanical cluster with tachometer

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If you are not sure which cluster your vehicle has, check the diagrams on the following pages of this section.

Instrument Panel, Controls and Mechanical Cluster with

Tachometer

Mechanical cluster

Mechanical cluster with tachometer

The following warning lights and gauges are on the mechanical cluster. All of the warning lights and gauges alert you to possible problems with your vehicle. Some of the lights listed are optional. The following sections detail what each of these indicators means.

Brake System Warning Light

The warning light for the brakes can show three things — that either the parking brake is not fully released, that the brake fluid level is low in the master cylinder reservoir or the vacuum pressure is low on diesel engine vehicles. If the fluid level is low, the brake system should be checked by a qualified service technician.

This light illuminates when you turn the ignition key to START to verify that the indicator bulb is working. If the light stays on or illuminates after you have released the parking brake fully, have the hydraulic brake system serviced.

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The BRAKE light indicates that the brakes may not be working properly. Have the brakes checked immediately.

Brake warning light

Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light

To check the ABS brake warning light turn the ignition key to ON. The ABS brake warning light should glow momentarily.

NOTE: If it does not glow momentarily, have

your vehicle’s electrical system checked immediately.

NOTE: If the ABS brake warning light begins

to flash in a repeatable flash sequence, check the rear anti-lock system continuous power fuse and brake lights for proper operation.

Antilock warning light

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If the anti-lock brake system warning light remains on or comes on while driving, have the braking system checked by a qualified service technician as soon as possible.

NOTE: If a fault occurs in the anti-lock

system, and the brake warning light is not lit, the anti-lock system is disabled but normal brake function remains operational.

Safety Belt Warning Light and Chime

This warning light and chime remind you to fasten your safety belt. The following conditions will take place:

If the safety belt is not buckled when the key

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is turned to the ON position, the light comes on for 1 to 2 minutes and the chime sounds for 4 to 8 seconds.

If the safety belt is buckled while the light is

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on and the chime is sounding, both the light and chime turn off.

If the safety belt is buckled before the

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ignition is turned to the ON position, neither the light nor the chime will come on.

Safety belt warning light

Check Engine Warning Light

This light illuminates when the engine’s Emission Control System requires service. It will also illuminate when the ignition key is in the ON position and the engine is off.

Check engine warning light

NOTE: If your light truck is equipped with

dual fuel tanks, the “CHECK ENGINE” light may come on if fuel is restricted to the engine or if the fuel flow is momentarily disrupted because of an empty fuel tank before you switched to the auxiliary fuel tank. This condition is normal and the light should go off after full fuel flow is restored.

Charging System Light

This light indicates that your battery is not being charged and that you need to have the electrical system checked.

Charging system light

This light illuminates every time you turn the ignition to the ON or START position (engine off). The light should go off when the engine starts and the alternator begins to charge.

If the light stays on or illuminates when the engine is running, have the electrical system checked as soon as possible.

Battery Voltage Gauge (Voltmeter)

This gauge shows you the battery voltage when the ignition key is in the ON position.

If you are running electrical accessories (when the engine is off, or idling at a low speed), the pointer may move toward the lower end of the normal band. If it stays outside the normal band area, have your vehicle’s electrical system checked as soon as it is safely possible.

If the battery is operating under cold weather conditions, the pointer may indicate in the upper range of the NORMAL band while the battery is charging. If you are running electrical accessories with the engine off or idling at a low speed, or the battery is not fully charged, the pointer may move toward the lower end of the NORMAL band.

If it stays outside the NORMAL band, have your vehicle’s electrical system checked as soon as it is safely possible.

Battery voltage gauge

Engine Oil Pressure Gauge

This gauge indicates the engine’s oil pressure, not the oil level. However, if your engine’s oil level is low, it could affect the oil pressure. With the engine running, the pointer should move into the NORMAL band. If the pointer drops below the NORMAL band while the engine is running, you have lost oil pressure and continued operation will cause severe engine damage.

If you lose engine oil pressure:

1. Pull off the road as soon as safely possible.

2. Shut off the engine immediately or severe engine damage could result.

3. Check the engine’s oil level, following the instructions on checking and adding engine oil. Refer to Engine oil in the Index. If you do not follow these instructions, you or others could be injured. To assure an accurate reading, your vehicle should be on level ground.

4. If the level is low, add only as much oil as necessary before you start the engine again. Do not overfill. Do not operate the engine if the pointer is below the NORMAL band, regardless of the oil level. Contact your nearest dealer for further service actions.

Engine oil pressure gauge

High Beam Light

This light comes on when the headlamps are turned on high beam or when you flash the lights.

High beam indicator light

“Headlamps On” Alert Chime

This chime will sound if you open the door while the headlamps or parklamps are on.

Fuel Gauge

The fuel gauge displays approximately how much fuel is in the fuel tank only when the ignition switch is ON.

The fuel gauge indicator may vary slightly when the vehicle is in motion.

With ignition switch OFF, the fuel gauge indicator may drift from the ignition switch ON position.

Fuel gauge

Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge

This gauge tells you the temperature of the engine coolant, not the coolant level. If the coolant is not at its proper level or mixture, the gauge indicator will not be accurate.

The pointer moves from the C (cold) mark into the Normal band as the engine coolant warms up. It is acceptable for the pointer to fluctuate within the Normal band under normal driving conditions. Under certain driving conditions, such as heavy stop and go traffic or driving up hills in hot weather, the pointer may move to the top of the Normal band.

If, under any circumstances, the pointer moves above the NORMAL band, the engine is overheating and continued operation may cause engine damage.

If your engine overheats:

1. Pull off the road as soon as it is safely possible.

2. Turn off the engine. If you do not stop the engine as soon as safely possible, severe engine damage could result.

3. Let the engine cool. DO NOT REMOVE

COOLANT SYSTEM FILL CAP UNTIL THE ENGINE IS COOL.

4. Check the coolant level following the instructions on checking and adding coolant to your engine, see Engine Coolant in the Index. If you do not follow these instructions, you or others could be injured.

For instructions on checking and adding coolant to your engine, see Engine coolant in the Index. If you do not follow these instructions, you or others could be injured.

Engine coolant temperature gauge

Speedometer

The speedometer tells you how many miles (kilometers) per hour your vehicle is moving.

Your vehicle contains a speedometer which receives its input from the Anti-Lock brake sensor. The speedometer is also used to provide a speed signal for correct operation of the vehicle’s Powertrain Control Module (PCM), electronic transmission, and speed control (if so equipped). Because of this, it is very IMPORTANT to change the speedometer’s internal conversion constant if the size of the tires on the vehicle is changed. Changing the conversion constant to the proper value when the tires are changed will also ensure that the speedometer retains the original factory-set accuracy.

Some vehicles are equipped with a vehicle speed (mph/km/h) limiting device that is contained within the Powertrain Control Module (PCM). The purpose of this device is to maintain peak vehicle speed below a specified limit. (Vehicle speed limits may vary based on engine displacement.)

If you are experiencing an “engine cut-out” condition at high speeds, it may be the result of this limiting device. It is a normal condition and can be avoided by reducing vehicle/engine speed.

Speedometer

Odometer/Trip Odometer

The Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) odometer is a combination trip odometer and total odometer. The total odometer is normally displayed. To see the trip odometer, press and release the SELECT control on the upper right side of the speedometer. To zero out the trip odometer, press and release the RESET control on the upper left side of the speedometer while the trip odometer is displayed. If the trip odometer is displayed, press and release the SELECT control to return the display to the total odometer value.

Tachometer (If equipped)

The tachometer will show you the engine’s speed measured in revolutions per minute (RPM).

The tachometer may move slightly when the key is placed in the ACC or ON position, with the engine off. This is normal and does not affect the performance of the tachometer when the engine is running.

Some vehicles are equipped with an engine speed (RPM) limiting device contained within the powertrain control module (PCM). The purpose of this device is to maintain peak engine speed (RPM) below a specified limit. This feature is only evident on automatic transmission vehicles when shifting manually (1, 2, D) and on all manual transmission units. (Engine speed limits may vary based on engine displacement.)

If you are experiencing an “engine cut-out” condition at high speeds, it may be the result of this limiting device. It is a normal condition and can be avoided by reducing vehicle/engine speed.

Tachometer

Compact Disc Radio

Electronic Sound Systems

The Compact Disc Radio combines the Electronic Stereo Radio with the Ford Compact Disc Player.

Using the Controls on Your New Radio/CD Player

Most of the features of this unit work for both radio and CD operation. Also, some of the knobs and buttons control several different functions, so be sure to read all of the operating instructions carefully.

How to turn the radio on and off

Press the “POWER” button to turn the radio on. Press it again to turn it off.

How to adjust the volume

Press the (R/S) side of the “VOL” button to increase/decrease the volume. Bars illuminate in the display to show the relative volume level.

NOTE: If the volume level is set above a

certain listening level when the ignition switch is turned off, when the ignition switch is turned back on, the volume will come back to a “nominal” listening level. However, if the radio power is turned off, the volume will remain in the position it was set at when radio power was switched off.

Selecting the AM or FM frequency band

Push the “AM/FM” button to select the desired frequency band. When in the radio mode, pushing the button more than once will alternate between AM, FM1 and FM2. These functions are used with the station memory buttons described under How to tune radio stations.

How to tune radio stations

There are four ways for you to tune in a particular station. You can manually locate the station using the “SCAN/TUNE” button, “SEEK” the station, “SCAN” to the station or select the station by using the memory buttons, which you can set to any desired frequency. These four methods are described below.

Using the “SCAN/TUNE” button to manually

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tune

You can change the frequency up or down one increment at a time (FM changes in increments of 200kHz; AM changes in increments of 10kHz) by first pressing the “SCAN/TUNE” button twice (display shows “TUNE”), then — within approximately five seconds —pressing and releasing either the topaor bottombhalf of the “SEEK” button. To change frequencies quickly, press and hold down either the top or bottom half of the “SEEK” button. While you are manually tuning, the display will show a blinking “M”.

Manual tuning adjusts your radio to any allowable broadcast frequency, whether or not a station is present on that frequency. (See All About Radio Frequencies in this section.)

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