Get Transmission and Drive Systems -> Four-Wheel Drive Guide for Ford F 150 Light Truck 2023

Automatic Transmission

The stow function allows the shifter to lay

HOW DOES AUTOMATIC RETURN

TO PARK (P) WORK

Your vehicle shifts into park (P) when your

vehicle is stationary and any of the

following occur:

flat in the console, enabling the use of the

working surface tray.

•

You switch the vehicle off.

You open the driver door with your

seatbelt unlatched.

•

You unlatch the driver seatbelt when

the driver door is open.

Note: Do not use automatic return to park

(P) when your vehicle is moving, except in

an emergency. See Starting and Stopping

the Engine (page 233).

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AUTOMATIC RETURN TO PARK

(P) LIMITATIONS

Automatic return to park (P) may not work

if the door ajar sensor or seatbelt sensor

are malfunctioning.

See an authorized dealer if any of the

following occur:

•

Seatbelt indicator illuminates or tone

sounds with the seatbelt fastened.

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Door ajar indicator does not illuminate

with the driver door open.

Note: Do not store objects in the selector

lever stow bin, and be sure that the bottom

selector lever tray mat is flat inside the

selector lever stow bin.

Note: If there are objects in the stow bin

while stowing the selector lever, the selector

lever could come back to the upright park

(P) position.

Door ajar indicator illuminates with the

driver door closed.

Transmission not in park message

appears with the driver door closed,

after you shift out of park (P).

STOWING THE SELECTOR

LEVER - EXCLUDING: RAPTOR

STOWING THE SELECTOR

LEVER - RAPTOR

Press the stow button to fold down the

selector lever. Press the button again to

release the selector lever from the stow

position to use.

Press the stow button to fold down the

selector lever. Press the button again to

release the selector lever from the stow

position to use.

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Automatic Transmission

The stow function allows the shifter to lay

MANUAL PARK RELEASE

PRECAUTIONS

flat in the console, enabling the use of the

working surface tray.

WARNING: When doing this

procedure, you need to take the

transmission out of park (P) which

means your vehicle can roll freely. To

avoid unwanted vehicle movement,

always fully apply the parking brake prior

to doing this procedure. Use wheels

chocks if appropriate.

WARNING: If the parking brake is

fully released, but the brake warning

lamp remains illuminated, the brakes

may not be working properly. Have your

vehicle checked as soon as possible.

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WARNING: Do not drive your

vehicle until you verify that the

stoplamps are working.

Use the manual park release to move your

transmission from the park (P) position in

the event of an electrical malfunction or

emergency. See Emergency Towing

(page 487).

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Note: Do not engage the manual park

release with the engine on.

Note: Do not store objects in the selector

lever stow bin, and be sure that the bottom

selector lever tray mat is flat inside the

selector lever stow bin.

Note: If there are objects in the stow bin

while stowing the selector lever, the selector

lever could come back to the upright park

(P) position.

USING MANUAL PARK RELEASE

Activating the Manual Park

Release Cable

1. Apply the parking brake. See Electric

Parking Brake (page 294).

Note: If vehicle battery is dead, for example,

no electrical power available, an external

power source may be required to apply the

parking brake.

2. Locate the manual park release cable

access cover at the bottom of the

driver dash lower panel, under the

steering wheel.

MANUAL PARK RELEASE

WHATISMANUALPARKRELEASE

Manual park release allows you to shift

your vehicle out of park (P) in the event of

an electrical malfunction or emergency.

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Automatic Transmission

6. With your foot still fully applied on the

brake pedal, disengage the parking

brake. See Electric Parking Brake

(page 294).

7. Your vehicle remains in neutral (N) for

emergency towing purposes.

8. Turn off the ignition.

9. Once safe to do so, and there is no risk

that your vehicle will roll, disconnect

the negative (black) battery cable from

the battery.

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Returning Your Vehicle to Normal

Mode

3. Carefully open the hinged access cover

using a plastic type wedge or pry tool

at the upper edge of the panel. If done

correctly, the panel will swing

downward.

Note: Do not activate the override lever

until you are in the driver's seat. If damage

occurs when access cover is opened,

contact your authorized Ford Dealer for a

replacement.

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1. Once it is safe to do so, reconnect the

negative (black) battery cable to the

battery.

2. Apply the parking brake. See Electric

4. Switch ignition on, but do not start your

vehicle.

5. Once in the driver seat, fully apply the

brake pedal and hold. Do not release.

Pull the tether straight out toward the

driver seat until engaged. If done

correctly, a message will appear in the

instrument cluster.

Note: Do not use excessive force when

using the manual park release handle, as it

could result in damage to the handle.

Parking Brake (page 294).

Note: If vehicle battery is dead, for example,

no electrical power available, an external

power may be required to apply the parking

brake.

Note: Do not pull the tether until you are in

the driver seat.

Note: Your vehicle is now out of the park

3. Once in the driver seat, fully apply the

brake pedal and hold, do not release.

Using the tether, pull the handle

towards the driver seat until you hit a

hard stop.

(P) position and is free to roll.

4. Pull the lever toward the floor until it

hits a hard stop, before returning to the

stowed position.

Note: Maintain tension on the strap until

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the lever reaches the stowed position.

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Automatic Transmission

5. Return the manual park release cable

lever to the stowed position and install

the access cover.

6. With your foot fully applied on the

brake pedal, start your vehicle. Confirm

that your vehicle is in the park (P)

position and that the instrument

cluster indicates park (P).

Note: If the instrument cluster is not

displaying the park (P) position or the

instrument cluster displays an error

message, apply the parking brake before

exiting your vehicle.

7. Close the access cover.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AUDIBLE WARNINGS

Transmission Not In Park (P)

Audible Warning

Sounds if you open the driver door before

shifting into park (P).

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Four-Wheel Drive(If Equipped)

the front wheels for optimum performance

HOW DOES FOUR-WHEEL

DRIVE WORK - EXCLUDING:

RAPTOR

for all on-road conditions. When either

four-wheel drive high or four-wheel drive

low are selected, the system provides

electronically or mechanically locked

power to the front and rear wheels for use

in off-road or slippery conditions such as

deep snow, sand or mud. Selecting

four-wheel drive low also provides

additional gearing for increased torque

multiplication for conditions like deep

sand, steep slopes, or pulling heavy

objects. Additionally, the system is capable

of recreational flat towing by putting the

transfer case into neutral (N). See

Recreationally Towing Your Vehicle

(page 485).

Using the Electronic Shift On the

Fly System (If Equipped)

This four-wheel drive system utilizes a

2-speed Electronic Shift On the Fly (ESOF)

transfer case which is also known as a

part-time system. This system offers the

driver two-wheel drive high, four-wheel

drive high, and four-wheel drive low as

available modes of operation. When either

four-wheel drive high or four-wheel drive

low are selected, the system provides

mechanically locked four-wheel drive

power to both the front and rear wheels

for use in off-road or slippery conditions

such as deep snow, sand or mud. Selecting

four-wheel drive low also provides

additional gearing for increased torque

multiplication for conditions like deep

sand, steep slopes, or pulling heavy

objects. Additionally, the system is capable

of recreational flat towing by putting the

transfer case into neutral (N). See

Recreationally Towing Your Vehicle

(page 485).

There is further information on driving in

unique driving conditions. See Off-Road

Driving (page 466).

HOW DOES FOUR-WHEEL

DRIVE WORK - RAPTOR

The 2-speed automatic four-wheel drive

system utilizes an electronically controlled

on-demand 2-speed transfer case. This

system monitors various vehicle sensory

inputs to provide an increased level of

performance. This system offers the driver

two-wheel drive high, four-wheel drive

auto, four-wheel drive high, and four-wheel

drive low as available modes of operation.

When four-wheel drive auto is selected,

the system continuously varies power to

the front wheels for optimum performance

for all on-road conditions. When either

four-wheel drive high or four-wheel drive

low are selected, the system provides

mechanically locked power to the front

and rear wheels for use in off-road or

slippery conditions such as deep snow,

sand or mud. Selecting four-wheel drive

low also provides additional gearing for

increased torque multiplication for

There is further information on driving in

unique driving conditions. See Off-Road

Driving (page 466).

Using the 2-Speed Automatic

Four-Wheel Drive System(If Equipped)

The 2-speed automatic four-wheel drive

system utilizes an electronically controlled

on-demand 2-speed transfer case. This

system monitors various vehicle sensory

inputs to provide an increased level of

performance. This system offers the driver

two-wheel drive high, four-wheel drive

auto, four-wheel drive high, and four-wheel

drive low as available modes of operation.

When four-wheel drive auto is selected,

the system continuously varies power to

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Four-Wheel Drive(If Equipped)

conditions like deep sand, steep slopes, or

outside. Do not grip the spokes. Drive

cautiously to avoid vehicle damage from

concealed objects such as rocks and

stumps. Drive slower in strong crosswinds

which can affect the normal steering

characteristics of your vehicle. Be

extremely careful when driving on

pavement made slippery by loose sand,

water, gravel, snow or ice.

Note: Do not use four-wheel drive high or

four-wheel drive low mode on dry, hard

surfaced roads. Doing so can produce

excessive noise, increase tire wear and can

damage drive components.

pulling heavy objects. Additionally, the

system is capable of recreational flat

towing by putting the transfer case into

neutral (N). See Recreationally Towing

Your Vehicle (page 485).

There is further information on driving in

unique driving conditions. See Off-Road

Driving (page 466).

FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE

PRECAUTIONS

WARNING: Vehicles with a higher

center of gravity (utility and four-wheel

drive vehicles) handle differently than

vehicles with a lower center of gravity

(passenger cars). Avoid sharp turns,

excessive speed and abrupt steering in

these vehicles. Failure to drive cautiously

increases the risk of losing control of your

vehicle, vehicle rollover, personal injury

and death.

FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE

LIMITATIONS

Operating Four-Wheel Drive with

a Spare or Mismatched Tires (If

Equipped)

On four-wheel drive vehicles, the size of

the spare tire can affect the four-wheel

drive system. If there is a significant

difference between the size of the spare

tire and the remaining tires, you could have

limited four-wheel drive functionality.

When driving with the full-size dissimilar

spare wheel and tire assembly, we

recommend that you do not:

WARNING: Do not become

overconfident in the ability of four-wheel

drive vehicles. Although a four-wheel

drive vehicle may accelerate better than

a two-wheel drive vehicle in low traction

situations, it won't stop any faster than

two-wheel drive vehicles. Always drive

at a safe speed.

•

Exceed 50 mph (80 km/h) with a

four-wheel drive mode turned on.

Turn on a four-wheel drive mode

unless the vehicle is stationary.

Truck and utility vehicles can differ from

some other vehicles. Your vehicle could be

higher to allow it to travel over rough

Use a four-wheel drive mode on dry

pavement.

terrain without getting stuck or damaging

underbody components. The differences

that make your vehicle so versatile also

make it handle differently than an ordinary

passenger car. Always maintain steering

wheel control, especially in rough terrain.

Since sudden changes in terrain can result

in abrupt steering wheel motion, make sure

you grip the steering wheel from the

Driving with the full-size dissimilar spare

wheel and tire assembly can limit

four-wheel drive functionality, especially

when driving in a mechanically locked

four-wheel drive mode. You can experience

the following:

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Four-Wheel Drive(If Equipped)

•

Additional noise from the transfer case

SELECTING A FOUR-WHEEL

DRIVE MODE - EXCLUDING:

RAPTOR

or other drive components.

Difficulty shifting out of a mechanically

locked four-wheel drive mode.

Use of a dissimilar spare wheel and tire

assembly can lead to impairment of the

following:

•

Comfort and noise.

Winter weather driving capability.

Wet driving capability.

Four-wheel drive capability.

Mechanical Shift Blocking

On four-wheel drive vehicles with a

mechanically locked four-wheel drive high

mode, the transfer case distributes torque

to the front wheels by mechanically

interlocking the front and rear driveshafts

together. Various external factors can

affect shifting performance of this type of

system including, but not limited to:

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•

Vehicle acceleration.

Dissimilar tire sizes.

Steering input.

If the system detects a mechanical shift

blockage at speed after you select

two-wheel drive high, the message "4x4

Unable to Disengage See Manual", could

display momentarily. If this message

displays, one or more of the following

actions can relieve the mechanical shift

block:

•

Momentary acceleration.

Momentary braking.

Bringing the vehicle to a stop.

Shifting the transmission to neutral and

back to drive.

•

Shifting the transmission to reverse

and back to drive.

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The four-wheel drive mode control is on

the instrument panel.

Driving the vehicle around a tight turn

at a slow speed.

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Transmission and Drive Systems -> Four-Wheel Drive for Your Ford F 150 Light Truck 2023

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