Ford Excursion (2005 year). Manual — part 46

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

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

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

Rotate the 4WD control to the 4x4
HIGH position at speeds up to 55
mph (88 km/h).
• The electronic shift 4WD

system is designed to engage
4x4 HIGH (4WD High) when
the vehicle is moving. If
shifted to 4x4 HIGH (4WD
HIGH) while at complete stop,
4x4 may not engage and the
4x4 indicator may not
illuminate until the vehicle is driven above 5 mph (8 km/h).

• 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 at
any forward speed. Disengagement
of the transfer case and front hubs
may be delayed due to torque bind
which is caused by driving on dry
hard surfaces or performing tight
turns while using the 4WD system.

• You do not need to operate the vehicle in R (Reverse) to disengage

your front hubs, but it will eliminate any torque bind and allow the
system to immediately disengage.

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

1. Bring the vehicle to either a complete stop or vehicle speed below 3
mph (5 km/h).

2. Depress the brake.

4X4

HIGH

2WD

4X4

LOW

4X4

HIGH

2WD

4X4

LOW

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3. Place the gearshift in N (Neutral).

4. Move the 4WD control to the 4x4
LOW position.

5. Hold the shift conditions until the
LOW RANGE indicator light
illuminates.

6. If the LOW RANGE indicator light
does not illuminate within 15
seconds, drive the vehicle above 5
mph (8 km/h), then repeat steps 1
through 5 before reporting any shift
concerns to your dealer.

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

1. Bring the vehicle to either a complete stop or vehicle speed below 3
mph (5 km/h).

2. Depress the brake.

3. Place the gearshift in N (Neutral).

4. Move the 4WD control to the 4x4
HIGH (4WD High) or 2WD (2WD
High) position.

5. Hold the shift conditions until the
LOW RANGE indicator light shuts
off.

6. If the LOW RANGE indicator light
does not shut off within 15
seconds, drive the vehicle above 5
mph (8 km/h), then repeat steps 1
through 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 and
rough terrain and have operating characteristics that are somewhat
different from conventional vehicles, both on and off the road.

How your vehicle differs from other vehicles

Truck and utility vehicles can differ from some other vehicles. Your
vehicle may be higher to allow it to travel over rough terrain without
getting hung up or damaging underbody components.

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

Maintain steering wheel control at all times, 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 outside. Do not
grip the spokes.

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. Map out your route before driving in the area. To maintain
steering and braking control of your vehicle, you must have all four
wheels 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 produce

excessive noise, increase tire wear and may damage drive components.
4WD modes are only intended for consistently slippery or loose
surfaces.

• 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.

If your vehicle goes off the edge of the pavement
• If your vehicle goes off the edge of the pavement, slow down, but

avoid severe brake application, ease the vehicle back onto the
pavement only after reducing your speed. Do not turn the steering
wheel too sharply while returning to the road surface.

• It may be safer to stay on the apron or shoulder of the road and slow

down gradually before returning to the pavement. You may lose
control if you do not slow down or if you turn the steering wheel too
sharply or abruptly.

• It often may be less risky to strike small objects, such as highway

reflectors, with minor damage to your vehicle rather than attempt a
sudden return to the pavement which could cause the vehicle to slide
sideways out of control or roll over. Remember, your safety and the
safety of others should be your primary concern.

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

lower center of gravity. Utility and four-wheel drive vehicles are not
designed for cornering at speeds as high as passenger cars any more
than low-slung sports cars are designed to perform satisfactorily under
off-road conditions. Avoid sharp turns, excessive speed and abrupt
maneuvers in these vehicles. Failure to drive cautiously could result in
an increased risk of loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover, personal
injury and death.

If your vehicle gets stuck

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

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.

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

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

Emergency maneuvers
• In an unavoidable emergency situation where a sudden sharp turn

must be made, remember to avoid “over-driving” your vehicle, i.e.,
turn the steering wheel only as rapidly and as far as required to avoid
the emergency. Excessive steering will result in less vehicle control,
not more. Additionally, smooth variations of the accelerator and/or
brake pedal pressure should be utilized if changes in vehicle speed are
called for. Avoid abrupt steering, acceleration or braking which could
result in an increased risk of loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover
and/or personal injury. Use all available road surface to return the
vehicle to a safe direction of travel.

• In the event of an emergency stop, avoid skidding the tires and do not

attempt any sharp steering wheel movements.

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