Ford E-350 (2010 year). Manual — part 48

STARTING

Positions of the ignition

1. Accessory — allows the electrical
accessories such as the radio to
operate while the engine is not
running.

2. Lock — locks the automatic
transmission gearshift lever and
allows key removal.

3. Off — shuts off the engine and all
accessories without locking the
steering wheel.

4. On — all electrical circuits operational. Warning lights illuminated. Key
position when driving.

5. Start — cranks the engine. Release the key as soon as the engine
starts.

Preparing to start your vehicle

Engine starting is controlled by the powertrain control system.

This system meets all Canadian interference-causing equipment standard
requirements regulating the impulse electrical field strength of radio
noise.

When starting a fuel-injected engine, don’t press the accelerator before
or during starting. Only use the accelerator when you have difficulty
starting the engine. For more information on starting the vehicle, refer to
Starting the engine in this chapter.

WARNING: Extended idling at high engine speeds can produce
very high temperatures in the engine and exhaust system,

creating the risk of fire or other damage.

WARNING: Do not park, idle, or drive your vehicle in dry grass
or other dry ground cover. The emission system heats up the

engine compartment and exhaust system, which can start a fire.

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5

4

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WARNING: Do not start your vehicle in a closed garage or in
other enclosed areas. Exhaust fumes can be toxic. Always open

the garage door before you start the engine. See Guarding against
exhaust fumes in this chapter for more instructions.

WARNING: If you smell exhaust fumes inside your vehicle, have
your dealer inspect your vehicle immediately. Do not drive if you

smell exhaust fumes.

Important safety precautions

When the engine starts, the idle RPM runs faster to warm the engine. If
the engine idle speed does not slow down automatically, have the vehicle
checked. If your vehicle is operated in a heavy snow storm or blowing
snow conditions, the engine air induction may become partially clogged
with snow and/or ice. If this occurs, the engine may experience a
significant reduction in power output. At the earliest opportunity, clear
all the snow and/or ice away from the air induction inlet.

Before starting the vehicle:

1. Make sure all occupants buckle their safety belts. For more
information on safety belts and their proper usage, refer to the Seating
and Safety Restraints chapter.

2. Make sure the headlamps and electrical accessories are off.
• Make sure the parking brake is

set.

• Make sure the gearshift is in P

(Park).

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• Turn the key to 4 (on) without

turning the key to 5 (start).

Some warning lights will briefly illuminate. See Warning lights and
chimes in the Instrument Cluster chapter for more information
regarding the warning lights.

Starting the engine

1. Turn the key to 4 (on) without
turning the key to 5 (start).

2. Turn the key to 5 (start), then
release the key as soon as the
engine starts. Excessive cranking
could damage the starter.

Note: If the engine does not start within five seconds on the first try,
turn the key to 3 (off), wait 10 seconds and try again. If the engine still
fails to start, press the accelerator to the floor and try again; this will
allow the engine to crank with the fuel shut off in case the engine is
flooded with fuel.

Cold weather starting (flexible fuel vehicles only)

The starting characteristics of all grades of E

85

ethanol make it

unsuitable for use when ambient temperatures fall below 0°F (-18°C).
Consult your fuel distributor for the availability of winter grade ethanol.
As the outside temperature approaches freezing, ethanol fuel distributors
should supply winter grade ethanol (same as with unleaded gasoline). If
summer grade ethanol is used in cold weather conditions, 0°F to 32°F
(-18°C to 0°C), you may experience increased cranking times, rough idle
or hesitation until the engine has warmed up.

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2

3

4

5

3

2

1

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You may experience a decrease in peak performance when the engine is
cold when operating on E

85

ethanol.

Do not crank the engine for more than 10 seconds at a time as starter
damage may occur. If the engine fails to start, turn the key to off and
wait 30 seconds before trying again.

Do not use starting fluid such as ether in the air intake system. Such
fluid could cause immediate explosive damage to the engine and possible
personal injury.

If you should experience cold weather starting problems on E

85

ethanol,

and neither an alternative brand of E

85

ethanol nor an engine block

heater is available, the addition of unleaded gasoline to your tank will
improve cold starting performance. Your vehicle is designed to operate
on E

85

ethanol alone, unleaded gasoline alone, or any mixture of the two.

See Choosing the right fuel in the Maintenance and Specifications
chapter for more information on ethanol.

Guarding against exhaust fumes

Carbon monoxide is present in exhaust fumes. Take precautions to avoid
its dangerous effects.

WARNING: If you smell exhaust fumes inside your vehicle, have
your dealer inspect your vehicle immediately. Do not drive if you

smell exhaust fumes.

Important ventilating information

If the engine is idling while the vehicle is stopped for a long period of
time, open the windows at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) or adjust the heating or
air conditioning to bring in fresh air.

ENGINE BLOCK HEATER (IF EQUIPPED)

An engine block heater warms the engine coolant which aids in starting
and allows the heater/defroster system to respond quickly. If your vehicle
is equipped with this system, your equipment includes a heater element
which is installed in your engine block and a wire harness which allows
the user to connect the system to a grounded 120 volt A/C electrical
source. The block heater system is most effective when outdoor
temperatures reach below 0°F (-18°C).

For flexible fuel vehicles, if operating with E

85

ethanol, an engine block

heater must be used if ambient temperature is below 0°F (-18°C).

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