Ford Excursion (2000 year). Manual — part 31

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

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

6. If the LOW RANGE indicator light
does not shut off after 15 seconds,
start the vehicle moving, then
repeat steps 1 through 5 before
reporting any shift concerns to your dealer.

Driving off-road with 4WD

Your vehicle is specially equipped for driving on sand, snow, mud and
rough terrain and has operating characteristics that are somewhat
different from conventional vehicles, both on and off the road.

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. For more
information on driving off-road, read the “Four Wheeling” supplement in
your owner’s portfolio.

If your vehicle gets stuck

If the vehicle is stuck it may be rocked out by shifting from 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.

2WD

4X4

LOW

4X4

HIGH

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

Sand

When driving over sand, try to keep all four wheels on the most solid
area of the trail. Do not reduce the tire pressures but shift to a lower
gear and drive steadily through the terrain. Apply the accelerator slowly
and avoid spinning the wheels.

Mud and water

If you must drive through high water, drive slowly. Traction or brake
capability may be limited.

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

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

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

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

Water intrusion into the transmission may damage the
transmission.

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

Driving on hilly or sloping terrain

When driving on a hill, avoid driving crosswise or turning on steep
slopes. You could lose traction and slip sideways. Drive straight up,
straight down or avoid the hill completely. Know the conditions on the
other side of a hill before driving over the crest.

When climbing a steep hill, start in a lower gear rather than downshifting
to a lower gear from a higher gear once the ascent has started. This
reduces strain on the engine and the possibility of stalling.

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When descending a steep hill, avoid sudden braking. Shift to a lower gear
when added engine braking is desired.

When speed control is on and you are driving uphill, your vehicle speed
may drop considerably, especially if you are carrying a heavy load.

If vehicle speed drops more than 16 km/h (10 mph), the speed control
will cancel automatically. Resume speed with accelerator pedal.

If speed control cancels after climbing the hill, reset speed by pressing
and holding the SET ACCEL button (to resume speeds over 50 km/h [30
mph]).

Automatic transmissions may shift frequently while driving up steep
grades. Eliminate frequent shifting by shifting out of

(Overdrive) into

a lower gear.

Driving on snow and ice

A 4WD vehicle has advantages over 2WD vehicles in snow and ice but
can skid like any other vehicle.

Avoid sudden applications of power and quick changes of direction on
snow and ice. Apply the accelerator slowly and steadily when starting
from a full stop.

Apply the brakes as you normally would. Your 4WD vehicle is equipped
with a Four Wheel Anti-lock Brake System (ABS). In order to allow the
ABS to operate properly when braking, keep steady pressure on the
brake pedal, do not pump the brakes.

When driving on snow or ice with either braking system, allow more
stopping distance and drive slower than usual. Consider using one of the
lower gears.

VEHICLE LOADING

Before loading a vehicle, familiarize yourself with the following terms:
• Base Curb Weight: Weight of the vehicle including any standard

equipment, fluids, lubricants, etc. It does not include passengers or
aftermarket equipment.

• Payload: Combined maximum allowable weight of cargo, passengers

and optional equipment. The payload equals the gross vehicle weight
rating minus base curb weight.

• GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight): Base curb weight plus payload

weight. The GVW is not a limit or a specification.

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• GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating): Maximum total weight of

the base vehicle, passengers, optional equipment and cargo. The
GVWR is specific to each vehicle and is listed on the Safety
Certification Label on the driver’s door pillar.

• GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating): Carrying capacity for each axle

system. The GAWR is specific to each vehicle and is listed on the
Safety Certification Label on the driver’s door pillar.

• GCW (Gross Combined Weight): The combined weight of the

towing vehicle (including passengers and cargo) and the trailer.

• GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating): Maximum combined

weight of towing vehicle (including passengers and cargo) and the
trailer. The GCWR indicates the maximum loaded weight that the
vehicle is designed to tow.

• Maximum Trailer Weight Rating: Maximum weight of a trailer the

vehicle is permitted to tow. The maximum trailer weight rating is
determined by subtracting the vehicle curb weight for each
engine/transmission combination, any required option weight for trailer
towing and the weight of the driver from the GCWR for the towing
vehicle.

• Maximum Trailer Weight: Maximum weight of a trailer the loaded

vehicle (including passengers and cargo) is permitted to tow. It is
determined by subtracting the weight of the loaded trailer towing
vehicle from the GCWR for the towing vehicle.

• Trailer Weight Range: Specified weight range that the trailer must

fall within that ranges from zero to the maximum trailer weight rating.

Remember to figure in the tongue load of your loaded trailer when
figuring the total weight.

Do not exceed the GVWR or the GAWR specified on the
certification label.

Do not use replacement tires with lower load carrying capacities than the
originals because they may lower the vehicle’s GVWR and GAWR
limitations. Replacement tires with a higher limit than the originals do
not increase the GVWR and GAWR limitations.

The Safety Certification Label, found on the driver’s door pillar, lists
several important vehicle weight rating limitations. Before adding any
additional equipment, refer to these limitations. If you are adding weight

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