Ford E-150 (2012 year). Manual — part 48

WARNING: Vehicle modifications involving braking system,
aftermarket roof racks, suspension, steering system, tire

construction and/or wheel/tire size may change the handling
characteristics of the vehicle and may adversely affect the performance
of the AdvanceTrac

威 with RSC威 system. In addition, installing any

stereo loudspeakers may interfere with and adversely affect the
AdvanceTrac

威 with RSC威 system. Install any aftermarket stereo

loudspeaker as far as possible from the front center console, the
tunnel, and the front seats in order to minimize the risk of interfering
with the AdvanceTrac

威 with RSC威 sensors. Reducing the effectiveness

of the AdvanceTrac

威 with RSC威 system could lead to an increased risk

of loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover, personal injury and death.

WARNING: Remember that even advanced technology cannot
defy the laws of physics. It’s always possible to lose control of a

vehicle due to inappropriate driver input for the conditions. Aggressive
driving on any road condition can cause you to lose control of your
vehicle increasing the risk of personal injury or property damage.
Activation of the AdvanceTrac

威 with RSC威 system is an indication that

at least some of the tires have exceeded their ability to grip the road;
this could reduce the operator’s ability to control the vehicle,
potentially resulting in a loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover,
personal injury and death. If your AdvanceTrac

威 with RSC威 system

activates, SLOW DOWN.

WARNING: If a failure has been detected within the
AdvanceTrac

威 with RSC威 system, the stability control light and

TCS OFF light will illuminate steadily. Verify that the AdvanceTrac

威

with RSC

威 system is not manually disabled. Press the TCS OFF button

located on the center of the instrument panel. If the stability control
light still illuminates steadily, have the system serviced by an
authorized dealer immediately. Operating your vehicle with
AdvanceTrac

威 with RSC威 disabled could lead to an increased risk of

loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover, personal injury and death.

The AdvanceTrac

威 with RSC威 system automatically enables each time

the engine is started. All features of the AdvanceTrac

威 with RSC威 system

(TCS, ESC, and RSC

威) are active and monitor the vehicle from start-up.

However, the system will only intervene if the driving situation requires
it.

Driving

193

The AdvanceTrac

威 with RSC威

system includes a TCS OFF button
on the center of the instrument
panel, a stability control light and a
TCS OFF light in the instrument
cluster. The stability control light in
the instrument cluster will
illuminate temporarily during start-up as part of a normal system
self-check, or during driving if a driving situation causes the
AdvanceTrac

威 with RSC威 system to operate. If the stability control light

and TCS OFF light illuminate steadily, verify that the AdvanceTrac

威 with

RSC

威 system is not manually disabled by pressing the TCS OFF button

located on the center stack of the instrument panel. If the stability
control light and TCS OFF light remain steadily illuminated, or if the
message center (if equipped) displays SERVICE RSC NOW, have the
system serviced by an authorized dealer immediately.

When AdvanceTrac

威 with RSC威 performs a normal system self-check,

some drivers may notice a slight movement of the brake, and/or a
rumble, grunting, or grinding noise after startup and when driving off.

When an event occurs that activates AdvanceTrac

威 with RSC威 you may

experience the following:
• A slight deceleration of the vehicle
• The stability control light will flash.
• A vibration in the pedal when your foot is on the brake pedal
• If the driving condition is severe and your foot is not on the brake, the

brake pedal may move as the systems applies higher brake forces. You
may also hear a whoosh of air from under the instrument panel during
this severe condition.

• The brake pedal may feel stiffer than usual.
Traction control system (TCS)

Traction control is a driver aid feature that helps your vehicle maintain
traction of the wheels, typically when driving on slippery and/or hilly
road surfaces, by detecting and controlling wheel spin.

Excessive wheel spin is controlled in two ways, which may work
separately or in tandem; engine traction control and brake traction
control. Engine traction control works to limit drive-wheel spin by
momentarily reducing engine power. Brake traction control works to limit
wheel spin by momentarily applying the brakes to the wheel that is
slipping. Traction control is most active at low speeds.

Driving

194

During traction control events, the stability control light in the
instrument cluster will flash.

If the TCS is activated excessively in a short period of time, the braking
portion of the system may become temporarily disabled to allow the
brakes to cool down. In this situation, TCS will use only engine power
reduction or transfer to help control the wheels from over-spinning.
When the brakes have cooled down, the system will regain all features.
Anti-lock braking, RSC

威, and ESC are not affected by this condition and

will continue to function during the cool-down period.

The engine traction control and brake traction control system may be
deactivated in certain situations. See Switching off AdvanceTrac

威 with

RSC

威.

Electronic stability control (ESC)

Electronic stability control (ESC) may enhance your vehicle’s directional
stability during adverse maneuvers, for example when cornering severely
or avoiding objects in the roadway. ESC operates by applying brakes to
one or more of the wheels individually and, if necessary, reducing engine
power if the system detects that the vehicle is about to skid or slide
laterally.

During ESC events, the stability control light in the instrument cluster
will flash.

Certain adverse driving maneuvers may activate the ESC system, which
include but are not limited to:
• Taking a turn too fast
• Maneuvering quickly to avoid an accident, pedestrian or obstacle
• Driving over a patch of ice or other slippery surfaces
• Changing lanes on a snow-rutted road
• Entering a snow-free road from a snow-covered side street, or vice

versa

• Entering a paved road from a gravel road, or vice versa
• Cornering while towing a heavily loaded trailer (refer to Trailer

towing in the Tires, Wheels and Loading chapter).

Roll Stability Control™ (RSC

威)

Roll Stability Control™ (RSC

威) may help to maintain roll stability of the

vehicle during adverse maneuvers. RSC

威 operates by detecting the

vehicle’s roll motion and the rate at which it changes and by applying the
brakes to one or more wheels individually.

Driving

195

During an event that activates the RSC

威, the stability control light in the

instrument cluster will flash.

Certain adverse driving maneuvers may activate the RSC

威 system, which

include:
• Emergency lane-change
• Taking a turn too fast
• Quick maneuvering to avoid an accident, pedestrian or obstacle
Traction control

If the vehicle is stuck in snow, mud or sand, and seems to lose engine
power, switching off the traction control system may be beneficial
because the wheels are allowed to spin. This will restore full engine
power and will enhance momentum through the obstacle. To switch off
the traction control, press the TCS OFF button below 20 mph (32 km/h).
Full features of the traction control system can be restored by pressing
the TCS OFF button again or if the vehicle is above 20 mph (32 km/h) or
by turning off and restarting the engine.

If you switch off the traction control system below 20 mph (32 km/h),
the TCS OFF light will illuminate steadily. Pressing the TCS OFF button
again or if the vehicle is above 20 mph (32 km/h) will turn off the TCS
OFF light. The switch will not allow partial traction control system
disabling above 20 mph (32 km/h).

In R (Reverse), ABS and the engine traction control and brake traction
control features will continue to function; however, ESC and RSC

威 are

disabled.

Driving

196