Ford F-450 (2017 year). Manual — part 20

WINDSHIELD WIPERS

Note: Fully defrost the windshield before
switching on the windshield wipers.

Note: Make sure you switch off the
windshield wipers before entering a car
wash.

Note: Clean the windshield and wiper
blades if they begin to leave streaks or
smears. If that does not resolve the issue,
install new wiper blades.

Note: Do not operate the wipers on a dry
windshield. This may scratch the glass,
damage the wiper blades or cause the wiper
motor to burn out. Always use the
windshield washers before wiping a dry
windshield.

E172816

Rotate the end of the control:

•

Away from you to increase the wiper
speed.

•

Toward you to decrease the wiper
speed.

Speed dependent wipers (if
equipped)

When your vehicle speed increases, the
interval between wipes decreases.

AUTOWIPERS

(If Equipped)

Note: Make sure you switch off the wipers
before entering a car wash.

Note: Wet or winter driving conditions with
ice, snow or salty road mist can cause
inconsistent and unexpected wiping or
smearing.

In these conditions, you can do the
following to help keep your windshield
clear:
•

Lower the sensitivity of the autowipers.

•

Change the wiper speed to normal or
high-speed wipe as necessary.

•

Switch the autowipers off.

The autowipers feature uses a rain sensor,
located in the area around the interior
mirror. The rain sensor monitors the
amount of moisture on the windshield and
automatically turns on the wipers. It will
adjust the wiper speed by the amount of
moisture that the sensor detects on the
windshield. You can switch this feature on
or off in the information display. See
Information Displays (page 111).

E172817

Use the rotary control to adjust the
sensitivity of the rain sensor. With low
sensitivity, the wipers will operate when
the sensor detects a large amount of
moisture on the windshield. With high
sensitivity, the wipers will operate when
the sensor detects a small amount of
moisture on the windshield. Adjust the
rotary control toward the windshield to
increase the moisture sensitivity.

Keep the outside of the windshield clean
because the rain sensor is very sensitive. If
the area around the interior mirror is dirty,
then the wipers may turn on, for example,
if dirt, mist or insects hit the windshield.

The courtesy wipe feature turns on after
using the windshield washers to remove
any excess washer fluid and debris.

Note: You can adjust the courtesy wipe
settings in the instrument cluster. See
Information Displays (page 111).

WINDSHIELD WASHERS

Note: Do not operate the wipers on a dry
windshield. This may scratch the glass,
damage the wiper blades or cause the wiper
motor to burn out. Always use the
windshield washer before wiping a dry
windshield.

Note: Do not operate the washers when
the washer reservoir is empty. This may
cause the washer pump to overheat.

E172818

•

A brief press causes a single wipe
without washer fluid.

•

A brief press and hold causes the
wipers to swipe three times with
washer fluid.

•

A long press and hold will turn on the
wipers and washer fluid for up to 10
seconds.

A wipe will occur a few seconds after
washing to clear any remaining washer
fluid. You can switch this feature on or off
in the information display. See
Information Displays (page 111).

GENERAL INFORMATION

Condensation in Lamp Assemblies

Exterior lamps have vents to
accommodate normal changes in air
pressure.

Condensation can be a natural by-product
of this design. When moist air enters the
lamp assembly through the vents, there is
a possibility that condensation can occur
when the temperature is cold. When
normal condensation occurs, a fine mist
can form on the interior of the lens. The
fine mist eventually clears and exits
through the vents during normal operation.

Clearing time may take as long as 48 hours
under dry weather conditions.

Examples of acceptable condensation are:
•

The presence of a fine mist (no streaks,
drip marks or large droplets).

•

A fine mist covers less than 50% of the
lens.

Examples of unacceptable condensation
are:
•

A water puddle inside the lamp.

•

Streaks, drip marks or large droplets
present on the interior of the lens.

If you see any unacceptable condensation,
have your vehicle checked by an authorized
dealer.

LIGHTING CONTROL

E142449

Off.

A

Parking lamps, instrument panel
lamps, license plate lamps and
rear lamps.

B

Headlamps.

C

High Beam

E167827

Push the lever away from you to switch
the high beam on.

Push the lever forward again or pull the
lever toward you to switch the high beams
off.

Headlamp Flasher

E163268

Slightly pull the lever toward you and
release it to flash the headlamps.

AUTOLAMPS

(If Equipped)

WARNING

The autolamps switch position may
not activate the headlamps in all low
visibility conditions, such as daytime

fog. Always ensure that your headlamps
are switched to auto or on, as appropriate,
during all low visibility conditions. Failure
to do so may result in a collision.

E142451

When the lighting control is in the
autolamps position, the headlamps
automatically turn on in low light situations
or when the wipers activate.

If equipped, the following also activate
when the lighting control is in the
autolamps position and you switch them
on in the information display:
•

Configurable daytime running lamps.

•

Automatic high beam control.

•

Adaptive headlamp control.

The headlamps remain on for a period of
time after you switch the ignition off. Use
the information display controls to adjust
the period of time that the headlamps
remain on. See Information Displays
(page 111).

Note: With the headlamps in the
autolamps position, you cannot switch the
high beam headlamps on until the
autolamps system turns the low beam
headlamps on.

Windshield Wiper Activated
Headlamps

The windshield wiper activated headlamps
turn on within 10 seconds when you switch
the windshield wipers on and the lighting
control is in the autolamps position. They
turn off approximately 60 seconds after
you switch the windshield wipers off.

The headlamps will not turn on by wiper
activation:
•

During a mist wipe.

•

When the wipers are on to clear washer
fluid during a wash condition.

•

If the wipers are in intermittent mode.

Note: If you switch autolamps and
autowipers on, the headlamps will
automatically turn on when the windshield
wipers continuously operate.