Ford 2002 Excursion v.3 Manuel d'utilisateur télécharger pdf (Page 170)

20815.psp Ford O/G 2002 Excursion English 4th Print 2C3J-19A321-HB 04/24/2003 09:14:57 85 B

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.

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 inanimate 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.

Driving

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