1996 FORD F SERIES MOTORHOME AND COMMERCIAL CHASSIS Owners Manual

21
Warning Lights and
Gauges
%*
[LG00400( ALL)01/95]
The instrument panel (dashboard) on your
vehicle is divided into several different sections.
The illustrations on the following pages show
the major parts of the instrument panel that are
described in this chapter. Some items shown
may not be on all vehicles.
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[LG00525( E M)12/91]
In your vehicle, the warning lights and gauges
are grouped together on the instrument panel.
We call this grouping a cluster. Your vehicle has
a mechanical cluster.
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22 [LG02800( M)05/95]
full page art:0021215-BMechanical/stripped chassis cluster
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23
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[LG03000( ALL)06/94]
The Mechanical Cluster
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[LG03100( ALL)06/93]
The following warning lights and gauges are on
the mechanical cluster. All of the warning lights
and gauges alert you to possible problems with
your vehicle. Some of the lights listed are
optional. The following sections detail what each
of these indicators means.
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[LG03200( ALL)03/95]
Brake System Warning Light
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[LG03300(B M)03/95]
The warning light for the brakes can show two
things Ð that the parking brake is not fully
released, or that the brake fluid level is low in
the master cylinder reservoir. If the fluid level is
low, the brake system should be checked by
your dealer or a qualified service technician.
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[LG03400( ALL)05/94]
This light comes on when you turn the ignition
key to START to verify that the indicator bulb is
working. If the light stays on or comes on after
you have released the parking brake fully, have
the hydraulic brake system serviced.
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[LG03500( ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
The BRAKE light indicates that the brakes
may not be working properly. Have the
brakes checked immediately.
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[LG03600( ALL)05/95]
one inch art:0020044-A
Brake warning light symbols
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24 % [LG04250( M)11/92]Safety Belt Warning Light
[LG04375( M)11/92]
The warning light reminds you to fasten your
safety belt. Each time the ignition is turned to
ON, the warning light comes on for four to
eight seconds to remind you to fasten your
safety belt.
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[LG04400( ALL)10/92]
one inch art:0020046-B
Safety belt warning light symbol
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[LG04500( ALL)03/95]
Check Engine Warning Light
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[LG04525( ALL)05/95]
The Powertrain On-Board Diagnostic II (OBD II)
system consists of the hardware and software
necessary to monitor the operation of the
powertrain. The OBD II system is designed to
check the function of the vehicle's powertrain
control system during normal operation. If an
emission problem is detected, the Check Engine
Warning Light (in the cluster) is turned on.
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[LG04550( ALL)05/95]
one inch art:0020048-A
Check engine warning light symbol
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25
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[LG04575( ALL)05/95]
Modification or additions to the vehicle may
cause incorrect operation of the OBD II system.
Additions such as burglar alarms, cellular
phones, and CB radios must be carefully
installed. Do not install these devices by tapping
into or running wires close to powertrain control
system wires or components.
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[LG04600( ALL)05/95]
The light comes on briefly when you turn the
ignition key toON, but it should turn off when
the engine starts. If the light does not come on
when you turn the ignition toONor if it comes
on and stays on when you are driving, have
your vehicle serviced as soon as possible. This
indicates a possible problem with one of the
vehicle's emission control systems. You do not
need to have your vehicle towed in.
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[LG04625( ALL)05/95]
If the light turns on and off at one (1) second
intervals while you are driving the vehicle, it
means that the engine is misfiring. If this
condition persists, damage could occur to the
engine or catalytic convertor. Have your vehicle
serviced at the first opportunity. You do not
need to have your vehicle towed in.
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[LG04650( ALL)05/95]
If the light turns on and off on rare occasions
while you are driving, it means that a
malfunction occurred and the condition corrected
itself.
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[LG04675( ALL)05/95]
An example of a condition which corrects itself
occurs when an engine running out of fuel
begins to misfire. In this case, the Check Engine
Warning Light may turn on and will then set a
Diagnostic Trouble Code indicating that the
engine was misfiring while the last of the fuel
was being consumed. After refueling, the Check
Engine Warning Light will turn off after the
vehicle has completed three consecutive warm
up cycles without a misfire condition occurring.
A warm up cycle consists of engine start from a
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26cold condition (engine at ambient temperature)
and running until the engine reaches normal
operating temperature.
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[LG04700( ALL)05/95]
On the fourth engine start up, the Check Engine
Warning Light will turn off as soon as the
engine begins to crank. It is not necessary to
have the engine serviced.
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[LG04725( ALL)05/95]
Under certain conditions, the Check Engine
Warning Light may come on if the fuel cap is
not properly installed. If the Check Engine
Warning Light comes on and you suspect that
the fuel cap is not properly installed, pull off the
road as soon as it is safely possible and turn off
the engine. Remove and replace the fuel cap,
making sure it is properly seated.
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[LG04750( ALL)05/95]
After completing the three consecutive warm up
cycles and on the fourth engine start up, the
Check Engine Warning Light should turn off. If
the light does not go off after the fourth engine
restart, have your vehicle serviced by your
dealer or a qualified technician.
%*
[LG05900( ALL)01/95]
Charging System Light
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[LG06000( ALL)03/95]
This light, shown as a battery symbol on your
cluster, indicates that your battery is not being
charged and that you need to have the electrical
system checked.
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[LG06050( ALL)05/95]
one inch art:0020777-A
Charging system light
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27
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[LG06100( ALL)05/95]
This light comes on every time you turn the
ignition to the ON or START position (engine
off). The light should go off when the engine
starts and the alternator begins to charge.
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[LG06300(B FM)01/95]
If the light stays on or comes on when the
engine is running, have the electrical system
checked as soon as possible.
%*
[LG06400( ALL)05/94]
Battery Voltage Gauge (Voltmeter)
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[LG06601( ALL)05/94]
This gauge shows you the battery voltage when
the ignition key is in the ON position.
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[LG06700( ALL)11/89]
If you are running electrical accessories (when
the engine is off, or idling at a low speed), the
pointer may move toward the lower end of the
normal band. If it stays outside the normal band
area, have your vehicle's electrical system
checked as soon as it is safely possible.
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[LG06701( ALL)05/95]
If the battery is operating under cold weather
conditions, the pointer may indicate in the upper
range of the NORMAL band while the battery is
charging. If you are running electrical accessories
with the engine off or idling at a low speed, or
the battery is not fully charged, the pointer may
move toward the lower end of the NORMAL
band.
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[LG06750( ALL)05/94]
If it stays outside the NORMAL band, have your
vehicle's electrical system checked as soon as it
is safely possible.
[LG07001( E M)03/93]
quarter page art:0020863-B
Battery voltage gauge
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28
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[LG07500( ALL)05/94]
Engine Oil Pressure Gauge
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[LG07601( ALL)06/93]
This gauge indicates the engine's oil pressure,
not the oil level. However, if your engine's oil
level is low, it could affect the oil pressure. With
the engine running, the pointer should move
into the NORMAL band. If the pointer drops
below the NORMAL band while the engine is
running, you have lost oil pressure and
continued operation will cause severe engine
damage.
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[LG07701( ALL)03/95]
If you lose engine oil pressure:
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[LG07801( ALL)01/95]
1. Pull off the road as soon as safely possible.
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[LG07901( ALL)04/95]
2. Shut off the engine immediately or severe
engine damage could result.
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[LG08001( ALL)02/95]
3. Check the engine's oil level, following the
instructions on checking and adding engine
oil. Refer toEngine oilin the Index. If you
do not follow these instructions, you or
others could be injured. To assure an
accurate reading, your vehicle should be on
level ground.
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[LG08051( ALL)03/93]
4. If the level is low, add only as much oil as
necessary before you start the engine again.
Do not overfill. Do not operate the engine if
the pointer is below the NORMAL band,
regardless of the oil level. Contact your
nearest dealer for further service actions.
[LG08250( E M)03/93]
quarter page art:0020059-D
Engine oil pressure gauge
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