1996 FORD F150 maintenance

333
*
[SV25500(BEF )02/95]
q
Stay within the recommended load limits (see
Load limitsin the Index).
*
[SV25600( ALL)02/95]
q
Make sure the weight of your load is evenly
distributed.
*
[SV25700( ALL)10/89]
q
Drive at safe speeds.
*
[SV25800( ALL)01/95]
If you do not take these precautions, your tires
may fail or go flat.
*
[SV25875( ALL)05/95]
Ford Motor Company recommends obeying
posted speed limits.
*
[SV25900( ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
Driving too fast for conditions creates the
possibility of loss of vehicle control.
Driving at very high speeds for extended
periods of time may result in damage to
vehicle components.
*
[SV26000( ALL)03/95]
Checking the pressure of the tires
*
[SV26100( ALL)11/89]
At least once a month, check the pressure in all
your vehicle's tires, including the spare. Use an
accurate tire pressure gauge. Check the tire
pressure when tires are cold, that is, after the
vehicle has been parked for at least one hour or
has been driven less than 3 miles (5 km). You
can find the proper cold pressure on the Safety
Compliance Certification Label.
*
[SV26150( ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
Improperly inflated tires can affect vehicle
handling and can fail suddenly, possibly
resulting in loss of vehicle control.
*
[SV26200( ALL)02/95]
Tire inspection and maintenance
*
[SV26300( ALL)02/95]
Inspect the tire treads, and remove stones, nails,
glass or other objects that may be wedged in the
tread grooves. Check for holes or cuts that may
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334permit air to leak from the tire, and make the
necessary repairs.
*
[SV26400( ALL)10/89]
Inspect the tire side walls for cuts, bruises and
other damage. If you suspect internal damage to
the tire, have it demounted and checked. You
may need to repair or replace it.
*
[SV26410( ALL)11/89]
Wheel inspection and maintenance
*
[SV26420( ALL)11/89]
Check for damage that would affect the runout
of the wheels. Wobble or shimmy will eventually
damage the wheel bearings.
*
[SV26430( ALL)06/93]
Front wheel bearings require periodic repacking
and adjustment as specified in theMaintenance
Schedule and Recordbooklet. Loose or worn front
wheel bearings tend to let the vehicle wander or
shimmy, and can eventually cause excessive tire
wear.
[SV26435( ALL)05/95]
Whenever a wheel is removed and then
re-installed, always remove any corrosion that
may be present on the mounting surface of the
wheel and/or the surface of the hub, drum or
rotor that contacts the wheel.
*
[SV26440( ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
Installing wheels without good
metal-to-metal contact at the wheel
mounting surface can cause the wheel lug
nuts to loosen and could allow the wheel
to come off while the vehicle is in motion.
*
[SV26445( EFM)05/90]
Also retighten at 500 miles (800 km) after
any wheel change or any time the lug
nuts are loosened.
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335
*
[SV26450(BEF )03/95]
Traction-Lok Rear Axle (If equipped)
*
[SV26460(BEF )03/95]
This axle provides added drive away traction on
slippery surfaces, particularly when one or more
wheels are on a surface with poor traction.
*
[SV26470(BEF )05/95]
RWARNING
To avoid injury, never run the engine
with one wheel off the ground, such as
when changing a tire.
%*
[SV26500( ALL)02/95]
Tire Rotation
*
[SV26600( ALL)03/95]
Because your vehicle's front and rear tires
perform different jobs, they often wear
differently. To make sure your tires wear evenly
and last longer, rotate them at the mileage
shown in theMaintenance Schedule and Record
booklet which came with your vehicle.
*
[SV26625( F )03/93]
For F-250 (over 8500 GVWR [3,855 kg]), F-350
and Super Duty vehicles, rotate the tires at 5,000
miles (8,000 km), then at 15,000 miles
(24,000 km), and then every 15,000 miles
(24,000 km) thereafter.
*
[SV26660( EF )03/94]
If your light truck has dual rear wheels, you can
rotate the front tires side to side without
disturbing the rear tires.
*
[SV26700(BEF )07/92]
Rotate the tires according to the following
diagram. If you notice that the tires wear
unevenly, have them checked. If your light truck
has a temporary spare tire, do not include it in
the tire rotation pattern.
*
[SV26750(BEF )03/90]
In situations where the tires differ from front to
rear (snow/traction), simply rotate using a side
to side pattern.
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342
*
[SV31993( F )04/95]
2. You can brighten the wheels, even after
years of use, with readily-available buffing
compounds, such as Ford Custom Bright
Metal Cleaner or equivalent. Follow the
buffing instructions that come with the
compound.
*
[SV31995( F )04/95]
3. When tires are removed, the entire wheel
must be cleaned and inspected. Remove any
soil or oxidation products from the tire side
of the rim with a wire brush.
*
[SV31997( F )04/95]
4. Aluminum alloys resist corrosion. This is
why your Forged F-350 Aluminum Wheels
never need sanding or painting. However,
certain environments can lead to corrosion:
salt, chloride compounds used for snow
removal and highly alkaline materials. Wash
corrosives elements off the wheel before they
have time to react.
*
[SV32100( ALL)03/95]
Battery
*
[SV32200( ALL)02/95]
Your vehicle may have a Motorcraft
maintenance-free battery. When the original
equipment battery is replaced under warranty, it
may be replaced by a Motorcraft
Low-Maintenance Battery.
*
[SV32500( ALL)02/95]
The Low-Maintenance Battery has removable
vent caps for checking the electrolyte level and
for adding water, if necessary. The electrolyte
level should be checked at least every 24 months
or 24,000 miles (40,000 km) in temperatures up
to 90ÊF (32ÊC) andmore often in temperatures
above90ÊF (32ÊC).Keep the electrolyte level in
each cell up to the level indicator. Do not
overfill.
*
[SV32700( ALL)02/95]
If the level gets low, you can add tap water to
the battery, provided the water isn't hard or
doesn't have a high mineral or alkali content.
However, if possible you should refill the battery
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349
*
[SV35800( ALL)03/91]
Driveline Universal Joint and
Slip Yoke
*
[SV36000(BEF )06/93]
The universal joints that come standard with
your vehicle do not require lubrication. If your
original equipment universal joints are replaced
with universal joints equipped with grease
fittings, lubrication will be necessary at the
intervals shown in theMaintenance Schedule and
Recordbooklet.
*
[SV36100(B F )06/93]
Your vehicle may be equipped with a constant
velocity or double cardan joint at the transfer
case end of the driveshaft. The front driveshaft
double cardan joint may be fitted with a flush
type grease fitting that requires an adapter to
permit proper lubrication. Lubricate the drive
joint according to the intervals shown in the
Maintenance Schedule and Recordbooklet.
*
[SV36200(B F )05/90]
quarter page art:0020379-A
Double cardan joint
*
[SV36300( ALL)03/95]
Brake Fluid
*
[SV36350( ALL)05/90]
Your vehicle is equipped with a brake fluid level
indicator in the master cylinder which lights the
BRAKE warning light on the instrument panel
when the brake fluid level is low.
*
[SV36400( ALL)04/95]
Under normal circumstances, your vehicle
should not use up brake fluid rapidly. However,
expect the level of the brake fluid to slowly fall
as you put more mileage on your vehicle and
the brake lining wears.
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371
*
[SV48800(BEF )05/95]
To make sure that the catalytic converter and the
other emission control parts continue to work
properly:
*
[SV48900( ALL)01/95]
q
Use only unleaded fuel.
*
[SV49000( ALL)01/95]
q
Avoid running out of fuel.
*
[SV49100( ALL)01/95]
q
Do not turn off the ignition while your
vehicle is moving, especially at high speeds.
*
[SV49200( ALL)03/95]
q
Have the services listed in theMaintenance
Schedule and Recordbooklet performed
according to the specified schedule. The
scheduled maintenance services are required
because they are considered essential to the
life and performance of your vehicle and to
its emissions system.
*
[SV49250( ALL)03/95]
In general, maintenance, replacement, or service
of the emissions control devices or systems in
your new Ford Motor Company vehicle or
engine may be performed at your expense by
any automotive repair establishment or
individual using automotive parts equivalent to
those which your vehicle or engine was
originally equipped.
*
[SV49300( ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
Do not park, idle, or drive your vehicle in
dry grass or other dry ground cover. The
emission system heats up the engine
compartment and exhaust system, which
can start a fire.
*
[SV49400(BEF )05/95]
RWARNING
On vehicles without original equipment
floor covering or insulation, do not let
passengers ride in your truck in a manner
that allows contact between skin and the
metal floor.
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372
*
[SV49450( ALL)05/95]
If other than Ford or Motorcraft or Ford
authorized remanufactured parts are used for
maintenance, replacement, or for the service of
components affecting emissions control, the
owner should be assured that such parts are
warranted by their manufacturer to be
equivalent to genuine Ford Motor Company
parts in performance and durability. Please
consult your warranty information booklet for
complete warranty information.
*
[SV49500(BEF )05/95]
Watch for fluid leaks, strange odors, smoke, loss
of oil pressure, the charge warning light, the
check engine light, or the temperature warning
light. These sometimes indicate that the emission
system is not working properly.
*
[SV49600( ALL)01/95]
Do not make any unauthorized changes to your
vehicle or engine. Changes that cause more
unburned fuel to reach the exhaust system can
increase the temperature of the engine or
exhaust system.
*
[SV49700( ALL)01/95]
By law, anyone who manufactures, repairs,
services, sells, leases, trades vehicles, or
supervises a fleet of vehicles is not permitted to
intentionally remove an emission control device
or prevent it from working. In some of the
United States and in Canada, vehicle owners
may be liable if their emission control device is
removed or is prevented from working.
*
[SV49900( ALL)01/95]
Do not drive your vehicle if it does not operate
properly. See your dealer if the engine runs on
for more than five seconds after you shut it off
or if it misfires, surges, stalls, or backfires.
%*
[SV50000( ALL)05/95]
Information about your vehicle's emission
control system is on the Vehicle Emission
Control Information decal located on or near the
engine. This decal identifies engine displacement
and gives some tune-up specifications.
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373
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[SV50050( EF )10/90]
NOTE: All current model year vehicles are
certified to the same year emissions
standards except certain vehicles
equipped with engines built prior to
January 1 of the model year which may
be certified to prior year emissions
standards. In either case, the
maintenance schedules contained in the
back of this Owner Guide must be
used to maintain your engine.
*
[SV50100( EFM)01/89]
Noise emissions warranty, prohibited
tampering acts
*
[SV50200( FM)03/93]
On January 1, 1978, Federal regulations became
effective governing the noise emissions on trucks
with a GVWR of over 10,000 lbs (4,536 kgs). The
following statements concerning prohibited
tampering acts and the noise warranty are found
in theWarranty Information Booklet, and are
applicable to completed F-Series chassis cabs
whose GVWR is over 10,000 lbs (4,536 kgs).
*
[SV50400( EFM)01/89]
Do not tamper with the noise control
system
*
[SV50500( EFM)01/89]
Federal law prohibits the following acts:
*
[SV50600( EFM)01/89]
1. The removal or dismantlement, (by any
person unless for maintenance, repair or
replacement purposes) of any device or
design element incorporated into any new
vehicle to control noise output, prior to its
sale or delivery to the consumer, or while it
is being used, or
*
[SV50700( EFM)01/89]
2. Using your light truck after a device or
design element has been removed or
dismantled, by any person.
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Update:Thu May 9 15:30:19 1996