1997 FORD E SERIES brakes

diesel-powered light truck.
BREAKING-IN YOUR VEHICLE
There are no particular breaking-in
rules for your vehicle. Simply avoid
driving too briskly during the first
1,600 km (1,000 miles) of driving.
Vary speeds frequently. This is
necessary to give the moving parts
a chance to break in.
If possible, you should avoid full
use of the brakes for the first
1,600 km (1,000 miles).
From 1,600 km (1,000 miles)
onwards you can gradually
increase the performance of your
vehicle up to the permitted
maximum speeds.
INFORMATION ABOUT THIS
GUIDE
The information found in this
guide was in effect at the time of
printing. Ford may change the
contents without notice and
without incurring obligation.com_breaking_vehicle.01
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Introduction
4

BRAKES
Your brakes are self-adjusting.
Refer to the ªService Guideº for
maintenance scheduling.
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) (if
equipped)
The ABS operates by detecting the
onset of wheel lock up during
brake applications and
compensating for this tendency.
The front wheels are prevented
from locking even when the brakes
are firmly applied. The
accompanying illustration depicts
the advantage of an ABS equipped
vehicle (on bottom) to a non-ABS
equipped vehicle (on top) during
hard braking.
Using ABS
²In an emergency, apply full force
on the brake. The ABS will be
activated immediately, thus
allowing you to retain full
steering control of your vehicle
and, providing there is sufficient
space, will enable you to avoid
obstacles and bring the vehicle
to a quiet stop.
²We recommend that you
familiarize yourself with this
braking technique. However,
avoid taking any unnecessary
risks.
Parking brake
The parking brake should be used
whenever you park your vehicle. It
is not designed to stop a moving
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vehicle. However, if the normal
brakes fail, the parking brake can
be used to stop your vehicle in an
emergency. Since the parking
brake applies only the rear brakes,
the vehicle's stopping distance will
increase greatly and the handling
of your vehicle will be adversely
affected.
Setting the parking brake
The brake light in the instrument
cluster will illuminate and remain
illuminated (when the ignition
switch is turned to ON) until the
parking brake is released.
²Fully depress the parking brake
pedal.
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Releasing parking brake
²Push parking brake pedal down
firmly, then release.
If the parking brake is fully
released, but the Brake
System light remains on, have
the brakes checked immediately.
They may not be working
properly.
STEERING YOUR VEHICLE
If the amount of effort needed to
steer your vehicle changes at a
constant speed, have the vehicle
power steering system checked.
Never hold the steering wheel to
the extreme left or right for more
than five seconds if the engine is
running. This can damage the
power steering pump.
After any severe impact or
collision involving the front end,
observe the steering wheel
alignment. If the spoke of the
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it does not shift and change the
weight on the hitch.
Towing a trailer places an
additional load on your vehicle's
engine, transmission, axle, brakes,
tires and suspension. Inspect these
components carefully after any
towing operation.
Do not exceed the GVWR
or the GAWR specified on
the Safety Compliance
Certification Label.
Towing trailers beyond the
maximum recommended
gross trailer weight could result
in engine damage,
transmission/axle damage,
structural damage, loss of
control, and personal injury.
Preparing to tow
Use the proper equipment for
towing a trailer, and make sure it
is properly attached to your
vehicle. See your dealer or a
reliable trailer dealer if you require
assistance.
Hitches
Do not use or install hitches that
clamp onto the bumper or to the
axle. Underbody hitches are
acceptable if installed properly.
Step bumper (if equipped)
Step bumpers have a built-in hitch
and only require a ball with a 2.5
cm (1 in.) shank diameter. Step
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bumpers have a Class III capability
(2,270 kg [5,000 lb] trailer weight
and 227 kg [500 lb] tongue weight.
Safety chains
Always use safety chains between
your vehicle and trailer. Cross
chains under the trailer tongue and
allow slack for turning corners.
Connect safety chains to the
vehicle frame or hook retainers.
Never attach chains to the bumper.
Trailer brakes
Trailer brakes are required on
most towed vehicles weighing over
680 kg (1,500 lbs)
Do not connect a trailer's
hydraulic brake system
directly to your vehicle's brake
system. Your vehicle may not
have enough braking power and
your chances of having a
collision greatly increase.
Trailer lamps
Trailer lamps are required on most
towed vehicles. Make sure your
trailer lamps conform to Federal
and local regulations. See your
dealer or trailer rental agency for
the proper instructions and
equipment for hooking up trailer
lamps.
Driving while you tow
Do not drive faster than 88 km/h
(55 mph) while towing a trailer. Do
not drive faster than 72 km/h (45
mph) with a trailer while towing in
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If you use a brake fluid
that is not DOT 3, you will
cause permanent damage to your
brakes.
Do not let the reservoir for
the master cylinder run
dry. This may cause the brakes
to fail.
WASHER FLUID
Use specially formulated
windshield washer fluid rather
than plain water, because specially
formulated washer fluids contain
additives that dissolve road grime.
Washer fluids containing an
appropriate antifreeze such as
methanol should be used in
freezing weather (temperatures
below 0ÉC [32ÉF]). State or local
regulations on volatile organic
compounds may restrict the use of
methanol, a common type of
antifreeze. Use a non-methanol
antifreeze to provide cold weather
protection only if the fluid does
not damage the paint finish, wiper
blades or washer system.
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CLEANING AND CARING FOR
YOUR VEHICLE
Refer to the ªCustomer Assistance
Guideº for a list of Ford-approved
cleaners, polishes and waxes.
Washing your vehicle
Wash your vehicle regularly with
cold or lukewarm water. Never use
strong detergents or soap. If your
vehicle is particularly dirty, use a
quality car wash detergent. Always
use a clean sponge, washing glove
or similar device and plenty of
water for best results. To avoid
spots, avoid washing when the
hood is still warm, immediately
after or during exposure to strong
sunlight.
During winter months, it is
especially important to wash the
vehicle on a regular basis. Large
quantities of dirt and road salt are
difficult to remove, and they also
cause damage to the vehicle.
Remove any exterior accessories,
such as antennas, before entering
a car wash.
²After washing, apply the brakes
several times to dry them.
Waxing your vehicle
The best way to determine when
the paintwork needs waxing is by
noting when water stops beading
on the surface. This could be every
three or four months, depending
on operating conditions.
Use only carnauba or
synthetic-based waxes. Remove
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168