1997 FORD E SERIES maintenance

Before driving
Introduction 2
Instrumentation 5
Controls and features 15
Seating and safety restraints 37
Starting and driving
Starting 73
Driving 80
Roadside emergencies 100
Servicing
Maintenance and care 124
Capacities and specifications 173
Reporting safety defects 182
Index 183
Contents
1

additional information, please
contact the Light Truck Body
Builders Advisory Service
1±800±635±5560.
Use of your Ford light truck as an
ambulance, without the Ford
Ambulance Preparation Package
voids the Ford New Vehicle
Limited Warranty and may void the
Emissions Warranties. In addition,
ambulance usage without the
preparation package could cause
high underbody temperatures,
overpressurized fuel and a risk of
spraying fuel which could lead to
fires.
If your vehicle is equipped with
the Ford ambulance preparation
package, it will be indicated on the
Safety Certification Compliance
label. The label is located on the
driver's side door pillar or on the
rear edge of the driver's door. You
can determine whether the
ambulance manufacturer followed
Ford's recommendations by
directly contacting that
manufacturer. Ford Ambulance
preparation package is only
available on certain 7.3L Diesel
Econoline vehicles.
Diesel-powered vehicles
Read the 7.3L Diesel Engine
Owner's Guide Supplement for
information regarding correct
operation and maintenance of your
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Introduction
3

engine is overheating. Switch off
the ignition and let it cool. Refer to
Checking and adding engine
coolantin theMaintenance and
carechapter.
Engine oil pressure gauge
This shows the engine oil pressure
in the system. Sufficient pressure
exists as long as the needle
remains in the normal range.
If the gauge indicates constantly
low pressure at normal engine
speed, refer toChecking and
adding engine oilin the
Maintenance and carechapter. If
the gauge indicates a low pressure
and the engine oil level is correct,
switch off the engine immediately
and have your vehicle checked at
your dealership or by a qualified
technician.
Charging system gauge
If the pointer moves and stays
outside of the normal range, have
the vehicle's electrical system
checked as soon as safely possible.
Odometer
Registers the total kilometers
(mileage) of the vehicle.
H
L
18
8
20 km/h
406080
10 0
12 0
14 0
16 0
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Instrumentation
13

Use only extensions manufactured
by the same supplier as the safety
belt. Manufacturer identification is
located at the end of the webbing
on the label. Also, use the safety
belt extension only if the safety
belt is too short for you when fully
extended. Do not use extension to
change the fit of the shoulder belt
across the torso.
Safety belt indicator light and
warning chime
The seat belt warning light
illuminates in the instrument
cluster and a chime sounds to
remind the occupants to fasten
their safety belts.
Conditions of operation
If... Then...
The driver's safety belt is not
buckled before the ignition key
is turned to ON...The safety belt indicator illuminates
and the warning chime/buzzer
sounds for four to eight seconds.
The driver's side safety belt is
buckled while the indicator
light is illuminated and the
warning chime is sounding...The safety belt warning chime turns
off.
The driver's safety belt is
buckled before the ignition key
is turned to ON...The safety belt indicator
chime/buzzer remains off.
Safety belt inspection after a
collision, maintenance and care
Check the safety belt system
periodically to make sure that it
works properly and is not
damaged. Check the safety belts to
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Seating and safety restraints
51

²one or more impact and safing
sensors,
²a readiness light and tone,
²driver and front passenger
safety belt buckle pretensioners
²and the electrical wiring which
connects the components.
The diagnostic module monitors its
own internal circuits and the
supplemental air bag electrical
system readiness (including the
impact sensors), the system wiring,
the air bag system readiness light,
the air bag back up power and the
air bag ignitors.
Determining if the system is
operational
The SRS uses a readiness light in
the instrument cluster or a tone to
indicate the condition of the
system. Refer to theAir bag
readinesssection in the
Instrumentationchapter. Routine
maintenance of the air bag is not
required.
A difficulty with the system is
indicated by one or more of the
following:
²The readiness light will either
flash or stay lit.
²The readiness light will not
illuminate immediately after
ignition is turned on.
²A group of five beeps will be
heard. The tone pattern will
repeat periodically until the
problem and light are repaired.
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Seating and safety restraints
57

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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Driving
80

must park on a grade, place
wheel chocks under the trailer's
wheels.
²After you have travelled about
80 km (50 miles), thoroughly
check your hitch, electrical
connections and trailer wheel
lug nuts.
Launching or retrieving a boat
When backing down a ramp during
boat launching or retrieval,
²Do not allow the static water
level to rise above the bottom
edge of the rear bumper and
²Do not allow waves to break
higher than 15 cm (six inches)
above the bottom edge of the
rear bumper.
Exceeding these limits may allow
water to enter critical vehicle
components, adversely affecting
driveability, emissions and
reliability.
Servicing when towing
If you tow a trailer for long
distances, your vehicle will require
more frequent service intervals.
Follow the severe duty
maintenance schedule outlined in
the ªService Guide.º
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Driving
98

FUEL CONSUMPTION
Fuel economy can be improved by
avoiding:
²lack of regular, scheduled
maintenance
²excessive speed
²rapid acceleration
Driving
99