1997 FORD F150 Owners Manual

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
ABOUT THE EMISSION
CONTROL SYSTEM
Your vehicle is equipped with a
catalytic convertor which enables
your vehicle to comply with
applicable exhaust emission
requirements. For more
information on your vehicle's
emission control system, see the
Vehicle Emission Control
Information decal located on the
left side of the engine
compartment.
Follow these guidelines to ensure
proper emission system operation:
²Use only unleaded fuel.
²Avoid running out of fuel.
²Do not turn off the ignition
while the vehicle is in motion.
²Have regular maintenance
checks performed according to
the intervals in the ªService
Guide.º
When servicing your vehicle, never
use a metal exhaust collector. A
metal collector may melt or deform
plastic parts.
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194

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.
If you smell exhaust fumes
inside your vehicle, have
your dealer inspect your vehicle
immediately. Do not drive if you
smell exhaust fumes.
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.
If you notice one or more of the
following, the emissions system
may not be working properly. Have
your vehicle serviced as soon as
possible.
²Fluid leaks
²The
orCHECK
ENGINElights
illuminate in the instrument
cluster and remain lit
²Strange odors
²Engine runs more than five
seconds after shut-off or engine
misfires, surges, stalls or
backfires
²Loss of oil pressure.
f12_important_emissions_info
Maintenance and care
195

Important emission control
information
By law, anyone who manufacturers,
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.
Do not make any unauthorized
changes to the vehicle or engine.
Changes that cause more
unburned fuel to reach the exhaust
system can increase the
temperature of the engine or
exhaust system.
Preparing your vehicle for
inspection/maintenance testing
In some localities it may become a
legal requirement to pass an
Inspection/Maintenance test of the
on-board diagnostic (OBDII)
system. If the vehicle's powertrain
system or battery has just been
serviced, the OBD II system is
reset to a ªnot ready for I/M
testing condition.º To ready the
OBD II system for I/M testing, the
law specifies that additional mixed
city and highway driving is
necessary to complete the check of
the OBD II system.
The driving modes required to
reach the ready condition consist
of a minimum of 30 minutes of city
and highway driving as described
below:
f12_readiness_im_testing
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196

²20 minutes of driving in stop
and go city-type traffic with at
least four idle periods.
²10 minutes of driving on an
expressway or highway.
Before completing the above
driving modes, the engine must be
warmed up and at operating
temperature. Once started, the
vehicle must not be turned off
during the above driving modes.
Maintenance and care
197

REPLACING BULBS
Replacing exterior bulbs
It is a good idea to check the
operation of the following lamps
frequently:
²Headlamps
²Tail lamps
²Brakelamps
²High-mount brakelamp
²Backup lamps
²Hazard flashers
²Turn signals
²License plate lamp
²Fog lamps
²Interior overhead lampsf12_replacing_bulbs
Maintenance and care
198

Do not remove lamp bulbs unless
they will be replaced immediately.
If a bulb is removed for an
extended period of time,
contaminants may enter the lamp
and affect performance.
Replacing headlamp bulbs
Handle a halogen
headlamp bulb carefully
and keep out of children's reach.
Grasp the bulb only by its plastic
base and do not touch the glass.
The oil from your hand could
cause the bulb to break the next
time the headlamps are
operated.
1. Make sure that the headlamp
control is in the position.
2. Open the hood.
3. At the back of the headlamp,
pull clips rearward and up 19 mm
(about 3/4 in.) to release the
headlamp assembly.
f12_headlamps_turnsignals
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199

4. Slide headlamp assembly
forward and off of guide ribs to
expose the back of the bulb and
wiring connector.
5. Remove the electrical connector
from the bulb by grasping the wire
and pulling it rearward.
6. Remove bulb retainer ring by
turning it counterclockwise about
1/4 turn, then slide the ring off the
plastic base.
7. Without turning, carefully pull
bulb assembly out of headlamp
assembly.
8. Insert the glass end of the new
bulb into the headlamp assembly
socket. When the grooves in the
plastic base are aligned, push the
bulb into the socket until the
plastic base contacts the rear of
the socket.
9. Slip bulb retaining ring over the
plastic base and lock the ring into
the socket by turning it clockwise
until you feel a ªstop.º
10. Push the electrical connector
into the rear of the plastic base
until it ªsnaps.º
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200

11. Straighten alignment pins,
making them parallel with the
outer edges of the attachment
standoff.
12. Carefully insert the headlamp
assembly into the vehicle making
sure the alignment pins are
inserted into the proper holes and
into the guide ribs.
13. Hold the headlamp assembly
snugly against the vehicle and
push down on the clips to lock the
lamp into position.
Replacing parking lamp/turn
signal bulbs
1. Remove screw from the top of
lamp assembly.
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201