1997 FORD F250 engine

7
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NOTICE TO OWNERS OF
DIESEL-POWERED VEHICLES
[II05000(F )04/96]
Read the7.3L Diesel Engine Owner's Guide
Supplementfor information regarding correct
operation and maintenance of your
diesel-powered light truck.
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[II05100(FM)01/96]
Your Vehicle Identification
Number (VIN)
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[II05200(FM)04/96]
You should include your Vehicle Identification
Number (VIN) any time you write to Ford
Motor Company about your vehicle.
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[II05300(F )03/96]
The Vehicle Identification Number is attached to
your vehicle in the following places:
[II05350(F )04/96]
Complete Ford Built Vehicles
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[II05400(F )03/96]
q
on the metal tag attached to the top of the
instrument panel on the driver's side Ð you
can see the tag by looking through the
windshield from outside your vehicle.
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[II05450(F )03/96]
one inch art:0010558-A
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN/Serial Number)
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[II05500(F )03/96]
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on the Safety Compliance Certification Label
Ðthis label is attached to the left front door
lock facing or the door latch post pillar. It is
required by the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration and is made of special
material. If someone tampers with it, it will
be destroyed and/or a destruction pattern
will appear.
File:02ltiif.ex
Update:Tue May 28 08:39:40 1996
ProCarManuals.com

9
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[II06000(FM)01/96]
Breaking Your Vehicle In
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[II06100(FM)01/96]
Your new vehicle goes through an adjustment or
break-in period during the first 1,000 miles
(1,600 km) that you drive it. During the break-in
period, you need to pay careful attention to how
you drive your vehicle.
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[II06300(FM)01/96]
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Avoid sudden stops.Because your vehicle
has new brake linings, you should take these
steps:
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[II06400(FM)01/96]
Ð Watch traffic carefully so that you can
anticipate when to stop.
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Ð Begin braking well in advance.
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[II06600(FM)01/96]
Ð Apply the brakes gradually.
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[II06700(FM)01/96]
The break-in period for new brake linings
lasts for 100 miles (160 km) of city driving or
1,000 miles (1,600 km) of highway driving.
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[II06750(FM)03/96]
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Wheel lug nuts must be retightened to proper
torque specifications at 500 miles/800 km of
new vehicle operation. Proper torque
specifications are provided in this guide. Also
retighten to proper torque specifications at
500 miles/800 km after any wheel change or
any other time the wheel lug nuts have been
loosened.
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[II06800(F )03/96]
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Use only the type of engine oil that Ford
recommends.SeeEngine oil recommendations
in the Index. Do not use special ªbreak-inº
oils.
File:02ltiif.ex
Update:Tue May 28 08:39:40 1996
ProCarManuals.com

15
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The Mechanical Cluster
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[IS01800(FM)01/96]
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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[IS02600(FM)01/96]
Brake System Warning Light
[IS02800(F )04/96]
The warning light for the brakes can show three
things Ð that either the parking brake is not
fully released, that the brake fluid level is low in
the master cylinder reservoir or the vacuum
pressure is low on diesel engine vehicles. If the
fluid level is low, the brake system should be
checked by a qualified service technician.
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[IS02900(FM)03/96]
This light illuminates when you turn the ignition
key to START to verify that the indicator bulb is
working. If the light stays on or illuminates after
you have released the parking brake fully, have
the hydraulic brake system serviced.
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[IS03000(FM)03/96]
RWARNING
The BRAKE light indicates that the brakes
may not be working properly. Have the
brakes checked immediately.
[IS03100(FM)04/96]
one inch art:0020044-A
Brake warning light
File:03ltisf.ex
Update:Tue May 28 08:40:24 1996
ProCarManuals.com

17 %
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[IS03900(F )03/96]
Safety Belt Warning Light and Chime
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[IS04100(F )03/96]
This warning light and chime remind you to
fasten your safety belt. The following conditions
will take place:
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[IS04200(F )03/96]
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If the safety belt is not buckled when the key
is turned to the ON position, the light comes
on for 1 to 2 minutes and the chime sounds
for 4 to 8 seconds.
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[IS04300(F )03/96]
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If the safety belt is buckled while the light is
on and the chime is sounding, both the light
and chime turn off.
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[IS04400(F )03/96]
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If the safety belt is buckled before the
ignition is turned to the ON position, neither
the light nor the chime will come on.
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[IS04600(FM)04/96]
one inch art:0020046-B
Safety belt warning light
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[IS04700(FM)03/96]
Check Engine Warning Light
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[IS04800(FM)05/96]
This light illuminates when the engine's
Emission Control System requires service. It will
also illuminate when the ignition key is in the
ON position and the engine is off.
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[IS04900(FM)04/96]
one inch art:0020048-A
Check engine warning light
File:03ltisf.ex
Update:Tue May 28 08:40:24 1996
ProCarManuals.com

18 [IS05400(F )04/96]NOTE: If your light truck is equipped with
dual fuel tanks, the ªCHECK ENGINEº
light may come on if fuel is restricted
to the engine or if the fuel flow is
momentarily disrupted because of an
empty fuel tank before you switched to
the auxiliary fuel tank. This condition
is normal and the light should go off
after full fuel flow is restored.
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[IS05900(FM)01/96]
Charging System Light
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[IS06000(FM)04/96]
This light indicates that your battery is not being
charged and that you need to have the electrical
system checked.
[IS06100(FM)04/96]
one inch art:0020777-A
Charging system light
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[IS06200(FM)03/96]
This light illuminates 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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[IS06300(FM)03/96]
If the light stays on or illuminates when the
engine is running, have the electrical system
checked as soon as possible.
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[IS07100(FM)05/96]
Battery Voltage Gauge (Voltmeter)
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[IS07200(FM)04/96]
This gauge shows you the battery voltage when
the ignition key is in the ON position.
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[IS07300(FM)01/96]
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.
File:03ltisf.ex
Update:Tue May 28 08:40:24 1996
ProCarManuals.com

19
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[IS07400(FM)04/96]
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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If it stays outside the NORMAL band, have your
vehicle's electrical system checked as soon as it
is safely possible.
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[IS07600(F )03/96]
quarter page art:0020052-D
Battery voltage gauge
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[IS07800(FM)04/96]
Engine Oil Pressure Gauge
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[IS07900(FM)01/96]
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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[IS08000(FM)05/96]
If you lose engine oil pressure:
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1. Pull off the road as soon as safely possible.
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2. Shut off the engine immediately or severe
engine damage could result.
File:03ltisf.ex
Update:Tue May 28 08:40:24 1996
ProCarManuals.com

20
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[IS08300(FM)01/96]
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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[IS08400(FM)01/96]
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.
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[IS08500(F )03/96]
quarter page art:0020057-D
Engine oil pressure gauge
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High Beam Light
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This light comes on when the headlamps are
turned on high beam or when you flash the
lights.
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[IS08900(FM)03/96]
one inch art:0020537-B
High beam indicator light
File:03ltisf.ex
Update:Tue May 28 08:40:24 1996
ProCarManuals.com

21 %
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[IS09000(F )03/96]
ªHeadlamps Onº Alert Chime
[IS09100(F )04/96]
This chime will sound if you open the door
while the headlamps or parklamps are on.
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Fuel Gauge
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The fuel gauge displays approximately how
much fuel is in the fuel tank only when the
ignition switch is ON.
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The fuel gauge indicator may vary slightly when
the vehicle is in motion.
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With ignition switch OFF, the fuel gauge
indicator may drift from the ignition switch ON
position.
[IS09700(F )04/96]
quarter page art:0020691-C
Fuel gauge
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[IS09900(FM)03/96]
Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge
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This gauge tells you the temperature of the
engine coolant, not the coolant level. If the
coolant is not at its proper level or mixture, the
gauge indicator will not be accurate.
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[IS10100(FM)01/96]
The pointer moves from the C (cold) mark into
the Normal band as the engine coolant warms
up. It is acceptable for the pointer to fluctuate
within the Normal band under normal driving
conditions. Under certain driving conditions,
such as heavy stop and go traffic or driving up
hills in hot weather, the pointer may move to
the top of the Normal band.
File:03ltisf.ex
Update:Tue May 28 08:40:24 1996
ProCarManuals.com