1999 FORD E-450 light

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 also cause damage to the vehicle.
Remove any exterior accessories, such as antennas, before entering a car
wash. If you have wax applied to the vehicle at a commercial car wash, it
is recommended that you clean the wiper blades and windshield as
described inCleaning the wiper blades and windshield.
After washing, apply the brakes several times to dry them.
Waxing your vehicle
Wax 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. Use cleaning fluid or
alcohol with a clean cloth to remove any bugs and tar before waxing
vehicle. Use tar remover to remove any tar spots.
Avoid getting wax on the windshield. If you have wax applied at a
commercial car wash, it is recommended that you clean the wiper blades
and windshield as described inCleaning the wiper blades and
windshield.
Repairing paint chips
Minor scratches or paint damage from road debris may be repaired with
touch-up paint, repair foil or aerosol paint spray from the Ford accessory
line. Observe the application instructions on the products.
Remove particles such as bird droppings, tree sap, insect remains, tar
spots, road salt and industrial fallout immediately.
Maintenance and care
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Cleaning the wheels
Wash with the same detergent as the body of your vehicle. Do not use
acid-based or alcohol-based wheel cleaners, steel wool, fuel or strong
detergents. Never use abrasives that will damage the finish of special
wheel surfaces. Use a tar remover to remove grease and tar.
Cleaning the engine
Engines are more efficient when they are clean because grease and dirt
buildup keep the engine warmer than normal. When washing:
²Take care when using a power washer to clean the engine. The high
pressure fluid could penetrate the sealed parts and cause damage.
²Do not spray with cold water to avoid cracking the engine block or
other engine components.
²Cover the highlighted areas to prevent water damage when cleaning
the engine.
²Never wash or rinse the engine while it is running; water in the
running engine may cause internal damage.
Maintenance and care
185
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Air bag supplemental restraint
system ..........................................83
and child safety seats ..............84
description ................................83
disposal ......................................87
indicator light ...........................86
passenger air bag .....................85
Automatic transmission
driving an automatic
overdrive ...................109,110,111
Axle
refill capacities ........................189
Battery
disconnecting ............161,162,163
voltage gauge ............................14
Brakes ........................................103
anti-lock .....................103,104,105
anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light ...........................104
fluid, checking and adding ....150
shift interlock ..........................108
Break-in period ..........................2,3
CD player ....................................53
Child safety seats
attaching with tether straps ....93
in rear seat ................................90
tether anchorage
hardware ..............................93,97
Cleaning your vehicle ...............183
engine compartment ..............185
exterior .............................184,187
exterior lamps .........................186
interior .....................................186
plastic parts ............................186
washing ....................................184
waxing .....................................184
wheels ......................................185
windows ..................................187
wiper blades ............................186
Controls
power seat .................................72
Coolant ...............................153,154checking and adding ..............152
refill capacities ........................154
Driveline universal joint and
slip yoke ....................................159
Emission control system ..........178
Engine
coolant .....................................151
idle speed control ...................159
service points ..........................147
starting after a collision .........123
Engine block heater .................101
Engine oil
checking and adding ..............149
dipstick ....................................147
specifications ...................147,149
Exhaust fumes ..........................101
Fail safe cooling .................154,155
Fuel
choosing the right fuel ...........171
comparisons with EPA fuel
economy estimates .................177
detergent in fuel .....................172
filling your vehicle
with fuel ...........................170,173
gauge .........................................12
quality ......................................172
running out of fuel .................172
safety information relating to
automotive fuels .....................170
Fuses ...................................125,126
Gas mileage (see Fuel
economy) ..............174,175,176,177
Gauges .........................................12
engine coolant temperature
gauge .........................................13
engine oil pressure gauge ........13
GVWR
(Gross Vehicle Weight Rating)
calculating ...............................113
Hazard flashers .........................123
Headlamps
aiming ......................................183
Index
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bulb specifications ..................183
high beam ............................11,15
warning chime ..........................11
Heating ........................................16
auxiliary heater and air
conditioner ...........................21,22
heater only system .........16,17,18
heating and air conditioning
system .............................18,19,20
Hood ..........................................146
Ignition .......................................195
Inspection/maintenance
(I/M) testing ..............................179
Instrument panel
cleaning ...................................186
Keys
key in ignition chime ...............11
positions of the ignition ...........56
Lamps
daytime running light ...............15
headlamps .................................15
headlamps, flash to pass ..........16
instrument panel, dimming .....16
interior lamps ...........................63
replacing bulbs ..179,180,181,182
Lane change indicator
(see Turn signal) ........................57
Lights, warning and indicator
air bag ........................................10
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ..............8
brake ............................................8
charging system ........................10
engine oil pressure ...................11
safety belt .................................10
service engine soon .................8,9
turn signal indicator .................10
Lumbar support,
seats ..............................73,74,75,76
Mirrors
side view mirrors (power) .......65
Motorcraft parts ........................174
Octane rating ............................172Odometer .....................................14
Overdrive .....................................62
Panic alarm feature, remote
entry system ................................67
Parking brake ............................105
Power distribution box
(see Fuses) ...............................129
Power door locks ........................64
Power steering ..........................107
fluid, checking and adding ....156
Radio ...................23,24,25,26,27,28
29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36,37
Relays .................................125,131
Remote entry system .................65
illuminated entry ......................70
locking/unlocking doors ......65,66
replacement/additional
transmitters ...............................69
replacing the batteries .............67
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ....................................11
Safety restraints
cleaning the safety belts ...82,187
extension assembly ..................81
for children ..........................87,88
lap belt ......................................80
warning light and chime .....11,82
Seat belts (see Safety
restraints) ................76,77,78,79,80
Seats ............................................71
child safety seats ......................89
Servicing your vehicle ..............145
Spark plugs, specifications .......188
Special notice ................................3
ambulance conversions ..............3
diesel-powered vehicles .............4
Specification chart, lubricants .193
Speed control ..............................57
Speedometer ...............................12
Starting your vehicle ...........98,100
jump starting ............139,140,142
Index
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Steering wheel
tilting .........................................61
Tires ....................................166,167
changing ...........................132,133
checking the pressure ............167
replacing ...........................135,169
rotating ....................................167
snow tires and chains ............169
tire grades ...............................167
treadwear ................................166
Towing ..................113,119,120,121
wrecker ....................................144
Traction-lok rear axle ...............108
Transmission ......................108,157
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) ......................157,158
Transmission control
indictor light ................................10Trip odometer .............................14
Vehicle dimensions ............195,197
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................198
Vehicle loading ..........................111
Ventilating your vehicle ...........102
Warning chimes .............................8
Washer fluid ..............................151
reservoir ..................................151
Water, Driving through .............113
Windows ......................................63
Windshield washer fluid
and wipers
checking and cleaning ............165
operation ...................................61
replacing wiper blades ...........165
Index
202
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