2002 FORD F SERIES MOTORHOME AND COMMERCIAL CHASSIS check engine

reservoir. If you removed the radiator cap in an overflow system, fill the
radiator until the coolant is visible and radiator is almost full.
6. Replace the cap. Turn until tightly installed. (Cap must be tightly
installed to prevent coolant loss.)
After any coolant has been added, check the coolant concentration see
Checking Engine Coolant section). If the concentration is not 50/50
(protection to –34° F/–36° C), drain some coolant and adjust the
concentration. It may take several drains and additions to obtain a 50/50
coolant concentration.
Whenever coolant has been added, the coolant level in the coolant
reservoir should be checked the next few times you drive the vehicle. If
necessary, add enough 50/50 concentration of engine coolant and
distilled water to bring the liquid level to the proper level.
If you have to add more than 1.0 liter (1.0 quart) of engine coolant per
month, have your dealer check the engine cooling system. Your cooling
system may have a leak. Operating an engine with a low level of coolant
can result in engine overheating and possible engine damage.
Recycled engine coolant
Ford Motor Company recommends the use of a recycled engine coolant
produced by Ford-approved processes in vehicles originally equipped
with Motorcraft Premium Engine Coolant (green-colored). However, not
all coolant recycling processes produce coolant that meets Ford
specification ESE-M97B44–A. Use of such coolant may harm the engine
and cooling system components.
Ford Motor Company does NOT recommend the use of recycled engine
coolant in vehicles originally equipped with Motorcraft Premium Gold
Engine Coolant since a Ford-approved recycling process is not yet
available.
Used engine coolant should be disposed of in an appropriate
manner. Follow your community’s regulations and standards for recycling
and disposing of automotive fluids.
Coolant refill capacity
To find out how much fluid your vehicle’s cooling system can hold, refer
toRefill capacitiesin this chapter.
Fill your engine coolant reservoir as outlined inAdding engine coolant
in this chapter.
Maintenance and specifications
69

How fail-safe cooling works
If the engine begins to overheat:
•The engine coolant temperature
gauge will move to the red (hot)
area.
•The
symbol will
illuminate.
•The
symbol will illuminate.
•TheService Engine Soon
indicator light will illuminate.
If the engine reaches a preset over-temperature condition, the engine
will automatically switch to alternating cylinder operation. Each disabled
cylinder acts as an air pump and cools the engine.
When this occurs the vehicle will still operate. However:
•The engine power will be limited.
•The air conditioning system will be disabled.
Continued operation will increase the engine temperature and the engine
will completely shut down, causing steering and braking effort to
increase.
Once the engine temperature cools, the engine can be re-started. Take
your vehicle to a service facility as soon as possible to minimize engine
damage.
When fail-safe mode is activated
You have limited engine power when in the fail-safe mode, so drive the
vehicle with caution. The vehicle will not be able to maintain high-speed
operation and the engine will run rough. Remember that the engine is
capable of completely shutting down automatically to prevent engine
damage, therefore:
1. Pull off the road as soon as safely possible and turn off the engine.
2. Arrange for the vehicle to be taken to a service facility.
3. If this is not possible, wait a short period for the engine to cool.
4. Check the coolant level and replenish if low.
H
C
Maintenance and specifications
71

Maintenance
•Keep tires properly inflated and use only recommended size.
•Operating a vehicle with the wheels out of alignment will reduce fuel
economy.
•Use recommended engine oil. Refer toLubricant specificationsin
this chapter.
•Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance items. Follow the
recommended maintenance schedule and owner maintenance checks
found in your vehicle scheduled maintenance guide.
Conditions
•Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a trailer may reduce fuel economy
at any speed.
•Carrying unnecessary weight may reduce fuel economy (approximately
0.4 km/L [1 mpg] is lost for every 180 kg [400 lb] of weight carried).
•Adding certain accessories to your vehicle (for example bug
deflectors, rollbars/light bars, running boards, ski/luggage racks) may
reduce fuel economy.
•Using fuel blended with alcohol may lower fuel economy.
•Fuel economy may decrease with lower temperatures during the first
12–16 km (8–10 miles) of driving.
•Driving on flat terrain offers improved fuel economy as compared to
driving on hilly terrain.
•Transmissions give their best fuel economy when operated in the top
cruise gear and with steady pressure on the gas pedal.
•Close windows for high speed driving.
EPA window sticker
Every new vehicle should have the EPA window sticker. Contact your
dealer if the window sticker is not supplied with your vehicle. The EPA
window sticker should be your guide for the fuel economy comparisons
with other vehicles.
It is important to note the box in the lower left corner of the window
sticker. These numbers represent the Range of L/100 km (MPG)
expected on the vehicle under optimum conditions. Your fuel economy
may vary depending upon the method of operation and conditions.
Maintenance and specifications
81

engine. This decal identifies engine displacement and gives some tune up
specifications.
Please consult yourWarranty Guidefor complete emission warranty
information.
Readiness for Inspection/Maintenance (I/M) testing
In some localities, it may be a legal requirement to pass an I/M test of
the on-board diagnostics system. If your “Check Engine/Service Engine
Soon” light is on, refer to the description in theWarning lights and
chimessection of theInstrument Clusterchapter. Your vehicle may not
pass the I/M test with the “Check Engine/Service Engine Soon” light on.
If the vehicle’s powertrain system or its battery has just been serviced,
the on-board diagnostics system is reset to a “not ready for I/M test”
condition. To ready the on-board diagnostics system for I/M testing, a
minimum of 30 minutes of city and highway driving is necessary as
described below:
•First, at least 10 minutes of driving on an expressway or highway.
•Next, at least 20 minutes driving in stop-and-go, city-type traffic with
at least four idle periods.
Allow the vehicle to sit for at least eight hours without starting the
engine. Then, start the engine and complete the above driving cycle. The
engine must warm up to its normal operating temperature. Once started,
do not turn off the engine until the above driving cycle is complete.
Maintenance and specifications
83

CHECKING AND ADDING POWER STEERING FLUID
Check the power steering fluid.
Refer to the scheduled maintenance
guide for the service interval
schedules. If adding fluid is
necessary, use only MERCONAT F.
1. Start the engine and let it run until it reaches normal operating
temperature (the engine coolant temperature gauge indicator will be
near the center of the normal area between H and C).
2. While the engine idles, turn the steering wheel left and right several
times.
3. Turn the engine off.
4. Check the fluid level on the
dipstick. It should be between the
arrows in the FULL range on the
side of the dipstick with the words
MAX. HOT at the top. Do not add
fluid if the level is within this range.
5. If the fluid is low, add fluid in small amounts, continuously checking
the level until it reaches the FULL range. Be sure to put the dipstick
back in the reservoir.
ADD MAX. HOTFULL
Maintenance and specifications
84

3. With the parking brake engaged and your foot on the brake pedal,
start the engine and move the gearshift lever through all of the gear
ranges. Allow sufficient time for each gear to engage.
4. Latch the gearshift lever in P (Park) and leave the engine running.
5. Remove the dipstick, wiping it clean with a clean, dry lint free rag. If
necessary, refer toIdentifying components in the engine compartment
in this chapter for the location of the dipstick.
6. Install the dipstick making sure it is fully seated in the filler tube.
7. Remove the dipstick and inspect the fluid level. The fluid should be in
the designated area for normal operating temperature or ambient
temperature.
Low fluid level
Do not drive the vehicle if the fluid
level is at the bottom of the dipstick
and the ambient temperature is
above 10°C (50°F).
Correct fluid level
The transmission fluid should be checked at normal operating
temperature 66°C-77°C (150°F-170°F) on a level surface. The normal
operating temperature can be reached after approximately 30 km (20
miles) of driving.
You can check the fluid without driving if the ambient temperature is
above 10°C (50°F). However, if fluid is added at this time, an overfill
condition could result when the vehicle reaches normal operating
temperature.
The transmission fluid should be in
this range if at normal operating
temperature (66°C-77°C
[150°F-170°F]).
The transmission fluid should be in
this range if at ambient temperature
(10°C-35°C [50°F-95°F]).
Maintenance and specifications
87

A
Air cleaner filter .............88–89, 95
Ambulance packages ....................4
Antifreeze
(see Engine coolant) ..................65
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ................................27
Automatic transmission
driving an automatic
overdrive ...................................31
fluid, adding ..............................86
fluid, checking ..........................86
fluid, refill capacities ................95
fluid, specification ....................99
Axle
lubricant specifications ......97, 99
refill capacities ..........................95
B
Battery .........................................63
acid, treating emergencies .......63
charging system
warning light .............................10
jumping a disabled battery ......51
maintenance-free ......................63
replacement, specifications .....95
servicing ....................................63
voltage gauge ............................13
Brakes ....................................26, 28
anti-lock .....................................27
anti-lock brake system
(ABS) warning light .............9, 28
brake warning light ....................9
fluid, checking and adding ......85
fluid, refill capacities ................95
fluid, specifications .............97, 99
lubricant specifications ......97, 99
shift interlock ............................30Break-in period .............................4
C
Capacities for refilling fluids ......95
Cleaning your vehicle
engine compartment ................58
exterior ......................................58
wheels ........................................58
Coolant
checking and adding ................65
refill capacities ....................69, 95
specifications ......................97, 99
Cruise control
(see Speed control) ....................17
D
Daytime running lamps
(see Lamps) ................................15
Dipstick
automatic transmission fluid ...86
engine oil ...................................61
Doors
door ajar warning .....................11
lubricant specifications ............97
Driveline universal joint and
slip yoke ......................................88
Driving under special
conditions
through water ...........................33
E
Emergencies, roadside
jump-starting ............................51
Emission control system ............82
Engine ..........................................99
Index
101

check engine/
service engine soon light ...........7
cleaning .....................................58
coolant .......................................65
fail-safe coolant ........................70
idle speed control .....................63
lubrication specifications ...97, 99
refill capacities ..........................95
service points ............................60
starting after a collision ...........39
Engine block heater ...................25
Engine oil ....................................61
checking and adding ................61
dipstick ......................................61
filter, specifications ............62, 95
recommendations .....................62
refill capacities ..........................95
specifications ......................97, 99
Exhaust fumes ............................25
F
Fail safe cooling ..........................70
Fluid capacities ...........................95
Fuel ..............................................72
calculating fuel economy .........78
capacity .....................................95
choosing the right fuel .............74
comparisons with EPA fuel
economy estimates ...................81
detergent in fuel .......................75
filling your vehicle
with fuel ..............................72, 78
filter, specifications ............76, 95
fuel pump shut-off switch .......39
gauge .........................................13
improving fuel economy ..........78
low fuel warning light ..............10
octane rating .......................74, 99
quality ........................................75running out of fuel ...................75
safety information relating
to automotive fuels ..................72
Fuses ............................................41
G
Gas mileage
(see Fuel economy) ...................78
Gauges .........................................11
battery voltage gauge ...............13
engine coolant
temperature gauge ...................12
engine oil pressure gauge ........12
fuel gauge ..................................13
odometer ...................................14
speedometer .............................13
tachometer ................................14
trip odometer ............................14
GAWR (Gross Axle
Weight Rating) ............................34
calculating .................................35
definition ...................................34
driving with a heavy load ........34
location ......................................34
GVWR (Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating) ............................34
calculating ...........................34–35
definition ...................................34
driving with a heavy load ........34
location ......................................34
H
Hazard flashers ...........................39
Headlamps ...................................15
daytime running lights .............15
flash to pass ..............................16
high beam ...........................11, 15
turning on and off ....................15
warning chime ..........................11
Index
102