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Low Washer Fluid Warning Light
This light is located
above the climate
controls in the center of
the instrument panel.
This light will come on when your vehicle is low on
windshield washer fluid.
For more information, seeWindshield Washer
Fluid on page 296.
Check Gages Warning Light
This light will come on
as you’re starting the
engine, just as a check.
If this light comes on and stays on while you are
driving. It means that either your engine coolant
temperature gage or your engine oil pressure gage
may be showing a reading in the warning zone.
When the check gages light comes on, you
will also hear a warning tone. The tone and the
light will stay activated until the problem is
corrected.
This light may also come on if your vehicle is
equipped with the optional automatic engine
shutdown system and engine shutdown has
begun. SeeEngine Alarm and Automatic
ShutdownunderStarting the Diesel Engine on
page 100.
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Water in Fuel Warning Light
This light is located
above the climate
controls in the center of
the instrument panel.
If your vehicle has the 6.6L DURAMAX
®or Isuzu
6H diesel engine, this light will come on to
warn you that there is water in the fuel system.
For more information on how this light works, see
Water in Fuel on page 256.
Air Filter Restriction Indicator
If your vehicle has this
feature, the gage is
located above the
switchbank in the center
of the instrument
panel. It monitors the
engine air filter.
As the filter gets dirty, the yellow indicator will
begin to rise. When it reaches 25 inches of
vacuum on the scale, the filter should be replaced.
After replacing the filter, reset the gage by
pressing in the yellow reset button at the bottom
of the gage.
If you have a Caterpillar
®diesel engine, also see
your Caterpillar®Operation & Maintenance Manual.
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Air Pressure Gage
If your vehicle has air
brakes, the air pressure
gage is located above
the switchbank in
the center of the
instrument panel.
This gage shows the air pressure for both your
front and rear brake systems.
If the needle on the gage indicates that the air
pressure is below 60 to 75 psi (415 to 517 kPa),
the low air warning light will come on. An alarm will
also sound if this happens.The top pointer shows the pressure available for the
front system, while the bottom pointer shows
pressure for the rear. There should be no more than
4 psi (28 kPa) difference showing between the
systems.
Don’t drive until both pointers are showing at least
120 psi (827 kPa), so you’ll have enough air if
you need to apply your brakes.
Hourmeter Gage
To access the engine hourmeter gage, press the
trip odometer button three times.
The instrument panel cluster displays the
accumulated engine run time hours using the
reconfigurable odometer display. The engine run
time hours displays only when the ignition is in the
LOCK or ACCESSORY position and the trip
reset button is pressed for about four seconds.
The value of the accumulated hours does
not change when the battery is disconnected.
The hourmeter resets to 0.0 when 10,000 hours
are accumulated. The instrument panel cluster
begins to reaccumulate the engine run time hours
from 0.0 hours.
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Control of a Vehicle
You have three systems that make your vehicle go
where you want it to go. They are the brakes, the
steering, and the accelerator. All three systems
have to do their work at the places where the tires
meet the road.
Sometimes, as when you are driving on snow or
ice, it is easy to ask more of those control systems
than the tires and road can provide. That means
you can lose control of your vehicle.
Braking
SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 169.
Braking action involves perception time and
reaction time.
First, you have to decide to push on the brake
pedal. That is perception time. Then you have to
bring up your foot and do it. That is reaction time.Average reaction time is about three-fourths of
a second. But that is only an average. It might
be less with one driver and as long as two or
three seconds or more with another. Age,
physical condition, alertness, coordination and
eyesight all play a part. So do alcohol, drugs
and frustration. But even in three-fourths of
a second, a vehicle moving at 60 mph (100 km/h)
travels 66 feet (20 m). That could be a lot of
distance in an emergency, so keeping enough
space between your vehicle and others is
important.
And, of course, actual stopping distances vary
greatly with the surface of the road, whether it is
pavement or gravel; the condition of the road,
whether it is wet, dry or icy; tire tread; the condition
of the brakes; the weight of the vehicle; the
weight of the load; and the amount of brake
force applied.
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Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive
in spurts — heavy acceleration followed by heavy
braking — rather than keeping pace with traffic.
This is a mistake. The brakes may not have time to
cool between hard stops. The brakes will wear out
much faster if you do a lot of heavy braking. If you
keep pace with the traffic and allow realistic
following distances, you will eliminate a lot of
unnecessary braking. That means better braking
and longer brake life.
If your vehicle’s engine ever stops while you are
driving, brake normally but do not pump the
brakes. If you do, the pedal may get harder to
push down. If the engine stops, you will still have
some power brake assist. But you will use it
when you brake. Once the power assist is used
up, it may take longer to stop and the brake pedal
will be harder to push.Hydraulic Brake Systems
If your engine stops running, or if your primary
brake system stops working, your vehicle has a
reserve power assist system to help you slow down.
Just slowly and steadily apply the brake pedal until
you can safely get off the road. The pedal will seem
harder to push down. Do not pump the pedal; the
system will not work well or at all that way.
You may find that the steering wheel seems hard
to turn when you are turning and braking at
the same time. Also, the primary brake warning
light may come on and the warning tone may
sound. This is normal because the main hydraulic
brake system and power steering both use the
power steering pump. If this ever happens, let up
on the brake pedal a little. When you let up on
the brake pedal in that situation, it lets the steering
get a little more help from the pump.
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Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
Your vehicle has the Anti-Lock Brake System
(ABS), an advanced electronic braking system
that will help prevent a braking skid.
When you start your engine and begin to drive
away, ABS will check itself. You may hear a
momentary motor or clicking noise while this
test is going on. This is normal.
If there is a problem
with ABS, this warning
light will stay on.
SeeAnti-Lock Brake
System Warning
Light on page 172.
Let us say the road is wet and you are driving
safely. Suddenly, an animal jumps out in front of
you. You slam on the brakes and continue braking.
Here is what happens with ABS:
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down.
If one of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the
computer will separately work the brakes at
each wheel.
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Driving Through Deep Standing Water
Notice:If you drive too quickly through deep
puddles or standing water, water can come in
through your engine’s air intake and badly
damage your engine. Never drive through water
that is slightly lower than the underbody of your
vehicle. If you cannot avoid deep puddles or
standing water, drive through them very slowly.
Driving Through Flowing Water
{CAUTION:
Flowing or rushing water creates strong
forces. If you try to drive through owing
water, as you might at a low water
crossing, your vehicle can be carried away.
As little as six inches of owing water
can carry away a smaller vehicle. If this
happens, you and other vehicle occupants
could drown. Do not ignore police warning
signs, and otherwise be very cautious
about trying to drive through owing water.
Some Other Rainy Weather Tips
•Turn on your low-beam headlamps and your
marker and clearance lamps, if your vehicle
has them — not just your parking lamps — to
help make you more visible to others.
•Besides slowing down, allow some extra
following distance. And be especially careful
when you pass another vehicle. Allow yourself
more clear room ahead, and be prepared to
have your view restricted by road spray.
•Have good tires with proper tread depth.
SeeTires on page 321.
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City Driving
One of the biggest problems with city streets is
the amount of traffic on them. You will want
to watch out for what the other drivers are doing
and pay attention to traffic signals.Here are ways to increase your safety in city
driving:
•Know the best way to get to where you are
going. Get a city map and plan your trip
into an unknown part of the city just as you
would for a cross-country trip.
•Larger vehicles cannot be driven everywhere
smaller ones can. There are low underpasses,
truck routes and other special situations.
Usually these are well marked, so be sure to
watch for the signs.
•Try to use the freeways that rim and crisscross
most large cities. You will save time and
energy. SeeFreeway Driving on page 228.
•Treat a green light as a warning signal.
A traffic light is there because the corner
is busy enough to need it. When a light turns
green, and just before you start to move,
check both ways for vehicles that have not
cleared the intersection or may be running
the red light.
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