Exhaust Restrictor
(Engine Warm-Up)
Exhaust Restrictor
If your vehicle has a Isuzu 6H or Caterpillar®
Diesel Engine, it may have a feature called
an Exhaust Restrictor (NPE), which uses an air
actuated valve in the exhaust system to restrict
exhaust gas flow which enhances the engine and
heater warm-up.
Automatic Quick Warm-Up
If your vehicle has a DURAMAX®6600 engine, it
has a feature called an Automatic Quick
Warm-Up, which uses the turbocharger to restrict
the exhaust gas flow which enhances the
engine and heater warm-up.
In both systems, exhaust restrictor or automatic
quick warm-up, the cold temperature high
idle feature elevates the engines idle speed, up to
1500 rpm, and restricts the exhaust gas flow,
when outside temperatures are below 32°F (0°C),
and the engine coolant temperature is below
certain levels. This feature enhances heater
performance by raising the engine coolant
temperature faster.For all engines this feature is already turned on.
The automatic quick warm-up on the DURAMAX
®
engine can be turned off and on by doing the
following procedure:
1. Turn the ignition to RUN, with the vehicle off.
2. Press the accelerator pedal to the floor
and hold it while quickly pressing and
fully releasing the brake pedal three times in
less than eight seconds.
3. Release the accelerator pedal and start the
engine. The green exhaust brake/restrictor
light below the radio controls will be lit
for 10 seconds.
If this feature is turned off, by doing the
procedure described previously, and then the
engine is started, the exhaust brake/restrictor
light will flash for 10 seconds and then it
will turn off.
When the engine is started, it will slowly increase to
the high idle speed after a delay of a few seconds;
up to about two minutes. For this method to work
properly there must be no throttle or brake pedal
faults, and the throttle pedal must not fall below
75 percent of wide open throttle while pressing the
brake pedal.
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The engine idle speed will return to normal once
the following conditions are met:
•Once engine coolant temperature reaches
about 150°F (65°C).
•The intake temperature reaches a
certain level.
The high idle speed will be temporarily interrupted
and the engine speed will return to normal if
any of the following conditions occur:
•The brake pedal is applied.
•The accelerator pedal is pressed.
•The automatic transmission is shifted out of
PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
•The clutch pedal on the manual transmission
is pressed.
•Vehicle speed is detected.
Once these conditions no longer exist, the engine
idle speed will slowly increase to high idle after
the normal delay, if the conditions for engine
coolant temperature and air intake temperature
are still met.
Engine Checks Before Operating
When you have started your engine, let it run for
20 to 30 seconds before you put a load on the
engine. But do not leave the vehicle while
the engine is running.
Avoid unnecessary idling of diesel engine
equipped vehicles.
If the engine idles too long, the temperature of the
engine coolant will fall below the normal operating
range. Low engine operating temperature
causes several conditions which affect engine
operation and reduce engine life.
The engine should be permitted to go through a
warm-up period. Operate the vehicle at a minimum
of 600 rpm during the warm-up period. During
this period and during operation, the following
observations should be made.
During this warm-up period, check your warning
lights and gages:
•If oil pressure does not begin to rise within
15 seconds of starting, stop the engine
and find the cause. SeeOil Pressure Gage on
page 175for more information.
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Engine Coolant Temperature Gage............ 173
Low Coolant Warning Light....................... 173
Wait to Start Indicator............................... 174
Malfunction Indicator Lamp........................ 174
Oil Pressure Gage..................................... 175
Low Oil Level Light................................... 176
Change Engine Oil Light........................... 176
Engine Overspeed Warning Light.............. 177
Engine Shutdown Warning Light................ 177
Transmission Temperature Gage............... 178
Exhaust Brake Indicator Light.................... 178
Differential Lock Indicator Light.................. 178
Reduced Engine Power Light.................... 179
Highbeam On Light................................... 179
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
Indicator Light........................................ 179
Low Washer Fluid Warning Light............... 180
Check Gages Warning Light...................... 180
Fuel Gage................................................. 181Water in Fuel Warning Light...................... 182
Air Filter Restriction Indicator..................... 182
Air Pressure Gage..................................... 183
Hourmeter Gage........................................ 183
Audio System(s)......................................... 184
Setting the Time........................................ 185
AM-FM Radio............................................ 186
Radio with Cassette.................................. 189
Radio with CD........................................... 195
Theft-Deterrent Feature
(Non-RDS Radios)................................. 201
Radio Reception........................................ 201
Care of the Cassette Tape Player............. 202
Care of Your CDs..................................... 203
Care of the CD Player.............................. 204
Fixed Mast Antenna.................................. 204
Chime Level Adjustment............................ 204
Section 3 Instrument Panel
138
3. Store the seal in the inlet, located on the
underside of the hood
4. Store the clamp on the coolant surge tank.
Pull the overflow tube out of the white
plastic retainer, slip the clamp over and
reinstall the hose.
The seal will need to be replaced on to the air
cleaner for normal driving, especially in the
warmer months.
Automatic Transmission Fluid
When to Check
A good time to check your automatic transmission
fluid level is when the engine oil is checked.
See your Allison Automatic Transmission
Operator’s Manual to find out when to change
your transmission fluid and filters.
How to Check and What to Use
The Allison Automatic Transmission Operator’s
Manual that came with the vehicle shows how to
check the automatic transmission fluid and
what fluid to use.
Automatic Transmission External Filter
Your automatic transmission filter requires
periodic replacement.
Consult the Allison Automatic Transmission
Operator’s Manual that came with the vehicle for
proper change intervals.
282
Checking Coolant
The coolant surge tank is located in the engine
compartment on the driver’s side of the vehicle.
{CAUTION:
Turning the surge tank pressure cap when
the engine and radiator are hot can allow
steam and scalding liquids to blow out
and burn you badly. Never turn the surge
tank pressure cap — even a little — when
the engine and radiator are hot.
The vehicle must be parked on a level surface.
When your engine is cold, the coolant level should
be at the FULL COLD mark or higher.
286
Cooling System (Gas and
DURAMAX
®/Isuzu Engines)
When you decide it is safe to lift the hood, here is
what you will see:
A. Engine Fan
B. Coolant Surge TankIf your vehicle has a Caterpillar
®diesel engine,
see the Caterpillar®Diesel Engine Operation and
Maintenance Manual provided with your vehicle.
If the coolant inside the coolant surge tank is
boiling, do not do anything else until it cools down.
The vehicle should be parked on a level surface.
The coolant level should
be at the FULL COLD
mark or higher. If it is
not, you may have a leak
at the pressure cap or in
the radiator hoses,
heater hoses, radiator,
water pump, or
somewhere else in the
cooling system.
290
{CAUTION:
Heater and radiator hoses, and other
engine parts, can be very hot. Do not
touch them. If you do, you can be burned.
Do not run the engine if there is a leak. If
you run the engine, it could lose all
coolant. That could cause an engine re,
and you could be burned. Get any leak
xed before you drive the vehicle.
If there seems to be no leak, start the engine
again. The engine cooling fan speed should
increase when idle speed is doubled by pushing
the accelerator pedal down. If it does not,
your vehicle needs service. Turn off the engine.
Notice:Engine damage from running your
engine without coolant is not covered by your
warranty.Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL
®
may cause premature engine, heater core,
or radiator corrosion. In addition, the engine
coolant could require changing sooner, at
30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs rst. Any repairs would not
be covered by your warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant in your
vehicle.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Surge Tank
If you have not found a problem yet, check to see
if coolant is visible in the surge tank. If coolant
is visible but the coolant level is not at the FULL
COLD mark or higher, add a 50/50 mixture of
clean, drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®coolant at
the coolant surge tank, but be sure the cooling
system, including the coolant surge tank pressure
cap, is cool before you do it. SeeEngine
Coolant (Gas and DURAMAX
®/Isuzu Engines) on
page 284orEngine Coolant (Caterpillar®Diesel
Engines) on page 287for more information.
291
4. With the coolant surge tank pressure cap off,
start the engine and let it run until you can
feel the upper radiator hose getting hot. Watch
out for the engine cooling fan.
By this time, the coolant level inside the
coolant surge tank may be lower. If the level is
lower, add more of the proper mixture to the
coolant surge tank until the level reaches
slightly above the FULL COLD mark.
5. Then replace the pressure cap. Be sure the
pressure cap is hand-tight and fully seated.
Engine Fan Noise
Your vehicle has a clutched engine cooling fan.
When the clutch is engaged, the fan spins faster to
provide more air to cool the engine. In most
everyday driving conditions, the clutch is not fully
engaged. This improves fuel economy and
reduces fan noise. Under heavy vehicle loading,
trailer towing and/or high outside temperatures, the
fan speed increases when the clutch engages.
So you may hear an increase in fan noise. This is
normal and should not be mistaken as the
transmission slipping or making extra shifts. It is
merely the cooling system functioning properly.
The fan will slow down when additional cooling is
not required and the clutch disengages.
You may also hear this fan noise when you start
the engine. It will go away as the fan clutch
disengages.
294