Traction Control System (TCS)
Your vehicle may have a traction control system that
limits wheel spin. This is especially useful in slippery road
conditions. The system operates only if it senses that one
or both of the rear wheels are spinning or beginning to
lose traction. When this happens, the system applies the
brake(s) at the affected wheel(s).
The bottom light on the TCS on/off button will come on
when the TCS is limiting wheel spin. You may feel
or hear the system working, but this is normal. The TCS
will function at speeds up to about 25 mph (42 km/h).
The TCS may operate on dry roads under some
conditions. When this happens, you may notice a
reduction in acceleration. This is normal and doesn’t
mean there’s a problem with your vehicle. Examples of
these conditions include a hard acceleration in a
turn, an abrupt upshift or downshift of the transmission
or driving on rough roads.
When the light in the top of the TCS button is on, the
TCS is off and will not limit wheel spin. Adjust your
driving accordingly.
The light in the top of the TCS button will come on if the
TCS is turned off by pressing the TCS on/off button.
The light may also come on if a problem has been
detected in either the traction control system or
the anti-lock brake system.The traction control system automatically comes on
whenever you start your vehicle. To limit wheel spin,
especially in slippery road conditions, you should always
leave the system on. But you can turn the traction control
system off if you ever need to. You should turn the
system off if your vehicle ever gets stuck in sand, mud or
snow and rocking the vehicle is required. SeeRocking
Your Vehicle to Get It Out on page 4-20for more
information.
To turn the system on or
off, press the traction
control button located on
the instrument panel.
If you used the TCS button to turn the system off, the
light in the top of the button will come on and stay
on. You can turn the TCS back on at any time by
pressing the button again; the light should go off.
4-8
Service............................................................5-4
Accessories and Modifications..........................5-4
California Proposition 65 Warning.....................5-5
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements.....5-5
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-6
Engine Fan Breakage.....................................5-6
Fuel................................................................5-7
Gasoline Octane............................................5-7
Gasoline Specifications....................................5-7
Additives.......................................................5-8
Diesel Engine Fuel.........................................5-9
What Fuel to Use...........................................5-9
Very Cold Weather Operation.........................5-12
Water in Fuel...............................................5-12
Running Out of Fuel.....................................5-17
Fuel Filter Replacement.................................5-18
Fuels in Foreign Countries.............................5-19
Filling the Tank............................................5-20
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.....................5-21
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-22
Hood Latches...............................................5-22
Engine Oil (Caterpillar
®Diesel Engine).............5-23
Engine Oil (Gasoline Engine)..........................5-24
Engine Oil (DURAMAX
®Diesel Engine)............5-28Engine Oil (Isuzu Diesel Engine).....................5-32
Engine Oil Life System (Gasoline Engine)........5-36
Engine Oil Life System (DURAMAX
®/Isuzu
Diesel Engines).........................................5-37
Engine Oil Life System (Caterpillar
®Diesel
Engine)....................................................5-39
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-39
Automatic Transmission Fluid.........................5-43
Manual Transmission Fluid.............................5-43
Engine Coolant (Caterpillar
®Diesel Engines).....5-44
Engine Coolant (Gas and DURAMAX®/
Isuzu 7.8L L6 Engines)..............................5-44
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap..................5-47
Engine Overheating.......................................5-48
Cooling System............................................5-50
Engine Fan Noise.........................................5-54
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-54
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-55
Brakes........................................................5-57
Battery........................................................5-66
Jump Starting...............................................5-67
Rear Axle.......................................................5-72
Rear Axle Shift Motor....................................5-73
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1
Diesel Engine Fuel
For the Caterpillar®diesel, see the Caterpillar®
Operation & Maintenance Manual for information
concerning fuel usage.
Notice:Diesel fuel or fuel additives not
recommended in this manual could damage the fuel
system and engine. Your warranty would not
cover this damage. And:
Diesel fuel that has been mixed with engine oil
or automatic transmission uid could damage
the engine and emission controls.
We do not test aftermarket diesel fuel additives.
Some additives, particularly those which
contain alcohol or water emulsi ers, could
damage the fuel system. If you believe that
unique circumstances call for a fuel additive to
be used, consult your dealer/retailer for
advice.
If you ever run out of diesel fuel, it can be
difficult to restart the engine. To avoid this,
never let the tank get empty.
If gasoline is ever accidentally added to the fuel
tank, to avoid severe engine damage, do not run the
engine until the fuel tank can be drained.
If you run out of fuel,Running Out of Fuel on page 5-17
tells you how to restart the engine.
What Fuel to Use
Notice:Use of diesel fuel other than Ultra Low
Sulfur Diesel (15 ppm sulfur maximum) or engine oil
other than low ash CJ-4 oil will cause permanent
damage to the DPF and related components. This
damage would not be covered by your warranty.
The emission control system requires the use of diesel
fuel with ultra low-sulfur (0.0015% by weight, or 15 ppm,
maximum) content. Both Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel and Low
Sulfur Diesel fuels are available in the United States and
Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel fuel is available in Canada.
However, only higher sulfur diesel fuel is available
in Mexico.
At a minimum, the diesel fuel you use should meet the
latest version of ASTM specification D 975 (Grades
No. 2-D or No. 1-D S15 commonly known as Ultra Low
Sulfur diesel) in the United States. In addition, the
Engine Manufacturers Association (EMA) has identified
properties of an improved diesel fuel for better engine
performance and durability. Diesel fuels corresponding
to the EMA Recommended Guideline on Premium
Diesel Fuel (FQP-1A) could provide better starting, less
noise, and better vehicle performance. If there are
questions about the fuel you are using, contact your fuel
supplier.
5-9
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.
Manual Transmission Fluid
When to Check
A good time to have it checked is when the engine oil is
checked. Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to find
out when to check and change your manual
transmission fluid. SeeScheduled Maintenance on
page 6-5.
How to Check and What to Use
Check the fluid level only when your engine is off, the
vehicle is parked on a level place, and the transmission
is cool enough for you to rest your fingers on the
transmission case.
To check the transmission fluid level, do the following:
1. Remove the filler plug.
2. Check to be sure that the lubricant level is up to the
bottom of the fill opening. On heavy duty
transmissions, an inch of oil level equals about one
gallon of fluid.
3. If the fluid level is good, reinstall the plug and be
sure it is fully seated. If the fluid level is low, add
more fluid as described in the next steps. Refer to
the Maintenance Schedule to determine what kind
of fluid to use. SeePart C: Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 6-31.
5-43
Jump Starting
If your vehicle’s battery (or batteries) has run down, you
may want to use another vehicle and some jumper
cables to start your vehicle. Be sure to use the following
steps to do it safely.
{CAUTION:
Batteries can hurt you. They can be dangerous
because:
They contain acid that can burn you.
They contain gas that can explode or
ignite.
They contain enough electricity to
burn you.
If you do not follow these steps exactly, some
or all of these things can hurt you.
Notice:Ignoring these steps could result in costly
damage to your vehicle that would not be covered
by your warranty.Trying to start your vehicle by pushing or pulling it
will not work, and it could damage your vehicle.
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt
battery (or batteries) with a negative ground system.
Notice:If the other vehicle’s system is not a 12-volt
system with a negative ground, both vehicles can
be damaged. Only use vehicles with 12-volt systems
with negative grounds to jump start your vehicle.
If you have a diesel engine vehicle with
two batteries (or more), you should know before
you begin that, especially in cold weather, you may
not be able to get enough power from a single
battery in another vehicle to start your diesel engine.
If your vehicle has more than one battery, use the
one closest to the starter — this will reduce electrical
resistance.
2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables
can reach, but be sure the vehicles are not touching
each other. If they are, it could cause a ground
connection you do not want. You would not be able
to start your vehicle, and the bad grounding could
damage the electrical systems.
To avoid the possibility of the vehicles rolling, set
the parking brake firmly on both vehicles involved in
the jump start procedure. Put an automatic
transmission in PARK (P) or a manual transmission
in NEUTRAL before setting the parking brake.
If you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle, be sure the
transfer case is in a drive gear, not in NEUTRAL.
5-67
Fuse Usage
RR DEFOG Rear Defogger
ENG 1 Engine 1
ENG 3 Engine 3 (L18/LF6/LF8)
PCM-B Powertrain Control Module
TCM Transmissions (LF8)
ENG 4 Engine 4 (LMM/LF6/LF8)
ENG 2 Engine 2 (L18/LMM)
HTD FUEL Heated Fuel (LMM)
BLANK Not Used
BLANK Not Used
NOTE 3 Fan Relay (LMM), Emissions (L18)
A/C COMP Air Conditioning Compressor
ABS 1 Antilock Brake System 1
ABS 2 Antilock Brake System 2
ABS 3 Antilock Brake System 3
ENGINE Engine
E/A PUMP Electronic/Automatic Pump
HORN HornFuse Usage
NOTE 2Fuel (L18/LMM), Electronic Control
Module (LF6)
NOTE 4 Electronic Control Module (LF6)
STUD A Spare
STUD B Spare
Relay Usage
NOTE 1 LMM/L18 Fuel Pump Relay
IGN B RELAY Ignition Relay
STARTER
RELAYStarter Relay
HORN RELAY Horn Relay
IGN A RELAY Ignition Relay
PTO/ECU*
RELAYPower Take-Off/Engine Control Unit
(*Diesel 7.8L LF8)
REVERSE
RELAYReverse Relay
FAN RELAY Fan Relay (LMM)
5-107