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Front of vehicle
Lights:Make sure all lights illuminate and are clean.
Make sure headlights function on both high
and low beam. Make sure reflectors are clean,
unbroken and of proper color (red on rear,
amber elsewhere). Make sure the running
lights are also clean and unbroken.
Steering gear:Look for missing or loose fasteners, power
steering fluid leaks and damage to power
steering hoses.
Steering linkage:Make sure connecting links, arms and rods are
not worn or cracked; joints, sockets and boot
seals are not worn or loose and that there are
no loose or missing cotter keys, nuts or bolts.
Tow hooks:Front and rear tow hooks should be inspected
for damage or loose mounting. This is
particularly important on vehicles where tow
hooks are frequently used.
Front suspension
Springs:Inspect for missing, broken or shifted leaves or
leaves that are in contact, or nearly contacting
a tire, rim, brake drum, frame or body
component.
Spring mounts:Inspect spring hangers, bolts, bushings, axle
mounting bolts and nuts for cracks, breaks,
wear, damage and tightness.
Shock absorbers:Inspect for cracks, leaks and missing or broken
bolts or bushings.
Note:Never apply grease to spring pads.
WARNING:Do not operate the vehicle if any suspension
conditions listed in theFront suspensionchart are evident.
Loss of steering or suspension could result in property damage,
personal injury or death.
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Front brakes
Hoses:Check for cracked, worn or frayed hoses. Make
sure all couplings are secured.
Chambers:Make sure brake chambers are not cracked or
dented and that they are securely mounted.
Slack adjusters:Check for broken, loose or missing parts. The
angle between the push rod and adjuster arm
should be approximately 90° when the brakes
are applied. When pulled by hand, the push
rod should not move more than approximately
one inch (2.5 cm).
Drums:Make sure there are no cracks, dents or holes
and no loose or missing bolts. Make sure brake
linings are not worn, dangerously thin or
contaminated by lubricant.
Front wheels
Rims:Check for damaged or bent rims. Rims should
not have welding repairs and no rust trails that
indicate it is loose on the wheel.
Lug nuts:Make sure all lug nuts are present and not
loose (look for rust trails around the lug nuts).
There should be no cracks radiating from the
lug bolt holes or distortion of the bolt holes.
Hub oil seals:Check wheel hub oil seal for leaks, and if sight
glass if present, check to see that the oil level
is adequate.
Oil-lubricated front
wheel bearings:If the hubcap has a transparent window, check
for proper lubrication level. If the hubcap does
not have a transparent window, remove the
rubber fill-plug and check for proper level.
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WARNING:If a wheel must be changed, obtain expert tire
service help. Mounting and un-mounting of tires should only be
performed by a qualified technician using necessary safety procedures
and equipment, otherwise the result could be property damage,
personal injury or death.
Driver/Fuel area
Fuel tank(s):Make sure the fuel tank(s) and cap(s) are
secure. Make sure there is no damage to the
tank(s).
Leaks:Check for any leaks from the fuel tank(s).
DEF area
DEF tanks:Make sure the DEF tanks and caps are secure.
Make sure there is no damage to the tanks.
Leaks:Check for any leaks from the DEF tanks.
Underbody of vehicle
Driveshaft:Make sure that the driveshaft is not bent or
cracked. Ensure all driveshaft couplings are
secure.
Exhaust system:Make sure the visible outside parts are
securely mounted. Make sure there are no
cracks, holes or severe dents.
Frame:Check for cracks or bends in longitudinal
frame members. Make sure there are no loose,
cracked, bent, broken or missing
crossmembers or crossmember fasteners.
WARNING:Maintain adequate clearance between all parts of
the exhaust system and all hoses, wires and lines for engine
cooling, brake system, fuel system, power steering system and
electrical system, Heat damage to hoses, wires or lines may cause
vehicle malfunction that could result in property damage, personal
injury or death.
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Rear of vehicle
Air/Electric lines:Make sure that air hoses are not cut, cracked,
chafed or worn. Listen for audible air leaks.
Make sure air and electrical lines are not
tangled, crimped or pinched or being dragged
against any truck parts. Electrical line
insulation should not be cut, cracked, chafed
or worn. None of the air or electrical line
should be spliced or taped. Check for
corrosion on pins and in electrical sockets to
ensure continuity and reduced heat build-up
potential.
Deck plate:Make sure deck plate is clean, securely bolted
to the frame and clear of loose objects.
Signal/Brake lights:Make sure both brake lights illuminate when
the brake pedal is applied. Also, make sure
each signal flashes. Make sure that four-way
flashers work properly.
Lights, reflectors:Make sure all lights illuminate and are clean.
Make sure reflectors are clean, unbroken and
of proper color (red on rear, amber
elsewhere). Make sure the running lights are
also clean and unbroken. Rear running lights
must be checked separately from signal,
flasher and brake lights.
Tractor - coupling system
Mounting bolts:Check for loose or missing mounting brackets,
clamps, bolts or nuts. Both fifth-wheel and
slide mounting must be solidly attached.
Platform:Check for cracks or breaks in the platform
structure.
Safety latch:Make sure safety latch is engaged.
Release arm:Make sure safety latch is in the engaged
position and that any safety latch is in place.
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USA(fus)
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Tractor - coupling system
Kingpin/Apron:Make sure kingpin is not bent or worn. Also
make sure that the apron lies flat on the
fifth-wheel skid plate and that the visible part
of the apron is not bent, worn, cracked or
broken.
Rear suspension
Springs:Check for broken or shifted leaves or leaves
that are in contact, or nearly contacting a tire,
rim, brake drum, frame or body component.
Check for missing or broken leaves in the leaf
spring.
Spring mounts:Check for cracked or broken spring hangers,
broken, missing or loose bolts, missing or
damaged bushings, broken, loose or missing
axle mounting parts.
Torsion, shocks:Make sure torsion arm is not cracked, broken
or missing. Check the shock absorber for
cracks or leaks; there should be no missing or
broken mounting bolts or worn bushings.
Rear brakes
Hoses:Check for cracked, worn or frayed hoses. Make
sure all couplings are secured.
Chambers:Make sure brake chambers are not cracked or
dented and that they are securely mounted.
Slack adjuster:Check for broken, loose or missing parts. The
angle between the push rod and adjuster arm
should be approximately 90° when the brakes
are applied. When pulled by hand, the push
rod should not move more than approximately
one inch (2.5 cm).
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Rear brakes
Drum:Make sure there are no cracks, dents or holes
and no loose or missing bolts. Make sure brake
linings are not worn, dangerously thin or
contaminated by lubricant.
Rear wheels
Spacers:Make sure dual wheels are evenly separated
and that tires are not touching one another.
Rims:Check for damaged or bent rims. Rims should
not have welding repairs and no rust trails that
indicate it is loose on the wheel.
Lug nuts:Make sure all lug nuts are present and not
loose (look for rust trails around the lug nuts).
There should be no cracks radiating from the
lug bolt holes or distortion of the bolt holes.
Trailer
If you are pulling a trailer, an inspection of the trailer similar to that of
the tractor should be done. Such an inspection should follow trailer
manufacturer recommendations and should include at a minimum:
general condition, landing gear, doors, sides, lights, reflectors,
suspension, brakes, tires, wheels, cargo placement, stability and
tie-downs.
Transmission
If your vehicle is equipped with an automatic transmission, regularly
check the transmission’s neutral start switch. The engine should only
start in the N (Neutral) or P (Park) positions.
WARNING:If the unit starts in gear and/or the neutral start
switch is not functioning correctly, the vehicle may inadvertently
move which could result in property damage, personal injury or death.
Check the transmission fluid level and shift linkage for proper operation.
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WARNING LIGHTS AND CHIMES
Base instrument cluster with standard measure shown; metric
similar
Warning lights and gauges can alert you to a vehicle condition that may
become serious enough to cause expensive repairs. A warning light may
illuminate when a problem exists with one of your vehicle’s functions.
Many lights will illuminate when you start your vehicle to make sure the
bulb works. If any light remains on after starting the vehicle, refer to the
respective system warning light for additional information.
Note:Some warning lights are
reconfigurable telltale (RTT)
indicator lights and will illuminate in
the message center. These lights
function the same as the other
warning lights.
Instrument Cluster
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USA(fus)
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Wait to start:Indicates the air
intake heater is in operation and
special starting procedures are
required. Refer toStartingin the
Drivingchapter.
WARNING:If equipped with an air intake heater, DO NOT use
ether or any other starting fluids. The use of starting fluids
(ether) in an engine equipped with an air intake heater could result in
damage and/or personal injury.
Service engine soon:The service
engine soon indicator
illuminates when the ignition is first
turned to the on position to check
the bulb and to indicate whether the
vehicle is ready for
Inspection/Maintenance (I/M)
testing.
Solid illumination after the engine is started indicates the On-Board
Diagnostics System (OBD-II) has detected a malfunction.
WARNING:Under engine misfire conditions, excessive exhaust
temperatures could damage the catalytic converter, the fuel
system, interior floor coverings or other vehicle components, possibly
causing a fire.
Instrument Cluster
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2011 F-650/750(f67)
Supplement, 2nd Printing
USA(fus)