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Engine starting (parking brake applied)
Safety/Emergency
equipment:Prior to entering the cab, verify that the
vehicle is equipped with spare electrical fuses
(if used), three red reflective triangles, a
properly charged and rated fire extinguisher
and wheel chocks. Walk around the vehicle
and check that all steps and grab handles,
inside and out as well as behind, are tight and
clean. Use extreme caution and a three-point
stance at all times. Check door latches for
positive closing, latching and locking.
Starting the engine:Verify the parking brake is set. Press the
clutch (if equipped with a manual
transmission) and verify the transmission is in
neutral. Vehicles equipped with an automatic
transmission should be in N (Neutral) or P
(Park) if equipped with a park position.
Turn the key to the on position. When the
indicator light in the instrument cluster turns
off, turn the key to start.
Oil pressure builds:Make sure engine oil pressure is building to
normal operating range.
Air chime sounds (if
equipped with air
compressor):The low air pressure warning chime should
sound immediately after the engine starts but
before the compressor has built up pressure.
The low air pressure warning chime should
stop when the air pressure reaches 70 psi
(483 kPa) (or more). Let the air pressure
build to governed cut-out pressure, which
should occur between 115–130 psi
(793–896 kPa).
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Engine starting (parking brake applied)
Air brake check:Check the air brakes in the following manner
(Chock the wheels, if necessary. Push in the
parking brake and on tractors, also push in the
tractor parking brake knob):
1. Check that the air compressor or governor
cut-out pressure is approximately 120 psi
(827 kPa).
2. Turn off the engine, then turn the key back
to the on position, without starting the engine.
3. Without the brake pedal applied, note the
air pressure drop for one minute. It should be
less than 2 psi (14 kPa) for single vehicles and
3 psi (21 kPa) for combination vehicles.
4. Press and hold the brake pedal with 90 psi
(621 kPa) or more and make sure there is no
more than a 3 psi (21 kPa) per minute leak;
for combination vehicles, no more than 4 psi
(28 kPa) per minute.
5. Pump the brake pedal to deplete the system
of air pressure. The warning light and chime
should activate at 57 psi (393 kPa).
6. Pump the brake pedal and make sure the
parking brake and trailer parking brake knobs
pop out at 20 psi (138 kPa) or higher.
Automatic
transmission fluid:With the engine idling at normal operating
temperature and the parking brake applied,
check the automatic transmission fluid. If fluid
needs to be added, place the transmission in
the appropriate gear as specified in the
transmission operator’s manual and refer to
Transmission fluidin theMaintenance and
Specificationschapter.
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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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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 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.
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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.
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Stop engine:This light is used in
conjunction with the electronic engine control. When illuminated,
the
lamp indicates the need tostopthe engine as soon as it can be
safely done.
If the
lamp begins flashing, automatic engine shutdown may
take place in as little as 20 seconds.
WARNING:In the event of engine shutdown, make sure the
vehicle is safely off the road and the problem is remedied prior
to returning to the road. Failure to remove the vehicle from the road
could result in an accident, causing serious injury or death.
Refer to your engine operator’s manual for specific information regarding
this feature.
If the engine shuts down, it can be restarted and operated for
30 seconds at a time or until the problem is corrected. For more
information, refer toEngine automatic shutdown warning light or
chimein theDrivingchapter of this owner guide and/or your engine
operator’s manual.
Drivers of electronically-controlled engines should know the
extent of warning engine shutdown system before operating the
vehicle.
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