The Power Park Brake is controlled by the park brake dash-mounted,
yellow knob-type switch. The switch has three positions: apply (out),
neutral (central), and release (in). The switch is spring-loaded to return
to the neutral (central) position after being pushed or pulled.
There is no visual indication at the knob that the park brake is
applied or released; check the instrument cluster. If the light is
illuminated, the parking brake is applied.
Applying the Parking Brake
Pull the yellow, dash-mounted parking brake knob. The parking brake
light illuminates indicating that the parking brake has been successfully
set.
Note:If the light blinks and a warning chime sounds when the control
knob is pulled, the parking brake is not functioning properly. Seek
immediate service from your dealer. SeeParking brake warning
systemin this section.
Releasing the Parking Brake
WARNING:Hold the brake pedal down while moving the
gearshift lever from position to position. If the brake pedal is not
held down, the vehicle may move unexpectedly resulting in property
damage, personal injury or death.
Note:Read and understand the following steps and perform them
whenever you prepare to drive the vehicle.
Note:The parking brake does not disengage unless sufficient system air
pressure is available.
If your vehicle is equipped with a dash-mounted push button (Allison
3000 Series) or steering column-mounted (Allison 2200 and 2500) gear
selector:
1. Press and hold the service brake pedal while the engine is running.
2. Select the appropriate drive gear.
3. Push and hold the yellow, dash-mounted parking brake knob until the
parking brake light turns off, then release.
If your vehicle is equipped with a manual transmission:
1. Press and hold the service brake pedal while the engine is running.
2. Press and hold the clutch pedal.
3. Select the appropriate drive gear.
4. Push and hold the yellow, dash-mounted parking brake knob until the
parking brake light turns off, then release.
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Parking Brake Light Illumination Due to Low Air Pressure
If at any time during vehicle operation air pressure becomes too low, the
parking brake may apply and the parking brake light turns on.
If the parking brake is applied due to low air pressure, immediate service
is required to the parking brake system.
Parking Brake Warning System
If the parking brake light blinks and a chime sounds when pulling the
yellow control knob out, this indicates the parking brake is not
functioning properly. Seek service for the parking brake immediately.
With the ignition key not in the run position:
•A chime sounds if the parking brake remains released (or in an
unknown state). The chime stops in approximately eight minutes or
until the parking brake is applied. Seek service for the parking brake
immediately.
Diesel engines:Parking brake light operation (the light only works
when the ignition key is in the run position):
•On:Parking brake applied.
•Off:Parking brake released and no faults or malfunctions.
•Blink and chime:Parking brake released (or in an unknown state)
and faults or malfunctions exist.
Releasing Spring Manually
WARNING:Do not attempt to disassemble the parking brake
chamber under any circumstances. The high spring load may
cause serious injury.
WARNING:Block the wheels to help prevent the vehicle from
moving.
WARNING:Unexpected and possibly sudden vehicle movement
may occur if these precautions are not taken.
If hydraulic pressure is released from the spring brake chamber the
power spring applies the brake and, unless hydraulic pressure can be
re-established, the spring brake must be released as follows in order to
move the vehicle.
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Loosen the jam nut (A) and un-thread the adjustment rod (B) from the
chamber to reduce tension on the cable (C). Continue to un-thread the
adjustment rod all the way and remove it from the chamber. The nut and
shaft are metric.
Air Brakes
WARNING:Do not use the gearshift selector in place of the
parking brake; unexpected and possible sudden vehicle
movement may occur if these precautions are not taken. Always set the
parking brake fully AND make sure the gearshift selector is in position
Rfor vehicles equipped with manual transmission or positionN(except
Allison 2200 transmission) orP(Allison 2200 transmission) for vehicles
with automatic transmission.
If the service brakes should fail to operate while the vehicle is in motion,
you can make an emergency stop with the parking brake. Since the
parking brake only applies stopping power to the rear wheels, the
vehicle’s stopping distance greatly increases and the handling of the
vehicle is adversely affected. Repairs should be made immediately to an
inoperative air brake system circuit.
WARNING:This control is used for parking only. Do not leave
the vehicle unattended after setting the parking brake without
placing the transmission inpositionRfor vehicles equipped with manual
transmission or positionN(except Allison 2200 transmission) orP
(Allison 2200 transmission) for vehicles with automatic transmission.
Use of wheel chocks is also recommended in hilly or off-road usage.
CA
B
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Pull the yellow parking brake knob
out to apply the parking brake.
Push the knob in to release the
parking brake.
The parking brake light illuminates and remains illuminated
(when the ignition is turned to the on position) until the
parking brake is released.
Releasing Spring Brake with Air Pressure
The air system in all vehicles with spring-actuated rear wheel parking
brakes is equipped with a tank valve located on the supply or service air
tank for connection to an outside air supply. The valve permits the
system to be recharged with air from an outside source, releasing the
spring-actuated parking brakes. The vehicle may then be towed in an
emergency.
An outside air source can be used only if the protected system is in
operating condition. If air pressure cannot be restored in the protected
air system, the spring-actuated brakes must be released manually.
Releasing Spring Manually
WARNING:Do not attempt to disassemble the parking brake
chamber under any circumstances. The high spring load may
cause serious injury if the chamber clamps are removed.
If air pressure is released from the spring brake chamber the power
spring applies the brake and, unless air pressure can be re-established,
the spring brake must be released as follows in order to move the
vehicle.
WARNING:Block the wheels to help prevent the vehicle from
moving.
WARNING:Unexpected and possibly sudden vehicle movement
may occur if these precautions are not taken.
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Parking
WARNING:When parking your vehicle, do not leave the
transmission in gear; if the key is in the on position and the
vehicle rolls, the engine could start. Failure to follow these instructions
could result in an unattended vehicle moving, possibly causing personal
injury or property damage.
Always use the parking brake. When parking on a grade, block the
wheels and turn the front wheels to one side so that if the vehicle rolls,
the front tires act against the curb to stop the vehicle. The front wheels
are more effective at stopping a rolling vehicle than the rear wheels.
Cold Weather
Note:Idling in cold weather does not heat the engine to its normal
operating temperature. Long periods of idling in cold weather can cause
a build-up of heavy deposits of carbon and rust on valve stems causing
them to stick which, in turn, can cause valvetrain damage.
Note:The use of winter fronts, or other air-restrictive devices mounted
in front of the radiator on vehicles with chassis-mounted charge air
coolers, are not recommended unless extremely cold weather conditions
exist. Airflow restriction can cause high exhaust temperatures, power
loss, excessive fan usage and a reduction in fuel economy. If you must
use a winter front, the device should have a permanent opening of at
least 120 square inches (774 square centimeters) directly in line with the
fan hub.
For best engine operation in temperatures of 32°F (0°C) or lower:
•Make sure the batteries are the correct type and are fully charged.
Check other electrical components to make sure they are in optimum
condition.
•Use a permanent-type engine coolant to protect the engine against
damage from freezing.
•If your vehicle is equipped with a water-fuel separator, drain it daily.
Fill the fuel tank at the end of daily operation to prevent
condensation in the fuel system.
•Use the proper engine oil and maintain it at its proper level.
•At temperatures of –4°F (–20°C) or below, it is recommended that
you use a crankcase-mounted coolant heater to improve cold engine
starting.
•If operating in arctic temperatures of –20°F (–29°C) or lower, consult
your truck dealer for information about special cold weather
equipment and precautions.
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Before hook-up, make sure:
•The fifth-wheel jaws are fully opened.
•The fifth-wheel is fully tilted back to prevent body damage when the
tractor is backed under a trailer.
•The trailer wheels are blocked and the trailer spring brakes are
adjusted and applied. Never chase a trailer.
•The brake hoses and light cords are clear of the fifth-wheel.
Hook-up
1. Back the tractor squarely under the trailer, engaging the fifth-wheel
jaws on the kingpin. Always back up slowly, making sure the trailer is
neither too high nor too low. Avoid backing under the trailer from an
angle.
2. Connect the service and emergency brake hoses and trailer light
connector.
3. Inspect the jaws of the fifth-wheel to be sure they have fully closed
on the trailer kingpin and the trailer plate is resting securely on the
fifth-wheel.
4. Make sure the coupler release lever is in the locked position.
5. Charge the trailer brake system. Set the trailer brakes, either with
the hand valve or tractor protection valve. Pull against the trailer for
an additional check of proper hook-up. Do not pull hard enough to
damage or strain the equipment.
6. Set the tractor parking brakes and fully raise the trailer landing gear.
See theBrakeschapter for proper operation of the parking brake
and trailer brakes.
7. Check the operation of all trailer lights and correct any lights that
may be faulty.
Un-hook
1. Try to keep the tractor and trailer in a straight line.
2. Apply the parking brakes.
3. Lower the trailer landing gear, making sure it is on solid, level
ground. The weight of the trailer is to be on the landing gear.
4. Block the trailer wheels.
5. Disconnect the brake hoses and light cords. Be sure hoses and cords
are clear.
6. Pull coupler release lever to disengage the fifth-wheel jaws.
7. Release the tractor parking brakes.
8. Pull out from the trailer slowly, allowing the landing gear to take the
load gradually.
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WRECKER TOWING
WARNING:To reduce the risk of personal injury or property
damage when manually releasing the spring brakes, be sure to
block the wheels so the vehicle cannot move once the brakes are
released.
Note:Make sure the vehicle is securely connected to the tow vehicle
and that the tow vehicle’s parking brakes are applied before releasing the
disabled vehicle’s spring brakes.
Before moving the disabled vehicle, check for adequate road clearance of
vehicle components. It is recommended the disabled vehicle be unloaded
prior to being towed to reduce any abnormal load to the vehicle
components resulting from the towing procedures. Before towing, make
sure the parking brake is fully released. The spring-actuated type parking
brake can be reset by recharging the air system with at least 64 psi
(441 kPa) of air. If the brake system does not retain air pressure, then
the spring brakes must be released manually. SeeParking brakein the
Brakeschapter.
Towing the Vehicle with the Front Wheels Suspended
Note:To avoid transmission damage, vehicles should not be towed even
a short distance without suspending rear wheels or removing the axle
shafts or driveshaft.
Note:In the event the chassis is equipped with a tandem axle and the
vehicle is to be towed from the front, the forward rear axle may be
raised to clear the road surface and secured to the frame by chains or
U-bolts, allowing only the rear rear axle to contact the road surface. Axle
shafts must be removed from the rear rear axle assembly. The wheel hub
ends must be covered to prevent loss of axle lubricant and entrance of
contaminants. Use extreme care in securing the chains or U-bolts to
avoid possible damage to the brake lines, hoses or other components.
When it is necessary to tow a vehicle with the front wheels suspended,
extra precautions must be taken to avoid transmission or differential
damage:
•Remove the axle shafts from the axle assembly to prevent the wheels
from driving the differential and the transmission.
•The wheel hub ends must be covered to prevent loss of axle lubricant
and entrance of other contaminants. If the axle shafts are not
removed, removal of the driveshaft is required.
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Do not attempt to push-start your automatic transmission vehicle.
Automatic transmissions do not have push-start capability. Attempting to
push-start a vehicle with an automatic transmission may cause
transmission damage.
Six-speed TorqShift® transmissions have an adaptive shift strategy.
When the battery is disconnected or a new battery is installed, the
automatic transmission must relearn its shift strategy. As a result, the
transmission may have firm soft shifts, firm shifts or both. This operation
is considered normal and does not affect function or durability of the
transmission. Over time, the adaptive learning process fully updates
transmission operation.
Preparing Your Vehicle
Note:Use only a 12–volt supply to start your vehicle.
Note:Do not disconnect the battery of the disabled vehicle as this could
damage the vehicle’s electrical system.
1. Park the booster vehicle close to the hood of the disabled vehicle
making sure the two vehicles do not touch. Set the parking brake on
both vehicles and stay clear of the engine cooling fan and other
moving parts.
2. Check all battery terminals and remove any excessive corrosion
before you attach the battery cables. Make sure that vent caps are
tight and level.
3. Turn the heater fan on in both vehicles to protect from any electrical
surges. Turn all other accessories off.
Connecting the Jumper Cables
WARNING:Do not connect the end of the second cable to the
negative (-) terminal of the battery to be jumped. A spark may
cause an explosion of the gases that surround the battery.
Note:Do not attach the negative (-) cable to fuel lines, engine rocker
covers, the intake manifold or electrical components as grounding points.
Note:In the illustration, the vehicle on the bottom is used to designate
the assisting (boosting) battery.
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