Desiccant air dryer:Inspect for moisture in the air system by opening
reservoirs, draincocks or valves and checking for presence of water. The
presence of small amounts of water due to condensation is normal and is
not an indication that the dryer is not functioning properly.
Replace or rebuild the desiccant cartridge when you determine that the
desiccant is contaminated and does not have adequate water absorption
capacity. The desiccant change interval may vary. A general
recommendation is to replace the desiccant every 12 months (yearly). If
experience has shown that extended or shortened life has resulted for a
particular installation, then the yearly interval can be increased or
decreased accordingly.
Draining the air brake reservoir:
Completely drain all the air brake
reservoirs daily by opening the
draincock at the ends of the tanks.
(Where accessible. Pull-chains are
used when the drains are undercab
or otherwise inaccessible.) Close the
draincock after draining. Manually
drain any air tanks equipped with
automatic moisture ejector valves,
as required, to maintain a dry air
system. Contact an authorized dealer if you are unsure of the air
reservoir locations or the draining procedure.
WARNING:Failure to drain air brake reservoirs can result in a
reduction or loss of braking ability due to fluid accumulation in
the reservoir and/or possible freeze-up during cold weather.
Hydraulic Brakes
Establish a regular schedule for periodic cleaning, lubrication and
adjustment inspection based on vehicle use. Exact maintenance intervals
are difficult to predetermine due to vehicle applications and operating
conditions. If you are uncertain of the proper schedule for your vehicle,
contact an authorized dealer.
Regular inspections should include:
•Checking the brake lining (every service interval). Establish
inspection intervals that provide for lining replacement before damage
to the disc occurs. Excessive lining wear may expose the backing
plate to the disc causing scoring of the disc faces. A qualified
technician should perform this inspection and keep to instructions
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provided by the service manual. Hydraulic brake systems are
power-assisted. There is a great reduction in braking capabilities
without engine assist.
•Proper fluid level. The level should be at the bottom edge of the ring
on each reservoir fill port. Do not fill the master cylinder to the top of
the reservoir. If fluid level requires attention to maintain a proper
master cylinder level, this is an indication of either severe operation
(pad wear) or fluid leakage. A more frequent and thorough brake
inspection is required.
•Brake lines, hoses and fittings. Repair or replace brake line tubes,
hoses or fittings as required. Inspect these components every
4000 miles (6000 kilometers):
•Lines for kinks, dents, corrosion or rupture.
•Hoses for abrasions, kinks, soft spots or rupture, collapse, cracks,
twists or loose frame supports. When replacing a hose, be sure
there is adequate clearance to the hose to avoid an abrasion to the
new hose.
•All connections for leaks.
Driveline Parking Brake
WARNING:Use wheel chocks and exercise caution when
inspecting under the vehicle. A vehicle roll-away could result in
property damage, personal injury or death.
A qualified technician should adjust the parking brake and keep to the
instructions in the service manual.
Steering System
WARNING:Failure to maintain the steering system in proper
condition can cause reduced steering ability resulting in property
damage, personal injury or death.
Note:Have any steering problems immediately corrected by a qualified
service technician.
Ask your service technician to examine the steering mechanism. Only
minor adjustments may be necessary. Regular inspections should include:
•Checking the tie rod, drag link end clamp bolts and ball joints for
proper tightness.
•Checking for installation and spread of cotter pins and tightness of
nuts at both ends of the tie rod and drag link.
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Perform a complete inspection of the air induction system annually.
In areas where road salt is used, disassemble the joints of each aluminum
component and inspect for salt build-up and presence of chlorine that
can cause aluminum particles to flake off and enter the engine
combustion chambers. If evidence of corrosion is found (usually at the
pipe connections), use a wire brush to clean the inside of the pipes and
inside the rubber hoses.
If pitting is evident at the joint ends of the intake pipes, use Motorcraft
Silicone Gasket and Sealant TA-30 to seal the joints. Make sure no
excess material, which can pull into the engine, is on the inside of the
pipes. If the service condition of the pipes, hoses or clamps is
questionable, replace the defective part(s).
Make sure to clean all dust and debris out of the pipes and couplings
with a clean, damp rag before reassembly.
Chassis-mounted Charge Air Cooler
Visually inspect the core assembly for debris and clogging of external fins
with the engine off. Before engine operation, remove any debris blocking
the core.
•Turbocharger-to-charge air cooler
•Charge air cooler-to-intake manifold pipe
•Mounting bracket
•Chassis-mounted charge air cooler core
Inspect air intake piping:
•Check for accumulation of salt deposits (where applicable). If
present, disassemble and clean the complete air intake piping system.
If pitting is evident on the intake piping, use Motorcraft Silicone
Gasket and Sealant TA-30 to seal joints against leakage.
•Check for loose hoses and clamps.
•Check for ruptured or collapsed hoses.
•Check air cleaner housing for cracks.
Suspension Inspection
Note:Do not adjust air suspension height to any setting other than the
specified setting. Altering the height setting changes the driveline angle
and may result in unwarrantable component damage, such as
transmission component damage.
Verify drive axle air suspension height and height control valve
performance at engine oil change intervals.
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Periodically check:
•Condition of spring leaves for evidence of fatigue, bending or
breakage.
•Condition of suspension mounting brackets and bushings.
•Torque rod mounting fasteners for tightness.
•For proper suspension alignment. Maintain proper alignment at all
times.
•U-bolts. After the chassis has been operating under load for
1000 miles (1600 kilometers) or six months (whichever comes first),
the U-bolt nuts must be re-torqued. Re-torque the U-bolt nuts every
36000 miles (60000 kilometers) thereafter. Clean and lubricate the
U-bolt and nut threads and seats to make sure a like new condition
when re-torqueing.
Note:SeeSpring U-bolt checklater in this chapter.
Supporting Your Vehicle for Service
WARNING:Do not use a jack when working under a vehicle. It
may give way, causing the vehicle to fall and result in property
damage, personal injury or death. Always use floor stands to support
the vehicle.
Prepare your vehicle for service repairs by doing the following:
1. Park your vehicle on a level, concrete floor.
2. Set the parking brake and block the wheels to prevent your vehicle
from moving.
3. Select a jack with a rated capacity sufficient to lift and hold up your
vehicle.
4. Raise your vehicle with the jack applied to the axle(s). Do not use
the bumper as a lifting point.
5. Support your vehicle with floor stands under the axle(s). When
servicing the axle or the suspension, support your vehicle with floor
stands under the frame side-members, preferably between the axles.
Frame and Tow Hooks
Your vehicle’s chassis is manufactured with frame rails of either HSLA
steel or heat-treated steel. Handle each in a specific manner to make
sure maximum service life. Consult the service manual or an authorized
dealer before attempting frame repair or modification.
It is important, particularly on vehicles that use tow hooks frequently, to
inspect the front and rear tow hooks for damage or a loose mounting.
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Severe Climates
If you drive in extremely cold climates:
•It may be necessary to have an authorized dealer increase the coolant
concentration above 50%.
•A coolant concentration of 60% provides improved freeze point
protection. Engine coolant concentrations above 60% decrease the
overheat protection characteristics of the engine coolant and may
cause engine damage.
If you drive in extremely hot climates:
•It may be necessary to have an authorized dealer decrease the
coolant concentration to 40%.
•A coolant concentration of 40% provides improved overheat
protection. Engine coolant concentrations below 40% decrease the
corrosion and freeze protection characteristics of the engine coolant
and may cause engine damage.
Vehicles driven year-round in non-extreme climates should use
prediluted engine coolant for optimum cooling system and engine
protection.
What You Should Know About Fail-Safe Cooling (If Equipped)
(Gasoline Engine Only)
WARNING:If fail-safe cooling activates, pull off the road as soon
as safely possible and turn the engine off. The engine may
automatically shut off while driving without further indication.
If the engine coolant supply is very low, this feature allows you to drive
your vehicle temporarily before incremental component damage occurs.
The fail-safe distance depends on ambient temperatures, vehicle load and
terrain.
How Fail-Safe Cooling Works
If the engine begins to overheat:
•The engine coolant temperature gauge moves to the red (hot) area.
•The information display indicates the engine is overheating.
•The service engine soon indicator illuminates.
If the engine reaches a preset over-temperature condition, the engine
automatically switches to alternating cylinder operation. Each disabled
cylinder acts as an air pump and cools the engine.
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SPRING U-BOLT CHECKS
Check U-bolt nuts and re-torque every 36000 miles (60000 kilometers)
after initial 1000-mile (1600 kilometer) re-torque. Clean and lubricate the
U-bolt and nut threads and seats to make sure they are in peak condition
when re-torqued.
U-bolt Nut Torque
Suspension ft-lb N•m
Front axle – 8500 lb (3856 kg) 180-200 244-271
Front axle – 10000 lb (4536 kg) and higher 260-300 353-407
Rear axle with multi-leaf 260-300 353-407
Rear axle with IROS air suspension 370-400 502-542
Rear axle with Hendrickson air suspension 400–450 542–610
See air suspension U-bolt re-torqueing and installation information below.
Air Suspension U-bolt Checks and Re-torqueing Procedures
1. Inspect the threads of the U-bolt and nut for rust and debris. Clean
the threads if contaminated.
2. Using a torque wrench, determine if you can turn any nuts with a
force below the specified torque.
3. Using the lowest discovered torqued nut as a starting point,
re-tighten the nuts using the sequence listed underAir suspension
U-bolt and U-bolt nut installation.
Air Suspension U-bolt and U-bolt Nut Installation
1. Inspect the threads of the U-bolt and nut for rust and debris. Clean
the threads if contaminated.
2. Install the U-bolts and nuts and torque the nuts to seat the cap flat
which is about 18 ft-lb (25 N•m) using a diagonal pattern. Use the
same diagonal pattern for each of the following U-bolt nut re-torque
steps.
3. Tighten U-bolt nuts in increments of 74 ft-lb (100 N•m) until
tightened to final torque for the particular suspension.
BRAKE FLUID CHECK
WARNING:Brake fluid is toxic. If brake fluid contacts the eyes,
flush eyes with running water for 15 minutes. Seek medical
attention if irritation persists. If taken internally, drink water and induce
vomiting. Seek medical attention immediately.
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4. Allow the engine to idle for at least one minute.
5. Turn on the air conditioning and allow the engine to idle for at least
one minute.
6. Release the parking brake. With your foot on the brake pedal and
with the air conditioning on, put the transmission in positionP
(automatic transmission) or neutral (manual transmission) and allow
the engine to idle for at least one minute.Note:Not allowing the
engine to relearn the idle trim may adversely affect the idle quality of
your vehicle until the engine eventually relearns the idle trim.
7. Drive your vehicle to complete the relearning process.
If you disconnect the battery or install a new battery, you have to reset
the clock and radio settings after reconnecting the battery.
Always dispose of automotive
batteries in a responsible manner.
Follow your local authorized
standards for disposal. Call your
local authorized recycling center to
find out more about recycling
automotive batteries.
CHECKING THE WIPER BLADES
Run the tip of your fingers over the edge of the blade
to check for roughness.
Clean the wiper blades with washer fluid or water
applied with a soft sponge or cloth.
L
E
A
D
RETURN
RECYCLE
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ADJUSTING THE HEADLAMPS
The headlamps on your vehicle are properly aimed at the assembly plant.
If your vehicle has been in an accident, an authorized dealer should
check the alignment of your headlamps.
CHANGING A BULB
Lamp Assembly Condensation
Exterior lamps have vents to accommodate normal changes in pressure.
Condensation can be a natural by-product of this design. When moist air
enters the lamp assembly through the vents, there is a possibility that
condensation can occur when the temperature is cold. When normal
condensation occurs, a thin film of mist can form on the interior of the
lens. The thin mist eventually clears and exits through the vents during
normal operation. Clearing time may take as long as 48 hours under dry
weather conditions.
Examples of acceptable condensation are:
•Presence of thin mist (no streaks, drip marks or droplets).
•Fine mist covers less than 50% of the lens.
Examples of unacceptable moisture (usually caused by a lamp water
leak) are:
•Water puddle inside the lamp.
•Large water droplets, drip marks or streaks present on the interior of
the lens.
Take your vehicle to an authorized dealer for service if any of the above
conditions of unacceptable moisture are present.
Replacing Headlamp Bulbs
1. Make sure the headlamp control is in the off position.
2. Remove the four screws, and
then move the parking lamp
assembly away from the headlamp
bulb.
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