Tractor-coupling system
Inspect for loose or missing mounting brackets, clamps, bolts
or nuts. Verify solid attachment of both fifth wheel and the
slide mounting.
Mounting bolts
Inspect for cracks or breaks in the platform structure.
Platform
Verify engagement of the safety latch.
Safety latch
Verify the safety latch is in the engaged position, and that
any safety latch is in place.
Release arm
Verify the kingpin is not bent or worn, 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.
Kingpin and apron Rear suspension
Inspect for missing, broken or shifted leaves, or leaves that
may be in contact with (or nearly contacting) a tire, rim, brake
drum, frame or body component.
Springs (if equipped)
Inspect for any cracked or broken spring hangers; broken
missing or loose bolts; missing or damaged bushings; broken,
loose or missing axle mounting parts.
Spring mounts (if
equipped)
Verify torsion arm is not cracked, broken or missing.
Torsion arm and shock
absorbers
Inspect the shock absorber for cracks or leaks. There should
be no missing or broken mounting bolts or worn bushings.
Inspect for missing, broken or leaking components.
Air suspension (if
equipped) Inspect for any cracked, broken or loose bolts; missing or
damaged bushings; broken, loose or missing axle mounting
parts.
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Rear brakes
Inspect for cracked, worn or frayed hoses, and that all coup-
lings are secure.
Hoses
Verify that there are no cracks or dents, and that the cham-
bers are securely mounted.
Brake chambers
Inspect for broken, loose or missing parts.
Slack adjusters
Note: The angle between the push rod and adjuster arm
should be approximately 90 degrees when the brakes are
applied. When pulled by hand, the push rod should not move
more than approximately
1 in (2.5 cm).
Verify that there are no cracks, dents, holes, and no loose or
missing bolts and that the brake linings are not worn,
dangerously thin or contaminated by lubricant.
Drums Rear wheels
Check for even separation of dual wheels, and that the tires
are not touching each other.
Spacers
Inspect for damaged or bent rims. They should not have
welding repairs, and there should be no rust trails, which
indicate it is loose on the wheel.
Rims
Verify 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.
Lug nuts
Trailer
If you are pulling a trailer, perform an
inspection of the trailer similar to that of
the tractor. The 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 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. Regularly inspect the transmission's
neutral start switch. The engine should
only start in neutral (N) or park (P) (if
equipped with a park position).
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GENERAL INFORMATION
WARNINGS
Making modifications to various
parts, components and systems of
the vehicle, such as brake and
steering systems, can adversely affect the
quality, reliability and operation of your
vehicle and could result in property
damage, personal injury or death. Such
modifications must be avoided. Failure to properly perform
maintenance and servicing
procedures could result in vehicle
damage, personal injury or death. Take care when performing any
maintenance, system check or
service on your vehicle. Some of the
materials may also be hazardous if used,
serviced or handled improperly and could
result in property damage, personal injury
or death. If the owner or operator of the vehicle is a
skilled technician and intends on
performing the vehicle maintenance and
service, he is strongly urged to purchase a
service manual.
Always use care when performing vehicle
maintenance, repairs or system checks.
Improper or incomplete service could result
in your vehicle not working properly which
may result in personal injury or damage to
your vehicle or equipment. It is the
operator
’s responsibility to see that your
vehicle receives proper care and
maintenance. If you have any questions
about performing service, have the service
done by a qualified technician.
To help you service your vehicle, we
provide scheduled maintenance
information which makes tracking routine
service easy. See Scheduled
Maintenance (page 314). If your vehicle requires professional service,
an authorized dealer can provide the
necessary parts and service. Check your
warranty information to find out which
parts and services are covered.
Use only recommended fuels, lubricants,
fluids and service parts conforming to
specifications. Motorcraft® parts are
designed and built to provide the best
performance in your vehicle.
Servicing Guidelines
WARNING
The use of inferior parts can
adversely affect the quality and
reliability of your vehicle and could
result in property damage, personal injury
or death. When servicing your vehicle:
•
Always wear safety glasses for eye
protection.
• Always set the parking brake or chock
the wheels.
• Always use support stands, not a jack,
when working under a raised vehicle.
• Always turn off the ignition unless a
procedure requires the engine to be
running.
• Always avoid contact with hot metal
parts. Allow the components to cool
before working with, or around, them.
• Always operate the engine in a
well-ventilated area.
• Do not wear loose-fitting clothing,
hanging jewelry, watches or rings.
• Do not smoke.
• Do not work on the brakes or the clutch
unless you take the proper precautions
to avoid inhaling friction material dust.
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Quality service parts are available through
an authorized dealer. If dealer parts are not
used, make sure the replacement parts are
of equivalent quality.
Working with the Engine Off
1. Set the parking brake and shift to
neutral (N) or park (P).
2. Switch off the engine.
3. Block the wheels.
Working with the Engine On WARNING
To reduce the risk of vehicle damage
and/or personal burn injuries, do not
start your engine with the air cleaner
removed and do not remove it while the
engine is running. 1. Set the parking brake and shift to
neutral (N) or park (P).
2. Block the wheels
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.
OPENING AND CLOSING THE
HOOD WARNINGS
Always set the parking brake fully
before opening the hood. Failure to
follow this warning could result in
serious personal injury or death. Do not stand under the hood when
you raise or lower it. Failure to follow
this warning could result in serious
personal injury or death. If the engine is running while the
hood is open, stay clear of moving
engine components. Failure to follow
this warning could result in serious
personal injury or death. Opening the Hood
Before opening the hood, set the parking
brake fully, shift into park (P) or neutral
(N) and switch the ignition off.
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8.
Fully tighten all of the bolts to between
3–4 lb.ft (4.5–6 Nm) in the sequence
shown.
9. Record the engine mileage and update
the service log accordingly.
OIL CHANGE INDICATOR
RESET
Use the information display controls on
the steering wheel to reset the oil change
indicator. See
General Information
(page 62).
ENGINE COOLANT CHECK -
6.8L WARNINGS
Do not add engine coolant when the
engine is hot. Steam and scalding
liquids released from a hot cooling
system can burn you badly. Also, spilling
coolant on hot engine parts can burn you. Do not put engine coolant in the
windshield washer fluid container. If
sprayed on the windshield, engine
coolant could make it difficult to see
through the windshield. WARNINGS
To reduce the risk of personal injury,
make sure the engine is cool before
unscrewing the coolant pressure
relief cap. The cooling system is under
pressure. Steam and hot liquid can come
out forcefully when you loosen the cap
slightly. Do not add coolant further than the
MAX
mark.
When the engine is cold, check the
concentration and level of the engine
coolant at the intervals listed in the
scheduled maintenance information. See
Scheduled Maintenance
(page 314).
Note: Make sure that the coolant level is
between the
MIN and MAX marks on the
coolant reservoir.
Note: Coolant expands when it is hot. The
level may extend beyond the
MAX mark.
The coolant concentration should be
maintained within 48% to 50%, which
equates to a freeze point between -30°F
(-34°C) and -34°F (-37°C).
Note: For best results, coolant
concentration should be tested with a
refractometer such as Robinair® Coolant
and Battery Refractometer 75240. We do
not recommend the use of hydrometers or
coolant test strips for measuring coolant
concentrations.
Note: Automotive fluids are not
interchangeable. Do not use engine coolant
or antifreeze or windshield washer fluid
outside of its specified function and vehicle
location.
Adding Engine Coolant
Note: Do not use stop leak pellets, cooling
system sealants, or additives as they can
cause damage to the engine cooling or
heating systems. This damage would not
be covered under your vehicle ’s warranty.
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165
4
32
7
WARNINGS
A fluid level between the MAX and
MIN lines is within the normal
operating range and there is no need
to add fluid. A fluid level not in the normal
operating range could compromise the
performance of the system. Have your
vehicle checked immediately. To avoid fluid contamination, the reservoir
cap must remain in place and fully tight,
unless you are adding fluid.
Only use fluid that meets Ford
specifications. See
Capacities and
Specifications (page 251).
POWER STEERING FLUID
CHECK
Check the power steering fluid. See
Scheduled Maintenance
(page 314). If
adding fluid is necessary, use only
MERCON LV ATF
Check the fluid level when it is at ambient
temperature. 1. Check the fluid level in the reservoir. It
should be between the MIN and MAX
range. Do not add fluid if the level is
within this range.
2. If the fluid level is low, add fluid to bring
the fluid level up to between the MIN
and MAX range.
3. Switch the engine on.
4. While the engine idles, turn the steering
wheel left and right several times.
5. Switch the engine off.
6. Recheck the fluid level in the reservoir. Do not add fluid if the level is between
the MIN and MAX range.
7. If the fluid is low, add the proper type of fluid in small amounts, continuously
checking the level until it is between
the MIN and MAX range. See
Capacities and Specifications (page
256). Be sure to put the cap back on the
reservoir.
WASHER FLUID CHECK WARNING
If you operate your vehicle in
temperatures below 40°F (5°C), use
washer fluid with antifreeze
protection. Failure to use washer fluid with
antifreeze protection in cold weather could
result in impaired windshield vision and
increase the risk of injury or accident. Add fluid to fill the reservoir if the level is
low. Only use a washer fluid that meets
Ford specifications. See
Capacities and
Specifications (page 251).
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4.
Allow the engine to idle for at least one
minute.
5. Turn the air conditioning (if equipped) on 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 vehicle in
drive (D) and allow the engine to idle
for at least one minute.
•If you do not allow the engine to
relearn its idle trim, the idle quality
of your vehicle may be adversely
affected until the idle trim is
eventually relearned.
7. Drive the vehicle to complete the relearning process
•The vehicle may need to be driven
10 mi (16 km) or more to relearn the
idle and fuel trim strategy along
with the ethanol content for flexible
fuel vehicles.
If the battery has been disconnected or a
new battery has been installed, the clock
and radio settings must be reset once the
battery is reconnected.
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.
Battery Management System (If
Equipped)
The battery management system (BMS)
monitors battery conditions and takes
actions to extend battery life. If excessive
battery drain is detected, the system may
temporarily disable certain electrical
features to protect the battery. Those
electrical accessories affected include the
rear defrost, heated/cooled seats, climate
control fan, heated steering wheel, audio
and navigation system. A message may be shown in the information displays to alert
the driver that battery protection actions
are active. These messages are only for
notification that an action is taking place,
and not intended to indicate an electrical
problem or that the battery requires
replacement.
Electrical accessory installation
To ensure proper operation of the BMS,
any electrical devices that are added to
the vehicle should not have their ground
connection made directly at the negative
battery post. A connection at the negative
battery post can cause inaccurate
measurements of the battery condition
and potential incorrect system operation.
Note:
Electrical or electronic accessories
added to the vehicle by the dealer or the
owner may adversely affect battery
performance and durability, and may also
affect the performance of other electrical
systems in the vehicle.
When a battery replacement is required,
the battery should only be replaced with
a Ford recommended replacement battery
which matches the electrical requirements
of the vehicle. After battery replacement,
or in some cases after charging the battery
with the external charger, the BMS requires
eight hours of vehicle sleep time (key off
with doors closed) to relearn the new
battery state of charge. Prior to relearning
the state of charge, the BMS may disable
electrical features (to protect the battery)
earlier than normal.
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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.
EXHAUST SYSTEM
INSPECTION
Note: If your vehicle is equipped with a
catalytic converter or muffler, do not blend
waste oil with diesel fuel. Operate only on
ultra-low sulfur (less than 15 parts per
million sulfur) diesel fuel with a cetane
value of 45 or higher. If your diesel engine is equipped with a
catalytic converter, it is important to review
the maintenance schedule to make sure
proper functioning of the catalytic
converter. Also, take precautions not to
damage the catalytic converter when
servicing your engine or storing your
vehicle.
BRAKE SYSTEM INSPECTION
WARNING
Always wear a respirator approved
by the National Institute of
Occupational Studies of Health
(NIOSH) or Mine Safety and Appliance
(MSA) during all brake service procedures.
Wear the respirator from removal of the
wheels through assembly.
Never use compressed air or dry brushing
to clean brake parts or assemblies.
Clean brake parts and assemblies in open
air. During assembly, carefully place all
parts on the floor to avoid getting dust in
the air. Use an industrial vacuum cleaner
with a HEPA filter system to clean dust
from the brake drums, backing plates and
other brake parts. After using the vacuum,
remove any remaining dust with a rag
soaked in water and wrung until nearly dry.
Never use compressed air or dry sweeping
to clean the work area. Use an industrial
vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter system
and rags soaked in water and wrung until
nearly dry. Dispose of used rags with care
to avoid getting dust in the air. Use an
approved respirator when emptying
vacuum cleaners and handling used rags.
Worker clean-up: Wash your hands before
eating, drinking or smoking. Vacuum your
work clothes after use and then launder
them separately, without shaking them, to
prevent fiber dust getting into the air. 218
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