STEERING
To help prevent damage to the power
steering system:
•
Do not hold the steering wheel at its
furthest turning points for more than
three to five seconds when the engine
is running.
• Avoid continuously steering back and
forth with elevated engine RPM as this
may overheat the system. If trying to
free a stuck vehicle, pause between
attempts to allow the power steering
system to cool or seek assistance.
Typical steering and driving maneuvers
allow the system to cool.
• Do not operate the vehicle if the power
steering pump fluid level is below the
MIN mark on the reservoir.
• Some noise is normal during operation.
If excessive, check for low power
steering pump fluid level before
seeking service by your dealer.
• Heavy or uneven efforts may be caused
by low power steering fluid. Check for
low power steering pump fluid level
before seeking service by your dealer.
• Do not fill the power steering pump
reservoir above the MAX mark on the
reservoir, as this may result in leaks
from the reservoir.
If the power steering system breaks down
or if you switch off the engine, you can
steer the vehicle manually, but it takes
more effort.
Operating the steering system excessively
at an elevated engine RPM (>1200 rpm)
for more than 2 minutes can result in
steering system damage from overheating.
Move the steering wheel to the full left
position then full right position at idle
speed, or stop using the system for 2
minutes to allow the system to cool down. If the power steering system exhibits heavy
or uneven efforts, check for the following
before seeking service from your dealer:
•
An improperly inflated tire.
• Overloading of front suspension.
• Uneven vehicle loading.
• Binding suspension components.
If the power steering system wanders or
pulls, check for:
• An improperly inflated tire.
• Uneven vehicle loading.
• Uneven tire wear.
• Loose or worn suspension
components.
• Loose or worn steering components.
• Improper vehicle alignment.
• High crosswinds.
If you service or replace any steering
components, install new fasteners. Many
fasteners have thread adhesive coatings,
or have prevailing torque features, which
you cannot re-use. Do not re-use a bolt or
nut. Torque fasteners to specifications.
A high crown in the road or high crosswinds
may also make the steering seem to
wander or pull.
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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
your vehicle rolls, the front tires act against
the curb to stop your vehicle. The front
wheels are more effective at stopping a
rolling vehicle than the rear wheels.
ECONOMICAL DRIVING
Your fuel economy is affected by several
things, such as how you drive, the
conditions you drive under, and how you
maintain your vehicle.
You may improve your fuel economy by
keeping these things in mind:
• Accelerate and slow down in a smooth,
moderate fashion.
• Drive at steady speeds without
stopping.
• Anticipate stops; slowing down may
eliminate the need to stop.
• Close the windows for high-speed
driving.
• Drive at reasonable speeds (traveling
at 55 mph [88 km/h] uses 15% less
fuel than traveling at 65 mph [105
km/h]).
• Keep the tires properly inflated and use
only the recommended size. •
Use the recommended engine oil.
• Perform all regularly scheduled
maintenance.
Avoid these actions; they reduce your fuel
economy:
• Sudden accelerations or hard
accelerations.
• Warm up your vehicle on cold
mornings.
• Use the air conditioner or front
defroster.
• Use the speed control in hilly terrain.
• Rest your foot on the brake pedal while
driving.
• Carry unnecessary weight
(approximately 1 mpg [0.4 km/L] is
lost for every 400 lb [180 kilogram] of
weight carried).
• Driving with the wheels out of
alignment.
Conditions
• Adding certain accessories to your
vehicle (for example bug deflectors,
rollbars, light bars, running boards, ski
racks or luggage racks) may reduce
fuel economy.
• Using fuel blended with alcohol may
lower fuel economy.
• Fuel economy may decrease with lower
temperatures during the first
5–10 mi
(12 –16 km) of driving.
• Driving on flat terrain offers improved
fuel economy as compared to driving
on hilly terrain.
• Transmissions give their best fuel
economy when operated in the top
cruise gear and with steady pressure
on the gas pedal.
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ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE
Vehicles Sold in the United States:
Getting Roadside Assistance
To fully assist you should you have a
vehicle concern, Ford Motor Company
offers a complimentary roadside
assistance program. This program is
separate from the New Vehicle Limited
Warranty.
The service is available:
•
24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• For the coverage period listed on the
Roadside Assistance Card included in
your Owner's Manual portfolio.
Roadside Assistance covers:
• A flat tire change with a good spare
(except vehicles supplied with a tire
inflation kit).
• Battery jump start.
• Lock-out assistance (key replacement
cost is the customer's responsibility).
• Fuel delivery — independent service
contractors, if not prohibited by state,
local or municipal law, shall deliver up
to 2 gal (8 L) of gasoline or 5 gal (20 L)
of diesel fuel to a disabled vehicle.
Roadside Assistance limits fuel delivery
service to two no-charge occurrences
within a 12-month period.
• Winch out — available within 100 ft
(30 m) of a paved or county
maintained road, no recoveries. •
Towing — independent service
contractors, if not prohibited by state,
local or municipal law, shall tow Ford
eligible vehicles to an authorized dealer
within
35 mi (56 km) of the
disablement location or to the nearest
authorized dealer. If a member
requests a tow to an authorized dealer
that is more than
35 mi (56 km) from
the disablement location, the member
shall be responsible for any mileage
costs in excess of
35 mi (56 km).
• Roadside Assistance includes up to
$200 for a towed trailer if the disabled
eligible vehicle requires service at the
nearest authorized dealer. If the towing
vehicle is operational but the trailer is
not, then the trailer does not qualify for
any roadside services.
Vehicles Sold in the United States:
Using Roadside Assistance
Complete the roadside assistance
identification card and place it in your
wallet for quick reference. This card is in
the owner's information portfolio in the
glove compartment.
United States vehicle customers who
require Roadside Assistance, call
1-800-241-3673.
If you need to arrange roadside assistance
for yourself, Ford Motor Company
reimburses a reasonable amount for
towing to the nearest dealership within
35 mi (56 km)
. To obtain reimbursement
information, United States vehicle
customers call 1-800-241-3673.
Customers need to submit their original
receipts.
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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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Inspecting steer axle tires in the first
3,000–
10,000 mi (5,000– 16,000 km)
generally shows if tires are wearing
normally.
Rapid outside shoulder wear on both tires
indicates too much toe-in.
Rapid inside shoulder wear on both tires
indicates too much toe-out.
In P&D-type service, there can be a
left-to-right steer tire tread life differential
up to 40% depending on routes and other
variables.
Follow the tire manufacturer's
recommended cold inflation pressure for
the tire size, load range (ply rating) and
steer axle loading typical for their operation
(each steer axle tire equals ½ steer axle
loading).
Special applications may warrant a setting
based on experience with the type of tire
operating loads and conditions. Radial tires
are more sensitive to toe-in setting than
bias ply tires. Fine tuning school bus
alignment to line-haul truck standards
does not drastically improve tire tread life.
STEERING SYSTEM
INSPECTION 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.
• Checking that the pitman arm (steering
arm at steering gear) mounting is tight
and locked. Check system for leaks or
hose chafing. Repair immediately, if
necessary.
• Maintaining proper steering gear and
power steering pump lubricant levels.
• Checking steering column joint bolts
and steering linkage, particularly for
body-to-chassis clearance.
Steering Column Joint Bolts
As a good maintenance practice, check
steering column joint bolt tightness every
60,000 mi (96,000 km) or annually,
whichever occurs first. Do not overtighten
the bolts.
Hydraulic System
Whenever draining and refilling the power
steering's hydraulic system for any reason,
bleed air from the system before returning
the vehicle to service. Failure to bleed the
hydraulic system properly can result in
degradation of power system performance.
Consult an authorized dealer who is aware
of the proper procedures for filling and
bleeding the system.
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Cooling system
•
Protect against freezing temperatures.
• When removing your vehicle from
storage, check coolant fluid level.
Confirm that there are no cooling
system leaks and that fluid is at the
recommended level.
Battery
• Check and recharge as necessary. Keep
connections clean.
• If storing your vehicle for more than 30
days without recharging the battery,
we recommend that you disconnect
the battery cables to maintain battery
charge for quick starting.
Note: It is necessary to reset memory
features if battery cables are disconnected.
Brakes
• Make sure the brakes and parking brake
release fully.
Tires
• Maintain recommended air pressure.
Miscellaneous
• Make sure all linkages, cables, levers
and pins under your vehicle are covered
with grease to prevent rust.
• Move vehicles at least 25 ft (7.5 m)
every 15 days to lubricate working parts
and prevent corrosion.
Removing Vehicle From Storage
When your vehicle is ready to come out of
storage, do the following:
• Wash your vehicle to remove any dirt
or grease film build-up on window
surfaces.
• Check windshield wipers for any
deterioration. •
Check under the hood for any foreign
material that may have collected
during storage such as mice or squirrel
nests.
• Check the exhaust for any foreign
material that may have collected
during storage.
• Check tire pressures and set tire
inflation per the Tire Label.
• Check brake pedal operation. Drive
your vehicle
15 ft (4.5 m) back and
forth to remove rust build-up.
• Check fluid levels (including coolant,
oil and gas) to make sure there are no
leaks, and fluids are at recommended
levels.
• If you remove the battery, clean the
battery cable ends and check for
damage.
Contact an authorized dealer if you have
any concerns or issues.
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TIRE CARE
Glossary of Tire Terminology
*Tire label: A label showing the
original equipment tire sizes,
recommended inflation pressure
and the maximum weight the
vehicle can carry.
*
Tire Identification Number: A
number on the sidewall of each
tire providing information about
the tire brand and manufacturing
plant, tire size and date of
manufacture. Also referred to as
DOT code.
*
Inflation pressure: A measure
of the amount of air in a tire.
*
Standard load: A class of
P-metric or Metric tires designed
to carry a maximum load at set
pressure. For example: For
P-metric tires 35 psi (241 kPa) and
for Metric tires
36 psi (248 kPa).
Increasing the inflation pressure
beyond this pressure does not
increase the tire ’s load carrying
capability.
*
Extra load: A class of P-metric
or Metric tires designed to carry a
heavier maximum load at
42 psi
(290 kPa). Increasing the inflation
pressure beyond this pressure
does not increase the tire ’s load
carrying capability.
*
kPa: Kilopascal, a metric unit of
air pressure.
*
PSI: Pounds per square inch, a
standard unit of air pressure. *
Cold tire pressure: The tire
pressure when the vehicle has
been stationary and out of direct
sunlight for an hour or more and
prior to the vehicle being driven for
1 mi (1.6 km)
.
*
Recommended inflation
pressure: The cold inflation
pressure is found on the Safety
Compliance Certification Label,
located in the driver's door jam.
*
Bead area of the tire: Area of
the tire next to the rim.
*
Sidewall of the tire: Area
between the bead area and the
tread.
*
Tread area of the tire: Area of
the perimeter of the tire that
contacts the road when mounted
on the vehicle.
*Rim: The metal support (wheel)
for a tire or a tire and tube
assembly upon which the tire
beads are seated.
Information Contained on the
Tire Sidewall
Both United States and Canada
Federal regulations require tire
manufacturers to place
standardized information on the
sidewall of all tires. This
information identifies and
describes the fundamental
characteristics of the tire and also
provides a U.S. DOT Tire
Identification Number for safety
standard certification and in case
of a recall.
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Information on P Type Tires
P215/65R15 95H is an example of
a tire size, load index and speed
rating. The definitions of these
items are listed below. (Note that
the tire size, load index and speed
rating for your vehicle may be
different from this example.)
A.
P: Indicates a tire, designated
by the Tire and Rim Association,
that may be used for service on
cars, sport utility vehicles,
minivans and light trucks. Note:
If
your tire size does not begin with
a letter this may mean it is
designated by either the European
Tire and Rim Technical
Organization or the Japan Tire
Manufacturing Association. B.
215:
Indicates the nominal
width of the tire in millimeters
from sidewall edge to sidewall
edge. In general, the larger the
number, the wider the tire.
C. 65:
Indicates the aspect ratio
which gives the tire's ratio of
height to width.
D. R:
Indicates a radial type tire.
E. 15:
Indicates the wheel or rim
diameter in inches. If you change
your wheel size, you have to
purchase new tires to match the
new wheel diameter.
F. 95:
Indicates the tire's load
index. It is an index that relates to
how much weight a tire can carry.
Note: You may not find this
information on all tires because it
is not required by federal law.
G. H:
Indicates the tire's speed
rating. The speed rating denotes
the speed at which a tire is
designed to be driven for extended
periods of time under a standard
condition of load and inflation
pressure. The tires on your vehicle
may operate at different
conditions for load and inflation
pressure. These speed ratings may
need to be adjusted for the
difference in conditions. The
ratings range from
81– 186 mph
(130– 299 km/h). These ratings
are listed in the following chart.
Note: You may not find this
information on all tires because it
is not required by federal law.
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