BYD F3, F3R. Service Manual — part 10

Outside the vehicle

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Tire: check the pressure with a gauge and
look carefully for cuts, damage, or excessive
wear.
Wheel nuts: make sure no nuts are missing
or lost.
Fluid leaks: after the vehicle has been
parked for a while, check the underneath for
leaking fuel, oil water, or fluid. (Water
dripping from the air conditioning after use is
normal.)
Lights: Make sure the headlights, stop lights,
tail lights, turn signals and other lights are all
working. Check
the headlight strength.
Inside the vehicle

Spare tire, jack, and wheel nut wrench:
Check the tire pressure and make sure you
have your jack and wheel nut wrench.
Seat belts: check that the buckles lock
securely. Make sure the belts are not worn or
frayed.
Instruments and controls: special attention
should be taken to make sure that the service
reminder indicators, instrument lights, and
defrosters are working.
Brake: make sure the pedal has enough
clearance and the brake works
properly.
In the engine compartment

Spare fuses: make sure you have spare
fuses. They should cover all the

amperage ratings designated on the fuse box
lid.
Coolant level: make sure the coolant level is
correct. See Section 7-2 for instructions.
Battery and cables: all the battery cells
should be filled to the proper level with
distilled water. Look for corroded or loose
terminals and a cracked case. Check the
cables for good condition and connections.
Wiring: look for damaged, loose, or
disconnected wires.
Fuel lines: check the lines for leaks
or loose connections.

CAUTION

Do not stack children’s toys inside the
vehicle. Although easy for play, this
may cause potential safety hazards,

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especially for emergency brakes or
crashes. These toys not only affect the
driving safety, but also can become
dangerous for children.

After starting the engine

Exhaust system: listen for any leakage.
Have any leaks fixed immediately. See
“engine exhaust cautions” in Section 2.

Engine oil level: stop the engine and
park on a level spot. See section 7-2
for instructions.

While driving

Instrument: make sure the speedometer and

gauges are working.
Brake: in a safe place, check that the brakes
do not pull the one side when applied.
Other unusual phenomena: check whether
there is loose part, leaks, or abnormal noise.
If there’s no malfunction, you can get
released and enjoy your driving.
Note whether there is some noise at the
beginning.

Tips for driving in various conditions
●

Always slow down in gusty crosswinds.
This allows you to control much better.

●

Drive slowly onto curbs and, if possible,
at a right angle. Avoid driving onto high,
sharp-edged objects and other road
hazards. Failure to do so can lead to

severe tire damage such as a tire burst.

●

Drive slowly on the rough road.
Otherwise, the wheels or the tires may
be damaged.

●

Washing your vehicle or driving through
deep water may get the brakes wet. To
see whether they

are wet, check that there is no traffic
near you first, and then press the pedal
lightly. If you do not feel a normal braking
force, the brakes are probably wet. To
dry them, drive the vehicle cautiously
while lightly pressing the brake pedal
with the parking brake applied. If they
still do not work safely, pull to the side of
the road and call your BYD AUTO
service station for assistance.

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CAUTION

●

Before driving, make sure the parking
brake is fully released and the
parking brake reminder light is off.

●

After starting the engine, do not go
out of the vehicle.

●

Do not keep your foot on brake pedal.
Otherwise, it will cause over-heat,
abrasion, and poor fuel economy.

●

To drive down a long or step hill,
reduce your speed and downshift.
Remember, if you ride the brakes
excessively, they may overheat and
not work properly.

●

Be careful when accelerating,

up-shifting, downshifting, or
braking on a slippery surface.
Sudden acceleration or engine
braking could cause the vehicle to
skid or spin.

●

Do not poke your head or arms
out of any window during driving.
Take special care when children
stay inside.

Do not continue normal driving when the
brakes are wet. If they are wet, your
vehicle will require a longer braking
distance, and it may pull to one side when
the brakes are applied. Also, the parking
brake will not hold the vehicle securely.

Notice

When running on the wet surface, please
avoid plashes. If much water enters the
engine compartment, the engine or
electric components will be damaged.

Driving tips in winter
Make sure your coolant is properly
protected against freezing.
Use the coolant which is appointed by BYD
AUTO only.

NOTICE

Do not use too much plain water, since it
would be likely to damages the cooling
system of engine in winter.

Check the condition of the battery and
cables.
Cold temperature reduces the capacity of any

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battery, so it must be in top shape to provide
enough power for winter starting. Section7-3
tells you how to visually inspect the battery.
Your BYD AUTO service station will be
pleased to check the level of charge.

Make sure the engine oil viscosity is
suitable for the cold weather.
See Section 7-2 for recommended viscosity.
Leaving much summer oil in your vehicle
during winter months may cause harder
starting. If you are not sure about which oil to
use,
call your BYD AUTO service station. We will
be pleased to help.
Keep door locks from freezing.
Squirt the lock deicer or glycerine into the

locks to keep them from freezing.

Use cleaner containing anti-freezing
agent.
This product is available at your BYD AUTO
service station and most parts stores. Follow
the manufacturer’s directions to mix the water
with agent.

NOTICE

Do not use engine antifreeze or any
other substitutes because it may
damage your vehicle’s paint.

Do not use your parking brake when there
is a possibility it could freeze.
When parking, put the transmission into
some gear and block the rear wheels. Do not
use the parking brake, or snow or water

accumulated in and around the parking brake
mechanism may freeze, making it hard to
release.

Keep ice and snow from accumulating
under the fenders.
Ice and snow built up under your fenders can
make steering difficult. During bad winter
driving, stop and check under the fenders
occasionally.


Depending on where you are driving, we
recommend you to carry some emergency
equipment. Some of the objects you might
put in the vehicle are tire chains, window
scraper, bag of sand or salt, flares, small

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shovel, jumper cables, etc.

Daggling other vehicles
BYD F3 is designed for carrying passengers.
Daggling other vehicles will affect its
operation, performance, brake, durability and
fuel economy. The driving safety and comfort
completely depend on correct using and
driving habits. Do not overload and daggle for
your and others safety. BYD AUTO does not
offer guarantee
for the damage or malfunction due to
daggling with commercial purposes.
Weight limitation
Before daggling other vehicles, makes sure
the daggling capability. You can contact BYD
AUTO service station to confirm whether the

daggling capability is within the weight
limitation.
This capability is measured on horizontal
road. Remember that the engine power and
daggling capability will decrease when driving
on mountain area.

CAUTION

The weight of vehicle being daggled
should not exceed the maximal rated
weight. Otherwise, an accident would
be caused. Because the braking
distance may be increased, you
should enlarge the distance between
vehicles when daggling at a speed of
10 km/h. The least distance to front

one should be the sum of length of
the two vehicles. Thus, it would be
avoided to lose control upon
slippage.

Tire
●

Make sure that the tire has appropriate
air pressure. See Section 7-2 for
recommendation.

●

Please keep vehicle’s tire pressure
under the standard which is set by the
producer, according to the total weight
of the vehicle.

Wear-in procedure

BYD AUTO company suggest you not to

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daggle other vehicles in the initial 2,000
km if it is a new one or has new driving
system spare parts (engine, transmission,
differential, wheel bearing, drive shaft)

Maintenance
●

If daggling is needed, vehicle has to be
maintained much frequently because of
the added load.

How to save fuel and make your vehicle
last longer
Improving fuel economy is easy, so just take
it easy. It will help make your vehicle last
longer, too. Here are some specific tips on
how to save money on both fuel and repairs:
●

Keep your tires inflated at the correct

pressure. Under inflation causes tire
wear and wastes fuel. See Section 7-2
for instructions.

●

Do not carry unneeded weight in your
vehicle. Excess weight puts a heavier
load on the engine, causing greater fuel
consumption.

●

Avoid lengthy warm-up idling. Once
the engine is running smoothly, begin
driving but gently. Remember, however,
that on cold winter days this may take a
little longer.

●

Accelerate slowly and smoothly.
Avoid jackrabbit starts. Get into high
gear as quickly as possible.

●

Avoid long engine idling. If you have a

long wait and you are not in traffic, it is
better to turn off the engine and start it
again later.

●

Avoid engine lugging or over-running.
Use a gear position suitable for the road
on which you are traveling.

●

Avoid continuous speeding up and
slowing down. Stop-and-go driving
wastes fuel.

●

Avoid unnecessary stopping and
braking. Maintain a steady pace. Try to
time the traffic signals so you only need
to stop as possible or take advantage of
through streets to avoid traffic lights.
Keep a proper distance from other
vehicles to avoid sudden brakes. This

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will also reduce wear on you brakes.

●

Avoid heavy traffic or traffic jams
whenever possible.

●

Do not rest your foot on the clutch or
brake pedal. This causes premature
wear, overheating and poor fuel
economy.

●

Maintain a moderate speed on
highways. The faster you drive, the
greater the fuel consumption. By
reducing your speed, you will cut down
on fuel consumption.

●

Keep the front wheels in proper
alignment. Avoid hitting the curb. Slow
down on rough roads. Improper
alignment not only causes faster tire

wear but also puts an extra load on the
engine,

which, in turn, wastes fuel.

●

Keep the bottom of your vehicle free
from mud, etc. This not only lessens
weight but also helps prevent corrosion.

●

Adjust your vehicle and have it work
in best operating state. A dirty air
cleaner, carburetor out of adjustment,
improper valve clearance, dirty plugs,
dirty oil, and grease, brakes not
adjusted, and other conditions will lower
the engine performance and lead to
poor fuel economy. For longer life of all
parts and lower operating costs, keep all
maintenance work on schedule. If you
often drive under severe

conditions, have your vehicle receive
more frequent maintenance. See Section
6.

CAUTION

Never turn off the engine to coast
down hills. Your power steering and
brake booster will not function without
the engine running. Also, the emission
control system operates properly only
when the engine is running.

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Section 4 In Case of an Emergency

If your vehicle fails to start. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ….153
If your engine stalls while driving. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...157
If your vehicle overheats. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .157
If you have a flat tire. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
If your vehicle becomes stuck. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .165
If your vehicle needs to be towed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …166

F3/F3R OWNER’S MANUAL

3

If your vehicle fails to start
(a) Simple checks
Before making these checks, make sure you
have followed the correct starting procedure
given in “How to start engine” in Section 3
and that you have sufficient fuel. Please
check whether other keys can start engine. If
the engine can be started, then the key may
be damaged. Contact your BYD AUTO
service station to inspect the key. If all the
keys can not work, then there are malfunction
to keys or ignition switch. Please contact
BYD AUTO service station. See “Keys” in
Section 1-2 for reference.

If the engine is not turning over or is
turning over too slowly―
1. Check whether the battery terminals are

tight and clean.

2. If the battery terminals are OK, switch

on the interior light. If the light goes out,
dims, or the battery is discharged when
the starter is cranked. You may try jump
starting. See “(c) Jump starting” for
further instructions.

If the light is OK, but the engine still will not
start, it needs adjustment or repair. Call your
BYD AUTO service station.

NOTICE

Do not pull-start or push-start the
vehicle. It may damage the vehicle or
cause a collision when the engine
starts. The three-way catalytic
converter may overheat and become a
fire hazard.

If the engine turns over at its normal
speed but will not start―

1. Turn the ignition key to “ACC” or “LOCK”

and try starting the engine again.

2. If the engine will not start, the engine

may be flooded because of repeated
cranking. See “(b) Starting a flooded
engine” for further instructions.

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3. If the engine still fails to start,

adjustment or repair is needed. Call
your BYD AUTO service station.

(b) Starting a flooded engine
If the engine will not start, your engine may
be flooded because of repeated cranking.
If this happens, turn the key to “START” with
the accelerator pedal fully depressed. Keep
the key and accelerator pedal in these
positions for 15 seconds and release them.
Then try starting the engine with your foot off
the accelerator pedal.
If the engine does not start after 15 seconds
of cranking, release the key,
wait a few minutes and try again.
If the engine still fails to start, it needs
adjustment or repair. Call your BYD AUTO
service station for assistance.

NOTICE

Do not crank for more than 30 seconds
at a time. This may overheat the starter
and wiring systems.

(c) Jump starting
To avoid serious personal injury and
damages to your vehicle which might
result from battery explosion, acid burns,
electrical burns, or damaged electronic
components, these instructions must be
followed
precisely.
If you are unsure about how to follow this
procedure, we strongly recommend that you
seek the help of a competent mechanic or
towing service.

CAUTION

●

Batteries contain sulfuric acid
which is poisonous and corrosive.
Wear protective safety glasses
when jump starting, and avoid
spilling acid on your skin, clothing,
or vehicle.

●

If you should accidentally get acid
on yourself or in your eyes, remove
the contaminated clothing and flush
the affected area with water
immediately. Then get immediate
medical attention. If possible,
continue to apply water with a
sponge or cloth while on route to
the medical office.

The gas normally produced by a battery

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will explode if a flame or spark is brought
near. Use only standardized jumper
cables and do not smoke or light a match
upon jump starting.

NOTICE

The battery used for boosting must be
12 V. Do not jump start unless you are
sure that the booster battery is correct.

Jump starting procedure
1.

If the booster battery is installed in
another vehicle, make sure the vehicles
are not touching. Turn off all
unnecessary lights and accessories.

2.

If necessary, remove all the plugs of
the battery for charging and discharged
battery, and cover a cloth on the
openings of the battery. This can help
reduce explosion possibility and injury

to people.

3.

If the engine in the vehicle with the
booster battery is not running, start it
and let it run for a few minutes. During
jump starting, run the accelerator pedal
by lightly pressing it at the running
speed of 2,000 rpm.

4.

Connect wires basing on the sequence
of a, b, c, and d.

a. Connect the clamp of the positive (red)
jumper cable to the positive

terminal (+) on the discharged battery.
b. Connect the clamp at the other end of the
positive (red) jumper cable to the positive
terminal (+) on the booster battery.
c. Connect the clamp of the negative (black)
jumper cable to the negative terminal (-) on
the booster battery.

d. Connect the clamp at the other end of the
negative (block) jumper cable to a solid,
stationary, unpainted, metallic point of the
vehicle with the discharged battery.

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Below shows the connecting point:

The joint of jump starting engine

Do not connect the cable to or near any part
that moves when the engine is cranked.

CAUTION

For connections, to avoid serious
injury, do not lean over the battery or
accidentally let the jumper cables or
clamps touch anything except the
correct battery terminals or the ground.

5.

Run the engine in the vehicle with the
booster battery at about 2000 rpm with
the accelerator pedal lightly pressed.

6.

Carefully disconnect the cables in the
exact reverse order: the

negative cable and then the positive
cable.

7.

Carefully dispose of the cloths covering

the battery: they may now contain
sulfuric acid.

8.

If removal is needed, put all plugs of
battery back to its initial position.

If the reason of your battery discharging is not
apparent (for example, lights left on), you
should have it checked at your BYD AUTO
service station.

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If your engine stalls while driving
1. Decelerate your vehicle gradually, and

keep moving in a straight line. Move
cautiously off the road to a safe place.

2. Turn on your emergency flashers.
3. Turn the ignition key to “ACC” or “LOCK”,

and try starting the engine again.

If the engine fails start, see “If your vehicle
fails to start” in this section.

CAUTION

If the engine is not running, the power
assist for the brakes and steering will
not work so steering and braking will be
much harder than usual.

If your vehicle overheats
If your engine coolant temperature gauge
indicates overheating, if you experience a
loss of power, or if you hear a loud
knocking or pinging noise, the engine has
probably over heated. Then, perform the
following procedures

1. Pull safely over the road, park your

vehicle, and turn on your emergency
flashers. Put the transmission on neutral
and apply the parking brake. Turn off the
air conditioning if it is being used.

CAUTION

Do not attempt to remove the radiator
cap when the engine and radiator are
hot. Serious injury could be resulted
from hot fluid and steam blown out
under pressure.

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2. If coolant or steam is boiling out of the

radiator or reservoir, stop the engine.
Wait until the steam

subsides and open the engine hood. If
there is no coolant or steam boiling over,
leave the engine running and make sure
the electric cooling fan is operating. If it is
not, turn the ignition switch off.

CAUTION

To help avoid personal injury, keep the
hood closed until there is no steam.
Escaping steam or coolant is a sign of
very high pressure.

3. Look for obvious coolant leaks

from the radiator, hoses and under the

vehicle. However, water draining from
the air conditioning is normal if it has

been used.

CAUTION

When the engine is running, keep
hands and clothing away from the
moving fan and engine drive belts.

4. If the engine drive belt is broken or the

coolant is leaking, stop the engine
immediately. Call a BYD AUTO service
station for assistance.

5. If there are no obvious leaks, check the

coolant reservoir. If it is dry, add coolant
to the reservoir while the engine is
running. Fill it between the two lines.

6. After the engine coolant temperature

has cooled to normal, check the coolant
level in the reservoir again. If necessary,

bring it up to half full again. Serious
coolant loss indicates a leak in the
system. You should

have it checked as soon as possible at your
BYD AUTO service station.
If you have a flat tire
1. Decelerate your vehicle gradually and

keep moving in a straight line. Move
cautiously off the road to a safe place
well away from the traffic. Avoid
stopping on the center divider of a
highway. Park in a level spot with firm
ground.

2. Stop the engine and turn on your

emergency flashers.

3. Firmly set the parking brake and put the

transmission in neutral.

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4. Have everyone get out of the vehicle on

the side away from

traffic.

5. Read the following instructions

thoroughly.

CAUTION

Upon jacking, be sure to observe the
following to reduce the possibility of
personal injury:
●

Follow jacking instructions.

●

Do not put any part of your body
under the vehicle supported by the
jack. Otherwise, personal injury may
occur.

●

Do not start or run the engine while
your vehicle is supported by the jack.

●

Stop the vehicle on a level firm
ground, firmly set the parking brake,
and put the

transmission in neutral. Block the
wheel diagonally opposite to the
one being changed if necessary.

●

Make sure to set the jack properly
in the jack point. Raising the
vehicle with a jack improperly
positioned will damage the vehicle
or may allow the vehicle to fall off
the jack and cause personal injury.

●

Never get under the vehicle when
the vehicle is supported by the jack
alone.

●

Use the jack only for lifting your
vehicle during wheel changing.

●

Do not raise the vehicle with
someone in the vehicle.

●

When raising the vehicle, do not
place any objects on top of or
underneath the jack.

●

Raise the vehicle only high
enough to remove and change the
tire.

NOTICE

Do not continue driving with a deflated
tire. Driving even a short distance can
damage a tire and wheel beyond
repair.

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Required tools and spare tire

Get the required tools and spare tire.

1. Tool bag
2. Jack
3. Spare tire

To prepare yourself for an emergency, you
should familiarize yourself with the use of the
jack, each of the tools

and their storage locations.

Turn the jack joint by hand
To remove: turn the joint in direction 1 until
the jack is free.
To store: turn the joint in direction 2 until the
jack is firmly secured to prevent it flying
forward during a collision or suddenly
braking.

To remove the spare tire: loosen the bolt and
remove it.
When storing the spare tire, put it in place
with the outer side of the wheel facing up.
Then, secure the tire by repeating the above
removal steps in reverse order to prevent it
from flying forward during a collision or
suddenly braking.