Ford Low Cab Forward (Ford year). Manual — part 17

3. Buckle the seat belt. Push down
on the child seat and pull on the
shoulder portion of the belt to snug
the lap belt. Hold the lap and
shoulder belts next to the tongue
and unbuckle the belt.

4. Install a locking clip over both lap
and shoulder belt portions next to
the sliding tongue. Buckle the belt.

Note: Obtain the locking clip kit
(part number FO3Z-5461248–A) at
no charge from an authorized
dealer.

5. Before placing the child in the seat, forcibly tilt the seat forward and
back to make sure the seat is securely held in place. To check this, grab
the seat at the belt path and attempt to move it side to side and forward
and back. There should be no more than one inch of movement for
proper installation.

6. If the child seat is not tight enough, unbuckle the seat belt, move the
tongue and locking clip to shorten the lap portion and push down hard
on the child seat while you buckle the belt.

7. Check to make sure the child seat is properly secured before each
use.

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70

STARTING

Positions of the ignition

1. LOCK, shuts off the engine and
all accessories, locks the steering
wheel, gearshift lever and allows key
removal.

2. ACC, allows the electrical
accessories such as the radio to
operate while the engine is not
running. This position also unlocks
the steering wheel.

3. ON, all electrical circuits operational. Warning lights illuminated. Key
position when driving.

4. START, cranks the engine. Release the key as soon as the engine
starts.

Starting the engine

Diesel engine vapors are combustible. Do not operate the engine
in an enclosed area. These vapors can be sucked through the air

intake system and cause an explosion which may result in severe
bodily injury and extensive property damage.

Note: When starting the engine, do not press the accelerator as engine
damage may result.

1. Ensure headlamps and all accessories are turned off, the parking
brake is applied and the transmission is in the P (Park) position.

2. Turn the key to ON, but do not start the engine. In cooler weather,
the air intake heater may activate the WAIT TO START light in the
instrument cluster.

If the WAIT TO START light
illuminates, do not crank the engine
until the light goes off.

If equipped with an air intake heater, DO NOT use ether or any
other starting fluids. The use of starting fluids (ether) in an

engine equipped with an air intake heater could cause an explosion
and result in property damage and/or personal injury.

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3. When the WAIT TO START light turns off, turn the key to START;
when the engine starts, release the key

If the engine does not start within 20 seconds of cranking, release the
key and allow two or three minutes for the starter to cool before trying
again. Excessive cranking may damage the starter and/or engine.

After the engine starts:
• Idle the engine for at least five minutes before operating with a full

load.

• Try to limit engine idle to 10 minutes. Excessive idling reduces fuel

economy.

• When starting a cold engine, increase the engine speed (RPM) slowly

to make sure adequate lubrication is available to the bearings.

Cold weather operation

Do not use volatile starting aids such as ether, propane or
gasoline in the engine air intake system. Glow plugs may ignite

vapors which can cause engine damage or personal injury.

In order to operate the engine in temperatures of 32°F (0°C) or lower,
read the following instructions:
• Make sure that the batteries are of sufficient size and are fully

charged. Check other electrical components to make sure they’re in
optimum condition.

• Use a permanent-type engine coolant solution to protect the engine

against damage from freezing.

• Drain the fuel/water separator daily; refer to Draining the fuel

filter/water separator in the Maintenance and Specifications
chapter. Fill the fuel tank at the end of daily operation to prevent
condensation in the fuel system.

• Make sure you use proper cold weather engine oil and that it is at its

proper level.

• At temperatures of –4°F (–20°C) or below, it is recommended that you

use an engine block 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.

Note: Idling in cold weather will not heat the engine to its normal
operating temperature. Long periods of idling in cold weather can cause

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a buildup of heavy deposits of carbon and rust on valve stems causing
them to stick, which in turn, can cause valvetrain damage.

The following cold weather idling guidelines must be followed:
• Avoid idling the engine for more than 10 minutes at a time.
• Use a minimum of 42 Cetane Diesel fuel or use Cetane Index

improvers from a reputable manufacturer.

• Maintain the engine cooling system properly.
• Do not shut the engine down after an extensive idling period (10

minutes or more). Drive the vehicle under load for several miles at
normal operating temperatures to burn off any accumulated carbon
and varnish.

Hot weather operation
• Keep the engine cooling system filled with a clean, permanent coolant

solution to protect against damage from overheating.

• Fill the fuel tank at the end of daily operation to prevent condensation

in the fuel system.

• Keep external surfaces of the engine, radiator, charge air cooler, A/C

condenser and accessories clean to avoid dirt build-up.

Restarting after running out of fuel

The fuel system may need to be purged of air, refer to Running out of
fuel in the Maintenance and Specifications chapter.

GENERAL OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
• Accelerate smoothly and evenly; rapid acceleration increases fuel

consumption without increasing engine performance.

• When approaching a hill, depress the accelerator smoothly to start the

incline at full power, then shift down as needed to maintain vehicle
speed.

• When going down a hill, or long steep grades, prevent over-speeding

of the engine. The engine governor has no control over engine speed
when it is being pushed by a loaded vehicle.

All vehicles have blind spots. To reduce the risk of severe injury
or property damage, never move your vehicle to the side or rear

or change lanes without being sure your way is clear on both sides and
to your rear.

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