vehicle. They reduce brake wear and tear
and the need for continuous brake use,
which can lead to your service brakes
overheating. Ideally, you should always
slow your vehicle with your retarder (where
permitted by law) and use your service
brakes only for stopping completely.
Operating this way will greatly prolong the
life of your brakes.
WARNING
DO NOT use any of the vehicle’s re-
tarders in any situation that requires
an immediate stop and/or in situations
of poor traction (such as wet, icy, or
snow covered roads). Trying to use
the retarder instead of the service
brakes may cause a loss of vehicle
control, which may result in an acci-
dent involving death or personal injury.
WARNING
The service brakes must be used in an
emergency. The retarder alone might
not stop you fast enough to prevent an
accident. Failure to comply may result
in death, personal injury, equipment or
property damage.
The retarder is NOT intended as the
primary brake for the vehicle, nor is it an
emergency brake. The retarder only helps
the service brakes by using pressure to
slow the drivetrain. Use the service brakes
for quick stops. Do not use the retarder
when operating on road surfaces with poor
traction (such as wet, icy, or snow covered
roads or gravel). Retarders can cause the
wheels to skid on a slippery surface.
We recommend that you do not use your
engine retarder to slow down when you are
bobtailing or pulling an empty trailer.
WARNING
Using an engine retarder can cause a
wheel lockup. The trailer is not loading
the tires enough to give the traction
you may need. When you are bobtail
or unloaded, you can have a serious
accident if your wheels lock suddenly
during braking. You could be killed or
injured. DO NOT use your retarder
when you are driving bobtail or with an
unloaded trailer.
This vehicle may have a transmission
retarder. Take your foot off the throttle and
operate the retarder switch. When you do
not need full retarder effect, you can apply
it intermittently (off and on) to cause
gradual or partial slowing. Continuous
application of your retarder will cause your
hydraulic fluid to get hotter. Intermittent
application will help prevent overheating.
WARNING
DO NOT rely on your automatic trans-
mission hydraulic retarder to stop your
vehicle. If your engine shuts down, the
vehicle’s retarder will cease to operate
which may lead to an accident involv-
ing death or personal injury. Always be
ready to suddenly apply the service
brakes.
DRIVING - Brakes
Y53-6076-1D1 (09/20) 145
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