Is all of this black stuff a service violation? Also, what is this hanging cord???

Thanks for asking about something you’re unsure about . Ignore the naysayers not everyone has a mechanical background. By asking you learn stuff btw that’s a spot where you can boost truck from . Red is positive black is negative..

 

I was just going to say, thanks for that. As we age we tend to forget those early years when we knew everything. I don't care for the screwups, while entertaining this site is more known for the information it provides. We had nobody to ask, and had plenty of problems the boss never found out about.

 

Yep, it is a good thing, nothing wrong with the steering box other than a little weeping from the return line. I wouldn't even clean it, it is fine and no one will care about the dirt on top of the little bit of oil.

But it concerns me, these are things are things that the OP should learn while learning about the truck in order to get a CDL. This stuff, the common knowledge aspect of it should be in the CDL manual and tested.

I have said this in the past and it still amazes that I have interviewed drivers who do not even know how to check oil in an engine and some of these guys have 10 years of driving experience.

 

I hear your concern, but like I tell everybody the same, today those skills simply are not required, and frustrating, but I all but guarantee, it will get a lot worse in that regard.

 

As already mentioned, clean the rubber cap and shove it back over the lug for the jumper cables.

Nothing wrong a wash job won’t cure for now….

 

You're responsible for everything. Even if a mechanic screwed up something.

 

Not everybody emerged from the womb and knew all there is to know about trucking like yourself. The OP knew enough to question what he saw and asked, nothing wrong with that.

 

I’am still learning myself my goal is to be half as knowledgeable as you seem to be

 

Exactly! Hell when I started I had almost no mechanical knowledge, today I can do basic maintenance to keep running. Keep learning and asking questions @xzmpt , you're already a year ahead of most new drivers just by knowing to look under the hood.

 

Same here, I had no knowledge of diesels or air systems. Knew how to check oil /fluids and pre trip, but little beyond that.

Now I can tear all kind of things up, recognize I’ m an idiot, and fix half the problems, and find people that can help me learn how to adress the rest.