1997 FORD TAURUS Owners Manual

Before driving
Introduction 2
Instrumentation 3
Controls and features 14
Seating and safety restraints 35
Starting and driving
Starting 78
Driving 84
Roadside emergencies 99
Servicing
Maintenance and care 118
Capacities and specifications 156
Reporting safety defects 168
Index 169
Contents
1
ProCarManuals.com

ICONS
Indicates a warning.
Read the following
section onWarnings
for a full explanation of them.
Indicates that vehicle
information related to
recycling and other
environmental
concerns will follow.
We must all play our part in protecting the
environment. Correct vehicle usage and the
authorized disposal of waste cleaning and lubrication
materials are significant steps towards this aim.
WARNINGS
How can you reduce the risk of personal injury and
prevent possible damage to others, your vehicle and
its equipment?
In this owner's guide, answers to such questions are
contained in comments highlighted by the warning
triangle symbol.
BREAKING-IN YOUR VEHICLE
There are no particular breaking-in rules for your
vehicle. Simply avoid driving too briskly during the
first 1,600 km (1,000 miles) of driving. Vary speeds
frequently. This is necessary to give the moving
parts a chance to break in.
If possible, you should avoid full use of the brakes
for the first 1,600 km (1,000 miles).
From 1,600 km (1,000 miles) onwards you can
gradually increase the performance of your vehicle
up to the permitted maximum speeds.
INFORMATION ABOUT THIS GUIDE
The information found in this guide was in effect at
the time of printing. Ford may change the contents
without notice and without incurring obligation.
Introduction
2
ProCarManuals.com

* if equipped
BASSTREBBALFADEREWFFEJECT
1234
56wTAPE SIDETAPE
R-DEFTUNESEEKSCAN AM
FM
MH
LO
HIOFF
A/C
MAX
A/CVENT
VOL
PUSH-ON
wSTFM 12
AMCBLRF
EFC HFUEL DOOR>
SERVICE
ENGINE
SOONLOW
COOLANTTHEFT102030405060
70
80
90
100
1202060100
140
180P R N D 2 1MPH km/h0000000000P!
BRAKE
+ Ð
110CRUISE
RPMx1000
ABSO/D
OFFREAR
LAMP
OUTPREMIUM UNLEADED
FUEL RECOMMENDED0 1234
5
6
78
Fuel gauge
(pg. 13)
Headlamp control
(pg. 14)Engine coolant
temperature gauge
(pg. 12)
Speedometer
(pg. 11)Tachometer
(pg. 12)
Driver
air bag
(pg. 64)Cruise
control
(pg. 23)
Turn signal/wiper
washer control
(pg. 26) Parking brake
release
(pg. 85) Remote
trunk release
(pg. 37)
Instrumentation
4
ProCarManuals.com

BASSTREBBALFADEREWFFEJECT
1234
56wTAPE SIDETAPE
R-DEFTUNESEEKSCAN AM
FM
MH
LO
HIOFF
A/C
MAX
A/CVENT
VOL
PUSH-ON
wSTFM 12
AMCBLRF
Electronic sound system;
refer to Audio Giude
(pg. 22)
Climate
control
(pg. 15)
Gearshift
(floor-mounted shown)
(pg. 86)
Instrumentation
5
ProCarManuals.com

WARNING LIGHTS AND GAUGES
Standard instrument cluster
Optional Instrument cluster
SHO cluster (if equipped)
CRUISE
RPMx1000
0 1234
5
6
7EFC H
FUEL DOOR>
SERVICE
ENGINE
SOON1020304050 60
70
80
90
100
110
00 20406080100
120
140
160
180P R N D D 1MPH km/h
00
122
00013
P!
BRAKEABS
+ –
UNLEADED FUEL ONLY
THEFT LOW
COOLANTO/D
OFF
EFC H
FUEL DOOR>
SERVICE
ENGINE
SOON
THEFT102030405060
70
80
90
100
1202060100
140
180
P R N D 2 1MPH km/h
00
000
00000
P!
BRAKELOW
COOLANT
+ –
110CRUISE
RPMx1000
ABSO/D
OFFPREMIUM UNLEADED
FUEL RECOMMENDED0 1234
5
6
78
RPMx1000
0 1234
5
6
7EFC H
FUEL DOOR>
SERVICE
ENGINE
SOON1020304050607080
90
100
110
00 204080
60100120
140
160
180
220
240P R N 2 1
DMPH
km/h
00
000
00000
P!
BRAKEABSO/D
OFF
+ –
8
120
130
140
150
CRUISELOW
COOLANTTHEFT
200PREMIUM UNLEADED
FUEL RECOMMENDED
Instrumentation
6
ProCarManuals.com

Turn signal
Illuminates when the
left or right turn signal
or the hazard lights are
turned on.
High beams
Illuminates when the
headlamp high beams
are on.
Safety belt
Illuminates when the
ignition is switched on
to remind you to fasten
your safety belts. For
more information, refer toUsing the safety
restraints properlyin theSeating and safety
restraintschapter.
Door ajar
Illuminates when the
ignition switch is in the
ON or START position
and any door is open.
Service engine soon
This light illuminates
when the engine's
Emission Control
System requires
service. It will also
illuminate when the ignition key is in the ON
position and the engine is off.
Low fuel
If the fuel gauge
reaches approximately
1/16th of a tank, this
SERVICE
ENGINE
SOON
Instrumentation
7
ProCarManuals.com

lamp will illuminate. The ignition must be turned on
for this lamp to illuminate.
Low coolant (if equipped)
This lamp will
illuminate when the
engine coolant inside
the reservoir is low.
This lamp will come on
when the ignition is first turned on, but then should
turn off. If the lamp stays on and a chime sounds,
you should check the coolant level inside the
reservoir. For instructions on adding coolant, see
Engine coolantin the index.
Anti-theft alarm light (if equipped)
This light is used when
you set the anti-theft
alarm system. See
Anti-theft systemin
the index.
O/D off (if equipped)
Illuminates when the
transaxle control
switch (TCS) has been
pushed. When the light
is on, the transaxle does not shift into overdrive. If
the light does not come on when the TCS is
depressed or if the light flashes when you are
driving, have your vehicle serviced.
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) (if equipped)
Momentarily illuminates
when the ignition is
turned on and the
engine is off. If the
light stays on or continues to flash, the ABS needs
to be serviced.
LOW
COOLANT
THEFT
O/D
OFF
ABS
Instrumentation
8
ProCarManuals.com

Cruise control (if equipped)
This light comes on
when the cruise control
ON button is pressed.
It turns off when the
cruise control OFF
button is pressed or when the ignition is turned to
the OFF position.
Brake system warning
Extinguishes when the
parking brake is
released. Illumination
after releasing the
parking brake indicates low brake fluid level.
Engine oil pressure
When the oil pressure
is below the normal
operating range, this
lamp will illuminate.
The engine oil level being too high or too low could
cause this lamp to illuminate. This lamp will come
on when the ignition is first turned on but then
should turn off. If the lamp stays on, continued
operation will cause severe engine damage.
Charging system
Briefly illuminates
when the ignition is
turned on and the
engine is off. The light
also illuminates when the battery is not charging
properly, requiring electrical system service.
Air bag readiness
Briefly illuminates
when the ignition is
turned on and the
engine is off. If the
CRUISE
P!
BRAKE
Instrumentation
9
ProCarManuals.com