1998 FORD TAURUS Owners Manual

REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS (U.S. ONLY)
If you believe that your
vehicle has a defect
that could cause a
crash, or could cause
injury or death, you
should immediately
inform the National
Highway Traffic Safety
Administration
(NHTSA) in addition to notifying Ford Motor
Company.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open
an investigation, and if it finds that a safety defect
exists in a group of vehicles, it may order a recall
and remedy campaign. However, NHTSA cannot
become involved in individual problems between
you, your dealer or Ford Motor Company.
To contact NHTSA, you may either call the Auto
Safety Hotline toll-free at 1±800±424±9393
(202±366±0123 in the Washington D.C. area) or
write to:
NHTSA
U.S. Department of Transportation
400 Seventh Street
Washington D.C. 20590
You can also obtain other information about motor
vehicle safety from the Hotline.
Reporting safety defects
185

Air bag supplemental
restraint system ........ 67
and child safety
seats ......................... 69
description .............. 67
disposal .................... 72
indicator light ......... 72
passenger air bag ... 70
Air conditioning
automatic temperature
control
system . 22,23,24,25,27
Anti-theft system ...... 47
arming the system .. 47
Automatic transaxle . 94
driving
with ......... 97,98,99,100
Brakes ........................ 90
anti-lock ................... 90
anti-lock brake
system (ABS)
warning light ........... 91
fluid, checking and
adding .................... 136
shift interlock .......... 94
Break-in period ........... 3
Cargo cover .......... 42,43
Cargo net .............. 41,42
Cellular telephone
(see your Cellular
Phone Guide) ............ 40
Child safety seats
attaching with tether
straps ....................... 79
in rear seat ......... 76,78
tether anchorage
hardware ................. 79
Cleaning your
vehicle ...................... 169
built-in
child seat ....... 80,81,84engine
compartment .. 170,172
exterior lamps ....... 173
plastic parts .......... 172
washing .................. 169
waxing ................... 170
wheels .................... 170
wiper blades .......... 173
Console ...................... 39
Controls
power seat ............... 56
Coolant .................... 140
checking
and adding ............ 138
refill capacities ...... 140
Defrost
rear window ............ 18
Doors
central
unlocking ............ 37,38
Emission control
system ...................... 160
Engine
coolant ................... 137
idle speed control . 144
service
points ....... 130,131,132
starting after a
collision ................. 109
Engine block heater . 88
Engine oil
checking and
adding .................... 134
dipstick .................. 133
specifications . 133,135
Exhaust fumes .......... 88
Floor mats ................. 40
Fuel
choosing the
right fuel ................ 158
detergent in fuel ... 160
Index
186

filling your vehicle
with fuel ......... 155,156
quality .................... 159
running out of fuel 160
safety information
relating to
automotive fuels ... 155
Fuses ................. 110,111
Hazard flashers ....... 109
Head restraints ......... 55
Headlamps
high beam ............... 16
Heating ...................... 18
heating and air
conditioning
system ........... 18,19,20
Hood ........................ 129
Ignition ..................... 180
Inspection/maintenance
(I/M) testing ............ 162
Instrument panel
cleaning ................. 173
Keyless entry system
autolock ................... 52
keypad ..................... 50
locking and
unlocking doors ...... 51
programming entry
code .................... 50,51
Keys
key in ignition
chime ....................... 12
positions of the
ignition .................... 28
Lamps ...................... 163
autolamp system ..... 17
daytime running
light .......................... 16
headlamps ............... 16
headlamps, flash to
pass .......................... 17instrument panel,
dimming ................... 17
interior lamps ....... 166
replacing
bulbs ............... 163,166
Lane change indicator
(see Turn signal) ...... 33
Liftgate ...................... 44
remote release ........ 41
Lights, warning and
indicator
air bag ...................... 11
anti-lock brakes
(ABS) ...................... 10
anti-theft ................... 9
brake ........................ 10
charging system ...... 11
cruise indicator ....... 10
door ajar .................... 7
low coolant ................ 9
low fuel ...................... 9
oil pressure ............. 10
overdrive off .............. 9
safety belt ................. 7
service engine
soon ........................ 7,8
speed control .......... 32
turn signal indicator . 6
Locks .......................... 53
childproof ................ 39
Luggage rack ........... 108
Lumbar support,
seats ...................... 56,57
Mirrors
heated ...................... 38
side view mirrors
(power) ................... 38
Moon roof .................. 35
Motorcraft parts ...... 160
Octane rating ... 158,159
Odometer ................... 14
Overdrive .............. 95,96
Index
187

Panic alarm feature,
remote entry
system ........................ 45
Parking brake ............ 92
Power distribution box
(see Fuses) ............. 113
Power door locks ...... 37
Power steering .......... 93
fluid, checking and
adding ............. 141,142
Relays ............... 110,116
Remote entry
system ........................ 44
illuminated entry .... 45
locking/unlocking
doors ........................ 44
replacement/additional
transmitters ............. 46
replacing the
batteries .................. 46
Safety restraints ........ 63
cleaning the safety
belts .................. 66,175
extension
assembly .................. 65
for children ... 72,73,74
lap belt .................... 62
warning light and
chime ............. 11,65,66
Seat belts (see Safety
restraints) ... 58,59,60,61
Seats .......................... 55
child safety seats .... 75
cleaning ... 173,174,175
Servicing your
vehicle ...................... 128
Spark plugs,
specifications ........... 176
Specification chart,
lubricants ................. 179
Speed control ............ 29
Speedometer ............. 13Starting your
vehicle .............. 85,86,87
jump
starting .... 122,123,125
Steering wheel
tilting ....................... 34
Tachometer ............... 13
Tires .................. 150,152
changing ................ 119
checking the
pressure ................. 152
replacing ................ 153
rotating .................. 153
snow tires
and chains ............. 154
treadwear .............. 151
Towing
wrecker .................. 127
Transaxle
fluid,
refill capacities ...... 177
Transmission ........... 142
fluid, checking
and adding
(automatic) .......... 142,
143,144
Trip odometer ........... 15
Trunk
remote release
lever ......................... 40
Vehicle dimensions . 181
Vehicle Identification
Number (VIN) ......... 184
Vehicle loading ........ 101
Ventilating your
vehicle ........................ 89
Warning chimes ........... 6
Washer fluid ............ 137
Wheels
anti-theft
lug nuts .......... 118,119
Windows ............... 36,37
Index
188

rear wiper/washer ... 33
Windshield washer fluid
and wipers
checking and
cleaning ................. 149operation ................. 33
replacing wiper
blades .................... 150
Index
189

190

Recommended
fuel-3.0L V6 enginesUnleaded fuel only - 87
octane
Recommended
fuel-3.4L SHO V8
engineUnleaded fuel only - 91
octane
Fuel tank capacity 60.6L (16 gallons)
Engine oil capacity
(including filter
change)-3.0L V6
Vulcan engine4.25L (4.5 quarts). Use
Motorcraft 5W30 Super
Premium Motor Oil, Ford
specification
WSS-M2C153-G.
Engine oil capacity
(including filter
change)-3.0L V6
Duratec engine5.2L (5.5 quarts). Use
Motorcraft 5W30 Super
Premium Motor Oil, Ford
specification
WSS-M2C153-G.
Engine oil capacity
(including filter
change)-3.4L V8 SHO
engine6.1L (6.5 quarts). Use
Motorcraft 5W30 Super
Premium Motor Oil, Ford
specification
WSS-M2C153-G.
Tire size and pressure Refer to Safety
Certification Label on
driver's door panel. Inflate
temporary spare to 60 psi.
Hood release Pull handle under the left
side of the instrument
panel.
Coolant capacity (3.0L
V6 Vulcan engine)
111.0L (11.6 quarts)
Coolant capacity (3.0L
V6 Duratec and 3.4L
V8 SHO engine)
1
10.0L (10.6 quarts)
Recommended
fuel-3.0L V6 enginesUnleaded fuel only - 87
octane
Recommended
fuel-3.0L V6 enginesUnleaded fuel only - 87
octane
Power steering fluid
capacity-3.0L V6
Vulcan engineKeep in FULL range
ondipstick.
Filling station information
191

Power steering fluid
capacity-3.0L V6
Duratec and 3.4L V8
SHO engineFill to line on reservoir.
Automatic transaxle
capacity (AX4N)-3.0L
V6 Vulcan engine12.8L (13.5 quarts). Use
Motorcraft MERCONtV
AT F.
Automatic transaxle
capacity (AX4N)-3.0L
V6 Duratec and 3.4L
V8 SHO engine12.7L (13.4 quarts). Use
Motorcraft MERCONtV
AT F.
Automatic transaxle
capacity (AX4S)-3.0L
V6 Vulcan engine11.6L (12.2. quarts). Use
Motorcraft MERCONtV
AT F.
1If your engine coolant is green in color, use Ford
Premium Cooling System Fluid. If your engine
coolant is orange in color, use Ford Extended Life
Engine Coolant. Refer toLubricant Specifications.
Ensure correct automatic transmission fluid is used
for a specific application. Check the container to
verify the fluid is MERCONtand/or MERCONtV
approved. Some fluids have been approved as
meeting both MERCONtand MERCONtV
requirements and will be labeled as such. Fluids
labeled as meeting only MERCONtor only
MERCONtV requirements must not be used
interchangeably. DO NOT mix MERCONtand
MERCONtV. Transmission fluid requirements are
indicated on the dipstick or on the dipstick handle.
Refer to your ªService Guideº to determine the
correct service interval.
Filling station information
192