1998 FORD TAURUS light

Do not make any unauthorized changes to your
vehicle or engine. By law, vehicle owners and anyone
who manufactures, repairs, items, sells, leases,
trades vehicles, or supervises a fleet of vehicles are
not permitted to intentionally remove an emission
control device or prevent it from working.
Information about your vehicle's emission system is
on the Vehicle Emission Control Information Decal
located on or near the engine. This decal identifies
engine displacement and gives some tune up
specifications.
Please consult your ªWarranty Guideº for complete
emission warranty information.
Readiness for inspection/maintenance (I/M)
testing
In some localities, it may be a legal requirement to
pass an I/M test of the on-board diagnostic (OBD-II)
system. If your ªCheck Engine/Service Engine Soonº
light is on, refer to the description in theWarning
Lights and Chimessection of theInstrumentation
chapter. Your vehicle may not pass the I/M test with
the ªCheck Engine/Service Engine Soonº light on.
If the vehicle's powertrain system or its battery has
just been serviced, the OBD-II system is reset to a
ªnot ready for I/M testº condition. To ready the
OBD-II system for I/M testing, a minimum of 30
minutes of city and highway driving is necessary as
described below:
²First, at least 10 minutes of driving on an
expressway or highway.
²Next, at least 20 minutes driving in stop-and-go,
city-type traffic with at least four idle periods.
Allow the vehicle to sit for at least eight hours
without starting the engine. Then, start the engine
and complete the above driving cycle. The engine
must warm up to its normal operating temperature.
Once started, do not turn off the engine until the
above driving cycle is complete.
Maintenance and care
162

Function Trade Number
High-mount brake lamp 912
Rear side marker lamp 168
Cargo lamp (wagon) 211-2
Dome lamp 211-2
Dome/map lamp 578
Dome lamp/moon roof 208
Visor vanity lamp
(passenger/driver)74-194
Floor console 194
Luggage compartment lamp 906
Glove compartment 194
I/P ashtray lamp 194
To replace all instrument panel lights - see your
dealer.
AIMING THE HEADLAMPS
Your vehicle is equipped with a Vehicle Headlamp
Aim Device (VHAD) on each headlamp body. Each
headlamp may be properly aimed in the horizontal
direction (left/right) and the vertical position
(up/down) using your VHAD system. The headlamps
on your vehicle are properly aimed at the assembly
plant.
A bubble (vertical indicator) that is not centered
between the two black lines does not necessarily
indicate out-of-aim headlamps. If your vehicle is not
positioned on a level surface, the slope will be
included in the level indicator. Therefore, vertical
and horizontal headlamp adjustment should be
performed only when beam direction appears to be
incorrect.
You will need one 7 mm wrench or socket with
ratchet to make the adjustments.
If the vehicle has been in an accident, the vehicle's
front structure should be properly aligned before
aiming the headlamps.
Maintenance and care
167

3. The ªUPº and ªDNº on the bubble label indicate
the directional change (up or down) of the vertical
aim.
4.Usea7mmwrench or socket to turn the vertical
adjusting screw clockwise or counterclockwise until
the bubble aligns with the ª0º reference mark on the
vertical indicator when viewed directly from above.
Repeat the above procedures to the other headlamp,
if necessary.
CLEANING AND CARING FOR YOUR VEHICLE
Refer to the ªCustomer Assistance Guideº for a list
of Ford-approved cleaners, polishes and waxes.
Washing your vehicle
Wash your vehicle
regularly with cold or
lukewarm water. Never
use strong detergents
or soap. If your vehicle
is particularly dirty, use
a quality car wash
detergent. Always use a
clean sponge, washing
glove or similar device and plenty of water for best
results. To avoid spots, avoid washing when the
hood is still warm, immediately after or during
exposure to strong sunlight.
During winter months, it is especially important to
wash the vehicle on a regular basis. Large quantities
of dirt and road salt are difficult to remove and also
cause damage to the vehicle.
Remove any exterior accessories, such as antennas,
before entering a car wash. If you have wax applied
to the vehicle at a commercial car wash, it is
recommended that you clean the wiper blades and
windshield as described inCleaning the wiper
blades and windshield.
Maintenance and care
169

²Take care when using a power washer to clean
the engine. The high pressure fluid could
penetrate the sealed parts and cause damage.
²Do not spray with cold water to avoid cracking
the engine block or other engine components.
²Cover the highlighted areas to prevent water
damage when cleaning the engine.
²3.0L Vulcan engine
Maintenance and care
171

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