1998 FORD TAURUS maintenance

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.
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167

Horizontal aim adjustment
1. Park the vehicle on a
level surface.
2. With the hood open,
locate the horizontal
indicator and adjusting
screw. Remove the
protective cap to
access the 7 mm
adjusting screw head.
3. Turn the horizontal
adjusting screw in the
direction of the arrow
to change the
horizontal aim as
shown.
4.Usea7mmwrench
or socket to turn the
horizontal adjusting screw until the ª0º reference
mark on the view dial is aligned with the rearward
facing tab (as shown) on the plastic housing.
Vertical aim adjustment
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface.
2. With the hood open,
locate the bubble level
vertical aim indicator.
It is visible when
viewed from above
center rear of the
headlamp. Locate the
vertical adjusting
screw, located on the
outboard side of the headlamp adjacent to the
headlamp upper outboard attachment.
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168

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.
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169

After washing, apply the brakes several times to dry
them.
Waxing your vehicle
Wax when water stops beading on the surface. This
could be every three or four months, depending on
operating conditions.
Use only carnauba or synthetic-based waxes. Use
cleaning fluid or alcohol with a clean cloth to remove
any bugs and tar before waxing vehicle. Use tar
remover to remove any tar spots.
Avoid getting wax on the windshield. If you have
wax applied at a commercial car wash, it is
recommended that you clean the wiper blades and
windshield as described inCleaning the wiper
blades and windshield.
Repairing paint chips
Minor scratches or paint damage from road debris
may be repaired with touch-up paint, repair foil or
aerosol paint spray from the Ford accessory line.
Observe the application instructions on the
products.
Remove particles such as bird droppings, tree sap,
insect remains, tar spots, road salt and industrial
fallout immediately.
Cleaning the wheels
Wash with the same detergent as the body of your
vehicle. Do not use acid-based or alcohol-based
wheel cleaners, steel wool, fuel or strong detergents.
Never use abrasives that will damage the finish of
special wheel surfaces. Use a tar remover to remove
grease and tar.
Cleaning the engine
Engines are more efficient when they are clean
because grease and dirt buildup keep the engine
warmer than normal. When washing:
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170

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
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171

²3.0L Duratec engine
²3.4L SHO engine
²Never wash or rinse the engine while it is
running; water in the running engine may cause
internal damage.
Cleaning the engine
Cover the underhood electrical connections and
terminals of your vehicle when cleaning the engine
compartment. Avoid spraying or splashing cleaning
solvents or detergent solutions on the terminals and
connections. After the cleaning is completed and
with the engine not running, remove the protective
cleaning coverings. Exposing electrical connections
and terminals to cleaning solvents and detergent
solutions over a period of time can corrode them
and result in electrical system damage and
malfunctions.
Cleaning plastic exterior parts
Use vinyl cleaner for routine cleaning. Clean with a
tar remover if necessary. Do not clean plastic parts
with thinners, solvents or petroleum-based cleaners.
V8 32 VALVE
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172

Cleaning the exterior lamps
Wash with the same detergent as the exterior of
your vehicle. Use glass cleaner or tar remover if
necessary.
To avoid scratching the lamps, do not use a dry
paper towel, chemical solvents or abrasive cleaners.
Cleaning the wiper blades and windshield
If the wiper blades do not wipe properly, clean the
wiper blade rubber element with undiluted
windshield washer solution or a mild detergent. To
avoid damaging the blades, do not use fuel,
kerosene, paint thinner or other solvents.
If the wiper still does not wipe properly, this could
be caused by substances on the windshield such as
tree sap and some hot wax treatments used by
commercial car washes. Clean the outside of the
windshield with a non-abrasive cleanser such as the
non-abrasive Bon-Amitpowder. Rinse thoroughly
with clean water.Do notuse abrasive cleansers on
glass as they may cause scratches. The windshield is
clean if beads do not form when you rinse it with
water. The windshield and wiper blades should be
cleaned on a regular basis, and blades or rubber
elements replaced when worn.
Cleaning the instrument panel
Clean with a damp cloth, then dry with a dry cloth.
Avoid cleaner or polish that increases the gloss of
the upper portion of the instrument panel. The dull
finish in this area helps protect the driver from
undesirable windshield reflection.
Cleaning the interior fabric
Remove dust and loose dirt with a whisk broom or a
vacuum cleaner. Remove fresh spots immediately. Do
not use household or glass cleaners. These agents
can stain and discolor the fabric. Use a mild soap
and water solution if necessary.
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173

Cleaning leather seats (if equipped)
For routine cleaning, wipe the surface with a soft,
damp cloth. For more thorough cleaning, wipe the
surface with a mild soap.
If the leather cannot be completely cleaned using a
mild soap and water solution, the leather may be
cleaned using a commercially available cleaning
product ªTanners Preserve Leather Cleanerº and a
3M ªType T' scrubbing pad by using the following
steps;
The type of scrubbing pad is very critical
because the common 3M ªScotch Briteº green
pad is too aggressive and will damage the
leather surface
²Spray a small amount of the leather cleaner on
the pad and rub the area to be cleaned with the
pad using a circular motion. Only clean 1/4 of the
area at a time. For heavily soiled areas, spray the
cleaner directly onto the leather (two squirts
should be adequate) and rub with the pad. Repeat
if necessary.
²Use a soft, damp cloth to remove the loosened
dirt and foam.
²Dry with a soft cloth.
Do not use household cleaners, glass cleaner,
alcohol solutions or cleaner intended for vinyl,
rubber or plastics. These products can damage
the leather.
In some instances, color or dye transfer can
occur when wet clothing (wool, denim, leathers
or other non-colorfast garments) comes in
contact with leather upholstery. If this occurs,
the leather should be cleaned immediately to
avoid permanent staining.
ªTanners Preserve Leather Cleanerº (product
number AS-300) is available from ªFirst Brandsº by
calling 1±800±726±1001. This product may also be
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