1998 FORD TAURUS flat tire

Pull the release lever
to release the brake.
Driving with the
parking brake on will
cause the brakes to
wear out quickly and
reduce fuel economy.
STEERING
Your vehicle is equipped with power steering. Power
steering uses energy from the engine to help steer
the vehicle.
To prevent damage to the power steering pump:
²Never hold the steering wheel to the extreme
right or the extreme left for more than a few
seconds when the engine is running.
²Do not operate the vehicle with a low power
steering pump fluid level.
If the power steering system breaks down (or if the
engine is turned off), you can steer the vehicle
manually, but it takes more effort.
If the steering wanders or pulls, the condition could
be caused by any of the following:
²underinflated tire(s) on any wheel(s)
²high crown in center of road
²high crosswinds
²wheels out of alignment
²loose or worn components in steering linkage
Driving
93

DRIVING THROUGH WATER
Do not drive quickly through standing water,
especially if the depth is unknown. Traction or brake
capability may be limited and if the ignition system
gets wet, your engine may stall. Water may also
enter your engine's air intake and severely damage
your engine.
If driving through deep or standing water is
unavoidable, proceed very slowly. Never drive
through water that is higher than the bottom of the
hubs (truck)/wheel rims (car).
Once through the water, always try the brakes. Wet
brakes do not stop the vehicle as effectively as dry
brakes. Drying can be improved by moving your
vehicle slowly while applying light pressure on the
brake pedal.
TRAILER TOWING
Your vehicle is classified as a light duty towing
vehicle. The amount of weight you can safely tow
depends on the type of engine you have in your
vehicle. Your vehicle does not come from the factory
fully equipped to tow. No towing packages are
available through Ford or Mercury/Lincoln dealers.
Do not tow a trailer until your vehicle has been
driven at least 800 km (500 miles). If towing with a
station wagon, inflate the rear tires to 35 psi.
Towing a trailer places an additional load on your
vehicle's engine, transaxle, brakes, tires and
suspension. Inspect these components carefully after
towing.
The amount of weight that you can tow depends on
the type of engine in your vehicle. See the following
charts:
Driving
103

Fuse/
Relay
LocationFuse
Amp
RatingDescription
29 Ð Fuel Pump Relay
30 Ð PCM Relay
31 Ð Low Speed Cooling Fan Relay
32 Ð PCM Diode
33 Ð A/C Clutch Diode
34 Ð Not Used
* Mini Fuses ** Maxi Fuses
1Fuses 4 and 6 will vary depending on date of
vehicle build.
Relays
Relays are located in the power distribution box and
should be replaced by qualified technicians.
CHANGING THE TIRES
If you get a flat tire while driving, do not apply the
brake heavily. Instead, gradually decrease your
speed. Hold the steering wheel firmly and slowly
move to a safe place on the side of the road.
Temporary spare tire information
The temporary spare tire for your vehicle is labeled
as such. It is smaller than a regular tire and is
designed for emergency use only.
If you use the temporary spare tire
continuously or do not follow these
precautions, the tire could fail, causing you to lose
control of the vehicle, possibly injuring yourself or
others.
Roadside emergencies
116

4. Put the jack in the
jack notch next to the
door of the tire you are
changing. Turn the jack
handle clockwise until
the wheel is completely
off the ground.
5. Remove the lug nuts with the lug wrench.
6. Replace the flat tire with the spare tire, making
sure the valve stem is facing outward. Reinstall lug
nuts until the wheel is snug against the hub. Do not
fully tighten the lug nuts until the wheel has been
lowered.
7. Lower the wheel by turning the jack handle
counterclockwise.
8. Remove the jack and
fully tighten the lug
nuts in the order
shown.
9. Return the flat tire,
jack and lug wrench to
their proper storage
locations. Make sure
the jack is fastened so
it does not rattle when
you drive.
10. Unblock the
wheels.
1
4 3
52
Roadside emergencies
121

Temperature A B C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and
C, representing the tire's resistance to the
generation of heat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled conditions on a
specified indoor laboratory test wheel. Sustained
high temperature can cause the material of the tire
to degenerate and reduce tire life, and excessive
temperature can lead to sudden tire failure. The
grade C corresponds to a level of performance which
all passenger car tires must meet under the Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B
and A represent higher levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by
law.
The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly inflated
and not overloaded. Excessive speed,
underinflation, or excessive loading, either
separately or in combination, can cause heat
buildup and possible tire failure.
SERVICING YOUR TIRES
Checking the tire pressure
²Use an accurate tire pressure gauge.
²Check the tire pressure when tires are cold, after
the vehicle has been parked for at least one hour
or has been driven less than 5 km (3 miles).
²Adjust tire pressure to recommended
specifications found on the tire pressure label
inside the glove compartment door.
Maintenance and care
152

Improperly inflated tires can affect vehicle
handling and can fail suddenly, possibly
resulting in loss of vehicle control.
Tire rotation
Because your vehicle's tires perform different jobs,
they often wear differently. To make sure your tires
wear evenly and last longer, rotate them as indicated
in the ªService Guide.º If you notice that the tires
wear unevenly, have them checked.
²Four tire rotation
Replacing the tires
Replace the tires when
the wear band is
visible through the tire
treads.
Failure to follow these precautions may
adversely affect the handling of the vehicle
and make it easier for the driver to lose control
and roll over.
Maintenance and care
153

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