1999 FORD TAURUS Owners Manual

If the vehicle's powertrain system or its battery has
just been serviced, the on-board diagnostics system
is reset to a ªnot ready for I/M testº condition. To
ready the on-board diagnostics 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.
EXTERIOR BULBS
Replacing exterior bulbs
Check the operation of the following lamps
frequently:
²Headlamps
²Tail lamps
²Brakelamps
²High-mount brakelamp
²Turn signals
²Backup lamps
²License plate lamp
Do not remove lamp bulbs unless they will be
replaced immediately. If a bulb is removed for an
extended period of time, contaminants may enter
the lamp housings and affect performance.
Maintenance and care
177

Replacing headlamp bulbs
Handle a halogen headlamp bulb carefully
and keep out of children's reach. Grasp the
bulb only by its plastic base and do not touch the
glass. The oil from your hand could cause the bulb
to break the next time the headlamps are
operated.
If the bulb is accidentally touched, it should be
cleaned with rubbing alcohol before being used.
To remove the headlamp bulb:
1. Make sure headlamp switch is in OFF position,
then open the hood. If you are replacing the driver
side headlamp, unclip the electronic module on the
right side of the battery and move it out of the way.
2. Locate the headlamp bulb through the hole in the
upper radiator support assembly.
3. Remove the bulb
retaining ring by
rotating it
counterclockwise
(when viewed from the
rear) about 1/8 turn to
free it from the bulb socket, and slide the ring off
the plastic base. Keep the ring to retain the new
bulb.
4. With out turning, remove the old bulb from the
lamp assembly by gently pulling it straight out of the
lamp assembly.
5. Release clip and
disconnect the
electrical connector
from the bulb.
Maintenance and care
178

To install the new bulb:
1. Install the electrical
connector into the rear
of the plastic base until
it snaps, locking it into
position.
2. With the flat side of the bulb's plastic base facing
upward, insert the glass end of the bulb into the
lamp assembly. You may need to turn the bulb left or
right to align the grooves in the plastic base with the
tabs in the lamp assembly. When the grooves are
aligned, push the bulb into the lamp assembly until
the plastic base contacts the rear of the lamp
assembly.
3. Install the bulb retaining ring over the plastic base
until it contacts the rear of the socket by rotating
clockwise until you feel a ªstopº.
4. Turn the headlamps on and make sure they work
properly. If the headlamp was correctly aligned
before you changed the bulb, you should not need to
align it again.
High-mount brakelamp bulbs
The following
procedure is for sedans
only. For wagon, refer
to a qualified
technician.
1. Open trunk.
2. Inside trunk, locate
access hole under the
rear window
3. Remove the bulb
socket by rotating it 45 degrees and pulling it out of
the lamp assembly.
4. Carefully pull bulb straight out of socket and push
in new bulb.
Maintenance and care
179

5. To complete installation, follow the removal
procedure in reverse order.
License plate lamp bulbs
To change the license plate bulbs:
Sedan
1. Remove two screws
and the license plate
lamp assembly from
the rear bumper.
2. Remove bulb socket
by turning
counterclockwise.
3. Carefully pull the
bulb out from the
socket and push in the
new bulb.
4. Install the lamp assembly on rear bumper with
two screws.
Wagon
1. Remove screw and
the license plate lamp
assembly from liftgate.
2. Remove bulb socket
by turning
counterclockwise.
3. Carefully pull the
bulb out from the
socket and push in the
new bulb.
4. Install the lamp
assembly on liftgate with screw.
Replacing front parking lamp/turn signal bulbs
For bulb replacement, see a dealer or qualified
technician.
Maintenance and care
180

Replacing tail lamp/backup bulbs
For bulb replacement, see a dealer or qualified
technician.
Replacing the interior bulbs
Check the operation of the following interior bulbs
frequently:
²interior overhead lamp
²map lamp
Using the right bulbs
Function Trade Number
Front side marker lamp 194
Front park/turn lamp 3457 NA
Headlamp 9007
Tail lamp/brake lamp 3157
Rear turn lamp 3456K
Backup lamp 3156
License plate lamp 168
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
I/P ashtray lamp 194
To replace all instrument panel lights - see your
dealer.
Maintenance and care
181

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.
Horizontal aim adjustment
1. Park the vehicle on a
level surface.
2. With the hood open,
locate the horizontal
indicator and the
adjusting screw.
Remove the protective
cap to access the 7 mm
adjusting screw head.
Maintenance and care
182

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
the 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.
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 Customer Assistance chapter for a list
of Ford-approved cleaners, polishes and waxes.
Maintenance and care
183

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.
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 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.
Maintenance and care
184