1999 FORD TAURUS wheel

temperature gauge indicator will be near the center
of the normal area between H and C).
2. While the engine idles, turn the steering wheel
left and right several times.
3. Turn the engine off.
Perform steps 4 and 5 following the procedure for
your engine.
3.0L V6 Vulcan engine
4. Check the fluid level
on the dipstick. It
should be between the
arrows in the FULL
HOT range. Do not add
fluid if the level is
within this range.
5. If the fluid is low, add fluid in small amounts,
continuously checking the level until it reaches the
FULL HOT range. Be sure to put the dipstick back
in the reservoir.
3.0L Duratec engine and 3.4L SHO engine
4. Check the fluid level
in the reservoir. It
should be between the
MIN and MAX lines. Do
not add fluid if the
level is within this
range.
5. If the fluid is low, add fluid in small amounts,
continuously checking the level until it reaches the
range between the MIN and MAX lines. Be sure to
put the cap back on the reservoir.
FULL HOT
MINMAX
Maintenance and care
154

U.S. Department of Transportation-Tire quality
grades:The U.S. Department of Transportation
requires Ford to give you the following information
about tire grades exactly as the government has
written it.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based
on the wear rate of the tire when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified government test
course. For example, a tire graded 150 would wear
one and one-half (1 1/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded 100. The relative
performance of tires depends upon the actual
conditions of their use, however, and may depart
significantly from the norm due to variations in
driving habits, service practices, and differences in
road characteristics and climate.
Traction AA A B C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest are AA,
A, B, and C. Those grades represent the tire's ability
to stop on wet pavement as measured under
controlled conditions on specified government test
surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C
may have poor traction performance.
The traction grade assigned to this tire is
based on straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration, cornering,
hydroplaning or peak traction characteristics.
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
Maintenance and care
161

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 Certification Label.
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 Scheduled Maintenance Guide. If you notice
that the tires wear unevenly, have them checked.
Maintenance and care
162

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.
Tires that are larger or smaller than your vehicle's
original tires may also affect the accuracy of your
speedometer.
SNOW TIRES AND CHAINS
Snow tires must be the same size and grade
as the tires you currently have on your
vehicle.
The tires on your vehicle have all weather treads to
provide traction in rain and snow. However, in some
climates, you may need to use snow tires and
chains. If you need to use snow tires and chains, it is
recommended that steel wheels are used of the
same size and specifications as those originally
installed.
Follow these guidelines when using snow tires and
chains:
²Use only SAE Class S chains.
²Install chains securely, verifying that the chains do
not touch any wiring, brake lines or fuel lines.
²Drive cautiously. If you hear the chains rub or
bang against your vehicle, stop and re-tighten the
chains. If this does not work, remove the chains
to prevent damage to your vehicle.
²If possible, avoid fully loading your vehicle.
²Do not use tire chains if your vehicle is equipped
with P225/55ZR16 or P215/6OR16 tires.
²Remove the tire chains when they are no longer
needed. Do not use tire chains on dry roads.
Maintenance and care
164

²Combine errands and minimize stop-and-go
driving.
Maintenance
²Keep tires properly inflated and use only
recommended size.
²Operating a vehicle with the wheels out of
alignment will reduce fuel economy.
²Use recommended engine oil. Refer toLubricant
Specifications.
²Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance
items. Follow the recommended maintenance
schedule and owner maintenance checks found in
your vehicle Scheduled Maintenance Guide.
Conditions
²Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a trailer may
reduce fuel economy at any speed.
²Carrying unnecessary weight may reduce fuel
economy (approximately 2 km/h [1 mpg] is lost
for every 180 kg [400 lb] of weight carried).
²Adding certain accessories to your vehicle (for
example bug deflectors, rollover/light bars,
running boards, ski/luggage racks) may reduce
fuel economy.
²Using fuel blended with alcohol may lower fuel
economy.
²Fuel economy may decrease with lower
temperatures during the first 12±16 km
(8±10 miles) of driving.
²Driving on flat terrain offers improved fuel
economy as compared to driving on hilly terrain.
²Transmissions give their best fuel economy when
operated in the top cruise gear and with steady
pressure on the gas pedal.
²Close windows for high speed driving.
Maintenance and care
174

Repairing paint chips
Minor scratches or paint damage from road debris
may be repaired with the Ultra Touch Prep and
Finishing Kit (#F7AZ-19K507±BA), touch-up paint
(#ALBZ-19500±XXXXA), or aerosol paint spray
(#ALAZ-19500±XXXXA) from the Ford Car Care
Chemicals line. Please note that the part numbers
(shown as XXXX above) will vary with your vehicle's
specific coloring. 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.
The brushes used in some automatic car washes may
damage the finish on your wheels. Before going to a
car wash, find out if the brushes are abrasive.
Cleaning the engine
In order to identify your vehicle's engine, refer to
Identifying components in the engine
compartmentin the Maintenance and Care chapter.
Engines are more efficient when they are clean
because grease and dirt buildup keep the engine
warmer than normal. When washing:
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.
Maintenance and care
185

Engine 3.0L V6
Vulcan
engine3.0L
DOHC V6
Duratec
engine3.4L-32V
V8 SHO
engine
Spark plug
gap1.07-1.17
mm (0.042-
0.046 inch)1.3-1.4 mm
(0.052-
00.056
inch)1.07-1.17
mm (0.042-
0.046 inch)
Ignition
systemEDIS EDIS EDIS
Compres-
sion ratio9.3:1 10.0:1 10.0:1
VEHICLE DIMENSIONS
Vehicle
dimensionsSedan mm (in) Wagon mm (in)
(1) Overall
length5 016.5 (197.5) 5 069.8 (199.6)
(2) Overall
width1 854.2 (73.0) 1 854.2 (73.0)
(3) Overall
height1 399.5 (55.1) 1 463.0 (57.6)
(4) Wheelbase 2 755.9 (108.5) 2 755.9 (108.5)
(5) Track -
Front1 564.6 (61.6) 1 564.6 (61.6)
(5) Track -
Rear1 559.6 (61.4) 1 569.7 (61.8)
Capacities and specifications
195

complement the style and aerodynamic appearance
of your vehicle. In addition, each accessory is made
from high quality materials and meets or exceeds
Ford's rigid engineering and safety specifications.
Ford accessories are warranted for up to 12 months
or 20,000 km (12,000 miles) on all cars and light
trucks and 12 months with unlimited distance on
medium/heavy duty trucks unless the accessory is
installed on a new vehicle, then the warranty
becomes the balance of the new vehicle's warranty
or the accessories warranty, whichever is greater.
See your dealer for complete warranty information
and availability.
Not all accessories are available for all models.
Vehicle Security
Remote keyless entry
Styled wheel protector locks
Vehicle security systems
Comfort and convenience
Air conditioner
Air filtration systems
Cargo nets
Cargo organizers
Cargo shades
Cargo trays
Dash trim
Engine block heaters
Gear shift knob
Luggage presenter (Continental only)
Manual sliding rear window
Tire step
Customer assistance
210