1999 FORD TAURUS maintenance

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

²Cover the highlighted areas to prevent water
damage when cleaning the engine.
²3.0L Vulcan engine
²3.0L Duratec engine
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186

²3.4L SHO engine
²Never wash or rinse the engine while it is
running; water in the running engine may cause
internal damage.
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.
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
V8 32 VALVE
Maintenance and care
187

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.
Cleaning leather seats (if equipped)
To clean, simply use a soft cloth dampened with
water and a mild soap. Wipe the leather again with a
damp cloth to remove soap residue. Dry with a soft
cloth. For tougher soiling concerns, Ford
recommends using the Deluxe Leather Care Kit
F8AZ-19G253±AA, which is available from your Ford
Dealer. This mild cleaner and special pad, cleans the
leather and maintains its natural beauty. Follow the
instructions on the cleaner label. Regular cleaning of
your leather upholstery helps maintain its resiliency
and color.
Do not use household cleaning products,
alcohol solutions, solvents or cleaners intended
for rubber, vinyl or plastics.
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188

Cleaning and maintaining the safety belts
Clean the safety belts with a mild soap solution
recommended for cleaning upholstery or carpets. Do
not bleach or dye the belts, because these actions
may weaken the belt webbing.
Check the safety belt system periodically to make
sure there are no nicks, wear or cuts. If your vehicle
has been involved in an accident, refer to theSafety
belt maintenancesection in theSeating and safety
restraintschapter.
Maintenance and care
189

Fluid Ford Part
NameApplication Capacity
Power
steering
fluidMotorcraft
MERCONt
AT F3.0L V6
Vulcan
engineKeep in
FULL range
on dipstick
3.0L DOHC
V6 Duratec
and
3.4L-32V V8
SHO engineFill to line
on reservoir
Automatic
transaxle -
AX4NMotorcraft
MER-
CONtV
AT F3.0L V6
Vulcan
engine12.8L
(13.5
quarts)
3.0L DOHC
V6 Duratec
engine and
3.4L SHO
engine12.7L
(13.4
quarts)
Automatic
transaxle -
AX4SMotorcraft
MER-
CONtV
AT F3.0L V6
Vulcan
engine11.6L
(12.2
quarts)
Windshield
washer
fluid -
FrontUltra-Clear
Windshield
Washer
Con-
centrateAll 2.7L
(90 oz.)
Windshield
washer
fluid -
RearUltra-Clear
Windshield
Washer
Con-
centrateWagon 2.1L
(70 oz.)
1Use Ford Premium Engine Coolant (green in
color). DO NOT USE Ford Extended Life Engine
Coolant (orange in color). Refer toAdding engine
coolant, in the Maintenance and Care chapter.
Capacities and specifications
192

²sales disputes between customer and dealer
except those associated with warranty repairs or
concerns with the vehicle's performance as
designed
²a request for reimbursement of consequential
expenses unless a service or product concern
being reviewed
²items not covered by the New Vehicle Limited
Warranty (including maintenance and wear items)
²alleged personal injury/property damage claims
²cases currently in litigation
²vehicles not used primarily for family, personal or
household purposes (except in states where the
Dispute Settlement Board is required to review
commercial vehicles)
²vehicles with non-U.S. warranties
Concerns are ineligible for review if the New Vehicle
Limited Warranty has expired at receipt of your
application and, in certain states of eligibility is
dependent upon the customer's possession of the
vehicle.
Eligibility may differ according to state law. For
example, see the unique brochures for California,
West Virginia, Georgia and Wisconsin
purchasers/lessees.
Board membership
The Board consists of:
²three consumer representatives
²a Ford or Lincoln/Mercury dealership
representative
Consumer candidates for Board membership are
recruited and trained by an independent consulting
firm. The dealership Board member is chosen from
Ford and Lincoln-Mercury dealership management,
recognized for their business leadership qualities.
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205

What the Board needs
To have your case reviewed you must complete the
application in the DSB brochure and mail it to the
address provided on the application form.
Your application is reviewed and, if it is determined
to be eligible, you will receive an acknowledgment
indicating:
²the file number assigned to your application
²the toll-free phone number of the DSB's
independent administrator
Your dealership and a Ford Motor Company
representative are asked to submit statements at
this time.
To properly review your case, the Board needs the
following information:
²legible copies of all documents and maintenance
or repair orders relevant to the case
²the year, make, model, and Vehicle Identification
Number (VIN) listed on your vehicle ownership
license
²the date of repair(s) and mileage at the time of
occurrence(s)
²the current mileage
²the name of the dealer who sold or serviced the
vehicle
²a brief description of your unresolved concern
²a brief summary of the action taken by the
dealer(s) and Ford Motor Company
²the names (if known) of all the people you
contacted at the dealership(s)
²a description of the action you expect to resolve
your concern
You will receive a letter of explanation if your
application does not qualify for Board review.
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206