2000 FORD TAURUS check engine light

²Resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving may reduce fuel
economy.
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
0.4 km/L [1 mpg] is lost for every 180 kg [400 lb] of weight carried).
²Adding certain accessories to your vehicle (for example bug
deflectors, rollbars/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.
EPA window sticker
Every new vehicle should have the EPA window sticker. Contact your
dealer if the window sticker is not supplied with your vehicle. The EPA
window sticker should be your guide for the fuel economy comparisons
with other vehicles.
It is important to note the box in the lower left corner of the window
sticker. These numbers represent the Range of L/100 km (MPG)
Maintenance and care
187

permitted to intentionally remove an emission control device or prevent
it from working. Information about your vehicle's emission system is on
the Vehicle Emission Control Information Decal located on or near the
engine. This decal identifies engine displacement and gives some tune up
specifications.
Please consult your ªWarranty Guideº for complete emission warranty
information.
Readiness for Inspection/Maintenance (I/M) testing
In some localities, it may be a legal requirement to pass an I/M test of
the on-board diagnostics system. If your
indicator is on, refer to the
description in theWarning Lights and Chimessection of the
Instrumentationchapter. Your vehicle may not pass the I/M test with
the
indicator on.
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.
BULBS
Replacing exterior bulbs
Check the operation of the following lamps frequently:
²Headlamps
²Tail lamps
²Brakelamps
²High-mount brakelamp
²Turn signals
²Backup lamps
Maintenance and care
189

Accessory delay ..........................54
Air bag supplemental
restraint system ................94,95,98
and child safety seats ..............96
description ...........................95,98
disposal ....................................100
driver air bag ..................94,97,99
indicator light ......................12,97
operation .........................94,97,99
passenger air bag ...........94,97,99
side air bag ................................98
Air cleaner filter .......................205
Air conditioning ..........................18
automatic temperature
control system ..........................21
Air filter, cabin ..........................166
Antifreeze
(see Engine coolant) ................157
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) .......................113,114
Anti-theft system ........................64
arming the system ....................64
disarming a triggered system ..66
warning light .............................11
Audio system (see Radio) .........28
Automatic transaxle .................118
driving with .............................120
fluid, adding ............................163
fluid, checking ........................163
fluid, refill capacities ..............206
fluid, specification ..................208
Auxiliary power point .................27
Axle
lubricant specifications ..........207
Battery .......................................171
acid, treating emergencies .....171
charging system
warning light .............................12
jumping a disabled battery ....142
maintenance-free ....................171
replacement, specifications ...205
servicing ..................................171Belt minder .................................90
Brakes ........................................113
anti-lock ............................113,114
anti-lock brake system
(ABS) warning light ..........11,114
brake warning light ..................12
fluid, checking and adding ....155
fluid, refill capacities ..............206
fluid, specifications ..........207,208
lubricant specifications ...207,208
parking ....................................115
pedals (see Power
adjustable foot pedals) ............43
shift interlock ..........................118
Break-in period .............................3
Capacities for refilling fluids ....206
Cargo area shade ........................59
Cargo cover .................................58
Cargo net .....................................58
CD changer .................................38
Cellular telephone
Wireless Interface Module .......51
Certification Label ....................210
Child safety restraints ..............101
child safety belts ....................101
Child safety seats ......................102
attaching with tether straps ..106
in front seat ............................103
in rear seat .......................103,106
Cleaning your vehicle ...............198
engine compartment ..............201
exterior ....................................200
exterior lamps .........................200
instrument panel ....................203
instrument panel lens ............203
interior ..............................203,204
mirrors .....................................200
plastic parts ............................200
safety belts ..............................203
washing ....................................199
waxing .....................................199
wheels ......................................200
Index
225

windows ..................................203
wiper blades ............................201
woodtone trim ........................203
Climate control (see Air
conditioning or Heating) ............18
Clock .......................................31,38
Console ........................................56
Controls
power seat .................................75
Coolant
checking and adding ..............157
refill capacities .................161,206
specifications ...................207,208
Cruise control
(see Speed control) ....................44
Customer Assistance ................130
Ford accessories
for your vehicle ......................219
Ford Extended
Service Plan ............................212
Getting assistance outside
the U.S. and Canada ..............218
Getting roadside assistance ...130
Getting the
service you need ....................212
Ordering additional
owner's literature ...................223
The Dispute
Settlement Board ...................215
Utilizing the Mediation/
Arbitration Program ...............218
Daytime running lamps
(see Lamps) ................................16
Defrost
rear window ..............................17
Dipstick
automatic
transmission fluid ...................163
engine oil .................................152
Doors
door ajar warning .......................9
lubricant specifications ..........207Driving under special
conditions
through water .........................124
Emergencies, roadside
jump-starting ..........................142
Emission control system ..........188
Engine ........................................208
check engine/
service engine soon light ...........9
cleaning ...................................201
coolant .....................................157
idle speed control ...................171
lubrication
specifications ...................207,208
refill capacities ........................206
service points ...................150,151
starting after a collision .........131
Engine block heater .................111
Engine oil ..................................152
checking and adding ..............152
dipstick ....................................152
filter, specifications .........154,205
recommendations ...................154
refill capacities ........................206
specifications ...................207,208
Exhaust fumes ..........................112
Floor mats ...................................56
Fluid capacities .........................206
Fuel ............................................178
calculating fuel economy .......184
cap ...........................................181
capacity ...................................206
choosing the right fuel ...........182
comparisons with EPA fuel
economy estimates .................187
detergent in fuel .....................184
filling your vehicle
with fuel ....................178,181,185
filter, specifications .........184,205
fuel pump shut-off switch .....131
gauge .........................................15
improving fuel economy ........184
Index
226

brake ..........................................12
charging system ........................12
check coolant ............................11
cruise indicator .........................11
door ajar ......................................9
high beam ...................................8
low coolant ................................10
low fuel ......................................10
oil pressure ...............................12
safety belt ...................................9
service engine soon ....................9
speed control ............................46
traction control active ................8
turn signal indicator ...................8
Load limits .................................123
GAWR ......................................123
GVWR ......................................123
trailer towing ..........................123
Locks
autolock .....................................69
childproof ..................................54
Lubricant specifications ....207,208
Lumbar support, seats ...............76
Mirrors .........................................51
cleaning ...................................200
heated ........................................55
side view mirrors (power) .......55
Moon roof ....................................51
Motorcraft parts .................184,205
Octane rating ............................182
Odometer .....................................15
Oil (see Engine oil) ..................152
Overdrive ...................................119
Panic alarm feature, remote
entry system ................................61
Parking brake ............................115
Parts (see Motorcraft parts) ....205
Pedals (see Power adjustable
foot pedals) .................................43
Power adjustable foot pedals .....43
Power distribution box
(see Fuses) ...............................136Power door locks ........................54
Power steering ..........................117
fluid, checking and adding ....162
fluid, refill capacity ................206
fluid, specifications ..........207,208
Radio ............................................28
Relays .................................133,138
Remote entry system ............60,61
illuminated entry ......................62
locking/unlocking doors ......60,61
opening the trunk .....................61
panic alarm ...............................61
replacement/additional
transmitters ...............................62
replacing the batteries .............63
Roof rack ...................................129
Safety belts
(see Safety restraints) .....13,78,80
81,82,83,84,86
Safety defects, reporting ..........224
Safety restraints ......78,80,81,82,83
84,85,86,88
belt minder ...............................90
cleaning the safety belts ...93,203
extension assembly ..................89
for adults ....................81,82,83,84
for children ......................100,101
lap belt ......................................87
warning light and chime ..9,13,89
Safety seats for children ..........102
Seat belts
(see Safety restraints) ...............78
Seats ............................................74
child safety seats ....................102
cleaning ............................203,204
SecuriLock passive
anti-theft system ....................70,71
Servicing your vehicle ..............148
Spark plugs,
specifications ......................205,208
Specification chart,
lubricants ............................207,208
Index
228