2001 FORD TAURUS Owners Manual

IN CALIFORNIA (U.S. ONLY)
California Civil Code Section 1793.2(d) requires that, if a manufacturer
or its representative is unable to repair a motor vehicle to conform to the
vehicle's applicable express warranty after a reasonable number of
attempts, the manufacturer shall be required to either replace the
vehicle with one substantially identical or repurchase the vehicle and
reimburse the buyer in an amount equal to the actual price paid or
payable by the consumer (less a reasonable allowance for consumer
use). The consumer has the right to choose whether to receive a refund
or replacement vehicle.
California Civil Code Section 1793.22(b) presumes that the manufacturer
has had a reasonable number of attempts to conform the vehicle to its
applicable express warranties if, within the first 18 months of ownership
of a new vehicle or the first 29 000 km (18 000 miles), whichever occurs
first:
1. Two or more repair attempts are made on the same nonconformity
likely to cause death or serious bodily injury OR
2. Four or more repair attempts are made on the same nonconformity (a
defect or condition that substantially impairs the use, value or safety of
the vehicle) OR
3. The vehicle is out of service for repair of nonconformities for a total of
more than 30 calendar days (not necessarily all at one time)
In the case of 1 or 2 above, the consumer must also notify the
manufacturer of the need for the repair of the nonconformity at the
following address:
16800 Executive Plaza Drive
Mail Drop 3NE-B
Dearborn, MI 48126
Customer assistance
241

REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS (U.S. ONLY)
If you believe that your vehicle has
a defect that could cause a crash, or
could cause injury or death, you
should immediately inform the
National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) in addition
to notifying Ford Motor Company.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open an investigation, and
if it finds that a safety defect exists in a group of vehicles, it may order a
recall and remedy campaign. However, NHTSA cannot become involved
in individual problems between you, your dealer or Ford Motor Company.
To contact NHTSA, you may either call the Auto Safety Hotline toll-free
at 1±800±424±9393 (202±366±0123 in the Washington D.C. area) or write
to:
NHTSA
U.S. Department of Transportation
400 Seventh Street
Washington D.C. 20590
You can also obtain other information about motor vehicle safety from
the Hotline.
Reporting safety defects
242

A
Accessory delay ..........................63
Air bag supplemental restraint
system ........................104, 106, 110
and child safety seats ............107
description ......................106, 110
disposal ....................................112
driver air bag ..........105, 109, 111
indicator light ...................13, 108
operation .................105, 109, 111
passenger air bag ...105, 109, 111
side air bag ..............................110
Air cleaner filter .......................222
Air conditioning ..........................19
automatic temperature
control system ..........................22
Air filter, cabin ..........................180
Antifreeze (see Engine
coolant) .....................................171
Anti-lock brake system (see
Brakes) ..............................127±128
Anti-theft system ........................73
arming the system ....................73
disarming a triggered system ..75
warning light .............................11
Audio system (see Radio) .........30
Automatic transaxle .................132
driving with .............................134
fluid, adding ............................178
fluid, checking ........................178
fluid, refill capacities ..............223
fluid, specification ..................226
Auxiliary power point .................29
Axle
lubricant specifications ..........224B
Battery .......................................185
acid, treating emergencies .....185
charging system
warning light .............................13
jumping a disabled battery ....156
maintenance-free ....................185
replacement, specifications ...222
servicing ..................................185
Belt minder ...............................100
Brakes ........................................127
anti-lock ...........................127±128
anti-lock brake system
(ABS) warning light .........12, 128
brake warning light ..................12
fluid, checking and adding ....169
fluid, refill capacities ..............223
fluid, specifications .........224, 226
lubricant specifications ..224, 226
parking ....................................129
pedals (see Power adjustable
foot pedals) ...............................51
shift interlock ..........................132
Break-in period .............................3
C
Capacities for refilling fluids ....223
Cargo area shade ........................68
Cargo cover .................................67
Cargo net .....................................67
CD changer .................................47
Cellular telephone
Wireless Interface Module .......60
Certification Label ....................228
Child safety restraints ..............113
child safety belts ....................113
Index
243

Child safety seats ......................114
attaching with tether straps ..118
in front seat ............................115
in rear seat ......................115, 118
LATCH .....................................120
Cleaning your vehicle ...............216
engine compartment ..............218
exterior ............................216±217
exterior lamps .........................218
instrument cluster lens ..........220
instrument panel ....................220
interior .............................220±221
mirrors .....................................217
plastic parts ............................217
safety belts ..............................221
washing ....................................216
waxing .....................................216
wheels ......................................217
windows ..................................220
wiper blades ............................218
woodtone trim ........................220
Climate control (see Air
conditioning or Heating) ............19
Clock ................................33, 40, 46
Console ........................................65
Controls
power seat .................................86
Coolant
checking and adding ..............171
refill capacities ................175, 223
specifications ..................224, 226
Cruise control (see Speed
control) ........................................53
Customer Assistance ................144
Ford accessories for your
vehicle .....................................237
Ford Extended Service
Plan ..........................................230Getting assistance outside the
U.S. and Canada .....................236
Getting roadside assistance ...144
Getting the service
you need .................................230
Ordering additional owner's
literature .................................240
The Dispute Settlement
Board .......................................233
Utilizing the
Mediation/Arbitration
Program ...................................236
D
Daytime running lamps (see
Lamps) .........................................17
Defrost
rear window ..............................18
Dipstick
automatic transmission fluid .178
engine oil .................................166
Doors
door ajar warning .......................9
lubricant specifications ..........224
Driving under special
conditions
through water .........................138
E
Emergencies, roadside
jump-starting ..........................156
Emission control system ..........202
Engine ........................................226
check engine/service engine
soon light ..................................10
cleaning ...................................218
coolant .....................................171
Index
244

idle speed control ...................185
lubrication
specifications ..................224, 226
refill capacities ........................223
service points ..................164±165
starting after a collision .........145
Engine block heater .................125
Engine oil ..................................166
checking and adding ..............166
dipstick ....................................166
filter, specifications ........168, 222
recommendations ...................168
refill capacities ........................223
specifications ..................224, 226
Exhaust fumes ..........................126
F
Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV) ....192
Floor mats ...................................65
Fluid capacities .........................223
Fuel ............................................192
calculating fuel economy .......199
cap .......................................9, 195
capacity ...................................223
choosing the right fuel ...........196
comparisons with EPA fuel
economy estimates .................202
detergent in fuel .....................198
filling your vehicle
with fuel ..................192, 195, 199
filter, specifications ........198, 222
fuel pump shut-off switch .....145
gauge .........................................16
improving fuel economy ........199
low fuel warning light ..............11
octane rating ...................196, 226
quality ......................................197
running out of fuel .................198safety information relating to
automotive fuels .....................192
Fuses ..................................147±148
G
Gas cap (see Fuel cap) ........9, 195
Gas mileage
(see Fuel economy) .................199
Gauges .........................................14
engine coolant temperature
gauge .........................................15
fuel gauge ..................................16
odometer ...................................16
speedometer .............................14
tachometer ................................15
trip odometer ............................16
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight
Rating) .......................................137
definition .................................137
driving with a heavy load ......137
location ....................................137
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating) .......................................137
calculating ...............................137
definition .................................137
driving with a heavy load ......137
location ....................................137
H
Hazard flashers .........................145
Head restraints ...........................84
Headlamps ...................................17
aiming ......................................214
autolamp system .......................18
bulb specifications ..................213
daytime running lights .............17
flash to pass ..............................17
Index
245

high beam .............................8, 17
replacing bulbs .......................204
turning on and off ....................17
warning chime ..........................14
Heating ........................................19
heating and air conditioning
system .......................................19
Hood ..........................................163
I
Ignition .................................52, 226
Infant seats
(see Safety seats) .....................114
Inspection/maintenance (I/M)
testing ........................................203
Instrument panel
cleaning ...................................220
cluster ..................................8, 220
lighting up panel and interior .18
location of components ..............8
J
Jack ............................................152
positioning ...............................152
storage .....................................152
Jump-starting your vehicle ......156
K
Keyless entry system .................76
autolock .....................................78
keypad .......................................76
locking and unlocking doors ....77
programming entry code .........76
Keys .................................79±80, 82
key in ignition chime ...............14
positions of the ignition ...........52L
Lamps
autolamp system .......................18
bulb replacement
specifications chart ................213
cargo lamps ...............................18
daytime running light ...............17
headlamps .................................17
headlamps, flash to pass ..........17
instrument panel, dimming .....18
interior lamps .....................58±59
replacing
bulbs ........203±204, 207±209, 211
Lane change indicator
(see Turn signal) ........................56
Liftgate ..................................66, 71
Lights, warning and indicator ......8
air bag ........................................13
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ....12, 128
anti-theft ...................................11
brake ..........................................12
charging system ........................13
check coolant ............................12
cruise indicator .........................12
door ajar ......................................9
fuel cap light ...............................9
high beam ...................................8
low coolant ................................11
low fuel ......................................11
oil pressure ...............................13
safety belt ...................................9
service engine soon ..................10
speed control ............................56
traction control active ................8
turn signal indicator ...................8
Load limits .................................137
GAWR ......................................137
GVWR ......................................137
trailer towing ..........................137
Index
246

Locks
autolock .....................................78
childproof ..................................63
Lubricant specifications ...224, 226
Lumbar support, seats ...............87
M
Mirrors .........................................60
cleaning ...................................217
heated ........................................64
side view mirrors (power) .......64
Moon roof ....................................60
Motorcraft parts ................198, 222
O
Octane rating ............................196
Odometer .....................................16
Oil (see Engine oil) ..................166
Overdrive ...................................133
P
Panic alarm feature, remote
entry system ................................71
Parking brake ............................129
Parts (see Motorcraft parts) ....222
Pedals (see Power adjustable
foot pedals) .................................51
Power distribution box (see
Fuses) ........................................150
Power door locks ........................63
Power steering ..........................131
fluid, checking and adding ....176
fluid, refill capacity ................223
fluid, specifications .........224, 226R
Radio ............................................30
Rear window defroster ...............18
Relays ................................147, 152
Remote entry system ...........69, 71
illuminated entry ......................71
locking/unlocking doors ...........70
opening the trunk .....................71
panic alarm ...............................71
replacement/additional
transmitters ...............................72
replacing the batteries .............73
Roof rack ...................................143
S
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ............13, 89, 91±95, 97
Safety defects, reporting ..........242
Safety restraints ..............89, 91±98
belt minder .............................100
cleaning the safety
belts .................................104, 221
extension assembly ..................99
for adults .............................92±95
for children .....................112±113
lap belt ......................................97
warning light and chime .....9, 13,
100
Safety seats for children ..........114
Seat belts (see Safety
restraints) ....................................89
Seats ............................................84
child safety seats ....................114
cleaning ...........................220±221
SecuriLock passive anti-theft
system ..............................79±80, 82
Index
247

Servicing your vehicle ..............162
Spark plugs,
specifications .....................222, 226
Specification chart,
lubricants ...........................224, 226
Speed control ..............................53
Speedometer ...............................14
Starting your vehicle ........122, 124
jump starting ..........................156
Steering wheel
tilting .........................................58
T
Tachometer .................................15
Tires ...........................152, 188±190
changing ..........................152±153
checking the pressure ............190
replacing ..................................191
rotating ....................................190
snow tires and chains ............191
tire grades ...............................189
treadwear ................................189
Towing .......................................139
recreational towing .................142
trailer towing ..........................139
wrecker ....................................161
Traction control ..................52, 130
active light ..................................8
Transaxle
automatic operation ...............132
fluid, refill capacities ..............223
lubricant specifications ..........226
Transmission
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................178lubricant specifications ..........224
Trip odometer .............................16
Trunk .........................67, 69, 71, 83
remote release ..........................66
Turn signal ..............................8, 56
V
Vehicle dimensions ...................226
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................229
Vehicle loading ..........................137
Ventilating your vehicle ...........126
W
Warning chimes .....................13±14
Warning lights (see Lights) .........8
Washer fluid ..............................170
Water, Driving through .............138
Windows
power .........................................62
rear wiper/washer .....................57
Windshield washer fluid and
wipers
checking and adding fluid .....170
checking and cleaning ....187±188
liftgate reservoir .....................171
operation ...................................56
replacing wiper blades ...........188
Wrecker towing .........................161
Index
248