
If your battery has a cover/shield, make sure it is reinstalled
after the battery has been cleaned or replaced.
For longer, trouble-free operation, keep the top of the battery clean and
dry. Also, make certain the battery cables are always tightly fastened to
the battery terminals.
If you see any corrosion on the battery or terminals, remove the cables
from the terminals and clean with a wire brush. You can neutralize the
acid with a solution of baking soda and water.
Batteries normally produce explosive gases which can cause
personal injury. Therefore, do not allow flames, sparks or lighted
substances to come near the battery. When working near the battery,
always shield your face and protect your eyes. Always provide proper
ventilation.
When lifting a plastic-cased battery, excessive pressure on the
end walls could cause acid to flow through the vent caps,
resulting in personal injury and/or damage to the vehicle or battery.
Lift the battery with a battery carrier or with your hands on opposite
corners.
Keep batteries out of reach of children. Batteries contain sulfuric
acid. Avoid contact with skin, eyes or clothing. Shield your eyes
when working near the battery to protect against possible splashing of
acid solution. In case of acid contact with skin or eyes, flush
immediately with water for a minimum of 15 minutes and get prompt
medical attention. If acid is swallowed, call a physician immediately.
Battery posts, terminals and related accessories contain lead and
lead compounds.Wash hands after handling.
Because your vehicle's engine is electronically controlled by a computer,
some control conditions are maintained by power from the battery. When
the battery is disconnected or a new battery is installed, the engine must
relearn its idle and fuel trim strategy for optimum driveability and
performance. To begin this process:
1. With the vehicle at a complete stop, set the parking brake.
Maintenance and care
186

Follow these guidelines when using snow tires and chains:
²Use only cable type chains offered by Ford as an accessory or
equivalent. SAE class ªSº or other conventional link type chains may
cause damage to the vehicle's wheel house and/or body.
²Install cable chains securely, verifying that the cables do not touch any
wiring, brake lines or fuel lines.
²Drive cautiously. If you hear the cables rub or bang against your
vehicle, stop and re-tighten the cables. If this does not work, remove
the cables to prevent damage to your vehicle.
²If possible, avoid fully loading your vehicle.
²Remove the tire cables when they are no longer needed. Do not use
tire cables on dry roads.
²The suspension insulation and bumpers will help prevent vehicle
damage. Do not remove these components from your vehicle when
using snow tires and cables.
²Do not exceed 48 km/h (30 mph) with tire cables on your vehicle.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT AUTOMOTIVE FUELS
Important safety precautions
Do not overfill the fuel tank. The pressure in an overfilled tank
may cause leakage and lead to fuel spray and fire.
The fuel system may be under pressure. If the fuel filler cap is
venting vapor or if you hear a hissing sound, wait until it stops
before completely removing the fuel filler cap. Otherwise, fuel may
spray out and injure you or others.
If you do not use the proper fuel filler cap, excessive pressure or
vacuum in the fuel tank may damage the fuel system or cause
the fuel cap to disengage in a collision, which may result in possible
personal injury.
Automotive fuels can cause serious injury or death if misused or
mishandled.
Maintenance and care
192

The fuel system may be under pressure. If the fuel filler cap is
venting vapor or if you hear a hissing sound, wait until it stops
before completely removing the fuel filler cap. Otherwise, fuel may
spray out and injure you or others.
If you do not use the proper fuel filler cap, excessive pressure or
vacuum in the fuel tank may damage the fuel system or cause
the fuel cap to disengage in a collision, which may result in possible
personal injury.
Choosing the right fuel
Use only UNLEADED FUEL. The use of leaded fuel is prohibited by law
and could damage your vehicle.
If your vehicle is a flexible fuel vehicle (FFV), use only UNLEADED
FUEL and ETHANOL(E85). The use of leaded fuel is prohibited by law
and could damage your vehicle.
Do not use fuel containing methanol. It can damage critical fuel system
components.
Your vehicle was not designed to use fuel or fuel additives with metallic
compounds, including manganese-based compounds containing MMT.
Repairs to correct the effects of using a fuel for which your vehicle was
not designed may not be covered by your warranty.
Octane recommendations
Do not be concerned if your engine
sometimes knocks lightly. However,
if it knocks heavily under most
driving conditions while you are
using fuel with the recommended
octane rating, see your dealer or a qualified service technician to prevent
any engine damage.
Unleaded Gasoline engines
Your vehicle is designed to use ªRegularº unleaded gasoline with an
(R+M)/2 octane rating of 87. We do not recommend the use of gasolines
labeled as ªRegularº that are sold with octane ratings of 86 or lower in
high altitude areas.
87(R+M)/2 METHOD
Maintenance and care
196

²Using the air conditioner or defroster may reduce fuel economy.
²You may want to turn off the speed control in hilly terrain if
unnecessary shifting between third and fourth gear occurs.
Unnecessary shifting of this type could result in reduced fuel
economy.
²Warming up a vehicle on cold mornings is not required and may
reduce fuel economy.
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.
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.
Maintenance and care
201

Cleaning the exterior lamps
Wash with the same detergent as the exterior of your vehicle. If
necessary, use a tar remover such as Ford Extra Strength Tar and Road
Oil Remover (B7A-19520±AA).
To avoid scratching the lamps, do not use a dry paper towel, chemical
solvents or abrasive cleaners.
Cleaning the windshield, wiper blades and rear window
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 or rear window such as tree sap and some
hot wax treatments used by commercial car washes. Clean the outside of
the windshield or rear window with a non-abrasive cleaner such as Ford
Ultra-Clear Spray Glass Cleaner, (E4AZ-19C507±AA), available from your
Ford Dealer.Do notuse abrasive cleansers on glass as they may cause
scratches. The windshield or rear window is clean if beads do not form
when you rinse it with water. The windshield, rear window and wiper
blades should be cleaned on a regular basis, and blades or rubber
elements replaced when worn.
Cleaning the engine
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 a hot engine with cold water to avoid cracking the
engine block or other engine components.
²Cover the highlighted areas to prevent water damage when cleaning
the engine.
Maintenance and care
218

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

Item Information
Required fuel Refer to9Octane
recommendations9in the
Maintenance and carechapter.
Fuel tank capacity 68.1L (18 gallons)
Engine oil capacity (including filter
change)-3.0L V6 Vulcan engine4.25L (4.5 quarts). Use Motorcraft
SAE 5W-20 Super Premium Motor
Oil, Ford specification
WSS-M2C153-H.
Engine oil capacity (including filter
change)-3.0L DOHC V6 Duratec
engine5.2L (5.5 quarts). Use Motorcraft
SAE 5W-20 Super Premium Motor
Oil, Ford specification
WSS-M2C153-H.
Tire size and pressure Refer to Certification Label located
on driver's side door panel. Inflate
temporary spare to 414 kPa (60
psi).
Hood release Pull handle under the left side of
the instrument panel.
Coolant capacity (3.0L V6 Vulcan
engine)
111.0L (11.6 quarts)
Coolant capacity (3.0L DOHC V6
Duratec engine)
110.0L (10.6 quarts)
Power steering fluid capacity-3.0L
V6 Vulcan engineKeep in FULL range on dipstick.
Power steering fluid capacity-3.0L
DOHC V6 Duratec engineFill to line on reservoir.
Automatic transaxle capacity
(4F50N)-3.0L V6 Vulcan engine
212.8L (13.5 quarts). Use
Motorcraft MERCONtV ATF.
Automatic transaxle capacity
(4F50N)-3.0L DOHC V6 Duratec
engine
2
12.7L (13.4 quarts). Use
Motorcraft MERCONtV ATF.
Automatic transaxle capacity
(AX4S)-3.0L V6 Vulcan engine
211.6L (12.2. quarts). Use
Motorcraft MERCONtV ATF.
Filling station information
255