
When backing down a ramp during boat launching or retrieval:
²do not allow the static water level to rise above the bottom edge of
the rear bumper.
²do not allow waves to break higher than 15 cm (6 inches) above the
bottom edge of the rear bumper.
Exceeding these limits may allow water to enter vehicle components:
²causing internal damage to the components.
²affecting driveability, emissions and reliability.
Replace the rear axle lubricant any time the axle has been submerged in
water. Rear axle lubricant quantities are not to be checked or changed
unless a leak is suspected or repair required.
RECREATIONAL TOWING (ALL WHEELS ON THE GROUND)
Follow these guidelines for your specific powertrain combination to tow
your vehicle with all four wheels on the ground (such as behind a
recreational vehicle).
These guidelines are designed to ensure that your transmission is not
damaged due to insufficient lubrication.
All Rear Wheel Drive (RWD) vehicles
This applies to all cars and 4x2 trucks/sport utilities with rear wheel
drive capability.
An example of recreational towing is towing your vehicle behind a
motorhome. The following recreational towing guidelines are designed to
ensure that your transmission is not damaged.
²Place the transmission in N (Neutral)
²Maximum speed is 56 km/h (35 mph)
²Maximum distance is 80 km (50 miles)
If a distance of 80 km (50 miles) or a speed of 56 km/h (35 mph) must
be exceeded, you must disconnect the driveshaft. Ford recommends the
driveshaft be removed/installed only by a qualified technician. See your
local dealer for driveshaft removal/installation.
Improper removal/installation of the driveshaft can cause
transmission fluid loss, damage to the driveshaft and internal
transmission components.
Driving
155 

GETTING ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE
To fully assist you should you have a vehicle concern, Ford Motor
Company offers a complimentary roadside assistance program. This
program is separate from the New Vehicle Limited Warranty. The service
is available:
²24±hours, seven days a week
²for the New Vehicle Limited Warranty period of three years or 60,000
km (36,000 miles), whichever occurs first on Ford and Mercury
vehicles, and four years or 80,000 km (50,000 miles) on Lincoln
vehicles.
Roadside assistance will cover:
²changing a flat tire.
²jump-starts.
²lock-out assistance.
²limited fuel delivery.
²towing of your disabled vehicle to the nearest Ford Motor Company
dealership, or your selling dealer if within 56.3 km (35 miles) of the
nearest Ford Motor Company dealership (one tow per disablement).
Even non-warranty related tows, like accidents or getting stuck in the
mud or snow, are covered (some exclusions apply, such as impound
towing or repossession).
Canadian customers refer to your Owner Information Guide for
information on:
²Coverage period
²Exact fuel amounts
²Towing of your disabled vehicle
²Emergency travel expense reimbursement
²Travel planning benefits
USING ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE
Complete the roadside assistance identification card and place it in your
wallet for quick reference. In the United States, this card is found in the
Owner Guide portfolio in the glove compartment in Ford vehicles and is
mailed to you if you own a Mercury or Lincoln. In Canada, the card is
found in the Owner Information Guide in the glove compartment.
Roadside Emergencies
156 

1. Park on a level surface, activate
hazard flashers and set parking
brake.
2. Place gearshift lever in P (Park),
turn engine OFF and block the
diagonally opposite wheel.
3. Remove the spare tire and the
jack. The jack could be located:
²A Ð under the spare tire or
²B Ð in the wheel well
On vehicles equipped with
Air Suspension, turn OFF
the Air Suspension switch prior to
jacking, hoisting or towing your
vehicle.
Refer toAir suspension systemin
theDrivingchapter of theOwner's
Guidefor more information.
HOOD
B
A
OFF
Roadside Emergencies
166 

WRECKER TOWING
If you need to have your vehicle towed, contact a professional towing
service or, if you are a member, your roadside assistance center.
It is recommended that your vehicle be towed with a wheel lift or flatbed
equipment. Do not tow with a slingbelt. Ford Motor Company has not
approved a slingbelt towing procedure.
Before your vehicle can be towed, the air suspension control in the
luggage compartment must be turned to the OFF position (if equipped).
If the vehicle is towed by other means or incorrectly, vehicle
damage may occur.
Ford Motor Company produces a towing manual for all authorized tow
truck operators. Have your tow truck operator refer to this manual for
proper hook-up and towing procedures for your vehicle.
Roadside Emergencies
174 

In some states (in the U.S.) you must directly notify Ford in writing
before pursuing remedies under your state's warranty laws. Ford is also
allowed a final repair attempt in some states.
In the United States, a warranty dispute must be submitted to the
Dispute Settlement Board before taking action under the Magnuson-Moss
Warranty Act, or to the extent allowed by state law, before pursuing
replacement or repurchase remedies provided by certain state laws. This
dispute handling procedure is not required prior to enforcing state
created rights or other rights which are independent of the
Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act or state replacement or repurchase laws.
FORD EXTENDED SERVICE PLAN
You can get more protection for your new car or light truck by
purchasing Ford Extended Service Plan (Ford ESP) coverage. Ford ESP
is an optional service contract which is backed by Ford Motor Company
or Ford Motor Service Company (in the U.S.) and Ford of Canada (in
Canada). It provides the following:
²Benefits during the warranty period depending on the plan you
purchase (such as: reimbursement for rentals; coverage for certain
maintenance and wear items).
²Protection against covered repair costs after your Bumper-to-Bumper
Warranty expires.
You may purchase Ford ESP from any participating Ford and Lincoln
Mercury and Ford of Canada dealer. There are several plans available in
various time, distance and deductible combinations which can be tailored
to fit your own driving needs. Ford ESP also offers reimbursement
benefits for towing and rental coverage.
When you buy Ford ESP, you receive Peace-of-Mind protection
throughout the United States and Canada, provided by a network of
more than 5,000 participating Ford or Lincoln Mercury and Ford of
Canada dealers.
If you did not take advantage of the Ford Extended Service Plan at the
time of purchasing your vehicle, you may still be eligible. Please contact
your dealer for further information. Since this information is subject to
change, please ask your dealer for complete details about Ford Extended
Service Plan coverage options, or visit the Ford ESP website at
www.ford-esp.com.
Customer Assistance
177 

Habits
²Smooth, moderate operation can yield up to 10% savings in fuel.
²Steady speeds without stopping will usually give the best fuel
economy.
²Idling for long periods of time (greater than one minute) may waste
fuel.
²Anticipate stopping; slowing down may eliminate the need to stop.
²Sudden or hard accelerations may reduce fuel economy.
²Slow down gradually.
²Driving at reasonable speeds (traveling at 88 km/h [55 mph] uses 15%
less fuel than traveling at 105 km/h [65 mph]).
²Revving the engine before turning it off may reduce fuel economy.
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.
²Use recommended engine oil. Refer toLubricant specificationsin
this chapter.
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).
Maintenance and Specifications
212 

GVWR ......................................151
trailer towing ..........................151
Locks
autolock .....................................97
childproof ..................................91
doors ..........................................91
Lubricant specifications ...226, 228
Lumbar support, seats .............106
M
Message center ...........................83
reset button ..............................84
select button .............................84
Mirrors
automatic dimming rearview
mirror ........................................76
fold away ...................................76
heated ........................................76
side view mirrors (power) .......75
Motorcraft parts ................210, 224
O
Octane rating ............................209
Odometer .....................................20
Oil (see Engine oil) ..................193
Overdrive .............................87, 148
P
Panic alarm feature, remote
entry system ................................95
Parking brake ............................143
Parts (see Motorcraft parts) ....224
Passenger Occupant
Classification Sensor .................110Pedals (see Power adjustable
foot pedals) .................................78
Power distribution box
(see Fuses) ...............................162
Power door locks ..................91, 97
Power mirrors .............................75
Power point .................................74
Power steering ..................145±146
fluid, checking and adding ....215
fluid, refill capacity ................225
fluid, specifications .................226
Power Windows ...........................74
R
Radio ............................................26
Radio reception ...........................53
Rear window defroster ...............62
Relays ................................159, 164
Remote entry system ...........93, 95
illuminated entry ......................97
locking/unlocking
doors ..............................91, 93±94
opening the trunk .....................95
panic alarm ...............................95
replacement/additional
transmitters ...............................96
replacing the batteries .............95
Roadside assistance ..................156
S
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ............16, 108, 112±116
Safety defects, reporting ..........183
Safety restraints ........108, 112±116
belt minder .............................118
Index
237 

cleaning the safety
belts .................................122, 189
extension assembly ................121
for adults .........................113±115
for children .............................127
lap belt ....................................116
Occupant Classification
Sensor ......................................110
warning light and
chime ...................13, 16, 117±118
Safety seats for children ..........130
Seat belts (see Safety
restraints) ..................................108
Seats ..........................................104
child safety seats ....................130
cleaning ...................................188
SecuriLock passive anti-theft
system ................................100±102
Servicing your vehicle ..............191
Spare tire (see Changing the
Tire) ...........................................164
Spark plugs,
specifications .....................224, 228
Specification chart,
lubricants ...........................226, 228
Speed control ..............................79
Speedometer ...............................20
Starting your vehicle ........137±139
jump starting ..........................169
Steering
speed sensitive .......................146
Steering wheel
controls ..........................73, 79, 83
tilting .........................................73T
Tires ...........................164, 220±221
changing ..........................164±165
checking the pressure ............221
replacing ..................................223
rotating ....................................221
snow tires and chains ............224
tire grades ...............................221
treadwear ................................220
Towing .......................................152
recreational towing .................155
trailer towing ..........................152
wrecker ....................................174
Traction control ........................144
active light ................................14
Traction-lok rear axle ...............150
Transmission .............................146
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................216
fluid, refill capacities ..............225
lubricant specifications ..226, 228
Trip odometer .............................21
Trunk ...........................................92
remote release ....................89, 95
Turn signal ............................15, 65
V
Vehicle dimensions ...................228
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................230
Vehicle loading ..........................151
Ventilating your vehicle ...........141
Index
238