
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OPERATION
Brake-shift interlock
This vehicle is equipped with a brake-shift interlock feature that prevents
the gearshift lever from being moved from P (Park) when the ignition is
in the ON position unless brake pedal is depressed.
If you cannot move the gearshift lever out of P (Park) with ignition in
the ON position and the brake pedal depressed:
1. Apply the parking brake, turn ignition key to LOCK, then remove the
key.
2. Insert the key and turn it to OFF.Apply the brake pedal and shift
to N (Neutral).
3. Start the vehicle.
If it is necessary to use the above procedure to move the gearshift lever,
it is possible that a fuse has blown or the vehicle's brakelamps are not
operating properly. Refer toFuses and relaysin theRoadside
emergencieschapter.
Do not drive your vehicle until you verify that the brakelamps
are working.
If your vehicle gets stuck in mud or snow it may be rocked out by
shifting from forward and reverse gears, stopping between shifts, in a
steady pattern. Press lightly on the accelerator in each gear.
Do not rock the vehicle if the engine is not at normal operating
temperature or damage to the transmission may occur.
Do not rock the vehicle for more than a few minutes or damage
to the transmission and tires may occur or the engine may
overheat.
Always set the parking brake fully and make sure the gearshift is
latched in P (Park). Turn off the ignition whenever you leave
your vehicle.
If the parking brake is fully released, but the brake warning lamp
remains illuminated, the brakes may not be working properly.
See your dealer or a qualified service technician.
Driving
161

emission control, such non-Ford parts should be equivalent to genuine
Ford Motor Company parts in performance and durability.
Do not park, idle, or drive your vehicle in dry grass or other dry
ground cover. The emission system heats up the engine
compartment and exhaust system, which can start a fire.
Illumination of the ªCheck Engineº light, charging system warning light
or the temperature warning light, fluid leaks, strange odors, smoke or
loss of engine power, could indicate that the emission control system is
not working properly.
Exhaust leaks may result in entry of harmful and potentially
lethal fumes into the passenger compartment.
Do not make any unauthorized changes to your vehicle or engine. By
law, vehicle owners and anyone who manufactures, repairs, services,
sells, leases, trades vehicles, or supervises a fleet of vehicles are not
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 yourWarranty Guidefor 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 ªCheck Engine/Service Engine
Soonº light is on, refer to the description in theWarning lights and
chimessection of theInstrument Clusterchapter. Your vehicle may not
pass the I/M test with the ªCheck Engine/Service Engine Soonº light 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.
Maintenance and specifications
249

A
Accessory delay ..........................80
Air bag supplemental
restraint system ........132±133, 137
and child safety seats ............135
description ......................133, 137
disposal ....................................140
driver air bag ..................135, 138
indicator light ...........12, 137, 139
operation .........................135, 138
passenger air bag ...........135, 138
side air bag ..............................137
Air cleaner filter ...............254, 259
Air conditioning ..........................50
auxiliary heater and air
conditioner ................................55
manual heating and air
conditioning system .................47
Air suspension ...........................158
description ..............................158
warning light .............................12
Ambulance packages ....................7
Antifreeze
(see Engine coolant) ................234
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ..............................155
Anti-theft system
warning light .............................13
Armrests ....................................110
Automatic transmission
driving an automatic
overdrive .................................162
fluid, adding ............................252
fluid, checking ........................252
fluid, refill capacities ..............260
fluid, specification ..................265Auxiliary power point .................78
Axle
lubricant specifications ..263, 265
refill capacities ........................260
traction lok ..............................159
B
Battery .......................................231
acid, treating emergencies .....231
charging system
warning light .............................12
jumping a disabled battery ....202
maintenance-free ....................231
replacement, specifications ...259
servicing ..................................231
voltage gauge ............................16
Belt minder ...............................128
Brakes ........................................154
anti-lock ...................................155
anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light .....................11, 156
brake warning light ..................11
fluid, checking and adding ....251
fluid, refill capacities ..............260
fluid, specifications .........263, 265
lubricant specifications ..263, 265
parking ....................................156
pedals (see Power
adjustable foot pedals) ............82
shift interlock ..........................161
Break-in period .............................5
C
Capacities for refilling fluids ....260
Cassette tape player ...................18
CD changer .................................42
Certification Label ....................268
Index
273

E
Emergencies, roadside
jump-starting ..........................202
Emission control system ..........248
Engine ................................265±266
check engine/
service engine soon light .........10
cleaning ...................................219
coolant .....................................234
fail-safe coolant ......................238
idle speed control ...................231
lubrication
specifications ..................263, 265
refill capacities ........................260
service points ..........................227
starting after a collision .........187
Engine block heater .................153
Engine oil ..................................228
change oil soon warning,
message center .......................228
checking and adding ..............228
dipstick ....................................228
filter, specifications ........230, 259
recommendations ...................230
refill capacities ........................260
specifications ..................263, 265
Exhaust fumes ..........................154
F
Fail safe cooling ........................238
Floor mats ...................................93
Fluid capacities .........................260
Foglamps .....................................59
Four-Wheel Drive
vehicles ................................14, 167
control trac .............................167description ..............................167
driving off road .......................169
electronic shift ........................168
indicator light ...........................14
preparing to
drive your vehicle ...................160
Fuel ............................................240
calculating fuel economy .......245
cap ...........................................242
capacity ...................................260
choosing the right fuel ...........243
comparisons with EPA fuel
economy estimates .................248
detergent in fuel .....................244
filling your vehicle
with fuel ..................240, 242, 245
filter, specifications ........244, 259
fuel pump shut-off switch .....187
gauge .........................................16
improving fuel economy ........245
low fuel warning light ..............12
octane rating ...........243, 265±266
quality ......................................243
running out of fuel .................244
safety information relating
to automotive fuels ................240
Fuses ..................................189±190
G
Garage door opener ..............72, 86
Gas cap (see Fuel cap) ............242
Gas mileage
(see Fuel economy) .................245
Gauges .........................................14
battery voltage gauge ...............16
engine coolant
temperature gauge ...................15
engine oil pressure gauge ........15
fuel gauge ..................................16
Index
275

odometer ...................................17
speedometer .............................16
tachometer ................................17
trip odometer ............................17
GAWR
(Gross Axle Weight Rating) .....177
calculating ...............................179
definition .................................177
driving with a heavy load ......177
location ....................................177
GVWR (Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating) .............177
calculating .......................177, 179
definition .................................177
driving with a heavy load ......177
location ....................................177
H
Hazard flashers .........................187
Head restraints .................108, 113
Headlamps ...................................59
aiming ........................................61
autolamp system .......................59
bulb specifications ....................63
daytime running lights .............60
flash to pass ..............................60
high beam ...........................13, 60
replacing bulbs .........................64
turning on and off ....................59
warning chime ..........................14
Heating ........................................50
heating and
air conditioning system ............47
HomeLink universal
transceiver (see
Garage door opener) ............86±89
Hood ..........................................226I
Ignition .......................150, 265±266
Infant seats
(see Safety seats) .....................141
Inspection/
maintenance (I/M) testing .......249
Instrument panel
cleaning ...................................221
cluster ................................10, 222
lighting up
panel and interior .....................60
J
Jack ............................................196
positioning ...............................196
storage .....................................196
Jump-starting your vehicle ......202
K
Keyless entry system
autolock ...................................101
locking and unlocking doors ..103
programming entry code .......102
Keys ...................................104±106
key in ignition chime ...............14
positions of the ignition .........150
L
Lamps
autolamp system .......................59
bulb replacement
specifications chart ..................63
cargo lamps ...............................60
daytime running light ...............60
fog lamps ...................................59
headlamps .................................59
Index
276

headlamps, flash to pass ..........60
instrument panel, dimming .....60
interior lamps ...............61±62, 64
replacing bulbs .......62, 64, 66±68
Lane change indicator
(see Turn signal) ........................61
Liftgate ........................................93
Lights, warning and indicator ....10
air bag ........................................12
air suspension .........................159
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ....11, 156
anti-theft ...................................13
brake ..........................................11
charging system ........................12
check coolant ............................13
cruise indicator .........................12
door ajar ....................................13
engine oil pressure ...................13
high beam .................................13
low fuel ......................................12
low washer fluid .......................12
safety belt .................................11
service engine soon ..................10
speed control ............................86
turn signal indicator .................13
Load limits .................................177
GAWR ......................................177
GVWR ......................................177
trailer towing ..........................177
Loading instructions .................179
Locks
autolock ...................................101
childproof ..................................95
doors ..........................................95
Lubricant specifications ...263, 265
Lumbar support, seats .............110M
Message center .....................74, 90
english/metric button ...............90
menu button .............................91
Mirrors .........................................71
automatic dimming rearview
mirror ........................................80
fold away ...................................82
heated ........................................81
programmable memory ..........100
side view mirrors (power) .......80
Moon roof ....................................73
Motorcraft parts ................244, 259
O
Octane rating ............................243
Odometer .....................................17
Oil (see Engine oil) ..................228
Overdrive .....................................92
P
Panic alarm feature, remote
entry system ................................98
Parking brake ............................156
Parts (see Motorcraft parts) ....259
Pedals (see Power
adjustable foot pedals) ...............82
Power distribution box
(see Fuses) ...............................193
Power door locks ................95, 101
Power steering ..................157±158
fluid, checking and adding ....250
fluid, refill capacity ................260
fluid, specifications .........263, 265
Index
277

Preparing to drive
your vehicle ...............................160
R
Rear window defroster ...............58
Relays ................................189, 196
Remote entry system ...........96, 98
illuminated entry ....................100
locking/unlocking doors .....95±97
panic alarm ...............................98
replacement/additional
transmitters ...............................99
replacing the batteries .............98
Reverse sensing system ...........165
Roof rack .....................................94
S
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ............14, 120±124, 126
Safety defects, reporting ..........217
Safety restraints ................120±126
belt minder .............................128
cleaning the
safety belts ......................131, 223
extension assembly ................131
for adults .........................121±124
for children .............................140
lap belt ....................................126
warning light
and chime ............11, 14, 127±128
Safety seats for children ..........141
Seat belts
(see Safety restraints) .............120
Seats ..........................................108
child safety seats ....................141
cleaning ...................................222memory seat ...................100, 112
SecuriLock passive
anti-theft system ...............104±106
Servicing your vehicle ..............225
Snowplowing .................................7
Spark plugs,
specifications .............259, 265±266
Special notice
ambulance conversions ..............7
utility-type vehicles ....................7
Specification chart,
lubricants ...........................263, 265
Speed control ..............................83
Speedometer ...............................16
Starting
your vehicle ...............150±151, 153
jump starting ..........................202
Steering
speed sensitive .......................158
Steering wheel
controls ................................71, 83
tilting .........................................71
T
Tachometer .................................17
Tires ...........................196, 255±257
changing ..........................196, 198
checking the pressure ............257
replacing ..................................258
rotating ....................................257
snow tires and chains ............259
tire grades ...............................256
treadwear ................................256
Towing .......................................180
recreational towing .................185
trailer towing ..........................180
Index
278

wrecker ....................................207
Traction-lok rear axle ...............159
Transmission .............................161
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................252
fluid, refill capacities ..............260
lubricant specifications ..263, 265
Trip odometer .............................17
Turn signal ............................13, 61
V
Vehicle dimensions ...................266
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................268
Vehicle loading ..........................177
Ventilating your vehicle ...........154W
Warning chimes ...........................14
Warning lights (see Lights) .......10
Washer fluid ..............................228
Water, Driving through .............176
Windows
power .........................................79
rear wiper/washer .....................69
Windshield washer fluid and
wipers
checking and adding fluid .....228
checking and cleaning ..............70
liftgate reservoir .....................228
operation ...................................69
replacing wiper blades .............70
Wrecker towing .........................207
Index
279