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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).
²Adding certain accessories to your vehicle (for example bug
deflectors, rollbars/light bars, running boards, ski/luggage racks) may
reduce fuel economy.
²To maximize the fuel economy, drive with the tonneau cover installed
(if equipped).
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.
Maintenance and Specifications
279
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INFORMATION ABOUT UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY GRADING
New vehicles are fitted with tires
that have a rating on them called
Tire Quality Grades. The Quality
grades can be found where
applicable on the tire sidewall
between tread shoulder and
maximum section width. For
example:
²Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
These Tire Quality Grades are determined by standards that the United
States Department of Transportation has set.
Tire Quality Grades apply to new pneumatic tires for use on passenger
cars. They do not apply to deep tread, winter-type snow tires,
space-saver or temporary use spare tires, tires with nominal rim
diameters of 10 to 12 inches or limited production tires as defined in
Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations Part 575.104(c)(2).
U.S. Department of Transportation-Tire quality grades:The U.S.
Department of Transportation requires Ford to give you the following
information about tire grades exactly as the government has written it.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate of
the tire when tested under controlled conditions on a specified
government test course. For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one
and one-half (1 1/2) times as well on the government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative performance of tires depends upon the actual
conditions of their use, however, and may depart significantly from the
norm due to variations in driving habits, service practices, and
differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction AA A B C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest are AA, A, B, and C. The
grades represent the tire's ability to stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on specified government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.
Maintenance and Specifications
290
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Replacing the tires
Replace the tires when the wear
band is visible through the tire
treads.
When replacing full size tires, never mix radial bias-belted, or
bias-type tires. Use only the tire sizes that are listed on the
Certification Label. Make sure that all tires are the same size, speed
rating, and load-carrying capacity. Use only the tire combinations
recommended on the label. If you do not follow these precautions,
your vehicle may not drive properly and safely.
Make sure that all replacement tires are of the same size, type,
load-carrying capacity and tread design (e.g., ªAll Terrainº, etc.),
as originally offered by Ford.
Do not replace your tires with ªhigh performanceº tires or larger
size tires.
Failure to follow these precautions may adversely affect the
handling of the vehicle and make it easier for the driver to lose
control and roll over.
Tires that are larger or smaller than your vehicle's original tires may also
affect the accuracy of your speedometer.
Maintenance and Specifications
293
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Preparing to drive
your vehicle ...............................174
R
Relays ........................................213
Remote entry system .......108, 110
illuminated entry ....................112
locking/unlocking
doors ........................106, 109±110
panic alarm .............................110
replacement/additional
transmitters .............................111
replacing the batteries ...........111
S
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ....15, 130±131, 133±136
Safety defects, reporting ..........242
Safety restraints ...............130±131,
133±136
belt minder .............................140
cleaning the safety
belts .................................144, 251
extension assembly ................144
for adults .................131, 133±135
for children .............................154
lap belt ....................................138
warning light and
chime ...........................13, 15, 139
Safety seats for children ..........155
Seat belts
(see Safety restraints) .............130
Seats ..........................................120
child safety seats ....................155
cleaning ...................................249
SecuriLock passive
anti-theft system ...............116±118
Servicing your vehicle ..............253Snowplowing ............. 6±7, 206±208
Spark plugs,
specifications .............294, 301±302
Special notice
ambulance conversions ..............7
four-wheel drive vehicles .......209
utility-type vehicles ....................7
Specification chart,
lubricants ...........................299, 301
Speed control ..............................88
Speedometer ...............................18
Starting your vehicle .......165±166,
168
jump starting ..........................226
Steering wheel
controls ................................77, 88
tilting .........................................77
T
Tachometer .................................19
Tailgate ........................................98
Temperature control
(see Climate control) .................54
Tires ...........................220, 290±291
changing ..........................220, 222
checking the pressure ............291
replacing ..................................293
rotating ....................................292
snow tires and chains ............294
tire grades ...............................291
treadwear ................................290
Tonneau cover ...................101, 105
Towing .......................................199
recreational towing .................206
trailer towing ..........................199
wrecker ....................................231
Index
318