2002 FORD TAURUS air condition

²(Floor)-Distributes outside air through the floor ducts. Heating
and air conditioning capabilities are provided in this mode. The air will
be heated or cooled based on temperature selection.
²
(Panel and floor) -Distributes outside air through the instrument
panel registers and the floor ducts. Heating and air conditioning
capabilities are provided in this mode. The air will be heated or cooled
based on the temperature selection. For added customer comfort, the
air distributed through the floor ducts will be slightly warmer than the
air sent to the instrument panel registers.
²
(Panel)-Distributes outside air through the instrument panel
registers. However, the air cannot be cooled below the outside
temperature because the air conditioning does not operate in this
mode.
²MAX A/C-Uses recirculated air to cool the vehicle. The temperature
will remain unchanged and air will be cooled based on the selected
temperature. To exit, press AUTOMATIC or any other override
controls. MAX A/C is noisier than normal A/C but more economical
and will cool the inside of the vehicle faster. Airflow is from the
instrument panel registers. This mode can also be used to prevent
undesirable odors from entering the vehicle.
²OFF-Outside air is shut out and the fan will not operate. For short
periods of time only, use this mode to reduce undesirable odors from
entering the vehicle.
Displaying outside temperature
Press OUTSIDE TEMP to display
the outside air temperature. It will
be displayed until OUTSIDE TEMP
is pressed again or until any other
control is pressed. When the EATC
system is off and OUTSIDE TEMP is
pressed, the outside temperature
will only be displayed for four
seconds.
The outside temperature reading is most accurate when the vehicle is
moving. Higher readings may be obtained when the vehicle is not
moving. The readings that you get may not agree with temperatures
given on the radio due to differences in vehicle and station locations.
AUTO
TEMPOFFTEMP
MAX
A/C
OUTSIDE
Climate Controls
48

Operating tips
²In humid weather conditions, place the climate control system in
F
before driving. This will reduce fogging on your windshield.
Once the windshield has been cleared, operate the climate control
system as desired.
²To reduce humidity buildup inside the vehicle in cold weather
conditions, don't drive with the climate control system in the OFF or
MAX A/C position.
²To reduce humidity buildup inside the vehicle in warm weather
conditions, don't drive with the climate control system in the OFF
position.
²Under normal weather conditions, your vehicle's climate control
system should be left in any position other than MAX A/C or OFF
when the vehicle is parked. This allows the vehicle to ªbreatheº
through the outside air inlet duct.
²Under snowy or dirty weather conditions, your vehicle's climate
control system should be left in the OFF position when the vehicle is
parked. This allows the climate control system to be free from
contamination of outside pollutants.
²If your vehicle has been parked with the windows closed during warm
weather conditions, the air conditioner will perform more efficiently in
cooling the vehicle if driven for two or three minutes with the
windows open. This will force most of the hot, stale air out of the
vehicle. Once the vehicle has been ªaired outº, operate the climate
control system as desired.
²Do not place objects under the front seat that will interfere with the
airflow to the rear seats.
²Remove any snow, ice or leaves from the air intake area at the base of
the windshield.
²Do not place objects over the defroster outlets. These objects can
block airflow and reduce your ability to see through your windshield.
Avoid placing small objects on top of the instrument panel. These
objects may fall down into the defroster outlets and block airflow, in
addition to damaging the climate control system.
Do not place objects on top of the instrument panel, as these
objects may become projectiles in a collision or sudden stop.
Climate Controls
49

MIRRORS
Automatic dimming inside rear view mirror (if equipped)
Your vehicle is equipped with an
inside rear view mirror which has an
auto-dimming function. The
electronic day/night mirror will
change from the normal state to the
non-glare state when bright lights
(glare) reach the mirror. When the mirror detects bright light from front
or behind, it will automatically adjust (darken) to minimize glare.
Do not block the sensor on the backside of the mirror since this may
impair proper mirror performance.
Press the control to turn the mirror OFF or AUTO.
The mirror will automatically return to the normal state whenever the
vehicle is placed in R (Reverse)(when the mirror is on) to ensure a
bright clear view when backing up.
Electronic compass (if equipped)
The compass reading will remain accurate during most driving
conditions. Unknown to the driver, the compass is continuously
recalibrating due to magnetic fields and subtle, slow changes in vehicle
magnetics which can occur over the life of the vehicle.
The compass reading will remain fixed when significant changes in the
local magnetic field are experienced (such as steel bridges). The
compass will return to normal operation upon leaving the magnetized
area.
If highly magnetized items (such as magnetic mount antennas) are
placed very near the compass the display will change to ªCº for 15
seconds, then display all segments until the magnetized item is removed.
If a ªCº is displayed, refer toCompass calibration adjustment.
Most geographic areas (zones) have a magnetic north compass point that
varies slightly from the northerly direction on maps. This variation is four
degrees between adjacent zones and will become noticeable as the
vehicle crosses multiple zones. A correct zone setting will eliminate this
error. Refer toCompass zone adjustment.
OFF AUTO
Driver Controls
71

3. Lift the remote latch release on
the left side of the compartment
and fold the remaining floor panel
until it latches. Make sure the
seatback is locked in the upright
position.
To close the seat, make sure the safety belts are properly stowed, then
lift the remote latch release and push the seat down until it latches. Pull
up on the handle and push the floor panel into place.
SAFETY RESTRAINTS
Personal Safety System
The Personal Safety System provides an improved overall level of frontal
crash protection to front seat occupants and is designed to help further
reduce the risk of air bag-related injuries. The system is able to analyze
different occupant conditions and crash severity before activating the
appropriate safety devices to help better protect a range of occupants in
a variety of frontal crash situations.
Your vehicle's Personal Safety System consists of:
²Driver and passenger dual-stage air bag supplemental restraints.
²Front safety belts with pretensioners, energy management retractors,
and safety belt usage sensors.
²Driver's seat position sensor.
²Front crash severity sensor.
²Restraints Control Module (RCM) with impact and safing sensors.
²Restraint system warning light and back-up tone.
²The electrical wiring for the air bags, crash sensor(s), safety belt
pretensioners, front safety belt usage sensors, driver seat position
sensor, and indicator lights.
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105

How does the personal safety system work?
The Personal Safety System can adapt the deployment strategy of your
vehicle's safety devices according to crash severity and occupant
conditions. A collection of crash and occupant sensors provides
information to the Restraints Control Module (RCM). During a crash, the
RCM activates the safety belt pretensioners and/or either one or both
stages of the dual-stage air bag supplemental restraints based on crash
severity and occupant conditions.
The fact that the pretensioners or air bags did not activate for both front
seat occupants in a collision does not mean that something is wrong with
the system. Rather, it means the Personal Safety System determined the
accident conditions (crash severity, belt usage, etc.) were not
appropriate to activate these safety devices. Front air bags and
pretensioners are designed to activate only in frontal and near-frontal
collisions, not rollovers, side-impacts, or rear-impacts unless the collision
causes sufficient longitudinal deceleration.
Driver and passenger dual-stage air bag supplemental restraints
The dual-stage air bags offer the capability to tailor the level of air bag
inflation energy. A lower, less forceful energy level is provided for more
common, moderate-severity impacts. A higher energy level is used for
the most severe impacts. Refer toAir bag Supplemental Restraints
section in this chapter.
Front crash severity sensor
The front crash severity sensor enhances the ability to detect the
severity of an impact. Positioned up front, it provides valuable
information early in the crash event on the severity of the impact. This
allows your Personal Safety System to distinguish between different
levels of crash severity and modify the deployment strategy of the
dual-stage air bags and safety belt pretensioners.
Driver's seat position sensor
The driver's seat position sensor allows your Personal Safety System to
tailor the deployment level of the driver dual-stage air bag based on seat
position. The system is designed to help protect smaller drivers sitting
close to the driver air bag by providing a lower air bag output level.
Front safety belt usage sensors
The front safety belt usage sensors detect whether or not the driver and
front outboard passenger safety belts are fastened. This information
Seating and Safety Restraints
106

allows your Personal Safety System to tailor the air bag deployment and
safety belt pretensioner activation depending upon safety belt usage.
Refer toSafety Beltsection in this chapter.
Front safety belt pretensioners
The safety belt pretensioners are designed to tighten the safety belts
firmly against the occupant's body during a collision. This maximizes the
effectiveness of the safety belts and helps properly position the occupant
relative to the air bag to improve protection. The safety belt
pretensioners can be either activated alone or, if the collision is of
sufficient severity, together with the air bags.
Front safety belt energy management retractors
The front safety belt energy management retractors allow webbing to be
pulled out of the retractor in a gradual and controlled manner in
response to the occupant's forward momentum. This helps reduce the
risk of force-related injuries to the occupant's chest by limiting the load
on the occupant. Refer toSafety Beltsection in this chapter.
Determining if the Personal Safety System is operational
The Personal Safety System uses a warning light in the instrument
cluster or a back-up tone to indicate the condition of the system. Refer
to theWarning Lightsection in theInstrument Clusterchapter.
Routine maintenance of the Personal Safety System is not required.
The Restraints Control Module (RCM) monitors its own internal circuits
and the circuits for the air bag supplemental restraints, crash sensor(s),
safety belt pretensioners, front safety belt buckle sensors, and the driver
seat position sensor. In addition, the RCM also monitors the restraints
warning light in the instrument cluster. A difficulty with the system is
indicated by one or more of the following.
²The warning light will either flash or stay lit.
²The warning light will not illuminate immediately after ignition is
turned on.
²A series of five beeps will be heard. The tone pattern will repeat
periodically until the problem and warning light are repaired.
If any of these things happen, even intermittently, have the Personal
Safety System serviced at your dealership or by a qualified technician
immediately. Unless serviced, the system may not function properly in
the event of a collision.
Seating and Safety Restraints
107

The air bag supplemental restraints are an intergral part of the Personal
Safety System. They are designed to be deployed in cases where the
Personal Safety System has determined the occupant conditions and
crash severity are appropriate to activate these devices. Refer to the
Personal Safety Systemsection in this chapter.
Important supplemental restraint system precautions
Air bags DO NOT inflate slowly or
gently and the risk of injury from a
deploying air bag is greatest close to
the trim covering the air bag
module.
All occupants of the vehicle, including the driver, should always
properly wear their safety belts, even when an air bag (SRS) is
provided.
Always transport children 12 years old and under in the back
seat and always properly use appropriate child restraints.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
recommends a minimum distance of at least 25 cm (10 inches)
between an occupant's chest and the driver air bag module.
Never place your arm over the air bag module as a deploying air
bag can result in serious arm fractures or other injuries.
Seating and Safety Restraints
122

How do the air bag supplemental restraints work?
The air bags inflate and deflate
rapidly upon activation. After air bag
deployment, it is normal to notice a
smoke-like, powdery residue or
smell the burnt propellant. This may
consist of cornstarch, talcum
powder (to lubricate the bag) or
sodium compounds (e.g., baking
soda) that result from the
combustion process that inflates the
air bag. Small amounts of sodium
hydroxide may be present which
may irritate the skin and eyes, but
none of the residue is toxic.
While the system is designed to help
reduce serious injuries, contact with
a deploying air bag may also cause abrasions, swelling or temporary
hearing loss. Because air bags must inflate rapidly and with considerable
force, there is the risk of death or serious injuries such as fractures,
facial and eye injuries or internal injuries, particularly to occupants who
are not properly restrained or are otherwise out of position at the time
of air bag deployment. Thus, it is extremely important that occupants be
properly restrained as far away from the air bag module as possible while
maintaining vehicle control.
Several air bag system components get hot after inflation. Do not
touch them after inflation.
If the air bag has deployed,the air bag will not function
again and must be replaced immediately.If the air bag is not
replaced, the unrepaired area will increase the risk of injury in a
collision.
Determining if the system is operational
The supplemental restraint system uses a warning indicator in the
instrument cluster or a back-up tone to indicate the condition of the
system. Refer to theWarning lightsection in theInstrument cluster
chapter. Routine maintenance of the air bag is not required.
Seating and Safety Restraints
125