2002 FORD TAURUS towing

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.
If your vehicle is to be towed from the rear using wheel lift equipment, it
is recommended that the front wheels (drive wheels) be placed on a
dolly to prevent damage to the transaxle.
Roadside Emergencies
177

If your vehicle must be towed with the drive wheels on the ground:
²Place the transaxle in N (Neutral).
²DO NOT exceed the distance of 80 km (50 miles).
²DO NOT exceed the speed of 56 km/h (35 mph).
If the vehicle is towed by other means or incorrectly, vehicle
damage may occur.
Ford Motor Company provides 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
178

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
181

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).
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.
Maintenance and Specifications
221

high beam ...........................14, 52
replacing bulbs .........................58
turning on and off ....................51
warning chime ..........................15
Heating ........................................43
heating and air conditioning
system .......................................40
Hood ..........................................198
I
Ignition ...............................138, 236
Infant seats
(see Safety seats) .....................130
Inspection/maintenance
(I/M) testing ..............................223
Instrument panel
cleaning ...................................193
cluster ................................10, 193
lighting up panel
and interior ...............................52
J
Jack ............................................168
positioning ...............................168
storage .....................................168
Jump-starting your vehicle ......172
K
Keyless entry system .................91
autolock .....................................94
keypad .......................................91
locking and unlocking doors ....93
programming entry code .........92
Keys .................................94±95, 97
key in ignition chime ...............15
positions of the ignition .........138L
Lamps
autolamp system .......................51
bulb replacement
specifications chart ..................56
cargo lamps ...............................52
daytime running light ...............51
headlamps .................................51
headlamps, flash to pass ..........52
instrument panel, dimming .....52
interior lamps .....................54, 56
replacing
bulbs ..................56, 58, 60±62, 64
Lane change indicator
(see Turn signal) ........................54
Liftgate ..................................81, 88
Lights, warning and indicator ....10
air bag ........................................12
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ....12, 144
anti-theft ...................................14
brake ..........................................12
charging system ........................12
check coolant ............................14
cruise indicator .........................13
door ajar ....................................14
fuel cap light .............................11
high beam .................................14
low coolant ................................13
low fuel ......................................13
oil pressure ...............................13
safety belt .................................12
service engine soon ..................10
speed control ............................78
traction control active ..............13
turn signal indicator .................14
Load limits .................................153
GAWR ......................................153
GVWR ......................................153
trailer towing ..........................153
Index
246

SecuriLock passive
anti-theft system .............94±95, 97
Servicing your vehicle ..............197
Spark plugs,
specifications .....................232, 236
Specification chart,
lubricants ...........................234, 236
Speed control ..............................75
Speedometer ...............................17
Starting your vehicle ........138±140
jump starting ..........................172
Steering wheel
controls ................................68, 75
tilting .........................................68
T
Tachometer .................................18
Tires ...........................168, 228±229
changing ..........................168±169
checking the pressure ............229
replacing ..................................230
rotating ....................................230
snow tires and chains ............231
tire grades ...............................229
treadwear ................................228
Towing .......................................155
recreational towing .................158
trailer towing ..........................155
wrecker ....................................177
Traction control ........................146
active light ................................13
Transaxle
automatic operation ...............148
fluid, refill capacities ..............233
lubricant specifications ..........236Transmission
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................226
lubricant specifications ..........234
Trip odometer .............................18
Trunk .........................81, 84, 86, 88
remote release ..........................80
Turn signal ............................14, 54
V
Vehicle dimensions ...................236
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................239
Vehicle loading ..........................153
Ventilating your vehicle ...........143
W
Warning chimes .............14±15, 146
Warning lights
(see Lights) .................................10
Washer fluid ..............................201
Water, Driving through .............153
Windows
power .........................................69
rear wiper/washer .....................66
Windshield washer fluid
and wipers
checking and adding fluid .....201
checking and cleaning ........67±68
liftgate reservoir .....................202
operation ...................................66
replacing wiper blades .............67
Wrecker towing .........................177
Index
248