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Board membership
The Board consists of:
²three consumer representatives
²a Ford or Lincoln Mercury dealership representative
Consumer candidates for Board membership are recruited and trained by
an independent consulting firm. The dealership Board member is chosen
from Ford and Lincoln Mercury dealership management, recognized for
their business leadership qualities.
What the Board needs
To have your case reviewed you must complete the application in the
DSB brochure and mail it to the address provided on the application
form. Some states will require you to use certified mail, with return
receipt requested.
Your application is reviewed and, if it is determined to be eligible, you
will receive an acknowledgment indicating:
²The file number assigned to your application.
²The toll-free phone number of the DSB's independent administrator.
Your dealership and a Ford Motor Company representative will then be
asked to submit statements.
To properly review your case, the Board needs the following information:
²Legible copies of all documents and maintenance or repair orders
relevant to the case.
²The year, make, model, and Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) listed
on your vehicle ownership license.
²The date of repair(s) and mileage at the time of occurrence(s).
²The current mileage.
²The name of the dealer(s) who sold or serviced the vehicle.
²A brief description of your unresolved concern.
²A brief summary of the action taken by the dealer(s) and Ford Motor
Company.
²The names (if known) of all the people you contacted at the
dealership(s).
²A description of the action you expect to resolve your concern.
Customer Assistance
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²If you do not allow the engine to relearn its idle trim, the idle
quality of your vehicle may be adversely affected until the idle
trim is eventually relearned.
When the battery is disconnected or a new battery installed, the
transmission must relearn its adaptive strategy. As a result of this, the
transmission may shift firmly. This operation is considered normal and
will not affect function or durability of the transmission. Over time the
adaptive learning process will fully update transmission operation to its
optimum shift feel.
If the battery has been disconnected or a new battery has been installed,
the clock and the preset radio stations must be reset once the battery is
reconnected.
²Always dispose of automotive
batteries in a responsible manner.
Follow your local authorized
standards for disposal. Call your
local authorized recycling center
to find out more about recycling
automotive batteries.
ENGINE COOLANT
Checking engine coolant
The concentration and level of engine coolant should be checked at the
mileage intervals listed in the scheduled maintenance guide. The coolant
concentration should be maintained at 50/50 coolant and water, which
equates to a freeze point of -36É C (-34É F). Coolant concentration
testing is possible with a hydrometer or antifreeze tester (such as the
Rotunda Battery and Antifreeze Tester, 014±R1060). The level of coolant
should be maintained at the ªcold fullº of ªcold fill rangeº level in the
coolant reservoir. If the level falls below, add coolant per the instructions
in theAdding Engine Coolantsection.
Your vehicle was factory-filled with a 50/50 engine coolant and water
concentration. If the concentration of coolant falls below 40% or above
60%, the engine parts could become damaged or not work properly.A
50±50 mixture of coolant and water provides the following:
²Freeze protection down to -36É C (-34É F).
LEAD
RETURN
RECYCLE
Maintenance and Specifications
237
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Engine ................................264±265
check engine/service
engine soon light ......................10
cleaning ...................................222
coolant .....................................237
fail-safe coolant ......................242
idle speed control ...................235
lubrication specifications 263±264
refill capacities ........................261
service points ..................230±231
starting after a collision .........189
Engine block heater .................159
Engine fan .................................244
Engine oil ..................................232
checking and adding ..............232
dipstick ....................................232
filter, specifications ........234, 261
recommendations ...................234
refill capacities ........................261
specifications ..................263±264
Exhaust fumes ..........................159
F
Fail safe cooling ........................242
Floor mats .................................107
Fluid capacities .........................261
Foglamps .....................................61
Fuel ............................................245
calculating fuel
economy ............................96, 266
cap .....................................11, 247
capacity ...................................261
choosing the right fuel ...........248
comparisons with EPA
fuel economy estimates .........269
detergent in fuel .....................249
filling your vehicle
with fuel ..................245, 247, 266filter, specifications ........250, 261
fuel pump shut-off switch .....189
gauge .........................................17
improving fuel economy ........266
low fuel warning light ..............14
octane rating ...........248, 264±265
quality ......................................249
running out of fuel .................249
safety information relating
to automotive fuels ................245
Fuses ..................................190±191
G
Garage door opener ....................86
Gas cap (see Fuel cap) ......11, 247
Gas mileage (see Fuel
economy) ...................................266
Gauges .........................................16
engine coolant temperature
gauge .........................................16
fuel gauge ..................................17
odometer ...................................17
speedometer .............................17
tachometer ................................18
trip odometer ............................17
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight
Rating) .......................................181
definition .................................181
driving with a heavy load ......181
location ....................................181
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating) .......................................181
calculating ...............................181
definition .................................181
driving with a heavy load ......181
location ....................................181
Index
278