When the battery is disconnected or a new battery installed, the
transmission must learn its adaptive strategy. As a result of this, the
transmission may shift firmly. This operation is considered normal and
will fully update transmission operation to its optimum shift feel.
Batteries normally produce explosive gases which can cause
personal injury. Therefore, do not allow flames, sparks or lighted
substances to come near the battery. When working near the battery,
always shield your face and protect your eyes. Always provide proper
ventilation.
When lifting a plastic-cased battery, excessive pressure on the
end walls could cause acid to flow through the vent caps,
resulting in personal injury and/or damage to the vehicle or battery.
Lift the battery with a battery carrier or with your hands on opposite
corners.
Keep batteries out of reach of children. Batteries contain sulfuric
acid. Avoid contact with skin, eyes or clothing. Shield your eyes
when working near the battery to protect against possible splashing of
acid solution. In case of acid contact with skin or eyes, flush
immediately with water for a minimum of 15 minutes and get prompt
medical attention. If acid is swallowed, call a physician immediately.
Battery posts, terminals and related accessories contain lead and
lead compunds.Wash hands after handling.
Your automatic transaxle electronically controls the shift feel by using an
adaptive learning strategy. During the first few hundred kilometers
(miles) of operation, it is normal for your transaxle to have abrupt shifts.
The adaptive learning strategy is maintained by power from the battery.
When the battery is disconnected or a new battery is installed, the
transaxle must relearn its adaptive strategy. Optimal shifting will resume
within a few hundred kilometers (miles) of operation.
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.
Maintenance and Specifications
216
If you do not use the proper fuel filler cap, excessive pressure or
vacuum in the fuel tank may damage the fuel system or cause
the fuel cap to disengage in a collision, which may result in possible
personal injury.
Choosing the right fuel
Use only UNLEADED FUEL. The use of leaded fuel is prohibited by law
and could damage your vehicle.
Do not use fuel containing methanol. It can damage critical fuel system
components.
Your vehicle was not designed to use fuel or fuel additives with metallic
compounds, including manganese-based compounds containing MMT.
Repairs to correct the effects of using a fuel for which your vehicle was
not designed may not be covered by your warranty.
Octane recommendations
Your vehicle is designed to use
“Regular”unleaded gasoline with
pump (R+M)/2 octane rating of 87.
We do not recommend the use of
gasolines labeled as“Regular”that
are sold with octane ratings of 86 or lower in high altitude areas.
Do not be concerned if your engine sometimes knocks lightly. However, if
it knocks heavily under most driving conditions while you are using fuel
with the recommended octane rating, see your dealer or a qualified
service technician to prevent any engine damage.
Fuel quality
If you are experiencing starting, rough idle or hesitation driveability
problems during a cold start, try a different brand of“Regular”unleaded
gasoline.“Premium”unleaded gasoline is not recommended (particularly
in the United States) because it may cause these problems to become
more pronounced. If the problems persist, see your dealer or a qualified
service technician.
It should not be necessary to add any aftermarket products to your fuel
tank if you continue to use high quality fuel of the recommended octane
rating. Aftermarket products could cause damage to the fuel system.
Repairs to correct the effects of using an aftermarket product in your
fuel may not be covered by your warranty.
87(R+M)/2 METHOD
Maintenance and Specifications
224
•Resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving may reduce fuel
economy.
•Combine errands and minimize stop-and-go driving.
Maintenance
•Keep tires properly inflated and use only recommended size.
•Operating a vehicle with the wheels out of alignment will reduce fuel
economy.
•Use recommended engine oil. Refer toLubricant specificationsin
this chapter.
•Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance items. Follow the
recommended maintenance schedule and owner maintenance checks
found in your vehicle scheduled maintenance guide.
Conditions
•Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a trailer may reduce fuel economy
at any speed.
•Carrying unnecessary weight may reduce fuel economy (approximately
0.4 km/L [1 mpg] is lost for every 180 kg [400 lb] of weight carried).
•Adding certain accessories to your vehicle (for example bug
deflectors, rollbars/light bars, running boards, ski/luggage racks) may
reduce fuel economy.
•Using fuel blended with alcohol may lower fuel economy.
•Fuel economy may decrease with lower temperatures during the first
12–16 km (8–10 miles) of driving.
•Driving on flat terrain offers improved fuel economy as compared to
driving on hilly terrain.
•Transmissions give their best fuel economy when operated in the top
cruise gear and with steady pressure on the gas pedal.
•Close windows for high speed driving.
EPA window sticker
Every new vehicle should have the EPA window sticker. Contact your
dealer if the window sticker is not supplied with your vehicle. The EPA
window sticker should be your guide for the fuel economy comparisons
with other vehicles.
It is important to note the box in the lower left corner of the window
sticker. These numbers represent the Range of L/100 km (MPG)
expected on the vehicle under optimum conditions. Your fuel economy
may vary depending upon the method of operation and conditions.
Maintenance and Specifications
228
EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM
Your vehicle is equipped with various emission control components and a
catalytic converter which will enable your vehicle to comply with applicable
exhaust emission standards. To make sure that the catalytic converter and
other emission control components continue to work properly:
•Use only the specified fuel listed.
•Avoid running out of fuel.
•Do not turn off the ignition while your vehicle is moving, especially at
high speeds.
•Have the items listed in your scheduled maintenance guide performed
according to the specified schedule.
The scheduled maintenance items listed in the scheduled maintenance
guide are essential to the life and performance of your vehicle and to its
emissions system.
If other than Ford, Motorcraft or Ford-authorized parts are used for
maintenance replacements or for service of components affecting
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“Service Engine Soon”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.
Maintenance and Specifications
229
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“Check Engine/Service Engine
Soon”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“Check Engine/Service Engine Soon”light on.
If the vehicle’s powertrain system or its battery has just been serviced,
the on-board diagnostics system is reset to a“not ready for I/M test”
condition. To ready the on-board diagnostics system for I/M testing,
follow the procedure described below:
1. Allow the engine to cool to ambient temperature (the engine coolant
temperature gauge indicator will point to C).
2. Start the engine and let it run until it reaches normal operating
temperature (the engine coolant temperature gauge indicator will be
near the center of the normal area between H and C).
3. Accelerate the vehicle to 88 km/h (55 mph), then quickly release the
accelerator pedal completely for at least six seconds.
4. Quickly depress the accelerator pedal for a moment, then drive the
vehicle at a speed of 86 to 96 km/h (53 to 60 mph) for at least five
minutes.
5. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
6. Accelerate the vehicle to 55 km/h (35 mph), and maintain the speed
for 20 seconds.
7. Repeat steps five and six at least three times.
8. Accelerate the vehicle to 88 km/h (55 mph), and maintain the speed
for at least three minutes.
9. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop and turn the engine off.
10. Repeat steps one through nine at least one more time.
If step one through eight are interrupted, repeat the preceding step. Any
safe driving mode is acceptable between steps. Once started, do not turn
off the engine until step seven is completed.
Maintenance and Specifications
230
Travel equipment
Ash cup
Auto headlamps with daytime running lights (DRL)
Cargo box (rooftop luggage box)
Cigarette lighter element
Console
Framed luggage covers
HomeLink(in sun visor)
Molded running boards
Removable luggage basket
Running boards, child step
Soft luggage cover
Track rider bars
Track rider bar adaptors
Trailer hitch (Class II)
Trailer hitch bars and balls
Trailer hitch mount bike carrier
Video entertainment system
Protection and appearance equipment
Air bag anti-theft locks
All weather vinyl mats
Carpet floor mats
Door edge guards
Flat splash guards
Front end covers (full and mini)
Hood deflectors
Molded splash guards
Rear air deflectors
Side window air deflectors
Underbody security lighting
Universal floor mats
Accessories
246
A
ABS (see Brakes) .....................159
Accessory delay ..........................88
Air bag supplemental restraint
system ................................136–137
and child safety seats ............138
description ..............................137
disposal ....................................140
driver air bag ..........................139
indicator light ...................12, 140
operation .................................139
passenger air bag ...................139
Air cleaner filter ...............234, 239
Air conditioning
automatic temperature
control system ..........................63
manual heating and air
conditioning system .................58
rear seat controls ...............61, 69
Air filter, cabin ............................73
Antifreeze (see Engine
coolant) .....................................217
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ......................159–160
Anti-theft system ......................112
arming the system ..................113
disarming a triggered
system .....................................114
disarming an untriggered
system .....................................114
Audio system (see Radio) .........20
Automatic transaxle
driving with .............................163
fluid, adding ............................232
fluid, checking ........................232
fluid, refill capacities ..............239
fluid, specification ..................241
Auxiliary power point .................86Axle
lubricant specifications ..........240
B
Battery .......................................215
acid, treating emergencies .....215
charging system warning
light ............................................13
jumping a disabled battery ....188
maintenance-free ....................215
replacement, specifications ...239
servicing ..................................215
Brakes ........................................158
anti-lock ...........................159–160
anti-lock brake system
(ABS) warning light .........12, 160
brake warning light ..................11
fluid, checking and adding ....231
fluid, refill capacities ..............239
fluid, specifications .........240–241
lubricant specifications ..240–241
parking ....................................160
shift interlock ..........................162
Break-in period .............................6
Bulbs ............................................77
C
Capacities for refilling fluids ....239
Cargo cover ...............................106
Cargo net ...........................105–106
CD changer .................................53
Certification Label ....................243
Changing a tire .........................182
Child safety restraints ..............141
child safety belts ....................141
Child safety seats ......................144
attaching with tether straps ..149
Index
248
in front seat ............................146
in rear seat ......................146, 148
tether anchorage hardware ...150
Cleaning your vehicle
engine compartment ..............204
exterior ....................................207
instrument panel ....................206
interior .....................................207
plastic parts ............................205
washing ....................................203
waxing .....................................203
wheels ......................................204
wiper blades ............................206
woodtone trim ........................205
Climate control (see Air
conditioning or Heating) ......58, 63
Clock ................................24, 33, 44
Console ......................................103
overhead ....................................86
Controls
power seat ...............................117
steering column ........................94
Coolant
checking and adding ..............217
refill capacities ................220, 239
specifications ..................240–241
Cruise control (see Speed
control) ........................................90
Customer Assistance ................173
Ford accessories for your
vehicle .....................................208
Ford Extended Service
Plan ..........................................196
Getting assistance outside the
U.S. and Canada .....................200
Getting roadside assistance ...173
Getting the service you
need .........................................194
Ordering additional owner’s
literature .................................201The Dispute Settlement
Board .......................................197
Utilizing the
Mediation/Arbitration
Program ...................................200
D
Defrost
rear window ..............................72
Dipstick
automatic transmission
fluid ..........................................232
engine oil .................................212
Doors
door ajar warning .....................14
lubricant specifications ..........240
Driving under special
conditions
through water .........................166
E
Emergencies, roadside
jump-starting ..........................188
Emission control system ..........229
Engine ................................241–242
check engine/service engine
soon light ..................................10
cleaning ...................................204
coolant .....................................217
idle speed control ...................215
lubrication
specifications ..................240–241
refill capacities ........................239
service points ..........................211
starting after a collision .........174
Engine oil ..................................212
checking and adding ..............212
dipstick ....................................212
Index
249