
•Warming up a vehicle on cold mornings is not required and may
reduce fuel economy.
•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.
2003 Crown Victoria(cro)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
219

weather or pulling a trailer, the vehicle should be turned off for about 30
minutes to allow fluid to cool before checking.
1. Drive the vehicle 30 km (20 miles) or until it reaches normal operating
temperature.
2. Park the vehicle on a level surface and engage the parking brake.
3. With the parking brake engaged and your foot on the brake pedal,
start the engine and move the gearshift lever through all of the gear
ranges. Allow sufficient time for each gear to engage.
4. Latch the gearshift lever in P (Park) and leave the engine running.
5. Remove the dipstick, wiping it clean with a clean, dry lint free rag. If
necessary, refer toIdentifying components in the engine compartment
in this chapter for the location of the dipstick.
6. Install the dipstick making sure it is fully seated in the filler tube.
7. Remove the dipstick and inspect the fluid level. The fluid should be in
the designated area for normal operating temperature or ambient
temperature.
Low fluid level
Do not drive the vehicle if the fluid
level is at the bottom of the dipstick
and the ambient temperature is
above 10°C (50°F).
Correct fluid level
The transmission fluid should be checked at normal operating
temperature 66°C-77°C (150°F-170°F) on a level surface. The normal
operating temperature can be reached after approximately 30 km
(20 miles) of driving.
You can check the fluid without driving if the ambient temperature is
above 10°C (50°F). However, if fluid is added at this time, an overfill
condition could result when the vehicle reaches normal operating
temperature.
DON’T ADD
2003 Crown Victoria(cro)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
223

Heating
heating and air conditioning
system .................................47, 49
HomeLink universal
transceiver (see Garage
door opener) ...................70, 82, 85
Hood ..........................................198
I
Ignition ...............................143, 233
Infant seats
(see Safety seats) .....................135
Inspection/maintenance (I/M)
testing ........................................221
Instrument panel
cleaning ...................................194
cluster ........................................10
lighting up panel and
interior .......................................55
J
Jack ............................................171
positioning ...............................171
storage .....................................171
Jump-starting your vehicle ......176
K
Keyless entry system ...............100
autolock .....................................99
keypad .....................................100
programming entry code .......101
Keys .............................93, 102–104
key in ignition chime ...............16
positions of the ignition .........143L
Lamps
autolamp system .......................54
bulb replacement
specifications chart ..................57
cargo lamps ...............................55
daytime running light ...............54
headlamps .................................54
headlamps, flash to pass ..........55
instrument panel, dimming .....55
interior lamps .....................56–57
replacing bulbs .......56–57, 59, 61
Lane change indicator
(see Turn signal) ........................56
Lights, warning and indicator ....10
air bag ........................................13
air suspension ...........................14
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ....12, 148
brake ..........................................12
charging system ........................13
check engine .............................10
fuel cap light .............................11
high beam .................................15
low fuel ......................................14
oil pressure ...............................13
overdrive off ..............................14
safety belt .................................13
speed control ............................80
traction control active ..............13
turn signal indicator .................14
Limited slip axle
(see Traction Loc) ....................156
Load limits .................................156
GAWR ......................................156
GVWR ......................................156
trailer towing ..........................156
Locks
autolock .....................................99
childproof ..................................94
doors ..........................................93
2003 Crown Victoria(cro)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Index
243

safety belt maintenance .........124
warning light and
chime ...................13, 16, 119–120
Safety seats for children ..........135
Seat belts
(see Safety restraints) .............110
Seats ..........................................106
child safety seats ....................135
cleaning ...................................194
SecuriLock passive
anti-theft system ...............102–104
Servicing your vehicle ..............197
Spare tire (see Changing
the Tire) ....................................172
Spark plugs,
specifications .....................230, 233
Specification chart,
lubricants ...........................232–233
Speed control ..............................77
Speedometer ...............................20
Starting your
vehicle ........................143–144, 146
jump starting ..........................176
Steering
speed sensitive .......................151
Steering wheel
controls ..........................64, 77, 81
tilting .........................................64
T
Tires ...........................171, 226–227
changing ..........................171–172
checking the pressure ............227
replacing ..................................228
rotating ....................................227
snow tires and chains ............229
tire grades ...............................227treadwear ................................226
Towing .......................................158
recreational towing .................161
trailer towing ..........................158
wrecker ....................................181
Traction control ........................149
active light ................................13
Traction-lok rear axle ...............156
Transmission .............................152
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................222
fluid, refill capacities ..............230
lubricant specifications ..232–233
Trip odometer .............................21
Trunk ...........................................94
remote release ....................91, 97
Turn signal ............................14, 56
V
Vehicle dimensions ...................233
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................235
Vehicle loading ..........................156
Ventilating your vehicle ...........146
W
Warning chimes ...........................16
Warning lights (see Lights) .......10
Washer fluid ..............................200
Water, Driving through .............156
Windows
power .........................................74
Windshield washer fluid and
wipers
checking and adding fluid .....200
2003 Crown Victoria(cro)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Index
245