2003 FORD CROWN VICTORIA suspension

Seating and Safety Restraints 106
Seating 106
Safety restraints 110
Air bags 125
Child restraints 132
Driving 143
Starting 143
Brakes 147
Traction control 149
Air suspension 151
Transmission operation 152
Vehicle loading 156
Trailer towing 158
Roadside Emergencies 162
Getting roadside assistance 162
Hazard flasher switch 163
Fuel pump shut-off switch 163
Fuses and relays 164
Changing tires 171
Jump starting 176
Wrecker towing 181
Customer Assistance 182
Reporting safety defects (U.S. only) 190
Cleaning 191
2003 Crown Victoria(cro)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Table of Contents
2

Air suspension (if equipped)
•Standard instrument cluster
•Optional instrument cluster
Illuminates when the air suspension
switch is turned OFF, the load limit
is exceeded or the air suspension
system requires servicing.
Low fuel (if equipped)
Illuminates when the fuel level in
the fuel tank is at, or near empty
(refer toFuel gaugein this chapter
for more information).
O/D off
•Standard instrument cluster
•Optional instrument cluster
Illuminates when the overdrive
function has been turned OFF using
the transmission control switch
(TCS). If the light does not come on
or the light flashes steadily, have
your vehicle serviced as soon as
possible, damage to the transmission could occur.
Turn signals
Illuminates when the turn signals or
the hazard lights are turned on. If
the lights stay on continuously or
flash faster, check for a burned-out bulb.
AIR
SUSP
CHECK
TRUNK AJAR LTR/100 kmAIR SUSPENSION
OVERDRIVE OFFDOOR
AJAR
LOW
WASHER
FLUID
km
MILES
/GAL
LOW
FUEL
O/D
OFF
CHECK
TRUNK AJAR LTR/100 kmAIR SUSPENSION
OVERDRIVE OFFDOOR
AJAR
LOW
WASHER
FLUID
km
MILES
/GAL
2003 Crown Victoria(cro)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Instrument Cluster
14

High beams
Illuminates when the high beam
headlamps are turned on.
Message center indicator lights (if equipped)
Speed control
This light comes on when either the
SET/ACCEL or RESUME controls
are pressed. It turns off when the
speed control OFF control is pressed, the brake is applied or the ignition
is turned to the OFF position.
Door ajar
Illuminates when one of the doors is
not completely shut and the ignition
is turned to ON. With the ignition
ON, this light will flash six times (if
a door is open). With the ignition in
RUN position, a tone will sound for
one second (if a door is open).
Low washer fluid
Momentarily illuminates when the
ignition is turned to ON and will
stay on when the windshield washer
fluid is low.
Trunk ajar
If the trunk is not completely
closed, this light comes on when
you turn the ignition to ON. With
the ignition ON, this light will flash
five times and sound a tone for one
second, then the light remains on (if
the trunk is open).
SPEED CONTROL
CHECK
TRUNK AJAR LTR/100 kmAIR SUSPENSION
OVERDRIVE OFFDOOR
AJAR
LOW
WASHER
FLUID
km
MILES
/GAL
CHECK
TRUNK AJAR LTR/100 kmAIR SUSPENSION
OVERDRIVE OFFDOOR
AJAR
LOW
WASHER
FLUID
km
MILES
/GAL
CHECK
TRUNK AJAR LTR/100 kmAIR SUSPENSION
OVERDRIVE OFFDOOR
AJAR
LOW
WASHER
FLUID
km
MILES
/GAL
2003 Crown Victoria(cro)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Instrument Cluster
15

ELECTRONIC MESSAGE CENTER (IF EQUIPPED)
The electronic message center only
works when the ignition is in the
ON position.
The message center allows you to:
•see problems such as door ajar,
air suspension, trunk ajar, washer
fluid low
•see how many kilometers/miles
you can drive before running out
of fuel
•see when overdrive has been deactivated
•monitor the average fuel economy
•check the distance traveled during a trip on either Trip A or Trip B
•monitor the average speed
Selectable features
Reset
Press this control to reset the
selected message center function to
zero. The only functions which can
be reset are:
•AVG ECON
•TRIP A or TRIP B
•AVG SPEED
E/M
Press this control to switch the
electronic instrument cluster display
and the message center display from
metric to English units.
CHECK
TRUNK AJAR LTR/100 kmAIR SUSPENSION
OVERDRIVE OFFDOOR
AJAR
LOW
WASHER
FLUID
DISTANCE
TO EMPTY
TRIP
AAVG FUEL
ECONOMY
TRIP
BAVG
SPEED
km
MILES
/GAL
RESET E/M SELECT
RESET E/M SELECT
2003 Crown Victoria(cro)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Driver Controls
86

STEERING
Your vehicle is equipped with power steering. Power steering uses energy
from the engine to decrease the driver’s effort in steering the vehicle.
To prevent damage to the power steering pump:
•Never hold the steering wheel to the extreme right or the extreme left
for more than a few seconds when the engine is running.
•Do not operate the vehicle with the power steering pump fluid level
below the MIN mark on the reservoir.
If the power steering system breaks down (or if the engine is turned
off), you can steer the vehicle manually, but it takes more effort.
If the steering wanders or pulls, check for:
•Underinflated tire(s) on any wheel(s)
•Uneven vehicle loading
•High crown in center of road
•High crosswinds
•Wheels out of alignment
•Loose or worn suspension components
Speed sensitive steering
The steering in your vehicle is speed sensitive. At high speeds, steering
assist will decrease to improve steering feel. At lower speeds,
maneuverability will be increased.
If the amount of effort required to steer your vehicle changes while
driving at a constant vehicle speed, have the power steering system
checked by your dealer or a qualified service technician.
AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM (IF EQUIPPED)
The air suspension system is designed to improve ride, handling and
general vehicle performance during:
•Certain road conditions
•Steering maneuvers
•Braking
•Accelerations
This system keeps the rear of your vehicle at a constant level by
automatically adding air or releasing air from the springs.
2003 Crown Victoria(cro)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Driving
151

If you exceed the load limit, the rear air suspension may not operate.
The air suspension shut-off switch is
located on the left side of the trunk.
If this switch is in the OFF position,
the rear air suspension will not
operate.
On vehicles equipped with
Air Suspension, turn OFF
the Air Suspension switch prior to
jacking, hoisting or towing your
vehicle.
Normal vehicle operation does not
require any action by the driver.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OPERATION
Brake-shift interlock
This vehicle is equipped with a brake-shift interlock feature that prevents
the gearshift lever from being moved from P (Park) when the ignition is
in the ON position unless the brake pedal is depressed.
If you cannot move the gearshift lever out of P (Park) with ignition in
the ON position and the brake pedal depressed:
1. Apply the parking brake, turn ignition key to LOCK, then remove the
key.
2. Insert the key and turn it to OFF.Apply the brake pedal and shift
to N (Neutral).
When the key is in the ignition OFF position, the automatic
transmission shift lever can be moved from the P (Park) position
without the brake pedal depressed. To avoid unwanted vehicle
movement, always set the parking brake.
3. Start the vehicle.
If it is necessary to use the above procedure to move the gearshift lever,
it is possible that a fuse has blown or the vehicle’s brakelamps are not
operating properly. Refer toFuses and relaysin theRoadside
emergencieschapter.
AIR SUSPENSION
SWITCH
INTERRUPTEUR DE
LA SUSPENSION
PNEUMATIQUE
WARNING
AVERTISSEMENTOFF-ARRET
To prevent sudden
vehicle movement,
turn off air suspen-
sion switch prior to
jacking, hoisting or
towing vehicle.
Pour prévenir tout mouvement soudain du véhi-
cule, placer à l'arrêt l'interrupteur de la suspension
pneumatique avant de lever le véhicule (cric ou
pont élévateur) ou de le remorquer.
OFF
2003 Crown Victoria(cro)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Driving
152

The Certification Label, found on the inside pillar of the driver’s door,
lists several important vehicle weight rating limitations. Before adding
any additional equipment, refer to these limitations. If you are adding
weight to your vehicle, always ensure that the weight of occupants, cargo
and equipment being carried is within the weight limitations that have
been established for your vehicle including both gross vehicle weight and
front and rear gross axle weight rating limits. Under no circumstance
should these limitations be exceeded.
Exceeding any vehicle weight rating limitation could result in
serious damage to the vehicle loss of vehicle control, vehicle
rollover, and/or personal injury.
The weight of your loaded trailer should not exceed 907 kg (2,000 lbs).
The GCW of your vehicle and trailer should not exceed 2,993 kg (6,600
lbs).
TRAILER TOWING
Your vehicle is classified as a light duty towing vehicle. Do not tow a
trailer until your vehicle has been driven at least 3,200 km (2,000 miles).
Towing a trailer places an additional load on your vehicle’s engine,
transmission, brakes, tires and suspension. Inspect these components
carefully after towing.
Your loaded trailer should weigh no more than 907 kg (2,000 lbs.).Do
not exceed the GVWR specified on the certification label.
Towing trailers beyond the maximum recommended gross trailer
weight exceeds the limit of the vehicle and could result in
engine damage, transmission damage, structural damage, loss of vehicle
control, vehicle rollover and personal injury.
Preparing to tow
Use the proper equipment for towing a trailer and make sure it is
properly attached to your vehicle. See your dealer or a reliable trailer
dealer if you require assistance.
Hitches
Do not use hitches that clamp onto the vehicle bumper. Use a load
carrying hitch. You must distribute the load in your trailer so that
10–15% of the total weight of the trailer is on the tongue.
2003 Crown Victoria(cro)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Driving
158

Fuse/Relay
LocationFuse Amp
RatingPassenger Compartment Fuse Panel
Description
10 10A Rear window defrost, Heated mirrors
11 5A Traction control indicator relay (ABS
w/traction control only)
12 15A Multi-function switch for turn/hazard
lamps
13 5A Radio
14 10A Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Instrument
Cluster
15 15A Speed control module, Power relay coil
(Police vehicle option), LCM, Clock, EATC
blower motor relay, Door lock switch
illumination, Heated seat switch, Moonroof
16 15A Reversing lamps, Shift lock, DRL module,
VAP Steering, Electronic day/night mirror,
Overhead console, Air suspension, Climate
control, Heated seat module, Speed chime
module (GCC only)
17 7.5A Wiper motor
18—Not used
19 15A Brake lamps
20 20A Spot lamp (Police vehicle option)
21 15A LCM for park lamps and interior
illumination, Autolamp/Sunload sensor
22 20A Speed control servo, Multi-function switch
for hazard lamps, Brake on/off switch
23 15A EATC module, Instrument cluster, Clock,
LCM, Interior lamps, Door lock switches,
Door ajar and roof lamps (Taxi vehicles)
24 10A Left-hand low beam
25 15A Cigar lighter
26 10A Right-hand low beam
2003 Crown Victoria(cro)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Roadside Emergencies
167