
Introduction 4
Instrument Cluster 10
Warning and control lights 10
Gauges 16
Entertainment Systems 22
AM/FM stereo cassette with CD 22
AM/FM stereo cassette 31
AM/FM stereo 38
CD changer 42
Climate Controls 47
Manual heating and air conditioning 47
Electronic automatic temperature control 49
Lights 54
Headlamps 54
Turn signal control 56
Bulb replacement 56
Driver Controls 63
Windshield wiper/washer control 63
Steering wheel adjustment 64
Power windows 74
Mirrors 75
Speed control 77
Message center 86
Locks and Security 93
Keys 93
Locks 93
Anti-theft system 95
2003 Crown Victoria(cro)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
1

WARNING LIGHTS AND CHIMES
Warning lights and gauges can alert you to a vehicle condition that may
become serious enough to cause expensive repairs. A warning light may
illuminate when a problem exists with one of your vehicle’s functions.
Many lights will illuminate when you start your vehicle to make sure the
bulb works.If any light remains on after starting the vehicle, have
the respective system inspected immediately.
Standard instrument cluster
Optional instrument cluster
Check engine
Illuminates briefly to ensure the
system is functional. If it comes on
after the engine is started, one of
the engine’s emission control
systems may be malfunctioning. The
light may illuminate without a driveability concern being noted and will
not require towing.
CHECK
ENGINE
2003 Crown Victoria(cro)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Instrument Cluster
Instrument Cluster
10

Your vehicle’s Personal Safety System consists of the following items:
•Driver and passenger dual-stage air bag supplemental restraints
•Driver and front passenger side air bags (if equipped)
•Front safety belts with pretensioners, energy management retractors,
and safety belt usage sensors
•Driver’s seat position sensor
•Passenger occupant classification sensor
•Front crash severity sensor
•Restraints Control Module (RCM) with impact and safing sensors
•Restraint system warning light and back-up tone
•The electrical wiring for the air bags, crash sensor(s), safety belt
pretensioners, front safety belt usage sensors, driver seat position
sensor, passenger occupant classification sensor, and indicator lights
How does the personal safety system work?
The Personal safety system can adapt the deployment strategy of your
vehicle’s safety devices according to crash severity and occupant
conditions. A collection of crash and occupant sensors provides
information to the Restraints control module (RCM). During a crash, the
RCM activates the safety belt pretensioners and/or either one or both
stages of the dual-stage air bag supplemental restraints based on crash
severity and occupant conditions.
The fact that the pretensioners or air bags did not activate for both front
seat occupants in a collision does not mean that something is wrong with
the system. Rather, it means the Personal safety system determined the
accident conditions (crash severity, belt usage, etc.) were not
appropriate to activate these safety devices. Front air bags and
pretensioners are designed to activate only in frontal and near-frontal
collisions, not rollovers, side-impacts, or rear-impacts unless the collision
causes sufficient longitudinal deceleration.
Driver and passenger dual-stage air bag supplemental restraints
The dual-stage air bags offer the capability to tailor the level of air bag
inflation energy. A lower, less forceful energy level is provided for more
common, moderate-severity impacts. A higher energy level is used for
the most severe impacts. Refer toAir bag supplemental restraints
section in this chapter.
Front crash severity sensor
The front crash severity sensor enhances the ability to detect the
severity of an impact. Positioned up front, it provides valuable
2003 Crown Victoria(cro)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
111

allows your Personal safety system to tailor the air bag deployment and
safety belt pretensioner activation depending upon safety belt usage.
Refer toSafety beltsection in this chapter.
Front safety belt pretensioners
The safety belt pretensioners at the front outboard seating positions are
designed to tighten the safety belts firmly against the occupant’s body
during a frontal or near-frontal collision. This maximizes the effectiveness
of the safety belts and helps properly position the occupant relative to
the air bag to improve protection. The safety belt pretensioners can be
either activated alone or, if the collision is of sufficient severity, together
with the air bags.
Front safety belt energy management retractors
The front safety belt energy management retractors allow webbing to be
pulled out of the retractor in a gradual and controlled manner in
response to the occupant’s forward momentum. This helps reduce the
risk of force-related injuries to the occupant’s chest by limiting the load
on the occupant. Refer toEnergy management featuresection in this
chapter.
Determining if the Personal safety system is operational
The Personal safety system uses a warning light in the instrument cluster
or a back-up tone to indicate the condition of the system. Refer to the
Warning lightsection in theInstrument clusterchapter. Routine
maintenance of the Personal safety system is not required.
The Restraints control module (RCM) monitors its own internal circuits
and the circuits for the air bag supplemental restraints, crash sensor(s),
safety belt pretensioners, front safety belt buckle sensors, driver seat
position sensor, and passenger occupant classification sensor. In addition,
the RCM also monitors the restraints warning light in the instrument
cluster. A difficulty with the system is indicated by one or more of the
following.
•The warning light will either flash or stay lit.
•The warning light will not illuminate immediately after ignition is
turned on.
•A series of five beeps will be heard. The tone pattern will repeat
periodically until the problem and warning light are repaired.
If any of these things happen, even intermittently, have the Personal
safety system serviced at your dealership or by a qualified technician
immediately. Unless serviced, the system may not function properly in
the event of a collision.
2003 Crown Victoria(cro)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
113

STARTING
Positions of the ignition
1. ACCESSORY, allows the electrical
accessories such as the radio to
operate while the engine is not
running.
2. LOCK, locks steering wheel
(police vehicles only), the automatic
transmission gearshift lever and
allows key removal.
3. OFF, shuts off the engine and all
accessories without locking the steering wheel. This position also allows
the automatic transmission shift lever to be moved from the P (Park)
position without the brake pedal being depressed.
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.
4. ON, all electrical circuits operational. Warning lights illuminated. Key
position when driving.
5. START, cranks the engine. Release the key as soon as the engine
starts.
Preparing to start your vehicle
Engine starting is controlled by the powertrain control system. This
system meets all Canadian Interference-Causing Equipment standard
requirements regulating the impulse electrical field strength of radio
noise.
When starting a fuel-injected engine, avoid pressing the accelerator
before or during starting. Only use the accelerator when you have
difficulty starting the engine. For more information on starting the
vehicle, refer toStarting the enginein this chapter.
Extended idling at high engine speeds can produce very high
temperatures in the engine and exhaust system, creating the risk
of fire or other damage.
3
1
2
5
4
2003 Crown Victoria(cro)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Driving
Driving
143

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.
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, a
minimum of 30 minutes of city and highway driving is necessary as
described below:
•First, at least 10 minutes of driving on an expressway or highway.
•Next, at least 20 minutes driving in stop-and-go, city-type traffic with
at least four idle periods.
Allow the vehicle to sit for at least eight hours without starting the
engine. Then, start the engine and complete the above driving cycle. The
engine must warm up to its normal operating temperature. Once started,
do not turn off the engine until the above driving cycle is complete.
CHECKING AND ADDING POWER STEERING FLUID
Check the power steering fluid.
Refer to the scheduled maintenance
guide for the service interval
schedules. If adding fluid is
necessary, use only MERCONAT F.
1. 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).
2003 Crown Victoria(cro)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
221

change oil soon warning,
message center .......................200
checking and adding ..............200
dipstick ....................................200
filter, specifications ........203, 230
recommendations ...................203
refill capacities ........................230
specifications ..................232–233
Exhaust fumes ..........................146
F
Fail safe cooling ........................210
Floor mats ...................................92
Fluid capacities .........................230
Fuel ............................................212
calculating fuel
economy ............................69, 217
cap .....................................11, 214
capacity ...................................230
choosing the right fuel ...........215
comparisons with EPA fuel
economy estimates .................219
detergent in fuel .....................216
filling your vehicle with
fuel ...........................212, 214, 217
filter, specifications ........216, 230
fuel filler door override ............91
fuel filler door release ..............90
fuel pump shut-off switch .....163
gauge .........................................19
improving fuel economy ........217
low fuel warning light ..............14
octane rating ...................215, 233
quality ......................................216
running out of fuel .................216
safety information relating to
automotive fuels .....................212
Fuses ..................................164–165
G
Garage door opener ....................82Gas cap (see Fuel cap) ......11, 214
Gas mileage
(see Fuel economy) .................217
Gauges ...................................16–17
battery voltage gauge ...............19
engine coolant temperature
gauge .........................................17
engine oil pressure gauge ........18
fuel gauge ..................................19
odometer ...................................20
speedometer .............................20
trip odometer ............................21
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight
Rating) .......................................156
definition .................................156
driving with a heavy load ......156
location ....................................156
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating) .......................................156
calculating ...............................156
definition .................................156
driving with a heavy load ......156
location ....................................156
H
Hazard flashers .........................163
Head restraints .........................106
Headlamps ...................................54
aiming ........................................55
autolamp system .......................54
bulb specifications ....................57
daytime running lights .............54
flash to pass ..............................55
high beam ...........................15, 55
replacing bulbs .........................57
turning on and off ....................54
warning chime ..........................16
2003 Crown Victoria(cro)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Index
242

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