
•Revving the engine before turning it off may reduce fuel economy.
•Using the air conditioner or defroster may reduce fuel economy.
•You may want to turn off the speed control in hilly terrain if
unnecessary shifting between third and fourth gear occurs.
Unnecessary shifting of this type could result in reduced fuel
economy.
•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 (as much as
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.
Maintenance and Specifications
287

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.
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 Ford Premium Power Steering Fluid or MERCONAT F.
Maintenance and Specifications
289

A
ABS (see Brakes) .....................195
Accessory delay ........................100
Air bag supplemental
restraint system ........168–169, 173
and child safety seats ............170
description ......................169, 173
disposal ....................................176
driver air bag ..................171, 174
indicator light ...........12, 172, 176
operation .........................171, 174
passenger air bag ...........171, 174
Air cleaner filter .......293–294, 300
Air conditioning ..........................72
auxiliary heater and air
conditioner ................................78
manual heating and air
conditioning system .................69
Air suspension
warning light .............................14
Antifreeze
(see Engine coolant) ................274
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ......................195–196
Armrests ....................................142
Audio system
(see Radio) ................19, 27, 37–38
Automatic transmission
driving an automatic
overdrive .................................203
fluid, adding ............................291
fluid, checking ........................291
fluid, refill capacities ..............300
fluid, specification ..................305
Auxiliary power point .................97Axle
lubricant
specifications ..................303, 305
refill capacities ........................300
B
Battery .......................................272
acid, treating emergencies .....272
charging system warning
light ............................................12
jumping a disabled battery ....241
maintenance-free ....................272
replacement, specifications ...300
servicing ..................................272
voltage gauge ............................16
BeltMinder .................................164
Brakes ........................................195
anti-lock ...........................195–196
anti-lock brake system
(ABS) warning light .........11, 196
brake warning light ..................11
fluid, checking and adding ....290
fluid, refill capacities ..............300
fluid, specifications .........303, 305
lubricant
specifications ..................303, 305
parking ....................................196
pedals (see Power
adjustable foot pedals) ..102, 125
shift interlock ..................202, 206
Break-in period .............................6
Bulbs ............................................86
C
Capacities for refilling fluids ....300
CD-6 disc .....................................38
CD-single premium ...............19, 27
Certification Label ....................307
Index
313

Changing a tire .........................236
Child safety restraints ..............177
child safety belts ....................177
Child safety seats ......................180
in front seat ............................181
in rear seat ......................181, 184
Cleaning your vehicle
engine compartment ..............260
instrument panel ....................262
interior .............................262–263
plastic parts ............................261
washing ....................................259
waxing .....................................259
wheels ......................................260
wiper blades ............................262
Climate control (see Air
conditioning or Heating) ......69, 72
Clock ................................23, 34, 43
Compass, electronic ..........100, 112
calibration ...............................113
set zone adjustment .......113, 115
Console ......................................125
overhead ..............................95, 97
Controls
power seat ...............................143
steering column ......................106
Coolant
checking and adding ..............274
refill capacities ................278, 300
specifications ..................303, 305
Cruise control
(see Speed control) ..................103
Customer Assistance ................227
Ford accessories for your
vehicle .....................................264
Ford Extended Service Plan .251
Getting assistance outside
the U.S. and Canada ..............255Getting roadside assistance ...227
Getting the service
you need .................................249
Ordering additional
owner’s literature ...................256
The Dispute Settlement
Board .......................................252
Utilizing the Mediation/
Arbitration Program ...............255
D
Daytime running lamps
(see Lamps) ................................82
Defrost
rear window ..............................80
Dipstick
automatic transmission
fluid ..........................................291
engine oil .................................269
Doors
door ajar warning ...............13, 15
lubricant specifications ..........303
Driveline universal joint
and slip yoke .............................293
Driving under special
conditions ..........................212, 215
sand .........................................214
snow and ice ...........................216
through water .................215, 219
E
Electronic message center .......114
Emergencies, roadside
jump-starting ..........................241
Emission control system ..........288
Engine ........................................305
check engine/service engine
soon light ..................................10
Index
314

cleaning ...................................260
coolant .....................................274
fail-safe coolant ......................279
idle speed control ...................272
lubrication
specifications ..................303, 305
refill capacities ........................300
service points ..................267–268
starting after a collision .........228
Engine block heater .................194
Engine oil ..................................269
change oil soon warning,
message center .......................269
checking and adding ..............269
dipstick ....................................269
filter, specifications ........271, 300
recommendations ...................271
refill capacities ........................300
specifications ..................303, 305
Exhaust fumes ..........................194
F
Fail safe cooling ........................279
Floor mats .................................126
Fluid capacities .........................300
Foglamps .....................................81
Four-Wheel Drive
vehicles ................................14, 208
control trac .............................208
description ..............................209
driving off road .......................211
electronic shift ........................210
indicator light .........................208
preparing to drive
your vehicle ............................198
Fuel ............................................280
calculating fuel
economy ..........................116, 285
cap ...........................................282capacity ...................................300
choosing the right fuel ...........283
comparisons with EPA
fuel economy estimates .........288
detergent in fuel .....................284
filling your vehicle
with fuel ..................280, 282, 285
filter, specifications ........284, 300
fuel pump shut-off switch .....228
gauge .........................................17
improving fuel economy ........285
low fuel warning light ..............12
octane rating ...................283, 305
quality ......................................284
running out of fuel .................284
safety information relating
to automotive fuels ................280
Fuses ..................................230–231
G
Garage door opener ..................108
Gas cap (see Fuel cap) ............282
Gas mileage
(see Fuel economy) .................285
Gauges .........................................15
battery voltage gauge ...............16
engine coolant temperature
gauge .........................................15
engine oil pressure gauge ........16
fuel gauge ..................................17
odometer ...................................17
speedometer .............................17
tachometer ................................18
trip odometer ............................18
GAWR (Gross Axle
Weight Rating) ..........................219
calculating ...............................221
definition .................................219
driving with a heavy load ......219
location ....................................219
Index
315