2003 FORD EXPEDITION tow

WASHING THE EXTERIOR
Wash your vehicle regularly with cool or lukewarm water and a neutral
Ph shampoo, such as Detail Wash (ZC-3–A), which is available from your
dealer.
•Never use strong household detergents or soap, such as dish washing
or laundry liquid. These products can discolor and spot painted
surfaces.
•Never wash a vehicle that is“hot to the touch”or during exposure to
strong, direct sunlight.
•Always use a clean sponge or carwash mitt with plenty of water for
best results.
•Dry the vehicle with a chamois or soft terry cloth towel in order to
eliminate water spotting.
•It is especially important to wash the vehicle regularly during the
winter months, as dirt and road salt are difficult to remove and cause
damage to the vehicle.
•Immediately remove items such as gasoline, diesel fuel, bird droppings
and insect deposits because they can cause damage to the vehicle’s
paintwork and trim over time.
•Remove any exterior accessories, such as antennas, before entering a
car wash.
•Suntan lotions and insect repellents can damage any painted
surface; if these substances come in contact with your vehicle,
wash off as soon as possible.
•If your vehicle is equipped with running boards, do not use
rubber, plastic and vinyl protectant products on the running
board surface, as the area may become slippery.
WAXING
Applying a polymer paint sealant to your vehicle every six months will
assist in reducing minor scratches and paint damage.
•Wash the vehicle first.
•Do not use waxes that contain abrasives.
•Do not allow paint sealant to come in contact with any non-body
(low-gloss black) colored trim, such as grained body-side cladding,
roof racks, bumper step surfaces, mirror housings or the windshield
cowl area. The paint sealant will“gray”or stain the parts over time.
Cleaning
259

•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

cruise indicator .........................13
door ajar ....................................13
engine oil pressure ...................13
high beam .................................13
low fuel ......................................12
low washer fluid .......................12
overdrive off ..............................14
safety belt .................................12
service engine soon ..................10
speed control ..........................106
turn signal indicator .................13
Limited-slip axle .......................198
Load limits .................................219
GAWR ......................................219
GVWR ......................................219
trailer towing ..........................219
Loading instructions .................221
Locks
childproof ................................128
doors ........................................128
Lubricant specifications ...303, 305
Lumbar support, seats .............143
M
Message center .........................114
english/metric button .............119
system check button ..............120
warning messages ...................120
Mirrors .........................................95
automatic dimming rearview
mirror ......................................100
fold away .................................102
heated ......................................101
programmable
memory ...........................131, 144
side view mirrors
(power) ...................................101
Moon roof ....................................96
Motorcraft parts ................284, 300O
Octane rating ............................283
Odometer .....................................17
Oil (see Engine oil) ..................269
Overdrive ...................................124
P
Panic alarm feature,
remote entry system ................130
Parking brake ............................196
Parts (see Motorcraft parts) ....300
Pedals (see Power
adjustable foot pedals) .............102
Power distribution box
(see Fuses) ...............................231
Power door locks ......................128
Power point .................................97
Power steering ..................197–198
fluid, checking and adding ....289
fluid, refill capacity ................300
fluid, specifications .........303, 305
Power Windows ...........................99
Preparing to drive your
vehicle ........................................198
R
Radio ..........................19, 27, 37–38
Radio reception ...........................56
Rear window defroster ...............80
Relays ........................................230
Remote entry system .......129–130
illuminated entry ....................133
locking/unlocking
doors ........................128–130, 135
Index
317

opening the trunk ...................130
panic alarm .............................130
replacement/additional
transmitters .............................132
replacing the batteries ...........132
Reverse sensing system ...........206
Roadside assistance ..................227
Roof rack ...................................127
S
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ............14, 155, 158–162
Safety Canopy ...........................173
Safety defects, reporting ..........258
Safety restraints ........155, 158–162
belt minder .............................164
extension assembly ................167
for adults .........................159–161
for children .....................176–177
lap belt ....................................163
warning light and
chime ...................12, 14, 163–164
Safety seats for children ..........180
Seat belts
(see Safety restraints) .............155
Seats ..........................................141
child safety seats ....................180
climate control ........................144
memory seat ...................131, 144
SecuriLock passive
anti-theft system ...............137–139
Servicing your vehicle ..............265
Snowplowing .................................7
Spare tire (see Changing
the Tire) ....................................236Spark plugs,
specifications .....................300, 305
Special notice
utility-type vehicles ....................7
Specification chart,
lubricants ...........................303, 305
Speed control ............................103
Speedometer ...............................17
Starting your vehicle ........191–193
jump starting ..........................241
Steering
speed sensitive .......................198
Steering wheel
controls ............................103, 106
T
Tachometer .................................18
Tire warning ..............................298
Tires ...................236, 295–296, 298
changing ..........................236, 238
checking the pressure ............296
replacing ..................................297
rotating ....................................297
snow tires and chains ............299
tire grades ...............................296
treadwear ................................295
Towing .......................................221
recreational towing .................226
trailer towing ..........................221
wrecker ....................................247
Traction control
active light ................................12
Transmission .............................202
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................291
fluid, refill capacities ..............300
Index
318

lubricant
specifications ..................303, 305
Trip odometer .............................18
Trunk .........................................130
Turn signal ............................13, 84
V
Vehicle dimensions ...................305
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................308
Vehicle loading ..........................219
Ventilating your vehicle ...........194
W
Warning chimes .....................14–15Warning lights (see Lights)
.......10
Washer fluid
..............................269
Water, Driving through
.............219
Windows
power
.........................................99
rear wiper/washer
.....................93
Windshield washer fluid
and wipers
checking and adding fluid
.....269
checking and cleaning
..............93
liftgate reservoir
.....................269
operation
...................................92
replacing wiper blades
.......93–94
Wrecker towing
.........................247
Index
319