2003 FORD MUSTANG Owners Manual

HELM, INCORPORATED
P.O. Box 07150
Detroit, Michigan 48207
Or call:
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1-800-782-4356
Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. EST
Helm, Incorporated can also be reached by their
website: www.helminc.com.
(Items in this catalog may be purchased by credit
card, check or money order.)
Obtaining a French owner’s guide
French Owner’s Guides can be obtained from your
dealer or by writing to Ford Motor Company of
Canada, Limited, Service Publications, P.O. Box
1580, Station B, Mississauga, Ontario L4Y 4G3.
IN CALIFORNIA (U.S. ONLY)
California Civil Code Section 1793.2(d) requires that,
if a manufacturer or its representative is unable to
repair a motor vehicle to conform to the vehicle’s
applicable express warranty after a reasonable
number of attempts, the manufacturer shall be
required to either replace the vehicle with one
substantially identical or repurchase the vehicle and
reimburse the buyer in an amount equal to the
actual price paid or payable by the consumer (less a
reasonable allowance for consumer use). The
consumer has the right to choose whether to receive
a refund or replacement vehicle.
California Civil Code Section 1793.22(b) presumes
that the manufacturer has had a reasonable number
of attempts to conform the vehicle to its applicable
express warranties if, within the first 18 months of
ownership of a new vehicle or the first 29,000 km
(18,000 miles), whichever occurs first:
1. Two or more repair attempts are made on the
same nonconformity likely to cause death or serious
bodily injury OR
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2. Four or more repair attempts are made on the
same nonconformity (a defect or condition that
substantially impairs the use, value or safety of the
vehicle) OR
3. The vehicle is out of service for repair of
nonconformities for a total of more than 30 calendar
days (not necessarily all at one time)
In the case of 1 or 2 above, the consumer must also
notify the manufacturer of the need for the repair of
the nonconformity at the following address:
Ford Motor Company
16800 Executive Plaza Drive
Mail Drop 3NE-B
Dearborn, MI 48126
REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS (U.S. ONLY)
If you believe that your
vehicle has a defect
which could cause a
crash or could cause injury or death, you should
immediately inform the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) in addition to
notifying Ford Motor Company.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open
an investigation, and if it finds that a safety defect
exists in a group of vehicles, it may order a recall
and remedy campaign. However, NHTSA cannot
become involved in individual problems between
you, your dealer, or Ford Motor Company.
To contact NHTSA, you may either call the Auto
Safety Hotline toll-free at 1–800–424–9393 (or
366–0123 in the Washington D.C. area) or write to:
NHTSA
U.S. Department of Transportation
Washington, D.C. 20590
You can also obtain other information about motor
vehicle safety from the Hotline.
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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.
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 door handles, roof racks, bumpers, side
moldings, mirror housings or the windshield cowl
area. The paint sealant will“gray”or stain the
parts over time.
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PAINT CHIPS
Your dealer has touch-up paint and sprays to match
your vehicle’s color. Take your color code (printed
on a sticker in the driver’s door jam) to your dealer
to ensure you get the correct color.
•Remove particles such as bird droppings, tree sap,
insect deposits, tar spots, road salt and industrial
fallout before repairing paint chips.
•Always read the instructions before using the
products.
ALUMINUM WHEELS AND COVERS
Aluminum wheel rims or covers are coated with a
clearcoat paint finish. In order to maintain their
shine:
•Clean with Motorcraft Wheel and Tire Cleaner
(ZC-37–A), which is available from your dealer.
•Never apply any cleaning chemical to hot or warm
wheel rims or covers.
•Some automatic car washes may cause damage to
the finish on your wheel rims or covers.
Chemical-strength cleaners, or cleaning chemicals,
in combination with brush agitation to remove
brake dust and dirt, could wear away the
clearcoat finish over time.
•Do not use hydrofluoric acid-based or high
caustic-based wheel cleaners, steel wool, fuels or
strong household detergent.
•To remove tar and grease, use Ford Extra
Strength Tar and Road Oil Removal
(B7A-19520–AA), available from your dealer.
ENGINE
Engines are more efficient when they are clean
because grease and dirt buildup keep the engine
warmer than normal. When washing:
•Take care when using a power washer to clean
the engine. The high-pressure fluid could
penetrate the sealed parts and cause damage.
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•Do not spray a hot engine with cold water to
avoid cracking the engine block or other engine
components.
•Spray Motorcraft Engine Shampoo and Degreaser
(ZC-20) on all parts that require cleaning and
pressure rinse clean.
•Cover the highlighted areas to prevent water
damage when cleaning the engine.
•3.8L OHV V6 engine
•4.6L SOHC V8 engine
•Never wash or rinse the engine while it is
running; water in the running engine may cause
internal damage.
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PLASTIC (NON-PAINTED) EXTERIOR PARTS
Use only approved products to clean plastic parts.
These products are available from your dealer.
•For routine cleaning, use Detail Wash (ZC-3–A).
•If tar or grease spots are present, use Ford Extra
Strength Tar and Road Oil Removal
(B7A-19520–AA).
WINDOWS AND WIPER BLADES
The windshield, rear window and wiper blades
should be cleaned regularly. If the wiper does not
wipe properly, substances on the windshield, rear
window or the wiper blades may be the cause. These
may include hot wax treatments used by commercial
car washes, tree sap, or other organic contamination.
To clean these items, please follow these tips:
•The windshield or rear window may be cleaned
with a non-abrasive cleaner such as Motorcraft
Ultra Clear Spray Glass Cleaner (ZC-23), available
from your dealer.
•Do not use abrasives, as they may cause
scratches.
•Do not use fuel, kerosene, or paint thinner to
clean any parts.
•Wiper blades can be cleaned with isopropyl
(rubbing) alcohol or windshield washer solution.
Be sure to replace wiper blades when they appear
worn or do not function properly.
INSTRUMENT PANEL AND CLUSTER LENS
Clean the instrument panel with a damp cloth, then
dry with a dry cloth.
•Avoid cleaners or polish that increase the gloss of
the upper portion of the instrument panel. The
dull finish in this area helps protect the driver
from undesirable windshield reflection.
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Do not use chemical solvents or strong
detergents when cleaning the steering wheel
or instrument panel to avoid contamination of the
air bag system.
•Be certain to wash or wipe your hands clean if
you have been in contact with certain products
such as insect repellent and suntan lotion in order
to avoid possible damage to the painted surfaces.
INTERIOR
For fabric, carpets, cloth seats, safety belts and seats
equipped with side air bags:
•Remove dust and loose dirt with a vacuum
cleaner.
•Remove light stains and soil with Ford Extra
Strength Upholstery Cleaner (E8AZ-19523–AA).
•If grease or tar is present on the material,
spot-clean the area first with Motorcraft Spot and
Stain Remover (ZC-14).
•Never saturate the seat covers with cleaning
solution.
•Do not use household cleaning products or glass
cleaners, which can stain and discolor the fabric
and affect the flame retardant abilities of the seat
materials.
Do not use cleaning solvents, bleach or dye
on the vehicle’s safety belts, as these actions
may weaken the belt webbing.
Do not use chemical solvents or strong
detergents when cleaning the seat where the
side air bag is mounted. Such products may
contaminate the side air bag system and affect
performance of the side air bag in a collision. The
air bag may not function correctly and not provide
any injury reduction benefits.
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LEATHER SEATS (IF EQUIPPED)
Your leather seating surfaces have a clear, protective
coating over the leather.
•To clean, use a soft cloth with Motorcraft Deluxe
Leather and Vinyl Cleaner (ZC-11–A). Dry the
area with a soft cloth.
•To help maintain its resiliency and color, use the
Motorcraft Deluxe Leather Care Kit (ZC-11–D),
available from your authorized dealer.
•Do not use household cleaning products, alcohol
solutions, solvents or cleaners intended for
rubber, vinyl and plastics, or oil/petroleum-based
leather conditioners. These products may cause
premature wearing of the clear, protective
coating.
CONVERTIBLE TOP AND PADDED MOLDING
Wash with Motorcraft Triple Clean (ZC-13), which is
available from your dealer.
•Do not use stiff bristle brushes or abrasive
materials or cleaners.
•Hot waxes applied by commercial car washes can
affect the cleanability of vinyl material.
•Using high water pressure or wand-type car
washes against the convertible top and windows
may cause water leaks and possible seal damage.
UNDERBODY
Flush the complete underside of your vehicle
frequently. Keep body and door drain holes free
from packed dirt.
FORD, LINCOLN AND MERCURY CAR CARE
PRODUCTS
Your Ford, Lincoln or Mercury dealer has many
quality products available to clean your vehicle and
protect its finishes. These quality products have
been specifically engineered to fulfill your
automotive needs; they are custom designed to
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