Introduction
2
Cobra unique standard features
5
Engine/Transmission
7
Drivetrain
9
Chassis
10
Seating and energy management
11
Maintenance
14
Part numbers 14
Refill capacities 14
Roadside Emergencies
23
Wrecker towing 23
Fuses and relays 23
A word about warranty coverage
24
All rights reserved. Reproduction by any means, electronic
or mechanical including photocopying, recording or by any
information storage and retrieval system or translation in
whole or part is not permitted without written
authorization from Ford Motor Company. Ford may change
the contents without notice and without incurring
obligation.
Copyright © 2002 Ford Motor Company
Table of contents
1
SVT HISTORY
The Ford Special Vehicle Team (SVT) was
established in 1991 to“Polish the Ford Oval”by
creating low-volume, factory-produced vehicles
designed for those select few whose idea of driving
is a high-powered, passionate experience—not just
a means of getting from point A to point B.
In a move to support this spirited enthusiasm, Ford
Motor Company carefully integrated the wide array of
talent in the company into a small, cross-functional
group of engineers, product planners, and marketing
people, housed together under one roof with a
common mission: to create vehicles specifically
designed to meet the unique needs and desires of the
knowledgeable driving enthusiast.
Each of the over 100,000 SVT vehicles produced
since the 1993 model year has been designed and
developed with the four SVT Hallmarks in mind:
Performance, Substance, Exclusivity and Value.
These hallmarks have driven the SVT Mustang Cobra
and the Cobra R, the SVT F-150 Lightning , the SVT
Contour and the SVT Focus.
We are proud and passionate about what we do, and
we’re glad you have made us your choice.
SVT OWNERSHIP BENEFITS
•SVT Authorized Dealers:A network of specially
trained and certified SVT dealers who are
dedicated to maintaining a culture within their
dealerships that understands the knowledgeable
driving enthusiast.
•SVT Premium Service*:As an owner or lessee
of a 2003 model year SVT vehicle, you will be
provided a complimentary loaner vehicle when
your 2003 SVT vehicle is in for service (includes
warranty work and routine maintenance, other
than oil changes). The dealership will also wash
and vacuum your vehicle upon request.
•
SVT Owner’s Association (SVTOA) One year
membership:
The SVT Owners Association
(SVTOA) is a club dedicated to enhance the SVT
Introduction
3
MOTORCRAFT PART NUMBERS
Component 4.6L DOHC Supercharged
V8 engine
Air filter element FA-1632
Fuel filter FG-800A
Battery BXT-59
Oil filter FL-820S
PCV valve EV-153
Spark plugs* AGSF-12FM1
* Refer to Vehicle Emissions Control Information
(VECI) decal for spark plug gap information.
REFILL CAPACITIES
Fluid Ford Part Name Capacity
Brake fluid Motorcraft High
Performance DOT
3 Motor Vehicle
Brake FluidFill to line on
reservoir
Engine oil
(includes filter
change)Motorcraft SAE
5W-20 Super
Premium Motor
Oil5.7L (6.0 quarts)
Engine coolant
1Motorcraft
Premium Engine
Coolant
(green-colored) or
Motorcraft
Premium Gold
Engine Coolant
(yellow-colored)15.2L (16.1
quarts)
Power steering
fluidMotorcraft
MERCONAT FFill to between
MIN and MAX
lines on reservoir
Rear axle lubricant
2Motorcraft SAE
75W-140 High
Performance
Synthetic Rear
Axle Lubricant1.4L (2.9 pints)
Fuel tank N/A 59.4L (15.7
gallons)
Maintenance
14
Fluid Ford Part Name Capacity
Intercooler coolant Motorcraft
Premium Engine
Coolant
(green-colored) or
Motorcraft
Premium Gold
Engine Coolant
(yellow-colored)3.75L (3.96 qts)
Transmission fluid
3Refer to the label
on your
transmission3.9L (8.2 pints)4
Windshield washer
fluidUltra-Clear
Windshield Washer
Concentrate3.8L (4.0 quarts)
1Add the coolant type originally equipped in your
vehicle.
2Rear axle lubricants do not need to be checked or
changed unless a leak is suspected, service is
required or the axle assembly has been submerged
in water. The axle lubricant should be changed any
time the rear axle has been submerged in water. Fill
6 mm to 14 mm (1/4 inch to 9/16 inch) below
bottom of fill hole. Add 118 ml (4 oz.) of Additive
Friction Modifier C8AZ-19B546-A or equivalent
meeting Ford specification EST-M2C118–A for
complete refill of Traction-Lok axles.
3The TTC T56 6 Speed transmission on your SVT
Mustang Cobra uses automatic transmission fluid.
Ensure the correct automatic transmission fluid is
used as indicated in the label on your transmission.
4Service refill capacity is determined by filling the
transmission to the bottom of the filler hole with the
vehicle on a level surface.
Maintenance
15
OCTANE RECOMMENDATIONS
Your vehicle is designed
to use“Premium”
unleaded gasoline with
an (R+M)/2 octane
rating of 91 or higher for optimum performance. The
use of gasolines with lower octane ratings may
degrade performance. We do not recommend the
use of gasolines labeled as“Premium”in high
altitude areas that are sold with octane ratings of
less than 91.
If your engine knocks under most driving conditions
while you are using fuel with the recommended
octane rating, see your dealer or a qualified service
technician to prevent any engine damage.
CHECKING ENGINE COOLANT
The concentration and level of engine coolant should
be checked at the mileage intervals listed in the
scheduled maintenance guide. The coolant
concentration should be maintained at 50/50 coolant
and water, which equates to a freeze point of -36°C
(-34°F). Coolant concentration testing is possible
with a hydrometer or antifreeze tester (such as the
Rotunda Battery and Antifreeze Tester,
0014–R1060). The level of coolant should be
maintained at the“cold full”of“cold fill range”level
in the coolant reservoir. If the level falls below, add
coolant per the instructions in theAdding Engine
Coolantsection.
Your vehicle was factory-filled with a 50/50 engine
coolant and water concentration. If the
concentration of coolant falls below 40% or above
60%, the engine parts could become damaged or not
work properly.A50–50 mixture of coolant and
water provides the following:
•freeze protection down to -36°C (-34°F).
•boiling protection up to 129°C (265°F).
•protection against rust and other forms of
corrosion.
91(R+M)/2 METHOD
Maintenance
16
•an accurate temperature readout from the
engine coolant gauge.
When the engine is cold,
check the level of the
engine coolant in the
reservoir.
•The engine coolant should be at the“cold fill
level”as listed on the engine coolant reservoir.
•Refer to the scheduled maintenance guide for
service interval schedules.
•Be sure to read and understandPrecautions
when servicing your vehiclein this chapter.
If the engine coolant has not been checked at the
recommended interval, the engine coolant reservoir
may become low or empty. If the reservoir is low or
empty, add engine coolant to the reservoir. Refer to
Adding engine coolantin this chapter.
Note:Automotive fluids are not interchangeable; do
not use engine coolant, antifreeze or windshield
washer fluid outside of its specified function and
vehicle location.
Adding engine coolant
When adding coolant, make sure it is a 50/50
mixture of engine coolant and distilled water. Add
the mixture to the coolant reservoir,when the
engine is cool, until the appropriate fill level is
obtained.
Do not add engine coolant when the engine
is hot. Steam and scalding liquids released
from a hot cooling system can burn you badly.
Also, you can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts.
Maintenance
17
Do not put engine coolant in the windshield
washer fluid container. If sprayed on the
windshield, engine coolant could make it difficult
to see through the windshield.
The cooling system in your vehicle is filled with
either green-colored Motorcraft Premium Engine
Coolant meeting Ford specification ESE-M97B44–A
or yellow-colored Motorcraft Premium Gold Engine
Coolant meeting Ford Specification
WSS-M97B51–A1. To determine your vehicle’s
coolant type (color), check your coolant reservoir.
•Add Motorcraft Premium Engine Coolant
(green-colored), VC-4–A (U.S.) or CXC-10
(Canada) or Motorcraft Premium Gold
Engine Coolant (yellow-colored), VC-7–A,
depending on the type of coolant originally
equipped in your vehicle.If you are unsure
which type of coolant your vehicle requires, check
your coolant reservoir or contact your local
dealer.
•Do not add/mix an orange-colored, extended
life coolant such as Motorcraft Speciality
Orange Engine Coolant, VC-2 (US) or
CXC-209 (Canada), meeting Ford
specification WSS-M97B44–D with the
factory-filled coolant.Mixing Motorcraft
Speciality Orange Engine Coolant or any
orange-colored extended life product with your
factory filled coolant can result in degraded
corrosion protection.
•A large amount of water without engine coolant
may be added, in case of emergency, to reach a
vehicle service location. In this instance, the
cooling system must be drained and refilled with a
50/50 mixture of engine coolant and distilled
water as soon as possible. Water alone (without
engine coolant) can cause engine damage from
corrosion, overheating or freezing.
•Do not use alcohol, methanol or brine or any
engine coolants mixed with alcohol or
Maintenance
18
methanol antifreeze (coolant).Alcohol and
other liquids can cause engine damage from
overheating or freezing.
•Do not add extra inhibitors or additives to
the coolant.These can be harmful and
compromise the corrosion protection of the
engine coolant.
•Do not mix with recycled coolant unless from
a Ford-approved recycling process (seeUse of
Recycled Engine Coolantsection).
To avoid personal injury, make sure the
engine is cool before unscrewing the coolant
pressure relief cap. The cooling system is under
pressure; steam and hot liquid can come out
forcefully when the cap is loosened slightly.
If you must remove the pressure relief cap or
radiator cap (depending upon engine application),
follow these steps to avoid personal injury:
1. Before you remove the cap, turn the engine off
and let it cool.
2. When the engine is cool, wrap a thick cloth
around the cap. Slowly turn cap counterclockwise
until pressure begins to release.
3. Step back while the pressure releases.
4. When you are sure that all the pressure has been
released, use the cloth to turn it counterclockwise
and remove the cap.
Engine coolant refill procedure
The following procedure should be used when
refilling the cooling system after it has been drained
or become extremely low.
1. Remove the pressure relief cap from the engine
coolant reservoir as previously outlined.
2. Slowly add a50/50 mixtureof engine coolant
and distilled water to the engine coolant reservoir
until the coolant level is at the“cold fill level”as
listed on the reservoir.
Maintenance
19