Page 2 of 216
Seating and Safety Restraints 75
Seating 75
Safety restraints 79
Air bags 94
Child restraints 100
Driving 112
Starting 112
Brakes 116
Traction control 118
Transmission operation 119
Trailer towing 125
Roadside Emergencies 129
Getting roadside assistance 129
Hazard flasher switch 130
Fuel pump shut-off switch 130
Fuses and relays 132
Changing tires 138
Jump starting 142
Wrecker towing 148
Customer Assistance 149
Reporting safety defects (U.S. only) 158
Cleaning 159
Table of Contents
2
Page 96 of 216

Do not attempt to service, repair, or modify the Air Bag
Supplemental Restraint System or its fuses. See your Ford or
Lincoln Mercury dealer.
The front passenger air bag is not designed to offer protection to
an occupant in the center front seating position.
Modifying or adding equipment to the front end of the vehicle
(including frame, bumper, front end body structure and tow
hooks) may affect the performance of the air bag system, increasing
the risk of injury. Do not modify the front end of the vehicle.
Children and air bags
Children must always be properly
restrained. Accident statistics
suggest that children are safer when
properly restrained in the rear
seating positions than in the front
seating position. Failure to follow
these instructions may increase the
risk of injury in a collision.
Air bags can kill or injure a
child in a child seat.
NEVERplace a rear-facing child
seat in front of an active air bag. If
you must use a forward-facing
child seat in the front seat, move
the seat all the way back.
Seating and Safety Restraints
96
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Determining if the system is operational
The supplemental restraint system uses a warning indicator in the
instrument cluster or a back-up tone to indicate the condition of the
system. Refer to theWarning lightsection in theInstrument cluster
chapter. Routine maintenance of the air bag is not required.
A difficulty with the system is indicated by one or more of the following:
•The readiness light (same light
for front and side air bag system)
will either flash or stay lit.
•The readiness 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/or light are repaired.
If any of these things happen, even intermittently, have the supplemental
restraint 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.
Side air bag system (if equipped)
Do not place objects or mount equipment on or near the air bag
cover on the side of the seatbacks of the front seats or in front
seat areas that may come into contact with a deploying air bag. Failure
to follow these instructions may increase the risk of personal injury in
the event of a collision.
Do not use accessory seat covers. The use of accessory seat
covers may prevent the deployment of the side air bags and
increase the risk of injury in an accident.
Do not lean your head on the door. The side air bag could injure
you as it deploys from the side of the seatback.
Do not attempt to service, repair, or modify the air bag SRS, its
fuses or the seat cover on a seat containing an air bag. See your
Ford or Lincoln Mercury dealer.
Seating and Safety Restraints
98
Page 119 of 216

If the steering wanders or pulls, check for:
•an underinflated tire
•uneven tire wear
•loose or worn suspension components
•loose or worn steering components
•improper steering alignment
AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE OPERATION
Brake-shift interlock
This vehicle is equipped with a brake-shift interlock feature that prevents
the gearshift lever from being moved from P (Park) when the ignition is
in the ON position unless brake pedal is depressed.
If you cannot move the gearshift lever out of P (Park) with ignition in
the ON position and the brake pedal depressed:
1. Apply the parking brake, turn ignition key to LOCK, then remove the
key.
2. Insert the key and turn it to OFF.Apply the brake pedal and shift
to N (Neutral).
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.
3. Start the vehicle.
If it is necessary to use the above procedure to move the gearshift lever,
it is possible that a fuse has blown or the vehicle’s brakelamps are not
operating properly. Refer toFuses and relaysin theRoadside
emergencieschapter.
Do not drive your vehicle until you verify that the brakelamps
are working.
Always set the parking brake fully and make sure the gearshift is
latched in P (Park). Turn the ignition to the LOCK position and
remove the key whenever you leave your vehicle.
Driving
119
Page 132 of 216
FUSES
If electrical components in the
vehicle are not working, a fuse may
have blown. Blown fuses are
identified by a broken wire within
the fuse. Check the appropriate
fuses before replacing any electrical
components.
Note:Always replace a fuse with one that has the specified amperage
rating. Using a fuse with a higher amperage rating can cause severe wire
damage and could start a fire.
Standard fuse amperage rating and color
COLOR
Fuse
ratingMini
fusesStandard
fusesMaxi
fusesCartridge
Maxi
fusesFuse link
cartridge
2A Grey Grey———
3A Violet Violet———
4A Pink Pink———
5A Tan Tan———
7.5A Brown Brown———
10A Red Red———
15A Blue Blue———
20A Yellow Yellow Yellow Blue Blue
25A Natural Natural———
30A Green Green Green Pink Pink
40A——Amber Green Green
50A——Red Red Red
60A——Blue—Yellow
70A——Ta n—Brown
80A——Natural—Black
15
Roadside Emergencies
132
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Passenger compartment fuse panel
The fuse panel is located below and to the left of the steering wheel by
the brake pedal. Remove the panel cover to access the fuses.
To remove a fuse use the fuse puller tool provided on the fuse panel
cover.
The fuses are coded as follows.
Fuse/relay
locationFuse amp
ratingPassenger compartment fuse
panel description
1—Accessory delay relay
2—Driver one touch down relay
3—Blower motor relay
4—Flasher relay
5—Not used
6—Not used
7 40A Rear defrost grid feed (wagon
only)/Rear defrost relay coil feed
(sedan only)
8 40A Blower motor
9—Rear defrost relay
10 30A Circuit breaker: Power seats,
Delayed accessory, Adjustable
pedals
12
34
56
78
9
10
11 1213 14
15
16 1718
19 2021 22
2324
2526
27 2829
30
32 33
35
3637
38
39 40
41
42
PULL TAB
TO RELEASE SEE OWNERS MANUAL
CONSULTER LA GUIDE
Roadside Emergencies
133
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Power distribution box
The power distribution box is
located in the engine compartment.
The power distribution box contains
high-current fuses that protect your
vehicle’s main electrical systems
from overloads.
Always disconnect the battery before servicing high current
fuses.
To reduce risk of electrical shock, always replace the cover to
the Power Distribution Box before reconnecting the battery or
refilling fluid reservoirs.
If the battery has been disconnected and reconnected, refer to the
Batterysection of theMaintenance and specificationschapter.
Roadside Emergencies
136
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The high-current fuses are coded as follows.
Fuse/relay
locationFuse amp
ratingPower distribution box
description
1 60A** Fuse junction panel
2 30A** Powertrain Control Module (PCM)
relay
3 60A** Fuse junction panel
4—Not used
5—Not used
6—Not used
7 40A** Starter relay, Ignition switch
8—Not used
9 40A** Cooling fan relays
10—Not used
11 50A** Rear defrost (sedan only)
12—Not used
13 40A** Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)
module pump feed
14—Not used
15 20A* ABS module valve solenoid
16 20A* Fuel pump relay
17 20A* Cell port
18 20A* Power point
19 15A* Right headlamp
1
23
4
56
7
8
910
11 12
1314
1516 17
18
19202122
2324
25
29
3026 27 28
31
32
33
Roadside Emergencies
137