2003 LINCOLN AVIATOR Check transmission light

sound. The warning displays and chime will continue until RESET is
pressed (which will clear the message from the display).
•AWD LOCKED can still be engaged by pressing SETUP (the message
center will display AWD LOCKED), then pressing
RESET. The AWD LOCKED indicator light will illuminate in the
instrument cluster and the message center will display AWD
DISABLED .
•To disable AWD, press RESET. The system will go back to AWD AUTO
mode momentarily, then the AWD LOCKED indicator light will flash in
the instrument cluster eight times every two minutes. The display will
then show AWD LOCKED for four seconds and then
turn off.
•If a serious problem occurs with the AWD system, the AWD LOCKED
indicator light in the instrument cluster will flash 10 times every two
minutes. The message center will also display CHECK AWD and a
warning chime will sound. You can press SETUP to check the status of
the AWD system (which will display AWD LOCKED),
but the AWD system will be disabled until the system is serviced.
Driving off-road with truck and utility vehicles
AWD vehicles are specially equipped for driving on sand, snow, mud and
rough terrain and have operating characteristics that are somewhat
different from conventional vehicles, both on and off the road.
When driving at slow speeds off-road under high outside temperatures,
use 1 (First) gear when possible. 1 (First) gear operation will maximize
the engine and transmission cooling capability.
Under severe operating conditions, the A/C may cycle on and off to
protect overheating of the engine.
How your vehicle differs from other vehicles
Truck and utility vehicles can differ from some other vehicles. Your
vehicle may be higher to allow it to travel over rough terrain without
getting hung upor damaging underbody components.
The differences that make your vehicle so versatile also make it handle
differently than an ordinary passenger car.
Maintain steering wheel control at all times, especially in rough terrain.
Since sudden changes in terrain can result in abrupt steering wheel
motion, make sure you gripthe steering wheel from the outside. Do not
gripthe spokes.
Drive cautiously to avoid vehicle damage from concealed objects such as
rocks and stumps.
Driving
183

when you are driving over sand, apply the accelerator slowly and avoid
spinning your wheels. If the vehicle does slide, steer in the direction of
the slide until you regain control of the vehicle.
If the transmission, transfer case or front axle are submerged in water,
their fluids should be checked and changed, if necessary.
Driving through deep water may damage the transmission.
If the front or rear axle is submerged in water, the axle lubricant should
be replaced.
After driving through mud, clean off residue stuck to rotating driveshafts
and tires. Excess mud stuck on tires and rotating driveshafts causes an
imbalance that could damage drive components.
“Tread Lightly” is an educational
program designed to increase public
awareness of land-use regulations
and responsibilities in our nations
wilderness areas. Ford Motor
Company joins the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land
Management in encouraging you to helppreserve our national forest and
other public and private lands by “treading lightly.”
Driving on hilly or sloping terrain
Although natural obstacles may make it necessary to travel diagonally up
or down a hill or steepincline, you should always try to drive straight up
or straight down.Avoid driving crosswise or turning on steep
slopes or hills. A danger lies in losing traction, slipping sideways and
possibly rolling over. Whenever driving on a hill, determine beforehand
the route you will use. Do not drive over the crest of a hill without
seeing what conditions are on the other side. Do not drive in reverse
over a hill without the aid of an observer.
When climbing a steepslope or hill,
start in a lower gear rather than
downshifting to a lower gear from a
higher gear once the ascent has
started. This reduces strain on the
engine and the possibility of stalling.
If you do stall out, Do not try to
turnaround because you might roll
over. It is better to back down to a
safe location.
Driving
187

system gets wet, your engine may stall. Water may also enter your
engine’s air intake and severely damage your engine.
If driving through deepor standing water is unavoidable, proceed very
slowly. Never drive through water that is higher than the bottom of the
hubs (for trucks) or the bottom of the wheel rims (for cars).
Once through the water, always try the brakes. Wet brakes do not stop
the vehicle as effectively as dry brakes. Drying can be improved by
moving your vehicle slowly while applying light pressure on the brake
pedal.
Driving through deep water where the transmission vent tube is
submerged may allow water into the transmission and cause
internal transmission damage. Have the fluid checked and, if
water is found, replace the fluid.
VEHICLE LOADING
Before loading a vehicle, familiarize yourself with the following terms:
•Base Curb Weight:Weight of the vehicle including any standard
equipment, fluids, lubricants, etc. It does not include occupants or
aftermarket equipment.
•Payload:Combined maximum allowable weight of cargo, occupants
and optional equipment. The payload equals the gross vehicle weight
rating minus the weight of your vehicle.
•GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight):Base curb weight plus payload
weight. The GVW is not a limit or a specification.
•GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating):Maximum permissible total
weight of the base vehicle, occupants, optional equipment and cargo.
The GVWR is specific to each vehicle and is listed on the Safety
Certification Label on the driver’s door pillar.
•GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating):Carrying capacity for each axle
system. The GAWR is specific to each vehicle and is listed on the
Safety Certification Label on the driver’s door pillar.
•GCW (Gross Combined Weight):The combined weight of the
towing vehicle (including occupants and cargo) and the loaded trailer.
•GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating):Maximum permissible
combined weight of towing vehicle (including occupants and cargo)
and the loaded trailer.
•Maximum Trailer Weight Rating:Maximum weight of a trailer the
vehicle is permitted to tow. The maximum trailer weight rating is
Driving
191

•Warming upa 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 (approximately
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.
•Close windows for high speed driving.
EPA window sticker
Every new vehicle should have the EPA window sticker. Contact your
dealer if the window sticker is not supplied with your vehicle. The EPA
window sticker should be your guide for the fuel economy comparisons
with other vehicles.
Maintenance and Specifications
262

A
ABS (see Brakes) .....................168
Accessory delay ..........................73
Air bag supplemental
restraint system ........143–144, 147
and child safety seats ............145
description ......................144, 147
disposal ....................................151
driver air bag ..................146, 148
indicator light ...................12, 150
operation .........................146, 148
passenger air bag ...........146, 148
side air bag ..............................147
Air cleaner filter .......................270
Air conditioning ..........................41
auxiliary heater and air
conditioner ................................47
All Wheel Drive (AWD),
driving off road .........................181
Ambulance packages ....................7
Antifreeze
(see Engine coolant) ................251
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ......................168–169
Anti-theft system ......................117
arming the system ..................117
disarming a triggered
system .....................................118
Audio system (see Radio) ...18, 27
Automatic transmission
driving an automatic
overdrive .................................176
fluid, adding ............................265
fluid, checking ........................265
fluid, refill capacities ..............270
fluid, specification ..................275
Auxiliary power point .................69Axle
lubricant
specifications ..................273, 275
refill capacities ........................270
B
Battery .......................................249
acid, treating emergencies .....249
charging system warning
light ............................................12
jumping a disabled battery ....219
maintenance-free ....................249
replacement, specifications ...270
servicing ..................................249
BeltMinder .................................139
Brakes ........................................167
anti-lock ...........................168–169
anti-lock brake system
(ABS) warning light .........12, 169
brake warning light ..................11
fluid, checking and adding ....265
fluid, refill capacities ..............270
fluid, specifications .........273, 275
lubricant
specifications ..................273, 275
parking ....................................169
shift interlock ..........................174
Bulbs ............................................56
C
Calculating load ........................193
Capacities for refilling fluids ....270
Cargo cover ...............................102
CD-single premium .....................18
Cell phone use ............................98
Certification Label ....................276
Changing a tire .........................211
Index
281

Child safety restraints ..............151
child safety belts ....................151
Child safety seats ......................154
attaching with tether straps ..159
in front seat ............................156
in rear seat ..............................156
Cleaning your vehicle
engine compartment ..............237
instrument panel ....................239
interior .............................239–240
interior trim ............................240
plastic parts ............................238
washing ....................................236
waxing .....................................236
wheels ......................................237
wiper blades ............................238
Clock ................................27, 38, 69
Compass, electronic
set zone adjustment .................87
Console ........................................99
overhead ..............................67–68
rear ............................................99
Controls
power seat ...............................123
steering column ........................80
Coolant
checking and adding ..............251
coolant temperature light ........13
refill capacities ................253, 270
specifications ..................273, 275
Cruise control
(see Speed control) ....................76
Customer Assistance ................200
Ford accessories for
your vehicle ....................241, 278
Ford Extended Service
Plan ..........................................228
Getting assistance outside
the U.S. and Canada ..............232Getting roadside assistance ...200
Getting the service
you need .................................226
Ordering additional
owner’s literature ...................233
The Dispute Settlement
Board .......................................229
Utilizing the Mediation/
Arbitration Program ...............232
D
Daytime running lamps
(see Lamps) ................................52
Defrost
rear window ..............................49
Dipstick
automatic transmission
fluid ..........................................265
engine oil .................................245
Doors
door ajar warning .....................14
lubricant specifications ..........273
Driving under special
conditions ..........................184, 187
sand .........................................186
snow and ice ...........................188
through water .................186, 190
Dual automatic temperature
control (DATC) ...........................41
E
Electronic message center .........86
Emergencies, roadside
jump-starting ..........................219
Emission control system ..........263
Engine ........................................275
check engine/service engine
soon light ..................................10
Index
282

replacing the batteries ...........106
Roadside assistance ..................200
Roof rack ...................................101
S
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ............14, 133–136, 138
Safety Canopy ...........................148
Safety defects, reporting ..........235
Safety restraints ................133–138
belt minder .............................139
cleaning the safety belts ........143
extension assembly ................142
for adults .........................134–136
for children .............................151
warning light and
chime ...........................12, 14, 138
Safety seats for children ..........154
Seat belts (see
Safety restraints) ......................133
Seats ..........................................121
child safety seats ....................154
climate control ........................125
easy access/easyout feature ..124
memory seat ...................105, 124
SecuriLock passive
anti-theft system ...............114–116
Servicing your vehicle ..............242
Snowplowing .................................7
Spark plugs,
specifications .....................270, 275
Special notice
ambulance conversions ..............7
utility-type vehicles ....................7
Specification chart,
lubricants ...........................273, 275Speed control ..............................76
Speedometer ...............................16
Starting your vehicle ........164–166
jumpstarting ..........................219
Steering wheel
controls ................................76, 80
T
Tachometer .................................17
Tires ...........................211, 266–267
changing ..........................211, 215
checking the pressure ............267
replacing ..........................215, 268
rotating ....................................268
snow tires and chains ............269
spare tire .........................212–214
tire grades ...............................267
treadwear ................................266
Towing .......................................193
recreational towing .................199
trailer towing ..........................193
wrecker ....................................224
Traction control ........................170
active light ................................13
Transmission .............................174
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................265
fluid, refill capacities ..............270
lubricant specifications ..273, 275
Tripodometer .............................17
Trunk .........................................105
Turn signal ............................13, 55
V
Vehicle dimensions ...................275
Index
286