
Do not attempt to push-start your vehicle. Automatic
transmissions do not have push-start capability; doing so may
damage the catalytic converter.
Preparing your vehicle
When the battery is disconnected or a new battery is installed, the
transmission must relearn its shift strategy. As a result, the transmission
may have firm and/or soft shifts. This operation is considered normal and
will not affect function or durability of the transmission. Over time, the
adaptive learning process will fully update transmission operation.
1.Use only a 12–volt supply to start your vehicle.
2. Do not disconnect the battery of the disabled vehicle as this could
damage the vehicle’s electrical system.
3. Park the booster vehicle close to the hood of the disabled vehicle
making sure the two vehiclesdo nottouch. Set the parking brake on
both vehicles and stay clear of the engine cooling fan and other moving
parts.
4. Check all battery terminals and remove any excessive corrosion before
you attach the battery cables. Ensure that vent caps are tight and level.
5. Turn the heater fan on in both vehicles to protect any electrical
surges. Turn all other accessories off.
Connecting the jumper cables
1. Connect the positive (+) jumper cable to the positive (+) terminal of
the discharged battery.
Note:In the illustrations,lightning boltsare used to designate the
assisting (boosting) battery.
+–+–
2004 Focus(foc)
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USA English(fus)
Roadside Emergencies
140

SERVICE RECOMMENDATIONS
To help you service your vehicle:
•We highlight do-it-yourself items in the engine compartment for easy
location.
•We provide a scheduled maintenance guide which makes tracking
routine service easy.
If your vehicle requires professional service, your dealership can provide
the necessary parts and service. Check yourWarranty Guide/Owner
Information Guideto find out which parts and services are covered.
Use only recommended fuels, lubricants, fluids and service parts
conforming to specifications. Motorcraft parts are designed and built to
provide the best performance in your vehicle.
PRECAUTIONS WHEN SERVICING YOUR VEHICLE
•Do not work on a hot engine.
•Make sure that nothing gets caught in moving parts.
•Do not work on a vehicle with the engine running in an enclosed
space, unless you are sure you have enough ventilation.
•Keep all open flames and other burning (cigarettes) material away
from the battery and all fuel related parts.
Working with the engine off
•Automatic transmission:
1. Set the parking brake and shift to P (Park).
2. Turn off the engine and remove the key.
3. Block the wheels.
•Manual transmission:
1. Set the parking brake, depress the clutch and place the gearshift in 1
(First).
2. Turn off the engine and remove the key.
3. Block the wheels.
Working with the engine on
•Automatic transmission:
1. Set the parking brake and shift to P (Park).
2. Block the wheels.
2004 Focus(foc)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
Maintenance and Specifications
164

•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 (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.
•Transaxles 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.
2004 Focus(foc)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
187

A
Air bag supplemental restraint
system ..............................89–90, 93and child safety seats ..............91
description ..........................90, 93
disposal ......................................95
driver air bag ......................91, 94
indicator light ...........................93
operation .............................91, 94
passenger air bag ...............91, 94
side air bag ................................93
Air cleaner filter .......................207
Antifreeze
(see Engine coolant) ................175
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ..............................111
Anti-theft system ........................70 arming the system ....................70
disarming a triggered system ..70
Automatic transaxle fluid, adding ............................191
fluid, checking ........................191
fluid, specification ..................212
Automatic transmission ............114 driving an automatic
overdrive .................................115
fluid, refill capacities ..............208
Auxiliary power point .................52
Axle lubricant specifications ..........210
refill capacities ........................208
B
Battery .......................................173 acid, treating emergencies .....173
jumping a disabled battery ....139
maintenance-free ....................173
replacement, specifications ...207 servicing ..................................173
BeltMinder ...................................84
Brakes ........................................111 anti-lock ...................................111
anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light ...........................112
fluid, checking and adding ....190
fluid, refill capacities ..............208
fluid, specifications .........210, 212
lubricant specifications ..210, 212
parking ....................................112
shift interlock ..........................114
C
Capacities for refilling fluids ....208
Cargo cover .................................59
Cell phone use ............................58
Certification Label ....................215
Child safety restraints ................96 child safety belts ......................96
Child safety seats ........................99 attaching with tether straps ..103
in front seat ............................100
in rear seat ..............................100
LATCH .....................................105
Cigar lighter Power Point ..............................52
Cleaning your vehicle engine compartment ..............158
instrument panel ....................161
interior .....................................162
plastic parts ............................161
washing ....................................157
waxing .....................................157
wheels ......................................158
wiper blades ............................161
Climate control (see Air
conditioning or Heating) ......34–35
2004 Focus (foc)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English (fus)
Index
Index
222

choosing the right fuel ...........183
comparisons with EPA fuel
economy estimates .................187
detergent in fuel .....................184
filling your vehicle with fuel .180,182, 185
filter, specifications ........184, 207
fuel pump shut-off switch .....127
improving fuel economy ........185
octane rating ...................183, 212
quality ......................................184
running out of fuel .................184
safety information relating to
automotive fuels .....................180
Fuel pump shut-off switch .......127
Fuses ..................................128 –129
G
Gas cap (see Fuel cap) ............182
Gas mileage
(see Fuel economy) .................185
Gauges .........................................14
H
Hazard flashers .........................127
Headlamps ...................................38 aiming ........................................39
bulb specifications ....................42
daytime running lights .............38
flash to pass ..............................39
high beam .................................39
turning on and off ....................38
Heating heater only system ...................34
Hood ..........................................165
I
Ignition ...............................107, 212 Infant seats (see Safety seats) ..99
Inspection/maintenance (I/M)
testing ........................................189
Instrument panel
cleaning ...................................161
cluster ........................................10
lighting up panel and interior .39
J
Jump-starting your vehicle ......139
K
Keyless entry system autolock .....................................61
Keys positions of the ignition .........107
L
Lamps bulb replacement
specifications chart ..................42
daytime running light ...............38
fog lamps ...................................38
headlamps .................................38
headlamps, flash to pass ..........39
instrument panel, dimming .....39
interior lamps ...........................42
Lane change indicator
(see Turn signal) ........................41
Lights, warning and indicator ....10 anti-lock brakes (ABS) ..........112
Load limits .................................119
Locks autolock .....................................61
childproof ..................................62
Lubricant specifications ...210, 212
2004 Focus (foc)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English (fus)
Index
224

M
Manual transaxlelubricant specifications ..........212
Manual transmission .................117 fluid capacities ........................208
reverse .....................................118
Mirrors .........................................53 side view mirrors (power) .......53
Moon roof ....................................57
Motorcraft parts ................184, 207
O
Octane rating ............................183
Oil (see Engine oil) ..................169
P
Parking brake ............................112
Parts (see Motorcraft parts) ....207
Power distribution box
(see Fuses) ...............................132
Power Point Cigar lighter ..............................52
Power steering ..........................113 fluid, checking and adding ....190
fluid, refill capacity ................208
fluid, specifications .........210, 212
Power Windows ...........................52
R
Rear window defroster ...............37
Relays ........................................128
Remote entry system .................64 locking/unlocking doors ...........61
opening the trunk .....................65 Roadside assistance ..................126
S
Safety Belt Maintenance ............88
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ........................76, 79
–83
Safety defects, reporting ..........156
Safety restraints ..............76, 79 –83
belt minder ...............................84
extension assembly ..................88
for adults .............................80 –82
for children .........................95 –96
safety belt maintenance ...........88
warning light and chime ..........84
Safety seats for children ............99
Seat belts
(see Safety restraints) ...............76
Seats ............................................71
child safety seats ......................99
Servicing your vehicle ..............164
Spare tire
(see Changing the Tire) ...........136
Spark plugs, specifications ......207,
212
Specification chart,
lubricants ...........................210, 212
Speed control ..............................54
Starting your
vehicle ........................107 –108, 110
jump starting ..........................139
Steering wheel tilting .........................................51
Sunroof (moonroof) ...................57
2004 Focus(foc)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English (fus)
Index
225

T
Temperature control
(see Climate control) .................34
Tilt steering wheel ......................51
Tires ...................................194–195
changing ..........................136 –137
snow tires and chains ............206
tire grades ...............................195
treadwear ................................195
Towing .......................................122 recreational towing .................124
trailer towing ..........................122
wrecker ....................................147
Traction control ........................113
Transaxle lubricant specifications ..........212
Transmission automatic operation ...............114
brake-shift interlock (BSI) ....114
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................191
fluid, checking and adding
(manual) .................................194
fluid, refill capacities ..............208
lubricant specifications ..........210
manual operation ....................117 Trunk ...........................................62
remote release ..........................65
Turn signal ..................................41
V
Vehicle dimensions ...................212
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................216
Vehicle loading ..........................119
Ventilating your vehicle ...........111
W
Warning lights (see Lights) .......10
Washer fluid ..............................169
Water, Driving through .............119
Windows power .........................................52
rear wiper/washer .....................50
Windshield washer fluid and
wipers checking and adding fluid .....169
operation ...................................50
replacing wiper blades .............51
Wrecker towing .........................147
2004 Focus (foc)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English (fus)
Index
226