2004 FORD MUSTANG Owners Manual

WASHING THE EXTERIOR
Wash your vehicle regularly with cool or lukewarm
water and a neutral Ph shampoo, such as Motorcraft
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
2004 Mustang(mus)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Cleaning
153

moldings, mirror housings or the windshield cowl
area. The paint sealant will“gray”or stain the
parts over time.
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 WHEEL COVERS
Aluminum wheels and wheel covers are coated with
a clearcoat paint finish. In order to maintain their
shine:
•Clean weekly with Motorcraft Wheel and Tire
Cleaner (ZC-37–A), which is available from your
dealer. Heavy dirt and brake dust accumulation
may require agitation with a sponge. Rinse
thoroughly with a strong stream of water.
•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 Motorcraft Bug and
Tar Remover (ZC-42), available from your dealer.
2004 Mustang(mus)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Cleaning
154

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.
•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.
•OHV V6 engine
2004 Mustang(mus)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Cleaning
155

•4.6L SOHC V8 engine
•4.6L 4V engine (Mach I)
•Never wash or rinse the engine while it is
running; water in the running engine may cause
internal damage.
PLASTIC (NON-PAINTED) EXTERIOR PARTS
Use only approved products to clean plastic parts.
These products are available from your dealer.
•For routine cleaning, use Motorcraft Detail Wash
(ZC-3–A).
•If tar or grease spots are present, use Motorcraft
Bug and Tar Remover (ZC-42).
2004 Mustang(mus)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Cleaning
156

WINDOWS AND WIPER BLADES
The windshield, rear and side windows and the
wiper blades should be cleaned regularly. If the
wipers do not wipe properly, substances on the
vehicle’s glass 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, rear windows and side windows
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.
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.
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.
2004 Mustang(mus)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Cleaning
157

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 interior painted
surfaces.
INTERIOR
For fabric, carpets, cloth seats and safety belts:
•Remove dust and loose dirt with a vacuum
cleaner.
•Remove light stains and soil with Motorcraft Extra
Strength Upholstery Cleaner (ZC-41).
•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 seatbelts, as these actions
may weaken the belt webbing.
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.
2004 Mustang(mus)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Cleaning
158

•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.
Note:In some instances, color or dye transfer can
occur when wet clothing comes in contact with
leather upholstery. If this occurs, the leather should
be cleaned immediately to avoid permanent staining.
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
complement the style and appearance of your
vehicle. Each product is made from high quality
materials that meet or exceed rigid specifications.
For best results, use the following products or
products of equivalent quality:
Motorcraft Custom Clearcoat Polish (ZC–8–A)
Motorcraft Custom Vinyl Protectant (not available in
Canada) (ZC-40–A)
Motorcraft Vinyl Cleaner (Canada only) (CXC-93)
Motorcraft Vinyl Conditioner (Canada only)
(CXC-94)
Motorcraft Deluxe Leather and Vinyl Cleaner (not
available in Canada) (ZC-11–A)
Motorcraft Bug and Tar Remover (ZC-42)
Motorcraft Extra Strength Upholstery Cleaner (not
available in Canada) (ZC-41)
2004 Mustang(mus)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Cleaning
159

Motorcraft Custom Bright Metal Cleaner (ZC-15)
Motorcraft Wheel and Tire Cleaner (ZC-37–A)
Motorcraft Dash and Vinyl Cleaner (ZC-38–A)
Motorcraft Car Care Kit (ZC-26)
Ford Premium Car Wash Concentrate
(F2SZ-19523–WC)
Motorcraft Carlite Glass Cleaner (Canada only)
(CXC-100)
Motorcraft Spot and Stain Remover (ZC-14)
Motorcraft Detail Wash (ZC-3–A)
Motorcraft Tire Clean and Shine (ZC-28)
Motorcraft Triple Clean (ZC-13)
Motorcraft Ultra-Clear Spray Glass Cleaner (not
available in Canada) (ZC-23)
Motorcraft Engine Shampoo and Degreaser (ZC-20)
2004 Mustang(mus)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Cleaning
160