
You can check the fluid without driving if the
ambient temperature is above 10°C (50°F). However,
if fluid is added at this time, an overfill condition
could result when the vehicle reaches normal
operating temperature.
The transmission fluid
should be in this range
if at normal operating
temperature (66°C-77°C [150°F-170°F]).
The transmission fluid
should be in this range
if at ambient
temperature (10°C-35°C [50°F-95°F]).
High fluid level
Fluid levels above the
safe range may result
in transmission failure.
An overfill condition of transmission fluid may cause
shift and/or engagement concerns and/or possible
damage.
High fluid levels can be caused by an overheating
condition.
Adjusting automatic transmission fluid levels
Before adding any fluid, make sure the correct type
is used. The type of fluid used is normally indicated
on the dipstick and also in theLubricant
specificationssection in this chapter.
Use of a non-approved automatic transmission
fluid may cause internal transmission
component damage.
If necessary, add fluid in 250 ml (1/2 pint)
increments through the filler tube until the level is
correct.
If an overfill occurs,
excess fluid should be
removed by a qualified
technician.
2004 Mustang(mus)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
198

An overfill condition of transmission fluid may
cause shift and/or engagement concerns and/or
possible damage.
Do not use supplemental transmission fluid
additives, treatments or cleaning agents. The use of
these materials may affect transmission operation
and result in damage to internal transmission
components.
Checking and adding manual transmission fluid
(if equipped)
1. Clean the filler plug.
2. Remove the filler
plug and inspect the
fluid level.
3. Note: There are two different manual
transmissions used in this vehicle and they have
different fluid levels. For vehicles equipped with a
V6 engine and Cobra the correct manual
transmission fill level is at the lower edge of the
filler hole. For vehicles equipped with a V8 engine
(except Cobra) the correct manual transmission fill
level is 1.3 cm (1/2 inch) below the edge of the filler
hole.
•Fill level for V6 and
Cobra
2004 Mustang(mus)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
199

•Fill level for V8
(except Cobra)
4. Add enough fluid through the filler opening to
bring the fluid up to the recommended levels.
5. Install and tighten the fill plug securely.
Use only fluid that meets Ford specifications. Refer
toLubricant Specificationsin this chapter.
INFORMATION ABOUT UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY
GRADING
New vehicles are fitted
with tires that have a
rating on them called
Tire Quality Grades.
The Quality grades can
be found where
applicable on the tire sidewall between tread
shoulder and maximum section width. For example:
•Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
These Tire Quality Grades are determined by
standards that the United States Department of
Transportation has set.
Tire Quality Grades apply to new pneumatic tires for
use on passenger cars. They do not apply to deep
tread, winter-type snow tires, space-saver or
temporary use spare tires, tires with nominal rim
diameters of 10 to 12 inches or limited production
tires as defined in Title 49 Code of Federal
Regulations Part 575.104(c)(2).
U.S. Department of Transportation-Tire quality
grades:The U.S. Department of Transportation
requires Ford to give you the following information
about tire grades exactly as the government has
written it.
2004 Mustang(mus)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
200

Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based
on the wear rate of the tire when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified government test
course. For example, a tire graded 150 would wear
one and one-half (1 1/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded 100. The relative
performance of tires depends upon the actual
conditions of their use, however, and may depart
significantly from the norm due to variations in
driving habits, service practices, and differences in
road characteristics and climate.
Traction AA A B C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest are AA,
A, B, and C. The grades represent the tire’s ability to
stop on wet pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on specified government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have
poor traction performance.
The traction grade assigned to this tire is
based on straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration, cornering,
hydroplaning or peak traction characteristics.
Temperature A B C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B and
C, representing the tire’s resistance to the
generation of heat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled conditions on a
specified indoor laboratory test wheel. Sustained
high temperature can cause the material of the tire
to degenerate and reduce tire life, and excessive
temperature can lead to sudden tire failure. The
grade C corresponds to a level of performance which
all passenger car tires must meet under the Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B
and A represent higher levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by
law.
2004 Mustang(mus)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
201

The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly inflated
and not overloaded. Excessive speed,
underinflation, or excessive loading, either
separately or in combination, can cause heat
buildup and possible tire failure.
TIRES
Tires are designed to give many thousands of miles
of service, but they must be maintained in order to
get the maximum benefit from them.
Glossary of tire terminology
•Tire label:A label showing the OE (Original
Equipment) tire sizes, recommended inflation
pressure and the maximum weight the vehicle can
carry.
•Tire Identification Number (TIN):A number
on the sidewall of each tire providing information
about the tire brand and manufacturing plant, tire
size and date of manufacturer.
•Inflation pressure:A measure of the amount of
air in a tire.
•Standard load:A class of P-metric or Metric
tires designed to carry a maximum load at 35 psi
[37 psi (2.5 bar) for Metric tires]. Increasing the
inflation pressure beyond this pressure will not
increase the tires load carrying capability.
•Extra load:A class of P-metric or Metric tires
designed to carry a heavier maximum load at 41
psi [43 psi (2.9 bar) for Metric tires]. Increasing
the inflation pressure beyond this pressure will
not increase the tires load carrying capability.
•kPa:Kilopascal, a metric unit of air pressure.
•PSI:Pounds per square inch, a standard unit of
air pressure.
•B-pillar:The structural member at the side of
the vehicle behind the front door.
2004 Mustang(mus)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
202

•Bead area of the tire:Area of the tire next to
the rim.
•Sidewall of the tire:Area between the bead
area and the tread.
•Tread area of the tire:Area of the perimeter of
the tire that contacts the road when mounted on
the vehicle.
•Rim:The metal support (wheel) for a tire or a
tire and tube assembly upon which the tire beads
are seated.
INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THE TIRE
SIDEWALL
Federal law requires tire manufacturers to place
standardized information on the sidewall of all tires.
This information identifies and describes the
fundamental characteristics of the tire and also
provides a tire identification number for safety
standard certification and in case of a recall.
Information on“P”type tires
P215/65R15 95H is an
example of a tire size,
load index and speed
rating. The definitions
of these items are
listed below. (Note that
the tire size, load index
and speed rating for
your vehicle may be
different than this
example.)
1.P:Indicates a tire, designated by the Tire and Rim
Association (T&RA), that maybe used for service on
cars, SUVs, minivans and light trucks.
Note:If your tire size does not begin with a letter
this may mean it is designated by either ETRTO
(European Tire and Rim Technical Organization) or
JATMA (Japan Tire Manufacturing Association).
2004 Mustang(mus)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
203

2.215:Indicates the nominal width of the tire in
millimeters from sidewall edge to sidewall edge. In
general, the larger the number, the wider the tire.
3.65:Indicates the aspect ratio which gives the
tire’s ratio of height to width.
4.R:Indicates a“radial”type tire.
5.15:Indicates the wheel or rim diameter in inches.
If you change your wheel size, you will have to
purchase new tires to match the new wheel
diameter.
6.95:Indicates the tire’s load index. It is an index
that relates to how much weight a tire can carry.
You may find this information in your owner’s guide.
If not, contact a local tire dealer.
Note:You may not find this information on all tires
because it is not required by federal law.
7.H:Indicates the tire’s speed rating. The speed
rating denotes the speed at which a tire is designed
to be driven for extended periods of time under a
standard condition of load and inflation pressure.
The tires on your vehicle may operate at different
conditions for load and inflation pressure. These
speed ratings may need to be adjusted for the
difference in conditions. The ratings range from
159 km/h (99 mph) to 299 km/h (186 mph). These
ratings are listed in the following chart.
Note:You may not find this information on all tires
because it is not required by federal law.
Letter rating Speed rating - km/h (mph)
Q 159 km/h (99 mph)
R 171 km/h (106 mph)
S 180 km/h (112 mph)
T 190 km/h (118 mph)
U 200 km/h (124 mph)
H 210 km/h (130 mph)
V 240 km/h (149 mph)
W 270 km/h (168 mph)
2004 Mustang(mus)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
204

Letter rating Speed rating - km/h (mph)
Y 299 km/h (186 mph)
Note:For tires with a maximum speed capability over
240 km/h (149 mph), tire manufacturers sometimes use the
letters ZR. For those with a maximum speed capability over
299 km/h (186 mph), tire manufacturers always use the
letters ZR.
8.U.S. DOT Tire Identification Number (TIN):
This begins with the letters“DOT”and indicates that
the tire meets all federal standards. The next two
numbers or letters are the plant code where it was
manufactured, the next two are the tire size code
and the last four numbers represent the week and
year the tire was built. For example, the numbers
317 mean the 31st week of 1997. After 2000 the
numbers go to four digits. For example, 2501 means
the 25th week of 2001. The numbers in between are
marketing codes used at the manufacturer’s
discretion. This information is used to contact
customers if a tire defect requires a recall.
9.M+S or M/S:Mud and Snow. or
AT:All Terrain. or
AS:All Season.
10.Tire Ply Composition and Material Used:
Indicates the number of plies or the number of
layers of rubber-coated fabric in the tire tread and
sidewall. Tire manufacturers also must indicate the
ply materials in the tire and the sidewall, which
include steel, nylon, polyester, and others.
11.Maximum Load:Indicates the maximum load in
kilograms and pounds that can be carried by the
tire. Refer to the tire label or the safety certification
label, located on the B-Pillar or the driver’s door, for
the correct tire pressure for your vehicle
12.Treadwear, Traction and Temperature
Grades
•Treadwear:The treadwear grade is a
comparative rating based on the wear rate of the
tire when tested under controlled conditions on a
specified government test course. For example, a
2004 Mustang(mus)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
205