2004 FORD MUSTANG wheel alignment

•uneven tire wear
•loose or worn suspension components
•loose or worn steering components
•improper steering alignment
A high crown in the road or high crosswinds may
also make the steering seem to wander/pull.
TRACTION CONTROL(IF EQUIPPED)
Your vehicle may be equipped with a Traction
Control
system. This system helps you maintain
the stability and steerability of your vehicle,
especially on slippery road surfaces such as snow- or
ice-covered roads and gravel roads. The system will
allow your vehicle to make better use of available
traction in these conditions.
During Traction
Control
operation,
the traction control
active light will
illuminate, you may hear an electric motor type of
sound coming from the engine compartment and the
engine will not“rev-up”when you push further on
the accelerator. This is normal system behavior and
should be no reason for concern.
The Traction Control

switch, located below
the radio, illuminates
when the system is off.
The Traction Control

system will
automatically turn on every time the ignition is
turned OFF and ON.
If you should become stuck in snow or ice or on a
very slippery road surface, try switching the Traction
Control
system off. This may allow excess wheel
spin to“dig”the vehicle out and enable a successful
“rocking”maneuver.
The traction control on/off status is shown by an
indicator lamp on the traction control switch. If the
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Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
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Driving
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•Sudden or hard accelerations may reduce fuel
economy.
•Slow down gradually.
•Driving at reasonable speeds (traveling at 88 km/h
[55 mph] uses 15% less fuel than traveling at
105 km/h [65 mph]).
•Revving the engine before turning it off may
reduce fuel economy.
•Using the air conditioner or defroster may reduce
fuel economy.
•You may want to turn off the speed control in
hilly terrain if unnecessary shifting between third
and fourth gear occurs. Unnecessary shifting of
this type could result in reduced fuel economy.
•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).
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and add the appropriate air pressure when you get
to the pump. It is normal for tires to heat up and
the air pressure inside to go up as you drive. Never
“bleed”or reduce air pressure when tires are hot.
2. Remove the cap from the valve on one tire, then
firmly press the tire gauge onto the valve.
3. Add air to reach the recommended air pressure
Note:If you overfill the tire, release air by pushing
on the metal stem in the center of the valve. Then
recheck the pressure with your tire gauge.
4. Replace the valve cap.
5. Repeat this procedure for each tire, including the
spare.
Note:Some spare tires require higher inflation
pressure than the other tires.
6. Visually inspect the tires to make sure there are
no nails or other objects embedded that could poke
a hole in the tire and cause an air leak.
7. Check the sidewalls to make sure there are no
gouges, cuts, bulges or other irregularities.
Tire and wheel alignment
A bad jolt from hitting a curb or pothole can cause
the front end of your vehicle to become misaligned
or damage to your tires. If your vehicle seems to pull
to one side, vibrate or shake when you’re driving,
the wheels may be out of alignment. Have a qualified
technician at a reputable repair facility check the
wheel alignment periodically.
Wheel misalignment in the front or the rear can
cause uneven and rapid treadwear of your tires and
should be corrected by a qualified technician at a
reputable repair facility. Front wheel drive (FWD)
vehicles, and those with independent front
suspension require alignment of all four wheels.
The tires should also be balanced periodically. An
unbalanced tire and wheel assembly may result in
irregular tire wear.
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Note:If your tires show uneven wear ask a qualified
technician at a reputable repair facility to check for
and correct any wheel misalignment, tire imbalance
or mechanical problem involved before tire rotation.
Tire wear
Measure and inspect the tire tread on all your tires
periodically. Advanced and unusual tire wear can
reduce the ability of tread to grip the road in
adverse (wet, snowy, etc.) conditions. Visually check
your tires for uneven wear, looking for high and low
areas or unusually smooth areas. Also check for
signs of tire damage.
When the tread is worn
down to 4 mm (1/16th
of an inch), tires must
be replaced to prevent
your vehicle from
skidding and
hydroplaning. Built-in treadwear indicators, or“wear
bars”, which look like narrow strips of smooth
rubber across the tread will appear on the tire when
the tread is worn down to 4mm (1/16th of an inch).
When you see these“wear bars”, the tire is worn out
and should be replaced.
Inspect your tires frequently for any of the following
conditions and replace them if one or more of the
following conditions exist:
•Fabric showing through the tire rubber
•Bulges in the tread or sidewalls
•Cracks or cuts on the sidewalls
•Cracks in the tread groove
•Impact damage resulting from use
•Separation in the tread
•Separation in the sidewall
•Severe abrasion on the sidewall
If your vehicle has a leak in the exhaust system, a
road tire or the spare tire may be exposed to hot
exhaust temperatures requiring the tire to be
replaced.
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