2004 FORD RANGER towing

GETTING ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE
To fully assist you should you have a vehicle concern, Ford Motor
Company offers a complimentary roadside assistance program. This
program is separate from the New Vehicle Limited Warranty. The service
is available:
•24–hours, seven days a week
• for the New Vehicle Limited Warranty period of three years or 60,000
km (36,000 miles), whichever occurs first on Ford and Mercury
vehicles, and four years or 80,000 km (50,000 miles) on Lincoln
vehicles.
Roadside assistance will cover:
• changing a flat tire
• jump-starts
• lock-out assistance
• limited fuel delivery
• towing of your disabled vehicle to the nearest Ford Motor Company
dealership, or your selling dealer if within 56.3 km (35 miles) of the
nearest Ford Motor Company dealership (one tow per disablement).
Even non-warranty related tows, like accidents or getting stuck in the
mud or snow, are covered (some exclusions apply, such as impound
towing or repossession).
Canadian customers refer to your Owner Information Guide for
information on:
• coverage period
• exact fuel amounts
• towing of your disabled vehicle
• emergency travel expense reimbursement
• travel planning benefits
USING ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE
Complete the roadside assistance identification card and place it in your
wallet for quick reference. In the United States, this card is found in the
Owner Guide portfolio in the glove compartment in Ford vehicles and is
mailed to you if you own a Mercury or Lincoln. In Canada, the card is
found in the Owner Information Guide in the glove compartment.
U.S. Ford or Mercury vehicle customers who require roadside assistance,
call 1 –800 –241 –3673; Lincoln vehicle customers call 1 –800 –521 –4140.
2004 Ranger (ran)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English (fus)
Roadside Emergencies
Roadside Emergencies
132

10. Remove the jack and fully
tighten the lug nuts, in the order
shown, to 135 Nm (100 lb-ft). Note
that these tightening specifications
are for nut and bolt threads that are
free of dirt and rust. Use only Ford
recommended (1/2–20) replacement
fasteners.
11. Stow the flat tire. Refer to
Stowing the flat/spare tire.
12. Stow the jack and lug wrench. Make sure the jack is fastened so it
does not rattle when you drive.
13. Unblock the wheels.
Stowing the flat/spare tire
Note: Failure to follow spare tire stowage instructions may result in
failure of cable or loss of spare tire.
1. Lay the tire on the ground with the valve stem facing up.
2. Slide the wheel partially under the vehicle and install the wire and
retainer through the center of the wheel.
3. Turn the jack handle clockwise until the tire is raised to its original
position underneath the vehicle. The effort to turn the jack handle
increases significantly as the tire contacts the frame. The spare tire
carrier will ratchet when the tire is in the fully stowed position. The
spare tire carrier has a built-in ratchet feature that will not allow you to
overtighten. If the spare tire carrier ratchets with very little effort, take
the vehicle to your dealer for assistance at your earliest convenience.
4. Check that the tire lies flat against the frame assembly. Push against
the tire to make sure it is tightly sealed under the vehicle. Loosen and
retighten, if necessary. Failure to properly stow the spare tire may result
in failure of the winch cable and loss of the spare tire.
5. Repeat this tightness check procedure when servicing the spare tire
pressure (every six months, per scheduled maintenance guide), or at any
time that the spare tire is disturbed through service of other
components.
6. Install the spare tire lock (if equipped) into the access hole above the
rear bumper with the spare tire lock key (if equipped) and jack handle.1
4
3
2
5
2004 Ranger (ran)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English (fus)
Roadside Emergencies
150

WRECKER TOWING
If you need to have your vehicle towed, contact a professional towing
service or, if you are a member of a roadside assistance program, your
roadside assistance service provider.
It is recommended that your vehicle be towed with a wheel lift or flatbed
equipment. Do not tow with a slingbelt. Ford Motor Company has not
approved a slingbelt towing procedure.
On 4x2 vehicles, it is acceptable to tow the vehicle with the front wheels
on the ground and the rear wheels off the ground.
On 4x4 vehicles, it is recommended that your vehicle be towed with a
wheel lift and dollies or flatbed equipment with all the wheels off the
ground.
If the vehicle is towed by other means or incorrectly, vehicle
damage may occur.
Ford Motor Company produces a towing manual for all authorized tow
truck operators. Have your tow truck operator refer to this manual for
proper hook-up and towing procedures for your vehicle.
2004 Ranger(ran)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English (fus)
Roadside Emergencies
156

In the United States, a warranty dispute must be submitted to the
Dispute Settlement Board before taking action under the Magnuson-Moss
Warranty Act, or to the extent allowed by state law, before pursuing
replacement or repurchase remedies provided by certain state laws. This
dispute handling procedure is not required prior to enforcing state
created rights or other rights which are independent of the
Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act or state replacement or repurchase laws.
FORD EXTENDED SERVICE PLAN
You can get more protection for your new car or light truck by
purchasing Ford Extended Service Plan (Ford ESP) coverage. Ford ESP
is an optional service contract which is backed by Ford Motor Company
or Ford Motor Service Company (in the U.S.) and Ford of Canada (in
Canada). It provides the following:
•Benefits during the warranty period depending on the plan you
purchase (such as: reimbursement for rentals; coverage for certain
maintenance and wear items).
• Protection against covered repair costs after your Bumper-to-Bumper
Warranty expires.
You may purchase Ford ESP from any participating Ford and Lincoln
Mercury and Ford of Canada dealer. There are several plans available in
various time, distance and deductible combinations which can be tailored
to fit your own driving needs. Ford ESP also offers reimbursement
benefits for towing and rental coverage.
When you buy Ford ESP, you receive Peace-of-Mind protection
throughout the United States and Canada, provided by a network of
more than 5,000 participating Ford or Lincoln Mercury and Ford of
Canada dealers.
If you did not take advantage of the Ford Extended Service Plan at the
time of purchasing your vehicle, you may still be eligible. Since this
information is subject to change, please ask your dealer for complete
details about Ford Extended Service Plan coverage options, or visit the
Ford ESP website at www.ford-esp.com.
2004 Ranger (ran)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English (fus)
Customer Assistance
159

•Anticipate stopping; slowing down may eliminate the need to stop.
• 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 to Lubricant 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.
2004 Ranger (ran)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English (fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
201

Splash guards
Step bars
Tonneau covers
Truck caps
Wheels
Interior style
Cell phone holders
Consoles
Electrochromatic compass/temperature interior mirrors
Floor mats
Interior trim kits
Leather wrapped steering wheels
Scuff plates
Speed control
Lifestyle
Bedliners and bedmats
Bed tents
Bike racks
Cargo organization and management
Diamond plate accessories
Engine block heaters and blankets
Rear seat entertainment systems
Toolboxes
Towing mirrors
TracRac and accessories
Trailer hitches, wiring harnesses and accessories
2004 Ranger(ran)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English (fus)
Accessories
237

Safety belts
(see Safety restraints) ...62, 64–67
Safety defects, reporting ..........166
Safety restraints ..............62, 64 –67
belt minder ...............................69
extension assembly ..................69
for adults .............................64 –66
for children .........................83 –84
lap belt ......................................68
safety belt maintenance ...........73
warning light and chime ..........69
Safety seats for children ............87
Seat belts
(see Safety restraints) ...............62
Seats ............................................60 child safety seats ......................87
Servicing your vehicle ..............174
Setting the clock AM/FM stereo ...........................18
AM/FM stereo CD .....................21
AM/FM stereo tape/CD/MP3 ....25
Premium AM/FM stereo
CD6/MP3 ...................................28
Snowplowing .................................7
Spare tire
(see Changing the Tire) ...........145
Spark plugs,
specifications .....................224, 231
Special notice ambulance conversions ..............7
utility-type vehicles ....................7
Specification chart,
lubricants ...........................228, 231
Speed control ..............................47
Starting your vehicle ......96 –97, 99
jump starting ..........................151 Steering wheel
tilting .........................................46
T
Tilt steering wheel ......................46
Tires ...................................144, 212 changing ..........144 –145, 147, 151
snow tires and chains ............223
spare tire .................................144
tire grades ...............................213
treadwear ................................212
Towing .......................................121 recreational towing .................130
trailer towing ..........................121
wrecker ....................................156
Traction-lok rear axle ...............102
Transfer case fluid checking .........................210
Transmission automatic operation ...............103
brake-shift interlock (BSI) ....103
fluid, checking and adding
(manual) .................................209
fluid, refill capacities ..............225
lubricant specifications ..228, 231
manual operation ....................106
Turn signal ..................................39
V
Vehicle dimensions ...................231
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................234
Vehicle loading ..........................118 camper bodies ........................131
Ventilating your vehicle ...........100
2004 Ranger (ran)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English (fus)
Index
243

W
Warning lights (see Lights) .......10
Washer fluid ..............................179
Water, Driving through .............118
Windowspower .........................................47 Windshield washer fluid and
wipers
..........................................45
checking and adding fluid .....179
replacing wiper blades .............45
Wrecker towing .........................156
2004 Ranger(ran)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English (fus)
Index
244