Page 36 of 240
5. Disconnect the electrical
connector from the bulb by pulling
rearward.
6. Remove the bulb retaining ring by
rotating it counterclockwise.
7. Remove the old bulb from the
lamp assembly by pulling it straight
out of the lamp assembly.
To install the new bulb:
Handle a halogen headlamp bulb carefully and keep out of
children’s reach. Grasp the bulb only by its plastic base and do
not touch the glass. The oil from your hand could cause the bulb to
break the next time the headlamps are operated.
1. Install the new bulb in lamp assembly by pushing straight in with the
flat surface of the bulb’s plastic base facing upward. You may need to
turn the bulb slightly to align the grooves in the plastic base with the
tabs in the lamp assembly.
2004 Taurus(tau)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Lights
36
Page 37 of 240

2. Install the bulb retaining ring over the plastic base and lock the ring
by rotating clockwise until it snaps into place.
3. Connect the electrical connector to the bulb.
4. Install the protective dust shield and lock the shield by rotating it
clockwise until it locks into position.
5. Carefully position the headlamp assembly onto the vehicle.
6. Hold the headlamp assembly snugly against the vehicle and install the
retainer pins straight down to lock the lamp into place.
7. Before reinstalling the bolt, make sure the retainer pins are fully
seated, and install bolt on headlamp housing.
8. Turn the headlamps on and make sure they work properly. If the
headlamp was correctly aligned before you changed the bulb, you should
not need to align it again.
Replacing front parking lamp/turn signal/cornering lamp bulbs
1. Make sure the headlamp control
is in the OFF position.
2. Remove the bolt from the
headlamp housing.
3. At the back of the headlamp, pry
up and remove the two retainer pins
to release the headlamp assembly
from the vehicle and pull headlamp
forward.
4. Rotate the bulb socket
counterclockwise and remove it
from the lamp assembly.
2004 Taurus(tau)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Lights
37
Page 38 of 240

5. Carefully pull bulb straight out of
the socket and push in the new
bulb.
6. Install the bulb socket into the
lamp assembly by rotating it
clockwise.
7. Carefully position the headlamp
assembly onto the vehicle.
8. Hold the headlamp assembly snugly against the vehicle and install the
retainer pins straight down to lock the lamp into place.
9. Before reinstalling the bolt, make sure the retainer pins are fully
seated, and install bolt on headlamp housing.
10. Turn the headlamps on and make sure they work properly. If the
headlamp was correctly aligned before you changed the bulb, you should
not need to align it again.
Replacing high-mount brakelamp assembly — Sedan only
To change the high-mount brake
lamp assembly:
1. Pry the light assembly away from
its housing and push rearward to
disengage it from the retaining clips.
2. Lift the front of the light
assembly from the parcel shelf.
3. Disconnect the light assembly
wiring and replace the light
assembly.
2004 Taurus(tau)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Lights
38
Page 41 of 240
3. On the underside of the spoiler,
remove the two decorative screw
covers (on the LED module).
4. Remove the two screws that are
holding the LED module in place.
5. Remove the wiring harness
grommet and disengage the
electrical connector.
6. Replace the LED module.
7. To complete installation, follow
the removal procedure in reverse
order.
Replacing license plate lamp bulbs
Wagon
1. Make sure headlamp switch is in
OFF position and remove screw and
the license plate lamp assembly
from liftgate.
2. Remove bulb socket by turning
counterclockwise.
3. Carefully pull the bulb out from
the socket and push in the new
bulb.
4. Install the lamp assembly on
liftgate with screw.
2004 Taurus(tau)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Lights
41
Page 42 of 240

Sedan
1. Make sure headlamp switch is in
OFF position and remove two
screws, grommets and the license
plate lamp assembly from the trunk
lid.
2. Carefully pull the bulb from the
socket and push in the new bulb.
3. Install the lamp assembly on
trunk lid with two grommets,
ensuring the grommets are pushed all the way in to the trunk lid and
secure with two screws.
Replacing tail/brake/turn signal/backup lamp bulbs
Sedan
The tail lamp, brake lamp, turn
signal lamp and backup lamp bulbs
are located in the same portion of
the tail lamp assembly. Follow the
same steps to replace either bulb.
1. Make sure headlamp switch is in
OFF position and open trunk and
remove two plastic mushroom nuts,
five push pins and the plastic cover
from inside the trunk to access the
lamp assembly.
2. Carefully pull the carpet away to
expose the lamp assembly hardware.
3. Remove three nut and washer
assemblies and the lamp assembly
from the vehicle.
4. Remove the bulb socket by
rotating it counterclockwise, then
pulling it out of the lamp assembly.
5. Pull the bulb from the socket and
push in the new bulb.
2004 Taurus(tau)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Lights
42
Page 43 of 240

6. Install the bulb socket into the lamp assembly by rotating it clockwise.
7. Install the lamp assembly on the vehicle with three nut and washer
assemblies ensuring the washers on the nuts are flush with the body to
prevent water from entering the trunk.
8. Carefully push the carpet back in to place and install the plastic cover
inside the trunk with five push pins and two plastic mushroom nuts.
Wagon
The tail lamp/turn lamp
bulbs/brake/backup are located in
the same portion of the tail lamp
assembly, one just below the other.
Follow the same steps to replace
either bulb:
1. Make sure headlamp switch is in
OFF position and open the liftgate
to expose the lamp assemblies.
2. Remove the two bolts from the
tail lamp assembly.
3. Carefully pull the lamp assembly
from the tailgate.
4. Twist the bulb socket
counterclockwise and remove from
lamp assembly.
5. Pull the bulb straight out of the
socket and push in the new bulb.
6. Install bulb socket in lamp assembly by turning clockwise.
7. Carefully install the tail lamp assembly on tailgate and secure with two
bolts.
2004 Taurus(tau)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Lights
43
Page 44 of 240
MULTI-FUNCTION LEVER
Windshield wiper:Rotate the end
of the control away from you to
increase the speed of the wipers;
rotate towards you to decrease the
speed of the wipers.
Windshield washer:Push the end
of the stalk:
•briefly: causes a single swipe of
the wipers without washer fluid.
•a quick push and hold: the wipers
will swipe three times with
washer fluid.
•a long push and hold: the wipers and washer fluid will be activated for
up to ten seconds.
Rear window wiper and washer (wagon only)
The rear wiper control is located
under the headlamp controls Press
the wiper control to activate the
rear wiper. Press again to turn off
the wiper.
2004 Taurus(tau)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Driver Controls
Driver Controls
44
Page 80 of 240

Arming the system
When armed, this system will respond if unauthorized entry is
attempted. When unauthorized entry occurs, the system will flash the
headlamps and/or parking lamps and will sound the horn.
The system is ready to arm whenever key is removed from the ignition.
Either of the following actions will prearm the alarm system:
•Press the
control on the remote entry transmitter.
•Press the 7•8 and the 9•0 on the keyless entry keypad (if
equipped) at the same time.
•
Open a door and press the power door lock control to lock all the doors.
Note:The hood, each door and the liftgate (wagon) arm individually,
and if any of them are open, they must be closed in order to be armed.
When you press the
control on the remote entry transmitter twice
within three seconds:
•the horn will chirp twice to indicate the hood, each door and the
liftgate (wagon) are closed.
•the horn will chirp twice to indicate that either the hood, a door or
the liftgate (wagon) is still open.
Disarming the system
You can disarm the system by any of the following actions:
•Unlock the doors by pressing the
control on your remote entry
transmitter.
•Unlock the doors by using the keyless entry pad.
•Unlock the doors with a key. Turn the key full travel (toward the front
of the vehicle) to ensure the alarm disarms.
•Turn the ignition to the RUN position.
•Press the
control on the remote entry transmitter. This will only
shut the horn off when the alarm is sounding; the alarm system will
still be armed.
Triggering the anti-theft system
The armed system will be triggered if:
•Any door, liftgate (wagon) or the hood is opened without using the
key or the remote entry transmitter.
•The trunk key cylinder is forced.
2004 Taurus(tau)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Locks and Security
80