
Maintenance and Specifications 177
Engine compartment 179
Engine oil 182
Battery 185
Fuel information 191
Part numbers 220
Refill capacities 221
Lubricant specifications 222
Accessories 230
Index 232
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Copyright © 2003 Ford Motor Company
2004 Taurus(tau)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Table of Contents
3

Vehicle Symbol Glossary
Power Windows
Front/Rear
Power Window Lockout
Child Safety Door
Lock/UnlockInterior Luggage
Compartment Release
Symbol
Panic AlarmEngine Oil
Engine CoolantEngine Coolant
Temperature
Do Not Open When HotBattery
Avoid Smoking, Flames,
or SparksBattery Acid
Explosive GasFan Warning
Power Steering FluidMaintain Correct Fluid
LevelMAX
MIN
Emission SystemEngine Air Filter
Passenger Compartment
Air FilterJack
Check fuel capLow tire warning
2004 Taurus(tau)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Introduction
9

Brake system warning light:To
confirm the brake system warning
light is functional, it will
momentarily illuminate when the
ignition is turned to the ON position
when the engine is not running, or in a position between ON and START,
or by applying the parking brake when the ignition is turned to the ON
position. If the brake system warning light does not illuminate at this
time, seek service immediately from your dealership. Illumination after
releasing the parking brake indicates low brake fluid level and the brake
system should be inspected immediately by your servicing dealership.
Driving a vehicle with the brake system warning light on is
dangerous. A significant decrease in braking performance may
occur. It will take you longer to stop the vehicle. Have the vehicle
checked by your dealer immediately.
Anti-lock brake system (if
equipped):If the ABS light stays
illuminated or continues to flash, a
malfunction has been detected, have
the system serviced immediately.
Normal braking is still functional unless the brake warning light also is
illuminated.
Air bag readiness:If this light fails
to illuminate when ignition is turned
to ON, continues to flash or remains
on, have the system serviced
immediately. A chime will also sound when a malfunction in the
supplemental restraint system has been detected.
Safety belt:Reminds you to fasten
your safety belt. A chime will also
sound to remind you to fasten your
safety belt.
Charging system:Illuminates when
the battery is not charging properly.
P!
BRAKE
ABS
2004 Taurus(tau)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Instrument Cluster
11

Selectable features
Reset
Press this control to select and reset functions shown in the INFO menu
and SETUP menu.
Info menu
This control displays the following
control displays:
•Odometer
•Distance to Empty
•Average Fuel Economy
•Trip odometer
•Trip Elapsed Drive Time
•Compass (if equipped)
•Outside air temperature (if equipped)
Odometer/Trip odometer
Refer toGaugesin theInstrument Clusterchapter.
Distance to empty (DTE)
Selecting this function from the
INFO menu estimates approximately
how far you can drive with the fuel
remaining in your tank under
normal driving conditions.
Remember to turn the ignition OFF
when refueling to allow this feature to correctly detect the added fuel.
The DTE function will display LOW FUEL LEVEL and sound a tone for
one second when you have approximately 80 km (50 miles) to empty. If
you RESET this warning message, this display and tone will return
within 10 minutes.
DTE is calculated using a running average fuel economy, which is based
on your recent driving history of 800 km (500 miles). This value is not
the same as the average fuel economy display. The running average fuel
economy is reinitialized to a factory default value if the battery is
disconnected.
2004 Taurus(tau)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Driver Controls
54

Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party
responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to
operate the equipment.
The remote entry system allows you
to:
•lock or unlock all vehicle doors,
•open the trunk or the liftgate,
and
•sound the panic alarm.
If there is a problem with the
remote entry system make sure to
takeALL remote entry
transmitterswith you to the
dealership, this will aid in troubleshooting the problem.
Unlocking the doors
1. Pressand release to unlock the driver’s door.Note:The interior
lamps will illuminate.
2. Press
and release again within three seconds to unlock all the
doors and the liftgate (wagon).
The remote entry system comes with an illuminated entry feature. This
feature turns on the interior lamps for 25 seconds or until the ignition is
turned to the ON position. If the dome lamp control is in theoffposition
the illuminated entry feature will not work.
The inside lights will not turn off if:
•they have been turned on using the dimmer control or
•any door is open.
The battery saver feature will turn off the interior lamps 10 minutes after
the ignition is turned to the OFF position.
Locking the doors
1. Pressand release to lock all the doors and liftgate (wagon), turn
off the interior lamps (if they were on) and arm the anti-theft system.
Note:The parklamps will flash once if all doors and liftgate (wagon) are
closed.
2. Press
and release again within three seconds to confirm that all the
doors and liftgate are closed and locked.Note:The doors will lock again,
the horn will chirp once, and the parklamps will flash once.
2004 Taurus(tau)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Locks and Security
70

If any of the doors or liftgate (wagon) are not properly closed the horn
will make two quick chirps, and the parklamps will not flash. As soon as
all vehicle doors and the liftgate (wagon) are closed, the parklamps will
flash once to confirm that all doors and liftgate (wagon) are closed.
Sounding a panic alarm
Press
to activate the alarm. Both the horn will sound and the
parklamps will flash for a maximum of 30 seconds. Press again or turn
the ignition to ON to deactivate, or wait for the alarm to timeout in 3
minutes.
Note:The panic alarm will only operate when the ignition is in the OFF
or ACC position.
Opening the trunk
Pressonce to open the trunk or liftgate (wagon).
Replacing the battery
The remote entry transmitter uses one coin type three-volt lithium
battery CR2032 or equivalent. The typical operating range for your
remote entry transmitter is approximately 10 meters (33 feet). A
decrease in the operating range could be caused by:
•weather conditions,
•nearby radio towers,
•structures around the vehicle and
•other vehicles parked next to the vehicle.
To replace the battery:
1. Twist a thin coin between the two
halves of the remote entry
transmitter near the key ring. DO
NOT TAKE THE RUBBER COVER
AND CIRCUIT BOARD OFF THE
FRONT HOUSING OF THE
REMOTE ENTRY TRANSMITTER.
2004 Taurus(tau)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Locks and Security
71

2. Do not wipe off any grease on the
battery terminals on the back
surface of the circuit board.
3. Remove the old battery.
4. Insert the new battery. Refer to
the diagram inside the remote entry
transmitter for the correct
orientation of the battery. Press the
battery down to ensure that the
battery is fully seated in the battery
housing cavity.
5. Snap the two halves back together.
Note:Replacement of the battery willnotcause the remote transmitter
to become deprogrammed from your vehicle. The remote transmitter
should operate normally after battery replacement.
Replacing lost remote entry transmitters
If you would like to have your remote entry transmitter reprogrammed
because you lost one, or would like to buy additional remote entry
transmitters, you can either reprogram them yourself, or takeall
remote entry transmittersto your authorized dealer for
reprogramming.
How to reprogram your remote entry transmitters
You must haveall remote entry transmitters(maximum of four)
available before beginning this procedure.
To reprogram the remote entry
transmitters:
1. Ensure the vehicle is
electronically unlocked.
2. Put the key in the ignition.
3. Turn the key from the 2 (LOCK)
position to 3 (OFF).
4. Cycle eight times rapidly (within 10 seconds) between the 3 (OFF)
position and 4 (ON).Note:The eighth turn must end in the 4 (ON)
position.
5. The doors will lock, then unlock, to confirm that the programming
mode has been activated.
3
4
1 2
5
2004 Taurus(tau)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Locks and Security
72

6. Within 20 seconds press any button on the remote entry transmitter.
Note:If more than 20 seconds have passed you will need to start the
procedure over again.
7. The doors will lock, then unlock, to confirm that this remote entry
transmitter has been programmed.
8. Repeat Step 6 to program each additional remote entry transmitter.
9. Turn the ignition to the 3 (OFF) position after you have finished
programming all of the remote entry transmitters.Note:After 20
seconds, you will automatically exit the programming mode.
10. The doors will lock, then unlock, to confirm that the programming
mode has been exited.
Illuminated entry
The interior lamps illuminate when the remote entry system is used to
unlock the door(s) or sound the personal alarm.
The illuminated entry system will turn off the interior lights if:
•the ignition switch is turned to the ON position, or
•the remote transmitter lock control is pressed, or
•the vehicle is locked using the keyless entry keypad (if equipped), or
•after 25 seconds of illumination.
The dome lamp control (if equipped) mustnotbe set to the OFF
position for the illuminated entry system to operate.
The inside lights will not turn off if:
•they have been turned on with the dimmer control, or
•any door is open.
The battery saver will shut off the interior lamps 10 minutes after the
ignition has been turned to the OFF position.
Perimeter lamps illuminated entry
The exterior lamps illuminate when the vehicle is unlocked using the
remote entry system.
On vehicles equipped with the autolamps feature, the following items will
illuminate:
•Puddle lamps (if equipped)
•Head lamps
•Park lamps
2004 Taurus(tau)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Locks and Security
73