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Introduction 4
Instrument Cluster 10
Warning and control lights 10
Gauges 14
Entertainment Systems 16
AM/FM stereo with CD 16
Climate Controls 22
Electronic automatic temperature control 22
Rear window defroster 25
Lights 27
Headlamps 27
Turn signal control 30
Bulb replacement 30
Driver Controls 38
Windshield wiper/washer control 38
Steering wheel adjustment 39
Power windows 40
Mirrors 41
Speed control 42
Locks and Security 61
Keys 61
Locks 61
Anti-theft system 64
2004 Thunderbird(tbr)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English (fus)
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
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Page 10 of 216

WARNING LIGHTS AND CHIMES
Warning lights and gauges can alert you to a vehicle condition that may
become serious enough to cause expensive repairs. A warning light may
illuminate when a problem exists with one of your vehicle’s functions.
Many lights will illuminate when you start your vehicle to make sure the
bulb works. If any light remains on after starting the vehicle, have the
respective system inspected immediately.
Emission system/Check engine:
The Check Engine indicator light
illuminates when the ignition is first
turned to the ON position to check
the bulb. Solid illumination after the engine is started indicates the On
Board Diagnostics System (OBD-II) has detected a malfunction. Refer to
On board diagnostics (OBD-II) in theMaintenance and Specifications
chapter. If the light is blinking, engine misfire is occurring which could
damage your catalytic converter. Drive in a moderate fashion (avoid
heavy acceleration and deceleration) and have your vehicle serviced
immediately.
Under engine misfire conditions, excessive exhaust temperatures
could damage the catalytic converter, the fuel system, interior
floor coverings or other vehicle components, possibly causing a fire.
Check fuel cap: Illuminates when
the fuel cap may not be properly
installed. Continued driving with
this light on may cause the Emission
system/Check engine warning light
to come on. Refer to Fuel Filler Capin theMaintenance and
Specifications chapter.
CHECK
FUELCAP
2004 Thunderbird (tbr)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English (fus)
Instrument Cluster
Instrument Cluster
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Low washer fluid:Illuminates
when the windshield washer fluid is
low.
Bulb warning: A text message
indicates when one of the exterior
front turn lamps or rear
brake/turn/tail lamps bulb has
burned out. Depress the RESET control to return to the Trip odometer
display.
Door ajar: Illuminates when the
ignition is in the ON position and
any door or trunk is open.
Turn signal: Illuminates when the
left or right turn signal or the
hazard lights are turned on. If the
indicators flash faster, check for a burned out bulb.
High beams: Illuminates when the
high beam headlamps are turned on.
Electronic throttle control:
Illuminates when the engine has
defaulted to a ’limp-home ’operation.
Report the fault to a dealer at the
earliest opportunity.
Key-in-ignition warning chime: Sounds when the key is left in the
ignition in the OFF/LOCK or ACC position and the driver ’s door is
opened.
Headlamps on warning chime: Sounds when the headlamps or parking
lamps are on, the ignition is off (the key is not in the ignition) and the
driver ’s door is opened.
2004 Thunderbird (tbr)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English (fus)
Instrument Cluster
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CAT:CAT is only available when equipped with Satellite Radio. Your
Audiophile radio comes equipped with Satellite ready capability. The kit
to enable Satellite reception is available through your Ford dealer.
Detailed Satellite instructions are included with the dealer installed kit.
For information regarding SIRIUS Satellite Radio, please call toll-free
888-539-SIRIUS (888-539-7474) or visit the SIRIUS website at
www.siriusradio.com
RADIO FREQUENCIES
AM and FM frequencies are established by the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) and the Canadian Radio and Telecommunications
Commission (CRTC). Those frequencies are:
AM - 530, 540 –1700, 1710 kHz
FM- 87.7, 87.9 –107.7, 107.9 MHz
RADIO RECEPTION FACTORS
There are three factors that can effect radio reception:
• Distance/strength: The further you travel from an FM station, the
weaker the signal and the weaker the reception.
• Terrain: Hills, mountains, tall buildings, power lines, electric fences,
traffic lights and thunderstorms can interfere with your reception.
• Station overload: When you pass a broadcast tower, a stronger signal
may overtake a weaker one and play while the weak station frequency
is displayed.
2004 Thunderbird (tbr)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English (fus)
Entertainment Systems
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Page 27 of 216

MASTER LIGHTING SWITCH
Turns the lamps off.
Turns on the parking
lamps, instrument panel lamps,
license plate lamps and tail lamps.
Turns the headlamps on.
Note: The instrument panel lamps will only turn on if the autolamp
control has determined it is night.
Autolamp control
The autolamp system provides light
sensitive automatic on-off control of
the exterior lights normally
controlled by the master lighting
switch.
The autolamp system also keeps the
lights on for a preselected period of
time after the ignition switch is
turned to OFF.
• To turn autolamps on, rotate the
control counterclockwise. The preselected time lapse is adjustable up
to approximately three minutes by continuing to rotate the control
counterclockwise.
• To turn autolamps off, rotate the control clockwise to OFF.
Daytime running lamps (DRL) (Canada Only)
Turns the lowbeam headlamps on with a reduced output.
To activate with automatic transmission:
• the ignition must be in the RUN position;
• the headlamp control is in the OFF position, Parking lamps position,
or Autolamp position when the autolamp function has not turned on
the headlamps (daytime); and
• the transmission is out of Park.
AUTO
2004 Thunderbird (tbr)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English (fus)
Lights
Lights
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Always remember to turn on your headlamps at dusk or during
inclement weather. The Daytime Running Light (DRL) System
does not activate your tail lamps and generally may not provide
adequate lighting during these conditions. Failure to activate your
headlamps under these conditions may result in a collision.
High beams
Pull toward you until control stops
to activate. Repeat to deactivate.
Flash to pass
Pull toward you slightly to activate
and release to deactivate.
PANEL DIMMER CONTROL
Use to adjust the brightness of the
instrument panel during parklamp,
headlamp and autolamp operation.
• Rotate up to brighten.
• Rotate down to dim.
• Rotate fully up to turn on the
floor and dome lights.
2004 Thunderbird (tbr)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English (fus)
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Note:The panel dimmer control is only active when the autolamp has
determined that it is night. The dome light will only go on when the
dome light switch is in the delay or ON position.
HEADLAMP VERTICAL AIM ADJUSTMENT
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface approximately 7.6 meters (25 feet)
from a vertical wall or screen directly in front of it.
• (1) Eight feet
• (2) Center height of lamp to ground
• (3) Twenty five feet
• (4) Horizontal reference line
2. Measure the height from the
center of your headlamp to the
ground and mark a 2.4 meter (8
foot) horizontal reference line on
the vertical wall or screen at this
height (a piece of masking tape
works well). The center of the lamp
is marked by a 3.0 mm circle on the
headlamp lens.
3. Turn on the low beam headlamps to illuminate the wall or screen and
open the hood.
4. On the wall or screen you will
observe a light pattern with flat
edges at the top of the beam
pattern. If the flat edges are not at
the horizontal reference line, the
beam will need to be adjusted.
To see a clearer light pattern for
adjusting, you may want to block
the light from one headlamp while
adjusting the other.
5. Locate the vertical adjuster on each headlamp, then us ea6mmallen
wrench or screwdriver to adjust the headlamp up or down.
6. HORIZONTAL AIM IS NOT REQUIRED FOR THIS VEHICLE AND IS
NON-ADJUSTABLE.
7. Close the hood and turn off the lamps.
2004 Thunderbird (tbr)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English (fus)
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TURN SIGNAL CONTROL
•Push down to activate the left
turn signal.
• Push up to activate the right turn
signal.
INTERIOR LAMPS
Reading and dome lamps
The reading lamps are located in the
header trim panel. Press the control
next to the reading lamp to activate
it.
The reading lamp assembly also
contains an overhead dome lamp.
This lamp is controlled by the
center (OFF) control on the
assembly. The dome lamp will stay
on if the control is moved to the
driver side (ON) position. When the
control is in the passenger side (delay) position, the lamp will only come
on when a door is opened, or if the panel dimmer control is fully rotated
up. If the control is moved to the center position, the lamp will not come
on at all.
BULBS
Replacing exterior bulbs
Check the operation of all the bulbs frequently.
2004 Thunderbird (tbr)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English (fus)
Lights
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