What the Board needs
To have your case reviewed you must complete the application in the
DSB brochure and mail it to the address provided on the application
form. Some states will require you to use certified mail, with return
receipt requested.
Your application is reviewed and, if it is determined to be eligible, you
will receive an acknowledgment indicating:
•The file number assigned to your application.
• The toll-free phone number of the DSB ’s independent administrator.
Your dealership and a Ford Motor Company representative will then be
asked to submit statements.
To properly review your case, the Board needs the following information:
• Legible copies of all documents and maintenance or repair orders
relevant to the case.
• The year, make, model, and Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) listed
on your vehicle ownership license.
• The date of repair(s) and mileage at the time of occurrence(s).
• The current mileage.
• The name of the dealer(s) who sold or serviced the vehicle.
• A brief description of your unresolved concern.
• A brief summary of the action taken by the dealer(s) and Ford Motor
Company.
• The names (if known) of all the people you contacted at the
dealership(s).
• A description of the action you expect to resolve your concern.
You will receive a letter of explanation if your application does not
qualify for Board review.
Oral presentations
If you would like to make an oral presentation, indicate YES to question
6 on the application. While it is your right to make an oral presentation
before the Board, this is not a requirement and the Board will decide the
case whether or not an oral presentation is made. An oral presentation
may be requested by the Board as well.
2004 Thunderbird (tbr)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English (fus)
Customer Assistance
152
•Always dispose of automotive
batteries in a responsible manner.
Follow your local authorized
standards for disposal. Call your
local authorized recycling center
to find out more about recycling
automotive batteries.
ENGINE COOLANT
Checking engine coolant
The concentration and level of engine coolant should be checked at the
mileage intervals listed in the scheduled maintenance guide. The coolant
concentration should be maintained at 50/50 coolant and distilled water,
which equates to a freeze point of -36 °C (-34 °F). Coolant concentration
testing is possible with a hydrometer or antifreeze tester (such as the
Rotunda Battery and Antifreeze Tester, 014 –R1060). The level of coolant
should be maintained at the “cold full ”of “cold fill range ”level in the
coolant reservoir. If the level falls below, add coolant per the instructions
in the Adding engine coolant section.
Your vehicle was factory-filled with a 50/50 engine coolant and water
concentration. If the concentration of coolant falls below 40% or above
60%, the engine parts could become damaged or not work properly. A
50 –50 mixture of coolant and water provides the following:
• Freeze protection down to -36 °C (-34 °F).
• Boiling protection up to 129 °C (265 °F).
• Protection against rust and other forms of corrosion.
• Enables calibrated gauges to work properly.
LEAD
RETURN
RECYCLE
2004 Thunderbird (tbr)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English (fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
170
Sometimes irregular tire wear can be corrected by rotating the tires.
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.
Safety practices
Driving habits have a great deal to do with your tire mileage and safety.
• Observe posted speed limits
2004 Thunderbird (tbr)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English (fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
199
Exhaust fumes ..........................112
F
Fail safe cooling ........................174
Floor mats ...................................60
Fluid capacities .........................201
Fuel ............................................175calculating fuel economy .......180
cap ...........................................177
capacity ...................................201
choosing the right fuel ...........178
comparisons with EPA fuel
economy estimates .................182
detergent in fuel .....................179
filling your vehicle with
fuel ...........................175, 177, 180
filter, specifications ........179, 201
improving fuel economy ........180
octane rating ...................178, 205
quality ......................................179
running out of fuel .................179
safety information relating to
automotive fuels .....................175
Fuses ..................................127 –128
G
Garage Door Opener
(see Homelink wireless
control system) ...........................46
Gas cap (see Fuel cap) ............177
Gas mileage
(see Fuel economy) .................180
Gauges .........................................14
H
Hazard flashers .........................126
Head restraints ...........................73 Headlamps ...................................27
aiming ........................................29
autolamp system .......................27
bulb specifications ....................31
daytime running lights .............27
flash to pass ..............................28
replacing bulbs .........................32
turning on and off ....................27
Heating heating and air conditioning
system .......................................22
HomeLink universal
transceiver
(see Garage door opener) .........49
Homelink wireless control
system ..........................................46
Hood ..........................................164
I
Ignition ...............................109, 205
Infant seats
(see Safety seats) .....................100
Inspection/maintenance (I/M)
testing ........................................184
Instrument panel cleaning ...................................160
cluster ........................................10
lighting up panel and
interior .......................................28
J
Jack ............................................136 positioning ...............................136
storage .....................................136
Jump-starting your vehicle ......141
2004 Thunderbird (tbr)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English (fus)
Index
214