
Choosing the right fuel
Use only UNLEADED FUEL. The use of leaded fuel is prohibited by law
and could damage your vehicle.
Your vehicle was not designed to use fuel or fuel additives with metallic
compounds, including manganese-based additives. Studies indicate that
these additives can cause your vehicle’s emission control system to
deteriorate more rapidly. In Canada, premium grade fuel generally
contains more metallic additives than regular fuel. We recommend using
regular grade fuel. In Canada, many fuels contain metallic additives, but
fuels free of such additives may be available; check with your local fuel
dealer.
Do not use fuel containing methanol. It can damage critical fuel system
components.
Repairs to correct the effects of using a fuel for which your vehicle was
not designed may not be covered by your warranty.
Octane recommendations
Your vehicle is designed to use
“Regular”unleaded gasoline with
pump (R+M)/2 octane rating of 87.
We do not recommend the use of
gasolines labeled as“Regular”that
are sold with octane ratings of 86 or lower in high altitude areas.
Do not be concerned if your engine sometimes knocks lightly. However, if
it knocks heavily under most driving conditions while you are using fuel
with the recommended octane rating, see your dealer or a qualified
service technician to prevent any engine damage.
Fuel quality
If you are experiencing starting, rough idle or hesitation driveability
problems, try a different brand of unleaded gasoline.“Premium”
unleaded gasoline is not recommended for vehicles designed to use
“Regular”unleaded gasoline because it may cause these problems to
become more pronounced. If the problems persist, see your dealer or a
qualified service technician.
It should not be necessary to add any aftermarket products to your fuel
tank if you continue to use high quality fuel of the recommended octane
rating. Aftermarket products could cause damage to the fuel system.
Repairs to correct the effects of using an aftermarket product in your
fuel may not be covered by your warranty.
87(R+M)/2 METHOD
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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 toLubricant 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
1 mpg [0.4 km/L] is lost for every 400 lb [180 kg] 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.
•To maximize the fuel economy, drive with the tonneau cover installed
(if equipped).
•Using fuel blended with alcohol may lower fuel economy.
•Fuel economy may decrease with lower temperatures during the first
8–10 miles (12–16 km) of driving.
•Driving on flat terrain offers improved fuel economy as compared to
driving on hilly terrain.
•Transmissions give their best fuel economy when operated in the top
cruise gear and with steady pressure on the gas pedal.
•Four-wheel-drive operation (if equipped) is less fuel efficient than
two-wheel-drive operation.
•Close windows for high speed driving.
EPA window sticker
Every new vehicle should have the EPA window sticker. Contact your
dealer if the window sticker is not supplied with your vehicle. The EPA
window sticker should be your guide for the fuel economy comparisons
with other vehicles.
It is important to note the box in the lower left corner of the window
sticker. These numbers represent the Range of MPG (L/100 km)
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the Vehicle Emission Control Information Decal located on or near the
engine. This decal identifies engine displacement and gives some tune up
specifications.
Please consult yourWarranty Guidefor complete emission warranty
information.
On board diagnostics (OBD-II)
Your vehicle is equipped with a computer that monitors the engine’s
emission control system. This system is commonly known as the On
Board Diagnostics System (OBD-II). This OBD-II system protects the
environment by ensuring that your vehicle continues to meet
government emission standards. The OBD-II system also assists the
service technician in properly servicing your vehicle. When theCheck
engine/Service engine soonlight illuminates, the OBD-II system has
detected a malfunction. Temporary malfunctions may cause yourCheck
engine/Service engine soonlight to illuminate. Examples are:
1. The vehicle has run out of fuel. (The engine may misfire or run
poorly.)
2. Poor fuel quality or water in the fuel.
3. The fuel cap may not have been securely tightened.
These temporary malfunctions can be corrected by filling the fuel tank
with good quality fuel and/or properly tightening the fuel cap. After three
driving cycles without these or any other temporary malfunctions
present, theCheck engine/Service engine soonlight should turn off. (A
driving cycle consists of a cold engine startup followed by mixed
city/highway driving.) No additional vehicle service is required.
If theCheck engine/Service engine soonlight remains on, have your
vehicle serviced at the first available opportunity.
Readiness for Inspection/Maintenance (I/M) testing
In some localities, it may be a legal requirement to pass an I/M test of
the on-board diagnostics system. If yourService engine soonlight is on,
refer to the description in theWarning lights and chimessection of the
Instrument Clusterchapter. Your vehicle may not pass the I/M test with
theService engine soonlight on.
If the vehicle’s powertrain system or its battery has just been serviced,
the on-board diagnostics system is reset to a“not ready for I/M test”
condition. To ready the on-board diagnostics system for I/M testing, a
minimum of 30 minutes of city and highway driving is necessary as
described below:
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A
Accessory delay ..........................65
Air bag supplemental restraint
system ........................................128
and child safety seats ............129
disposal ....................................131
driver air bag ..................129–130
indicator light .........................131
operation .........................129–130
passenger air bag ...........129–130
Air cleaner filter ...............288, 290
Air conditioning ....................39, 42
Ambulance packages ....................7
Antifreeze
(see Engine coolant) ................265
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ..............................196
Armrests ....................................105
Audio system
(see Radio) ..........18, 20, 23, 26, 30
Automatic transmission
driving an automatic
overdrive .................................202
fluid, adding ............................283
fluid, checking ........................283
fluid, refill capacities ..............291
fluid, specification ..................297
Axle
lubricant specifications ..295, 297
refill capacities ........................291
traction lok ..............................198
B
Battery .......................................263
acid, treating emergencies .....263
jumping a disabled battery ....232
maintenance-free ....................263replacement, specifications ...290
servicing ..................................263
Bed extender ..............................87
Brakes ........................................195
anti-lock ...................................196
anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light ...........................196
fluid, checking and adding ....282
fluid, refill capacities ..............291
fluid, specifications .........295, 297
lubricant specifications ..295, 297
parking ....................................197
shift interlock ..................199–200
Bulbs ............................................52
C
Capacities for refilling fluids ....291
Cell phone use ............................63
Certification Label ....................302
Changing a tire .........................158
Child safety restraints ..............135
child safety belts ....................135
Child safety seats ......................138
attaching with tether straps ..145
in front seat ....................139, 142
in rear seat ..............139, 142, 145
Cleaning your vehicle
engine compartment ..............248
instrument panel ....................251
interior .....................................251
interior trim ............................251
plastic parts ............................250
safety belts ..............................251
washing ....................................247
waxing .....................................247
wheels ......................................248
wiper blades ............................250
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starting after a collision .........224
Engine block heater .................195
Engine oil ..................................259
checking and adding ..............259
dipstick ....................................259
filter, specifications ........262, 290
recommendations ...................262
refill capacities ........................291
specifications ..................295, 297
Exhaust fumes ..........................195
F
Fail safe cooling ........................269
Fluid capacities .........................291
Foglamps .....................................47
Four-Wheel Drive vehicles .......210
driving off road .......................213
electronic shift ........................212
indicator light .........................210
lever operated shift ................210
preparing to drive your
vehicle .....................................198
Fuel ............................................271
calculating fuel
economy ............................79, 275
cap ...........................................273
capacity ...................................291
choosing the right fuel ...........274
comparisons with EPA fuel
economy estimates .................278
detergent in fuel .....................275
filling your vehicle
with fuel ..................271, 273, 276
filter, specifications ........275, 290
fuel pump shut-off switch .....224
improving fuel economy ........275
octane rating ...........274, 297–298
quality ......................................274
running out of fuel .................275safety information relating to
automotive fuels .....................271
Fuel pump shut-off switch .......224
Fuses ..................................225–226
G
Garage Door Opener
(see Homelink wireless control
system) ........................................72
Gas cap (see Fuel cap) ............273
Gas mileage
(see Fuel economy) .................275
Gauges .........................................15
H
Hazard flashers .........................224
Head restraints .................104, 108
Headlamps ...................................46
aiming ........................................48
autolamp system .......................46
bulb specifications ....................52
daytime running lights .............47
flash to pass ..............................48
high beam .................................47
replacing bulbs .........................52
turning on and off ....................46
Heating
heater only system ...................36
heating and air conditioning
system ...........................37, 39, 42
Homelink wireless control
system ..........................................72
Hood ..........................................255
I
Ignition .......................190, 297–298
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Infant seats
(see Safety seats) .....................138
Inspection/maintenance (I/M)
testing ........................................280
Instrument panel
cleaning ...................................251
cluster ........................................10
lighting up panel and
interior .......................................48
J
Jack ............................................158
positioning ...............................158
storage .....................................158
Jump-starting your vehicle ......232
K
Keyless entry system .................99
autolock .....................................97
programming entry code .........99
Keys ...........................................102
positions of the ignition .........190
L
Lamps
autolamp system .......................46
bulb replacement
specifications chart ..................52
daytime running light ...............47
fog lamps ...................................47
headlamps .................................46
headlamps, flash to pass ..........48
instrument panel, dimming .....48
interior lamps .....................50–51
replacing bulbs .............52, 54–56
Lane change indicator
(see Turn signal) ........................50
Lights, warning and indicator ....10anti-lock brakes (ABS) ..........196
Load limits .................................174
Loading instructions .................179
Locks
autolock .....................................97
childproof ..................................90
Lubricant specifications ...295, 297
Lug nuts ....................................164
Lumbar support, seats .............106
M
Manual transmission .................205
reverse .....................................207
Message center ...........................76
english/metric button ...............80
system check button ................80
warning messages .....................82
Mirrors ...................................58, 65
automatic dimming rearview
mirror ........................................65
fold away ...................................67
heated ........................................66
programmable memory ....93, 107
side view mirrors (power) .......65
signal .........................................66
Moon roof ....................................71
Motorcraft parts ................275, 290
O
Octane rating ............................274
Oil (see Engine oil) ..................259
P
Parking brake ............................197
Parts (see Motorcraft parts) ....290
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