2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED mileage

Safety practices
Driving habits have a great deal to do with your tire mileage and safety.
•Observe posted speed limits
•Avoid fast starts, stops and turns
•Avoid potholes and objects on the road
•Do not run over curbs or hit the tire against a curb when parking
If your vehicle is stuck in snow, mud, sand, etc.,do notrapidly
spin the tires; spinning the tires can tear the tire and cause an
explosion. A tire can explode in as little as three to five seconds.
Never spin the tires in excess of the 35 mph (55 km/h) point
indicated on the speedometer.
Highway hazards
No matter how carefully you drive there’s always the possibility that you
may eventually have a flat tire on the highway. Drive slowly to the
closest safe area out of traffic. This may further damage the flat tire, but
your safety is more important.
If you feel a sudden vibration or ride disturbance while driving, or you
suspect your tire or vehicle has been damaged, immediately reduce your
speed. Drive with caution until you can safely pull off the road. Stop and
inspect the tires for damage. If a tire is under-inflated or damaged,
deflate it, remove wheel and replace it with your spare tire and wheel. If
you cannot detect a cause, have the vehicle towed to the nearest repair
facility or tire dealer to have the vehicle inspected.
Tire and wheel alignment
A bad jolt from hitting a curb or pothole can cause the front end of your
vehicle to become misaligned or cause damage to your tires. If your
vehicle seems to pull to one side when you’re driving, the wheels may be
out of alignment. Have a qualified technician at a Ford or Lincoln
Mercury dealer check the wheel alignment periodically.
Wheel misalignment in the front or the rear can cause uneven and rapid
treadwear of your tires and should be corrected by a qualified technician
at a Ford or Lincoln Mercury dealer. Front wheel drive (FWD) vehicles
and those with an independent rear suspension (if equipped) may
require alignment of all four wheels.
2005 Five Hundred(500)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
152

•A Ford or Lincoln Mercury dealership representative
Consumer candidates for Board membership are recruited and trained by
an independent consulting firm. The dealership Board member is chosen
from Ford and Lincoln Mercury dealership management, recognized for
their business leadership qualities.
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
2005 Five Hundred(500)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Customer Assistance
205

•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 inscheduled maintenance information.The
coolant concentration should be maintained at 50/50 coolant and distilled
water, which equates to a freeze point of -34°F (-36°C). 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 “FULL COLD” level or
within the “COLD FILL RANGE” in the coolant reservoir. If the level falls
below, add coolant per the instructions in theAdding 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 -34°F (-36°C).
•Boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C).
•Protection against rust and other forms of corrosion.
•Enables calibrated gauges to work properly.
L
E
A
D
RETURN
RECYCLE
2005 Five Hundred(500)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
225

specifications ..................248, 250
Exhaust fumes ..........................168
F
Fluid capacities .........................246
Foglamps .....................................34
Four-Wheel Drive vehicles
driving off road .......................178
Fuel ............................................231
calculating fuel
economy ............................60, 236
cap ...........................................233
capacity ...................................246
choosing the right fuel ...........234
comparisons with EPA fuel
economy estimates .................239
detergent in fuel .....................235
filling your vehicle with
fuel ...........................231, 233, 236
filter, specifications ........235, 245
fuel pump shut-off switch .....186
improving fuel economy ........236
octane rating ...................234, 250
quality ......................................235
running out of fuel .................235
safety information relating to
automotive fuels .....................231
Fuel pump shut-off switch .......186
Fuses ..........................................187
G
Garage Door Opener
(see Homelink wireless control
system) ........................................55
Gas cap (see Fuel cap) ............233
Gas mileage
(see Fuel economy) .................236
Gauges .........................................14H
Hazard flashers .........................186
Head restraints .....................88, 93
Headlamps ...................................33
aiming ..................................35–36
autolamp system .......................33
bulb specifications ....................38
daytime running lights .............34
flash to pass ..............................35
high beam .................................35
replacing bulbs ...................38–39
turning on and off ....................33
Heating
heating and air conditioning
system ...........................25, 27, 29
Homelink wireless control
system ..........................................55
Hood ..........................................217
I
Ignition ...............................165, 250
Infant seats
(see Safety seats) .....................125
Inspection/maintenance (I/M)
testing ........................................241
Instrument panel ........................45
cleaning ...................................213
cluster ........................................10
lighting up panel and
interior .......................................35
J
Jack ............................................138
positioning ...............................138
storage .....................................138
Jump-starting your vehicle ......194
2005 Five Hundred(500)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Index
258