2005 FORD FOCUS trailer

Seating and Safety Restraints 63
Seating 63
Safety restraints 68
Air bags 81
Child restraints 91
Driving 103
Starting 103
Brakes 107
Traction control 108
Transmission operation 110
Vehicle loading 115
Trailer towing 121
Recreational towing 124
Roadside Emergencies 125
Getting roadside assistance 125
Hazard flasher switch 126
Fuel pump shut-off switch 126
Fuses and relays 127
Changing tires 134
Jump starting 139
Wrecker towing 146
Customer Assistance 147
Reporting safety defects (U.S. only) 155
Cleaning 156
Table of Contents
2
2005 Focus(foc)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)

To put your vehicle in gear:
•Start the engine
•Depress the brake pedal
•Move the gearshift lever into the desired gear
To put your vehicle in P (Park):
•Come to a complete stop
•Move the gearshift lever and securely latch it in P (Park)
Always set the parking brake fully and make sure the gearshift is
latched in P (Park). Turn the ignition to the LOCK position and
remove the key whenever you leave your vehicle.
R (Reverse)
With the gearshift lever in R (Reverse), the vehicle will move backward.
Always come to a complete stop before shifting into and out of R
(Reverse).
N (Neutral)
With the gearshift lever in N (Neutral), the vehicle can be started and is
free to roll. Hold the brake pedal down while in this position.
D (Overdrive)
The normal driving position for the best fuel economy; transaxle operates
in gears one through four. D (Overdrive) can be deactivated by pressing
the transaxle control switch on the end of the gearshift lever. This will
illuminate the O/D OFF lamp and activate Drive.
Drive (not shown)
Drive is activated when the transaxle control switch is pressed.
•This position allows for all forward gears except overdrive.
•O/D OFF lamp is illuminated.
•Provides engine braking.
•Use when driving conditions cause excessive shifting from O/D to
other gears. Examples: city traffic, hilly terrain, heavy loads, trailer
towing and when engine braking is required.
•To return to O/D (overdrive mode), press the transaxle control switch.
The O/D OFF lamp will not be illuminated.
•O/D (Overdrive) is automatically returned each time the key is turned
off.
2005 Focus(foc)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Driving
112

Parking your vehicle
1. Apply the brake and shift into the neutral position.
2. Fully apply the parking brake, then shift into 1 (First).
3. Turn the ignition off.
Do not park your vehicle in Neutral, it may move unexpectedly
and injure someone. Use 1 (First) gear and set the parking brake
fully.
Removing the key
Turn the ignition to position 1 (LOCK) and remove the key.
DRIVING THROUGH WATER
If driving through deep or standing water is unavoidable, proceed very
slowly especially when the depth is not known. Never drive through
water that is higher than the bottom of the hubs (for trucks) or the
bottom of the wheel rims (for cars). When driving through water,
traction or brake capability may be limited. Also, water may enter your
engine’s air intake and severely damage your engine or your vehicle may
stall.Driving through deep water where the transmission vent
tube is submerged may allow water into the transmission and
cause internal transmission damage.
Once through the water, always dry the brakes by moving your
vehicle slowly while applying light pressure on the brake pedal.
Wet brakes do not stop the vehicle as quickly as dry brakes.
VEHICLE LOADING–WITH AND WITHOUT A TRAILER
This section will guide you in the proper loading of your vehicle and/or
trailer, to keep your loaded vehicle weight within its design rating
capability, with or without a trailer. Properly loading your vehicle will
provide maximum return of vehicle design performance. Before loading
your vehicle, familiarize yourself with the following terms for determining
your vehicle’s weight ratings, with or without a trailer, from the vehicle’s
Safety Certification Label and Tire Label:
Base Curb Weight–is the weight of the vehicle including a full tank of
fuel and all standard equipment. It does not include passengers, cargo, or
optional equipment.
2005 Focus(foc)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Driving
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Cargo Weight–includes all weight added to the Base Curb Weight,
including cargo and optional equipment. When towing, trailer tongue load
or king pin weight is also part of cargo weight.
GAW (Gross Axle Weight)–is the total weight placed on each axle
(front and rear)–including vehicle curb weight and all payload.
2005 Focus(foc)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Driving
117

GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating)–is the maximum allowable
weight that can be carried by a single axle (front or rear).These
numbers are shown on the Safety Compliance Certification Label
located on the driver’s door or door pillar. The total load on each
axle must never exceed its GAWR.
Exceeding the Safety Certification Label axle weight rating limits
could result in substandard vehicle handling, performance,
engine, transmission and/or structural damage, serious damage to the
vehicle, loss of control and personal injury.
Note:For trailer towing information refer toTrailer towingfound in
this chapter or theRV and Trailer Towing Guideprovided by your
dealership.
GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight)–is the Vehicle Curb Weight + cargo
+passengers.
2005 Focus(foc)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Driving
118

GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating)–is the maximum
allowable weight of the fully loaded
vehicle (including all options,
equipment, passengers and cargo).
The GVWR is shown on the
Safety Compliance Certification
Label located on the driver’s
door or door pillar. The GVW
must never exceed the GVWR.
Exceeding the Safety Certification Label axle weight rating limits
could result in substandard vehicle handling, performance,
engine, transmission and/or structural damage, serious damage to the
vehicle, loss of control and personal injury.
GCW (Gross Combined Weight)–is the weight of the loaded vehicle
(GVW) plus the weight of the fully loaded trailer.
GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating)–is the maximum allowable
weight of the vehicle and the loaded trailer–including all cargo and
passengers–that the vehicle can handle without risking damage.
(Important: The towing vehicle’s braking system is rated for operation at
GVWR, not at GCWR. Separate functional brakes should be used for safe
control of towed vehicles and for trailers where the GCW of the towing
vehicle plus the trailer exceed the GVWR of the towing vehicle.The
GCW must never exceed the GCWR.
Maximum Loaded Trailer Weight–is the highest possible weight of a
fully loaded trailer the vehicle can tow. It assumes a vehicle with only
mandatory options, no cargo (internal or external), a tongue load of
2005 Focus(foc)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Driving
119

10–15% (conventional trailer) or king pin weight of 15–25% (fifth wheel
trailer), and driver only (150 lbs. [68 kg]).Consult your dealership
(or theRV and Trailer Towing Guideprovided by your dealership)
for more detailed information.
Do not exceed the GVWR or the GAWR specified on the
certification label.
Do not use replacement tires with lower load carrying capacities
than the originals because they may lower the vehicle’s GVWR
and GAWR limitations. Replacement tires with a higher limit than the
originals do not increase the GVWR and GAWR limitations.
Exceeding any vehicle weight rating limitation could result in
serious damage to the vehicle and/or personal injury.
Steps for determining the correct load limit:
1. Locate the statement“The combined weight of occupants and cargo
should never exceed XXX pounds”on your vehicle’s label.
2. Determine the combined weight of the driver and passengers that will
be riding in your vehicle.
3. Subtract the combined weight of the driver and passengers from XXX
kilograms or XXX pounds.
4. The resulting figure equals the available amount of cargo and luggage
load capacity. For example, if the“XXX”amount equals 1,400 lbs (635
kg) and there will be five 150 lbs. (68 kg) passengers in your vehicle, the
amount of available cargo and luggage load capacity is 650 lbs.
(1400–750 (5 x 150) = 650 lbs.). Metric conversion; 295 kg (635–340 (5
x 68) = 295 kg).
5. Determine the combined weight of luggage and cargo being loaded on
the vehicle. That weight may not safely exceed the available cargo and
luggage load capacity calculated in Step 4.
6. If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, load from your trailer will be
transferred to your vehicle. Consult this manual to determine how this
reduces the available cargo and luggage load capacity of your vehicle.
2005 Focus(foc)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Driving
120

TRAILER TOWING
Refer to the following chart to determine how much weight your vehicle
can tow:
Model Passengers/Luggage
load - lbs. (kg)Maximum trailer
weight - lbs. (kg)
3–door 5/827 (375) 630 (286)
4/677 (307) 780 (354)
3/527 (239) 930 (422)
2/377 (171) 1080 (490)
1/227 (103) 1230 (558)
4–door and 5–door 5/827 (375) 585 (265)
4/677 (307) 735 (333)
3/527 (239) 885 (401)
2/377 (171) 1035 (469)
1/227 (103) 1185 (538)
Wagon 5/827 (375) 500 (227)
4/677 (307) 650 (295)
3/527 (239) 800 (363)
2/377 (171) 950 (431)
1/227 (103) 1100 (499)
This chart is based on the specified vehicle at a maximum GCW
(Vehicle Weight + Trailer Weight) equal to 4,300 lbs (1,950 kg).
Towing a trailer places an additional load on your vehicle’s engine,
transaxle, brakes, tires and suspension. Inspect these components
carefully after towing.
Do not exceed the GVWR or the GAWR specified on the
certification label.
Towing trailers beyond the maximum recommended gross trailer
weight exceeds the limit of the vehicle and could result in
engine damage, transaxle damage, structural damage, increased risk of
loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover and/or serious personal injury.
2005 Focus(foc)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Driving
121