
•Recline the seat slightly one or two degrees from the upright position.
Do not put anything on or over the air bag module. Placing
objects on or over the air bag inflation area may cause those
objects to be propelled by the air bag into your face and torso causing
serious injury.
Do not attempt to service, repair, or modify the air bag
supplemental restraint systems or its fuses. See your Ford or
Lincoln Mercury dealer.
Modifying or adding equipment to the front end of the vehicle
(including frame, bumper, front end body structure and tow
hooks) may affect the performance of the air bag system, increasing
the risk of injury. Do not modify the front end of the vehicle.
Children and air bags
Children must always be properly
restrained. Accident statistics
suggest that children are safer when
properly restrained in the rear
seating positions than in the front
seating position. Failure to follow
these instructions may increase the
risk of injury in a collision.
Air bags can kill or injure a
child in a child seat.
NEVERplace a rear-facing child
seat in front of an active air bag. If
you must use a forward-facing
child seat in the front seat, move
the seat all the way back.
Determining if the system is operational
The supplemental restraint system uses a warning indicator in the
instrument cluster or a back-up tone to indicate the condition of the
system. Refer to theWarning lightsection in theInstrument Cluster
chapter. Routine maintenance of the air bag is not required.
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Seating and Safety Restraints
133

Preparing to tow
Use the proper equipment for towing a trailer and make sure it is
properly attached to your vehicle. See your dealer or a reliable trailer
dealer if you require assistance.
Hitches
Do not use hitches that clamp onto the vehicle bumper. Use a load
carrying hitch. You must distribute the load in your trailer so that
10–15% of the total weight of the trailer is on the tongue.
Safety chains
Always connect the trailer’s safety chains to the frame or hook retainers
of the vehicle hitch. To connect the trailer’s safety chains, cross the
chains under the trailer tongue and allow slack for turning corners.
If you use a rental trailer, follow the instructions that the rental agency
gives to you.
Do not attach safety chains to the bumper.
Trailer brakes
Electric brakes and manual, automatic or surge-type trailer brakes are
safe if installed properly and adjusted to the manufacturer’s
specifications. The trailer brakes must meet local and Federal
regulations.
Do not connect a trailer’s hydraulic brake system directly to your
vehicle’s brake system. Your vehicle may not have enough
braking power and your chances of having a collision greatly increase.
The braking system of the tow vehicle is rated for operation at the
GVWR not GCWR.
Trailer lamps
Trailer lamps are required on most towed vehicles. Make sure all running
lights, brake lights, turn signals and hazard lights are working. See your
dealer or trailer rental agency for proper instructions and equipment for
hooking up trailer lamps.
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Tires, Wheels and Loading
187

STARTING
Positions of the ignition
1. LOCK, locks the automatic
transaxle gearshift lever and allows
key removal. This position also shuts
the engine and all electrical
accessories off without locking the
steering wheel. To lock the steering
wheel, remove the key then turn the
steering wheel.
2. ACC, allows the electrical accessories such as the radio to operate
while the engine is not running. This position also unlocks the steering
wheel.
3. RUN, all electrical circuits operational. Warning lights illuminated. Key
position when driving.
4. START, cranks the engine. Release the key as soon as the engine
starts.
Starting your vehicle
Engine starting is controlled by the powertrain control system. This
system meets all Canadian Interference-Causing Equipment standard
requirements regulating the impulse electrical field strength of radio
noise.
When starting a fuel-injected engine, don’t press the accelerator before
or during starting. Only use the accelerator when you have difficulty
starting the engine. For more information on starting the vehicle, refer to
Starting the enginein this chapter.
To avoid potential transmission damage at extremely cold temperatures
(below -20°F [-30°C]), it is recommended that the vehicle be warmed up
to normal operating temperature before driving at highway speeds above
50 mph (80 km/h). Normal operating temperature is normally reached
after 10 minutes of moderate driving or idling.
Extended idling at high engine speeds can produce very high
temperatures in the engine and exhaust system, creating the risk
of fire or other damage.
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Driving
Driving
190

•Make sure the gearshift lever is in
P (Park).
3. Turn the key to 3 (ON) without
turning the key to 4 (START).
Make sure the corresponding lights illuminate or illuminate briefly. If a
light fails to illuminate, have the vehicle serviced.
•If the driver’s safety belt is fastened, the
light may not illuminate.
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Driving
192

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 your
indicator 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
the
indicator 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:
•First, at least 10 minutes of driving on an expressway or highway.
•Next, at least 20 minutes driving in stop-and-go, city-type traffic with
at least four idle periods.
Allow the vehicle to sit for at least eight hours without starting the
engine. Then, start the engine and complete the above driving cycle. The
engine must warm up to its normal operating temperature. Once started,
do not turn off the engine until the above driving cycle is complete.
POWER STEERING FLUID
Refer to the scheduled maintenance guide for the service interval
schedules. If adding fluid is necessary, use only MERCONAT F.
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Maintenance and Specifications
265

Exhaust fumes ..........................193
F
Fluid capacities .........................268
Foglamps .....................................52
Four-Wheel Drive vehicles
driving off road .......................202
Fuel ............................................256
calculating fuel
economy ............................77, 260
cap ...........................................257
capacity ...................................268
choosing the right fuel ...........258
comparisons with EPA fuel
economy estimates .................263
detergent in fuel .....................259
filling your vehicle
with fuel ..................256–257, 260
filter, specifications ........260, 267
fuel pump shut-off switch .....210
improving fuel economy ........260
octane rating ...................259, 272
quality ......................................259
running out of fuel .................259
safety information relating to
automotive fuels .....................256
Fuel pump shut-off switch .......210
Fuses ..........................................211
G
Garage Door Opener
(see Homelink wireless control
system) ........................................72
Gas cap (see Fuel cap) ............257
Gas mileage
(see Fuel economy) .................260
Gauges .........................................14
H
Hazard flashers .........................210Head restraints .................106, 110
Headlamps ...................................51
aiming ........................................54
autolamp system .......................51
bulb specifications ....................56
daytime running lights .............52
flash to pass ..............................53
high beam .................................53
replacing bulbs .........................57
turning on and off ....................51
Heating
heating and air conditioning
system ...............39, 41, 43, 45, 47
Homelink wireless control
system ..........................................72
Hood ..........................................241
I
Ignition ...............................190, 272
Infant seats
(see Safety seats) .....................148
Inspection/maintenance
(I/M) testing ..............................265
Instrument panel
cleaning ...................................237
cluster ........................................10
lighting up panel and interior .53
J
Jack ............................................163
positioning ...............................163
storage .....................................163
Jump-starting your vehicle ......218
K
Keyless entry system .................98
autolock .....................................99
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Index
281

Keys
positions of the ignition .........190
L
Lamps
autolamp system .......................51
bulb replacement
specifications chart ..................56
daytime running light ...............52
fog lamps ...................................52
headlamps ...........................51, 57
headlamps, flash to pass ..........53
instrument panel, dimming .....53
interior lamps .....................55, 57
replacing bulbs ...................56–60
Lane change indicator
(see Turn signal) ........................55
Liftgate ........................................88
Lights, warning and indicator ....10
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ..........194
Load limits .................................180
Locks
autolock .....................................99
childproof ..................................92
doors ..........................................91
Lubricant specifications ...270, 272
Lug nuts ....................................170
Luggage rack ...............................90
Lumbar support, seats .....107–108
M
Message center ...........................76
english/metric button ...............81
system check button ................81
warning messages .....................82
Mirrors ...................................63, 67automatic dimming rearview
mirror ........................................67
fold away ...................................67
side view mirrors (power) .......67
Moon roof ....................................72
Motorcraft parts ................260, 267
O
Octane rating ............................259
Oil (see Engine oil) ..................243
P
Parking brake ............................195
Parts (see Motorcraft parts) ....267
Passenger Occupant
Classification Sensor .................119
Power adjustable foot pedals .....68
Power distribution box
(see Fuses) ...............................214
Power door locks ........................91
Power mirrors .............................67
Power point .................................64
Power steering ..........................197
fluid, checking and adding ....265
fluid, refill capacity ................268
fluid, specifications .........270, 272
Power Windows ...........................65
R
Radio ......................................17, 20
Relays ........................................211
Remote entry system .................93
illuminated entry ......................97
Reverse sensing system ...........200
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Index
282

Turn signal ..................................55
V
Vehicle dimensions ...................272
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................274
Vehicle loading ..........................180
Ventilating your vehicle ...........193
W
Warning lights (see Lights) .......10Washer fluid ..............................243
Water, Driving through .............207
Windows
power
.........................................65
rear wiper/washer
.....................62
Windshield washer fluid and
wipers
checking and adding fluid
.....243
operation
...................................61
replacing wiper blades
.............62
Wrecker towing
.........................223
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Index
284