
•Revving the engine before turning it off may reduce fuel economy.
•Using the air conditioner or defroster may reduce fuel economy.
•You may want to turn off the speed control in hilly terrain if
unnecessary shifting between third and fourth gear occurs.
Unnecessary shifting of this type could result in reduced fuel
economy.
•Warming up a vehicle on cold mornings is not required and may
reduce fuel economy.
•Resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving may reduce fuel
economy.
•Combine errands and minimize stop-and-go driving.
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 inscheduled maintenance information.
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.
•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.
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Exhaust leaks may result in entry of harmful and potentially
lethal fumes into the passenger compartment.
Do not make any unauthorized changes to your vehicle or engine. By
law, vehicle owners and anyone who manufactures, repairs, services,
sells, leases, trades vehicles, or supervises a fleet of vehicles are not
permitted to intentionally remove an emission control device or prevent
it from working. Information about your vehicle’s emission system is on
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. SeeFuel filler
capin this chapter.
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.
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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 yourCheck engine/Service engine
soonlight is on, refer to the description in theWarning lights and
chimessection of theInstrument Clusterchapter. Your vehicle may not
pass the I/M test with theCheck engine/Service 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:
•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.
CHECKING AND ADDING POWER STEERING FLUID
Check the power steering fluid.
Refer to the scheduled maintenance
guide for the service interval
schedules.If adding fluid is
necessary, use only MERCON
AT F.
1. Start the engine and let it run until it reaches normal operating
temperature (the engine coolant temperature gauge indicator will be
near the center of the normal area between H and C).
2. While the engine idles, turn the steering wheel left and right several
times.
3. Turn the engine off.
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A
Accessory delay ........................130
Air bag supplemental restraint
system ........................182–183, 190
and child safety seats ............185
description ......................183, 190
disposal ....................................193
driver air bag ..................185, 191
indicator light .................190, 192
operation .........................185, 191
passenger air bag ...........185, 191
side air bag ..............................190
Air cleaner filter ...............310–311
Air suspension ...........................243
description ..............................243
Antifreeze
(see Engine coolant) ................291
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ..............................239
Anti-theft system ......................160
Audio system (see Radio) .........30
Automatic transmission
driving an automatic
overdrive .................................245
fluid, adding ............................308
fluid, checking ........................308
fluid, refill capacities ..............312
fluid, specification ..................316
Auxiliary power point ...............128
Axle
lubricant specifications ..314, 316
refill capacities ........................312
traction lok ..............................247
B
Battery .......................................289
acid, treating emergencies .....289jumping a disabled battery ....260
maintenance-free ....................289
replacement, specifications ...311
servicing ..................................289
BeltMinder .................................177
Brakes ........................................238
anti-lock ...................................239
anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light ...........................239
fluid, checking and adding ....308
fluid, refill capacities ..............312
fluid, specifications .........314, 316
lubricant specifications ..314, 316
shift interlock ..........................243
Bulbs ..........................................109
C
Capacities for refilling fluids ....312
CD changer .................................36
CD-single premium .....................30
Cell phone use ..........................137
Certification Label ....................318
Changing a tire .........................209
Child safety restraints ..............193
child safety belts ....................193
Child safety seats ......................196
attaching with tether straps ..200
in front seat ............................197
in rear seat ..............................197
Cleaning your vehicle
engine compartment ..............277
instrument panel ....................279
interior .....................................279
plastic parts ............................278
washing ....................................276
waxing .....................................276
wheels ......................................277
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bulb replacement
specifications chart ................110
daytime running light .............106
headlamps ...............................105
headlamps, flash to pass ........106
instrument panel, dimming ...107
interior lamps .........109–110, 114
replacing bulbs .......109, 111–113
Lane change indicator
(see Turn signal) ......................108
Lights, warning and indicator ....10
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ..........239
Load limits .................................225
Locks
childproof ................................147
doors ........................................146
Lubricant specifications ...314, 316
Lug nuts ....................................215
Lumbar support, seats .............163
M
Message center .........................138
english/metric button .............142
reset button ............................139
warning messages ...................126
Mirrors ...............................116, 130
automatic dimming rearview
mirror ......................................130
fold away .................................132
heated ......................................131
programmable memory ..........154
side view mirrors (power) .....131
Moon roof ..................................137
Motorcraft parts ................301, 311
N
Navigation system .......................38cd functions ..............................56
destination mode ......................79
DVD location .............................99
map mode .................................60
quick start .................................40
radio functions ..........................48
O
Octane rating ............................301
Oil (see Engine oil) ..................285
P
Parking brake ............................240
Parts (see Motorcraft parts) ....311
Passenger Occupant
Classification Sensor .................169
Pedals (see Power adjustable
foot pedals) ...............................132
Power adjustable foot pedals ...132
Power distribution box
(see Fuses) ...............................257
Power door locks ......................146
Power mirrors ...........................131
Power point ...............................128
Power steering ..........................242
fluid, checking and adding ....307
fluid, refill capacity ................312
fluid, specifications .................314
Power trunk ......................143–144
Power Windows .........................129
R
Radio ............................................30
Rear window defroster .............104
Relays ........................................253
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