2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR stop start

defaulted to a ’limp-home’ operation. Report the fault to a dealer at the
earliest opportunity.
Check fuel cap:Illuminates when
the fuel cap may not be properly
installed. Continued driving with
this light on may cause the Service
engine soon warning light to come
on. Refer toFuel filler capin the
Maintenance and Specifications
chapter.
Brake system warning light:To
confirm the brake system warning
light is functional, it will
momentarily illuminate when the
ignition is turned to the ON position
when the engine is not running, or in a position between ON and START,
or by applying the parking brake when the ignition is turned to the ON
position. If the brake system warning light does not illuminate at this
time, seek service immediately from your dealership. Illumination after
releasing the parking brake indicates low brake fluid level and the brake
system should be inspected immediately by your servicing dealership.
Driving a vehicle with the brake system warning light on is
dangerous. A significant decrease in braking performance may
occur. It will take you longer to stop the vehicle. Have the vehicle
checked by your dealer immediately.
Anti-lock brake system:If the
ABS light stays illuminated or
continues to flash, a malfunction has
been detected, have the system
serviced immediately. Normal
braking is still functional unless the brake warning light also is
illuminated.
Air bag readiness:If this light fails
to illuminate when ignition is turned
to ON, continues to flash or remains
on, have the system serviced
immediately. A chime will also sound when a malfunction in the
supplemental restraint system has been detected.

P!
BRAKE
ABS
AIR
BAG
2005 Town Car(tow)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA_English(fus)
Instrument Cluster
11

•Chinese food•Continental restaurant
•Continental food•French restaurant
•French food•Italian restaurant
•Italian food•Japanese restaurant
•Japanese food•Mexican restaurant
•Mexican food•Seafood restaurant
•Seafood•Other restaurant
•Other food•Shopping
•Shopping mall•Grocery store
•Airport•Bus station
•Ferry terminal•Historical monument
•Hotel•Park and ride
•Rental car agency•Rest area
•Rest stop•Tourist information
•Train station•Business facility
•City center•POI off
•Commuter rail station
While in navigation destination (DEST) mode, the following commands
are available:
•Home•Go home
•Previous starting point•Go starting point
•Next way point map•First way point map
•Second way point map•Third way point map
•Fourth way point map•Fifth way point map
•Destination map•Delete destination
•Cancel destination
While in navigation guidance mode, the following commands are available
by voice activation:
•Repeat guidance•Repeat voice
•Louder•Softer
•Voice guidance off•Voice guidance on
•Open guidance screen•Close guidance screen
•Arrow guidance•Arrow guide
2005 Town Car(tow)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA_English(fus)
Entertainment Systems
47

2. Hold down the MODE button for
10 seconds to enter the calibration
mode. The display will read PRESS
RESET TO DECAL.
3. Release the MODE button.
4. Press the RESET button to
de-calibrate the compass. The
display will read CIRCLE SLOWLY
TO CALIBRATE for a few seconds
and then display a direction with
CAL displayed on the right side.
5. Drive the vehicle in a tight circle
in a magnetically clean area such as
an open parking lot.
6. Slowly drive the vehicle in a circle (less than 3 mph [5 km/h]). This
will take up to three circles to complete calibration.
7. The correct compass heading will be displayed when the compass is
calibrated.
Note:If the RESET button is not pressed, the compass will exit
calibration mode after three minutes of no activity and the original
calibration data will be restored.
Note:If power is interrupted during the calibration process, the compass
resets to the original calibration data from before the calibration process
started.
HomeLinkwireless control system (if equipped)
The HomeLinkWireless Control System, located on the overhead
console, provides a convenient way to replace up to three hand-held
transmitters with a single built-in device. This feature will learn the radio
frequency codes of most transmitters to operate garage doors, entry gate
operators, security systems, entry door locks, and home or office lighting.
When programming your HomeLinkWireless Control System to a
garage door or gate, be sure that people and objects are out of the way
to prevent potential harm or damage. Do not use the HomeLink
Wireless Control System with any garage door opener that lacks safety
stop and reverse features as required by U.S. federal safety standards
(this includes any garage door opener model manufactured before April
1, 1982). A garage door which cannot detect an object, signaling the
2005 Town Car(tow)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA_English(fus)
Driver Controls
120

the road in adverse (wet, snowy, etc.) conditions. Visually check your
tires for uneven wear, looking for high and low areas or unusually
smooth areas. Also check for signs of tire damage.
When the tread is worn down to
1/16th of an inch (2 mm), tires must
be replaced to prevent your vehicle
from skidding and hydroplaning.
Built-in treadwear indicators, or
“wear bars”, which look like narrow
strips of smooth rubber across the
tread will appear on the tire when
the tread is worn down to 1/16th of
an inch (2 mm). When the tire tread
wears down to the same height as
these “wear bars”, the tire is worn
out and should be replaced.
Inspect your tires frequently for any
of the following conditions and
replace them if one or more of the
following conditions exist:
•Fabric showing through the tire
rubber
•Bulges in the tread or sidewalls
•Cracks or cuts on the sidewalls
•Cracks in the tread groove
•Impact damage resulting from use
•Separation in the tread
•Separation in the sidewall
•Severe abrasion on the sidewall
If your vehicle has a leak in the exhaust system, a road tire or the spare
tire may be exposed to hot exhaust temperatures requiring the tire to be
replaced.
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
2005 Town Car(tow)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA_English(fus)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
221

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.
Driving while you tow
When towing a trailer:
•Turn off the speed control. The speed control may shut off
automatically when you are towing on long, steep grades.
•Consult your local motor vehicle speed regulations for towing a trailer.
•To eliminate excessive shifting, use a lower gear. This will also assist
in transmission cooling. (For additional information, refer to
Understanding the gearshift positions of the 4–speed automatic
transmissionin theDriving chapter.
•Anticipate stops and brake gradually.
•Do not exceed the GCWR rating or transmission damage may occur.
Servicing after towing
If you tow a trailer for long distances, your vehicle will require more
frequent service intervals. Refer to yourScheduled Maintenance
Informationfor more information.
Trailer towing tips
•Practice turning, stopping and backing up before starting on a trip to
get the feel of the vehicle trailer combination. When turning, make
wider turns so the trailer wheels will clear curbs and other obstacles.
•Allow more distance for stopping with a trailer attached.
•If you are driving down a long or steep hill, shift to a lower gear. Do
not apply the brakes continuously, as they may overheat and become
less effective.
•The trailer tongue weight should be 10–15% of the loaded trailer
weight.
•After you have traveled 50 miles (80 km), thoroughly check your
hitch, electrical connections and trailer wheel lug nuts.
•To aid in engine/transmission cooling and A/C efficiency during hot
weather while stopped in traffic, place the gearshift lever in P (Park).
•Vehicles with trailers should not be parked on a grade. If you must
park on a grade, place wheel chocks under the trailer’s wheels.
2005 Town Car(tow)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA_English(fus)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
233

Note:If the engine does not start within five seconds on the first try,
turn the key to OFF, wait 10 seconds and try again. If the engine still
fails to start, press the accelerator to the floor and try again; this will
allow the engine to crank with the fuel shut off in case the engine is
flooded with fuel.
Using the engine block heater (if equipped)
Use of an engine block heater is strongly recommended if you live in a
region where temperatures reach -10°F (-23°C) or below. For best
results, plug the heater in at least three hours before starting the vehicle.
The heater can be plugged in the night before starting the vehicle.
To reduce the risk of electrical shock, do not use your heater
with ungrounded electrical systems or two-pronged (cheater)
adapters.
Guarding against exhaust fumes
Carbon monoxide is present in exhaust fumes. Take precautions to avoid
its dangerous effects.
If you smell exhaust fumes inside your vehicle, have your dealer
inspect your vehicle immediately. Do not drive if you smell
exhaust fumes.
Important ventilating information
If the engine is idling while the vehicle is stopped for a long period of
time, open the windows at least one inch (2.5 cm) or adjust the heating
or air conditioning to bring in fresh air.
BRAKES
Occasional brake noise is normal. If a metal-to-metal, continuous grinding
or continuous squeal sound is present, the brake linings may be worn-out
and should be inspected by a qualified service technician. If the vehicle
has continuous vibration or shudder in the steering wheel while braking,
the vehicle should be inspected by a qualified service technician.
2005 Town Car(tow)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA_English(fus)
Driving
238

Refer toBrake system warning
lightin theInstrument Cluster
chapter for information on the brake
system warning light.
Four-wheel anti-lock brake system (ABS)
Your vehicle is equipped with an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS). This
system helps you maintain steering control during emergency stops by
keeping the brakes from locking. Noise from the ABS pump motor and
brake pedal pulsation may be observed during ABS braking and the
brake pedal may suddenly travel a little farther as soon as ABS braking is
done and normal brake operation resumes. These are normal
characteristics of the ABS and should be no reason for concern.
Using ABS
When hard braking is required, apply continuous force on the brake
pedal; do not pump the brake pedal since this will reduce the
effectiveness of the ABS and will increase your vehicle’s stopping
distance. The ABS will be activated immediately, allowing you to retain
full steering control during hard braking and on slippery surfaces.
However, the ABS does not decrease stopping distance.
ABS warning lamp
The ABS lamp in the instrument
cluster momentarily illuminates
when the ignition is turned on. If
the light does not illuminate during
start up, remains on or flashes, the
ABS may be disabled and may need to be serviced.
Even when the ABS is disabled,
normal braking is still effective. (If
your BRAKE warning lamp
illuminates with the parking brake
released, have your brake system
serviced immediately.)
P!
BRAKE
ABS
P!
BRAKE
2005 Town Car(tow)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA_English(fus)
Driving
239

Parking brake with auto-release
Apply the parking brake whenever
the vehicle is parked.
To set the parking brake:
1. Move the gearshift to P (Park).
2. Push pedal downward.
The BRAKE warning lamp in the
instrument cluster illuminates and
remains illuminated (when the
ignition is turned ON) until the
parking brake is fully released.
Always set the parking brake fully and make sure the gearshift is
latched in P (Park). Turn the ignition to the OFF/LOCK position
and remove the key whenever you leave your vehicle.
The parking brake is not recommended to stop a moving vehicle.
However, if the normal brakes fail, the parking brake can be used to stop
your vehicle in an emergency. Since the parking brake applies only the
rear brakes, the vehicle’s stopping distance will increase greatly and the
handling of your vehicle will be adversely affected.
Your vehicle has an automatic parking brake release. To release the
parking brake:
1. Start the vehicle.
2. Press the brake pedal.
3. Move the gearshift from the P (Park) position to one of the forward
gears (the parking brake will not release automatically when you shift
into reverse). The brake pedal must remain pressed while the gearshift is
moved.
HOOD
P!
BRAKE
2005 Town Car(tow)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA_English(fus)
Driving
240