2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED heating

If your vehicle is equipped with a 6–speed transmission:When
driving at slow speeds in deep sand under high outside temperatures,
use L (Low) gear when possible. L (Low) gear operation will maximize
the engine and transmission cooling capability.Do not perform this
operation if your vehicle is equipped with an
electronically-controlled CVT.
Under severe operating conditions, the A/C may cycle on and off to
protect overheating of the engine.
Avoid excessive speed because vehicle momentum can work against you
and cause the vehicle to become stuck to the point that assistance may
be required from another vehicle. Remember, you may be able to back
out the way you came if you proceed with caution.
Mud and water
If you must drive through high water, drive slowly. Traction or brake
capability may be limited.
When driving through water, determine the depth; avoid water higher
than the bottom of the hubs (if possible) and proceed slowly. If the
ignition system gets wet, the vehicle may stall.
Once through water, always try the brakes. Wet brakes do not stop the
vehicle as effectively as dry brakes. Drying can be improved by moving
your vehicle slowly while applying light pressure on the brake pedal.
Be cautious of sudden changes in vehicle speed or direction when you
are driving in mud. Even AWD vehicles can lose traction in slick mud. As
when you are driving over sand, apply the accelerator slowly and avoid
spinning your wheels. If the vehicle does slide, steer in the direction of
the slide until you regain control of the vehicle.
If the transmission, AWD system components or axles are submerged in
water, their fluids should be checked and changed, if necessary.
Driving through deep water may damage the transmission.
If the front or rear axle is submerged in water, the axle lubricant and
PTU (Power Transfer Unit) lubricant should be checked and changed if
necessary.
After driving through mud, clean off residue stuck to rotating driveshafts
and tires. Excess mud stuck on tires and rotating driveshafts causes an
imbalance that could damage drive components.
2007 Five Hundred(500)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Driving
198

“Tread Lightly” is an educational
program designed to increase public
awareness of land-use regulations
and responsibilities in our nations
wilderness areas. Ford Motor
Company joins the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land
Management in encouraging you to help preserve our national forest and
other public and private lands by “treading lightly.”
Driving on hilly or sloping terrain
Although natural obstacles may make it necessary to travel diagonally up
or down a hill or steep incline, you should always try to drive straight up
or straight down.Avoid driving crosswise or turning on steep
slopes or hills.A danger lies in losing traction, slipping sideways and
possibly rolling over. Whenever driving on a hill, determine beforehand
the route you will use. Do not drive over the crest of a hill without
seeing what conditions are on the other side. Do not drive in reverse
over a hill without the aid of an observer.
When climbing a steep slope or hill, start in a lower gear rather than
downshifting to a lower gear from a higher gear once the ascent has
started. This reduces strain on the engine and the possibility of stalling.
If you do stall out, Do not try to turnaround because you might roll over.
It is better to back down to a safe location.
Apply just enough power to the wheels to climb the hill. Too much
power will cause the tires to slip, spin or lose traction, resulting in loss of
vehicle control.
Descend a hill in the same gear you
would use to climb up the hill to
avoid excessive brake application
and brake overheating. Do not
descend in neutral; instead,
disengage overdrive or manually
shift to a lower gear. When
descending a steep hill, avoid
sudden hard braking as you could
lose control. When you brake hard,
the front wheels can’t turn and if
they aren’t turning, you won’t be
able to steer. The front wheels have to be turning in order to steer the
vehicle.
If your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, apply the brakes steadily. Do not
“pump” the brakes.
2007 Five Hundred(500)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Driving
199

Do not add engine coolant when the engine is hot. Steam and
scalding liquids released from a hot cooling system can burn you
badly. Also, you can be burned if you spill coolant on hot engine parts.
Do not put engine coolant in the windshield washer fluid
container. If sprayed on the windshield, engine coolant could
make it difficult to see through the windshield.
•Add Motorcraft Premium Gold Engine Coolant or equivalent
meeting Ford specification WSS-M97B51-A1.Refer to
Maintenance product specifications and capacitiesin this chapter.
Note:Use of Motorcraft Cooling System Stop Leak Pellets or an
equivalent product meeting Ford specification WSS-M99B37-B6, may
darken the color of Motorcraft Premium Gold Engine Coolant from
yellow to golden tan.
•Do not add/mix an orange-colored, extended life coolant such
as Motorcraft Specialty Orange Engine Coolant, meeting Ford
specification WSS-M97B44-D, or DEX-COOLbrand with the
factory-filled coolant.Mixing Motorcraft Specialty Orange Engine
Coolant or any orange-colored extended life product such as
DEX-COOLbrand with your factory filled coolant can result in
degraded corrosion protection.
•A large amount of water without engine coolant may be added, in case
of emergency, to reach a vehicle service location. In this instance, the
cooling system must be drained and refilled with a 50/50 mixture of
engine coolant and distilled water as soon as possible. Water alone
(without engine coolant) can cause engine damage from corrosion,
overheating or freezing.
•Do not use alcohol, methanol, brine or any engine coolants
mixed with alcohol or methanol antifreeze (coolant).Alcohol
and other liquids can cause engine damage from overheating or
freezing.
•Do not add extra inhibitors or additives to the coolant.These
can be harmful and compromise the corrosion protection of the engine
coolant.
To reduce the risk of personal injury, make sure the engine is
cool before unscrewing the coolant pressure relief cap. The
cooling system is under pressure; steam and hot liquid can come out
forcefully when the cap is loosened slightly.
2007 Five Hundred(500)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
252

If you have to add more than 1.0 quart (1.0 liter) of engine coolant per
month, have your authorized dealer check the engine cooling system.
Your cooling system may have a leak. Operating an engine with a low
level of coolant can result in engine overheating and possible engine
damage.
Recycled engine coolant
Ford Motor Company does NOT recommend the use of recycled engine
coolant in vehicles originally equipped with Motorcraft Premium Gold
Engine Coolant since a Ford-approved recycling process is not yet
available.
Used engine coolant should be disposed of in an appropriate
manner. Follow your community’s regulations and standards for recycling
and disposing of automotive fluids.
Coolant refill capacity
To find out how much fluid your vehicle’s cooling system can hold, refer
toMaintenance product specifications and capacitiesin this chapter.
Fill your engine coolant reservoir as outlined inAdding engine coolant
in this section.
Severe climates
If you drive in extremely cold climates (less than –34°F [–36°C ]):
•It may be necessary to increase the coolant concentration
above 50%.
•NEVER increase the coolant concentration above 60%.
•Increased engine coolant concentrations above 60% will
decrease the overheat protection characteristics of the engine
coolant and may cause engine damage.
•Refer to the chart on the coolant container to ensure the
coolant concentration in your vehicle will provide adequate
freeze protection at the temperatures in which you drive in the
winter months.
If you drive in extremely hot climates:
•It is still necessary to maintain the coolant concentration
above 40%.
•NEVER decrease the coolant concentration below 40%.
•Decreased engine coolant concentrations below 40% will
decrease the corrosion protection characteristics of the engine
coolant and may cause engine damage.
2007 Five Hundred(500)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
255

Checking automatic transmission fluid at cool temperature
(32°F-81°F [17°C-27°C])
If a fluid check is necessary at a low
fluid temperature (32°F-81°F
[17°C-27°C]), perform the check
using the cold range on the dipstick.
However, the fluid must be
re-checked at the proper fluid
temperature.
Low fluid level
Do not drive the vehicle if the fluid
level does not show at all on the
dipstick.
High fluid level
Fluid levels above the safe range
may result in transaxle failure. An
overfill condition of transmission
fluid may cause shift and/or
engagement concerns and/or
possible damage.
High fluid levels can be caused by an overheating condition.
Adjusting automatic transmission fluid levels
Before adding any fluid, make sure the correct type is used. The type of
fluid used is normally indicated on the dipstick and also in the
Maintenance product specifications and capacitiessection in this
chapter.
Note:Only one ATF fluid specification has been tested and approved for
use with 6-speed—Premium Automatic Transmission fluid. Mercon fluids
can not be used in a automatic 6-speed without damage or voiding
warranty.
Use of a non-approved automatic transmission fluid may cause
internal transaxle component damage.
If necessary, add fluid in 1/2 pint (250 mL) increments through the filler
tube until the level is correct.
2007 Five Hundred(500)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
270

washing ....................................233
waxing .....................................234
wheels ......................................234
wiper blades ............................236
Climate control (see Air
conditioning or Heating) ......48, 50
Clock ............................................66
Clock adjust
6-CD in dash .............................22
AM/FM/CD .................................17
Compass, electronic
set zone adjustment .................83
Console ........................................67
overhead ....................................66
Controls
power seat ...............................112
steering column ........................75
Coolant
checking and adding ..............250
refill capacities ................255, 272
specifications ..........................272
Cruise control
(see Speed control) ....................72
Cupholder(s) .............................117
Customer Assistance ................202
Ford Extended
Service Plan ............................229
Getting assistance outside
the U.S. and Canada ..............230
Getting roadside assistance ...202
Getting the service
you need .................................225
Ordering additional
owner’s literature ...................231
Utilizing the
Mediation/Arbitration
Program ...................................229D
Daytime running lamps
(see Lamps) ................................56
Dipstick
automatic transmission
fluid ..................................268–269
engine oil .................................244
Driving under special
conditions ..........................196, 199
sand .........................................197
snow and ice ...........................200
through water .................198, 201
DVD system .................................30
E
Electronic message center .........81
Emergencies, roadside
jump-starting ..........................217
Emission control system ..........264
Engine ........................................274
cleaning ...................................235
coolant .....................................250
idle speed control ...................248
lubrication specifications .......272
refill capacities ........................272
service points ..........................242
starting after a collision .........204
Engine block heater .................185
Engine oil ..................................244
change oil soon warning,
message center .......................244
checking and adding ..............244
dipstick ....................................244
filter, specifications ........247, 271
recommendations ...................247
refill capacities ........................272
specifications ..........................272
Exhaust fumes ..........................185
2007 Five Hundred(500)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Index
280

F
Family entertainment system ....30
Fluid capacities .........................272
Foglamps .....................................55
Four-Wheel Drive vehicles
driving off road .......................195
Fuel ............................................256
calculating fuel
economy ............................82, 261
cap ...........................................258
capacity ...................................272
choosing the right fuel ...........259
comparisons with EPA fuel
economy estimates .................264
detergent in fuel .....................260
filling your vehicle
with fuel ..................256, 258, 261
filter, specifications ........256, 271
fuel pump shut-off switch .....204
improving fuel economy ........261
octane rating ...................260, 274
quality ......................................260
running out of fuel .................260
safety information relating to
automotive fuels .....................256
Fuel pump shut-off switch .......204
Fuses ..........................................204
G
Gas cap (see Fuel cap) ............258
Gas mileage
(see Fuel economy) .................261
Gauges .........................................14
H
Hazard flashers .........................203
Head restraints .........110, 115–116Headlamps ...................................54
aiming ........................................56
autolamp system .......................54
bulb specifications ....................58
daytime running lights .............56
flash to pass ..............................55
high beam .................................55
replacing bulbs ...................59–60
turning on and off ....................54
Heating
heating and air
conditioning system .....46, 48, 50
Homelink wireless
control system .............................77
Hood ..........................................241
I
Ignition ...............................182, 274
Illuminated visor mirror .............65
Infant seats
(see Safety seats) .....................150
Inspection/maintenance
(I/M) testing ..............................266
Instrument panel ........................66
cleaning ...................................236
cluster ........................................10
lighting up panel
and interior ...............................56
J
Jack ............................................210
positioning ...............................210
storage .....................................210
Jump-starting your vehicle ......217
K
Keyless entry system ...............103
autolock .....................................91
keypad .....................................103
2007 Five Hundred(500)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Index
281