Locks and Security 117
Keys 117
Locks 118
Anti-theft system 132
Seating and Safety Restraints 138
Seating 138
Safety restraints 145
Airbags 159
Child restraints 173
Tires, Wheels and Loading 185
Tire information 185
Tire inflation 187
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) 200
Vehicle loading 205
Trailer towing 211
Recreational towing 213
Driving 215
Starting 215
Brakes 218
Traction Control™ 223
Transmission operation 225
Roadside Emergencies 237
Getting roadside assistance 237
Hazard flasher switch 238
Fuel pump shut-off switch 239
Fuses and relays 239
Changing tires 246
Lug nut torque 254
Jump starting 254
Wrecker towing 260
Table of Contents
2
2008 Taurus(tau)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Key-in-ignition warning chime:Sounds when the key is left in the
ignition in the OFF/LOCK or ACCESSORY position and the driver’s door
is opened.
Headlamps on warning chime:Sounds when the headlamps or parking
lamps are on, the ignition is off (the key is not in the ignition) and the
driver’s door is opened.
GAUGES
Speedometer:Indicates the
current vehicle speed.
Engine coolant temperature
gauge:Indicates engine coolant
temperature. At normal operating
temperature, the needle will be in
the normal range (between “H” and
“C”).If it enters the red section,
the engine is overheating. Stop
the vehicle as soon as safely
possible, switch off the engine and let the engine cool.
2008 Taurus(tau)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Instrument Cluster
14
Radio Display Condition Action Required
ACQUIRING Radio requires more
than two seconds to
produce audio for the
selected channel.No action required.
This message should
disappear shortly.
SAT FAULT Internal module or
system failure
present.If this message does
not clear within a short
period of time, or with
an ignition key cycle,
your receiver may have
a fault. See your
authorized dealer for
service.
INVALID CHNL Channel no longer
available.This previously
available channel is no
longer available. Tune
to another channel. If
the channel was one of
your presets, you may
choose another channel
for that preset button.
UNSUBSCRIBED Subscription not
available for this
channel.Contact SIRIUS at
1–888–539–7474 to
subscribe to the
channel or tune to
another channel.
NO TEXT Artist information not
available.Artist information not
available at this time on
this channel. The
system is working
properly.
2008 Taurus(tau)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Entertainment Systems
42
(Wireless headphone volume is controlled with the rotary dial on the
right ear piece.)
8.Fast Forward/Next:In DVD mode, press and hold for a quick
advance within the DVD. Press and release to advance to the next
chapter. In CD/MP3 mode, press to access the next track.
9.Play/Pause:Press to play or pause a DVD.
10.SHUFFLE:Press to play all tracks on the current CD/MP3 disc in
random order.
11.STOP:Press to stop the current DVD or CD/MP3.
12.
/Speaker/Headphone(Single/Dual Play): Press to toggle
between Single Play (same media playing through all speakers) and Dual
Play (headphone mode — the rear speakers are muted).
13.Keypad:Use the numeric controls to enter in a specific CD/MP3
track or DVD chapter to be played.
14.C (Cancel):Press to cancel/clear the numeric input (i.e. chapter
number).
15.MEDIA:Press to cycle through the possible media sources: AM,
FM1, FM2, SAT (if equipped), CD, DVD, LINE IN (if equipped),
DVD-AUX.
Channel B can only access DVD and AUX sources.
16.VIDEO:Press to cycle through video states: DVD-DISC, DVD-AUX,
NON-DVD, Off.
17.EJECT:Press to eject a disc from the FES.
18.Fast reverse/Previous:When a DVD is playing, press and hold for a
quick reverse within the DVD. Press and release for the previous
chapter. Press PLAY to resume normal playback speed and volume.
In CD/MP3 mode, press to access the previous track.
19.MENU:Press to access the DVD disc menu for selections. Press
MENU again when in the DVD disc menu to access the system set-up
menu.
20.SUBTITLE(DVD dependent): Press to turn the subtitle feature ON
or OFF.
21.LANGUAGE(DVD dependent): Press to select the desired
language.
22.ENTER:Press to select the highlighted menu option.
23.ILLUMINATION: Press to illuminate the remote control and
backlight all of the buttons.
2008 Taurus(tau)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Entertainment Systems
52
Heated outside mirrors(if equipped)
Both mirrors are heated
automatically to remove ice, mist
and fog when the rear window
defrost is activated.
Do not remove ice from the
mirrors with a scraper or
attempt to readjust the mirror
glass if it is frozen in place.
These actions could cause damage to the glass and mirrors.
POWER ADJUSTABLE FOOT PEDALS (IF EQUIPPED)
The accelerator and brake pedal
should only be adjusted when the
vehicle is stopped and the gearshift
lever is in the P (Park) position.
Press and hold the rocker control
(located on the instrument panel) to
adjust accelerator and brake pedal.
•Press the top of the control to
adjust the pedals away from you.
•Press the bottom of the control to adjust the pedals towards you.
The adjustment allows for approximately 2.8 inches (71 mm) of
maximum travel.
Never adjust the accelerator and brake pedal with feet on the
pedals while the vehicle is moving.
Memory feature (if equipped)
The accelerator and brake pedal positions are saved when doing a
memory set function and can be recalled along with the vehicle
personality features when a memory position is selected through the
remote entry transmitter, keyless entry keypad or memory switch on the
driver’s door (if equipped with memory feature). Refer toMemory
seats/power mirrors/adjustable pedalsin theSeating and Safety
Restraintschapter.
SPEED CONTROL
With speed control set, you can maintain a set speed without keeping
your foot on the accelerator pedal.
2008 Taurus(tau)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Driver Controls
97
In the event of a multiple warning situation, the message center will
cycle the display to show all warnings by displaying each one for several
seconds.
The message center will display the last selected feature if there are no
more warning messages. This allows you to use the full functionality of
the message center after you acknowledge the warning by pressing the
RESET control and clearing the warning message.
Warning messages that have been reset are divided into three categories:
•They will not disappear until a condition is changed.
•They will reappear on the display ten minutes from the reset.
•They will not reappear until an ignition OFF-ON cycle has been
completed.
This acts as a reminder that these warning conditions still exist within
the vehicle.
Warnings Status
Driver door ajar Warning cannot be reset (CLOSE
DOOR TO RESET) will be displayed
Passenger door ajar
Rear Left door ajar
Rear Right door ajar
Fuel level low Warning returns after 10 minutes
Check charging system
Check brake system
Brake fluid level low Warning returns after the ignition key
is turned from OFF to RUN
Park brake engaged
Low tire pressure
Tire pressure monitor fault
Tire pressure sensor fault
Trunk ajar
Washer fluid level low
Change oil soon
Oil change required
DRIVER DOOR AJAR.Displayed when the driver’s door is not
completely closed.
PASSENGER DOOR AJAR.Displayed when the passenger side door is
not completely closed.
2008 Taurus(tau)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Driver Controls
114
KEYS
Your vehicle is equipped with two
Integrated Keyhead Transmitters
(IKTs). The IKT functions as both a
programmed ignition key that
operates all the locks and starts the
vehicle, and a remote keyless entry
transmitter.
Your IKTs are programmed to your vehicle; using a non-programmed key
will not permit your vehicle to start. If you lose your authorized dealer
supplied IKTs, replacement IKTs are available through your authorized
dealer. Standard SecuriLock™ keys without remote entry transmitter
functionality can also be purchased from your authorized dealer if
desired.
Always carry a spare key with you in case of an emergency.
For more information regarding programming replacement IKTs, refer to
theSecuriLock™ passive anti-theft systemsection later in this chapter.
Note:Your vehicle’s IKTs were
issued with a tag on them that
provides important vehicle key cut
information. It is recommended that
you maintain the tag in a safe place
for future reference.
Recommended handling of the Integrated Keyhead Transmitter
(IKT)
To avoid inadvertently activating the remote entry functions of your
vehicle, it is recommended that the Integrated Keyhead Transmitter
(IKT) be handled properly when starting and turning off your vehicle.
2008 Taurus(tau)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Locks and Security
117
Smart locks
This feature helps to prevent you from locking yourself out of the vehicle
if your key is still in the ignition.
When you open one of the front doors and you lock the vehicle with the
power door lock control (on the driver or passenger door trim panel), all
the doors will lock, then all doors will automatically unlock reminding
you that your key is still in the ignition.
The vehicle can still be locked, with the key in the ignition, by locking
the driver’s door with a key, using the lock control on the remote entry
transmitter portion of your Integrated Keyhead Transmitter, or locking
the vehicle with the keyless entry keypad.
If both front doors are closed, the vehicle can be locked from any
method, regardless of whether the key is in the ignition or not.
Autolock feature
The autolock feature will lock all the doors when:
•all the doors are closed,
•the ignition is in the 3 (RUN) position,
•you shift into any gear putting the vehicle in motion, and
•the vehicle attains a speed greater than 12 mph (20 km/h) for greater
than 2 seconds.
The autolock feature repeats when:
•any door is opened then closed while the ignition is in the 3 (RUN)
position and the vehicle speed is 9 mph (15 km/h) or lower, and
•the vehicle then attains a speed greater than 12 mph (20 km/h) for
greater than 2 seconds.
Deactivating/activating autolock feature
Your vehicle comes with the autolock features activated; there are four
methods to enable/disable this feature:
•Through your authorized dealer,
•by using a power door unlock/lock procedure,
•using a keypad procedure, or
•or by using the instrument cluster message center. Refer toMessage
centerin theDriver Controlschapter.
Note:The autolock feature can be activated/deactivated independently
of the autounlock feature.
2008 Taurus(tau)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Locks and Security
119