Page 82 of 320

Vertical aim adjustment
1. Park the vehicle directly in front of a wall or screen on a level surface,
approximately 25 feet (7.6 meters) away.
•(1) 8 feet (2.4 meters)
•(2) Center height of lamp to
ground
•(3) 25 feet (7.6 meters)
•(4) Horizontal reference line
2. Measure the height of the
headlamp bulb center from the
ground and mark an 8 foot
(2.5 meter) horizontal reference line
on the vertical wall or screen at this
height (a piece of masking tape works well).
3. Turn on the low beam headlamps to illuminate the wall or screen and
open the hood.
To see a clearer light pattern for adjusting, you may want to block the
light from one headlamp while adjusting the other.
4. On the wall or screen you will
observe an area of high intensity
light. The top of the high intensity
area should touch the horizontal
reference line, if not, the beam will
need to be adjusted using the next
step.
5. Locate the vertical adjuster on
each headlamp. Using a Phillips #2
screwdriver, turn the adjuster either
clockwise (to adjust down) or
counterclockwise (to adjust up).
The horizontal edge of the brighter
light should touch the horizontal
reference line.
6. Close the hood and turn off the
lamps.
HORIZONTAL AIM IS NOT REQUIRED FOR THIS VEHICLE AND IS
NON-ADJUSTABLE.
2008 Taurus(tau)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Lights
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Page 84 of 320

Using the right bulbs
Replacement bulbs are specified in the chart below. Headlamp bulbs
must be marked with an authorized “D.O.T.” for North America and an
“E” for Europe to ensure lamp performance, light brightness and pattern
and safe visibility. The correct bulbs will not damage the lamp assembly
or void the lamp assembly warranty and will provide quality bulb burn
time.
Function Number of bulbsTrade
number
Headlamp high beam 2 9005
Headlamp low beam 2 H11
Front park/turn lamp 23457A or
3457AK
(amber)
Sidemarker lamp (front) 2194A
(amber)
Sidemarker lamp (rear) 2 194A
Tail lamp/brake/turn signal 2 3157K
Backup lamp 2 921
License plate lamp 2 168
High-mount brake lamp 1 921
Foglamp (if equipped) 2 H11
Map lamp 2 12V6W
Dome/reading lamps 3 578
All replacement bulbs are clear in color except where noted.
To replace all instrument panel lights - see your authorized dealer.
Replacing the interior bulbs
Check the operation of all bulbs frequently.
Replacing exterior bulbs
Check the operation of all the bulbs frequently.
Replacing headlamp (low beam) bulbs
1. Make sure headlamp switch is in the OFF position, then open the
hood.
2. Reach in behind the headlamp assembly to access the bulbs and
connectors.
2008 Taurus(tau)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Lights
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Page 85 of 320

3. Remove the outboard rubber boot
from the lamp assembly by pulling
rearward.
4. Remove the bulb socket by
turning it counterclockwise and
pulling it straight out.
Handle a halogen headlamp bulb carefully and keep out of
children’s reach. Grasp the bulb only by its plastic base and do
not touch the glass. The oil from your hand could cause the bulb to
break the next time the headlamps are operated.
Install the new bulb(s) in reverse order.
Replacing headlamp (high beam) bulbs
1. Make sure headlamp switch is in the OFF position, then open the
hood.
2. Reach in behind the headlamp assembly to access the bulb sockets
and connectors.
3. Remove the inboard rubber boot
from the lamp assembly by pulling
rearward.
4. Remove the bulb socket by
turning it counterclockwise and
pulling it straight out.
Handle a halogen headlamp bulb carefully and keep out of
children’s reach. Grasp the bulb only by its plastic base and do
not touch the glass. The oil from your hand could cause the bulb to
break the next time the headlamps are operated.
Install the new bulb(s) in reverse order.
2008 Taurus(tau)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Lights
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Page 86 of 320

Replacing front parking lamp/turn signal/sidemarker bulbs
1. Make sure headlamp switch is in the OFF position, then open the
hood.
2. Reach in behind the headlamp assembly to access the bulb sockets
and connectors.
3. Locate the parking/turn signal
lamp electrical connector and
remove it by pulling it straight off.
4. Remove the bulb socket by
turning it counterclockwise and
pulling it straight out.
5. To remove the bulb, pull it
straight out of the bulb socket.
Install the new bulb(s) in reverse order.
Replacing rear brake/tail/turn/backup and side marker lamp bulbs
The brake/tail/turn/backup and side marker lamp bulbs are located in the
tail lamp assembly. Follow the same steps to replace either bulb.
•(1)Backup lamp
•(2)Brake/tail/turn lamp
•(3)Side marker lamp
1. Make sure the headlamp switch is
in the OFF position and open the
trunk.
2. Remove the cargo net fastener
(if equipped) and carefully pull the
carpet away to expose the backside
of the tail lamp assembly.
3. Remove the nut and washer assemblies, then pull the lamp assembly
away from the vehicle.
2008 Taurus(tau)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Lights
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Page 136 of 320

to let you know that all doors, the hood and the trunk are closed. If
any of these are not closed, the horn will chirp twice to warn you that
a door, the hood or the trunk is still open.
•Press the driver or passenger
interior door lock control while
the door is open, then close the
door.
•Press the 7•8 and 9•0
controls on the keyless entry pad
at the same time to lock the
doors (driver’s door must be
closed).
There is a 20 second countdown
when any of the above actions occur
before the vehicle becomes armed.
Each door, the hood, and the trunk
is armed individually, and if any are
open, they must be closed before
the open entry point (door, hood, or
trunk) can enter the 20 second
countdown.
The turn signal lamps will flash once
when all doors, the hood and the trunk are closed indicating the vehicle
is locked and entering the 20 second countdown.
Disarming the system
You can disarm the system by any of the following actions:
•Unlock the doors by using the remote entry transmitter portion of
your Integrated Keyhead Transmitter.
•Unlock the doors by using your keyless entry pad.
•Unlock the driver’s door with a key. Turn the key full rearward
(toward the rear of the vehicle) to ensure the alarm disarms.
•Turn ignition to the 3 (ON) position with a valid SecuriLock™ key or
Integrated Keyhead Transmitter (IKT).
•Press the panic control on the remote entry transmitter portion of
your IKT. This will only shut off the horn and turn lamps when the
alarm is sounding. The alarm system will still be armed.
Pressing the power door UNLOCK control within the 20 second
prearmed mode will return the vehicle to a disarmed state.
2008 Taurus(tau)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Locks and Security
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Triggering the anti-theft system
The armed system will be triggered if:
•Any door, the hood or the liftgate is opened without using the door
key, keypad or the remote entry transmitter portion of your IKT.
•The ignition is turned to the 3 (ON) position with an invalid
SecuriLock™ key or IKT.
2008 Taurus(tau)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Locks and Security
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Children 12 years old and under should always be properly restrained in
the second row seats. The Safety Canopy™ will not interfere with
children restrained using a properly installed child or booster seat
because it is designed to inflate downward from the headliner above the
doors along the side window opening.
The Safety Canopy™ system is designed to activate when the vehicle
sustains lateral deceleration sufficient to cause the side crash sensor to
close an electrical circuit that initiates Safety Canopy™ inflation or when
a certain likelihood of a rollover event is detected by the rollover sensor.
The Safety Canopy™ is mounted to roof side-rail sheet metal, behind the
headliner, along the entire side of the vehicle. In certain lateral collisions
or rollover events, the Safety Canopy™ system will be activated,
regardless of which seats are occupied. The Safety Canopy™ is designed
to inflate between the side window area and occupants to further
enhance protection provided in side impact collisions and rollover events.
The fact that the Safety Canopy™ did not activate in a collision does not
mean that something is wrong with the system. Rather, it means the
forces were not of the type sufficient to cause activation. The Safety
Canopy™ is designed to inflate in certain side impact collisions or
rollover events, not in rear impact, frontal or near-frontal collisions,
unless the collision causes sufficient lateral deceleration or rollover
likelihood.
Several Safety Canopy™ system components get hot after
inflation. Do not touch them after inflation.
If the Safety Canopy™
system has deployed,the
Safety Canopy™ will not
function again unless replaced.
The Safety Canopy™ system
(including the A, B, and C
pillar trim) must be inspected
and serviced by an authorized
dealer.If the Safety Canopy™ is
not replaced, the unrepaired area
will increase the risk of injury in a
collision.
2008 Taurus(tau)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
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Page 278 of 320
OPENING THE HOOD
1. Inside the vehicle, pull the hood
release handle located under the
bottom of the instrument panel near
the steering column.
2. Go to the front of the vehicle and
release the auxiliary latch that is
located under the front center of
the hood.
3. Lift the hood until the lift
cylinders hold it open.
2008 Taurus(tau)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
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