
The use of tire sealants may damage your Tire Pressure
Monitoring System and should not be used.
Refer toTire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)in the
Tires, Wheels and Loadingchapter for important information. If
the tire pressure monitor sensor becomes damaged, it will no longer
function.
Dissimilar spare tire/wheel information
Failure to follow these guidelines could result in an increased
risk of loss of vehicle control, injury or death.
If you have a dissimilar spare tire/wheel, then it is intended for
temporary use only. This means that if you need to use it, you should
replace it as soon as possible with a road tire/wheel that is the same size
and type as the road tires and wheels that were originally provided by
Ford. If the dissimilar spare tire or wheel is damaged, it should be
replaced rather than repaired.
A dissimilar spare tire/wheel is defined as a spare tire and/or wheel that
is different in brand, size or appearance from the road tires and wheels
and can be one of three types:
1.T-type mini-spare:This spare tire begins with the letter “T” for tire
size and may have “Temporary Use Only” molded in the sidewall
2.Full-size dissimilar spare with label on wheel:This spare tire has
a label on the wheel that states: “THIS TIRE AND WHEEL FOR
TEMPORARY USE ONLY”
When driving with one of the dissimilar spare tires listed above,do not:
•Exceed 50 mph (80 km/h)
•Load the vehicle beyond maximum vehicle load rating listed on the
Safety Compliance Label
•Tow a trailer
•Use snow chains on the end of the vehicle with the dissimilar spare
tire
•Use more than one dissimilar spare tire at a time
•Use commercial car washing equipment
•Try to repair the dissimilar spare tire
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Use of one of the dissimilar spare tires listed above at any one wheel
location can lead to impairment of the following:
•Handling, stability and braking performance
•Comfort and noise
•Ground clearance and parking at curbs
•Winter weather driving capability
•Wet weather driving capability
For vehicles equipped with 4WD, it is not recommended that the vehicle
be operated in 4WD modes with a temporary emergency spare tire. If
4WD operation is necessary, do not operate above speeds of 10 mph
(16 km/h) or for distances above 50 miles (80 km).
3.Full-size dissimilar spare without label on wheel
When driving with the full-size dissimilar spare tire/wheel,do not:
•Exceed 70 mph (113 km/h)
•Use more than one dissimilar spare tire/wheel at a time
•Use commercial car washing equipment
•Use snow chains on the end of the vehicle with the dissimilar spare
tire/wheel
The usage of a full-size dissimilar spare tire/wheel can lead to
impairment of the following:
•Handling, stability and braking performance
•Comfort and noise
•Ground clearance and parking at curbs
•Winter weather driving capability
•Wet weather driving capability
•All-Wheel driving capability (if applicable)
•Load leveling adjustment (if applicable)
When driving with the full-size dissimilar spare tire/wheel additional
caution should be given to:
•Towing a trailer
•Driving vehicles equipped with a camper body
•Driving vehicles with a load on the cargo rack
Drive cautiously when using a full-size dissimilar spare tire/wheel and
seek service as soon as possible.
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Stopping and securing the vehicle
1. Park on a level surface, set the
parking brake and activate hazard
flashers.
2. Place gearshift lever in P (Park)
and turn engine off.
Removing the spare tire and jack
If the 3rd row seat (if equipped) is stowed in the floor, you will need to
unstow it to access the spare tire and jack. Refer toUnstowing the 3rd
row seatin theSeating and Safety Restraintchapter for this
procedure.
1. Remove the carpeted floor panel
located in the rear of the vehicle,
remove the wing nut that secures
the spare tire by turning it
counterclockwise.
2. Lift and remove the spare tire
from the trunk.
3. Remove the second wing nut that
secures the jack retention bracket
by turning it counterclockwise,
remove the jack kit from the
vehicle.
4. Remove the jack and the wrench
from the felt bag. Fold down the
wrench socket to use to loosen the
lug nuts and to operate the jack.
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3. Put the jack in the jack notch
next to the tire you are changing.
Turn the jack handle clockwise until
the wheel is completely off the
ground.
4. Remove the lug nuts with the lug wrench.
5. Replace the flat tire with the spare tire, making sure the valve stem is
facing outward. Reinstall the lug nuts until the wheel is snug against the
hub. Do not fully tighten the lug nuts until the wheel has been lowered.
6. Lower the wheel by turning the jack handle counterclockwise.
7. Remove the jack and fully tighten
the lug nuts in the order shown.
Refer toWheel lug nut torque
specificationslater in this chapter
for the proper lug nut torque
specification.
8. Install the wheel cover (if
equipped). The wheel cover will
only install if the Ford/Mercury logo
is aligned over the valve stem on the
wheel.
1
4 3
2 5
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Stowing the tire and jack
1. Fully collapse the jack, fold the
lug wrench socket into the handle
and place the jack and wrench into
the felt bag as shown. Take care to
position the jack as shown to ensure
that the locating holes in the jack
base can be placed on the locating
tabs of the jack mounting bracket in
the spare tire tub.
2. Securely close the wrench
compartment and the jack bag using
the velcro strips.
3. Place the jack kit on the angled bracket in the spare tire tub, using
the locating tabs to position the jack correctly.
4. Insert the straight end of the jack
retention bracket through the eyelet
of the angled bracket and swing the
retention bracket over the jack. With
the jack in place, place the end of
the retention bracket over the
threaded stud in the trunk floor and
secure it with the plastic wing nut.
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If you are stowing the flat tire,
remove the “L”-shaped bolt from the
large wing nut used to secure the
spare tire in the vehicle. With the
3rd row seat in the raised position,
stand the flat tire in the rear of the
vehicle with the tire’s valve stem
facing the rear of the vehicle.
Fasten the flat tire to the vehicle by
inserting the “L”-shaped bolt
through one of the lug bolt holes in
the wheel and turning clockwise into the threaded hole in the vehicle
until the tire is secured.
If you are stowing the temporary spare tire,place the tire over the
jack and secure it with the large wing nut.
WHEEL LUG NUT TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
Retighten the lug nuts to the specified torque at 100 miles (160 km)
after any wheel disturbance (tire rotation, changing a flat tire, wheel
removal, etc.).
Bolt size Wheel lug nut torque*
lb.ft. N•m
1/2-20 UNF 100 135
* Torque specifications are for nut and bolt threads free of dirt and
rust. Use only Ford recommended replacement fasteners.
When a wheel is installed, always remove any corrosion, dirt or
foreign materials present on the mounting surfaces of the wheel
or the surface of the wheel hub, brake drum or brake disc that
contacts the wheel. Ensure that any fasteners that attach the rotor to
the hub are secured so they do not interfere with the mounting
surfaces of the wheel. Installing wheels without correct metal-to-metal
contact at the wheel mounting surfaces can cause the wheel nuts to
loosen and the wheel to come off while the vehicle is in motion,
resulting in loss of control.
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fluid, refill capacity ................334
fluid, specifications .................334
Power Windows .........................101
R
Radio ................................16, 20, 28
Rear seat entertainment
system ..........................................44
Relays ........................................266
Remote entry system .......137–138
illuminated entry ............142, 144
locking/unlocking doors .138–139
opening the trunk ...................140
panic alarm .............................139
replacement/additional
transmitters .............................142
replacing the batteries ...........141
Reverse sensing system ...........255
Roadside assistance ..................264
Roof rack ...................................130
S
Safety Belt Maintenance ..........174
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ..................166, 170–173
Safety Canopy ...................189, 191
Safety defects, reporting ..294–295
Safety restraints ........166, 170–174
Belt-Minder...........................175
extension assembly ................174
for adults .........................171–173
for children .....................194–195
Occupant Classification
Sensor ......................................168
safety belt maintenance .........174
warning light and chime ........175Safety seats for children ..........199
Safety Compliance
Certification Label ....................337
Satellite Radio Information ........41
Seats ..........................................152
child safety seats ....................199
front seats ...............152–153, 156
heated ............................78, 80, 82
memory seat ...................140, 157
second row seats ............158, 161
third row seats ........161, 164–165
SecuriLock passive anti-theft
system ........................................147
Servicing your vehicle ..............303
Setting the clock
AM/FM single CD .....................21
AM/FM/In-dash 6 CD ................29
Spare tire
(see Changing the Tire) ...........276
Spark plugs,
specifications .....................333, 336
Specification chart,
lubricants ...................................334
Speed control ............................106
Starting your vehicle ........241–243
jump starting ..........................281
Steering wheel
controls ....................................109
tilting .........................................97
T
Tilt steering wheel ......................97
Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS)
Roadside Emergencies ...........273
Tires, Wheels and Loading ....227
Tires ...........................211–212, 273
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Index
345

alignment ................................220
care ..........................................216
changing ..................273, 276–277
checking the pressure ............216
inflating ...................................213
label .........................................226
replacing ..................................217
rotating ....................................220
safety practices .......................219
sidewall information ...............221
snow tires and chains ............231
spare tire .................................274
terminology .............................213
tire grades ...............................212
treadwear ........................212, 216
Towing .......................................237
recreational towing .................239
trailer towing ..........................237
wrecker ....................................286
Traction control ........................250
Transaxle
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................330
fluid, refill capacities ..............334
lubricant specifications ..........334
Transmission .............................252
brake-shift interlock (BSI) ....252Trunk .........................................140
Turn signal ..................................91
U
USB port ......................................38
V
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................337
Vehicle loading ..........................231
Ventilating your vehicle ...........244
W
Warning lights (see Lights) .......10
Washer fluid ..............................306
Water, Driving through .............263
Windows
power .......................................101
rear wiper/washer .....................96
Windshield washer fluid and
wipers ..........................................96
checking and adding fluid .....306
replacing wiper blades ...........307
Wrecker towing .........................286
2008 Taurus X(219)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Index
346