2008 FORD TAURUS X airbag

Locks and Security 131
Keys 131
Locks 132
Anti-theft system 147
Seating and Safety Restraints 152
Seating 152
Safety restraints 166
Airbags 180
Child restraints 194
Tires, Wheels and Loading 209
Tire information 211
Tire inflation 213
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) 227
Vehicle loading 231
Trailer towing 237
Recreational towing 239
Driving 241
Starting 241
Brakes 246
Traction Control™ 250
Transmission operation 252
Roadside Emergencies 264
Getting roadside assistance 264
Hazard flasher switch 265
Fuel pump shut-off switch 266
Fuses and relays 266
Changing tires 273
Lug nut torque 280
Jump starting 281
Wrecker towing 286
Table of Contents
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2008 Taurus X(219)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)

CALIFORNIA Proposition 65 Warning
WARNING:Engine exhaust, some of its constituents, and
certain vehicle components contain or emit chemicals known to
the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm. In addition, certain fluids contained in vehicles and
certain products of component wear contain or emit chemicals known
to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm.
PERCHLORATE MATERIAL
Certain components of this vehicle such as airbag modules, seat belt
pretensioners, and button cell batteries may contain Perchlorate Material
– Special handling may apply for service or vehicle end of life disposal.
See www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate.
CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations on acquiring your new Ford Motor Company product.
Please take the time to get well acquainted with your vehicle by reading
this handbook. The more you know and understand about your vehicle,
the greater the safety and pleasure you will derive from driving it.
For more information on Ford Motor Company and its products visit the
following website:
•In the United States: www.ford.com
•In Canada: www.ford.ca
•In Mexico: www.ford.com.mx
•In Australia: www.ford.com.au
Additional owner information is given in separate publications.
This vehicle’sOwner’s Guidedescribes every option and model variant
available and therefore some of the items covered may not apply to your
particular vehicle. Furthermore, due to printing cycles it may describe
options before they are generally available.
Remember to pass on this vehicle’sOwner’s Guidewhen reselling the
vehicle. It is an integral part of the vehicle.
Fuel pump shut-off switch:In the event of an accident the
safety switch will automatically cut off the fuel supply to the
engine. The switch can also be activated through sudden vibration (e.g.
collision when parking). To reset the switch, refer to theFuel pump
shut-off switchin theRoadside Emergencieschapter.
2008 Taurus X(219)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Introduction
4

Special instructions
For your added safety, your vehicle is fitted with sophisticated electronic
controls.
Please read the sectionAirbag supplemental restraint system
(SRS)in theSeating and Safety Restraintschapter. Failure to
follow the specific warnings and instructions could result in personal
injury.
Front seat mounted rear-facing child or infant seats should
NEVERbe placed in front of an active passenger airbag.
Service Data Recording
Service data recorders in your vehicle are capable of collecting and
storing diagnostic information about your vehicle. This potentially
includes information about the performance or status of various systems
and modules in the vehicle, such as engine, throttle, steering or brake
systems. In order to properly diagnose and service your vehicle, Ford
Motor Company, Ford of Canada, and service and repair facilities may
access vehicle diagnostic information through a direct connection to your
vehicle when diagnosing or servicing your vehicle.
Event Data Recording
Other modules in your vehicle — event data recorders — are capable of
collecting and storing data during a crash or near crash event. The
recorded information may assist in the investigation of such an event.
The modules may record information about both the vehicle and the
occupants, potentially including information such as:
•how various systems in your vehicle were operating;
•whether or not the driver and passenger seatbelts were buckled;
•how far (if at all) the driver was depressing the accelerator and/or the
brake pedal;
•how fast the vehicle was traveling; and
•where the driver was positioning the steering wheel.
2008 Taurus X(219)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Introduction
6

These are some of the symbols you may see on your vehicle.
Vehicle Symbol Glossary
Safety Alert
See Owner’s Guide
Fasten Safety BeltAirbag - Front
Airbag - SideChild Seat Lower
Anchor
Child Seat Tether
AnchorBrake System
Anti-Lock Brake SystemParking Brake System
Brake Fluid -
Non-Petroleum BasedParking Aid System
Stability Control SystemSpeed Control
Master Lighting SwitchHazard Warning Flasher
Fog Lamps-FrontFuse Compartment
Fuel Pump ResetWindshield Wash/Wipe
Windshield
Defrost/DemistRear Window
Defrost/Demist
2008 Taurus X(219)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Introduction
8

Airbag readiness:If this light fails
to illuminate when the ignition is
turned to ON, continues to flash or
remains on, have the system
serviced immediately by your authorized dealer. A chime will also sound
when a malfunction in the supplemental restraint system has been
detected.
Safety belt:Reminds you to fasten
your safety belt. A Belt-Minder
chime will also sound to remind you
to fasten your safety belt. Refer to
theSeating and safety restraints
chapter to activate/deactivate the Belt-Minderchime feature.
Charging system:Illuminates when
the battery is not charging properly.
Engine oil pressure:Illuminates
when the oil pressure falls below the
normal range, refer toEngine oilin
theMaintenance and
Specificationschapter.
Traction Control™ (if
equipped):Illuminates when the
Traction Control™ is active or has
been disabled (by the driver or as a
result of a system failure). If the
light remains on, it indicates a
Traction Control or an AWD Fault. Have the system serviced
immediately, refer to theDrivingchapter for more information.
Low tire pressure warning:
Illuminates when your tire pressure is
low. If the light remains ON at start
up or while driving, the tire pressure
should be checked. Refer toInflating
Your Tiresin theTires, Wheels and Loadingchapter. When the ignition
is first turned to ON, the light will illuminate for 3 seconds to ensure the
bulb is working. If the light does not turn ON or begins to flash, have the
system inspected by your authorized dealer. For more information on this
system, refer toUnderstanding Your Tire Pressure Monitoring System
in theTires, Wheels and Loadingchapter.
2008 Taurus X(219)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Instrument Cluster
12

Before returning the seatback to its original position, make sure
that cargo or any objects are not trapped behind the seatback.
After returning the seatback to its original position, pull on the
seatback to ensure that it has fully latched. An unlatched seat may
become dangerous in the event of a sudden stop or collision.
Adjusting the front power seat (if equipped)
Never adjust the driver’s seat or seatback when the vehicle is
moving.
Do not pile cargo higher than the seatbacks to reduce the risk of
injury in a collision or sudden stop.
Always drive and ride with your seatback upright and the lap
belt snug and low across the hips.
Reclining the seatback can cause an occupant to slide under the
seat’s safety belt, resulting in severe personal injuries in the
event of a collision.
Sitting improperly out of position or with the seat back reclined
too far can take off weight from the seat cushion and affect the
decision of the passenger sensing system, resulting in serious injury or
death in a crash. Always sit upright against your seatback, with your
feet on the floor.
To reduce the risk of possible serious injury: Do not hang objects
off seat back or stow objects in map pocket (if equipped) when
a child is in the front passenger seat. Do not place objects underneath
the front passenger seat or between the seat and the center console (if
equipped). Check the “passenger airbag off” or “pass airbag off”
indicator lamp for proper airbag status. Refer toFront passenger
sensing systemsection for additional details. Failure to follow these
instructions may interfere with the front passenger seat sensing
system.
The control is located on the outboard side of the seat cushion.
2008 Taurus X(219)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
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Before returning the seatback to its original position, make sure
that cargo or any objects are not trapped behind the seatback.
After returning the seatback to its original position, pull on the
seatback to ensure that it has fully latched. An unlatched seat may
become dangerous in the event of a sudden stop or collision.
The third row seat is NOT
designed to be used in
Tailgate mode. Placing the seat in
this position could result in
damage to the seat, surrounding
components, or injury.
The tailgate position is not a
position suitable for driving.
Do not drive the vehicle with the
seat in the tailgate position. The
safety belts are not functional
when the seat is in the tailgate
position.
SAFETY RESTRAINTS
Personal Safety System™
The Personal Safety System™ provides an improved overall level of
frontal crash protection to front seat occupants and is designed to help
further reduce the risk of airbag-related injuries. The system is able to
analyze different occupant conditions and crash severity before activating
the appropriate safety devices to help better protect a range of
occupants in a variety of frontal crash situations.
Your vehicle’s Personal Safety System™ consists of:
•Driver and passenger dual-stage airbag supplemental restraints.
•Front outboard safety belts with pretensioners, energy management
retractors (first row only), and safety belt usage sensors.
•Driver’s seat position sensor.
2008 Taurus X(219)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
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•Front passenger sensing system
•“Passenger airbag off” or “pass airbag off” indicator lamp
•Front crash severity sensor.
•Restraints Control Module (RCM) with impact and safing sensors.
•Restraint system warning light and back-up tone.
•The electrical wiring for the airbags, crash sensor(s), safety belt
pretensioners, front safety belt usage sensors, driver seat position
sensor, front passenger sensing system, and indicator lights.
How does the Personal Safety System™ work?
The Personal Safety System™ can adapt the deployment strategy of your
vehicle’s safety devices according to crash severity and occupant
conditions. A collection of crash and occupant sensors provides
information to the Restraints Control Module (RCM). During a crash, the
RCM activates the safety belt pretensioners and/or either one or both
stages of the dual-stage airbag supplemental restraints based on crash
severity and occupant conditions.
The fact that the pretensioners or airbags did not activate for both front
seat occupants in a collision does not mean that something is wrong with
the system. Rather, it means the Personal Safety System™ determined
the accident conditions (crash severity, belt usage, etc.) were not
appropriate to activate these safety devices. Front airbags are designed
to activate only in frontal and near-frontal collisions (not rollovers, side
impacts or rear impacts) unless the collision causes sufficient
longitudinal deceleration. The pretensioners are designed to activate in
frontal and near-frontal collisions, and in side collisions and rollovers.
Driver and passenger dual-stage airbag supplemental restraints
The dual-stage airbags offer the capability to tailor the level of airbag
inflation energy. A lower, less forceful energy level is provided for more
common, moderate-severity impacts. A higher energy level is used for
the most severe impacts. Refer toAirbag supplemental restraints
section in this chapter.
Front crash severity sensor
The front crash severity sensor enhances the ability to detect the
severity of an impact. Positioned up front, it provides valuable
information early in the crash event on the severity of the impact. This
allows your Personal Safety System™ to distinguish between different
levels of crash severity and modify the deployment strategy of the
dual-stage airbags and safety belt pretensioners.
2008 Taurus X(219)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
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