Page 2 of 280
Seating and Safety Restraints 102
Seating 102
Safety restraints 111
Airbags 125
Child restraints 140
Tires, Wheels and Loading 152
Tire information 152
Tire inflation 154
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) 167
Vehicle loading 172
Trailer towing 177
Recreational towing 177
Driving 179
Starting 179
Brakes 184
Traction Control™/AdvanceTrac186
Transmission operation 188
Roadside Emergencies 199
Getting roadside assistance 199
Hazard flasher switch 200
Fuel pump shut-off switch 201
Fuses and relays 201
Changing tires 208
Lug nut torque 213
Jump starting 214
Wrecker towing 219
Customer Assistance 220
Reporting safety defects (U.S. only) 226
Reporting safety defects (Canada only) 227
Cleaning 228
Table of Contents
2
2008 MKZ(378)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Page 42 of 280

Your vehicle may also have reading
lamps within the rear dome lamp(s).
Press the switches on either side of
the dome lamp to turn on the
lamps.
BULB REPLACEMENT
Headlamp Condensation
The headlamps are vented to equalize pressure. When moist air enters
the headlamp(s) through the vents, there is a possibility that
condensation can occur. This condensation is normal and will clear
within 45 minutes of headlamp operation.
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 bulbs Trade number
Headlamp high beam 2 H7
Headlamp low beam 2H11LL (D1S
[HID] optional)
Front park/turn signal lamp 23457AK
(amber)
Front redundant park lamp 4 168 NA
* Rear sidemarker lamp N/A LED
* Stop/tail lamp N/A LED
Rear turn signal lamp 2 3157A (amber)
Redundant tail lamp 8 161
Backup lamp 2 921
License plate lamp 2 C5WL
High-mount brake lamp 1 921
Fog lamp 2 H11
2008 MKZ(378)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Lights
42
Page 44 of 280

6. Carefully pull bulb straight out of
socket and push in the new one.
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.
7. For ease of bulb socket installation into the lamp assembly, hold the
bulb socket at 15 degrees clockwise from a vertical position. Using the 2
lead wires oriented exactly up to represent the vertical reference
position.
8. From the 15 degree position rotate the bulb socket clockwise to a
locked position.
9. Tuck the 2 lead wires into the lamp housing to assure that they are
not pinched when installing the protective rubber cap.
10. Install the protective rubber cap to the housing circular ring by
pushing and pressing it forward.
11. Re-apply pressure around the complete circular ring on the housing
to make sure the protective rubber cap is completely seated.
12. Reconnect washer bottle filler neck snap strap by reversing step 3
(Passenger Side Only).
13. Reinstall the AirTube to the air filter assembly. (Driver’s side only).
14. Reinstall the vertical shield to the bolster. (Driver’s side only).
15. Turn the headlamps on and make sure they work properly. If the
headlamp was correctly aligned before you changed the bulb, you should
not need to align it again.
Lowbeam bulb replacement
1. Make sure headlamp switch is in OFF position, then open the hood.
2008 MKZ(378)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Lights
44
Page 46 of 280

10. After the new bulb is installed, carefully let the bulb socket dangle
downward near the lamp housing (Passenger side only).
11. From the exterior wheel well area reach arm through splash shield
opening to install bulb socket with new bulb (Passenger side only).
12. Install the new bulb socket into the lamp assembly by aligning the
indexing fingers, then rotate clockwise to locked position.
13. Install the protective rubber cap to the housing circular ring by
pushing and pressing it forward.
14. Re-apply pressure around the complete circular ring on the housing
to make sure the protective rubber cap is completely seated.
15. Reinstall the AirTube to the air filter assembly. (Driver’s side only).
16. Reinstall the vertical shield to the bolster. (Driver’s side only).
17. Turn the headlamps on and make sure they work properly. If the
headlamp was correctly aligned before you changed the bulb, you should
not need to align it again
Replacing HID headlamp bulbs (if equipped)
The low beam headlamps on your vehicle use a “high intensity discharge”
source. These lamps operate at a high voltage. When the bulb is burned
out, the bulb and starter capsule assembly must be replaced by your
authorized dealer.
Replacing redundant park bulbs
1. Make sure headlamp switch is in OFF position, then open the hood.
2. Remove screw from oval splash
shield access panel from the
exterior wheel well area. Lift up and
rearward to release a hidden finger
attachment at the lower portion of
the panel.
3. From the exterior wheel well area
reach arm through splash shield
opening to access bulb socket.
2008 MKZ(378)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Lights
46