2008 Mercury Grand Marquis flat tire

Seating and Safety Restraints 100
Seating 100
Safety restraints 105
Airbags 120
Child restraints 132
Tires, Wheels and Loading 143
Tire information 143
Tire inflation 145
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) 158
Vehicle loading 163
Trailer towing 169
Recreational towing 172
Driving 173
Starting 173
Brakes 178
Traction Control™ 181
Air suspension 184
Transmission operation 185
Roadside Emergencies 191
Getting roadside assistance 191
Hazard flasher switch 192
Fuel pump shut-off switch 193
Fuses and relays 194
Changing tires 201
Lug nut torque 207
Jump starting 208
Wrecker towing 214
Customer Assistance 215
Reporting safety defects (U.S. only) 221
Reporting safety defects (Canada only) 222
Cleaning 223
Table of Contents
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2008 Grand Marquis(grn)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)

Charging system:Illuminates when
the battery is not charging properly.
Engine oil pressure:Illuminates
when the oil pressure falls below the
normal range. Check the oil level
and add oil if needed. Refer to
Engine oilin theMaintenance and Specificationschapter.
Engine coolant temperature (if
equipped):Illuminates when the
engine coolant temperature is high.
Stop the vehicle as soon as possible, switch off the engine and let cool.
Refer toEngine coolantin theMaintenance and Specifications
chapter.
Never remove the coolant reservoir cap while the engine is
running or hot.
Traction control™ AdvanceTrac
active (if equipped):Illuminates
when the Traction control™ system
is active. It will be lit for a minimum
of four seconds or for the duration
of the Traction Control™ event,
refer to theDrivingchapter for more information.
Severity indicator (if equipped):
Displays the indicated severity color
when any of the following warning
conditions has occurred:
•Red: Low Oil Pressure, Charge
System, Engine Coolant Over Temperature, Door Ajar
•Amber: Low Fuel
Refer toMessage Centerin theDriver Controlschapter.
Low tire pressure warning (if
equipped):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
2008 Grand Marquis(grn)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Instrument Cluster
13

CHECK AIR SUSPENSION.Displayed when the air suspension system
is not operating properly. If this message is displayed while driving, pull
off the road as soon as safely possible. For more information, refer toAir
suspensionin theDrivingchapter.
LOW FUEL.Displayed as an early reminder of a low fuel condition.
Warning message can be reset by pressing the RESET button, but will
return after 10 minutes. If any other button is pressed besides RESET,
the message ’’PRESS RESET TO CLEAR’’ will appear in the Message
Center. Once this message disappears (after approximately 2 seconds),
press RESET to clear the warning.
TRUNK AJAR.Displayed when the trunk is not completely closed.
OVERDRIVE ON/OFF.Displayed when the overdrive is enabled or
disabled.
LOW TIRE PRESSURE.Displayed when one or more tires on your
vehicle have low tire pressure. Refer toInflating Your Tiresin the
Tires, Wheels and Loadingchapter.
TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR FAULT.Displayed when the Tire
Pressure Monitoring System is malfunctioning. If the warning stays on or
continues to come on, have the system inspected by your authorized
dealer.
TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR FAULT.Displayed when a tire pressure
sensor is malfunctioning, or your spare tire is in use (Note: this includes
the use of the optional full-sized matching spare tire and wheel). For
more information on how the system operates under these conditions,
refer toUnderstanding Your Tire Pressure Monitoring Systemin the
Tires, Wheels and Loadingchapter. If the warning stays on or
continues to come on, have the system inspected by your authorized
dealer.
CHECK COMPASS MODULE.Displayed when the compass is not
operating properly. If the warning stays on or continues to come on,
contact your authorized dealer as soon as possible.
LOW WASHER FLUID.Indicates the washer fluid reservoir is less than
one quarter full. Check the washer fluid level. Refer toWindshield
washer fluidin theMaintenance and Specificationschapter.
CHANGE ENGINE OIL.Displayed when the engine oil life remaining is
5 percent or less. When oil life left is between 5% and 0%, the CHANGE
OIL SOON message will be displayed. When oil life left reaches 0%, the
OIL CHANGE REQUIRED message will be displayed.
An oil change is required whenever indicated by the message center and
according to the recommended maintenance schedule. USE ONLY
RECOMMENDED ENGINE OILS.
2008 Grand Marquis(grn)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Driver Controls
81

The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on
straight-ahead braking traction tests, and does not include
acceleration, cornering, hydroplaning or peak traction characteristics.
Temperature A B C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B and C, representing the
tire’s resistance to the generation of heat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the material of the tire
to degenerate and reduce tire life, and excessive temperature can lead to
sudden tire failure. The grade C corresponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standard No. 139. Grades B and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by
law.
The temperature grade for this tire is established for a tire that
is properly inflated and not overloaded. Excessive speed,
underinflation, or excessive loading, either separately or in
combination, can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.
TIRES
Tires are designed to give many thousands of miles of service, but they
must be maintained in order to get the maximum benefit from them.
Glossary of tire terminology
•Tire label:A label showing the OE (Original Equipment) tire sizes,
recommended inflation pressure and the maximum weight the vehicle
can carry.
•Tire Identification Number (TIN):A number on the sidewall of
each tire providing information about the tire brand and
manufacturing plant, tire size and date of manufacture. Also referred
to as DOT code.
•Inflation pressure:A measure of the amount of air in a tire.
•Standard load:A class of P-metric or Metric tires designed to carry a
maximum load at 35 psi [37 psi (2.5 bar) for Metric tires]. Increasing
the inflation pressure beyond this pressure will not increase the tire’s
load carrying capability.
•Extra load:A class of P-metric or Metric tires designed to carry a
heavier maximum load at 41 psi [43 psi (2.9 bar) for Metric tires].
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Increasing the inflation pressure beyond this pressure will not increase
the tire’s load carrying capability.
•kPa:Kilopascal, a metric unit of air pressure.
•PSI:Pounds per square inch, a standard unit of air pressure.
•Cold inflation pressure:The tire pressure when the vehicle has
been stationary and out of direct sunlight for an hour or more and
prior to the vehicle being driven for 1 mile (1.6 km).
•Recommended inflation pressure:The cold inflation pressure found
on the Safety Compliance Certification Label or Tire Label located on
the B-Pillar or the edge of the driver’s door.
•B-pillar:The structural member at the side of the vehicle behind the
front door.
•Bead area of the tire:Area of the tire next to the rim.
•Sidewall of the tire:Area between the bead area and the tread.
•Tread area of the tire:Area of the perimeter of the tire that
contacts the road when mounted on the vehicle.
•Rim:The metal support (wheel) for a tire or a tire and tube assembly
upon which the tire beads are seated.
INFLATING YOUR TIRES
Safe operation of your vehicle requires that your tires are properly
inflated. Remember that a tire can lose up to half of its air pressure
without appearing flat.
Every day before you drive, check your tires. If one looks lower than the
others, use a tire gauge to check pressure of all tires and adjust if
required.
At least once a month and before long trips, inspect each tire and check
the tire pressure with a tire gauge (including spare, if equipped). Inflate
all tires to the inflation pressure recommended by Ford Motor Company.
Use a tire gauge to check the tire inflation pressure, including the spare
(if equipped), at least monthly and before long trips. You are strongly
urged to buy a reliable tire pressure gauge, as automatic service station
gauges may be inaccurate. Ford recommends the use of a digital or
dial-type tire pressure gauge rather than a stick-type tire pressure gauge.
Use the recommended cold inflation pressure for optimum tire
performance and wear. Under-inflation or over-inflation may cause
uneven treadwear patterns.
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Tires, Wheels and Loading
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Under-inflation is the most common cause of tire failures and
may result in severe tire cracking, tread separation or
blowout
,
with unexpected loss of vehicle control and increased risk of injury.
Under-inflation increases sidewall flexing and rolling resistance,
resulting in heat buildup and internal damage to the tire. It also may
result in unnecessary tire stress, irregular wear, loss of vehicle control
and accidents. A tire can lose up to half of its air pressure and not
appear to be flat!
Always inflate your tires to the Ford recommended inflation pressure
even if it is less than the maximum inflation pressure information found
on the tire. The Ford recommended tire inflation pressure is found on
the Safety Compliance Certification Label or Tire Label which is located
on the B-Pillar or the edge of the driver’s door. Failure to follow the tire
pressure recommendations can cause uneven treadwear patterns and
adversely affect the way your vehicle handles.
Maximum Permissible Inflation Pressureis the tire manufacturer’s
maximum permissible pressure and/or the pressure at which the
maximum load can be carried by the tire. This pressure is normally
higher than the manufacturer’s recommended cold inflation pressure
which can be found on the Safety Compliance Certification Label or Tire
Label which is located on the B-Pillar or the edge of the driver’s door.
The cold inflation pressure should never be set lower than the
recommended pressure on the Safety Compliance Certification Label or
Tire Label.
When weather temperature changes occur, tire inflation pressures also
change. A 10°F (6°C) temperature drop can cause a corresponding drop
of 1 psi (7 kPa) in inflation pressure. Check your tire pressures
frequently and adjust them to the proper pressure which can be found
on the Safety Compliance Certification Label or Tire Label.
To check the pressure in your tire(s):
1. Make sure the tires are cool, meaning they are not hot from driving
even a mile.
If you are checking tire pressure when the tire is hot, (i.e. driven more
than 1 mile [1.6 km]), never “bleed” or reduce air pressure. The tires are
hot from driving and it is normal for pressures to increase above
recommended cold pressures. A hot tire at or below recommended cold
inflation pressure could be significantly under-inflated.
Note:If you have to drive a distance to get air for your tire(s), check
and record the tire pressure first and add the appropriate air pressure
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when you get to the pump. It is normal for tires to heat up and the air
pressure inside to go up as you drive.
2. Remove the cap from the valve on one tire, then firmly press the tire
gauge onto the valve and measure the pressure.
3. Add enough air to reach the recommended air pressure.
Note:If you overfill the tire, release air by pushing on the metal stem in
the center of the valve. Then recheck the pressure with your tire gauge.
4. Replace the valve cap.
5. Repeat this procedure for each tire, including the spare.
Note:Some spare tires operate at a higher inflation pressure than the
other tires. For T-type/mini-spare tires (seeDissimilar Spare
Tire/Wheel Informationsection for description): Store and maintain at
60psi (4.15 bar). For Full Size and Dissimilar spare tires (seeDissimilar
Spare Tire/Wheel Informationsection for description): Store and
maintain at the higher of the front and rear inflation pressure as shown
on the Tire Label.
6. Visually inspect the tires to make sure there are no nails or other
objects embedded that could poke a hole in the tire and cause an air
leak.
7. Check the sidewalls to make sure there are no gouges, cuts or bulges.
TIRE CARE
Inspecting your tires
Periodically inspect the tire treads for uneven or excessive wear and
remove objects such as stones, nails or glass that may be wedged in the
tread grooves. Check for holes or cuts that may permit air leakage from
the tire and make necessary repairs. Also inspect the tire sidewalls for
cracking, cuts, bruises and other signs of damage or excessive wear. If
internal damage to the tire is suspected, have the tire demounted and
inspected in case it needs to be repaired or replaced. For your safety,
tires that are damaged or show signs of excessive wear should not be
used because they are more likely to blow out or fail.
Improper or inadequate vehicle maintenance can cause tires to wear
abnormally. Inspect all your tires, including the spare, frequently, and
replace them if one or more of the following conditions exist:
2008 Grand Marquis(grn)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
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Tires, Wheels and Loading
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Tire wear
When the tread is worn down to
1/16th of an inch (2 mm), tires must
be replaced to help prevent your
vehicle from skidding and
hydroplaning. Built-in treadwear
indicators, or “wear bars”, which
look like narrow strips of smooth
rubber across the tread will appear
on the tire when the tread is worn
down to 1/16th of an inch (2 mm).
When the tire tread wears down to
the same height as these “wear bars”, the tire is worn out and must be
replaced.
Damage
Periodically inspect the tire treads and sidewalls for damage (such as
bulges in the tread or sidewalls, cracks in the tread groove and
separation in the tread or sidewall). If damage is observed or suspected
have the tire inspected by a tire professional. Tires can be damaged
during off-road use, so inspection after off-road use is also
recommended.
Age
Tires degrade over time depending on many factors such as
weather, storage conditions, and conditions of use (load, speed,
inflation pressure, etc.) the tires experience throughout their lives.
In general, tires should be replaced after six years regardless of tread
wear. However, heat caused by hot climates or frequent high loading
conditions can accelerate the aging process and may require tires to be
replaced more frequently.
You should replace your spare tire when you replace the road tires or
after six years due to aging even if it has not been used.
U.S. DOT Tire Identification Number (TIN)
Both U.S. and Canada Federal regulations require tire manufacturers to
place standardized information on the sidewall of all tires. This
information identifies and describes the fundamental characteristics of
the tire and also provides a U.S. DOT Tire Identification Number for
safety standard certification and in case of a recall.
This begins with the letters “DOT” and indicates that the tire meets all
federal standards. The next two numbers or letters are the plant code
2008 Grand Marquis(grn)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
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