Page 273 of 358

When driving through water, determine the depth; avoid water higher
than the bottom of the wheel rims (if possible) and proceed slowly. If the
ignition system gets wet, the vehicle may stall.
Once through water, always try the brakes. Wet brakes do not stop the
vehicle as effectively as dry brakes. Drying can be improved by moving
your vehicle slowly while applying light pressure on the brake pedal.
Be cautious of sudden changes in vehicle speed or direction when you
are driving in mud. Even AWD vehicles can lose traction in slick mud. As
when you are driving over sand, apply the accelerator slowly and avoid
spinning your wheels. If the vehicle does slide, steer in the direction of
the slide until you regain control of the vehicle.
If the engine, transmission, AWD system components or axles are
submerged in water, their fluids should be checked and changed, if
necessary.
Driving through deep water may damage the engine or
transmission.
If the front or rear axle is submerged in water, the axle lubricant and
PTU (Power Transfer Unit) lubricant should be checked and changed if
necessary.
After driving through mud, clean off residue stuck to rotating driveshafts
and tires. Excess mud stuck on tires and rotating driveshafts causes an
imbalance that could damage drive components.
“Tread Lightly” is an educational
program designed to increase public
awareness of land-use regulations
and responsibilities in our nations
wilderness areas. Ford Motor
Company joins the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land
Management in encouraging you to help preserve our national forest and
other public and private lands by “treading lightly.”
Driving on hilly or sloping terrain
Although natural obstacles may make it necessary to travel diagonally up
or down a hill or steep incline, you should always try to drive straight up
or straight down.Avoid driving crosswise or turning on steep
slopes or hills.A danger lies in losing traction, slipping sideways and
possibly rolling over. Whenever driving on a hill, determine beforehand
the route you will use. Do not drive over the crest of a hill without
seeing what conditions are on the other side. Do not drive in reverse
over a hill without the aid of an observer.
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Owners Guide, 2nd Printing
USA(fus)
Driving
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When climbing a steep slope or hill, start in a lower gear rather than
downshifting to a lower gear from a higher gear once the ascent has
started. This reduces strain on the engine and the possibility of stalling.
If you do stall out, Do not try to turnaround because you might roll over.
It is better to back down to a safe location.
Apply just enough power to the wheels to climb the hill. Too much
power will cause the tires to slip, spin or lose traction, resulting in loss of
vehicle control.
Descend a hill in the same gear you
would use to climb up the hill to
avoid excessive brake application
and brake overheating. Do not
descend in neutral; instead,
disengage overdrive or manually
shift to a lower gear. When
descending a steep hill, avoid
sudden hard braking as you could
lose control. The front wheels have
to be turning in order to steer the
vehicle.
Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, therefore apply the brakes steadily. Do
not “pump” the brakes.
Driving on snow and ice
Note:Excessive tire slippage can cause transmission damage.
AWD vehicles have advantages over 2WD vehicles in snow and ice but
can skid like any other vehicle.
Should you start to slide while driving on snowy or icy roads, turn the
steering wheel in the direction of the slide until you regain control.
Avoid sudden applications of power and quick changes of direction on
snow and ice. Apply the accelerator slowly and steadily when starting
from a full stop.
Avoid sudden braking as well. Although an AWD vehicle may accelerate
better than a two-wheel drive vehicle in snow and ice, it won’t stop any
faster, because as in other vehicles, braking occurs at all four wheels. Do
not become overconfident as to road conditions.
Make sure you allow sufficient distance between you and other vehicles
for stopping. Drive slower than usual and consider using one of the lower
gears. In emergency stopping situations, apply the brake steadily. Since
2009 Taurus X(219)
Owners Guide, 2nd Printing
USA(fus)
Driving
274
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Page 289 of 358

Tire change procedure
WARNING:When one of the front wheels is off the ground, the
transmission alone will not prevent the vehicle from moving or
slipping off the jack, even if the vehicle is in P (Park).
WARNING:To help prevent the vehicle from moving when you
change a tire, be sure to place the transmission in P (Park), set
the parking brake and block (in both directions) the wheel that is
diagonally opposite (other side and end of the vehicle) to the tire
being changed.
WARNING:If the vehicle slips off the jack, you or someone else
could be seriously injured.
WARNING:Do not attempt to change a tire on the side of the
vehicle close to moving traffic. Pull far enough off the road to
avoid the danger of being hit when operating the jack or changing the
wheel.
1. Block the diagonally opposite
wheel.
2. Remove wheel cover (if
equipped) with the lug wrench tip
and loosen each wheel lug nut
one-half turn counterclockwise but
do not remove them until the wheel
is raised off the ground.
2009 Taurus X(219)
Owners Guide, 2nd Printing
USA(fus)
Roadside Emergencies
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plastic parts ............................310
washing ....................................307
waxing .....................................308
wheels ......................................308
wiper blades ............................310
Climate control
(see Air conditioning or
Heating) .....................76, 78, 80, 82
Clock adjust
6-CD in dash .............................30
AM/FM/CD .................................23
Compass, electronic
set zone adjustment ...............120
Console ......................................101
overhead ............................99–100
Controls
power seat ...............................158
steering column ......................110
Coolant
checking and adding ..............324
refill capacities ................328, 346
specifications ..........................346
Cruise control (see Speed
control) ......................................107
Customer Assistance ................276
Ford Extended Service
Plan ..........................................304
Getting assistance outside the
U.S. and Canada .....................304
Getting roadside assistance ...276
Getting the service you
need .........................................300
Ordering additional owner’s
literature .................................305
Utilizing the
Mediation/Arbitration
Program ...................................303D
Daytime running lamps (see
Lamps) .........................................89
Dipstick
automatic transmission
fluid ..........................................342
engine oil .................................319
Driving under special
conditions ..........................271, 273
sand .........................................272
snow and ice ...........................274
through water .................272, 275
DVD system .................................45
E
Electronic message center .......117
Emergencies, roadside
jump-starting ..........................293
Emission control system ..........338
Engine ........................................348
cleaning ...................................309
coolant .....................................324
fail-safe cooling .......................328
idle speed control ...................322
lubrication specifications .......346
refill capacities ........................346
service points ..........................316
starting after a collision .........278
Engine block heater .................255
Engine oil ..................................319
change oil soon warning,
message center .......................319
checking and adding ..............319
dipstick ....................................319
filter, specifications ........321, 345
recommendations ...................321
refill capacities ........................346
specifications ..........................346
2009 Taurus X(219)
Owners Guide, 2nd Printing
USA(fus)
Index
354
ProCarManuals.com