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
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.
2009 Taurus(500)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
Roadside Emergencies
264
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
1. Lift the trunk cargo cover, and
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.
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).
2009 Taurus(500)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
Roadside Emergencies
265
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.
Note: DO NOT LIFT ON THE
PLASTIC MOLDING, as this could
damage the molding. ONLY LIFT ON
THE SHEET METAL NOTCH.
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
specifications later 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
2009 Taurus (500)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA (fus)
Roadside Emergencies
267
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. Place the
extension bolt into the external
pocket of the felt bag. 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
VELCROstrips.
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.
2009 Taurus(500)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
Roadside Emergencies
268
If you are stowing the flat tire:
1. Remove the extension bolt from
the exterior pocket of the felt bag.
2. Install the jack as shown in
Step 4 underStowing the tire and
jack.
3. Screw the extension bolt onto the
threaded stud of the jack retention
bracket.
4. With the temporary spare tire on
the vehicle, place the flat tire in the
spare tire well with the wheel facing up.
5. Safely secure the wheel by screwing the large wing nut onto the
extension bolt.
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.
WARNING: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.
2009 Taurus(500)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
Roadside Emergencies
269
fluid, specifications .................324
Power Windows ...........................97
R
Radio ................................18, 22, 29
Rear seat entertainment
system ..........................................45
Recommendations for attaching
safety restraints for children.....184
Relays ........................................255
Remote entry system .......131–132
illuminated entry ............136–137
locking/unlocking doors..132–133
opening the trunk ...................133
panic alarm .............................133
replacement/additional
transmitters .............................135
replacing the batteries ...........134
Reverse sensing system ...........245
Roadside assistance ..................253
S
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ..................153, 157–160
Safety Canopy ...................176, 178
Safety defects, reporting ..283–284
Safety restraints ........153, 157–161
Belt-Minder...........................162
extension assembly ................161
for adults .........................158–160
for children .............................182
Occupant Classification
Sensor ......................................155
warning light and
chime ...............................161–162
Safety restraints - LATCH
anchors ......................................190Safety seats for children ..........186
Safety Compliance
Certification Label ....................327
Satellite Radio Information ........42
Seats ..........................................145
child safety seats ....................186
front seats .......................145, 147
heated ................................78, 150
memory seat ...................133, 151
SecuriLock passive anti-theft
system ........................................139
Servicing your vehicle ..............292
Setting the clock
AM/FM single CD .....................23
AM/FM/In-dash 6 CD ................30
Spare tire
(see Changing the Tire) ...........265
Spark plugs,
specifications .....................323, 326
Specification chart,
lubricants ...................................324
Speed control ............................102
Starting your vehicle ........229–231
jump starting ..........................270
Steering wheel
controls ....................................105
tilting .........................................94
SYNC ............................................73
T
Tilt steering wheel ......................94
Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS)
Roadside Emergencies ...........262
Tires, Wheels and Loading ....214
2009 Taurus(500)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
Index
335
Tires ...........................199–200, 262
alignment ................................207
care ..........................................203
changing ..........................262, 265
checking the pressure ............203
inflating ...................................201
label .........................................213
replacing ..................................205
rotating ....................................207
safety practices .......................206
sidewall information ...............209
snow tires and chains ............219
spare tire .................................263
terminology .............................200
tire grades ...............................200
treadwear ........................199, 204
Towing .......................................225
recreational towing .................228
trailer towing ..........................225
wrecker ....................................275
Transaxle
fluid, refill capacities ..............324
lubricant specifications ..........324
Transmission .............................241
brake-shift interlock (BSI) ....241
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................320
Trunk .................................130, 133remote release ........................121
Turn signal ..................................86
U
USB port ......................................38
V
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................327
Vehicle loading ..........................220
Ventilating your vehicle ...........232
W
Warning lights (see Lights) .......12
Washer fluid ..............................295
Water, Driving through .............252
Windows
power .........................................97
Windshield washer fluid and
wipers ..........................................93
checking and adding fluid .....295
replacing wiper blades ...........296
Wrecker towing .........................275
2009 Taurus(500)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
Index
336