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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
Page 315 of 336

•You may want to turn off the speed control in hilly terrain if
unnecessary shifting between the top gears occurs. Unnecessary
shifting of this type could result in reduced fuel economy.
•Warming up a vehicle on cold mornings is not required and may
reduce fuel economy.
•Resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving may reduce fuel
economy.
•Combine errands and minimize stop-and-go driving.
Maintenance
•Keep tires properly inflated and use only recommended size.
•Operating a vehicle with the wheels out of alignment will reduce fuel
economy.
•Use recommended engine oil. Refer toMaintenance product
specifications and capacitiesin this chapter.
•Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance items. Follow the
recommended maintenance schedule and owner maintenance checks
found inscheduled maintenance information.
Conditions
•Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a trailer may reduce fuel economy
at any speed.
•Carrying unnecessary weight may reduce fuel economy (approximately
1 mpg [0.4 km/L] is lost for every 400 lb [180 kg] of weight carried).
•Adding certain accessories to your vehicle (for example bug
deflectors, rollbars/light bars, running boards, ski/luggage racks) may
reduce fuel economy.
•Using fuel blended with alcohol may lower fuel economy.
•Fuel economy may decrease with lower temperatures during the first
8–10 miles (12–16 km) of driving.
•Driving on flat terrain offers improved fuel economy as compared to
driving on hilly terrain.
•Transmissions give their best fuel economy when operated in the top
cruise gear and with steady pressure on the gas pedal.
•Close windows for high speed driving.
2009 Taurus(500)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
315
Page 336 of 336

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