2011 FORD TAURUS brakes

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.
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
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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
your vehicle is equipped with a four wheel anti-lock brake system (ABS),
do not “pump” the brakes. Refer to theBrakessection of this chapter
for additional information on the operation of the anti-lock brake system.
WARNING:If you are driving in slippery conditions that require
tire chains or cables, then it is critical that you drive cautiously.
Keep speeds down, allow for longer stopping distances and avoid
aggressive steering to reduce the chances of a loss of vehicle control
which can lead to serious injury or death. If the rear end of the vehicle
slides while cornering, steer in the direction of the slide until you
regain control of the vehicle.
Maintenance and modifications
The suspension and steering systems on your vehicle have been designed
and tested to provide predictable performance whether loaded or empty
and durable load carrying capability. For this reason, Ford Motor
Company strongly recommends that you do not make modifications such
as adding or removing parts (such as lift kits or stabilizer bars) or by
using replacement parts not equivalent to the original factory equipment.
Any modifications to a vehicle that raise the center of gravity can make
it more likely the vehicle will rollover as a result of a loss of control.
Ford Motor Company recommends that caution be used with any vehicle
equipped with a high load or device (such as ladder or luggage racks).
Failure to maintain your vehicle properly may void the warranty, increase
your repair cost, reduce vehicle performance and operational capabilities
and adversely affect driver and passenger safety. Frequent inspection of
vehicle chassis components is recommended if the vehicle is subjected to
heavy off-highway usage.
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DRIVING THROUGH WATER
If driving through deep or standing
water is unavoidable, proceed very
slowly especially when the depth is
not known. Never drive through
water that is higher than the bottom
of the wheel rims (for cars) or the
bottom of the hubs (for trucks).
When driving through water, traction or brake capability may be limited.
Also, water may enter your engine’s air intake and severely damage your
engine or your vehicle may stall.Driving through deep water where
the transmission vent tube is submerged may allow water into the
transmission and cause internal transmission damage.
Once through the water, always dry the brakes by moving your
vehicle slowly while applying light pressure on the brake pedal.
Wet brakes do not stop the vehicle as quickly as dry brakes.
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BRAKE FLUID
The fluid level will drop slowly as
the brakes wear, and will rise when
the brake components are replaced.
Fluid levels between the MIN and
MAX lines are within the normal
operating range; there is no need to
add fluid. If the fluid levels are
outside of the normal operating
range, the performance of the
system could be compromised; seek
service from your authorized dealer
immediately.
TRANSMISSION FLUID
Checking automatic transmission fluid
Refer to yourscheduled maintenance informationfor scheduled
intervals for fluid checks and changes. Your transmission does not
consume fluid. However, the fluid level should be checked if the
transmission is not working properly, i.e., if the transmission slips or
shifts slowly or if you notice some sign of fluid leakage.
Automatic transmission fluid expands when warmed. To obtain an
accurate fluid check, drive the vehicle until it is warmed up
(approximately 20 miles [30 km]). If your vehicle has been
operated for an extended period at high speeds, in city traffic
during hot weather or pulling a trailer, the vehicle should be
turned off until normal operating temperatures are reached to
allow the fluid to cool before checking. Depending on vehicle use,
cooling times could take up to 30 minutes or longer.
WARNING:The dipstick cap and surrounding components may
be hot; gloves are recommended.
1. Drive the vehicle 20 miles (30 km) or until it reaches normal operating
temperature.
2. Park the vehicle on a level surface and engage the parking brake.
3. With the parking brake engaged and your foot on the brake pedal,
start the engine and move the gearshift lever through all of the gear
ranges. Allow a minimum of 10 seconds for each gear to engage.
4. Latch the gearshift lever in P (Park) and leave the engine running.
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Battery
•Check and recharge as necessary. Keep connections clean.
•If storing your vehicle for more than 30 days without recharging the
battery, it may be advisable to disconnect the battery cables to ensure
battery charge is maintained for quick starting.
Note:If battery cables are disconnected, it will be necessary to reset
memory features.
Brakes
•Make sure brakes and parking brake are fully released.
Tires
•Maintain recommended air pressure.
Miscellaneous
•Make sure all linkages, cables, levers and pins under vehicle are
covered with grease to prevent rust.
•Move vehicles at least 25 feet (8 m) every 15 days to lubricate
working parts and prevent corrosion.
Removing vehicle from storage
When your vehicle is ready to come out of storage, do the following:
•Wash your vehicle to remove any dirt or grease film build-up on
window surfaces.
•Check windshield wipers for any deterioration.
•Check under the hood for any foreign material that may have collected
during storage (mice/squirrel nests).
•Check the exhaust for any foreign material that may have collected
during storage.
•Check tire pressures and set tire inflation per the Tire Label.
•Check brake pedal operation. Drive the vehicle 15 ft (4.5 meters) back
and forth to remove rust build up.
•Check fluid levels (including coolant, oil and gas) to make sure there
are no leaks, and fluids are at recommended levels.
•If the battery was removed, clean the battery cable ends and inspect.
If you have any concerns or issues, contact your authorized dealer.
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A
Accessory delay ..........................85
Adaptive Cruise Control .............90
AdvanceTrac ..............................245
AdvanceTrac Sport Mode .........249
Air cleaner filter ...............361, 365
Air conditioning ....................51, 54
automatic temperature
control system ..........................56
manual heating and air
conditioning system .................51
Airbag supplemental restraint
system ................171–172, 180, 182
and child safety seats ............173
description ..............172, 180, 182
disposal ....................................186
driver airbag ............174, 181, 183
indicator light .................180, 185
operation .................174, 181, 183
passenger airbag .....174, 181, 183
side airbag ...............................180
All Wheel Drive (AWD),
driving off road .........................270
Ambient mood/lighting ...............70
AM/FM .........................................32
Antifreeze
(see Engine coolant) ................337
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ..............................243
Anti-theft system ..............131, 136
arming the system ..................136
disarming a triggered
system .....................................136
Audio system (see Radio) .........32
Automatic transaxle
fluid, refill capacities ..............366fluid, specification ..................366
Automatic transmission
driving an automatic
overdrive .........................253, 255
fluid, adding ............................356
fluid, checking ........................356
Selectshift (SST) ....................256
Auxiliary input jack (Line in) ....41
B
Battery .......................................335
acid, treating emergencies .....335
jumping a disabled battery ....305
maintenance-free ....................335
replacement, specifications ...365
servicing ..................................335
Belt-Minder
.............................167
Blind Spot Information
System .......................................264
Booster seats .............................199
Brakes ........................................242
anti-lock ...................................243
anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light ...........................243
fluid, checking and adding ....356
fluid, refill capacities ..............366
fluid, specifications .................366
lubricant specifications ..........366
parking ....................................244
shift interlock ..........................251
Bulbs ............................................70
C
Capacities for refilling fluids ....366
Cargo cover ...............................101
Cargo net ...................................106
CD ................................................32
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Homelink wireless control
system ........................................101
Hood ..........................................327
I
Ignition ...............................235, 369
Illuminated visor mirror .............78
Infant seats
(see Safety seats) .....................190
Inspection/maintenance (I/M)
testing ........................................354
Instrument panel
cleaning ...................................321
cluster ........................................12
lighting up panel
and interior ...............................67
Intelligent Access Key ..............108
Intelligent Access with push
button start ...............................122
J
Jack ............................................288
positioning ...............................288
storage .....................................288
Jump-starting your vehicle ......305
K
Keyless entry system
autolock ...................................116
keypad .....................................129
locking and
unlocking doors ......................130
programming entry code .......129
Keys ...................................107, 133
positions of the ignition .........235L
Lamps
autolamp system .......................62
bulb replacement
specifications chart ..................70
daytime running light ...............66
headlamps .................................62
headlamps, flash to pass ..........66
instrument panel, dimming .....67
interior lamps .....................69, 71
replacing bulbs .........................71
LATCH anchors .........................194
Lights, warning and indicator ....12
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ..........243
Load limits .................................224
Locks
autolock ...................................116
childproof ................................119
doors ........................................114
Lubricant specifications ...........366
Lug nuts ....................................303
Lumbar support, seats .....142, 144
M
Massage seats ............................145
Message center ...........................19
english/metric button ...............24
system check button ................24
warning messages .....................24
Mirrors ...................................85–86
automatic dimming rearview
mirror ........................................85
fold away ...................................87
heated ........................................87
programmable memory ..........124
side view mirrors (power) .......86
Moon roof ....................................99
Index
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