2011 FORD TAURUS Owners Manual

•The vehicle speed falls below 27 mph (43 km/h).
•The ambient light level is high enough that high beams are not
needed.
•Severe rain, snow or fog is detected.
•The camera is blocked.
Note:Activating the multi-function lever will put the headlamps in
manual high beam mode (constant or flash-to-pass) until the lever is
returned to the neutral position. To manually override the auto high
beam and go to low beam, the headlamp control must be taken out of
the
(autolamp) position.
Setting auto high beam sensitivity
The automatic high beam system has two sensitivity settings. The default
setting is near. If you would like the high beams to turn off when traffic
is further away, the sensitivity setting can be changed to far. The
procedure is as follows:
Preconditions:
•Vehicle is at a stop.
•Ignition is in the on position.
•The headlamp control is in the
position.
•High-beams are off.
Programming Sequence:
1. Turn the headlamp control from
(On) to(autolamp) three
times within two seconds, ending in
(On).
2. Cycle flash-to-pass three times using the multi-function lever.
3. The sensitivity setting has been changed.
Note: The programming sequence will end if either of the following
occur:
•The vehicle speed is not zero.
•The battery voltage is out of normal range.
Troubleshooting
If the automatic high beam camera becomes blocked, the high beams
may not come on automatically. They will only activate when they are
manually turned on with the multi-function lever.
Typical road dust, dirt and water spots will not affect the automatic high
beam system’s performance. However, in cold or inclement weather
Lights
65
2011 Taurus(500)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

conditions, the automatic high beam system’s availability may be
decreased. In such conditions, the manual override may be used to turn
the high beams on or off.
For significant blockages (e.g. bird dropping, bug splatter, snow, or ice),
the automatic high beam system uses a blocked sensor computer
program. If a blockage is detected and no changes are observed, the
system will go into low beam mode until the blockage is cleared. If
blockages are repeatedly detected, the system will stay in low beam
mode for the remainder of the ignition cycle unless the system is able to
begin detecting other vehicles again.
If it appears that automatic control of the high beams is not functioning
properly, check the windshield in front of the camera for blockage.
Flash-to-pass
Pull and release to activate.
Daytime running lamps (DRL) (if equipped)
Turns the headlamps on with a reduced output.
To activate:
•the ignition must be in the on position,
•the headlamp control is in the off, autolamps or parking lamp position
and
•the transmission must be out of the P (Park) position.
WARNING:Always remember to turn on your headlamps at
dusk or during inclement weather. The Daytime Running Lamp
(DRL) system does not activate the tail lamps and generally may not
provide adequate lighting during these conditions. Failure to activate
your headlamps under these conditions may result in a collision.
Lights
66
2011 Taurus(500)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

PANEL DIMMER CONTROL
Use to adjust the brightness of the
instrument panel and all applicable
lit components in the vehicle during
headlamp and parking lamp
operation.
•Tapthetoporbottomofthe
control to brighten/dim all interior
lit components incrementally, or
•Press and hold at the first position the top or bottom of the control
until the desired lighting level is reached.
•Press and hold the top of the control to the full on position to activate
the “dome on” feature. This will turn on the interior courtesy lights.
The lights will remain on until the bottom of the control is pressed.
Note:If the battery is disconnected, discharged, or a new battery is
installed, the dimmer control requires re-calibration. Press the dimmer
control from the full dim position to the full on position to reset. This
will ensure that your displays are visible under all lighting conditions.
AIMING THE HEADLAMPS
The headlamps on your vehicle are properly aimed at the assembly plant.
If your vehicle has been in an accident, the alignment of your headlamps
should be checked by your authorized dealer.
Vertical aim adjustment
1. Park the vehicle directly in front of a wall or screen on a level surface,
approximately 25 feet (7.6 meters) away.
•(1) 8 feet (2.4 meters)
•(2) Center height of lamp to
ground
•(3) 25 feet (7.6 meters)
•(4) Horizontal reference line
2. Measure the height of the
headlamp bulb center from the
ground and mark an 8 foot
(2.4 meter) horizontal reference line
on the vertical wall or screen at this
height (a piece of masking tape works well). The center of the lamp is
marked bya3mmcircleontheheadlamp lens.
Lights
67
2011 Taurus(500)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

3. Turn on the low beam headlamps to illuminate the wall or screen and
open the hood.
To see a clearer light pattern for adjusting, you may want to block the
light from one headlamp while adjusting the other.
For vehicles with halogen headlamps:
On the wall or screen you will
observe a flat zone of high intensity
light located at the top of the right
hand portion of the beam pattern. If
the top edge of the high intensity
light zone is not at the horizontal
reference line, the headlamp will
need to be adjusted.
For vehicles with HID headlamps:
There is a distinct cut-off (change
from light to dark) in the left
portion of the beam pattern. The
top edge of this cut-off should be
positioned two inches (50.8 mm)
below the horizontal reference line.
4. Locate the vertical adjuster on
each headlamp. Using a Phillips #2
screwdriver, turn the adjuster either
clockwise (to adjust down) or
counterclockwise (to adjust up).
5. Close the hood and turn off the
lamps.
HORIZONTAL AIM IS NOT
REQUIRED FOR THIS VEHICLE
AND IS NON-ADJUSTABLE.
Lights
68
2011 Taurus(500)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

TURN SIGNAL CONTROL
•Push down to activate the left
turn signal.
•Push up to activate the right turn
signal.
INTERIOR LAMPS
Dome lamps and map lamps
The map lamps are located on the
overhead console. Press the controls
on either side of each map lamp to
turn on the lamps.
Your vehicle may also have reading
lamps within the rear dome lamp(s).
Press the switches on either side of
the dome lamp to turn on the
reading lamps. The direction of the
reading lights can be adjusted by
pressing on the sides of the reading
lights.
The dome lamp and reading lights
will turn on when the doors are
opened or the vehicle is unlocked.
Lights
69
2011 Taurus(500)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

Ambient lighting (if equipped)
Illuminates footwells and cupholders
with a choice of several colors. The
ambient lighting control is located in
the center console storage area. To
activate, press and release the left
side of the control to cycle through
the color choices plus the off state.
Press the right side of the control to adjust color intensity.
The lights come on whenever the ignition is in either the on or accessory
position and the headlamps or parking lamps are on.
Note:The ambient lights will stay on until the ignition is placed in the
off position and either of the front doors are opened or the accessory
delay timer expires.
BULB REPLACEMENT
Lamp assembly condensation
Exterior lamps are vented to accommodate normal changes in pressure.
Condensation can be a natural by-product of this design. When moist air
enters the lamp assembly through the vents, there is a possibility that
condensation can occur when the temperature is cold. When normal
condensation occurs, a thin film of mist can form on the interior of the
lens. The thin mist eventually clears and exits through the vents during
normal operation. Clearing time may take as long as 48 hours under dry
weather conditions.
Examples of acceptable condensation are:
•Presence of thin mist (no streaks, drip marks or droplets)
•Fine mist covers less than 50% of the lens
Examples of unacceptable moisture (usually caused by a lamp water
leak) are:
•Water puddle inside the lamp
•Large water droplets, drip marks or streaks present on the interior of
the lens
Take your vehicle to a dealer for service if any of the above conditions of
unacceptable moisture are present.
Using the right bulbs
Replacement bulbs are specified in the chart below. Headlamp bulbs
must be marked with an authorized “D.O.T.” for North America and an
Lights
70
2011 Taurus(500)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

“E” for Europe to ensure lamp performance, light brightness and pattern
and safe visibility. The correct bulbs will not damage the lamp assembly
or void the lamp assembly warranty and will provide quality bulb burn
time.
Function Number of bulbs Trade number
Low series headlamps
(high/low beam)2 HB3
*High series headlamps
(high/low beam) (HID)2 D3S
Front park/turn lamp 2 3457AK (amber)
Sidemarker lamp (front) 2 168
Tail/sidemarker lamp
(rear)2 916
Tail/brake lamp 2 3057K
Backup lamp 2 HPC 16W
License plate lamp 2 C5W
High-mount brake lamp 1 LED
Supplemental park lamp 2 LED
Map lamp 2 W5WL
Dome/reading lamps 2 W5WL
Rear turn lamp 2 WY21W (amber)
All replacement bulbs are clear in color except where noted.
To replace all instrument panel lights - see your authorized dealer.
* To replace these lights - see your authorized dealer.
Replacing interior bulbs
Check the operation of all bulbs frequently.
Replacing exterior bulbs
Check the operation of all bulbs frequently.
Replacing headlamp (low/high beam) bulbs
1. Make sure the headlamp switch is in the off position, then open the
hood.
2. Reach in behind the headlamp assembly to access the bulbs and
connectors.
Lights
71
2011 Taurus(500)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

3. Remove the outboard rubber boot
from the lamp assembly by pulling
rearward.
4. Remove the bulb socket by
turning it counterclockwise and
pulling it straight out.
WARNING:Handle a halogen headlamp bulb carefully and keep
out of children’s reach. Grasp the bulb only by its plastic base
and do not touch the glass. The oil from your hand could cause the
bulb to break the next time the headlamps are operated.
Install the new bulb(s) in reverse order.
Replacing HID headlamp bulbs (if equipped)
The headlamps on your vehicle use a “high intensity discharge” source.
These lamps operate at a high voltage. When the bulb is burned out, the
bulb assembly must be replaced by your authorized dealer.
Replacing front parking lamp/turn signal/sidemarker bulbs
1. Make sure headlamp switch is in the off position, then open the hood.
2. Reach in behind the headlamp assembly to access the bulb sockets
and connectors.
3. Remove the bulb socket by
turning it counterclockwise and
pulling it straight out.
4. To remove the bulb, pull it
straight out of the bulb socket.
Install the new bulb(s) in reverse order.
Lights
72
2011 Taurus(500)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)