2012 FORD TAURUS warning light

TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR FAULT— Displayed when a tire pressure
sensor is malfunctioning, or your spare tire is in use. For more
information on how the system operates under these conditions, refer to
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)in theTires, Wheels and
Loadingchapter. If the warning stays on or continues to come on,
contact your authorized dealer as soon as possible.
POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT— The power steering system
has disabled power steering assist due to a system error; service is
required.
SERVICE POWER STEERING— The power steering system has
detected a condition that requires service.
SERVICE POWER STEERING NOW— The power steering system
has detected a condition that requires service immediately.
TRUNK AJAR— Displayed when the trunk is not completely closed.
REMOVE OBJECTS NEAR PASS SEAT— Displayed when objects
are by the passenger seat. After the objects are moved away from the
seat, if the warning stays on or continues to come on contact your
authorized dealer as soon as possible.
AWD OFF (if equipped)— Displayed when the AWD system has been
automatically disabled to protect itself. This is caused by operating the
vehicle with the compact spare tire installed or if the system is
overheating. The AWD system will resume normal function and clear this
message after driving a short distance with the road tire re-installed or
after the system is allowed to cool.
CHECK AWD (if equipped)— Displayed in conjunction with the
Throttle Control/Transmission/AWD
light when the AWD system is
not operating properly. If the warning stays on or continues to come on,
contact your authorized dealer as soon as possible.
ADVANCETRAC OFF— Displayed briefly when the system has been
disabled.
ADVANCETRAC ON— Displayed briefly when the system has been
enabled.
TRACTION CONTROL ON— Displayed briefly when the system has
been enabled.
TRACTION CONTROL OFF— Displayed briefly when the system has
been disabled.
ENGINE OIL CHANGE SOON— Displayed when the engine oil life
remaining is 5% to 1%.
Instrument Cluster
26
2012 Taurus
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

USB port (if equipped)
WARNING:Driving while distracted can result in loss of vehicle
control, accident and injury. Ford strongly recommends that
drivers use extreme caution when using any device or feature that may
take their focus off the road. Your primary responsibility is the safe
operation of the vehicle. We recommend against the use of any
handheld device while driving, encourage the use of voice-operated
systems when possible and that you become aware of applicable state
and local laws that may affect use of electronic devices while driving.
Your vehicle may be equipped with a
USB port inside your center console.
This feature allows you to plug in
media playing devices, memory
sticks, and also to charge devices if
they support this feature. For
further information on this feature,
refer toAccessing and using your
USB portin theSYNCsupplement
orNavigation Systemsupplement.
GENERAL AUDIO INFORMATION
Radio frequencies:
AM and FM frequencies are established by the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) and the Canadian Radio and Telecommunications
Commission (CRTC). Those frequencies are:
AM: 530, 540–1700, 1710 kHz
FM: 87.7, 87.9–107.7, 107.9 MHz
Radio reception factors:
There are three factors that can affect radio reception:
•Distance/strength: The further you travel from an FM station, the
weaker the signal and the weaker the reception.
•Terrain: Hills, mountains, tall buildings, power lines, electric fences,
traffic lights and thunderstorms can interfere with your reception.
•Station overload: When you pass a broadcast tower, a stronger signal
may overtake a weaker one and play while the weak station frequency
is displayed.
Entertainment Systems
44
2012 Taurus
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

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
2012 Taurus
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

2. Reach in behind the headlamp assembly to access the bulbs and
connectors.
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
2012 Taurus
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

Courtesy wipe feature:One extra wipe will occur a few seconds after
washing the front window to clear any excess washer fluid remaining on
the windshield.
Note:Do not operate the washer when the washer reservoir is empty.
This may cause the washer pump to overheat. Check the washer fluid
level frequently. Do not operate the wipers when the windshield is dry.
This may scratch the glass, damage the wiper blades and cause the wiper
motor to burn out. Before operating the wiper on a dry windshield,
always use the windshield washer. In freezing weather, be sure the wiper
blades are not frozen to the windshield before operating the wipers.
Windshield wiper rainlamp feature
When the windshield wipers are turned on during daylight, and the
headlamp control is in the autolamp position, the exterior lamps will turn
on after a brief delay and will remain on until the wipers are turned off.
TILT/TELESCOPE STEERING WHEEL
To adjust the steering wheel:
1. Pull the lever down to unlock the
steering column.
2. While the lever is in the down
position, move the steering wheel
up or down and in or out until you
find the desired position.
3. While holding the steering wheel
in place, pull the lever up to its
original position to lock the steering
column.
WARNING:Never adjust the steering wheel when the vehicle is
moving.
Driver Controls
77
2012 Taurus
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

INTERIOR MIRROR
The interior rearview mirror has two pivot points on the support arm
which lets you adjust the mirror up or down and from side to side.
WARNING:Do not adjust the mirror while the vehicle is in
motion.
Automatic dimming interior rear view mirror (if equipped)
The interior rear view mirror has an auto-dimming function (optional on
the driver’s side exterior mirror). The electronic day/night mirror will
change from the normal (high reflective) state to the non-glare
(darkened) state when bright lights (glare) reach the interior mirror.
When the interior mirror detects bright light from behind the vehicle, the
interior rear view mirror and the driver’s side exterior mirror (if
equipped) will automatically adjust (darken) to minimize glare.
The mirrors will automatically return to the normal state whenever the
vehicle is placed in R (Reverse) to ensure a bright clear view when
backing up.
Do not block the sensors on the front and back of the interior
rear view mirror since this may impair proper mirror
performance.
Note:A rear center passenger and/or raised rear center headrest (if
equipped) may also block the light from reaching the sensor.
Do not clean the housing or glass of any mirror with harsh
abrasives, fuel or other petroleum-based cleaning products.
Note:If equipped with a rearview camera system, a video image will
display in the mirror or the navigation system display (if equipped) when
the vehicle is put in R (Reverse). As you shift into any other gear from R
(Reverse), the image will remain for a few seconds and then turn off.
Refer toRearview camera systemin theDrivingchapter.
Driver Controls
85
2012 Taurus
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

SPEED CONTROL
With speed control set, you can maintain a set speed without keeping
your foot on the accelerator pedal.
WARNING:Do not use the speed control in heavy traffic or on
roads that are winding, slippery or unpaved.
Using speed control
The speed controls are located on the steering wheel. The following
buttons work with speed control:
RESUME:Press to resume a set
speed.
SET +:Press to increase the set
speed.
SET –:Press to decrease the set
speed.
OFF/ON:Press to turn speed
control off or on.
Setting speed control
To set speed control:
1. Press and release ON.
2. Accelerate to the desired speed.
3. Press and release SET + or SET -.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
5. The indicator
light on the instrument cluster will turn on.
Note:
•Vehicle speed may vary momentarily when driving up and down a
steep hill.
•If the vehicle speed increases above the set speed on a downhill, you
may want to apply the brakes to reduce the speed.
•If the vehicle speed decreases more than 10 mph (16 km/h) below
your set speed on an uphill, your speed control will disengage.
Disengaging speed control
Press the brake pedal to disengage the speed control. Disengaging the
speed control will not erase the previous set speed.
Driver Controls
88
2012 Taurus
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

3. Press and release the SET +
control. The vehicle speed will be
stored in the memory and the
message center will display SET
XXX MPH (your desired speed).
4. Take your foot off the accelerator
pedal.
5. The green
cruise indicator
light on the instrument cluster will
illuminate if there are no vehicles
detected in front of you, while the yellow
ACC indicator light on the
instrument cluster will illuminate if there is a vehicle detected in front of
you.
Following a vehicle
WARNING:When following a vehicle in front of you, the vehicle
will not decelerate automatically to a stop, nor will the vehicle
always decelerate quickly enough to avoid a collision without driver
intervention. Always apply the brakes when necessary. Failing to do so
may result in a collision, serious injury or death.
When a vehicle ahead of you enters the same lane or a slower vehicle is
ahead in the same lane, the vehicle speed will adjust automatically to
maintain a preset gap distance. The distance setting is adjustable, refer
toSetting the gap distancein this section.
The yellow
ACC indicator light
in the instrument cluster will be
illuminated and the message center
will temporarily display a preset
GAP <--->.
The vehicle will maintain a constant distance between the vehicle ahead
until:
•The vehicle in front of you accelerates to a speed above the set speed.
•The vehicle in front of you moves out of your lane or out of view.
•The vehicle speed falls below 18 mph (30 km/h).
•A new gap distance is set.
The vehicle brakes will be automatically applied to slow the vehicle to
maintain a safe distance between the vehicle in front. The maximum
braking which is applied by the ACC system is limited and can be
overridden by the driver applying the brakes.
Driver Controls
91
2012 Taurus
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)