Introduction 4
Instrument Cluster 12
Warning lights and chimes 12
Gauges 17
Message center 19
Entertainment Systems 32
Auxiliary input jack (Line in) 42
USB port 44
Satellite radio information 47
Navigation system 50
SYNC50
Climate Controls 51
Manual heating and air conditioning 51
Dual electronic automatic temperature control 54
Navigation system based climate control 57
Rear window defroster 61
Lights 62
Headlamps 62
Turn signal control 68
Bulb replacement 70
Driver Controls 76
Windshield wiper/washer control 76
Steering wheel adjustment 77
Power windows 83
Mirrors 85
Speed control 88
Adaptive cruise control 89
Moon roof 99
Locks and Security 107
Keys 107
Locks 115
Anti-theft system 131
Table of Contents
1
2012 Taurus
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
High beams:Illuminates when the
high beam headlamps are turned on.
Heads up display (if equipped):
A red bar will illuminate on the
windshield in certain instances when
using adaptive cruise control and/or
the collision warning system. It will
also illuminate momentarily when
you start your vehicle to make sure the display works. See theDriving
chapter for more information.
Key-in-ignition warning chime:Sounds when the key is left in the
ignition in the off or accessory position and the driver’s door is opened.
Headlamps on warning chime:Sounds when the headlamps or parking
lamps are on, the ignition is off (the key is not in the ignition) and the
driver’s door is opened.
GAUGES
Speedometer:Indicates the
current vehicle speed.
Instrument Cluster
17
2012 Taurus
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
HEADLAMP CONTROL
Turns the lamps off.
Turns on the parking lamps,
instrument panel lamps, license
plate lamps and tail lamps.
Turns the low beam headlamps
on.
Autolamp control
The autolamp system provides light
sensitive automatic on-off control of
the exterior lights normally
controlled by the headlamp control.
•To turn autolamps on, rotate the
control to
.
•To turn autolamps off, rotate the
control from the autolamp
position.
The autolamp system also keeps the
lights on for a predetermined amount of time after the ignition switch is
turned to off. You can change the amount of time the lamps stay on by
using the programming procedure that follows:
Note:If the vehicle is equipped with autolamps, it will have the
headlamps on with windshield wipers feature.If the windshield
wipers are turned on, the exterior lamps will turn on with the headlamp
control in the autolamp position.
Autolamps - programmable exit delay
Programmable exit delay allows the length of the autolamp exit delay to
be changed.
To program the auto lamp exit time delay:
1. Start with the ignition off and the headlamp control in the autolamp
position.
2. Turn the headlamp control to off.
3. Turn the ignition on and then back to off.
Lights
62
2012 Taurus
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
4. Turn the headlamp control to the autolamp position. The headlamps
will turn on.
5. Wait the desired amount of time for the exit delay you want (up to
three minutes), then turn the headlamps off.
High beams
Push the lever toward the
instrument panel to activate. Pull
the lever towards you to deactivate.
Auto high beams (if equipped)
During nighttime driving, the automatic high beam system automatically
turns on your high beams if it is dark enough and no other traffic is
present. When it detects an approaching vehicle’s headlights or a
preceding vehicle’s tail lamps, the system turns off the high beams (low
beams remain on) before they distract other drivers.
If the vehicle is equipped with automatic high beams, the high beam switch
will operate differently depending on the status of the automatic high beam
system. Each of the possible operating scenarios are detailed below:
Scenario 1:
Conditions -The automatic high beam system is set to ON in the
message center. The headlamp switch is in
(autolamps). The
automatic high beam system has turned the high beams on.
Operation -The high beam switch will not perform any function.
Scenario 2:
Conditions -The automatic high beam system is set to ON in the
message center. The headlamp switch is in
(autolamps). The
automatic high beam system has not turned the high beams on.
Operation -The high beam switch can be used to turn the high beams
on. They will then remain on until the switch has been returned to the
neutral position and the auto high beam system has turned the high
beams off.
O
F
F
Lights
63
2012 Taurus
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
Scenario 3:
Conditions -The automatic high beam system is set to ON in the
message center. The headlamp switch is in
(off),(park lamps),
or
(on).
Operation -The high beam switch can be used to turn the high beams
on and off.
Scenario 4:
Conditions -The automatic high beam system is set to OFF in the
message center. The headlamp switch is
in
(autolamps),(off),(park lamps), or(on).
Operation -The high beam switch can be used to turn the high beams
on and off.
Enabling/disabling auto high beams
Enabling/disabling and/or checking the status of the automatic high beam
system can be performed using the message center. SeeMessage center
in theInstrument clusterchapter.
Activating high beams
If there is no traffic in front of the vehicle, the high beams will come on
automatically and the
light will display in the instrument panel if
the following are true:
•The headlamp control is in auto lamp
mode.
•The ambient light level is low enough that high beams are needed.
•Vehicle speed must be greater than 32 mph (51 km/h).
•Severe weather is not detected.
Deactivating high beams
The automatic high beams will deactivate if any of the following events
occur:
•An approaching vehicle’s headlights or a preceding vehicle’s tail lamps
are detected.
•The headlamp control is moved out of the autolamps position.
•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.
Lights
64
2012 Taurus
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
•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
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.
Lights
65
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)
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.
Press and hold the bottom of the control to turn off the interior
courtesy lights.
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.
3. Turn on the low beam headlamps to illuminate the wall or screen and
open the hood.
Lights
67
2012 Taurus
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)