
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)

INTERIOR LAMPS
Front row 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. The map lamps
also light when:
•any door is opened.
•the instrument panel dimmer
button is pressed until the
courtesy lamp comes on.
•the remote entry controls are
pressed and the ignition is off.
Rear dome/reading lamps
Your vehicle may 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 lamps can be adjusted by
pressing on the sides of the reading
lamps.
The dome/reading lamps will light
when:
•any door is opened.
•the remote entry controls are pressed and the ignition is off.
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.
Lights
69
2012 Taurus
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

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.
Lights
70
2012 Taurus
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

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 “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 23457AK
(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 2WY21W
(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.
Lights
71
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)

2. Remove the old battery.
Note:Please refer to local
regulations when disposing of
transmitter batteries.
3. Insert the new battery. Refer to
the instructions inside the IA key
for the correct orientation of the
battery. Press the battery down to
ensure that the battery is fully
seated in the battery housing cavity.
4. Snap the battery cover back onto the transmitter and install the
backup key.
Note:Replacement of the battery willnotcause the IKT or IA key to
become de-programmed from your vehicle. They should operate normally
after battery replacement.
Replacing lost integrated keyhead transmitters (IKTs) or intelligent
access keys (IA keys)
If you would like to have your IKTs or IA keys reprogrammed because
you lost one, or would like to buy additional transmitters you can either
reprogram them yourself, or takeall transmittersto your authorized
dealer for reprogramming.
How to reprogram your integrated keyhead transmitters (IKTs) or
intelligent access keys (IA keys)
To program a new IKTs or IA keys yourself, refer toSecuriLockpassive
anti-theft systemsection of this chapter.Note:At least two already
programmed transmitters are required to perform this procedure yourself.
Illuminated entry
The interior lamps, parking lamps and puddle lamps (if equipped)
illuminate when the integrated keyhead transmitter, intelligent access
keys or the keyless entry system keypad is used to unlock the door(s).
The illuminated entry system will turn off the lights if:
•the ignition is turned on, or
•the
control on the transmitter is pressed, or
•the vehicle is locked using the keyless entry keypad, or
•the vehicle is locked using the key in the driver door cylinder, or
•after 25 seconds of illumination.
Locks and Security
127
2012 Taurus
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

The lights will not turn off if:
•they have been turned on with the dimmer control, or
•any door is open.
Illuminated exit
When all vehicle doors are closed, the ignition is turned off and the key
is removed from the ignition (IKT only), the interior dome lamps,
parking lamps and the puddle lamps (if equipped) will illuminate.
The lamps will turn off if all the doors remain closed and
•25 seconds elapse, or
•the key is inserted in the ignition (IKT only) or (if equipped with
intelligent access with push button start feature) the start button is
pressed.
Battery saver
The battery saver will shut off the lamps 10 minutes after the ignition
has been turned off.
•If the dome lamps were turned on using the panel dimmer control, the
battery saver will shut them off 10 minutes after the ignition has been
turned off.
•If the courtesy lamps were turned on because one of the vehicle doors
or the trunk was opened, the battery saver will shut them off
10 minutes after the ignition has been turned off.
•The battery saver will shut off the headlamps 10 minutes after the
ignition has been turned off.
Accessory mode battery saver for intelligent access keys with
push button start (if equipped)
If you shut off the engine and leave the ignition in the on or accessory
mode, the ignition will shut off after 30 minutes.
Locks and Security
128
2012 Taurus
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

Fuse/Relay
LocationFuse Amp
RatingProtected Circuits
8 10A Low beam headlamps (right)
9 15A Interior lights, Cargo lamps
10 15A Switch illumination, Puddle lamps
11 10A All- wheel drive (AWD) module
12 7.5A Intelligent access (IA) module
13 5A Memory seats, Mirrors, Keypad,
IA receiver, Driver’s door module
14 10A Navigation display, Memory seat,
SYNC, Center information
display, GPS, Driver seat
15 10A Climate control
16 15A Electronic finish panel, Ambient
lighting
17 20A Trunk release, Moon roof, Smart
windows, Lock/unlock
18 20A Rear heated seats
19 25A Audio amplifier
20 15A Diagnostic connector (OBDII),
Adjustable pedal motor
21 15A Daytime running lamps (DRL)
control
22 15A Park lamps, License plate lamps,
Auxiliary lamps
23 15A High beam headlamps
24 20A Horn
25 10A Demand lighting (battery saver)
26 10A Instrument panel cluster,
Heads-up display
27 20A Ignition switch, IA, Front wipers,
One-touch integrated start (OTIS)
28 5A Start relay/Audio mute
Roadside Emergencies
285
2012 Taurus
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)