2012 FORD TAURUS lights

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)

WARNING LIGHTS AND CHIMES
Standard instrument cluster shown, optional cluster similar
Warning lights and gauges can alert you to a vehicle condition that may
become serious enough to cause extensive repairs. A warning light may
illuminate when a problem exists with one of your vehicle’s functions.
Many lights will illuminate when you start your vehicle to make sure the
bulbs work. If any light remains on after starting the vehicle, refer to the
respective system warning light for additional information.
Note:Some warning lights are
reconfigurable telltale (RTT)
indicator lights and will illuminate in
the message center. These lights
function the same as the other
warning lights.
Service engine soon:The “service
engine soon” indicator light
illuminates when the ignition is first
turned to the on position to check
the bulb and to indicate whether the vehicle is ready for
Inspection/Maintenance (I/M) testing. Normally, the “Service engine
soon” light will stay on until the engine is cranked, then turn itself off if
no malfunctions are present. However, if after 15 seconds theService
engine soonlight blinks eight times, it means that the vehicle is not
ready for I/M testing. See theReadiness for Inspection/Maintenance
(I/M) testingin theMaintenance and Specificationschapter.
Instrument Cluster
12
2012 Taurus
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

Low tire pressure warning:
Illuminates when your tire pressure
is low. If the light remains on at
start up or while driving, the tire
pressure should be checked. Refer
toInflating your tiresin theTires, Wheels and Loadingchapter. When
the ignition is first turned to on, the light will illuminate for three
seconds to ensure the bulb is working. If the light does not turn on or
begins to flash, have the system inspected by your authorized dealer. For
more information on this system, refer toTire pressure monitoring
system (TPMS)in theTires, Wheels and Loadingchapter.
Adaptive cruise control (ACC)
(if equipped):Illuminates when
ACC is engaged while following a
vehicle. Refer toAdaptive cruise
controlin theDriver Controls
chapter for more information.
Speed control:Illuminates when
the speed control is engaged or
when the ACC is engaged without
following a vehicle. Turns off when
the speed control system is
disengaged or when the ACC is
activated.
Anti-theft system:Flashes when
the SecuriLockPassive Anti-theft
System has been activated.
Throttle Control/Transmission:
Illuminates when a powertrain or an
AWD fault has been detected.
Contact your authorized dealer as
soon as possible.
Turn signal:Illuminates when the
left or right turn signal or the
hazard lights are turned on. If the
indicators flash faster, check for a burned out bulb.
Instrument Cluster
16
2012 Taurus
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

OIL LIFE
This displays the remaining oil life.
An oil change is required whenever indicated by the message center and
according to the recommended maintenance schedule. USE ONLY
RECOMMENDED ENGINE OILS.
To reset the oil monitoring system to 100% after each oil change,
perform the following:
1. Press and release SETUP to display “OIL LIFE XXX% HOLD RESET =
NEW”.
2. Press and hold RESET for two seconds and release to reset the oil life
to 100%.
UNITS
Displays the current units in English or Metric.
Press RESET to change between English and Metric.
AUTO HIGH BEAM (if equipped)
This feature automatically turns on your high beams if it is dark enough
and no other traffic is present.
Press RESET to turn the auto high beam on or off.
AUTOLAMP (SEC)
This feature keeps your headlights on for up to three minutes after the
ignition is switched off.
Press RESET to select the new Autolamp delay values of 0, 10, 20, 30,
60, 90, 120 or 180 seconds.
AUTOLOCK
This feature automatically locks all vehicle doors when the vehicle is
shifted into any gear, putting the vehicle in motion.
Press RESET to turn autolock on or off.
AUTOUNLOCK
This feature automatically unlocks all vehicle doors when the driver’s
door is opened within 10 minutes of the ignition being turned off.
Press RESET to turn autounlock on or off.
Instrument Cluster
22
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)

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)