2017 FORD TAURUS maintenance

Maintenance
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Stop your vehicle as soon as safely possible. Switch off theengine. Check the oil level. If the warning stays on or continuesto come on with your engine running, contact an authorizeddealer as soon as possible.
Low Engine Oil Pressure
The engine oil life remaining is 10% or less. See Engine OilCheck (page 241).Change Engine Oil Soon
The oil life left reaches 0%. See Engine Oil Check (page 241).Oil Change Required
The engine coolant temperature is excessively high.Engine Coolant OverTemperature
The washer fluid is low and needs refilling.Washer Fluid Level Low
Indicates that your vehicle is still in Transport mode. This maynot allow some features to operate properly. Contact anauthorized dealer.
Transport Mode ContactDealer
Indicates that your vehicle is still in Factory mode. This maynot allow some features to operate properly. Contact anauthorized dealer.
Factory Mode ContactDealer
MyKey
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You cannot program a MyKey during key programming.MyKey not Created
MyKey is active.MyKey Active DriveSafely
When starting your vehicle, a MyKey is in use and the MyKeyspeed limit is on.Speed Limited to XXMPH/km/h
When a MyKey is in use, the MyKey speed limit is on and yourvehicle speed is approaching 80 mph (130 km/h).Near Vehicle Top Speed
MyKey is active.Check Speed DriveSafely
A MyKey is in use and Belt-Minder is active.Buckle Up to UnmuteAudio
You attempted to program a spare key using two existingMyKeys.Could Not ProgramIntegrated Key
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Information Displays

Side Window Defogging in Cold Weather
Vehicle with automatic climate controlVehicle with manual climate control
Press the defrost button.Select the windshield air vents using theair distribution buttons.1
Adjust the temperature control to thedesired setting. Use 72°F (22°C) as astarting point, then adjust the setting asnecessary.
Press the A/C button if the indicator isoff.2
Adjust the temperature control to thedesired setting.3
Adjust the fan speed to the highestsetting.4
HEATED WINDOWS AND
MIRRORS
Heated Rear Window
Note:Make sure the engine is runningbefore operating the heated windows.
Press the button to clear theheated rear window of thin iceand fog. The heated rear windowwill automatically turn off after a shortperiod of time. Start the engine before youswitch the heated rear window on.
Note:Do not use razor blades or othersharp objects to clean or remove decalsfrom the inside of the heated rear window.The vehicle warranty does not coverdamage caused to the heated rear windowgrid lines.
Heated Exterior Mirror (If Equipped)
When you switch the heated rear windowon, the heated exterior mirrors willautomatically turn on.
Note:Do not remove ice from the mirrorswith a scraper or adjust the mirror glasswhen it is frozen in place.
Note:Do not clean the mirror housing orglass with harsh abrasives, fuel or otherpetroleum-based cleaning products.
CABIN AIR FILTER
Your vehicle is equipped with a cabin airfilter, which gives you and your passengersthe following benefits:
•It improves your driving comfort byreducing particle concentration.
•It improves the interior compartmentcleanliness.
•It protects the climate controlcomponents from particle deposits.
You can locate the cabin air filter behindthe glove box.
Note:Make sure you have a cabin air filterinstalled at all times. This prevents foreignobjects from entering the system. Runningthe system without a filter in place couldresult in degradation or damage to thesystem.
Replace the filter at regular intervals. SeeScheduled Maintenance (page 447).
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Climate ControlE184884

Keep a record for at least one month andrecord the type of driving (city or highway).This provides an accurate estimate of yourvehicle's fuel economy under currentdriving conditions. Keeping records duringsummer and winter will show howtemperature impacts fuel economy.
Conditions
•Heavily loading your vehicle reducesfuel economy.
•Carrying unnecessary weight in yourvehicle may reduce fuel economy.
•Adding certain accessories to yourvehicle such as bug deflectors, rollbarsor light bars, running boards and skiracks may reduce fuel economy.
•Using fuel blended with alcohol maylower fuel economy.
•Fuel economy may decrease with lowertemperatures.
•Fuel economy may decrease whendriving short distances.
•You will get better fuel economy whendriving on flat terrain than when drivingon hilly terrain.
EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM
WARNINGS
Do not park, idle, or drive your vehiclein dry grass or other dry ground cover.The emission system heats up theengine compartment and exhaust system,which can start a fire.
Exhaust leaks may result in entry ofharmful and potentially lethal fumesinto the passenger compartment. Ifyou smell exhaust fumes inside yourvehicle, have your dealer inspect yourvehicle immediately. Do not drive if yousmell exhaust fumes.
Your vehicle is equipped with variousemission control components and acatalytic converter that will enable yourvehicle to comply with applicable exhaustemission standards.
To make sure that the catalytic converterand other emission control componentscontinue to work properly:
•Use only the specified fuel listed.
•Avoid running out of fuel.
•Do not turn off the ignition while yourvehicle is moving, especially at highspeeds.
•Have the items listed in scheduledmaintenance information performedaccording to the specified schedule.
The scheduled maintenance items listedin scheduled maintenance information areessential to the life and performance ofyour vehicle and to its emissions system.
If you use anything other than Ford,Motorcraft or Ford-authorized parts formaintenance replacements or for serviceof components affecting emission control,such non-Ford parts should be equivalentto genuine Ford Motor Company parts inperformance and durability.
Illumination of the service engine soonindicator, charging system warning light orthe temperature warning light, fluid leaks,strange odors, smoke or loss of enginepower could indicate that the emissioncontrol system is not working properly.
An improperly operating or damagedexhaust system may allow exhaust toenter the vehicle. Have a damaged orimproperly operating exhaust systeminspected and repaired immediately.
Do not make any unauthorized changes toyour vehicle or engine. By law, vehicleowners and anyone who manufactures,repairs, services, sells, leases, tradesvehicles, or supervises a fleet of vehiclesare not permitted to intentionally remove
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Fuel and Refueling

an emission control device or prevent itfrom working. Information about yourvehicle’s emission system is on the VehicleEmission Control Information Decallocated on or near the engine. This decalalso lists engine displacement.
Please consult your warranty informationfor complete details.
On-Board Diagnostics (OBD-II)
Your vehicle has a computer known as theon-board diagnostics system (OBD-II) thatmonitors the engine’s emission controlsystem. The system protects theenvironment by making sure that yourvehicle continues to meet governmentemission standards. The OBD-II systemalso assists a service technician in properlyservicing your vehicle.
When the service engine soonindicator illuminates, the OBD-IIsystem has detected amalfunction. Temporary malfunctions maycause the service engine soon indicator toilluminate. Examples are:
1. Your vehicle has run out of fuel—theengine may misfire or run poorly.
2. Poor fuel quality or water in thefuel—the engine may misfire or runpoorly.
3. The fuel fill inlet may not have closedproperly. See Refueling (page 147).
4. Driving through deep water—theelectrical system may be wet.
You can correct these temporarymalfunctions by filling the fuel tank withgood quality fuel, properly closing the fuelfill inlet or letting the electrical system dryout. After three driving cycles without theseor any other temporary malfunctions
present, the service engine soon indicatorshould stay off the next time you start theengine. A driving cycle consists of a coldengine startup followed by mixed city andhighway driving. No additional vehicleservice is required.
If the service engine soon indicator remainson, have your vehicle serviced at the firstavailable opportunity. Although somemalfunctions detected by the OBD-II maynot have symptoms that are apparent,continued driving with the service enginesoon indicator on can result in increasedemissions, lower fuel economy, reducedengine and transmission smoothness andlead to more costly repairs.
Readiness for Inspection andMaintenance (I/M) Testing
Some state and provincial and localgovernments may haveInspection/Maintenance (I/M) programsto inspect the emission control equipmenton your vehicle. Failure to pass thisinspection could prevent you from gettinga vehicle registration.
If the service engine soonindicator is on or the bulb doesnot work, your vehicle may needservice. See On-Board Diagnostics.
Your vehicle may not pass the I/M test ifthe service engine soon indicator is on ornot working properly (bulb is burned out),or if the OBD-II system has determinedthat some of the emission control systemshave not been properly checked. In thiscase, the vehicle is not ready for I/Mtesting.
If the vehicle’s engine or transmission hasjust been serviced, or the battery hasrecently run down or been replaced, theOBD-II system may indicate that thevehicle is not ready for I/M testing. Todetermine if the vehicle is ready for I/Mtesting, turn the ignition key to the on
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Fuel and Refueling

USING ALL-WHEEL DRIVE (If
Equipped)
All-wheel drive uses all four wheels topower the vehicle. This increases traction,enabling you to drive over terrain and roadconditions that a conventional two-wheeldrive vehicle cannot. The AWD system isactive all the time and requires no inputfrom the operator.
Note:Your AWD vehicle is not intended foroff-road use. The AWD feature gives yourvehicle some limited off-road capabilitiesin which driving surfaces are relatively level,obstruction-free and otherwise similar tonormal on-road driving conditions.Operating your vehicle under other thanthose conditions could subject the vehicleto excessive stress which might result indamage which is not covered under yourwarranty.
Note: The Power Transfer Unit (PTU) inTaurus SHO™ performance packagevehicles does not require any normalscheduled maintenance. The system iselectronically monitored and notifies thedriver of required service by displaying themessage Change AWD Power TransferUnit Lube in the information display. ThePTU lubricant will be more likely to requirea fluid change if the vehicle has experiencedextended periods of extreme or severe dutycycle driving. Do not check or change thePTU lubricant unless the unit shows signsof leakage or a message indicating requiredservice is displayed. Contact an authorizeddealer for service if the PTU was submergedin water and to reset the PTU lube lifemonitor.
Note:When an AWD system fault ispresent, the warning Check AWD displaysin the information display. The AWD systemis not functioning correctly and defaultedto front-wheel drive. When this warningdisplays, have your vehicle serviced at anauthorized dealer.
Note: The AWD OFF message may alsoappear in the information display if the AWDsystem overheats and defaults tofront-wheel drive. This may occur if thevehicle is operated in extreme conditionswith excessive wheel slip, such as deepsand. To resume normal AWD function assoon as possible, stop the vehicle in a safelocation and stop the engine for at least 10minutes. After the engine has beenrestarted and the AWD system hasadequately cooled, the AWD OFF messagewill turn off and normal AWD functionreturns. If the engine is not stopped, theAWD OFF message turns off when thesystem cools and normal AWD functionreturns.
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All-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)

Should you start to slide while driving onsnowy or icy roads, turn the steering wheelin the direction of the slide until you regaincontrol.
Avoid sudden applications of power andquick changes of direction on snow andice. Apply the accelerator slowly andsteadily when starting from a full stop.
Avoid sudden braking as well. Although anAWD vehicle may accelerate better thana two-wheel drive vehicle in snow and ice,it won’t stop any faster, because as in othervehicles, braking occurs at all four wheels.Do not become overconfident as to roadconditions.
Make sure you allow sufficient distancebetween you and other vehicles forstopping. Drive slower than usual andconsider using one of the lower gears. Inemergency stopping situations, apply thebrake steadily. Since your vehicle isequipped with a four wheel (ABS), do not“pump” the brakes. See Hints on DrivingWith Anti-Lock Brakes (page 164).
Maintenance and Modifications
The suspension and steering systems onyour vehicle have been designed andtested to provide predictable performancewhether loaded or empty and durable loadcarrying capability. For this reason, FordMotor Company strongly recommends thatyou do not make modifications such asadding or removing parts (such as loweringkits or stabilizer bars) or by usingreplacement parts not equivalent to theoriginal factory equipment.
Any modifications to a vehicle that raisethe center of gravity can make it more likelythe vehicle will rollover as a result of a lossof control. Ford Motor Companyrecommends that caution be used withany vehicle equipped with a high load ordevice (such as ladder or luggage racks).
Failure to maintain your vehicle properlymay void the warranty, increase your repaircost, reduce vehicle performance andoperational capabilities and adverselyaffect driver and passenger safety.Frequent inspection of vehicle chassiscomponents is recommended if the vehicleis subjected to off-highway usage.
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All-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)

False Alerts
Note:When towing a trailer, the sensorsmay detect the trailer thus causing a falsealert. It may be desirable to turn the BlindSpot Information System off if the falsealerts become annoying.
There may be certain instances when thereis a false alert by the Cross Traffic Alertsystem that illuminates the alert indicatorwith no vehicle in the coverage zone. Someamount of false alerts are normal; they aretemporary and self-correct.
System Errors
If Cross Traffic Alert senses a problem withthe left or right sensor a message willappear in the information display. SeeInformation Messages (page 98).
Switching the System Off and On
You can temporarily switch Cross TrafficAlert off in the information display. SeeInformation Messages (page 98). Whenyou switch Cross Traffic Alert off, you willnot receive alerts and the informationdisplay will display a system off message.
Note:The Cross Traffic Alert switches onwhenever the ignition is switched on andready to provide appropriate alerts whenthe transmission is in reverse (R). CrossTraffic Alert will not remember the lastselected on or off setting.
You can also have Cross Traffic Alertswitched off permanently at an authorizeddealer. Once switched off permanently,the system can only be switched back onat an authorized dealer.
STEERING
Electric Power Steering
WARNINGS
The electric power steering systemhas diagnostic checks thatcontinuously monitor the system. Ifa fault is detected, a message displays inthe information display. Stop your vehicleas soon as it is safe to do so. Switch theignition off. After at least 10 seconds,switch the ignition on and watch theinformation display for a steering systemwarning message. If a steering systemwarning message returns, have the systemchecked by an authorized dealer.
If the system detects an error, youmay not feel a difference in thesteering, however a serious conditionmay exist. Obtain immediate service froman authorized dealer, failure to do so mayresult in loss of steering control.
Your vehicle has an electric power steeringsystem. There is no fluid reservoir. Nomaintenance is required.
If your vehicle loses electrical power whileyou are driving, electric power steeringassistance is lost. The steering system stilloperates and you can steer your vehiclemanually. Manually steering your vehiclerequires more effort.
Extreme continuous steering may increasethe effort required for you to steer yourvehicle. This increased effort preventsoverheating and permanent damage tothe steering system. You do not lose theability to steer your vehicle manually.Typical steering and driving maneuversallow the system to cool and return tonormal operation.
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Driving Aids

ESSENTIAL TOWING CHECKS
Follow these guidelines for safe towing:
•Do not tow a trailer until you drive yourvehicle at least 1,000 mi (1,600 km).
•Consult your local motor vehicle lawsfor towing a trailer.
•See the instructions included withtowing accessories for the properinstallation and adjustmentspecifications.
•Service your vehicle more frequently ifyou tow a trailer. See your scheduledmaintenance information.
•If you use a rental trailer, follow theinstructions the rental agency givesyou.
You can find information on loadspecification terms found on the tire labeland Safety Compliance label as well asinstructions on calculating your vehicle'sload in the Load Carrying chapter. SeeLoad Limit (page 200).
Remember to account for the trailertongue weight as part of your vehicle loadwhen calculating the total vehicle weight.
Hitches
Do not use a hitch that either clamps ontothe bumper or attaches to the axle.
Distribute the trailer load so 10-15% of thetotal trailer weight is on the tongue.
Safety Chains
Note:Never attach safety chains to thebumper.
Always connect the safety chains to thehook retainers of your vehicle hitch.
To connect the trailer’s safety chains, crossthem under the trailer tongue and allowenough slack for turning tight corners. Donot allow the chains to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
WARNING
Do not connect a trailer's hydraulicbrake system directly to yourvehicle's brake system. Your vehiclemay not have enough braking power andyour chances of having a collision greatlyincrease.
Electric brakes and manual, automatic orsurge-type trailer brakes are safe if youinstall them properly and adjust them tothe manufacturer's specifications. Thetrailer brakes must meet local and federalregulations.
The rating for the tow vehicle's brakingsystem operation is at the gross vehicleweight rating, not the gross combinedweight rating.
Separate functioning brake systemsare required for safe control of towedvehicles and trailers weighing morethan 1500 pounds (680 kilograms)when loaded.
Trailer Lamps
WARNING
Never connect any trailer lamp wiringto the vehicle's tail lamp wiring; thismay damage the electrical systemresulting in fire. Contact your authorizeddealer as soon as possible for assistancein proper trailer tow wiring installation.Additional electrical equipment may berequired.
Trailer lamps are required on most towedvehicles. Make sure all running lights, brakelights, turn signals and hazard lights areworking.
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Towing