2017 FORD TAURUS power steering

Stopping the Engine When YourVehicle is Moving
WARNING
Switching off the engine when thevehicle is still moving will result in aloss of brake and steering assistance.The steering will not lock, but higher effortwill be required. When the ignition isswitched off, some electrical circuits,including air bags, warning lamps andindicators may also be off. If the ignitionwas turned off accidentally, you can shiftinto neutral (N) and re-start the engine.
Vehicles with an Ignition Key
1.Shift into neutral and use the brakes tobring your vehicle to a safe stop.
2. When your vehicle has stopped, shiftinto park (P) and switch the ignitionoff.
3. Apply the parking brake.
Vehicles with Keyless Start
1.Shift into neutral and use the brakes tobring your vehicle to a safe stop.
2. When your vehicle has stopped, shiftinto park (P).
3.Press and hold the push button ignitionswitch, or press it three times withintwo seconds.
4. Apply the parking brake.
Guarding Against Exhaust Fumes
WARNING
If you smell exhaust fumes insideyour vehicle, have your vehiclechecked by your authorized dealerimmediately. Do not drive your vehicle ifyou smell exhaust fumes. Carbonmonoxide is present in exhaust fumes.Take precautions to avoid its dangerouseffects.
Important Ventilating Information
If you stop your vehicle and then leave theengine idling for long periods, werecommend that you do one of thefollowing:
•Open the windows at least 1 in (3 cm).
•Set your climate control to outside air.
ENGINE BLOCK HEATER (If
Equipped)
WARNINGS
Failure to follow engine block heaterinstructions could result in propertydamage or serious personal injury.
Do not use your heater withungrounded electrical systems ortwo-pronged adapters. There is a riskof electrical shock.
Do not fully close the hood, or allowit to drop under its own weight whenusing the engine block heater. Thiscould damage the power cable and maycause an electrical short resulting in fire,injury and property damage.
Note:The heater is most effective whenoutdoor temperatures are below 0°F(-18°C).
The heater acts as a starting aid bywarming the engine coolant. This allowsthe climate control system to respondquickly. The equipment includes a heaterelement (installed in the engine block) anda wire harness. You can connect thesystem to a grounded 120-volt ACelectrical source.
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Starting and Stopping the Engine

Operating AWD Vehicles WithMismatched Tires
WARNINGS
Only use replacement tires andwheels that are the same size, loadindex, speed rating and type (suchas P-metric versus LT-metric or all-seasonversus all-terrain) as those originallyprovided by Ford. The recommended tireand wheel size may be found on either theSafety Compliance Certification Label(affixed to either the door hinge pillar,door-latch post, or the door edge thatmeets the door-latch post, next to thedriver's seating position), or the Tire Labelwhich is located on the B-Pillar or edge ofthe driver's door. If this information is notfound on these labels, then you shouldcontact your authorized dealer as soon aspossible. Use of any tire or wheel notrecommended by Ford can affect thesafety and performance of your vehicle,which could result in an increased risk ofloss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover,personal injury and death.
The use of non-recommended tiresand wheels could cause steering,suspension, axle, transfer case orpower transfer unit failure. If you havequestions regarding tire replacement,contact your authorized dealer as soon aspossible.
Major dissimilar tire sizes between the frontand rear axles (for example, 17 inch lowprofile tires on the front axle and 22 inchhigh profile tires on the rear axle) couldcause the AWD system to stop functioningand default to front-wheel drive or damagethe AWD system. However, the AWDsystem is capable of tolerating anycombination of new and worn tires of thesame original tire size. For example, using3 worn tread tires and 1 new tread tire allof the same original tire size, can betolerated by the AWD system.
Driving In Special Conditions WithAll-Wheel Drive (AWD)
AWD vehicles are equipped for driving onsand, snow, mud and rough roads and haveoperating characteristics that aresomewhat different from conventionalvehicles, both on and off the highway.
When driving at slow speeds in deep sandunder high outside temperatures, use a lowgear when possible. Lower gear operationwill maximize the engine and transmissioncooling capability.
Under severe operating conditions, the A/Cmay cycle on and off to protectoverheating of the engine.
Basic operating principles in specialconditions
•Drive slower in strong crosswinds whichcan affect the normal steeringcharacteristics of your vehicle.
•Be extremely careful when driving onpavement made slippery by loose sand,water, gravel, snow or ice.
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All-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)

“Tread Lightly” is an educational programdesigned to increase public awareness ofland-use regulations and responsibilitiesin our nations wilderness areas. Ford MotorCompany joins the U.S. Forest Service andthe Bureau of Land Management inencouraging you to help preserve ournational forest and other public and privatelands by “treading lightly.”
Driving on Hilly or Sloping Terrain
Note:Avoid driving crosswise or turning onsteep slopes or hills. A danger lies in losingtraction, slipping sideways and possiblyrolling over. Whenever driving on a hill,determine beforehand the route you willuse. Do not drive over the crest of a hillwithout seeing what conditions are on theother side. Do not drive in reverse over a hillwithout the aid of an observer.
Although natural obstacles may make itnecessary to travel diagonally up or downa hill or steep incline, you should alwaystry to drive straight up or straight down.
When climbing a steep slope or hill, startin a lower gear rather than downshifting toa lower gear from a higher gear once theascent has started. This reduces strain onthe engine and the possibility of stalling.
If you do stall out, do not try to turnaroundbecause you might roll over. It is better toback down to a safe location.
Apply just enough power to the wheels toclimb the hill. Too much power will causethe tires to slip, spin or lose traction,resulting in loss of vehicle control.
Descend a hill in the same gear you woulduse to climb up the hill to avoid excessivebrake application and brake overheating.Do not descend in neutral; instead,disengage overdrive or manually shift to alower gear. When descending a steep hill,avoid sudden hard braking as you couldlose control. The front wheels have to beturning in order to steer the vehicle.
Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, thereforeapply the brakes steadily. Do not “pump”the brakes.
Driving on Snow and Ice
WARNING
If you are driving in slipperyconditions that require tire chains orcables, then it is critical that you drivecautiously. Keep speeds down, allow forlonger stopping distances and avoidaggressive steering to reduce the chancesof a loss of vehicle control which can leadto serious injury or death. If the rear end ofyour vehicle slides while cornering, steer inthe direction of the slide until you regaincontrol of your vehicle.
Note:Excessive tire slippage can causedriveline damage.
AWD vehicles have advantages over 2WDvehicles in snow and ice but can skid likeany other vehicle.
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All-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)E143949

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)

GENERAL INFORMATION
Note:Occasional brake noise is normal. Ifa metal-to-metal, continuous grinding orcontinuous squeal sound is present, thebrake linings may be worn-out. Have thesystem checked by an authorized dealer. Ifyour vehicle has continuous vibration orshudder in the steering wheel while braking,have it checked by an authorized dealer.
Note:Brake dust may accumulate on thewheels, even under normal drivingconditions. Some dust is inevitable as thebrakes wear and does not contribute tobrake noise. See Cleaning the Wheels(page 264).
Note:Depending on applicable laws andregulations in the country for which yourvehicle was originally built, your brake lampsmay flash during heavy braking. Followingthis, your hazard lights may also flash whenyour vehicle comes to a stop.
See Warning Lamps andIndicators (page 85).
Wet brakes result in reduced brakingefficiency. Gently press the brake pedal afew times when driving from a car wash orstanding water to dry the brakes.
Brake Over Accelerator
In the event the accelerator pedalbecomes stuck or entrapped, apply steadyand firm pressure to the brake pedal toslow the vehicle and reduce engine power.If you experience this condition, apply thebrakes and bring your vehicle to a safestop. Move the transmission to park (P),switch the engine off and apply the parkingbrake. Inspect the accelerator pedal forany interference. If none are found and thecondition persists, have your vehicle towedto the nearest authorized dealer.
Brake Assist
Brake assist detects when you brakerapidly by measuring the rate at which youpress the brake pedal. It providesmaximum braking efficiency as long as youpress the pedal, and can reduce stoppingdistances in critical situations.
Anti-lock Brake System
This system helps you maintain steeringcontrol during emergency stops by keepingthe brakes from locking.
This lamp momentarilyilluminates when you turn theignition on. If the light does notilluminate during start up, remains on orflashes, the system may be disabled. Havethe system checked by an authorizeddealer. If the anti-lock brake system isdisabled, normal braking is still effective.
If the brake warning lampilluminates when you release theparking brake, have the systemchecked by an authorized dealer.
HINTS ON DRIVING WITH
ANTI-LOCK BRAKES
Note:When the system is operating, thebrake pedal may pulse and may travelfurther. Maintain pressure on the brakepedal. You may also hear a noise from thesystem. This is normal.
The anti-lock braking system will noteliminate the risks when:
•You drive too closely to the vehicle infront of you.
•Your vehicle is hydroplaning.
•You take corners too fast.
•The road surface is poor.
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BrakesE144522 E144522

PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
WARNINGS
Vehicle modifications involvingbraking system, aftermarket roofracks, suspension, steering system,tire construction and wheel and tire sizemay change the handling characteristicsof your vehicle and may adversely affectthe performance of the electronic stabilitycontrol system. In addition, installing anystereo loudspeakers may interfere withand adversely affect the electronic stabilitycontrol system. Install any aftermarketstereo loudspeaker as far as possible fromthe front center console, the tunnel, andthe front seats in order to minimize the riskof interfering with the electronic stabilitycontrol sensors. Reducing theeffectiveness of the electronic stabilitycontrol system could lead to an increasedrisk of loss of vehicle control, vehiclerollover, personal injury and death.
Remember that even advancedtechnology cannot defy the laws ofphysics. It’s always possible to losecontrol of a vehicle due to inappropriatedriver input for the conditions. Aggressivedriving on any road condition can causeyou to lose control of your vehicleincreasing the risk of personal injury orproperty damage. Activation of theelectronic stability control system is anindication that at least some of the tireshave exceeded their ability to grip the road;this could reduce the operator’s ability tocontrol the vehicle potentially resulting ina loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover,personal injury and death. If your electronicstability control system activates, SLOWDOWN.
The system automatically turns on eachtime you switch the ignition on.
If a fault occurs in either the stabilitycontrol or the traction control system, youmay experience the following conditions:
•The stability and traction control lightilluminates steadily.
•The stability control and tractioncontrol systems do not enhance yourvehicle's ability to maintain traction ofthe wheels.
If a driving condition activates either thestability control or the traction controlsystem you may experience the followingconditions:
•The stability and traction control lightflashes.
•Your vehicle slows down.
•Reduced engine power.
•A vibration in the brake pedal.
•The brake pedal is stiffer than usual.
•If the driving condition is severe andyour foot is not on the brake, the brakepedal may move as the system applieshigher brake force.
The stability control system has severalfeatures built into it to help you maintaincontrol of your vehicle:
Electronic Stability Control
The system enhances your vehicle’s abilityto prevent skids or lateral slides byapplying brakes to one or more of thewheels individually and, if necessary,reducing engine power.
Traction Control
The system enhances your vehicle’s abilityto maintain traction of the wheels bydetecting and controlling wheel spin. SeeUsing Traction Control (page 166).
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Stability Control

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

Steering Tips
If the steering wanders or pulls, check for:
•Correct tire pressures.
•Uneven tire wear.
•Loose or worn suspensioncomponents.
•Loose or worn steering components.
•Improper vehicle alignment.
Note:A high crown in the road or highcrosswinds may also make the steeringseem to wander or pull.
Adaptive Learning
The electronic power steering systemadaptive learning helps correct roadirregularities and improves overall handlingand steering feel. It communicates withthe brake system to help operateadvanced stability control and accidentavoidance systems. Additionally, wheneverthe battery is disconnected or a newbattery installed, you must drive yourvehicle a short distance before the systemrelearns the strategy and reactivates allsystems.
COLLISION WARNING SYSTEM
(If Equipped)
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
WARNINGS
This system is designed to be asupplementary driving aid. It is notintended to replace the driver’sattention, and judgment, or the need toapply the brakes. This system does NOTactivate the brakes automatically. Failureto press the brake pedal to activate thebrakes may result in a collision.
WARNINGS
The collision warning system withbrake support cannot help preventall collisions. Do not rely on thissystem to replace driver judgment and theneed to maintain distance and speed.
Note:The system does not detect, warn orrespond to potential collisions with vehiclesto the rear or sides of the vehicle.
Note:The collision warning system is activeat speeds above approximately 5 mph(8 km/h).
This system is designed to alert the driverof certain collision risks. A radar detects ifyour vehicle is rapidly approaching anothervehicle traveling in the same direction asyours.
If it is, a red warning light illuminates andan audible warning chime sounds.
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Driving AidsE156130 E156131