2. Turn the key to the start position to
start the engine.
Note: The engine may continue cranking
for up to 15 seconds or until it starts.
Note: If you cannot start the engine on the
first try, wait for a short period and try again.
Failure to Start
If you cannot start the engine after three
attempts, wait 10 seconds and follow this
procedure:
1. Fully depress the brake pedal.
2. Shift into park (P).
3. Fully press the accelerator pedal and hold it there.
4. Start the engine.
Cold Weather Starting - Flex Fuel
Vehicles WARNING: Do not use starting
fluid, for example ether, in the air intake
system. Such fluid could cause
immediate explosive damage to the
engine and possible personal injury.
The starting characteristics of all grades
of E85 ethanol make it unsuitable for use
when ambient temperatures fall below
0°F (-18°C)
. Consult your fuel distributor
for the availability of winter grade ethanol.
As the outside temperature approaches
freezing, ethanol fuel distributors should
supply winter grade ethanol, the same as
with unleaded gasoline. If summer grade
ethanol is used in cold weather conditions,
0°F to 32°F (-18°C to 0°C), you may
experience increased cranking times, rough
idle or hesitation until the engine has
warmed up.
You may experience a decrease in peak
performance when the engine is cold when
operating on E85 ethanol. Do not crank the engine for more than 10
seconds at a time. This may cause
damage to the starter motor. If the engine
does not start, turn the key to the off
position and wait 30 seconds before trying
again.
If your vehicle does not start on E85
ethanol, and neither an alternative brand
of E85 ethanol nor an engine block heater
is available, the addition of unleaded
gasoline to the fuel tank improves cold
starting performance.
If the engine fails to start, do the following:
1. Press the accelerator pedal down
one-third to one-half of its travel, and
then crank the engine.
2. When the engine starts, release the key, then gradually release the
accelerator pedal as the engine speed
increases. If the engine still does not
start, repeat Step 1.
Stopping the Engine When Your
Vehicle is Stationary
1. Shift into park (P).
2. Turn the key to the off position.
3. Apply the parking brake.
133
Taurus (CPH) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201806, First-Printing Starting and Stopping the Engine
Stopping the Engine When Your
Vehicle is Moving
WARNING: Switching off the
engine when the vehicle is still moving
will result in a loss of brake and steering
assistance. The steering will not lock, but
higher effort will be required. When the
ignition is switched off, some electrical
circuits, including air bags, warning lamps
and indicators may also be off. If the
ignition was turned off accidentally, you
can shift into neutral (N) and re-start the
engine.
1. Shift into neutral and use the brakes to
bring your vehicle to a safe stop.
2. When your vehicle has stopped, shift into park (P) and switch the ignition
off.
3. Apply the parking brake.
Guarding Against Exhaust Fumes WARNING:
If you smell exhaust
fumes inside your vehicle, have your
vehicle checked by your authorized
dealer immediately. Do not drive your
vehicle if you smell exhaust fumes.
Carbon monoxide is present in exhaust
fumes. Take precautions to avoid its
dangerous effects.
Important Ventilating Information
If you stop your vehicle and then leave the
engine idling for long periods, we
recommend that you do one of the
following:
• Open the windows at least 1 in (3 cm).
• Set your climate control to outside air. ENGINE BLOCK HEATER WARNING:
Failure to follow
engine block heater instructions could
result in property damage or serious
personal injury. WARNING:
Do not use your heater
with ungrounded electrical systems or
two-pronged adapters. There is a risk of
electrical shock. WARNING:
Do not fully close the
hood, or allow it to drop under its own
weight when using the engine block
heater. This could damage the power
cable and may cause an electrical short
resulting in fire, injury and property
damage.
Note: The heater is most effective when
outdoor temperatures are below
0°F
(-18°C).
The heater acts as a starting aid by
warming the engine coolant. This allows
the climate control system to respond
quickly. The equipment includes a heater
element (installed in the engine block) and
a wire harness. You can connect the
system to a grounded 120-volt AC
electrical source.
We recommend that you do the following
for a safe and correct operation:
• Use a 16-gauge outdoor extension cord
that is product certified by
Underwriter ’s Laboratory (UL) or
Canadian Standards Association
(CSA). This extension cord must be
suitable for use outdoors, in cold
134
Taurus (CPH) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201806, First-Printing Starting and Stopping the Engine
temperatures, and be clearly marked
Suitable for Use with Outdoor
Appliances. Do not use an indoor
extension cord outdoors. This could
result in an electric shock or become a
fire hazard.
• Use as short an extension cord as
possible.
• Do not use multiple extension cords.
• Make sure that when in operation, the
extension cord plug and heater cord
plug connections are free and clear of
water. This could cause an electric
shock or fire.
• Make sure your vehicle is parked in a
clean area, clear of combustibles.
• Make sure the heater, heater cord and
extension cord are firmly connected.
• Check for heat anywhere in the
electrical hookup once the system has
been operating for approximately 30
minutes.
• Make sure the system is unplugged and
properly stowed before starting and
driving your vehicle. Make sure the
protective cover seals the prongs of the
block heater cord plug when not in use.
• Make sure the heater system is
checked for proper operation before
winter.
Using the Engine Block Heater
Make sure the receptacle terminals are
clean and dry prior to use. Clean them with
a dry cloth if necessary.
The heater uses 0.4 to 1.0 kilowatt-hours
of energy per hour of use. The system does
not have a thermostat. It achieves
maximum temperature after
approximately three hours of operation.
Using the heater longer than three hours
does not improve system performance and
unnecessarily uses electricity.
135
Taurus (CPH) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201806, First-Printing Starting and Stopping the Engine
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WARNING: Always fully apply the
parking brake and make sure you shift
into park (P). Switch the ignition off and
remove the key whenever you leave your
vehicle. WARNING:
Do not apply the brake
pedal and accelerator pedal
simultaneously. Applying both pedals
simultaneously for more than a few
seconds will limit engine performance,
which may result in difficulty maintaining
speed in traffic and could lead to serious
injury.
Understanding the Positions of
Your Automatic Transmission
Putting your vehicle in gear:
1. Fully press down the brake pedal.
2. Press and hold the button on the front
of the selector lever.
3. Move the selector lever into the desired
gear.
4. Release the button and your transmission will remain in the selected
gear. Park (P)
This position locks the transmission and
prevents the wheels from turning.
Reverse (R)
With the selector lever in reverse (R), your
vehicle will move backward. Always come
to a complete stop before shifting into and
out of reverse (R).
Neutral (N)
With the selector lever in neutral (N), your
vehicle can be started and is free to roll.
Hold the brake pedal down while in this
position.
Drive (D)
Drive (D) is the normal driving position for
the best fuel economy. The overdrive
function allows automatic upshifts and
downshifts through gears one through six.
Sport (S)
Moving the selector lever to sport (S):
•
Provides additional grade (engine)
braking and extends lower gear
operation to enhance performance for
uphill climbs, hilly terrain or
mountainous areas. This will increase
engine RPM during engine braking.
• Provides additional lower gear
operation through the automatic
transmission shift strategy.
• Gears are selected more quickly and
at higher engine speeds.
SelectShift Automatic ™
Transmission
Your SelectShift automatic transmission
gives you the ability to manually change
gears.
If equipped with a toggle on the
selector lever:
149
Taurus (CPH) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201806, First-Printing TransmissionE142629
•
Press the (+) button to upshift.
• Press the (-) button to downshift.
If equipped with steering wheel
paddles: •
Pull the right paddle (+) to upshift.
• Pull the left paddle (-) to downshift.
With your vehicle in drive (D), the paddle
shifters provide temporary manual control.
They allow you the ability to shift gears
quickly, without taking your hands off the
steering wheel. You can achieve extensive
manual control by moving the selector
lever to sport (S).
The system determines when temporary
manual control is no longer in use and
returns to automatic control.
Upshift to the recommended shift speeds
according to the following chart: Upshifts when accelerating (recom-
mended for best fuel economy)
Shift from:15 mph (24 km/h)
1 - 2
25 mph (40 km/h)
2 - 3
40 mph (64 km/h)
3 - 4
45 mph (72 km/h)
4 - 5
50 mph (80 km/h)
5 - 6
The instrument cluster will display the
selected gear that you are currently in and
a shift indicator arrow to assist in
optimizing shifting.
SelectShift will automatically make some
shifts for you in the event that your engine
speed is running at too high, or too low an
RPM.
Note: Engine damage may occur if
excessive engine revving is held without
shifting.
Brake-Shift Interlock WARNING: Do not drive your
vehicle until you verify that the brake
lamps are working. WARNING:
When doing this
procedure, you need to take the
transmission out of park (P) which
means your vehicle can roll freely. To
avoid unwanted vehicle movement,
always fully apply the parking brake prior
to doing this procedure. Use wheels
chocks if appropriate.
150
Taurus (CPH) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201806, First-Printing TransmissionE142629 E144821
WARNING: If the parking brake is
fully released, but the brake warning
lamp remains illuminated, the brakes
may not be working properly. Have your
vehicle checked as soon as possible.
Use the brake shift interlock override
procedure to move the selector lever from
park (P) in the event of an electrical
malfunction or if your vehicle has a dead
battery.
Apply the parking brake and turn the
ignition off before performing this
procedure. 1. Using a screwdriver (or similar tool),
remove the override access panel from
the cup holder. 2. Apply the brake pedal. Using a
screwdriver (or similar tool), press and
hold the brake shift interlock lever
while pulling the selector lever out of
park (P) and into neutral (N).
3. Reinstall the override access panel.
4. Start your vehicle and release the parking brake.
Note: See your authorized dealer as soon
as possible if this procedure is used.
Automatic Transmission Adaptive
Learning
This feature may increase durability and
provide consistent shift feel over the life
of your vehicle. A new vehicle or
transmission may have firm shifts, soft
shifts or both. This operation is considered
normal and does not affect function or
durability of the transmission. Over time,
the adaptive learning process fully updates
transmission operation.
If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck In Mud
or Snow
Note: Do not rock the vehicle if the engine
is not at normal operating temperature or
damage to the transmission may occur.
151
Taurus (CPH) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201806, First-Printing TransmissionE235476 E235475
Be cautious of sudden changes in vehicle
speed or direction when you are driving in
mud. Even AWD vehicles can lose traction
in slick mud. As when you are driving over
sand, apply the accelerator slowly and
avoid spinning your wheels. If the vehicle
does slide, steer in the direction of the slide
until you regain control of the vehicle.
After driving through mud, clean off residue
stuck to rotating driveshafts and tires.
Excess mud stuck on tires and rotating
driveshafts causes an imbalance that
could damage drive components.
Note:
Driving through deep water may
damage the transmission.
If the front or rear axle is submerged in
water, have the power transfer unit (PTU)
or rear axle serviced by an authorized
dealer. “Tread Lightly
” is an educational program
designed to increase public awareness of
land-use regulations and responsibilities
in our nations wilderness areas. Ford Motor
Company joins the U.S. Forest Service and
the Bureau of Land Management in
encouraging you to help preserve our
national forest and other public and private
lands by “treading lightly. ”
Driving on Hilly or Sloping Terrain
Note: Avoid driving crosswise or turning on
steep slopes or hills. A danger lies in losing
traction, slipping sideways and possibly
rolling over. Whenever driving on a hill,
determine beforehand the route you will
use. Do not drive over the crest of a hill
without seeing what conditions are on the
other side. Do not drive in reverse over a hill
without the aid of an observer. Although natural obstacles may make it
necessary to travel diagonally up or down
a hill or steep incline, you should always
try to drive straight up or straight down.
When climbing a steep slope or hill, start
in a lower gear rather than downshifting to
a lower gear from a higher gear once the
ascent has started. This reduces strain on
the engine and the possibility of stalling.
If you do stall out, do not try to turnaround
because you might roll over. It is better to
back down to a safe location.
Apply just enough power to the wheels to
climb the hill. Too much power will cause
the tires to slip, spin or lose traction,
resulting in loss of vehicle control.
Descend a hill in the same gear you would
use to climb up the hill to avoid excessive
brake application and brake overheating.
Do not descend in neutral; instead,
disengage overdrive or manually shift to a
lower gear. When descending a steep hill,
avoid sudden hard braking as you could
lose control. The front wheels have to be
turning in order to steer the vehicle.
Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, therefore
apply the brakes steadily. Do not
“pump”
the brakes.
158
Taurus (CPH) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201806, First-Printing All-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)E143950 E143949
Driving on Snow and Ice
WARNING: If you are driving in
slippery conditions that require tire
chains or cables, then it is critical that
you drive cautiously. Keep speeds down,
allow for longer stopping distances and
avoid aggressive steering to reduce the
chances of a loss of vehicle control
which can lead to serious injury or death.
If the rear end of your vehicle slides while
cornering, steer in the direction of the
slide until you regain control of your
vehicle.
Note: Excessive tire slippage can cause
driveline damage.
AWD vehicles have advantages over 2WD
vehicles in snow and ice but can skid like
any other vehicle.
Should you start to slide while driving on
snowy or icy roads, turn the steering wheel
in the direction of the slide until you regain
control.
Avoid sudden applications of power and
quick changes of direction on snow and
ice. Apply the accelerator slowly and
steadily when starting from a full stop.
Avoid sudden braking as well. Although an
AWD vehicle may accelerate better than
a two-wheel drive vehicle in snow and ice,
it won ’t stop any faster, because as in other
vehicles, braking occurs at all four wheels.
Do not become overconfident as to road
conditions.
Make sure you allow sufficient distance
between you and other vehicles for
stopping. Drive slower than usual and
consider using one of the lower gears. In
emergency stopping situations, apply the
brake steadily. Since your vehicle is
equipped with a four wheel (ABS), do not
“pump ” the brakes. See Hints on Driving
With Anti-Lock Brakes
(page 161). Maintenance and Modifications
The suspension and steering systems on
your vehicle have been designed and
tested to provide predictable performance
whether loaded or empty and durable load
carrying capability. For this reason, Ford
Motor Company strongly recommends that
you do not make modifications such as
adding or removing parts (such as lowering
kits or stabilizer bars) or by using
replacement parts not equivalent to the
original factory equipment.
Any modifications to a vehicle that raise
the center of gravity can make it more likely
the vehicle will rollover as a result of a loss
of control. Ford Motor Company
recommends that caution be used with
any vehicle equipped with a high load or
device (such as ladder or luggage racks).
Failure to maintain your vehicle properly
may void the warranty, increase your repair
cost, reduce vehicle performance and
operational capabilities and adversely
affect driver and passenger safety.
Frequent inspection of vehicle chassis
components is recommended if the vehicle
is subjected to off-highway usage.
159
Taurus (CPH) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201806, First-Printing All-Wheel Drive
(If Equipped)