FORD TAURUS 2018 Owners Manual
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AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FLUID CHECK - 2.0L
ECOBOOST™
6F35 Transmission
The automatic transmission does not have
a transmission fluid dipstick.
The automatic transmission does not
consume fluid. If the transmission is not
working correctly, for example, the
transmission slips, shifts slowly or there
are signs of fluid leakage, have the system
checked by an authorized dealer.
Change the automatic transmission fluid
and filter at the correct service interval.
Do not use supplemental automatic
transmission fluid additives because they
are unnecessary and could lead to
transmission damage that may not be
covered by the vehicle Warranty.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FLUID CHECK - 3.5L DURATEC/
3.5L ECOBOOST™
6F50/6F55 Transmission (If Equipped)
WARNING
The dipstick and surrounding
components are hot. Use gloves
when moving components and
checking the transmission fluid level.
Failure to follow this warning could result
in serious personal injury. Note:
Automatic transmission fluid
expands when warmed. To obtain an
accurate fluid check, drive your vehicle until
you warm it up, approximately 20 mi
(30 km). If you operate your vehicle for an
extended period at high speeds, in city traffic
during hot weather or pulling a trailer, switch
your vehicle off until it reaches normal
operating temperatures to allow the fluid
to cool before checking. Depending on
vehicle use, cooling times could take up to
30 minutes or longer.
Refer to your scheduled maintenance
information for scheduled intervals for fluid
checks and changes. Your transmission
does not consume fluid. However, you
should check the fluid level if the
transmission is not working properly. For
example, if the transmission slips or shifts
slowly or if you notice some sign of a fluid
leak.
1. Drive your vehicle
20 mi (30 km) or
until it reaches normal operating
temperature.
2. Park your vehicle on a level surface and
engage the parking brake.
3. With the parking brake engaged and your foot on the brake pedal, start the
engine and move the gearshift lever
through all of the gear ranges. Allow a
minimum of 10 seconds for each gear
to engage.
4. Put the gearshift lever in park (P) and leave the engine running.
Note: For vehicles with the EcoBoost
engine, move the air filter assembly aside
to access the transmission dipstick.
5. Remove the dipstick and wipe it clean with a dry, lint-free clean rag.
6. Install the dipstick making sure you fully seat it in the filler tube by turning
it to the locked position.
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7. Remove the dipstick and inspect the
fluid level. The fluid should be in the
designated areas for normal operating
temperature.
Moving the Air Filter Assembly
(Accessing the Dipstick) WARNING
Do not start the engine with the air
filter removed. This can cause
damage not covered by the vehicle
Warranty and can result in serious injury. 1. Switch the engine off.
2. Clean the area around the clamp that
connects the air filter assembly to the
rubber hose and then loosen it.
3. Remove the bolt cover. 4. Remove two bolts that attach the air
filter assembly to the front of the
vehicle.
5. Remove the harness retaining clip by pulling up.
6. Do not disconnect the sensor. 249
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7. Pull the air filter assembly up to
disconnect it from the seated
grommets located under the air filter
assembly.
8. Rotate the air filter assembly 90 degrees counterclockwise. Make sure
the rubber hose is still connected to the
air filter assembly.
9. Tighten the clamp.
You can now access the transmission fluid
level indicator.
Checking the Fluid Level
Low Fluid Level If the fluid level is below the MIN range of
the dipstick, add fluid to reach the hash
mark level.
Note: If the fluid level is below the
MIN
level, do not drive the vehicle. An underfill
condition may cause shift or engagement
concerns or possible damage.
Correct Fluid Level Check the transmission fluid at the normal
operating temperatures between 180°F
(82°C) and 200°F (93°C) on a level
surface. Drive your vehicle until you warm
it up to the normal operating temperature
after approximately
20 mi (30 km).
Target the transmission fluid level within
the cross-hatch area if at the normal
operating temperature between 180°F
(82°C) and 200°F (93°C).
High Fluid Level If the fluid level is above the MAX range of
the dipstick, remove fluid to reach the
hashmark level.
Note:
Fluid level above the
MAX level may
cause shift or engagement concerns or
possible damage. An overheating condition
can cause high fluid levels. If you operate
your vehicle for an extended period at high
speeds, in city traffic during hot weather or
pulling a trailer, you should switch your
vehicle off until your vehicle reaches normal
operating temperatures. Depending on
vehicle use, cooling times could take up to
30 minutes or longer.
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Adjusting Automatic Transmission Fluid
Levels
Before adding any fluid, make sure the
correct type is used. The type of fluid is
normally indicated on the dipstick. See
Capacities and Specifications (page
297).
Note: An overfill condition of transmission
fluid may cause shift or engagement
concerns or possible damage.
Do not use supplemental transmission
fluid additives, treatments or cleaning
agents. The use of these materials may
affect transmission operation and result
in damage to internal transmission
components. Reinstall the air filter
assembly. After you check the fluid level
and adjust as necessary, do the following:
1. Switch the engine off.
2. Loosen the clamp holding the air filter assembly to the rubber hose.
3. Seat the air filter assembly back into the grommets by pushing down on the
air filter assembly.
4. Tighten the clamp. 5. Install and tighten the two bolts that
attach the air filter assembly to the
front of the vehicle.
6. Install the bolt cover.
7. Reinstall the harness retaining clip into
the front of the air filter assembly.
BRAKE FLUID CHECK WARNINGS
Do not use any fluid other than the
recommended brake fluid as this will
reduce brake efficiency. Use of
incorrect fluid could result in the loss of
vehicle control, serious personal injury or
death. Only use brake fluid from a sealed
container. Contamination with dirt,
water, petroleum products or other
materials may result in brake system
damage or failure. Failure to adhere to this
warning could result in the loss of vehicle
control, serious personal injury or death. Do not allow the fluid to touch your
skin or eyes. If this happens, rinse the
affected areas immediately with
plenty of water and contact your physician. A fluid level between the
MAX and
MIN lines is within the normal
operating range and there is no need
to add fluid. A fluid level not in the normal
operating range could compromise the
performance of the system. Have your
vehicle checked immediately. 251
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To avoid fluid contamination, the reservoir
cap must remain in place and fully tight,
unless you are adding fluid.
Only use fluid that meets Ford
specifications. See Capacities and
Specifications (page 297).
POWER STEERING FLUID
CHECK
Your vehicle is equipped with an electric
power steering (EPS) system. There is no
fluid reservoir to check or fill.
WASHER FLUID CHECK WARNING
If you operate your vehicle in
temperatures below 40°F (5°C), use
washer fluid with antifreeze
protection. Failure to use washer fluid with
antifreeze protection in cold weather could
result in impaired windshield vision and
increase the risk of injury or accident. Add fluid to fill the reservoir if the level is
low. Only use a washer fluid that meets
Ford specifications. See
Capacities and
Specifications (page 297).
State or local regulations on volatile
organic compounds may restrict the use
of methanol, a common windshield washer
antifreeze additive. Washer fluids
containing non-methanol antifreeze
agents should be used only if they provide
cold weather protection without damaging
the vehicle ’s paint finish, wiper blades or
washer system.
FUEL FILTER
Your vehicle is equipped with a lifetime
fuel filter that is integrated with the fuel
tank. Regular maintenance or replacement
is not needed.
CHANGING THE 12V BATTERY WARNINGS
Batteries normally produce explosive
gases which can cause personal
injury. Therefore, do not allow
flames, sparks or lighted substances to
come near the battery. When working near
the battery, always shield your face and
protect your eyes. Always provide correct
ventilation. When lifting a plastic-cased battery,
excessive pressure on the end walls
could cause acid to flow through the
vent caps, resulting in personal injury and
damage to the vehicle or battery. Lift the
battery with a battery carrier or with your
hands on opposite corners.
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WARNINGS
Keep batteries out of reach of
children. Batteries contain sulfuric
acid. Avoid contact with skin, eyes or
clothing. Shield your eyes when working
near the battery to protect against possible
splashing of acid solution. In case of acid
contact with skin or eyes, flush
immediately with water for a minimum of
15 minutes and get prompt medical
attention. If acid is swallowed, call a
physician immediately. Battery posts, terminals and related
accessories contain lead and lead
compounds. Wash hands after
handling. This vehicle may have more than one
battery. Removing the battery cables
from only one battery does not
disconnect your vehicle electrical system.
Make sure you disconnect the battery
cables from all batteries when
disconnecting power. Failure to do so may
cause serious personal injury or property
damage. Your vehicle is fitted with a Motorcraft
maintenance-free battery which normally
does not require additional water.
When a battery replacement is required,
you must use a recommended
replacement battery that matches the
electrical requirements of the vehicle.
Note:
After cleaning or replacing the
battery, make sure you reinstall the battery
cover or shield.
Note: If you add electrical accessories or
components to the vehicle, it may adversely
affect the low voltage battery performance
and durability. This may also affect the
performance of other electrical systems in
the vehicle.
For longer, trouble-free operation, keep the
top of the battery clean and dry. If you see any corrosion on the battery or
terminals, remove the cables from the
terminals and clean with a wire brush. You
can neutralize the acid with a solution of
baking soda and water.
Because your vehicle
’s engine is
electronically controlled by a computer,
some control conditions are maintained
by power from the battery. When the
battery is disconnected or a new battery
is installed, the engine must relearn its idle
and fuel trim strategy for optimum
driveability and performance. Flexible fuel
vehicles (FFV) must also relearn the
ethanol content of the fuel for optimum
driveability and performance.
To restore the settings, do the following:
1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Shift into park (P) or neutral (N).
3. Switch off all accessories.
4. Press the brake pedal and start your vehicle.
5. Run the engine until it reaches normal operating temperature. While the
engine is warming up, complete the
following: Reset the clock. Reset the
power windows bounce-back feature.
See Windows and Mirrors (page 78).
Reset the radio station presets. See
Audio System (page 317).
6. Allow the engine to idle for at least one
minute.
7. Drive the vehicle at least 10 mi (16 km)
to completely relearn the idle trim and
fuel trim strategy.
Note: If you do not allow the engine to
relearn the idle and fuel trim strategy, the
idle quality of your vehicle may be adversely
affected until the engine computer
eventually relearns the idle trim and fuel
trim strategy.
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Note:
For flexible fuel vehicles, if you are
operating on E85, you may experience poor
starts or an inability to start the engine and
driveability problems until the fuel trim and
ethanol content have been relearned.
Make sure that you dispose of old batteries
in an environmentally friendly way. Seek
advice from your local authority about
recycling old batteries.
If storing your vehicle for more than 30
days without recharging the battery, we
recommend that you disconnect the
battery cables to maintain battery charge
for quick starting.
Battery Management System (If
Equipped)
The battery management system monitors
battery conditions and takes actions to
extend battery life. If excessive battery
drain is detected, the system temporarily
disables some electrical systems to
protect the battery.
Systems included are:
• Heated rear window.
• Heated seats.
• Climate control.
• Heated steering wheel.
• Audio unit.
• Navigation system.
A message may appear in the information
displays to alert you that battery
protection actions are active. These
messages are only for notification that an
action is taking place, and not intended to
indicate an electrical problem or that the
battery requires replacement. After battery replacement, or in some
cases after charging the battery with an
external charger, the battery management
system requires eight hours of vehicle sleep
time to relearn the battery state of charge.
During this time your vehicle must remain
fully locked with the ignition switched off.
Note:
Prior to relearning the battery state
of charge, the battery management system
may temporarily disable some electrical
systems.
Electrical Accessory Installation
To make sure the battery management
system works correctly, do not connect an
electrical device ground connection
directly to the battery negative post. This
can cause inaccurate measurements of
the battery condition and potential
incorrect system operation.
Note: If you add electrical accessories or
components to the vehicle, it may adversely
affect battery performance and durability.
This may also affect the performance of
other electrical systems in the vehicle.
CHECKING THE WIPER
BLADES Run the tip of your fingers over the edge of
the blade to check for roughness.
Clean the wiper blades with washer fluid
or water applied with a soft sponge or
cloth.
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CHANGING THE WIPER
BLADES
Replace the wiper blades at least annually
for optimum performance.
You can improve poor wiper quality by
cleaning the wiper blades and the
windshield. See Cleaning the Windows
and Wiper Blades (page 262).
Changing the Windshield Wiper
Blades
Note: Do not hold the wiper blade when
lifting the wiper arm.
Note: Make sure that the wiper arm does
not spring back against the glass when the
wiper blade is not attached. 1. Lift the wiper arm and then press the
wiper blade locking buttons together.
2. Slightly rotate the wiper blade.
3. Remove the wiper blade.
4. Install in the reverse order.
Note: Make sure that the wiper blade locks
into place. ADJUSTING THE HEADLAMPS
Vertical Aim Adjustment
The headlamps on your vehicle are
properly aimed at the assembly plant. If
your vehicle has been in an accident, have
the alignment of your headlamps checked
by your authorized dealer.
Headlamp Aiming Target
8 feet (2.4 meters)
A
Center height of lamp to ground
B
25 feet (7.6 meters)
C
Horizontal reference line
D
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.
2. Measure the height from the center of your headlamp (indicated by a 3.0
millimeter circle on the lens) to 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).
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Note:
To see a clearer light pattern for
adjusting, you may want to block the light
from one headlamp while adjusting the
other.
3. Turn on the low beam headlamps to illuminate the wall or screen and open
the hood. Cover one of the headlamps
so no light hits the wall. 4.
There is a distinct cut-off (change from
light to dark) in the left portion of the
beam pattern. Position the top edge of
this cut-off 2 inches (5 centimeters)
below the horizontal reference line. 5. Locate the vertical adjuster on each
headlamp. Use a Phillips #2
screwdriver to turn the adjuster either
clockwise or counterclockwise to
adjust the vertical aim of the
headlamp. The horizontal edge of the
brighter light should touch the
horizontal reference line.
6. Repeat Steps 3 through 7 to adjust the
other headlamp.
7. Close the hood and turn off the lamps.
Horizontal Aim Adjustment
Horizontal aim is not required for this
vehicle and is not adjustable.
CHANGING A BULB WARNINGS
Bulbs can become hot. Let the bulb
cool down before removing it. Failure
to do so could result in personal
injury. Switch the lamps and the ignition off.
Failure to follow this warning could
result in serious personal injury.
Use the correct specification bulb. See
Bulb Specification Chart (page 257).
Install in the reverse order unless otherwise
stated.
High-Intensity Discharge
Headlamps
These lamps operate at a high voltage.
See an authorized dealer if they fail.
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Front Fog Lamp (If Equipped)
1.
Switch all of the lamps and the ignition
off.
2. Disconnect the electrical connector.
3. Turn the bulb holder counterclockwise
and remove it.
Note: Do not touch the bulb glass.
Note: You cannot separate the bulb from
the bulb holder.
LED Lamps
LED lamps are not serviceable items. See
an authorized dealer if they fail.
The following lamps are LED:
• Front parking lamps.
• Front side marker lamps.
• Front direction indicators.
• Side direction indicators.
• Brake and rear lamps.
• Central high mounted brake lamp.
• Rear direction indicators.
• Reversing lamps.
License Plate Lamp
1. Switch all of the lamps and the ignition
off. 2. Remove the screws that secure the
lamp assembly. 3. Remove the bulb.
BULB SPECIFICATION CHART
The specified replacement bulbs are in the
chart below. Headlamp bulbs must be
marked with an authorized D.O.T.
(Department of Transportation) for North
America to affirm 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.
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