towing FORD E SERIES 2003 4.G User Guide

WRECKER TOWING
For towing, contact a professional towing service or your roadside
assistance center.
Ford recommends your vehicle be towed with a wheel lift or flatbed. Do
not tow with a slingbelt. Ford Motor Company has not approved a
slingbelt towing procedure.
If your vehicle is equipped with an air dam and must be towed from the
front, it is recommended that your vehicle be towed by wheel lift or
flatbed equipment to prevent damage to the air dam.
If the vehicle is towed by other means or incorrectly, vehicle
damage may occur.
Roadside Emergencies
160

In some states (in the U.S.) you must directly notify Ford in writing
before pursuing remedies under your state’s warranty laws. Ford is also
allowed a final repair attempt in some states.
In the United States, a warranty dispute must be submitted to the
Dispute Settlement Board before taking action under the Magnuson-Moss
Warranty Act, or to the extent allowed by state law, before pursuing
replacement or repurchase remedies provided by certain state laws. This
dispute handling procedure is not required prior to enforcing state
created rights or other rights which are independent of the
Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act or state replacement or repurchase laws.
FORD EXTENDED SERVICE PLAN
You can get more protection for your new car or light truck by
purchasing Ford Extended Service Plan (Ford ESP) coverage. Ford ESP
is an optional service contract which is backed by Ford Motor Company
or Ford Motor Service Company (in the U.S.) and Ford of Canada (in
Canada). It provides the following:
•Benefits during the warranty period depending on the plan you
purchase (such as: reimbursement for rentals; coverage for certain
maintenance and wear items).
•Protection against covered repair costs after your Bumper-to-Bumper
Warranty expires.
You may purchase Ford ESP from any participating Ford and Lincoln
Mercury and Ford of Canada dealer. There are several plans available in
various time, distance and deductible combinations which can be tailored
to fit your own driving needs. Ford ESP also offers reimbursement
benefits for towing and rental coverage.
When you buy Ford ESP, you receive Peace-of-Mind protection
throughout the United States and Canada, provided by a network of
more than 5,000 participating Ford or Lincoln Mercury and Ford of
Canada dealers.
If you did not take advantage of the Ford Extended Service Plan at the
time of purchasing your vehicle, you may still be eligible. Please contact
your dealer for further information. Since this information is subject to
change, please ask your dealer for complete details about Ford Extended
Service Plan coverage options, or visit the Ford ESP website at
www.ford-esp.com.
Customer Assistance
163

Habits
•Smooth, moderate operation can yield up to 10% savings in fuel.
•Steady speeds without stopping will usually give the best fuel
economy.
•Idling for long periods of time (greater than one minute) may waste
fuel.
•Anticipate stopping; slowing down may eliminate the need to stop.
•Sudden or hard accelerations may reduce fuel economy.
•Slow down gradually.
•Driving at reasonable speeds (traveling at 88 km/h [55 mph] uses 15%
less fuel than traveling at 105 km/h [65 mph]).
•Revving the engine before turning it off may reduce fuel economy.
•Using the air conditioner or defroster may reduce fuel economy.
•You may want to turn off the speed control in hilly terrain if
unnecessary shifting between third and fourth gear occurs.
Unnecessary shifting of this type could result in reduced fuel
economy.
•Warming up a vehicle on cold mornings is not required and may
reduce fuel economy.
•Resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving may reduce fuel
economy.
•Combine errands and minimize stop-and-go driving.
Maintenance
•Keep tires properly inflated and use only recommended size.
•Operating a vehicle with the wheels out of alignment will reduce fuel
economy.
•Use recommended engine oil. Refer toLubricant specificationsin
this chapter.
•Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance items. Follow the
recommended maintenance schedule and owner maintenance checks
found in your vehicle scheduled maintenance guide.
Conditions
•Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a trailer may reduce fuel economy
at any speed.
•Carrying unnecessary weight may reduce fuel economy (approximately
0.4 km/L [1 mpg] is lost for every 180 kg [400 lb] of weight carried).
Maintenance and Specifications
200

L
Lamps
bulb replacement
specifications chart ..................55
cargo lamps ...............................54
daytime running light ...............53
headlamps .................................53
headlamps, flash to pass ..........54
instrument panel, dimming .....54
interior lamps ...........................55
replacing bulbs ...................55–60
Lane change indicator
(see Turn signal) ........................54
Lights, warning and indicator ....10
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ..........114
speed control ............................69
Load limits .................................122
GAWR ......................................122
GVWR ......................................122
trailer towing ..........................122
Loading instructions .................124
Lubricant specifications ...217, 220
Lumbar support, seats ...............76
M
Mirrors
fold away ...................................67
side view mirrors (power) .......66
Motorcraft parts ................198, 212
O
Octane rating ............................197
Oil (see Engine oil) ..................179
P
Parking brake ............................115Parts (see Motorcraft parts) ....212
Power distribution box (see
Fuses) ........................................144
Power door locks ........................71
Power point .................................65
Power steering ..........................115
fluid, checking and adding ....203
fluid, refill capacity ................213
fluid, specifications .........217, 220
Power Windows ...........................66
Preparing to drive your
vehicle ........................................116
R
Radio ..........................15, 17, 20, 24
Relays ................................140, 147
Remote entry system
illuminated entry ......................74
locking/unlocking doors ...........71
Roadside assistance ..................137
S
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ........................80, 82–85
Safety defects, reporting ..........169
Safety restraints ..............80, 82–85
belt minder ...............................86
cleaning the safety belts ..........90
extension assembly ..................90
for adults .............................82–84
for children .........................95–96
lap belt ......................................85
warning light and chime ..........86
Safety seats for children ............99
Seat belts (see Safety
restraints) ....................................80
Index
230

Seats ............................................75
child safety seats ......................99
Servicing your vehicle ..............176
Spare tire (see Changing the
Tire) ...........................................147
Spark plugs,
specifications .....................212, 220
Special notice
ambulance conversions ..............6
diesel-powered vehicles .............6
utility-type vehicles ....................6
Specification chart,
lubricants ...........................217, 220
Speed control ..............................67
Starting your vehicle ........111–113
jump starting ..........................155
Steering wheel
tilting .........................................62
T
Temperature control
(see Climate control) ...........50, 52
Tires ...................................207–209
changing ..........................147–148
replacing ..........................150, 211
rotating ....................................210
snow tires and chains ............211
tire grades ...............................208
treadwear ................................207
Towing .......................................124
recreational towing .................136trailer towing ..........................124
wrecker ....................................160
Traction-lok rear axle ...............116
Transmission .............................117
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................204
fluid, refill capacities ..............213
lubricant specifications ..217, 220
Trunk ...........................................70
Turn signal ..................................54
V
Vehicle dimensions ...................220
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................222
Vehicle loading ..........................122
Ventilating your vehicle ...........114
W
Warning lights (see Lights) .......10
Washer fluid ..............................178
Water, Driving through .............121
Windows
power .........................................66
Windshield washer fluid and
wipers ..........................................61
checking and adding fluid .....178
replacing wiper blades .............61
Wrecker towing .........................160
Index
231