wheel alignment FORD MUSTANG 2008 5.G Owners Manual

If your vehicle is stuck in snow, mud, sand, etc.,do notrapidly
spin the tires; spinning the tires can tear the tire and cause an
explosion. A tire can explode in as little as three to five seconds.
Do not spin the wheels at over 35 mph (56 km/h). The tires may
fail and injure a passenger or bystander.
Highway hazards
No matter how carefully you drive there’s always the possibility that you
may eventually have a flat tire on the highway. Drive slowly to the
closest safe area out of traffic. This may further damage the flat tire, but
your safety is more important.
If you feel a sudden vibration or ride disturbance while driving, or you
suspect your tire or vehicle has been damaged, immediately reduce your
speed. Drive with caution until you can safely pull off the road. Stop and
inspect the tires for damage. If a tire is under-inflated or damaged,
deflate it, remove wheel and replace it with your spare tire and wheel. If
you cannot detect a cause, have the vehicle towed to the nearest repair
facility or tire dealer to have the vehicle inspected.
Tire and wheel alignment
A bad jolt from hitting a curb or pothole can cause the front end of your
vehicle to become misaligned or cause damage to your tires. If your
vehicle seems to pull to one side when you’re driving, the wheels may be
out of alignment. Have an authorized dealer check the wheel alignment
periodically.
Wheel misalignment in the front or the rear can cause uneven and rapid
treadwear of your tires and should be corrected by an authorized dealer.
Front wheel drive (FWD) vehicles and those with an independent rear
suspension (if equipped) may require alignment of all four wheels.
The tires should also be balanced periodically. An unbalanced tire and
wheel assembly may result in irregular tire wear.
Tire rotation
Rotating your tires at the recommended interval (as indicated in the
scheduled maintenance informationthat comes with your vehicle) will
help your tires wear more evenly, providing better tire performance and
longer tire life.
2008 05+ Mustang(197)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
148

•Rear Wheel Drive (RWD)
vehicles/Four Wheel Drive
(4WD)/ All Wheel Drive (AWD)
vehicles (front tires at top of
diagram)
Sometimes irregular tire wear can be corrected by rotating the tires.
Note:If your tires show uneven wear ask an authorized dealer to check
for and correct any wheel misalignment, tire imbalance or mechanical
problem involved before tire rotation.
Note:Your vehicle may be equipped with a dissimilar spare tire/wheel. A
dissimilar spare tire/wheel is defined as a spare tire and/or wheel that is
different in brand, size or appearance from the road tires and wheels. If
you have a dissimilar spare tire/wheel it is intended for temporary use
only and should not be used in a tire rotation.
Note:After having your tires rotated, inflation pressure must be checked
and adjusted to the vehicle requirements.
If the tire label shows different tire pressures for the front and
rear tires and the vehicle is equipped with TPMS (tire pressure
monitoring system), then the settings for the TPMS sensors need to be
updated. Always perform the TPMS reset procedure after tire rotation.
If the system is not reset, it may not provide a low tire pressure
warning when necessary. See the TPMS reset procedure in this
chapter.
2008 05+ Mustang(197)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
149

STEERING
To help prevent damage to the power steering system:
•Never hold the steering wheel at its furthest turning points (until it
stops) for more than a few seconds when the engine is running.
•Do not operate the vehicle with a low power steering fluid level
(below the MIN mark on the reservoir).
•Some noise is normal during operation. If the noise is excessive, check
for a low power steering fluid level before seeking service by your
authorized dealer.
•Heavy or uneven steering efforts may be caused by a low power
steering fluid level. Check for a low power steering fluid level before
seeking service by your authorized dealer.
•Do not fill the power steering fluid reservoir above the MAX mark on
the reservoir.
If the power steering system breaks down (or if the engine is turned
off), you can steer the vehicle manually, but it takes more effort.
If the steering wanders or pulls, check for:
•an improperly inflated tire
•uneven tire wear
•loose or worn suspension components
•loose or worn steering components
•improper steering alignment
A high crown in the road or high crosswinds may also make the steering
seem to wander/pull.
TRACTION-LOKâ„¢ AXLE (IF EQUIPPED)
This axle provides added traction on slippery surfaces, particularly when
one wheel is on a poor traction surface. Under normal conditions, the
Traction-Lokâ„¢ axle functions like a standard rear axle.
Extended use of other than the manufacturer’s specified size tires on a
Traction-Lokâ„¢ rear axle could result in a permanent reduction in
effectiveness. This loss of effectiveness does not affect normal driving
and should not be noticeable to the driver.
2008 05+ Mustang(197)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Driving
178

Driving style — good driving and fuel economy habits
Give consideration to the lists that follow and you may be able to change
a number of variables and improve your fuel economy.
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 55 mph [88 km/h] uses
15% less fuel than traveling at 65 mph [105 km/h]).
•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 the top gears 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 toMaintenance product
specifications and capacitiesin this chapter.
•Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance items. Follow the
recommended maintenance schedule and owner maintenance checks
found inscheduled maintenance information.
Conditions
•Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a trailer may reduce fuel economy
at any speed.
2008 05+ Mustang(197)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
257

locking/unlocking doors ...........84
opening the trunk .....................85
panic alarm ...............................84
replacement/additional
transmitters ...............................86
replacing the batteries .............85
Roadside assistance ..................186
S
Safety Belt Maintenance ..........110
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ..................100, 104–108
Safety Canopy ...........................123
Safety defects, reporting ..222–223
Safety restraints ........100, 104–109
Belt-Minder...........................111
extension assembly ................109
for adults .........................105–108
for children .............................126
Occupant Classification
Sensor ......................................102
safety belt maintenance .........110
warning light and chime ........110
Safety seats for children ..........130
Safety Compliance
Certification Label ....................271
Satellite Radio Information ........38
Seats ............................................94
child safety seats ....................130
front seats .................................95
heated ........................................98
SecuriLock passive anti-theft
system ..........................................88
Servicing your vehicle ..............232
Setting the clock
AM/FM/CD .................................24
AM/FM/In-dash 6 CD ................30Spark plugs,
specifications .....................266, 270
Specification chart,
lubricants ...................................267
Speed control ..............................64
Starting your
vehicle ........................169–170, 172
jump starting ..........................210
Steering wheel
tilting .........................................58
T
Tilt steering wheel ......................58
Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS)
Tires, Wheels and Loading ....155
Tires ...................................140–141
alignment ................................148
care ..........................................144
changing ..................................198
checking the pressure ............144
inflating ...................................142
label .........................................154
replacing ..................................146
rotating ....................................148
safety practices .......................147
sidewall information ...............150
snow tires and chains ............160
spare tire .................................196
terminology .............................141
tire grades ...............................141
treadwear ........................140, 145
Towing .......................................166
recreational towing .................168
trailer towing ..........................166
wrecker ....................................215
Traction control ........................176
Traction-lok rear axle ...............178
2008 05+ Mustang(197)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Index
279