towing FORD RANGER 2004 2.G Owner's Manual

•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 to Lubricant 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).
• Adding certain accessories to your vehicle (for example bug
deflectors, rollbars/light bars, running boards, ski/luggage racks) may
reduce fuel economy.
• Using fuel blended with alcohol may lower fuel economy.
• Fuel economy may decrease with lower temperatures during the first
12–16 km (8 –10 miles) of driving.
2004 Ranger (ran)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English (fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
201

Splash guards
Step bars
Tonneau covers
Truck caps
Wheels
Interior style
Cell phone holders
Consoles
Electrochromatic compass/temperature interior mirrors
Floor mats
Interior trim kits
Leather wrapped steering wheels
Scuff plates
Speed control
Lifestyle
Bedliners and bedmats
Bed tents
Bike racks
Cargo organization and management
Diamond plate accessories
Engine block heaters and blankets
Rear seat entertainment systems
Toolboxes
Towing mirrors
TracRac and accessories
Trailer hitches, wiring harnesses and accessories
2004 Ranger(ran)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English (fus)
Accessories
237

Safety belts
(see Safety restraints) ...62, 64–67
Safety defects, reporting ..........166
Safety restraints ..............62, 64 –67
belt minder ...............................69
extension assembly ..................69
for adults .............................64 –66
for children .........................83 –84
lap belt ......................................68
safety belt maintenance ...........73
warning light and chime ..........69
Safety seats for children ............87
Seat belts
(see Safety restraints) ...............62
Seats ............................................60 child safety seats ......................87
Servicing your vehicle ..............174
Setting the clock AM/FM stereo ...........................18
AM/FM stereo CD .....................21
AM/FM stereo tape/CD/MP3 ....25
Premium AM/FM stereo
CD6/MP3 ...................................28
Snowplowing .................................7
Spare tire
(see Changing the Tire) ...........145
Spark plugs,
specifications .....................224, 231
Special notice ambulance conversions ..............7
utility-type vehicles ....................7
Specification chart,
lubricants ...........................228, 231
Speed control ..............................47
Starting your vehicle ......96 –97, 99
jump starting ..........................151 Steering wheel
tilting .........................................46
T
Tilt steering wheel ......................46
Tires ...................................144, 212 changing ..........144 –145, 147, 151
snow tires and chains ............223
spare tire .................................144
tire grades ...............................213
treadwear ................................212
Towing .......................................121 recreational towing .................130
trailer towing ..........................121
wrecker ....................................156
Traction-lok rear axle ...............102
Transfer case fluid checking .........................210
Transmission automatic operation ...............103
brake-shift interlock (BSI) ....103
fluid, checking and adding
(manual) .................................209
fluid, refill capacities ..............225
lubricant specifications ..228, 231
manual operation ....................106
Turn signal ..................................39
V
Vehicle dimensions ...................231
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................234
Vehicle loading ..........................118 camper bodies ........................131
Ventilating your vehicle ...........100
2004 Ranger (ran)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English (fus)
Index
243

W
Warning lights (see Lights) .......10
Washer fluid ..............................179
Water, Driving through .............118
Windowspower .........................................47 Windshield washer fluid and
wipers
..........................................45
checking and adding fluid .....179
replacing wiper blades .............45
Wrecker towing .........................156
2004 Ranger(ran)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English (fus)
Index
244