service FORD TAURUS 1996 Owners Manual

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[PI00560(ALL)05/95]
Table of ContentsIntroductory Information .............................1
Safety Restraints ............................................9
Starting Your Taurus ..................................59
Warning Lights and Gauges .....................71
Instrument Panel Controls ........................91
Steering Column Controls ......................115
Features ........................................................125
Electronic Sound Systems .......................169
Driving Your Taurus ................................191
Roadside Emergencies ..............................217
Customer Assistance .................................237
Reporting Safety Defects .........................244
Accessories ..................................................249
Servicing Your Taurus .............................255
Quick Index ................................................341
Index .............................................................357
Service Station Information ....................380
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Update:Mon Jan 22 15:39:52 1996
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1
Introductory Information
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[IN00300(ALL)04/95]
Ford's Commitment to You
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At Ford Motor Company, excellence is the
continuous commitment to achieve the best
result possible. It is dedication to learning what
you want, determination to develop the right
concept, and execution of that concept with care,
precision, and attention to detail. In short,
excellence means being the standard by which
others are judged.
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[IN00500(ALL)04/95]
Our Guiding Principles
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[IN00600(ALL)04/95]
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Quality comes first.For your satisfaction, the
quality of our products and services must be
our number one priority.
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You are the focus of everything we do.Our
work must be done with you in mind,
providing better products and services than
our competition.
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[IN00750(ALL)04/95]
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Continuous improvement is essential to our
success.We must strive for excellence in
everything we do: in our products Ð in their
safety and value Ð and in our services, our
human relations, our competitiveness, and
our profitability.
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[IN00800(ALL)04/95]
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Employee involvement is our way of life.
We are a team. We must treat one another
with trust and respect.
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Dealers and suppliers are our partners.We
must maintain mutually beneficial
relationships with dealers, suppliers, and our
other business associates.
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3
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Finding Information in This Guide
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After you have read this guide once, you will
probably return to it when you have a specific
question or need additional information. To help
you find specific information quickly, you can
use the Quick Index or the Index.
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[IN01700(ALL)08/95]
TheQuick Indexat the end of the book
provides a page number following each item
which indicates where detailed information can
be found.
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[IN01900(ALL)08/95]
To use theIndex, turn to the back of the book
and search in the alphabetical listing for the
word that best describes the information you
need. If the word you chose is not listed, think
of other related words and look them up. We
have designed the Index so that you can find
information under a technical term.
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[IN02000(ALL)08/95]
Canadian Owners Ð French Version
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[IN02100(ALL)08/95]
French Owner Guides can be obtained from your
dealer or by writing to Ford Motor Company of
Canada, Limited, Service Publications, P.O. Box
1580, Station B, Mississauga, Ontario L4Y 4G3.
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[IN02400(ALL)04/95]
Your Maintenance Schedule and
Record Booklet
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[IN02500(ALL)03/95]
TheMaintenance Schedule and Recordbooklet lists
the services that are most important for keeping
your vehicle in good condition. A record log is
also provided to help you keep track of all
services performed.
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4
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About the Warranties
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Your vehicle is covered by three types of
warranties:Basic Vehicle Warranty,Extended
Warrantieson certain parts, andEmissions
Warranties.
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[IN03100(ALL)03/95]
Read yourWarranty Information Bookletcarefully
to find out about your vehicle's warranties and
your basic rights and responsibilities.
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[IN03300(ALL)03/95]
If you lose yourWarranty Information Booklet,you
can get a new one free of charge. Contact any
Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer, or refer to the
addresses and phone numbers on the first page
of this owner guide.
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[IN04000(ALL)01/95]
Buying a Ford Extended Service Plan
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[IN04100(ALL)01/94]
If you bought your vehicle in the U.S., you can
buy a Ford Extended Service Plan for your
vehicle. This optional contract provides service
protection for a longer period of time than the
basic warranty that comes with your vehicle.
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[IN04200(ALL)01/95]
You do not have to buy this option when you
buy your vehicle. However, your option to
purchase the Ford Extended Service Plan runs
out after 18 months or 18,000 miles. See your
dealer for more details about the Ford Extended
Service Plan.
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[IN04250(ALL)01/95]
If you purchased a Canadian vehicle and did not
take advantage of the Ford Extended Service
Plan at the time of purchase, you may still be
eligible. See your dealer for the details.
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30
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RWARNING
If the air bag is inflated, THE AIR BAG
WILL NOT FUNCTION AGAIN AND
MUST BE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY. If
the air bag is not replaced, the unrepaired
area will increase the risk of injury in a
collision.
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[SR18425(ALL)07/95]
To ensure that the air bag system will operate as
intended in a crash, the system is equipped with
a diagnostic module, which controls a readiness
lamp and a warning tone. The diagnostic
module monitors its own circuits, the air bag
electrical system, the air bag readiness light, the
air bag power, and the air bag inflators.
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[SR18450(ALL)05/95]
The air bag system uses a readiness light on the
instrument cluster and a tone to indicate the
condition of the system. When you turn the
ignition key to the ON position, this light will
illuminate for approximately six (6) seconds and
then turn off. This indicates that the system is
operating normally. NOTE: Maintenance of the
air bag system is not required.
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A problem with the system is indicated by one
or more of the following:
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[SR18501(ALL)06/95]
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the readiness light will either flash or stay lit,
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[SR18525(ALL)06/95]
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or it will not light immediately after ignition
is turned on,
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[SR18550(ALL)06/95]
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or a group of five beeps will be heard. The
tone pattern will repeat periodically until the
problem and light are repaired.
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[SR18575(ALL)08/95]
If any of these things happen, have the air bag
system serviced at your Ford or Lincoln-Mercury
dealer immediately. Unless serviced, the air bag
Supplemental Restraint System may not function
properly in the event of a collision.
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RWARNING
Do not attempt to service, repair, or
modify the Air Bag Supplemental
Restraint System or its fuses. See your
Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer.
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Disposal of air bags or air bag equipped
vehicles
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For disposal of air bags or air bag equipped
vehicles, see your local Ford or Lincoln-Mercury
dealer. Air bagsMUSTbe disposed of by
qualified personnel.
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Safety Restraints for Children
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In the U.S. and Canada, you are required by law
to use safety restraints for children. If small
children ride in your vehicle Ð this generally
includes children who are four years old or
younger and who weigh 40 pounds (18 kg) or
less Ð you must put them in safety seats that
are made specially for children. Safety belts
alone do not provide maximum protection for
these children. Check your local and state laws
for specific requirements.
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[SR20400(ALL)08/95]
RWARNING
Never let a passenger hold a child on his
or her lap while the vehicle is moving.
The passenger cannot protect the child
from injury in a collision.
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[SR20500(ALL)07/95]
RWARNING
To prevent the risk of injury, make sure
children sit where they can be properly
restrained.
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65
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For best results, plug the heater in at least three
hours before you start your vehicle. Using the
heater for longer than three hours will not
damage the engine, so you can plug it in at
night to start your vehicle the following
morning.
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[ST11100(ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
To prevent electrical shock, do not use
your heater with ungrounded electrical
systems or two-pronged (cheater) adapters.
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If the Engine Cranks but Does
Not Start or Does Not Start After
a Collision
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Fuel Pump Shut-off Switch
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If the engine cranks but does not start or does
not start even after a small collision, the fuel
pump shut-off switch may have been activated.
The shut-off switch is a device intended to stop
the fuel pump when your vehicle has been
involved in a substantial jolt.
[ST11500(ALL)10/95]
Once the shut-off switch is activated, you must
reset the switch by hand before you can start
your vehicle. If you have asedan, the switch is
on the right side of the trunk behind the trunk
liner. If you have awagon, it is behind the
service panel on the right side of the cargo area.
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half page art:0000399-EThe right side of the trunk in the sedan
[ST11700(ALL)11/94]
one third page art:0000516-E
Inside the right side service panel in the wagon
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[ST11800(ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
If you see or smell fuel, do not reset the
switch or try to start your vehicle. Have
all the passengers get out of the vehicle
and call the local fire department or a
towing service.
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Guarding Against Exhaust Fumes
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Carbon monoxide, although colorless and
odorless, is present in exhaust fumes. Take
precautions to avoid its dangerous effects.
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[ST12500(ALL)09/95]
RWARNING
Do not start your vehicle in a closed
garage or other enclosed area. Never sit in
a stopped vehicle for more than a short
period of time with the engine running.
Exhaust fumes are toxic. SeeGuarding
Against Exhaust Fumesin this chapter for
more instructions.
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[ST12600(ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
If you smell exhaust fumes inside your
vehicle, have your dealer inspect your
vehicle immediately. Do not drive if you
smell exhaust fumes.
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[ST12700(ALL)01/95]
Have the exhaust and body ventilation systems
checked whenever:
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[ST12800(ALL)02/95]
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your vehicle is raised for service
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[ST12900(ALL)02/95]
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the sound of the exhaust system changes
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[ST13000(ALL)01/95]
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your vehicle has been damaged in a collision
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Indicator Lights and Chimes
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Safety Belt Warning Light and Chime
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This warning light and chime remind you to
fasten your safety belt. The following conditions
will take place:
[LG02550(ALL)12/95]
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If the driver's safety belt is not buckled when
the key is turned to the ON position, the
light will activate for 1 to 2 minutes and the
chime will sound for 4 to 8 seconds.
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[LG02600(ALL)03/95]
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If the driver's safety belt is buckled while the
light is on or the chime is sounding, both the
light and the chime will turn off.
[LG02650(ALL)12/95]
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If the driver's safety belt is buckled before the
key is turned to the ON position, the light
will briefly activate, then shut off and the
chime will not activate.
[LG02700(ALL)02/95]
one inch art:0000107-B
Safety belt warning light
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Brake System Warning Light
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[LG03000(ALL)03/95]
The warning light for the brakes can show two
things Ð that the parking brake is not fully
released, or that the brake fluid level is low in
the master cylinder reservoir. If the fluid level is
low, the brake system should be checked by
your dealer or a qualified service technician.
File:05fclgt.ex
Update:Tue Jan 23 08:14:15 1996
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