service FORD TAURUS 1997 Owner's Manual

SERVICING YOUR TIRES
Checking the tire pressure
²Use an accurate tire pressure gauge.
²Check the tire pressure when tires are cold, after
the vehicle has been parked for at least one hour
or has been driven less than 5 km (3 miles).
²Adjust tire pressure to recommended
specifications found on the Safety Compliance
Certification Label.
Improperly inflated tires can affect vehicle
handling and can fail suddenly, possibly
resulting in loss of vehicle control.
Tire rotation
Because your vehicle's tires perform different jobs,
they often wear differently. To make sure your tires
wear evenly and last longer, rotate them as indicated
in theService Guide. If you notice that the tires
wear unevenly, have them checked.
Replacing the tires
Replace the tires when
the wear band is
visible through the tire
treads.
Failure to follow these precautions may
adversely affect the handling of the vehicle
and make it easier to lose control and roll over.
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fuel, see your dealer or a qualified service technician
to prevent any engine damage.
SHO engines
Your vehicle is
designed to use
premium gasoline for
optimum performance
with an (R + M)/2 octane rating of 91 or higher.
Gasolines with lower octane ratings can be used but
performance may decrease. We do not recommend
gasolines labeled as ªpremiumº in high altitude areas
that are sold with octane ratings less than 91.
Fuel quality
If you are experiencing starting, rough idle or
hesitation problems try a different brand of fuel. If
the condition persists, see your dealer or a qualified
service technician.
The American Automobile Manufacturers Association
(AAMA) issued a gasoline specification to provide
information on high quality fuels that optimize the
performance of your vehicle. We recommend the use
of gasolines that meet the AAMA specification if
they are available.
It should not be necessary to add any aftermarket
products to your fuel tank if you continue to use a
high-quality fuel.
Cleaner air
Ford approves the use of gasolines to improve air
quality, including reformulated gasolines, that
contain oxygenates such as a maximum of 10%
ethanol or 15% MTBE. There should be no more
than 5% methanol with cosolvents and additives to
protect the fuel system.
Calculating fuel economy
To accurately calculate your vehicle's fuel economy:
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1. Fill the tank completely and record the initial
odometer reading.
2. Each time you fill the tank, record the amount of
fuel added (in liters or gallons).
3. After at least three to five fuel tank fill-ups, fill
the fuel tank and record the current mileage
reading.
4. Use one of the following equations to calculate
fuel economy.
Liters used x 1004Total kilometers traveled
Total miles traveled4Total gallons used
Keep a record for at least one month. This will
provide an accurate estimate of the vehicle's fuel
economy.
EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM
Your vehicle is equipped with catalytic converters
which enable your vehicle to comply with applicable
exhaust emission requirements.
Exhaust leaks may result in the entry of
harmful and potentially lethal fumes into the
passenger compartment. Under extreme conditions
excessive exhaust temperatures could damage the
fuel system, the interior floor covering, or other
vehicle components, possibly causing a fire.
To make sure that the catalytic converter and the
other emission control parts continue to work
properly:
²Use only unleaded fuel.
²Avoid running out of fuel.
²Do not turn off the ignition while your vehicle is
moving, especially at high speeds.
²Have the services listed in yourService Guide
performed according to the specified schedule.
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The Scheduled Maintenance Services listed in the
Service Guideare required because they are
considered essential to the life and performance of
your vehicle and to its emissions system.
Ford strongly recommends the use of genuine Ford
replacement parts. If other than Ford or Motorcraft
parts or Ford authorized parts are used for
maintenance replacements or for the service of
components affecting emission control, such
non-Ford parts should be equivalent to genuine Ford
Motor Company parts in performance and durability.
It is the owner's responsibility to determine the
equivalency of such parts. Please consult your
Warranty Information Booklet for complete warranty
information.
Do not park, idle, or drive your vehicle in
dry grass or other dry ground cover. The
emission system heats up the engine compartment
and exhaust system, which can start a fire.
Watch for fluid leaks, strange odors, smoke, loss of
oil pressure, the charging system warning light, the
service engine soon light or the temperature warning
light. These sometimes indicate that the emissions
system is not working properly.
Do not make any unauthorized changes to your
vehicle or engine. Changes that cause more
unburned fuel to reach the exhaust system can
increase the temperature of the engine or exhaust
system.
By law, anyone who manufactures, repairs, services,
sells, leases, trades vehicles, or supervises a fleet of
vehicles is not permitted to intentionally remove an
emission control device or prevent it from working.
In some of the United States and Canada, vehicle
owners may be liable if their emission control device
is removed or prevented from working.
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Never use a metal exhaust collector when you
service your vehicle. If the metal collector contacts
any of your vehicle's plastic trim or bumper parts
they could melt or deform.
Do not drive your vehicle if it does not operate
properly. See your dealer if the engine runs on for
more than five seconds after you shut it off or if it
misfires, surged, stalls or backfires.
Information about your vehicle's emission system is
on the Vehicle Emission Control Information decal
located on or near the engine. This decal identifies
engine displacement and gives some tune up
specifications.
Readiness for inspection/maintenance testing
In some localities, it may become a legal
requirement to pass an Inspection/Maintenance (I/M)
test of the On-board Diagnostic (OBD) II system. If
the vehicle's powertrain system or its battery has
just been serviced, the OBD II system is reset to a
not ready for I/M testing condition. To prepare for
I/M testing, the law specifies that additional mixed
city and highway driving is required to complete the
check of the OBD II system.
The driving modes required to reach the ready
condition consist of a minimum of 30 minutes of city
and highway driving as described below:
²At least twenty minutes driving in stop and go,
city type traffic with at least four idle periods.
²At least ten minutes of driving on an expressway
or highway.
Before completing the above driving modes, the
engine must be warmed up and at operating
temperature. Once started, the vehicle must not be
turned off during these driving modes.
EXTERIOR LAMPS
It is a good idea to check the operation of the
following lights frequently:
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Function Trade Number
Dome lamp/moon roof 208
Visor vanity lamp
(passenger/driver)74-194
Door courtesy lamp 168
Floor console 194
Luggage compartment lamp 906
Glove compartment 194
Instrument courtesy lamps 168
I/P ashtray lamp 194
Radio illuminationGo to Ford
authorized radio
service center
ClockGo to Ford
authorized
dealer
Warning indicator lights (except
THEFT)Go to Ford
authorized
dealer
THEFT warningGo to Ford
authorized
dealer
Cluster illuminationGo to Ford
authorized
dealer
Heater-A/CGo to Ford
authorized
dealer
Automatic climate controlGo to Ford
authorized
dealer
Rear window defrost switchGo to Ford
authorized
dealer
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been in an accident requiring the front end of the
vehicle to be repaired, the horizontal indicator
should be recalibrated by the service facility.
Horizontal aim adjustment
1. With the hood open,
locate the horizontal
indicator and adjusting
screw.
2.Usea7mmwrench to turn the horizontal
adjusting screw until the reference mark on the
reflector extension aligns with the ª0º reference
mark on the horizontal indicator when viewed
directly from above.
3. When the horizontal aim has been adjusted, close
the headlamp access panel.
Adjusting the vertical aim
The numbers shown on the vial indicate beam
direction in degrees up or down.
1. Do not adjust the vertical aim until after adjusting
the horizontal aim.
R L

O
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Cleaning the wiper blades
If the wiper blades do
not wipe properly,
clean both the
windshield and wiper
blades using undiluted
windshield wiper
solution or a mild
detergent. Rinse
thoroughly with clean
water. To avoid
damaging the blades,
do not use fuel,
kerosene, paint thinner
or other solvents.
Cleaning the instrument panel
Clean instrument panel with a damp cloth, then dry
with a dry cloth.
Any cleaner or polish that increases the gloss of the
upper portion of the instrument panel should be
avoided. The dull finish in this area is to help
protect the driver from undesirable windshield
reflection.
Cleaning the interior fabric
Remove dust and loose dirt with a whisk broom or a
vacuum cleaner. Remove fresh spots immediately.
Follow the directions that come with the cleaner.
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MOTORCRAFT PART NUMBERS
3.0L Vulcan engine
Component Part number
Air filter FA-1630
Fuel filter FG-800-A
Battery (standard) BXT-58R
Battery (optional) BXT-36R
Fuel filter FG-800-A
Passenger
compartment air filter
(if equipped)FP-6
Oil filter FL-400-S
PCV valve EV-228
Spark plug* AWSF-32PP**
* Refer to Vehicle Emissions Control Information
(VECI) decal for spark plug and gap information.
** If a spark plug is removed for inspection, it
must be reinstalled in the same cylinder. Cylinders
No. 1, 2 and 3 have a PG suffix. Cylinders No. 4, 5
and 6 have a P suffix. If a spark plug needs to be
replaced, use only spark plugs with the service
part number suffix letter9PP9as shown on the
engine decal.
3.0L Duratec engine
Component Part number
Air filter FA-1630
Fuel filter FG-800-A
Battery BXT-36R
Fuel filter FG-800-A
Capacities and specifications
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