FORD TAURUS 2001 4.G Manual Online

Large metallic objects, electronic
devices on the key chain that can be
used to purchase gasoline or similar
items, or a second key on the same
key ring as thecoded keymay
cause vehicle starting issues. If
present, you need to keep these
objects from touching thecoded
keywhile starting the engine. These
objects and devices cannot damage
thecoded key,but can cause a
NOÐSTART condition if they are
too close to the key during engine
start. If a problem occurs, turn
ignition OFF and restart the engine
with all other objects on the key
ring held away from the ignition key. Check to make sure thecoded key
is an approved Fordcoded key.
If your keys are lost or stolen you
will need to do the following:
²Use your spare key to start the
vehicle, or
²Have your vehicle towed to a
dealership or locksmith. The key
codes will need to be erased from
your vehicle and new key codes will need to be re-coded.
Replacing coded keys can be very costly and you may want to store an
extra programmed key away from the vehicle in a safe place to prevent
an unforeseen inconvenience.
The correctcoded keymust be used for your vehicle. The use of the
wrong type ofcoded keymay lead to a ªNO-STARTº condition.
If an unprogrammed key is used in the ignition it will cause a
ªNO STARTº condition.
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81

Programming spare keys
A maximum of eight keys can be coded to your vehicle. Only
SecuriLockykeys can be used. To program acoded keyyourself, you
will need two previously programmedcoded keys(keys that already
operate your vehicle's engine) and the new unprogrammed key(s) readily
accessible for timely implementation of each step in the procedure.
If two previously programmed coded keys are not available, you must
bring your vehicle to your dealership to have the spare coded key(s)
programmed.
Please read and understand the entire procedure before you begin.
1. Insert the first previously
programmedcoded keyinto the
ignition and turn the ignition from
3 (OFF) to 4 (ON) (maintain
ignition in 4 (ON) for at least one
second).
2. Turn ignition to 3 (OFF) then
2 (LOCK) and remove the first
coded keyfrom the ignition.
3. Within ten seconds of removing
the firstcoded key,insert the second previously programmedcoded
keyinto the ignition and turn the ignition from 3 (OFF) to 4 (ON)
(maintain ignition in 4 (ON) for at least one second but no more than
ten seconds).
4. Turn the ignition to 3 (OFF) then 2 (LOCK) and remove the second
coded keyfrom the ignition.
5. Within 20 seconds of removing the secondcoded key,insert the new
unprogrammed key (new key/valet key) into the ignition and turn the
ignition from 3 (OFF) to 4 (ON) (maintain ignition in 4 (ON) for at least
one second). This step will program your new key to a coded key.
6. To program additional new unprogrammed key(s), repeat this
procedure from step 1.
If successful, the new coded key(s) will start the vehicle's engine and the
theft indicator will illuminate for three seconds and then go out.
If not successful, the new coded key(s) will not start the vehicle's engine
and the theft indicator will flash on and off and you may repeat steps 1
through 6. If failure repeats, bring your vehicle to your dealership to
have the new spare key(s) programmed.
3
2
1
5
4
Controls and features
82

INTERIOR LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT RELEASE
Your vehicle is equipped with a mechanical interior luggage compartment
release handle that provides a means of escape for children and adults in
the event they become locked inside the luggage compartment.
Adults are advised to familiarize themselves with the operation and
location of the release handle.
To open the luggage compartment
door (lid) from the inside, pull the
illuminated ªTº shaped handle and
push up on the trunk lid. The
material that the handle is made of
will glow for hours in the darkness
of the luggage compartment
following brief exposure to ambient
light.
The ªTº shaped handle will be
located either on the luggage
compartment door (lid) or inside
the luggage compartment near the
tail lamps.
Keep vehicle doors and
luggage compartment locked
and keep keys out of a child's
reach. Unsupervised children could
lock themselves in an open trunk
and risk injury. Children should be
taught not to play in vehicles.
On hot days, the temperature in the trunk or vehicle interior can
rise very quickly. Exposure of people or animals to these high
temperatures for even a short time can cause death or serious
heat-related injuries, including brain damage. Small children are
particularly at risk.
Controls and features
83

SEATING
Adjustable head restraints
Your vehicle's seats are equipped with head restraints which are
vertically adjustable. The purpose of these head restraints is to help limit
head motion in the event of a rear collision. To properly adjust your head
restraints, lift the head restraint so that it is located directly behind your
head or as close to that position as possible. Refer to the following to
raise and lower the head restraints.
The head restraints can be moved
up and down.
Push control to lower head restraint.
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84

Adjusting the front manual seat
Never adjust the driver's seat or seatback when the vehicle is
moving.
Do not pile cargo higher than the seatbacks to reduce the risk of
injuring people in a collision or sudden stop.
Always drive and ride with your seatback upright and the lap
belt snug and low across the hips.
Reclining the seatback can reduce the effectiveness of the seat's
safety belt in the event of a collision.
Lift handle to move seat forward or
backward.
Pull lever up to adjust seatback.
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85

Adjusting the front power seat (if equipped)
Never adjust the driver's seat or seatback when the vehicle is
moving.
Do not pile cargo higher than the seatbacks to avoid injuring
people in a collision or sudden stop.
Always drive and ride with your seatback upright and the lap
belt snug and low across the hips.
Reclining the seatback can reduce the effectiveness of the seat's
safety belt in the event of a collision.
The control is located on the outboard side of the seat cushion.
Press to raise or lower the front
portion of the seat cushion.
Press to raise or lower the rear
portion of the seat cushion.
Press the control to move the seat
forward, backward, up or down.
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86

Using the manual lumbar support (if equipped)
The lumbar control is located on the
front of the seat cushion.
Turn to adjust lumbar support.
REAR SEATS
2nd seat/split-folding rear seat (if equipped)
One or both rear seatbacks can be folded down to provide additional
cargo space.
To lower the seatback(s) from
inside the vehicle, pull tab to release
seat back and then fold seatback
down.
When raising the seatback(s), make sure you hear the seat latch into
place.
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87

3rd seat (wagon only)
The third seat faces the rear of the vehicle. For height and weight limits,
see the label on the seat cushion. When the seat is down, the back of
your wagon has a flat surface for carrying cargo.
To open up the seat:
1. Unlock the floor panel with the
key, then use the handle to fold the
floor panel toward the front of the
car.
2. Remove the cargo cover. The
cargo cover must be removed or the
seatback will not latch in the
upright position.
3. Lift the remote latch release on
the left side of the compartment
and fold the remaining floor panel
until it latches. Make sure the
seatback is locked in the upright
position.
To close the seat, make sure the safety belts are properly stowed, then
lift the remote latch release and push the seat down until it latches. Pull
up on the handle and push the floor panel into place.
Seating and safety restraints
88

SAFETY RESTRAINTS
Personal Safety System
The Personal Safety System provides an improved overall level of frontal
crash protection to front seat occupants and is designed to help further
reduce the risk of air bag-related injuries. The system is able to analyze
different occupant conditions and crash severity before activating the
appropriate safety devices to help better protect a range of occupants in
a variety of frontal crash situations.
Your vehicle's Personal Safety System consists of:
²Driver and passenger dual-stage air bag supplemental restraints. Refer
to theAir bag supplemental restraintssection in this chapter.
²Front safety belts with pretensioners, energy management retractors,
and safety belt usage sensors. Refer to theSafety beltssection in this
chapter.
²Driver's seat position sensor.
²Front crash severity sensor.
²Restraints Control Module (RCM) with impact and safing sensors.
²An indicator light and back-up tone.
²The electrical wiring for the air bags, crash sensor(s), safety belt
pretensioners, front safety belt usage sensors and driver's seat position
sensor.
How does the personal safety system work?
The Personal Safety System uses a collection of sensors to gather
information about the driver's seat position, driver and front outboard
passenger's safety belt usage and accident severity. Then, dual-stage
inflating air bags are combined with safety belt pretensioners and energy
management retractors to help provide enhanced occupant protection in
frontal crashes.
The driver's seat position sensor determines if the seat is fore or aft of a
reference position. Similarly, the safety belt usage sensors determine if
the driver and front outboard passenger safety belts are fastened. These
sensors provide the ability to tailor the air bag deployment based upon
how close the driver's seat is to the steering wheel and whether or not
the safety belts are fastened.
The dual-stage air bags offer the ability to tailor the air bag inflation with
two energy levels. A lower, less forceful energy level is provided for more
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89

common, moderate-severity impacts. A higher energy level is provided
for the most severe impacts. Whether or not the air bag deploys at all
can also be different for the driver versus the passenger based upon
driver's seat position and safety belt usage allowing further tailoring of
the system.
Determining if the personal safety system is operational
The Personal Safety System uses a warning indicator light in the
instrument cluster or a back-up tone to indicate the condition of the
system. Refer to theRestraints Warning Indicatorsection in the
Instrumentationchapter. Routine maintenance of the Personal Safety
System is not required.
The RCM (restraints control module) monitors its own internal circuits
and the circuits for the air bag supplemental restraints, crash sensor(s),
safety belt pretensioners, front safety belt usage sensors and driver's seat
position sensor. In addition, the RCM also monitors the restraints
warning indicator light in the instrument cluster. A difficulty with the
system is indicated by one or more of the following:
²The indicator light will either
flash or stay lit.
²The indicator light will not
illuminate immediately after
ignition is turned on.
²A series of five beeps will be heard. The tone pattern will repeat
periodically until the problem and indicator light are repaired.
If any of these things happen, even intermittently, have the Personal
Safety System serviced at your dealership or by a qualified technician
immediately. Unless serviced, the system may not function properly in
the event of a collision.
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90