trailer FORD TAURUS 2004 4.G User Guide

In case of a roadside emergency with a disabled vehicle (without access
to wheel dollies, car hauling trailer or flatbed transport vehicle) your
vehicle can be flat towed (all wheels on the ground) under the following
conditions:
•Place the transmission in N (Neutral).
•Maximum speed is 56 km/h (35 mph).
•Maximum distance is 80 km (50 miles).
2004 Taurus(tau)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Driving
141

If you use the temporary spare tire continuously or do not follow
these precautions, the tire could fail, causing you to lose control
of the vehicle, possibly injuring yourself or others.
When driving with the temporary spare tiredo not:
•use more than one temporary spare tire at a time
•exceed 80 km/h (50 mph)
•load the vehicle beyond maximum vehicle load rating listed on the
Safety Compliance Label
•tow a trailer
•use tire chains
•drive through an automatic car wash, because of the vehicle’s reduced
ground clearance
•try to repair the temporary spare tire or remove it from its wheel
•use the wheel for any other type of vehicle
Use of a temporary spare tire at any one wheel location can lead to
impairment of the following:
•handling, stability and braking performance
•comfort and noise
•ground clearance and parking at curbs
•Winter driving capability
Tire change procedure
1. Park on a level surface, activate hazard flashers and set parking brake.
When one of the front wheels is off the ground, the transaxle
alone will not prevent the vehicle from moving or slipping off the
jack, even if the vehicle is in P (Park).
To help prevent the vehicle from moving when you change a tire,
be sure the parking brake is set, then block (in both directions)
the wheel that is diagonally opposite (other side and end of the
vehicle) to the tire being changed.
2004 Taurus(tau)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Roadside Emergencies
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•Use recommended engine oil. Refer toLubricant 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.
•Driving on flat terrain offers improved fuel economy as compared to
driving on hilly terrain.
•Transmissions give their best fuel economy when operated in the top
cruise gear and with steady pressure on the gas pedal.
•Close windows for high speed driving.
EPA window sticker
Every new vehicle should have the EPA window sticker. Contact your
dealer if the window sticker is not supplied with your vehicle. The EPA
window sticker should be your guide for the fuel economy comparisons
with other vehicles.
It is important to note the box in the lower left corner of the window
sticker. These numbers represent the Range of L/100 km (MPG)
expected on the vehicle under optimum conditions. Your fuel economy
may vary depending upon the method of operation and conditions.
EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM
Your vehicle is equipped with various emission control components and a
catalytic converter which will enable your vehicle to comply with
applicable exhaust emission standards. To make sure that the catalytic
converter and other emission control components continue to work
properly:
2004 Taurus(tau)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
200

operated for an extended period at high speeds, in city traffic
during hot weather or pulling a trailer, the vehicle should be
turned off for about 30 minutes to allow fluid to cool before
checking.
1. Drive the vehicle 30 km (20 miles) or until it reaches normal operating
temperature.
2. Park the vehicle on a level surface and engage the parking brake.
3. With the parking brake engaged and your foot on the brake pedal,
start the engine and move the gearshift lever through all of the gear
ranges. Allow sufficient time for each gear to engage.
4. Latch the gearshift lever in P (Park) and leave the engine running.
5. Remove the dipstick, wiping it clean with a clean, dry lint free rag. If
necessary, refer toIdentifying components in the engine compartment
in this chapter for the location of the dipstick.
6. Install the dipstick making sure it is fully seated in the filler tube.
7. Remove the dipstick and inspect the fluid level. The fluid should be in
the designated areas for normal operating temperature.
Low fluid level
Do not drive the vehicle if the fluid
level is at the bottom of the dipstick
and the outside temperatures are
above 10°C (50°F).
Correct fluid level
The transmission fluid should be checked at normal operating
temperatures 66°C-77°C (150°F-170°F) on a level surface. The normal
operating temperature can be reached after approximately 30 km (20
miles) of driving.
The transmission fluid should be in
this range if at normal operating
temperature (66°C-77°C
[150°F-170°F]).
High fluid level
Fluid levels above the safe range
may result in transaxle failure. An
overfill condition of transmission
fluid may cause shift and/or
engagement concerns and/or possible damage.
DON’T ADD IF IN CROSSHATCH AREA--CHECH WHEN HOT-IDLING
DON’T ADD IF IN CROSSHATCH AREA--CHECH WHEN HOT-IDLING
DON’T ADD IF IN CROSSHATCH AREA--CHECH WHEN HOT-IDLING
2004 Taurus(tau)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
205

Remote entry system
illuminated entry ......................73
locking/unlocking doors ...........67
opening the trunk .....................71
Roadside assistance ..................142
Roof rack .....................................66
S
Safety Belt Maintenance ..........100
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ..................85, 88–91, 93
Safety defects, reporting ..........170
Safety restraints ..............85, 88–94
belt minder ...............................96
extension assembly ................100
for adults .............................89–91
for children .....................109–110
lap belt ......................................93
Occupant Classification
Sensor ........................................86
safety belt maintenance .........100
warning light and chime ....95–96
Safety seats for children ..........113
Seat belts
(see Safety restraints) ...............85
Seats ............................................81
child safety seats ....................113
front seats .................................82
Servicing your vehicle ..............177
Setting the clock
AM/FM stereo ...........................15
AM/FM/CD .................................19
AM/FM/Tape ..............................19
Spare tire (see Changing the
Tire) ...........................................151
Spark plugs,
specifications .....................220, 224Specification chart,
lubricants ...........................222, 224
Speed control ..............................49
Starting a flex fuel vehicle .......125
Starting your
vehicle ........................122–123, 125
jump starting ..........................156
Steering wheel
tilting .........................................45
T
Tilt steering wheel ......................45
Tires ...........................151, 206–207
changing ..................151–152, 155
snow tires and chains ............219
tire grades ...............................207
treadwear ................................207
Towing .......................................137
recreational towing .................140
trailer towing ..........................137
wrecker ....................................161
Traction control ........................128
Transaxle
fluid, refill capacities ..............221
lubricant specifications ..........224
Transmission .............................130
brake-shift interlock (BSI) ....130
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................204
lubricant specifications ..........222
Trunk ...............................64, 66, 68
remote release ....................63, 71
Turn signal ..................................32
V
Vehicle dimensions ...................224
2004 Taurus(tau)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Index
236