engine overheat FORD TAURUS 2017 Owners Manual

CLIMATE CONTROLLED SEATS
(If Equipped)
Heated Seats
WARNING
People who are unable to feel painto their skin because of advancedage, chronic illness, diabetes, spinalcord injury, medication, alcohol use,exhaustion or other physical conditions,must use caution when using the heatedseat. The heated seat may cause burnseven at low temperatures, especially ifused for long periods of time. Do not placeanything on the seat that may block theheat, such as a blanket or cushion. This cancause the heated seat to overheat. Do notpuncture the seat with pins, needles orother pointed objects. This damages theheating element and can cause the heatedseat to overheat. An overheated seat maycause serious personal injury.
Note:Do not do the following:
•Place heavy objects on the seat.
•Operate the seat heater if water or anyother liquid spills on the seat. Allow theseat to dry thoroughly.
The heated seats only function when theengine is running.
Press the heated seat symbol to cyclethrough the various heat settings and off.More indicator lights indicate warmersettings.
If the engine falls below 350 RPM whilethe heated seats are on, the feature willturn itself off. You will need to reactivateit.
Cooled Seats
The cooled seats only function when theengine is running.
Press the cooled seat symbol to cyclethrough the various cooling settings andoff. More indicator lights indicate coolersettings.
If the engine falls below 350 RPM whilethe cooled seats are on, the feature willturn itself off. You will need to reactivateit.
Climate Controlled Seat Air FilterReplacement
Your vehicle has lifetime air filters that areintegrated with the seats. You do not needto regularly maintain or replace them.
REAR SEAT ARMREST (If Equipped)
WARNING
Use only soft cups in the cupholder.Hard objects can injure you in a crash.
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SeatsE146322 E146309

Note:Do not rock the vehicle for more thana minute or damage to the transmission andtires may occur, or the engine may overheat.
If your vehicle gets stuck in mud or snow,it may be rocked out by shifting betweenforward and reverse gears, stoppingbetween shifts in a steady pattern. Presslightly on the accelerator in each gear.
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Transmission

USING ALL-WHEEL DRIVE (If
Equipped)
All-wheel drive uses all four wheels topower the vehicle. This increases traction,enabling you to drive over terrain and roadconditions that a conventional two-wheeldrive vehicle cannot. The AWD system isactive all the time and requires no inputfrom the operator.
Note:Your AWD vehicle is not intended foroff-road use. The AWD feature gives yourvehicle some limited off-road capabilitiesin which driving surfaces are relatively level,obstruction-free and otherwise similar tonormal on-road driving conditions.Operating your vehicle under other thanthose conditions could subject the vehicleto excessive stress which might result indamage which is not covered under yourwarranty.
Note: The Power Transfer Unit (PTU) inTaurus SHO™ performance packagevehicles does not require any normalscheduled maintenance. The system iselectronically monitored and notifies thedriver of required service by displaying themessage Change AWD Power TransferUnit Lube in the information display. ThePTU lubricant will be more likely to requirea fluid change if the vehicle has experiencedextended periods of extreme or severe dutycycle driving. Do not check or change thePTU lubricant unless the unit shows signsof leakage or a message indicating requiredservice is displayed. Contact an authorizeddealer for service if the PTU was submergedin water and to reset the PTU lube lifemonitor.
Note:When an AWD system fault ispresent, the warning Check AWD displaysin the information display. The AWD systemis not functioning correctly and defaultedto front-wheel drive. When this warningdisplays, have your vehicle serviced at anauthorized dealer.
Note: The AWD OFF message may alsoappear in the information display if the AWDsystem overheats and defaults tofront-wheel drive. This may occur if thevehicle is operated in extreme conditionswith excessive wheel slip, such as deepsand. To resume normal AWD function assoon as possible, stop the vehicle in a safelocation and stop the engine for at least 10minutes. After the engine has beenrestarted and the AWD system hasadequately cooled, the AWD OFF messagewill turn off and normal AWD functionreturns. If the engine is not stopped, theAWD OFF message turns off when thesystem cools and normal AWD functionreturns.
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All-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)

Operating AWD Vehicles WithMismatched Tires
WARNINGS
Only use replacement tires andwheels that are the same size, loadindex, speed rating and type (suchas P-metric versus LT-metric or all-seasonversus all-terrain) as those originallyprovided by Ford. The recommended tireand wheel size may be found on either theSafety Compliance Certification Label(affixed to either the door hinge pillar,door-latch post, or the door edge thatmeets the door-latch post, next to thedriver's seating position), or the Tire Labelwhich is located on the B-Pillar or edge ofthe driver's door. If this information is notfound on these labels, then you shouldcontact your authorized dealer as soon aspossible. Use of any tire or wheel notrecommended by Ford can affect thesafety and performance of your vehicle,which could result in an increased risk ofloss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover,personal injury and death.
The use of non-recommended tiresand wheels could cause steering,suspension, axle, transfer case orpower transfer unit failure. If you havequestions regarding tire replacement,contact your authorized dealer as soon aspossible.
Major dissimilar tire sizes between the frontand rear axles (for example, 17 inch lowprofile tires on the front axle and 22 inchhigh profile tires on the rear axle) couldcause the AWD system to stop functioningand default to front-wheel drive or damagethe AWD system. However, the AWDsystem is capable of tolerating anycombination of new and worn tires of thesame original tire size. For example, using3 worn tread tires and 1 new tread tire allof the same original tire size, can betolerated by the AWD system.
Driving In Special Conditions WithAll-Wheel Drive (AWD)
AWD vehicles are equipped for driving onsand, snow, mud and rough roads and haveoperating characteristics that aresomewhat different from conventionalvehicles, both on and off the highway.
When driving at slow speeds in deep sandunder high outside temperatures, use a lowgear when possible. Lower gear operationwill maximize the engine and transmissioncooling capability.
Under severe operating conditions, the A/Cmay cycle on and off to protectoverheating of the engine.
Basic operating principles in specialconditions
•Drive slower in strong crosswinds whichcan affect the normal steeringcharacteristics of your vehicle.
•Be extremely careful when driving onpavement made slippery by loose sand,water, gravel, snow or ice.
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All-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)

If Your Vehicle Goes Off the Edge of thePavement
•If your vehicle goes off the edge of thepavement, slow down, but avoid severebrake application, ease the vehicleback onto the pavement only afterreducing your speed. Do not turn thesteering wheel too sharply whilereturning to the road surface.
•It may be safer to stay on the apron orshoulder of the road and slow downgradually before returning to thepavement. You may lose control if youdo not slow down or if you turn thesteering wheel too sharply or abruptly.
•It often may be less risky to strike smallobjects, such as highway reflectors,with minor damage to your vehiclerather than attempt a sudden return tothe pavement which could cause thevehicle to slide sideways out of controlor rollover. Remember, your safety andthe safety of others should be yourprimary concern.
If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck
WARNINGS
Always fully apply the parking brakeand make sure you shift into park (P).Switch the ignition off and removethe key whenever you leave your vehicle.
If the parking brake is fully released,but the brake warning lamp remainsilluminated, the brakes may not beworking properly. Have your vehiclechecked as soon as possible.
Do not spin the wheels at over34 mph (55 km/h). The tires may failand injure a passenger or bystander.
Note:Do not rock the vehicle if the engineis not at normal operating temperature ordamage to the transmission may occur.
Note:Do not rock the vehicle for more thana few minutes or damage to thetransmission and tires may occur or theengine may overheat.
If your vehicle gets stuck in mud or snow itmay be rocked out by shifting betweenforward and reverse gears, stoppingbetween shifts, in a steady pattern. Presslightly on the accelerator in each gear.
If your vehicle is equipped withAdvanceTrac® with Roll StabilityControl™, it may be beneficial todisengage the AdvanceTrac® with RollStability Control™ system whileattempting to rock the vehicle.
Emergency Maneuvers
•In an unavoidable emergency situationwhere a sudden sharp turn must bemade, remember to avoid"over-driving" your vehicle (that is, turnthe steering wheel only as rapidly andas far as required to avoid theemergency). Excessive steering willresult in less vehicle control, not more.Additionally, smooth variations of theaccelerator and/or brake pedalpressure should be utilized if changesin vehicle speed are called for. Avoidabrupt steering, acceleration or brakingwhich could result in an increased riskof loss of vehicle control, vehiclerollover and/or personal injury. Use allavailable road surface to return thevehicle to a safe direction of travel.
•In the event of an emergency stop,avoid skidding the tires and do notattempt any sharp steering wheelmovements.
•If the vehicle goes from one type ofsurface to another (that is, fromconcrete to gravel) there will be achange in the way the vehicle respondsto a maneuver (steering, accelerationor braking). Again, avoid these abruptinputs.
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All-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)

Sand
Most of the time traction control improvestire traction by managing wheel slipthrough Brake, Engine, and AWDcalibrations. However, during low speeddriving, disabling traction control in deepsand can help keep the wheels moving tomaintain vehicle momentum.
When driving over sand, try to keep all fourwheels on the most solid area of the trail.Avoid reducing the tire pressures but shiftto a lower gear and drive steadily throughthe terrain. Apply the accelerator slowlyand avoid spinning the wheels.
Do not drive your vehicle in deep sand foran extended period of time. This couldcause the AWD system to overheat anddefault to front-wheel drive. If this occurs,an AWD OFF message displays in theinformation display. To resume normalAWD function as soon as possible, stopthe vehicle in a safe location and stop theengine for at least 10 minutes. After theengine has been restarted and the AWDsystem has adequately cooled, the AWDOFF message turns off and normal AWDfunction returns. In the event the engine isnot stopped, the AWD OFF message turnsoff when the system cools and normalAWD function returns.
When driving at slow speeds in deep sandunder high outside temperatures, use L(Low) gear when possible. L (Low) gearoperation will maximize the engine andtransmission cooling capability.
Under severe operating conditions, the A/Cmay cycle on and off to protectoverheating of the engine.
Avoid excessive speed because vehiclemomentum can work against you andcause the vehicle to become stuck to thepoint that assistance may be required fromanother vehicle. Remember, you may beable to back out the way you came if youproceed with caution.
Mud and Water
If you must drive through high water, driveslowly. Traction or brake capability maybe limited.
When driving through water, determine thedepth; avoid water higher than the bottomof the wheel rims (for cars) or the bottomof the hubs (for trucks) (if possible) andproceed slowly. If the ignition system getswet, the vehicle may stall.
Once through water, always try the brakes.Wet brakes do not stop the vehicle aseffectively as dry brakes. Drying can beimproved by moving your vehicle slowlywhile applying light pressure on the brakepedal.
Be cautious of sudden changes in vehiclespeed or direction when you are driving inmud. Even AWD vehicles can lose tractionin slick mud. As when you are driving oversand, apply the accelerator slowly andavoid spinning your wheels. If the vehicledoes slide, steer in the direction of the slideuntil you regain control of the vehicle.
After driving through mud, clean off residuestuck to rotating driveshafts and tires.Excess mud stuck on tires and rotatingdriveshafts causes an imbalance thatcould damage drive components.
Note:Driving through deep water maydamage the transmission.
If the front or rear axle is submerged inwater, have the power transfer unit (PTU)or rear axle serviced by an authorizeddealer.
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All-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)E143950

“Tread Lightly” is an educational programdesigned to increase public awareness ofland-use regulations and responsibilitiesin our nations wilderness areas. Ford MotorCompany joins the U.S. Forest Service andthe Bureau of Land Management inencouraging you to help preserve ournational forest and other public and privatelands by “treading lightly.”
Driving on Hilly or Sloping Terrain
Note:Avoid driving crosswise or turning onsteep slopes or hills. A danger lies in losingtraction, slipping sideways and possiblyrolling over. Whenever driving on a hill,determine beforehand the route you willuse. Do not drive over the crest of a hillwithout seeing what conditions are on theother side. Do not drive in reverse over a hillwithout the aid of an observer.
Although natural obstacles may make itnecessary to travel diagonally up or downa hill or steep incline, you should alwaystry to drive straight up or straight down.
When climbing a steep slope or hill, startin a lower gear rather than downshifting toa lower gear from a higher gear once theascent has started. This reduces strain onthe engine and the possibility of stalling.
If you do stall out, do not try to turnaroundbecause you might roll over. It is better toback down to a safe location.
Apply just enough power to the wheels toclimb the hill. Too much power will causethe tires to slip, spin or lose traction,resulting in loss of vehicle control.
Descend a hill in the same gear you woulduse to climb up the hill to avoid excessivebrake application and brake overheating.Do not descend in neutral; instead,disengage overdrive or manually shift to alower gear. When descending a steep hill,avoid sudden hard braking as you couldlose control. The front wheels have to beturning in order to steer the vehicle.
Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, thereforeapply the brakes steadily. Do not “pump”the brakes.
Driving on Snow and Ice
WARNING
If you are driving in slipperyconditions that require tire chains orcables, then it is critical that you drivecautiously. Keep speeds down, allow forlonger stopping distances and avoidaggressive steering to reduce the chancesof a loss of vehicle control which can leadto serious injury or death. If the rear end ofyour vehicle slides while cornering, steer inthe direction of the slide until you regaincontrol of your vehicle.
Note:Excessive tire slippage can causedriveline damage.
AWD vehicles have advantages over 2WDvehicles in snow and ice but can skid likeany other vehicle.
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All-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)E143949

Each time you start the vehicle, the systemwill select the last chosen gap for thecurrent driver.
Disengaging the System
Press the brake pedal or press CNCL. Thelast set speed will appear in grey.
Overriding the System
WARNING
If you override the system by pressingthe accelerator pedal, it does notautomatically apply the brakes tomaintain a gap from any vehicle ahead.
You can override the set speed and gapdistance by pressing the accelerator pedal.
When you override the system,the green indicator lightilluminates and the lead vehiclegraphic does not show in the informationdisplay.
The system will resume operation whenyou release the accelerator pedal. Thevehicle speed will decrease to the setspeed, or a lower speed if following aslower vehicle.
Changing the Set Speed
•Press and release SET+ or SET-. Whenyou select km/h as the displaymeasurement in the informationdisplay, the set speed changes inapproximately 1 km/h increments.When you select mph as the displaymeasurement in the informationdisplay, the set speed changes inapproximately 1 mph increments.
•Press and hold SET+ or SET-. The setspeed changes in approximately 5 mph(10 km/h) increments.
The system may apply the brakes to slowthe vehicle to the new set speed. The setspeed displays continuously in theinformation display when the system isactive.
Note: If you accelerate by pressing theaccelerator pedal, the set speed will notchange. When you release the acceleratorpedal, your vehicle returns to the speed thatyou previously set.
Resuming the Set Speed
Note:Only use resume if you are aware ofthe set speed and intend to return to it.
Press and release RES. The vehicle willreturn to the previously set speed. The setspeed will display continuously in theinformation display while the system isactive.
Automatic Cancellation
The system is not functional at vehiclespeeds below 12 mph (20 km/h). Anaudible alarm will sound and theautomatic braking releases if the vehicledrops below this speed.
Hilly Condition Usage
Note:An audible alarm will sound and thesystem will shut down if it is applying brakesfor an extended period of time. This allowsthe brakes to cool down. The system willfunction normally again when the brakeshave cooled down.
You should select a lower gear positionwhen the system is active in situationssuch as prolonged downhill driving onsteep grades, for example in mountainousareas. The system needs additional enginebraking in these situations to reduce theload on the vehicle’s regular brake systemto prevent them from overheating.
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Cruise ControlE144529

Before Towing a Trailer
Practice turning, stopping and backing upto get the feel of your vehicle-trailercombination before starting on a trip.When turning, make wider turns so thetrailer wheels clear curbs and otherobstacles.
When Towing a Trailer
•Do not drive faster than 70 mph(113 km/h) during the first 500 mi(800 km).
•Do not make full-throttle starts.
•Check your hitch, electrical connectionsand trailer wheel lug nuts thoroughlyafter you have traveled 50 mi (80 km).
•When stopped in congested or heavytraffic during hot weather, place thegearshift in position P to aid engine andtransmission cooling and to help A/Cperformance.
•Turn off the speed control with heavyloads or in hilly terrain. The speedcontrol may turn off automaticallywhen you are towing on long, steepgrades.
•Shift to a lower gear when driving downa long or steep hill. Do not apply thebrakes continuously, as they mayoverheat and become less effective.
•If your transmission is equipped with aGrade Assist or Tow/Haul feature, usethis feature when towing. This providesengine braking and helps eliminateexcessive transmission shifting foroptimum fuel economy andtransmission cooling.
•Allow more distance for stopping witha trailer attached. Anticipate stops andbrake gradually.
•Avoid parking on a grade. However, ifyou must park on a grade:
1. Turn the steering wheel to point yourvehicle tires away from traffic flow.
2. Set your vehicle parking brake.
3. Place the automatic transmission inposition P.
4. Place wheel chocks in front and backof the trailer wheels. (Chocks notincluded with vehicle.)
Launching or Retrieving a Boat orPersonal Watercraft (PWC)
Note:Disconnect the wiring to the trailerbefore backing the trailer into the water.
Note:Reconnect the wiring to the trailerafter removing the trailer from the water.
When backing down a ramp during boatlaunching or retrieval:
•Do not allow the static water level torise above the bottom edge of the rearbumper.
•Do not allow waves to break higherthan 6 in (15 cm) above the bottomedge of the rear bumper.
Exceeding these limits may allow water toenter vehicle components:
•Causing internal damage to thecomponents.
•Affecting driveability, emissions, andreliability.
Replace the rear axle lubricant anytimethe rear axle has been submerged in water.Water may have contaminated the rearaxle lubricant, which is not normallychecked or changed unless a leak issuspected or other axle repair is required.
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Towing

Note: Coolant expands when it is hot. Thelevel may extend beyond the MAX mark.
Maintain coolant concentration within48% to 50%, which equates to a freezepoint between -30°F (-34°C) and -34°F(-37°C). Coolant concentration should bechecked using a refractometer. We do notrecommend the use of hydrometers orcoolant test strips for measuring coolantconcentration.
Adding Coolant
WARNING
Never remove the coolant reservoircap when the engine is running orhot.
Note: Automotive fluids are notinterchangeable. Take care not to putengine coolant in the windshield washerfluid reservoir or windshield washer fluid inthe engine coolant reservoir.
Note: Do not use stop leak pellets, coolingsystem sealants, or non-specified additivesas they can cause damage to the enginecooling or heating systems. Resultingcomponent damage may not be covered bythe vehicle Warranty.
It is very important to use predilutedcoolant approved to the correctspecification in order to avoid plugging thesmall passageways in the engine coolingsystem. See Capacities andSpecifications (page 297). Do not mixdifferent colors or types of coolant in yourvehicle. Mixing of engine coolants or usingan incorrect coolant may harm the engineor cooling system components and maynot be covered by the vehicle Warranty.
Note:If prediluted coolant is not available,use the approved concentrated coolantdiluting it to 50/50 with distilled water. SeeCapacities and Specifications (page 297).Using water that has not been deionisedmay contribute to deposit formation,corrosion and plugging of the small coolingsystem passageways.
Note:Coolants marketed for all makes andmodels may not be approved to Fordspecifications and may cause damage tothe cooling system. Resulting componentdamage may not be covered by the vehicleWarranty.
If the coolant level is at or below theminimum mark, add prediluted coolantimmediately.
To top up the coolant level do thefollowing:
1. Unscrew the cap slowly. Any pressureescapes as you unscrew the cap.
2. Add prediluted coolant approved tothe correct specification. SeeCapacities and Specifications (page297).
3. Add enough prediluted coolant toreach the correct level.
4.Replace the coolant reservoir cap, turnit clockwise until you feel a strongresistance.
5. Check the coolant level in the coolantreservoir the next few times you driveyour vehicle. If necessary, add enoughprediluted engine coolant to bring thecoolant level to the correct level.
If you have to add more than 1.1 qt (1 L) ofengine coolant per month, have yourvehicle checked as soon as possible.Operating an engine with a low level ofcoolant can result in engine overheatingand possible engine damage.
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Maintenance