towing FORD THUNDERBIRD 2002 11.G User Guide

In some states (in the U.S.) you must directly notify Ford in writing
before pursuing remedies under your state's warranty laws. Ford is also
allowed a final repair attempt in some states.
In the United States, a warranty dispute must be submitted to the
Dispute Settlement Board before taking action under the Magnuson-Moss
Warranty Act, or to the extent allowed by state law, before pursuing
replacement or repurchase remedies provided by certain state laws. This
dispute handling procedure is not required prior to enforcing state
created rights or other rights which are independent of the
Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act or state replacement or repurchase laws.
FORD EXTENDED SERVICE PLAN
You can get more protection for your new car or light truck by
purchasing Ford Extended Service Plan (Ford ESP) coverage. Ford ESP
is an optional service contract which is backed by Ford Motor Company
or Ford Motor Service Company (in the U.S.) and Ford of Canada (in
Canada). It provides the following:
²Benefits during the warranty period depending on the plan you
purchase (such as: reimbursement for rentals; coverage for certain
maintenance and wear items).
²Protection against covered repair costs after your Bumper-to-Bumper
Warranty expires.
You may purchase Ford ESP from any participating Ford and Lincoln
Mercury and Ford of Canada dealer. There are several plans available in
various time, distance and deductible combinations which can be tailored
to fit your own driving needs. Ford ESP also offers reimbursement
benefits for towing and rental coverage.
When you buy Ford ESP, you receive Peace-of-Mind protection
throughout the United States and Canada, provided by a network of
more than 5,000 participating Ford or Lincoln Mercury and Ford of
Canada dealers.
If you did not take advantage of the Ford Extended Service Plan at the
time of purchasing your vehicle, you may still be eligible. Please contact
your dealer for further information. Since this information is subject to
change, please ask your dealer for complete details about Ford Extended
Service Plan coverage options, or visit the Ford ESP website at
www.ford-esp.com.
Customer assistance
179

²Idling for long periods of time (greater than one minute) may waste
fuel.
²Anticipate stopping; slowing down may eliminate the need to stop.
²Sudden or hard accelerations may reduce fuel economy.
²Slow down gradually.
²Driving at reasonable speeds (traveling at 88 km/h [55 mph] uses 15%
less fuel than traveling at 105 km/h [65 mph]).
²Revving the engine before turning it off may reduce fuel economy.
²Using the air conditioner or defroster may reduce fuel economy.
²You may want to turn off the speed control in hilly terrain if
unnecessary shifting between fourth and fifth gear occurs.
Unnecessary shifting of this type could result in reduced fuel
economy.
²Warming up a vehicle on cold mornings is not required and may
reduce fuel economy.
²Resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving may reduce fuel
economy.
²Combine errands and minimize stop-and-go driving.
Maintenance
²Keep tires properly inflated and use only recommended size.
²Operating a vehicle with the wheels out of alignment will reduce fuel
economy.
²Use recommended engine oil. Refer toLubricant specificationsin
this chapter.
²Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance items. Follow the
recommended maintenance schedule and owner maintenance checks
found in your vehicle scheduled maintenance guide.
Conditions
²Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a trailer may reduce fuel economy
at any speed.
²Carrying unnecessary weight may reduce fuel economy (approximately
0.4 km/L [1 mpg] is lost for every 180 kg [400 lb] of weight carried).
Maintenance and specifications
216

turning on and off ....................49
warning chime ..........................15
Heating ........................................35
Hood ..........................................196
I
Ignition ...............................132, 231
Infant seats
(see Safety seats) .....................123
Inspection/maintenance (I/M)
testing ........................................218
Instrument panel
cleaning ...................................191
cluster ................................10, 191
lighting up panel and
interior .......................................50
J
Jack ............................................164
positioning ...............................164
storage .....................................164
Jump-starting your vehicle ......169
K
Keyless entry system
autolock .....................................90
Keys .......................................91, 93
key in ignition chime ...............15
positions of the ignition .........132
L
Lamps
autolamp system .......................49
bulb replacement
specifications chart ..................53cargo lamps ...............................50
daytime running light ...............49
headlamps .................................49
headlamps, flash to pass ..........50
instrument panel, dimming .....50
interior lamps .....................52, 54
replacing bulbs ....... 53±54, 56±59
Lane change indicator
(see Turn signal) ........................52
Lights, warning and indicator ....10
air bag ........................................12
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ....12, 137
brake ..........................................12
bulb warning .............................15
charging system ........................13
check engine .............................10
cruise indicator .........................14
door ajar ....................................15
fuel cap light .............................11
high beam .................................15
low coolant ................................13
low fuel ......................................14
low washer fluid .......................14
oil pressure ...............................13
safety belt .................................13
speed control ............................70
traction control active ..............14
transmission PRNDL
indicator ....................................12
turn signal indicator .................14
Load limits .................................146
GAWR ......................................146
GVWR ......................................146
trailer towing ..........................146
Locks
autolock .....................................90
doors ..........................................84
Lubricant specifications ...229, 231
Lug nuts, anti-theft ...................169
Index
240

Starting your vehicle ........132±134
jump starting ..........................169
Steering
speed sensitive .......................140
Steering wheel
controls ......................................70
tilting .........................................62
T
Tachometer .................................18
Tires ...........................164, 223±225
changing ..........................164±165
checking the pressure ............225
replacing ..................................226
rotating ....................................225
snow tires and chains ............227
tire grades ...............................224
treadwear ................................224
Towing .......................................148
recreational towing .................152
trailer towing ..........................148
wrecker ....................................176
Traction control ........................138
active light ................................14
Transmission .......................12, 140
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................221
fluid, refill capacities ..............228
lubricant specifications ..229, 231manual operation ......................12
Trip odometer .............................18
Trunk ...........................................84
remote release ....................65, 87
Turn signal ......................14, 16, 52
V
Vehicle dimensions ...................231
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................233
Vehicle loading ..........................146
Ventilating your vehicle ...........136
W
Warning chimes .....................15±16
Warning lights (see Lights) .......10
Water, Driving through .............146
Windows
power .........................................63
Windshield washer fluid and
wipers
checking and cleaning ........60±61
operation ...................................60
replacing wiper blades .............61
Wrecker towing .........................176
Index
242