trailer FORD THUNDERBIRD 2003 11.G Owners Manual

Brakes 105
Traction control/AdvanceTrac 106
Transmission operation 108
Trailer towing 115
Roadside Emergencies 116
Getting roadside assistance 116
Hazard flasher switch 117
Fuel pump shut-off switch 118
Fuses and relays 118
Changing tires 127
Jump starting 132
Wrecker towing 138
Customer Assistance 139
Reporting safety defects (U.S. only) 147
Cleaning 148
Maintenance and Specifications 154
Engine compartment 155
Engine oil 156
Battery 159
Fuel information 167
Air filter(s) 178
Part numbers 182
Refill capacities 183
Lubricant specifications 184
Accessories 189
Index 191
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Table of Contents
2

TRAILER TOWING
Your vehicle is not equipped to tow. No towing packages are available
through Ford or Lincoln/Mercury dealers.
RECREATIONAL TOWING (ALL WHEELS ON THE GROUND)
Follow these guidelines for your specific powertrain combination to tow
your vehicle with all four wheels on the ground (such as behind a
recreational vehicle).
These guidelines are designed to ensure that your transmission is not
damaged due to insufficient lubrication.
All Rear Wheel Drive (RWD) vehicles:
This applies to all cars and 4x2 trucks/sport utilities with rear wheel
drive capability.
•Place the transmission in N (Neutral)
•Maximum speed is 56 km/h (35 mph)
•Maximum distance is 80 km (50 miles)
If a distance of 80 km (50 miles) or a speed of 56 km/h (35 mph) must
be exceeded, you must disconnect the driveshaft.
Ford recommends the driveshaft be removed/installed only by a
qualified technician. Improper removal/installation of the
driveshaft may cause damage to the driveshaft and internal
transmission components.See your local dealer for driveshaft
removal/installation.
Driving
115

•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
•drive for long distances when the temporary-use spare is on
•use the wheel for any other type of vehicle
•use more than one temporary spare tire at a time
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
To 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.
If the vehicle slips off the jack, you or someone else could be
seriously injured.
1. Park on a level surface, activate
hazard flashers and set parking
brake.
2. Place gearshift lever in P (Park),
turn engine OFF, and block the
diagonally opposite wheel.
Roadside Emergencies
128

Habits
•Smooth, moderate operation can yield up to 10% savings in fuel.
•Steady speeds without stopping will usually give the best fuel
economy.
•Idling for long periods of time (greater than one minute) may waste
fuel.
•Anticipate stopping; slowing down may eliminate the need to stop.
•Sudden or hard accelerations may reduce fuel economy.
•Slow down gradually.
•Driving at reasonable speeds (traveling at 88 km/h [55 mph] uses 15%
less fuel than traveling at 105 km/h [65 mph]).
•Revving the engine before turning it off may reduce fuel economy.
•Using the air conditioner or defroster may reduce fuel economy.
•You 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.
•Warming up a vehicle on cold mornings is not required and may
reduce fuel economy.
•Resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving may reduce fuel
economy.
•Combine errands and minimize stop-and-go driving.
Maintenance
•Keep tires properly inflated and use only recommended size.
•Operating a vehicle with the wheels out of alignment will reduce fuel
economy.
•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).
Maintenance and Specifications
173

K
Keylessentrysystem
autolock.....................................61
Keys
positions of the ignition .........102
L
Lamps
autolamp system .......................24
bulb replacement
specifications chart ..................28
cargo lamps ...............................26
daytime running light ...............25
headlamps .................................24
headlamps, flash to pass ..........25
instrument panel, dimming .....26
interior lamps .....................27, 29
replacing bulbs ....... 28–29, 31–34
Lane change indicator
(see Turn signal) ........................27
Lights, warning and indicator ......8
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ..........105
Load limits .................................114
GAWR ......................................114
GVWR ......................................114
trailer towing ..........................114
Locks
autolock .....................................61
doors ..........................................55
Lubricant specifications ...184, 186
Lug nuts, anti-theft ...................131
Lumbar support, seats ...............67
M
Manual transmission
fluid capacities ........................183
lubricant specifications ..........186Master lighting switch ................24
Mirrors .........................................38
side view mirrors (power) .......38
Motorcraft parts ................171, 182
O
Octane rating ............................170
Oil (see Engine oil) ..................156
P
Parking brake ............................106
Parts (see Motorcraft parts) ....182
Power distribution box
(see Fuses) .......................122, 125
Power door locks ........................55
Power point .................................36
Power steering ..................107–108
fluid, checking and adding ....176
fluid, refill capacity ................183
fluid, specifications .........184, 186
Power Windows ...........................37
R
Radio ............................................14
Rear window defroster ...............22
Relays ........................................118
Remote entry system .................58
illuminated entry ......................60
locking/unlocking doors ...........55
opening the trunk .....................58
Roadside assistance ..................116
S
Safety Belt Maintenance ............79
Index
194

Safety belts
(see Safety restraints) .........70–73
Safety defects, reporting ..........147
Safety restraints ....................70–74
belt minder ...............................75
extension assembly ..................79
for adults .............................71–73
for children ...............................91
safety belt maintenance ...........79
warning light and chime ....74–75
Safety seats for children ............94
Seat belts
(see Safety restraints) ...............70
Seats ............................................66
child safety seats ......................94
cleaning ...................................151
Select Shift Transmission
(SST) shifter .............................111
Servicing your vehicle ..............154
Spare tire (see Changing
the Tire) ....................................127
Spark plugs,
specifications .....................182, 186
Specification chart,
lubricants ...........................184, 186
Speed control ..............................39
Starting your vehicle ........102–104
jump starting ..........................132
Steering
speed sensitive .......................108
Steering wheel
controls ......................................42
tilting .........................................36T
Tires ...........................127, 179–180
changing ..........................127–128
checking the pressure ............180
replacing ..................................181
rotating ....................................181
snow tires and chains ............182
tire grades ...............................180
treadwear ................................179
Towing .......................................115
recreational towing .................115
trailer towing ..........................115
wrecker ....................................138
Traction control ........................106
Transmission .............................108
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................177
fluid, refill capacities ..............183
lubricant specifications ..184, 186
Trunk ...........................................56
remote release ....................39, 58
Turn signal ..................................27
V
Vehicle dimensions ...................186
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................188
Vehicle loading ..........................114
Ventilating your vehicle ...........105
Index
195