tow FORD THUNDERBIRD 2004 11.G Owner's Guide

•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 to Lubricant 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.
• Four-wheel-drive operation (if equipped) is less fuel efficient than
two-wheel-drive operation.
• 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.
2004 Thunderbird (tbr)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English (fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
182

•Avoid fast starts, stops and turns
• Avoid potholes and objects on the road
• Do not run over curbs or hit the tire against a curb when parking
If you vehicle is stuck in snow, mud, sand, etc., do notrapidly spin the
tires; spinning the tires can tear the tire and cause an explosion. A tire
can explode in as little as three to five seconds.
Tire explosions can cause death, personal injury or property
damage. Do not allow anyone to stand near, or directly ahead or
behind the spinning tire.
Never spin the tires in excess of the 55 km/h (35 mph) point
indicated on the speedometer.
Highway hazards
No matter how carefully you drive there ’s always the possibility that you
may eventually have a flat tire on the highway. Drive slowly to the
closest safe area out of traffic. This may further damage the flat tire, but
your safety is more important.
If you feel a sudden vibration or ride disturbance while driving or you
suspect your tire or vehicle has been damaged, immediately reduce your
speed. Drive with caution until you can safely pull off the road. Stop and
inspect the tire for damage. If the tire is under-inflated or damaged,
deflate it, remove wheel and replace it with your spare tire and wheel. If
you cannot detect a cause, have the vehicle towed to the nearest repair
facility or tire dealer to have the vehicle inspected.
SNOW TIRES AND CHAINS
Driving too fast for conditions creates the possibility of loss of
vehicle control.
Snow tires must be the same size and grade as the tires you
currently have on your vehicle.
Driving at very high speeds for extended periods of time may result in
damage to vehicle components.
The tires on your vehicle have all-weather treads that provide traction in
rain or snow.
2004 Thunderbird (tbr)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English (fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
200

belt minder ...............................81
extension assembly ..................85
for adults .............................77–80
for children ...............................97
safety belt maintenance ...........85
warning light and chime ..........81
Safety seats for children ..........100
Seat belts
(see Safety restraints) ...............76
Seats ............................................73 child safety seats ....................100
Select Shift Transmission
(SST) shifter .............................118
Servicing your vehicle ..............163
Spare tire
(see Changing the Tire) ...........136
Spark plugs,
specifications .....................201, 205
Specification chart,
lubricants ...........................203, 205
Speed control ..............................42
Starting your vehicle ........109 –111
jump starting ..........................141
Steering speed sensitive .......................115
Steering wheel controls ......................................45
tilting .........................................39
T
Tilt steering wheel ......................39
Tires ...........................136, 188 –189
changing ..................136 –137, 141
snow tires and chains ............200
tire grades ...............................189 treadwear ................................189
Towing .......................................124 recreational towing .................124
trailer towing ..........................124
wrecker ....................................147
Traction control ........................113
Transmission .............................115 brake-shift interlock (BSI) ....115
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................186
fluid, refill capacities ..............201
lubricant specifications ..203, 205
Trunk ...........................................62 remote release ....................41, 65
Turn signal ..................................30
V
Vehicle dimensions ...................205
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................207
Vehicle loading ..........................121
Ventilating your vehicle ...........112
W
Warning lights (see Lights) .......10
Washer fluid ..............................165
Water, Driving through .............121
Windows power .........................................40
Windshield washer fluid and
wipers ..........................................38 checking and adding fluid .....165
replacing wiper blades .............38
Wrecker towing .........................147
2004 Thunderbird (tbr)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English (fus)
Index
216