warning LINCOLN TOWN CAR 2007 Owner's Guide

numbers in between are identification codes used for traceability. This
information is used to contact customers if a tire defect requires a recall.
9.M+S or M/S:Mud and Snow, or
AT:All Terrain, or
AS:All Season.
10.Tire Ply Composition and Material Used:Indicates the number of
plies or the number of layers of rubber-coated fabric in the tire tread and
sidewall. Tire manufacturers also must indicate the ply materials in the
tire and the sidewall, which include steel, nylon, polyester, and others.
11.Maximum Load:Indicates the maximum load in kilograms and
pounds that can be carried by the tire. Refer to the Safety Compliance
Certification Label, which is located on the B-Pillar or the edge of the
driver’s door, for the correct tire pressure for your vehicle.
12.Treadwear, Traction and Temperature Grades
•Treadwear:The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the
wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled conditions on a
specified government test course. For example, a tire graded 150
would wear one and one-half (1
12) times as well on the government
course as a tire graded 100.
•Traction:The traction grades, from highest to lowest are AA, A, B,
and C. The grades represent the tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement
as measured under controlled conditions on specified government test
surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance.
•Temperature:The temperature grades are A (the highest), B and C,
representing the tire’s resistance to the generation of heat and its
ability to dissipate heat when tested under controlled conditions on a
specified indoor laboratory test wheel.
13.Maximum Permissible Inflation Pressure:Indicates the tire
manufacturers’ maximum permissible pressure and/or the pressure at
which the maximum load can be carried by the tire. This pressure is
normally higher than the manufacturer’s recommended cold inflation
pressure which can be found on the Safety Compliance Certification
Label or Tire Label which is located on the B-Pillar or the edge of the
driver’s door. The cold inflation pressure should never be set lower than
the recommended pressure on the vehicle label.
The tire suppliers may have additional markings, notes or warnings such
as standard load, radial tubeless, etc.
2007 Town Car(tow)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
210

STARTING
Positions of the ignition
1. OFF/LOCK, shuts off the engine
and all accessories/locks the
gearshift lever and allows key
removal.
2. ACC, allows the electrical
accessories such as the radio to
operate while the engine is not
running.
3. ON, all electrical circuits
operational. Warning lights
illuminated. Key position when driving.
4. START, cranks the engine. Release the key as soon as the engine
starts.
Refer to theSecuriLockpassive anti-theft systemsection in the
Locks and Securitychapter for information on SecuriLockkeys.
Preparing to start your vehicle
Engine starting is controlled by the powertrain control system. This
system meets all Canadian Interference-Causing Equipment standard
requirements regulating the impulse electrical field strength of radio
noise.
When starting a fuel-injected engine, avoid pressing the accelerator
before or during starting. Only use the accelerator when you have
difficulty starting the engine. For more information on starting the
vehicle, refer toStarting the enginein this chapter.
Extended idling at high engine speeds can produce very high
temperatures in the engine and exhaust system, creating the risk
of fire or other damage.
Do not park, idle, or drive your vehicle in dry grass or other dry
ground cover. The emission system heats up the engine
compartment and exhaust system, which can start a fire.
2007 Town Car(tow)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Driving
223

5. Turn the key to 3 (ON) without
turning the key to 4 (START).
Some warning lights will briefly illuminate. SeeWarning lights and
chimesin theInstrument Clusterchapter for more information
regarding the warning lights.
Starting the engine
1. Turn the key to 3 (ON) without
turning the key to 4 (START).
2. Turn the key to 4 (START), then
release the key as soon as the
engine starts. Excessive cranking
could damage the starter.
Note:If the engine does not start within five seconds on the first try,
turn the key to OFF, wait 10 seconds and try again. If the engine still
fails to start, press the accelerator to the floor and try again; this will
allow the engine to crank with the fuel shut off in case the engine is
flooded with fuel.
Cold weather starting (flexible fuel vehicles only)
As the outside temperature approaches freezing, ethanol fuel distributors
should supply winter grade ethanol (same as with unleaded gasoline). If
summer grade ethanol is used in cold weather conditions, you may
experience increased cranking times, rough idle or hesitation until the
engine has warmed up. Consult your fuel distributor for the availability of
winter grade ethanol.
Do not crank the engine for more than 30 seconds at a time as starter
damage may occur. If the engine fails to start, turn the key to OFF and
wait 30 seconds before trying again.
2007 Town Car(tow)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Driving
225

results, plug the heater in at least three hours before starting the vehicle.
The heater can be plugged in the night before starting the vehicle.
BRAKES
Occasional brake noise is normal. If a metal-to-metal, continuous grinding
or continuous squeal sound is present, the brake linings may be worn-out
and should be inspected by an authorized dealer. If the vehicle has
continuous vibration or shudder in the steering wheel while braking, the
vehicle should be inspected by an authorized dealer.
Refer toBrake system warning
lightin theInstrument Cluster
chapter for information on the brake
system warning light.
Four-wheel anti-lock brake system (ABS)
Your vehicle is equipped with an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS). This
system helps you maintain steering control during emergency stops by
keeping the brakes from locking. Noise from the ABS pump motor and
brake pedal pulsation may be observed during ABS braking and the
brake pedal may suddenly travel a little farther as soon as ABS braking is
done and normal brake operation resumes. These are normal
characteristics of the ABS and should be no reason for concern.
Using ABS
When hard braking is required, apply continuous force on the brake
pedal; do not pump the brake pedal since this will reduce the
effectiveness of the ABS and will increase your vehicle’s stopping
distance. The ABS will be activated immediately, allowing you to retain
steering control during hard braking and on slippery surfaces. However,
the ABS does not decrease stopping distance.
ABS warning lamp
The ABS lamp in the instrument
cluster momentarily illuminates
when the ignition is turned on. If
the light does not illuminate during
start up, remains on or flashes, the
ABS may be disabled and may need to be serviced.
P!
BRAKE
ABS
2007 Town Car(tow)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Driving
227

Even when the ABS is disabled,
normal braking is still effective. (If
your BRAKE warning lamp
illuminates with the parking brake
released, have your brake system
serviced immediately by an authorized dealer.)
Parking brake with auto-release
Apply the parking brake whenever
the vehicle is parked.
To set the parking brake:
1. Move the gearshift to P (Park).
2. Push pedal downward.
The BRAKE warning lamp in the
instrument cluster illuminates and
remains illuminated (when the
ignition is turned ON) until the
parking brake is fully released.
Always set the parking brake fully and make sure the gearshift is
latched in P (Park). Turn the ignition to the OFF/LOCK position
and remove the key whenever you leave your vehicle.
The parking brake is not recommended to stop a moving vehicle.
However, if the normal brakes fail, the parking brake can be used to stop
your vehicle in an emergency. Since the parking brake applies only the
rear brakes, the vehicle’s stopping distance will increase greatly and the
handling of your vehicle will be adversely affected.
Your vehicle has an automatic parking brake release. To release the
parking brake:
1. Start the vehicle.
2. Press the brake pedal.
3. Move the gearshift from the P (Park) position to one of the forward
gears (the parking brake will not release automatically when you shift
into reverse). The brake pedal must remain pressed while the gearshift is
moved.
P!
BRAKE
HOOD
P!
BRAKE
2007 Town Car(tow)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Driving
228

If the parking brake fails to release
after completing this procedure, use
the manual parking brake release
lever.
Pull the lever to manually release
the parking brake.
TRACTION CONTROL
For Traction Controlwarning lights refer toWarning Lightsin the
Instrument clusterchapter.
Your vehicle is equipped with a Traction Controlsystem (except on
commercial conversion packages). This system helps you maintain the
stability and steerability of your vehicle, especially on slippery road
surfaces such as snow- or ice-covered roads and gravel roads. The
system will allow your vehicle to make better use of available traction in
these conditions.
During Traction Controloperation, you may hear an electric motor
type of sound coming from the engine compartment and the engine will
not “rev-up” when you push further on the accelerator. This is normal
system behavior and should be no reason for concern.
The Traction Controlswitch,
located on the left side of the
instrument panel, allows the driver
to enable and disable the system.
The Traction Controlsystem will
automatically turn on every time the
ignition is turned OFF and RUN.
If you should become stuck in snow
or ice or on a very slippery road surface, try switching the Traction
Controlsystem off. This may allow excess wheel spin to “dig” the
vehicle out and enable a successful “rocking” maneuver.
2007 Town Car(tow)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Driving
229

If you cannot move the gearshift lever out of P (Park) with ignition in
the ON position and the brake pedal depressed, it is possible that a fuse
has blown or the vehicle’s brakelamps are not operating properly. Refer
toFuses and relaysin theRoadside Emergencieschapter.
If the fuse is not blown, perform the following procedure:
1. Apply the parking brake, turn the ignition to 2 (ACC).
2. Locate the access plug on the
underside of the steering column
cover.
3. Remove the access plug using a flat head screwdriver, then push and
hold the override button using a flat head screwdriver. Apply the brake
pedal and shift the transmission into N (Neutral) while continuing to
depress the override button.
4. Reinstall the access plug cover, start the vehicle and release the
parking brake.
Do not drive your vehicle until you verify that the brakelamps
are working.
Always set the parking brake fully and make sure the gearshift is
latched in P (Park). Turn the ignition to the OFF/LOCK position
and remove the key whenever you leave your vehicle.
If the parking brake is fully released, but the brake warning lamp
remains illuminated, the brakes may not be working properly.
See your authorized dealer.
2007 Town Car(tow)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Driving
232

Forced downshifts
•Allowed in
(Overdrive) or Drive.
•Depress the accelerator to the floor.
•Allows transmission to select an appropriate gear.
If your vehicle gets stuck in mud or snow
If your vehicle gets stuck in mud or snow, it may be rocked out by
shifting between forward and reverse gears, stopping between shifts in a
steady pattern. Press lightly on the accelerator in each gear.
If necessary, try turning the Traction Controlsystem off. This will allow
the wheels to spin, which may help to free your stuck vehicle. For more
information, refer toTraction Control(if equipped)in this chapter.
Do not rock the vehicle if the engine is not at normal operating
temperature or damage to the transmission may occur.
Do not rock the vehicle for more than a minute or damage to the
transmission and tires may occur, or the engine may overheat.
REVERSE SENSING SYSTEM (IF EQUIPPED)
The reverse sensing system sounds a tone to warn the driver of obstacles
near the rear bumper when the R (Reverse) gear is selected.
To help avoid personal injury, please read and understand the
limitations of the reverse sensing system as contained in this
section. The park assist is only an aid for some (generally large and
fixed) objects when moving in reverse on a flat surface at “parking
speeds”. Inclement weather may also affect the function of the RSS;
this may include reduced performance or a false activation.
To help avoid personal injury, always use caution when in R
(Reverse) and when using the reverse sensing system.
This system is not designed to prevent contact with small or
moving objects. The system is designed to provide a warning to
assist the driver in detecting objects to avoid damaging the vehicle.
The system may not detect smaller objects, particularly those close to
the ground.
2007 Town Car(tow)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Driving
235

Certain add-on devices such as large trailer hitches, bike or
surfboard racks and any device that may block the normal
detection zone of the reverse sensing system may create false beeps.
The system will assist the driver in detecting certain objects while the
vehicle moves in reverse at speeds less than 6 mph (10 km/h). The
system is not effective at speeds greater than 6 mph (10 km/h) and may
not detect certain angular or moving objects.
The system detects obstacles within approximately 16 feet (five meters),
at speeds above 2.5 mph (4 km/h) behind the rear bumper with a
decreased coverage area at the outer corners of the bumper. If vehicle
speed is below 2.5 mph (4 km/h), the system detects obstacles within
approximately 10 feet (three meters) behind the rear bumper with a
decreased coverage area at the outer corners of the bumper. As you
move closer to the obstacle, the rate of the tone increases. When the
distance to the obstacle is approximately less than 18 inches (45.0 cm),
the tone will sound continuously. If the system detects an object that is
approaching the vehicle at such a rate that rapid braking is required, a
very high rate tone will sound. If this tone is heard while reversing, the
driver is advised to slow down immediately until the tone either changes
to a slower rate or stops.
Audible Warnings
Distance to Object Warning
Speed above 2.5 mph (4 km/h)
up to 1.6 feet (.5 meters) Solid
1.6 feet (.5 meters) to 3.1 feet
(1 meter)Fast beep
2007 Town Car(tow)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Driving
236

Audible Warnings
Distance to Object Warning
3.1 feet (1 meter) to 5.7 feet
(1.8 meters)Medium/fast beep
5.7 feet (1.8 meters) to 9 feet
(2.8 meters)Medium beep
9 feet (2.8 meters) to 13 feet
(4 meters)Medium/slow beep
13 feet (4 meters) to 19.6 feet
(6 meters)Slow beep
Speed below 2.5 mph (4 km/h)
up to 1.4 feet (.4 meters) Solid
1.4 feet (.4 meters) to 3 feet
(.9 meters)Fast beep
3 feet (.9 meters) to 4.5 feet
(1.4 meters)Medium beep
4.5 feet (1.4 meters) to 6.3
feet (1.9 meters)Medium/slow beep
6.3 feet (1.9 meters) to 8.7
feet (2.6 meters)Slow beep
8.7 feet (2.6 meters) to 16.4
feet (5 meters)No sound
The reverse sensing system is automatically enabled when the gear
selector is placed in R (Reverse) and the ignition is ON. A control in the
message center allows the driver to disable the system only when the
ignition is ON and the gear selector is in R (Reverse). Refer toMessage
centerin theDriver Controlschapter.
The message center will indicate the system is OFF and will not allow
the driver to switch the system ON to indicate a failure of the reverse
sensing system.
The radar sensor is located behind the rear bumper/fascia. Always
keep the rear bumper/fascia free from snow, ice and large
accumulations of dirt. These elements may cause the system to
operate inaccurately.
If the vehicle sustains damage to the rear bumper/fascia, leaving
it misaligned or bent, the sensing zone may be altered causing
inaccurate measurement of obstacles or false alarms.
2007 Town Car(tow)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Driving
237