2001 Ford Crown Victoria Owners Manual

3 (OFF) and cycle between 3 (OFF) and 4 (ON) four times in rapid succession within 3 seconds. After doors lock/unlock, press any control on all transmitters (up to four). When completed, turn the ignition to 3 (OFF). All transmitters must be programmed at the same time.

SECURILOCKY PASSIVE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM SecuriLocky passive anti-theft system is an engine immobilization system. This system prevents the engine from being started unless a coded key programmed to your vehicle is used. The SecuriLocky passive anti-theft system is not compatible with non-Ford aftermarket remote start systems. Use of these systems may result in vehicle starting problems and a loss of security protection.

Automatic arming The vehicle is armed immediately after switching the ignition to the 3
(OFF) position. The THEFT light in the instrument cluster will flash every two seconds when the vehicle is armed.

Automatic disarming Switching the ignition to the 4 (ON) position with a coded key disarms the vehicle. The THEFT light will illuminate for three seconds and then go out. If the THEFT light stays on for an extended period of time or flashes rapidly, have the system serviced by your dealership or a qualified technician.

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Key information Your vehicle is supplied with two coded keys. Only a coded key will start your vehicle. Spare coded keys can be purchased from your dealership. Your dealership can program your key or you can “do it yourself”, refer to Programming spare keys.

Large metallic objects, electronic devices on the key chain that can be used to purchase gasoline or similar items, or a second key on the same key ring as the coded key may cause vehicle starting issues. If present, you need to keep these objects from touching the coded key while starting the engine. These objects and devices cannot damage the coded key, but can cause a NO—START condition if they are too close to the key during engine start. If a problem occurs, turn ignition OFF and restart the engine with all other objects on the key ring held away from the ignition key. Check to make sure the coded key is an approved Ford coded key.

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If your keys are lost or stolen you will need to do the following: † Use your spare key to start the † Have your vehicle towed to a

vehicle, or

dealership or locksmith. The key codes will need to be erased from your vehicle and new key codes will need to be re-coded.

Replacing coded keys can be very costly and you may want to store an extra programmed key away from the vehicle in a safe place to prevent an unforeseen inconvenience. The correct coded key must be used for your vehicle. The use of the wrong type of coded key may lead to a “NO-START” condition. If an unprogrammed key is used in the ignition it will cause a “NO START” condition.

Programming spare keys A maximum of eight keys can be coded to your vehicle. Only SecuriLocky keys can be used. To program a coded key yourself, you will need two previously programmed coded keys (keys that already operate your vehicle’s engine) and the new unprogrammed key(s) readily accessible for timely implementation of each step in the procedure. If two previously programmed coded keys are not available, you must bring your vehicle to your dealership to have the spare coded key(s) programmed. Please read and understand the entire procedure before you begin.

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1. Insert the first previously programmed coded key into the ignition and turn the ignition from 3
(OFF) to 4 (ON) (maintain ignition in 4 (ON) for at least one second). 2. Turn ignition to 3 (OFF) then 2
(LOCK) and remove the first coded key from the ignition. 3. Within five seconds of removing the first coded key, insert the second previously programmed coded key into the ignition and turn the ignition from 3 (OFF) to 4 (ON) (maintain ignition in 4 (ON) for at least one second but no more than five seconds). 4. Turn the ignition to 3 (OFF) then 2 (LOCK) and remove the second coded key from the ignition. 5. Within 10 seconds of removing the second coded key, insert the new unprogrammed key (new key/valet key) into the ignition and turn the ignition from 3 (OFF) to 4 (ON) (maintain ignition in 4 (ON) for at least one second). This step will program your new key to a coded key. 6. To program additional new unprogrammed key(s), repeat this procedure from step 1. If successful, the new coded key(s) will start the vehicle’s engine and the theft indicator will illuminate for three seconds and then go out. If not successful, the new coded key(s) will not start the vehicle’s engine and the theft indicator will flash on and off and you may repeat steps 1
through 6. If failure repeats, bring your vehicle to your dealership to have the new spare key(s) programmed.

without using the key

KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM With the keyless entry keypad, you can: † lock or unlock the vehicle doors † open trunk † disable/enable horn chirp † disable/enable autolock See also Remote entry system in this chapter for more information.

3 4

5 6

7 8

1 2

9 0

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Your vehicle has a factory-set 5–digit code that operates the keyless entry system. You can also program your own 5–digit personal entry code. The factory-set code is located: † on the owner’s wallet card in the glove compartment † taped to the computer module † or at your dealer When pressing the controls on the keyless entry keypad, press the middle of the controls to ensure a good activation.

Programming your own entry code 1. Enter the factory-set code (keypad will illuminate when pressed). 2. Press the 1/2 control within five seconds of step 1. 3. Enter your personal 5 digit code. Enter each digit within five seconds of the previous one.

3 4

5 6

7 8

1 2

9 0

All of the vehicle doors will lock and unlock to confirm programming of the new code. Do not set a code that includes five of the same number or presents them in sequential order. Thieves can easily figure out these types of codes. You can program up to three personal codes to unlock your vehicle. These codes do not replace the permanent code that the dealership gave you.

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Erasingpersonalcode To erase all of the personal entry codes programmed to a vehicle: 1. Enter the factory-set code. 2. Press and release 1/2 within 5
seconds of step 1. 3. Press and hold 1/2 for two seconds. All of the vehicle doors will lock and then unlock to confirm erasure.

3 4

5 6

7 8

1 2

9 0

Unlockingthedoorsandreleasingthetrunkwiththekeylessentry system To unlock the driver door, enter either the factory-set code or personal code (each digit pressed within 5 seconds of prior digit). The interior lamps will illuminate. To unlock all doors, enter the factory-set code or personal code (driver door unlocks) and press 3/4
within five seconds.

9 0

3 4

5 6

7 8

1 2

To release the trunk, enter the factory-set code or personal code (driver door unlocks) and press 5/6
within five seconds.

1 2

3 4

5 6

7 8

9 0

After the factory-set code or personal code has been entered, you can unlock all doors (press 3/4) and release the trunk (press 5/6) as long as the controls are pressed within 5 seconds of each other.

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Lockingdoorswiththekeylessentrysystem It is not necessary to enter the factory-set code prior to locking all doors. To lock the doors: Press 7/8 and 9/0 at the same time.

1 2

3 4

5 6

7 8

9 0

INTERIOR LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT RELEASE Your vehicle is equipped with a mechanical interior luggage compartment release handle that provides a means of escape for children and adults in the event they become locked inside the luggage compartment. Adults are advised to familiarize themselves with the operation and location of the release handle. To open the luggage compartment door (lid) from the inside, pull the illuminated “T” shaped handle and push up on the trunk lid. The material that the handle is made of will glow for hours in the darkness of the luggage compartment following brief exposure to ambient light. The “T” shaped handle will be located either on the luggage compartment door (lid) or inside the luggage compartment near the tail lamps.

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Keep vehicle doors and luggage compartment

locked and keep keys out of a child’s reach. Unsupervised children could lock themselves in an open trunk and risk injury. Children should be taught not to play in vehicles.

On hot days, the temperature in the trunk or vehicle interior can rise very quickly. Exposure of people or animals to these high

temperatures for even a short time can cause death or serious heat-related injuries, including brain damage. Small children are particularly at risk.

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SEATING

Head restraints Your vehicle’s seats may be equipped with head restraints which are vertically adjustable. The purpose of these head restraints is to help limit head motion in the event of a rear collision. To properly adjust your head restraints, lift the head restraint so that it is located directly behind your head or as close to that position as possible. Refer to the following to raise and lower the head restraints. Push or pull the head rests to the desired position.

Adjusting the front manual seat

Never adjust the driver’s seat or seatback when the vehicle is moving.

Do not pile cargo higher than the seatbacks to reduce the risk of injuring people in a collision or sudden stop.

Always drive and ride with your seatback upright and the lap belt snug and low across the hips.

Reclining the seatback can reduce the effectiveness of the seat’s safety belt in the event of a collision.

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Lift handle to move seat forward or backward.

Pull lever up to adjust seatback.

Usingthemanualreclinefunction(ifequipped)

Never adjust the driver’s seat or seatback when the vehicle is moving.

Do not pile cargo higher than the seatbacks to avoid injuring people in a collision or sudden stop.

Always drive and ride with your seatback upright and the lap belt snug and low across the hips.

Reclining the seatback can reduce the effectiveness of the seat’s safety belt in the event of a collision.

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To adjust the front seatback using the manual recliner: † Lift and hold the handle located † Lean against the seatback to

on the side of the seat.

adjust it to your desired position. You can recline the seat back or bring it forward.

† Release the handle when the desired position has been reached. Adjusting the power front seats – door mounted controls The controls for the power seats are located on the inside of each front door.

Never adjust the driver’s seat or seatback when the vehicle is moving.

Do not pile cargo higher than the seatbacks to avoid injuring people in a collision or sudden stop.

Always drive and ride with your seatback upright and the lap belt snug and low across the hips.

Reclining the seatback can reduce the effectiveness of the seat’s safety belt in the event of a collision.

Press the control to recline the seatback forward or backward.

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Press to move the seat forward or backward.

Press to move the front portion of the seat cushion up or down.

Press to move the rear portion of the seat cushion up or down.

Adjustingthepowerseats–seatmountedcontrols

Never adjust the driver’s seat or seatback when the vehicle is moving.

Always drive and ride with your seatback upright and the lap belt snug and low across the hips.

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Reclining the seatback can reduce the effectiveness of the seat’s safety belt in the event of a collision.

The power seat controls are located on the side of the driver’s seat. Press to raise or lower the seat, or to move the seat forward or backward.

Using the power lumbar support (if equipped) The power lumbar control is located on the outboard side of the seat. Press one side of the control to adjust firmness. Press the other side of the control to adjust softness.

SAFETY RESTRAINTS

Personal Safety System The Personal Safety System provides an improved overall level of frontal crash protection to front seat occupants and is designed to help further reduce the risk of air bag-related injuries. The system is able to analyze different occupant conditions and crash severity before activating the appropriate safety devices to help better protect a range of occupants in a variety of frontal crash situations. Your vehicle’s Personal Safety System consists of: † Driver and passenger dual-stage air bag supplemental restraints. † Front safety belts with pretensioners, energy management retractors, and safety belt usage sensors. † Driver’s seat position sensor. † Passenger occupant classification sensor (if equipped). † Front crash severity sensor.

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Seating and safety restraints † Restraints Control Module (RCM) with impact and safing sensors. † Restraint system warning light and back-up tone. † The electrical wiring for the air bags, crash sensor(s), safety belt pretensioners, front safety belt usage sensors, driver seat position sensor, passenger occupant classification sensor (if equipped), and indicator lights.

Howdoesthepersonalsafetysystemwork? The Personal Safety System can adapt the deployment strategy of your vehicle’s safety devices according to crash severity and occupant conditions. A collection of crash and occupant sensors provides information to the Restraints Control Module (RCM). During a crash, the RCM activates the safety belt pretensioners and/or either one or both stages of the dual-stage air bag supplemental restraints based on crash severity and occupant conditions. The fact that the pretensioners or air bags did not activate for both front seat occupants in a collision does not mean that something is wrong with the system. Rather, it means the Personal Safety System determined the accident conditions (crash severity, belt usage, etc.) were not appropriate to activate these safety devices. Front air bags and pretensioners are designed to activate only in frontal and near-frontal collisions, not rollovers, side-impacts, or rear-impacts unless the collision causes sufficient longitudinal deceleration. Driverandpassengerdual-stageairbagsupplementalrestraints The dual-stage air bags offer the capability to tailor the level of air bag inflation energy. A lower, less forceful energy level is provided for more common, moderate-severity impacts. A higher energy level is used for the most severe impacts. Refer to Air bag Supplemental Restraints section in this chapter. Frontcrashseveritysensor The front crash severity sensor enhances the ability to detect the severity of an impact. Positioned up front, it provides valuable information early in the crash event on the severity of the impact. This allows your Personal Safety System to distinguish between different levels of crash severity and modify the deployment strategy of the dual-stage air bags and safety belt pretensioners.

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Driver’sseatpositionsensor The driver’s seat position sensor allows your Personal Safety System to tailor the deployment level of the driver dual-stage air bag based on seat position. The system is designed to help protect smaller drivers sitting close to the driver air bag by providing a lower air bag output level. Passengeroccupantclassificationsensor(OCS)(ifequipped) If your vehicle is equipped with this feature, there will be a label located under the front passenger seat which is marked “OCS”. Alternatively, you may take your vehicle to any Ford or Lincoln Mercury dealer for assistance. For air bags to do their job they must inflate with great force, and this force can pose a potentially deadly risk to occupants that are very close to the air bag when it begins to inflate. For some occupants, like infants in rear-facing child seats, this occurs because they are initially sitting very close to the air bag. For other occupants, this occurs when the occupant is not properly restrained by seat belts or child safety seats and they move forward during pre-crash braking. The most effective way to reduce the risk of unnecessary injuries is to make sure all occupants are properly restrained. Accident statistics suggest that children are much safer when properly restrained in the rear seating positions than in the front.

Air bags can kill or injure a child in a child seat. NEVER place a rear-facing child seat in front of an active air bag. If you must

use a forward-facing child seat in the front seat, move the seat all the way back.

Always transport children 12 years old and under in the back seat and always properly use appropriate child restraints.

The passenger occupant classification sensor can automatically turn off the passenger front air bag and side air bag (if equipped). The system is designed to help protect small (child size) occupants from air bag deployments when they are improperly seated or restrained in the front passenger seat contrary to proper child-seating or restraint usage recommendations. Even with this technology, parents are STRONGLY encouraged to always properly restrain children in the rear seat. The sensor also turns off the air bag(s) when the passenger seat is empty to prevent unnecessary replacement of the air bag(s) after a collision.

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Frontsafetybeltusagesensors The front safety belt usage sensors detect whether or not the driver and front outboard passenger safety belts are fastened. This information allows your Personal Safety System to tailor the air bag deployment and safety belt pretensioner activation depending upon safety belt usage. Refer to Safety Belt section in this chapter. Frontsafetybeltpretensioners The safety belt pretensioners are designed to tighten the safety belts firmly against the occupant’s body during a collision. This maximizes the effectiveness of the safety belts and helps properly position the occupant relative to the air bag to improve protection. The safety belt pretensioners can be either activated alone or, if the collision is of sufficient severity, together with the air bags. Frontsafetybeltenergymanagementretractors The front safety belt energy management retractors allow webbing to be pulled out of the retractor in a gradual and controlled manner in response to the occupant’s forward momentum. This helps reduce the risk of force-related injuries to the occupant’s chest by limiting the load on the occupant. Refer to Safety Belt section in this chapter. DeterminingifthePersonalSafetySystemisoperational The Personal Safety System uses a warning light in the instrument cluster or a back-up tone to indicate the condition of the system. Refer to the Warning Light section in the Instrument Cluster chapter. Routine maintenance of the Personal Safety System is not required. The Restraints Control Module (RCM) monitors its own internal circuits and the circuits for the air bag supplemental restraints, crash sensor(s), safety belt pretensioners, front safety belt buckle sensors, driver seat position sensor, and passenger occupant classification sensor (if equipped). In addition, the RCM also monitors the restraints warning light in the instrument cluster. A difficulty with the system is indicated by one or more of the following. † The warning light will either flash or stay lit. † The warning light will not illuminate immediately after ignition is † A series of five beeps will be heard. The tone pattern will repeat

turned on.

periodically until the problem and warning light are repaired.

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If any of these things happen, even intermittently, have the Personal Safety System serviced at your dealership or by a qualified technician immediately. Unless serviced, the system may not function properly in the event of a collision.

Safety restraints precautions

Always drive and ride with your seatback upright and the lap belt snug and low across the hips.

To reduce the risk of injury, make sure children sit where they can be properly restrained.

Never let a passenger hold a child on his or her lap while the vehicle is moving. The passenger cannot protect the child from

injury in a collision.

All occupants of the vehicle, including the driver, should always properly wear their safety belts, even when an air bag SRS is

provided.

It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area, inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people riding in these areas

are more likely to be seriously injured or killed. Do not allow people to ride in any area of your vehicle that is not equipped with seats and safety belts. Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and using a safety belt properly.

In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is significantly more likely to die than a person wearing a safety belt.

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Each seating position in your vehicle has a specific safety belt assembly which is made up of one buckle and one tongue that

are designed to be used as a pair. 1) Use the shoulder belt on the outside shoulder only. Never wear the shoulder belt under the arm. 2) Never swing the safety belt around your neck over the inside shoulder. 3) Never use a single belt for more than one person.

Always transport children 12 years old and under in the back seat and always properly use appropriate child restraints.

Combination lap and shoulder belts 1. Insert the belt tongue into the proper buckle (the buckle closest to the direction the tongue is coming from) until you hear a snap and feel it latch. Make sure the tongue is securely fastened in the buckle.

2. To unfasten, push the release button and remove the tongue from the buckle.

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The front and rear outboard safety restraints in the vehicle are combination lap and shoulder belts. The front passenger and rear seat outboard safety belts have two types of locking modes described below:

Vehicle sensitive mode The vehicle sensitive mode is the normal retractor mode, allowing free shoulder belt length adjustment to your movements and locking in response to vehicle movement. For example, if the driver brakes suddenly or turns a corner sharply, or the vehicle receives an impact of approximately 8 km/h (5 mph) or more, the combination safety belts will lock to help reduce forward movement of the driver and passengers.

Automatic locking mode In this mode, the shoulder belt is automatically pre-locked. The belt will still retract to remove any slack in the shoulder belt. The automatic locking mode is not available on the driver safety belt. Whentousetheautomaticlockingmode † Any time a child safety seat is installed in a passenger front or outboard rear seating position (if equipped). Children 12 years old and under should be properly restrained in the rear seat whenever possible. Refer to Safety Restraints for Children or Safety Seats for Children later in this chapter.

Howtousetheautomaticlockingmode † Buckle the combination lap and

shoulder belt.

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Seating and safety restraints † Grasp the shoulder portion and pull downward until the entire belt is extracted.

† Allow the belt to retract. As the belt retracts, you will hear a clicking sound. This indicates the safety belt is now in the automatic locking mode.

Howtodisengagetheautomaticlockingmode

Ford recommends that all safety belt assemblies and attaching hardware should be inspected by a qualified technician after any collision. Safety belt assemblies not in use during a collision should also be inspected and replaced if either damage or improper operation is noted.

Disconnect the combination lap/shoulder belt and allow it to retract completely to disengage the automatic locking mode and activate the vehicle sensitive (emergency) locking mode.

After any vehicle collision, the front passenger outboard seat belt system must be checked by a qualified technician to verify that

the “automatic locking retractor” feature for child seats is still functioning properly. In addition, all seat belts should be checked for proper function.

BELT AND RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY MUST BE REPLACED if the seat belt assembly “automatic locking retractor” feature or any other seat belt function is not operating properly when checked according to the procedures in Workshop Manual.

Failure to replace the Belt and Retractor assembly could increase the risk of injury in collisions.

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Front safety belt height adjustment Your vehicle has safety belt height adjustments for the driver and front passenger. Adjust the height of the shoulder belt so the belt rests across the middle of your shoulder. To lower the shoulder belt height, push the button and slide the height adjuster down. To raise the height of the shoulder belt, slide the height adjuster up. Pull down on the height adjuster to make sure it is locked in place.

Position the shoulder belt height adjusters so that the

belt rests across the middle of your shoulder. Failure to adjust the safety belt properly could reduce the effectiveness of the seat belt and increase the risk of injury in a collision.

Lap belts Adjustingthecenterlapbelt The lap belt does not adjust automatically.

The lap belt should fit snugly and as low as possible around the hips, not across the waist.

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Insert the tongue into the correct buckle (the buckle closest to the direction the tongue is coming from). To lengthen the belt, turn the tongue at a right angle to the belt and pull across your lap until it reaches the buckle. To tighten the belt, pull the loose end of the belt through the tongue until it fits snugly across the hips.

Shorten and fasten the belt when not in use.

Safety belt extension assembly If the safety belt is too short when fully extended, there is a 20 cm (8 inch) safety belt extension assembly that can be added (part number 611C22). This assembly can be obtained from your dealer at no cost. Use only extensions manufactured by the same supplier as the safety belt. Manufacturer identification is located at the end of the webbing on the label. Also, use the safety belt extension only if the safety belt is too short for you when fully extended. Do not use extensions to change the fit of the shoulder belt across the torso.

Safety belt warning light and indicator chime The seat belt warning light illuminates in the instrument cluster and a chime sounds to remind the occupants to fasten their safety belts.

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Conditions of operation If... The driver’s safety belt is not buckled before the ignition switch is turned to the ON position...

The driver’s safety belt is buckled while the indicator light is illuminated and the warning chime is sounding... The driver’s safety belt is buckled before the ignition switch is turned to the ON position...

Then... The safety belt warning light illuminates 1-2 minutes and the warning chime sounds 4-8
seconds. The safety belt warning light and warning chime turn off.

The safety belt warning light and indicator chime remain off.

Belt minder The Belt Minder feature is a supplemental warning to the safety belt warning function. This feature provides additional reminders to the driver that the driver’s safety belt is unbuckled by intermittently sounding a chime and illuminating the safety belt warning lamp in the instrument cluster.

If... The driver’s safety belt is not buckled approximately 5 seconds after the safety belt warning light has turned off...

Then... The Belt Minder feature is activated - the safety belt warning light illuminates and the warning chime sounds for 6 seconds every 30 seconds, repeating for approximately 5 minutes or until safety belt is buckled. The Belt Minder feature will not activate.

The driver’s safety belt is buckled while the safety belt indicator light is illuminated and the safety belt warning chime is sounding... The driver’s safety belt is buckled before the ignition switch is turned to the ON position... The purpose of the Belt Minder is to remind occasional wearers to wear safety belts all of the time.

The Belt Minder feature will not activate.

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The following are reasons most often given for not wearing safety belts: (All statistics based on U.S. data)

Reasons given... Consider... “Crashes are rare events”

36 700 crashes occur every day. The more we drive, the more we are exposed to “rare” events, even for good drivers. 1 in 4 of us will be seriously injured in a crash during our lifetime. “I’m not going far” 3 of 4 fatal crashes occur within 25 miles of home. “Belts are uncomfortable”

We design our safety belts to enhance comfort. If you are uncomfortable - try different positions for the safety belt upper anchorage and seatback which should be as upright as possible; this can improve comfort.

“I was in a hurry” Prime time for an accident. Belt Minder reminds

“Seat belts don’t work”

“Traffic is light”

“Belts wrinkle my clothes”

“The people I’m with don’t wear belts”

us to take a few seconds to buckle up. Safety belts, when used properly, reduce risk of death to front seat occupants by 45% in cars, and by 60% in light trucks. Nearly 1 of 2 deaths occur in single-vehicle crashes, many when no other vehicles are around. Possibly, but a serious crash can do much more than wrinkle your clothes, particularly if you are unbelted. Set the example, teen deaths occur 4 times more often in vehicles with TWO or MORE people. Children and younger brothers/sisters imitate behavior they see.

“I have an air bag” Air bags offer greater protection when used with safety belts. Frontal airbags are not designed to inflate in rear and side crashes or rollovers. Not a good idea. People who are ejected are 40
times more likely to DIE. Safety belts help prevent ejection, WE CAN’T “PICK OUR CRASH”.

“I’d rather be thrown clear”

Do not sit on top of a buckled safety belt to avoid the Belt Minder chime. Sitting on the safety belt will increase the risk of

injury in an accident. To disable (one-time) or deactivate the Belt Minder feature please follow the directions stated below.

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Onetimedisable Any time the safety belt is buckled and then unbuckled during an ignition ON cycle, Belt Minder will be disabled for that ignition cycle only. Deactivating/activatingthebeltminderfeature Read steps 1 - 9 thoroughly before proceeding with the deactivation/activation programming procedure. The Belt Minder feature can be deactivated/activated by performing the following procedure: Before following the procedure, make sure that: † the parking brake is set † the gearshift is in P (Park) (automatic transmission) † the ignition switch is in the OFF position † all vehicle doors are closed † the driver’s safety belt is unbuckled † the parklamps/headlamps are in OFF position (If vehicle is equipped

with Autolamps, this will not affect the procedure.)

To reduce the risk of injury, do not deactivate/activate the Belt Minder feature while driving the vehicle.

1. Turn the ignition switch to the RUN (or ON) position. (DO NOT START THE ENGINE) 2. Wait until the safety belt warning light turns off. (Approximately 1–2
minutes) † Steps 3–5 must be completed within 60 seconds or the procedure will

have to be repeated.

3. Buckle then unbuckle the safety belt three times, ending with the safety belt unbuckled. This can be done before or during Belt Minder warning activation. 4. Turn on the parklamps/headlamps, turn off the parklamps/headlamps. 5. Buckle then unbuckle the safety belt three times, ending with the safety belt unbuckled. † After step 5 the safety belt warning light will be turned on for three

seconds.

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6. Within seven seconds of the safety belt warning light turning off, buckle then unbuckle the safety belt. † This will disable Belt Minder if it is currently enabled, or enable Belt

Minder if it is currently disabled.

7. Confirmation of disabling Belt Minder is provided by flashing the safety belt warning light four times per second for three seconds. 8. Confirmation of enabling Belt Minder is provided by flashing the safety belt warning light four times per second for three seconds, followed by three seconds with the safety belt warning light off, then followed by flashing the safety belt warning light four times per second for three seconds again. 9. After receiving confirmation, the deactivation/activation procedure is complete.

Safety belt maintenance Inspect the safety belt systems periodically to make sure they work properly and are not damaged. Inspect the safety belts to make sure there are no nicks, tears or cuts. Replace if necessary. All safety belt assemblies, including retractors, buckles, front seat belt buckle assemblies, buckle support assemblies (slide bar-if equipped), shoulder belt height adjusters (if equipped), shoulder belt guide on seatback (if equipped), child safety seat tether bracket assemblies (if equipped), LATCH child seat tether anchors and lower anchors (if equipped), and attaching hardware, should be inspected after a collision. Ford recommends that all safety belt assemblies used in vehicles involved in a collision be replaced. However, if the collision was minor and a qualified technician finds that the belts do not show damage and continue to operate properly, they do not need to be replaced. Safety belt assemblies not in use during a collision should also be inspected and replaced if either damage or improper operation is noted.

Failure to inspect and if necessary replace the safety belt assembly under the above conditions could result in severe

personal injuries in the event of a collision.

Refer to Cleaning and maintaining the safety belts in the Maintenacne and Care section.

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AIR BAG SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS)

AIR SUSP

CHECK ENGINE

OD OFF

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120

50
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140

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200

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120

40

20

MPH km/h P R N D 2 1

40
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PANEL

DIM

AUTO LAMP

0FF

PUSH INTERIOR

R.DEF.

VOLTS

FUEL

< FUEL FILL DOOR

HI LO

ON

OFF

BRAKE

TEMP

OIL

RSM

SET ACC

COAST

BASS

TREB

FM1

10:35

ST

BAL

FADE

CLK

TAPE AMS

VOL - PUSH ON

AM FM

CD

SEEK

TUNE

SCAN

EJ

w DOLBY B NR

REW SIDE

FF 1-2

H M

OUTSIDE TEMP

AUTO

OFF

AUTOMATIC

MAX A/C

NORM A/C

VENT

FLOOR

FLR • DEF

DEF

HI

LO

Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and diagnostic module which records information about the air bag and sensor systems. In the event of a collision this module may save information related to the collision including information about the air bag system and impact severity. This information will assist Ford in the servicing of your vehicle and may help Ford better understand real world collisions and further improve the safety of future vehicles.

Important supplemental restraint system (SRS) precautions The supplemental restraint system is designed to work with the safety belt to help protect the driver and right front passenger from certain upper body injuries. Air bags DO NOT inflate slowly or gently and the risk of injury from a deploying air bag is greatest close to the trim covering the air bag module.

All occupants of the vehicle, including the driver, should always properly wear their safety belts, even when an air bag SRS is

provided.

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Always transport children 12 years old and under in the back seat and always properly use appropriate child restraints.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends a minimum distance of at least 25 cm (10 inches)

between an occupant’s chest and the driver air bag module.

Never place your arm over the air bag module as a deploying air bag can result in serious arm fractures or other injuries.

Steps you can take to properly position yourself away from the air bag: † Move your seat to the rear as far as you can while still reaching the † Recline the seat slightly (one or two degrees) from the upright

pedals comfortably.

position.

Do not put anything on or over the air bag module. Placing objects on or over the air bag inflation area may cause those

objects to be propelled by the air bag into your face and torso causing serious injury.

Do not attempt to service, repair, or modify the air bag supplemental restraint systems or its fuses. Se your Ford or

Lincoln Mercury dealer.

Modifications to the front end of the vehicle, including frame, bumper, front end body structure and tow hooks may affect the performance of the air bag sensors increasing the risk of injury. Do not modify the front end of the vehicle.

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Children and air bags For additional important safety information, read all information on safety restraints in this guide. Children must always be properly restrained. Accident statistics suggest that children are safer when properly restrained in the rear seating positions than in the front seating position. Failure to follow these instructions may increase the risk of injury in a collision.

Air bags can kill or injure a child in a child seat.

NEVER place a rear-facing child seat in front of an active air bag. If you must use a forward-facing child seat in the front seat, move the seat all the way back.

How does the air bag supplemental restraint system work? The air bag SRS is designed to activate when the vehicle sustains longitudinal deceleration sufficient to cause the sensors to close an electrical circuit that initiates air bag inflation. The fact that the air bags did not inflate in a collision does not mean that something is wrong with the system. Rather, it means the forces were not of the type sufficient to cause activation. Air bags are designed to inflate in frontal and near-frontal collisions, not rollover, side-impact, or rear-impacts unless the collision causes sufficient longitudinal deceleration.

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The air bags inflate and deflate rapidly upon activation. After air bag deployment, it is normal to notice a smoke-like, powdery residue or smell the burnt propellant. This may consist of cornstarch, talcum powder (to lubricate the bag) or sodium compounds (e.g., baking soda) that result from the combustion process that inflates the air bag. Small amounts of sodium hydroxide may be present which may irritate the skin and eyes, but none of the residue is toxic. While the system is designed to help reduce serious injuries, contact with a deploying air bag may also cause abrasions, swelling or temporary hearing loss. Because air bags must inflate rapidly and with considerable force, there is the risk of death or serious injuries such as fractures, facial and eye injuries or internal injuries, particularly to occupants who are not properly restrained or are otherwise out of position at the time of air bag deployment. Thus, it is extremely important that occupants be properly restrained as far away from the air bag module as possible while maintaining vehicle control. The SRS consists of: † driver and passenger air bag modules (which include the inflators and † one or more impact and safing sensors † a readiness light and tone † a diagnostic module † and the electrical wiring which connects the components The diagnostic module monitors its own internal circuits and the supplemental air bag electrical system warning (including the impact sensors), the system wiring, the air bag system readiness light, the air bag back up power and the air bag ignitors.

air bags)

Several air bag system components get hot after inflation. Do not touch them after inflation.

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If the air bag has deployed, the air bag will not function again and must be replaced immediately. If the air bag is not

replaced, the unrepaired area will increase the risk of injury in a collision.

Determining if the system is operational The SRS uses a readiness light in the instrument cluster or a tone to indicate the condition of the system. Refer to the Air bag readiness section in the Instrumentation chapter. Routine maintenance of the air bag is not required. A difficulty with the system is indicated by one or more of the following: † The readiness light will either † The readiness light will not illuminate immediately after ignition is turned on.

† A series of five beeps will be heard. The tone pattern will repeat

flash or stay lit.

AIR BAG

periodically until the problem and/or light are repaired.

If any of these things happen, even intermittently, have the SRS serviced at your dealership or by a qualified technician immediately. Unless serviced, the system may not function properly in the event of a collision.

Disposal of air bags and air bag equipped vehicles (including pretensioners) For disposal of air bags or air bag equipped vehicles, see your local dealership or qualified technician. Air bags MUST BE disposed of by qualified personnel.

SAFETY RESTRAINTS FOR CHILDREN See the following sections for directions on how to properly use safety restraints for children. Also see Air Bag Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) in this chapter for special instructions about using air bags.

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Important child restraint precautions You are required by law to use safety restraints for children in the U.S. and Canada. If small children ride in your vehicle (generally children who are four years old or younger and who weigh 18 kg [40 lbs] or less), you must put them in safety seats made especially for children. Check your local and state or provincial laws for specific requirements regarding the safety of children in your vehicle.

Never let a passenger hold a child on his or her lap while the vehicle is moving. The passenger cannot protect the child from

injury in a collision.

Always follow the instructions and warnings that come with any infant or child restraint you might use. When possible, always place children under age 12 in the rear seat of your vehicle. Accident statistics suggest that children are safer when properly restrained in the rear seating positions than in the front seating position.

Children and safety belts If the child is the proper size, restrain the child in a safety seat. Children who are too large for child safety seats (as specified by your child safety seat manufacturer) should always wear safety belts. Follow all the important safety restraint and air bag precautions that apply to adult passengers in your vehicle. If the shoulder belt portion of a combination lap and shoulder belt can be positioned so it does not cross or rest in front of the child’s face or neck, the child should wear the lap and shoulder belt. Moving the child closer to the center of the vehicle may help provide a good shoulder belt fit.

Do not leave children, unreliable adults, or pets unattended in your vehicle.

To improve the fit of lap and shoulder belts on children who have outgrown child safety seats, Ford recommends use of a belt-positioning booster seat that is labelled as conforming to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards. Belt-positioning booster seats raise the child and provide a shorter, firmer seating cushion that encourages safer seating posture and better fit of lap and shoulder belts on the child.

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A belt-positioning booster seat should be used if the shoulder belt rests in front of the child’s face or neck, or if the lap belt does not fit snugly on both thighs, or if the thighs are too short to let the child sit all the way back on the seat cushion when the lower legs hang over the edge of the seat cushion. You may wish to discuss the special needs of your child with your pediatrician.

SAFETY SEATS FOR CHILDREN

Child and infant or child safety seats Use a safety seat that is recommended for the size and weight of the child. Carefully follow all of the manufacturer’s instructions with the safety seat you put in your vehicle. If you do not install and use the safety seat properly, the child may be injured in a sudden stop or collision.

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When installing a child safety seat: † Review and follow the information presented in the Air Bag Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) section in this chapter. † Use the correct safety belt buckle for that seating position (the buckle closest to the direction the tongue is coming from).

† Insert the belt tongue into the proper buckle until you hear a snap and feel it latch. Make sure the tongue is securely fastened in the buckle.

† Keep the buckle release button pointing up and away from the safety seat, with the tongue between the child seat and the release button, to prevent accidental unbuckling.

† Place seat back in upright position. † Put the safety belt in the automatic locking mode. Refer to Automatic

locking mode (passenger side front and outboard rear seating positions) (if equipped) section in this chapter.

Ford recommends the use of a child safety seat having a top tether strap. Install the child safety seat in a seating position which is capable of providing a tether anchorage. For more information on top tether straps, refer to Attaching child safety seats with tether straps. in this chapter.

Carefully follow all of the manufacturer’s instructions included with the safety seat you put in your vehicle. If you do not install and use the safety seat properly, the child may be injured in a sudden stop or collision.

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Installing child safety seats in combination lap and shoulder belt seating positions

Air bags can kill or injure a child in a child seat. NEVER place a rear-facing child seat in front of an active air bag. If you must

use a forward-facing child seat in the front seat, move the seat all the way back.

1. Position the child safety seat in a seat with a combination lap and shoulder belt.

Children 12 and under should be properly restrained in the rear seat whenever possible.

2. Pull down on the shoulder belt and then grasp the shoulder belt and lap belt together.

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3. While holding the shoulder and lap belt portions together, route the tongue through the child seat according to the child seat manufacturer’s instructions. Be sure the belt webbing is not twisted.

4. Insert the belt tongue into the proper buckle (the buckle closest to the direction the tongue is coming from) for that seating position until you hear a snap and feel the latch engage. Make sure the tongue is latched securely by pulling on it.

5. To put the retractor in the automatic locking mode, grasp the shoulder portion of the belt and pull downward until all of the belt is extracted and a click is heard.

6. Allow the belt to retract. The belt will click as it retracts to indicate it is in the automatic locking mode.

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7. Pull the lap belt portion across the child seat toward the buckle and pull up on the shoulder belt while pushing down with your knee on the child seat.

8. Allow the safety belt to retract to remove any slack in the belt. 9. Before placing the child in the seat, forcibly tilt the seat forward and back to make sure the seat is securely held in place.

10. Try to pull the belt out of the retractor to make sure the retractor is in the automatic locking mode (you should not be able to pull more belt out). If the retractor is not locked, unbuckle the belt and repeat steps two through nine. Check to make sure the child seat is properly secured before each use.

Installing child safety seats in the lap belt seating positions 1. Lengthen the lap belt. To lengthen the belt, hold the tongue so that its bottom is perpendicular to the direction of webbing while sliding the tongue up the webbing. 2. Place the child safety seat in the center seating position. 3. Route the tongue and webbing through the child seat according to the child seat manufacturer’s instructions. 4. Insert the belt tongue into the proper buckle for the center seating position until you hear a snap and feel it latch. Make sure the tongue is securely fastened to the buckle by pulling on tongue.

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5. Push down on the child seat while pulling on the loose end of the lap belt webbing to tighten the belt. 6. Before placing the child into the child seat, forcibly tilt the child seat from side to side and in forward direction to make sure that the seat is held securely in place. If the child seat moves excessively, repeat steps 5
through 6, or properly install the child seat in a different position.

Attaching child safety seats with tether straps Most new forward-facing child safety seats include a tether strap which goes over the back of the seat and hooks to an anchoring point. Tether straps are available as an accessory for many older safety seats. Contact the manufacturer of your child seat for information about ordering a tether strap. The rear seats of your vehicle are equipped with built-in tether strap anchors located behind the seats as described below. The tether anchors in your vehicle are located under a cover marked with the tether anchor symbol (shown with title). The tether strap anchors in your vehicle are in the following positions (shown from top view):

Attach the tether strap only to the appropriate tether anchor as shown. The tether strap may not work properly if attached

somewhere other than the correct tether anchor.

1. Position the child safety seat on the seat cushion. 2. Route the child safety seat tether strap over the back of the seat. For vehicles with adjustable head restraints, route the tether strap under the head restraint and between the head restraint posts, otherwise route the tether strap over the top of the seatback.

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3. Locate the correct anchor for the selected seating position.

4. Open the tether anchor cover.

5. Clip the tether strap to the anchor as shown.

If the tether strap is clipped incorrectly, the child safety seat may not be retained properly in the event of a collision.

6. Refer to the Installing child safety seats in combination lap and shoulder belt seating positions section of this chapter for further instructions to secure the child safety seat. 7. Tighten the child safety seat tether strap according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

If the safety seat is not anchored properly, the risk of a child being injured in a collision greatly increases.

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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 to Starting the engine in 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.

Do not start your vehicle in a closed garage or in other enclosed areas. Exhaust fumes can be toxic. Always open the garage door before you start the engine. See Guarding against exhaust fumes in this chapter for more instructions.

If you smell exhaust fumes inside your vehicle, have your dealer inspect your vehicle immediately. Do not drive if you smell

exhaust fumes.

Important safety precautions A computer system controls the engine’s idle revolutions per minute (RPM). When the engine starts, the idle RPM runs faster to warm the engine. If the engine idle speed does not slow down automatically, have the vehicle checked. Do not allow the vehicle to idle for more than 10
minutes at the higher engine RPM. Before starting the vehicle: 1. Make sure all vehicle occupants have buckled their safety belts. For more information on safety belts and their proper usage, refer to the Seating and safety restraints chapter. 2. Make sure the headlamps and vehicle accessories are off.

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3. Make sure the gearshift is in P (Park).

4. Make sure the parking brake is set.

HOOD

5. Turn the key to 4 (ON) without turning the key to 5 (START). If there is difficulty in turning the key, firmly rotate the steering wheel left and right until the key turns freely. This condition may occur when: † front wheels are turned † front wheel is against the curb † steering wheel is turned when getting in or out of the vehicle

CHECK FUEL CAP

/21

CHECK ENGINE

SPEED CONTROL

TRAC CNTL

–

km km/h MPH

CHECK

AIR SUSPENSION OVERDRIVE OFF

DOOR AJAR

LOW WASHER FLUID TRUNK AJAR DISTANCE TO EMPTY TRIP

TRIP

km MILES /GAL LTR/100 km AVG FUEL ECONOMY AVG SPEED

P R N D 2 1

Make sure the corresponding lights illuminate or illuminate briefly. If a light fails to illuminate, have the vehicle serviced. † If the driver’s safety belt is fastened, the

light may not illuminate.

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STARTING THE ENGINE NOTE: Whenever you start your vehicle, release the key as soon as the engine starts. Excessive cranking could damage the starter. 1. Turn the key to 5 (START) without pressing the accelerator pedal and release as soon as the engine starts. The key will return to 4 (ON). 2. If the temperature is above –12°C (10°F) and the engine does not start within five seconds on the first try, turn the key to OFF, wait 10
seconds and try again.

3. If the temperature is below -12° C (10° F) and the engine does not start in 15 seconds on the first try, turn the key OFF and wait 10
seconds and try again. If the engine does not start in two attempts, press the accelerator pedal all the way to floor and hold. Turn the key to START position. 4. When the engine starts, release the key, then release the accelerator pedal gradually as the engine speeds up. 5. After idling for a few seconds, apply the brake and release the parking brake.

Using the engine block heater (if equipped) An engine block heater warms the engine coolant, which improves starting, warms up the engine faster and allows the heater-defroster system to respond quickly. Use of an engine block heater is strongly recommended if you live in a region where temperatures reach -23°C (-10°F) or below. For best results, plug the heater in at least three hours before starting the vehicle. Using the heater for longer than three hours will not harm the engine, so the heater can be plugged in the night before starting the vehicle.

To prevent electrical shock, do not use your heater with ungrounded electrical systems or two-pronged (cheater)

adapters.

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Guarding against exhaust fumes Although odorless and colorless, carbon monoxide is present in exhaust fumes. Take precautions to avoid its dangerous effects.

If you ever smell exhaust fumes of any kind inside your vehicle, have your dealer inspect and fix your vehicle immediately. Do not drive if you smell exhaust fumes. These fumes are harmful and could kill you.

Have the exhaust and body ventilation systems checked whenever: † the vehicle is raised for service † the sound of the exhaust system changes † the vehicle has been damaged in a collision

WARNING: Engine exhaust, some of its constituents, and certain vehicle components contain or emit chemicals known to

the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. In addition, certain fluids contained in vehicles and certain products of component wear contain or emit chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.

Important ventilating information If the engine is idling while the vehicle is stopped in an open area for long periods of time, open the windows at least 2.5 cm (one inch). Adjust the heating or air conditioning (if equipped) to bring in fresh air. Improve vehicle ventilation by keeping all air inlet vents clear of snow, leaves and other debris.

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BRAKES Your service brakes are self-adjusting. Refer to the scheduled maintenance guide for scheduled maintenance. Occasional brake noise is normal and often does not indicate a performance concern with the vehicle’s brake system. In normal operation, automotive brake systems may emit occasional or intermittent squeal or groan noises when the brakes are applied. Such noises are usually heard during the first few brake applications in the morning; however, they may be heard at any time while braking and can be aggravated by environmental conditions such as cold, heat, moisture, road dust, salt or mud. If a “metal-to-metal,” “continuous grinding” or “continuous squeal” sound is present while braking, the brake linings may be worn-out and should be inspected by a qualified service technician.

Anti-lock brake system (ABS) (if equipped) On vehicles equipped with an anti-lock braking system (ABS), a noise from the hydraulic pump motor and pulsation in the pedal may be observed during ABS braking events. Pedal pulsation coupled with noise while braking under panic conditions or on loose gravel, bumps, wet or snowy roads is normal and indicates proper functioning of the vehicle’s anti-lock brake system. The ABS performs a self-check after you start the engine and begin to drive away. A brief mechanical noise may be heard during this test. This is normal. If a malfunction is found, the ABS warning light will come on. If the vehicle has continuous vibration or shudder in the steering wheel while braking, the vehicle should be inspected by a qualified service technician. The ABS operates by detecting the onset of wheel lockup during brake applications and compensates for this tendency. The wheels are prevented from locking even when the brakes are firmly applied. The accompanying illustration depicts the advantage of an ABS equipped vehicle (on bottom) to a non-ABS equipped vehicle (on top) during hard braking with loss of front braking traction.

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ABS warning lamp ABS The ABS warning lamp in the instrument cluster momentarily illuminates when the ignition is turned to the ON position. If the light does not illuminate momentarily at start up, remains on or continues to flash, the ABS needs to be serviced. With the ABS light on, the anti-lock brake system is disabled and normal braking is still effective unless the brake warning light also remains illuminated with parking brake released. (If your brake warning lamp illuminates, have your vehicle serviced immediately.)

BRAKE

Using ABS † In an emergency or when maximum efficiency from the four-wheel ABS is required, apply continuous force on the brake. The four wheel ABS will be activated immediately, thus allowing you to retain full steering control of your vehicle and, providing there is sufficient space, will enable you to avoid obstacles and bring the vehicle to a controlled stop. † The anti-lock system does not decrease the time necessary to apply the brakes or always reduce stopping distance. Always leave enough room between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you to stop.

† We recommend that you familiarize yourself with this braking

technique. However, avoid taking any unnecessary risks.

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.

HOOD

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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.

BRAKE

Always set the parking brake fully and make sure the gearshift is latched in P (Park). Turn off the ignition 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 (except for police/fleet vehicles which have the manual release). To release the parking brake: 1. Turn the ignition to the ON position. 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. 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.

HOOD

TRACTION CONTROLY (IF EQUIPPED) Your vehicle may be equipped with the optional Traction Controly system. This system helps you maintain the stability and steerability of your vehicle. It is especially useful on slippery and/or hilly road surfaces.

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The system operates by detecting and controlling wheel spin. The system borrows many of the electronic and mechanical elements already present in the anti-lock braking system (ABS). Wheel-speed sensors allow excess rear wheel spin to be detected by the Traction Controly portion of the ABS computer. Any excessive wheel spin is controlled by automatically applying and releasing the rear brakes in conjunction with engine torque reductions. Engine torque reduction is realized via the fully electronic spark and fuel injection systems. This process is very sensitive to driving conditions and very fast acting. The rear wheels “search” for optimum traction several times a second and adjustments are made accordingly. The Traction Controly system will allow your vehicle to make better use of available traction on slippery surfaces. The system is a driver aid which makes your vehicle easier to handle primarily on snow and ice covered roads. During Traction Controly operation 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. If you should become stuck in snow or ice or on a very slippery road surface, try switching the Traction Controly system off. This may allow excess wheel spin to “dig” the vehicle out and enable a successful “rocking” maneuver. The traction control indicator flashes during a Traction Controly system event. If the traction control indicator comes on and stays lit, either: † the Traction Controly system requires service, or † the customer has disabled the system using the traction control switch

TRAC CNTL

located on the left side of the instrument panel.

The Traction Controly system will be on every time you turn the ignition key from OFF to ON until you deactivate the system using the traction control switch on the instrument panel left of the steering column.

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STEERING Your vehicle is equipped with power steering. Power steering uses energy from the engine to help steer the vehicle. To prevent damage to the power steering pump: † Never hold the steering wheel to the extreme right or the extreme left † Do not operate the vehicle with a low power steering pump fluid level

for more than a few seconds when the engine is running.

(below the MIN mark on the reservoir).

If the power steering system breaks down (or if the engine is turned off), you can steer the vehicle manually, but it takes more effort. If the steering wanders or pulls, the condition could be caused by any of the following: † underinflated tire(s) on any wheel(s) † uneven vehicle loading † high crown in center of road † high crosswinds † wheels out of alignment † loose or worn suspension components Speed sensitive steering (except police vehicles) The steering in your vehicle is speed sensitive. At high speeds, steering assist will decrease to improve steering feel. At lower speeds, maneuverability will be increased. If the amount of effort required to steer your vehicle changes at a constant vehicle speed, have the power steering system checked by your dealer or a qualified service technician.

AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM (IF EQUIPPED) The air suspension system is designed to improve ride, handling and general vehicle performance during: † certain road conditions † steering maneuvers † braking † accelerations

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This system keeps the rear of your vehicle at a constant level by automatically adding air or releasing air from the springs. If you exceed the load limit, the rear air suspension may not operate. The air suspension shut-off switch is located on the left side of the trunk. If this switch is in the OFF position, the rear air suspension will not operate.

AIR SUSPENSION SWITCH

On vehicles equipped with Air Suspension, turn OFF

the Air Suspension switch prior to jacking, hoisting or towing your vehicle.

Normal vehicle operation does not require any action by the driver.

OFF

INTERRUPTEUR DE LA SUSPENSION PNEUMATIQUE WARNING To prevent sudden vehicle movement, turn off air suspen- sion switch prior to jacking, hoisting or towing vehicle. AVERTISSEMENT Pour prévenir tout mouvement soudain du véhi- cule, placer à l'arrêt l'interrupteur de la suspension pneumatique avant de lever to véhicule (cric ou pont élévateur) ou de le remorquer.

OFF-ARRET

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OPERATION (IF EQUIPPED)

Brake-shift interlock This vehicle is equipped with a brake-shift interlock feature that prevents the gearshift lever from being moved from P (Park) when the ignition is in the ON position unless brake pedal is depressed. If you cannot move the gearshift lever out of P (Park) with ignition in the ON position and the brake pedal depressed: 1. Apply the parking brake, turn ignition key to LOCK, then remove the key. 2. Insert the key and turn it to OFF. Apply the brake pedal and shift to N (Neutral). 3. Start the vehicle. If it is necessary to use the above procedure to move the gearshift lever, it is possible that a fuse has blown or the vehicle’s brakelamps are not operating properly. Refer to Fuses and relays in the Roadside emergencies chapter.

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Do not drive your vehicle until you verify that the brakelamps are working.

If your vehicle gets stuck in mud or snow it may be rocked out by shifting from forward and reverse gears, stopping between shifts, in a steady pattern. Press lightly on the accelerator in each gear. 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 few minutes or damage to the transmission and tires may occur or the engine may overheat.

Always set the parking brake fully and make sure the gearshift is latched in P (Park). Turn off the ignition 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 dealer or a qualified service technician.

Driving with a 4–speed automatic transmission Understandinggearshiftpositions To put your vehicle in gear, start the engine, depress the brake pedal, then move gearshift lever out of P (Park).

Hold the brake pedal down while you move the gearshift lever from P (Park) to another position. If you do not hold the brake pedal down, your vehicle may move unexpectedly and injure someone.

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P(Park) Always come to a complete stop before shifting into P (Park). Make sure the gearshift lever is securely latched in P (Park). This position locks the transmission and prevents the rear wheels from turning.

Always set the parking brake fully and make sure the gearshift lever is latched in P (Park). Turn off the ignition whenever you

leave your vehicle.

R(Reverse) With the gearshift lever in R (Reverse), the vehicle will move backward. Always come to a complete stop before shifting into and out of R (Reverse). N(Neutral) With the gearshift lever in N (Neutral), the vehicle can be started and is free to roll. Hold the brake pedal down while in this gear.

Overdrive The normal driving position for the best fuel economy. Transmission operates in gears one through four.

If your vehicle is equipped with a column-shift transmission, overdrive can be deactivated by pressing the transmission control switch on the gearshift lever.

O/D

ON/OFF

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If your vehicle is equipped with a floor-shift transmission, overdrive can be deactivated by pressing the transmission control switch on the gearshift handle.

The transmission control indicator light (TCIL) will illuminate on the instrument cluster.

O/D OFF

Drive Not shown on the display. Activate by pressing the transmission control switch on the gearshift lever with the gearshift in the Drive position. The O/D OFF indicator will illuminate in the instrument cluster. Transmission operates in gears one through three. Drive provides more engine braking than Overdrive and is useful when: † driving with a heavy load † towing a trailer up or down steep hills † additional engine braking is desired If towing a trailer, refer to Driving while you tow in this chapter. To return to Overdrive mode, press the transmission control switch. The O/D OFF indicator light will no longer be illuminated. Each time the vehicle is started, the transmission will automatically return to normal Overdrive mode. Every time the vehicle is shut off and restarted, you must press the transmission control switch to cancel overdrive operation if the Overdrive mode is not desired. 2(Second) Use 2 (Second) to start-up on slippery roads or to provide additional engine braking on downgrades.

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1(First) Use 1 (Low) to provide maximum engine braking on steep downgrades. Upshifts can be made by shifting to 2 (Second) or to Overdrive. Selecting 1 (Low) at higher speeds causes the transmission to shift to a lower gear, and will shift to 1 (Low) after vehicle decelerates to the proper speed. ForcedDownshifts To gain accelaration in passing another vehicle, push the accelerator to the floor. The transmission will downshift to the appropiate gear: third, second or first gear.

(Overdrive) or Drive (O/D OFF) when

TRACTION-LOK AXLE (IF EQUIPPED) This axle provides added traction on slippery surfaces, particularly when one wheel is on a poor traction surface. Under normal conditions, the Traction-Lok axle functions like a standard rear axle. Extended use of other than the manufacturer’s specified size tires on a Traction-Lok rear axle could result in a permanent reduction in effectiveness. This loss of effectiveness does not affect normal driving and should not be noticeable to the driver.

To avoid injury, never run the engine with one wheel off the ground, such as when changing a tire.

VEHICLE LOADING Before loading a vehicle, familiarize yourself with the following terms: † Base Curb Weight: Weight of the vehicle including any standard equipment, fluids, lubricants, etc. It does not include occupants or aftermarket equipment. † Payload: Combined maximum allowable weight of cargo, occupants and optional equipment. The payload equals the gross vehicle weight rating minus base curb weight.

† GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight): Base curb weight plus payload

weight. The GVW is not a limit or a specification.

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Driving † GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating): Maximum permissable total weight of the base vehicle, occupants, optional equipment and cargo. The GVWR is specific to each vehicle and is listed on the Safety Certification Label on the driver’s door pillar.

† GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating): Carrying capacity for each axle

system. The GAWR is specific to each vehicle and is listed on the Safety Certification Label on the driver’s door pillar. † GCW (Gross Combined Weight): The combined weight of the towing vehicle (including occupants and cargo) and the loaded trailer. † GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating): Maximum permissable

combined weight of the towing vehicle (including occupants and cargo) and the loaded trailer.

† Maximum Trailer Weight Rating: Maximum weight of a trailer the

vehicle is permitted to tow. The maximum trailer weight rating is determined by subtracting the vehicle curb weight for each engine/ transmission combination, any required option weight for trailer towing and the weight of the driver from the GCWR for the towing vehicle. † Maximum Trailer Weight: Maximum weight of a trailer the loaded

vehicle (including occupants and cargo) is permitted to tow. It is determined by subtracting the weight of the loaded trailer towing vehicle from the GCWR for the towing vehicle.

† Trailer Weight Range: Specified weight range that the trailer must fall within that ranges from zero to the maximum trailer weight rating.

Remember to figure in the tongue load of your loaded trailer when figuring the total weight.

Do not exceed the GVWR or the GAWR specified on the certification label.

Do not use replacement tires with lower load carrying capacities than the originals because they may lower the vehicle’s GVWR and GAWR limitations. Replacement tires with a higher limit than the originals do not increase the GVWR and GAWR limitations. The Certification Label, found on the inside pillar of the driver’s door, lists several important vehicle weight rating limitations. Before adding any additional equipment, refer to these limitations. If you are adding weight to your vehicle, always ensure that the weight of occupants, cargo and equipment being carried is within the weight limitations that have been established for your vehicle including both gross vehicle weight and

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front and rear gross axle weight rating limits. Under no circumstance should these limitations be exceeded. Exceeding any vehicle weight rating limitation could result in serious damage to the vehicle and/or personal injury. The weight of your loaded trailer should not exceed 907 kg (2 000 lbs). The GCW of your vehicle and trailer should not exceed 2 993 kg (6 600 lbs).

TRAILER TOWING Your vehicle is classified as a light duty towing vehicle. Do not tow a trailer until your vehicle has been driven at least 3 200 km (2 000 miles). Towing a trailer places an additional load on your vehicle’s engine, transmission, brakes, tires and suspension. Inspect these components carefully after towing. Your loaded trailer should weigh no more than 907 kg (2 000 lbs.).

Do not exceed the GVWR or the GAWR specified on the certification label.

Towing trailers beyond the maximum recommended gross trailer weight could result in engine damage, transmission/axle damage,

structural damage, loss of control, and personal injury.

Preparing to tow Use the proper equipment for towing a trailer, and make sure it is properly attached to your vehicle. See your dealer or a reliable trailer dealer if you require assistance. Hitches Do not use hitches that clamp onto the vehicle bumper. Use a load carrying hitch. You must distribute the load in your trailer so that 10% of the total weight of the trailer is on the tongue. Safetychains Always connect the trailer’s safety chains to the frame or hook retainers of the vehicle hitch. To connect the trailer’s safety chains, cross the chains under the trailer tongue and allow slack for turning corners. If you use a rental trailer, follow the instructions that the rental agency gives to you.

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Do not attach safety chains to the bumper. Trailerbrakes Electric brakes and manual, automatic or surge-type trailer brakes are safe if installed properly and adjusted to the manufacturer’s specifications. The trailer brakes must meet local and Federal regulations.

Do not connect a trailer’s hydraulic brake system directly to your vehicle’s brake system. Your vehicle may not have enough

braking power and your chances of having a collision greatly increase.

The braking system of the tow vehicle is rated for operation at the GVWR not GCWR. Trailerlamps Trailer lamps are required on most towed vehicles. Make sure your