Download pdf - 1996 Ford Mustang Manual

8/9/2019 1996 Ford Mustang Manual

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Table of Contents

Introductory Information ............................... 1

Safety Restraints .............................................. 9

Starting Your Mustang ................................. 49

Warning Lights and Gauges ....................... 61

Instrume nt Panel Controls .......................... 79

Stee ring Colum n Controls .......................... 91

Features .......................................................... 103

Electroni c Sou nd Sys tems ......................... 141

D rivi ng Your Mus tang ............................... 177

Roads ide Emergenci es ................................ 199

Custome r Assistance ................................... 215Reporting Safety Defects........................ 222

Acces so rie s .................................................... 227

Servicing Your Mus tang ............................ 235

Qu ick Index .................................................. 305

Index ............................................................... 317

Gas Station Information ............................ 340


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Introductory Information

Fords Commitment to You

At Ford Motor Comp any, excellence is thecontinuous commitment to achieve the bestresult possible. It is ded ication to learning wh atyou want, determination to develop the rightconcept, and execution of that concept with care,precision, and attention to detail. In short,excellence means being the standard by w hichothers are judged.

Our Guiding Principles

uQuality comes first. For your satisfaction, thequality of our products and services must beour number one priority.

uYou are the focus of everything we do. Ou rwork must be done with you in mind,providing better products and services thanour competition.

uContinuous improvement is essential to oursuccess. We must strive for excellence ineverything w e d o: in our products in theirsafety and value and in our services, ourhuman relations, our competitiveness, and

our profitability.uEmployee involvement is our way of life.

We are a team. We m ust treat one anotherwith trust and respect.

uDealers and suppliers are our partners. Wemu st m aintain mu tually beneficialrelationships with dealers, suppliers, and ourother business associates.


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u Integrity is never compromised. Our condu ctworldwide must be pursued in a manner thatis socially responsible an d comm ands respectfor its integrity an d for its positivecontributions to society.

Things to Know About UsingThis Guide

Congratulations on the purchase of your newvehicle. This guide has information about theequipment and the options for your new vehicle.You may not have bought all of the optionsavailable to you. If you do not know whichinformation applies to your vehicle, talk to yourdealer.

This guide describes equipment and givesspecifications for equipment that was in effectwhen this guide was ap proved for p rinting. Fordmay discontinue mod els or change specificationsor d esign without any n otice and withoutincurring obligation.

NOTES and WARNINGS

NOTES give you additional information aboutthe subject matter you are referencing.

WARNINGS remind you to be especially carefulin those areas wh ere carelessness can causedamage to your vehicle or personal injury toyourself, your passengers or other people. Pleaseread all WARNINGS carefully.

RWARNING


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Finding Information in This Guide

After you have read this guide once, you will

probably return to it when you have a specificquestion or n eed add itional information. To helpyou find specific information quickly, you canuse the Quick Index or the Index.

The Quick Index at the end of the bookprovides a page number following each itemwh ich indicates wh ere d etailed information canbe found .

To use the Index, turn to the back of the bookand search in the alphabetical listing for theword that best describes the information youneed. If the word you chose is not listed, thinkof other related words and look them u p. Wehave designed the Index so that you can findinformation under a technical term.

Canadian Owners French Version

French Owner Guides can be obtained from your

dealer or by writing to Ford Motor Company ofCanada, Limited, Service Publications, P.O. Box1580, Station B, Mississauga, Ontario L4Y 4G3.

Your Maintenance Schedule andRecord Booklet

The Maintenance Schedule and Record booklet liststhe services that are most important for keepingyour vehicle in good condition. A record log isalso provided to help you keep track of allservices performed.


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About the Warranties

Your vehicle is covered by three types of

warranties: Basic Vehicle Warranty, ExtendedWarranties on certain parts, and EmissionsWarranties.

Read your W arrant y Information Booklet carefullyto find out about your vehicles warranties andyour basic rights and responsibilities.

If you lose your W arrant y In formation Booklet, youcan get a new one free of charge. Contact any

Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer, or refer to theaddresses and phone nu mbers on the first pageof this owner guide.

Buying a Ford Extended Service Plan

If you bou ght your vehicle in the U.S., you canbuy a Ford Extended Service Plan for yourvehicle. This optional contract provides serviceprotection for a longer period of time than thebasic warranty that comes with your vehicle.

You do not have to buy this option when youbuy your vehicle. However, your option topurchase the Ford Extended Service Plan runsout after 18 months or 18,000 miles. See yourdealer for more details about the Ford ExtendedService Plan .

If you purchased a Canadian vehicle and did nottake advantage of the Ford Extended ServicePlan at the time of purchase, you may still be

eligible. See your dealer for the details.


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Breaking Your Vehicle In

Your new vehicle goes through an adjustment or

break-in period during the first 1,000 miles(1,600 km ) that you drive it. During the break-inperiod, you need to pay careful attention to howyou drive your vehicle.

uAvoid sudden stops. Because your vehiclehas new brake linings, you should take thesesteps:

Watch traffic carefully so th at you can

anticipate when to stop. Begin braking well in ad vance.

Apply the brakes gradually.

The break-in period for new brake liningslasts for 100 miles (160 km) of city driving or1,000 miles (1,600 km) of highway driving.

uUse only the type of engine oil that Fordrecommends. See Engine oil recommendations

in the Index. Do not use special break-inoils.

Your vehicle is equipp ed with an ElectronicPowertrain Control Module that limits engineand/ or vehicle speeds with a cut-out mode topromote durability.

Cleaning the Outside of YourVehicle

Pollen, bird droppings and tree sap can damagethe paint, especially in hot weather. Wash yourvehicle as often as necessary to keep it clean.

Take similar precautions if your vehicle isexposed to chemical ind ustrial fallout.


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Paint damage resulting from fallout is notrelated to a defect in paint materials orworkmanship and therefore is not covered bywarranty. Ford, however, believes that continualimprovement in customer satisfaction is a highpriority. For this reason, Ford has au thorized itsdealers to repair, at no charge to the owner, thesurfaces of new vehicles damaged byenvironmental fallout within 12 months or 12,000miles (20,000 km) of purchase, whichever comesfirst. Customers may be required to bring theirvehicle in for inspection by a Ford

representative.Washing and Polishing Your Vehicle

Wash the outside of your vehicle, including theunderside, with a mild detergent.

DO NOT:

uWash your vehicle with hot water

uWash you r vehicle wh ile it sits in direct

sunlightuWash your vehicle while the body is hot

Polish your vehicle to remove harmful depositsand protect the finish.


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Cleaning Chrome and Aluminum Parts

Wash chrome and aluminum parts with a m ild

detergent. Do not use steel wool, abrasivecleaners, fuel, or strong detergents.

Cleaning Plastic Parts

Some of your vehicles exterior trim parts areplastic. Clean with a tar and road oil remover ifnecessary. Use a vinyl cleaner for routinecleaning.

Do not clean plastic parts with thinners, solvents

or petroleum -based cleaners.If you have your vehicle rustproofed, removeoversprayed ru stproofing with a tar and road oilremover. If rustproofing is not removed fromplastic and rubber parts, it can causedeterioration.


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RWARNING

Never wear the shoulder belt under thearm. Never swing it around the neck overthe inside shoulder. Never use a singlebelt for more than one person or acrossmore than one seating position. Eachseating position in your vehicle has aspecific safety belt assembly which ismade up of one buckle and one tonguethat are designed to be used as a pair.Failure to follow these precautions could

increase the risk and/or severity of injuryin a collision.

RWARNING

Ford recommends that all safety beltassemblies and attaching hardware shouldbe inspected by a qualified technicianafter any collision. Safety belt assembliesnot in use during a collision should also

be inspected and replaced if eitherdamage or improper operation is noted.

RWARNING

To reduce the risk of serious injury in acollision, children should always ride withthe seatback upright.

RWARNING

Never let a passenger hold a child on hisor her lap while the vehicle is moving.The passenger cannot protect the childfrom injury in a collision.


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RWARNING

Lock the doors of your vehicle before

driving to lessen the risk of the doorcoming open in a collision.

Combination Lap and ShoulderBelts

While your vehicle is in m otion, the combinationlap and shoulder belt ad justs to your movement.However, if you brake hard, corner hard or ifyour vehicle receives an impact of 5 mph(8 km/ h) or m ore, the lap and shoulder beltlocks and helps reduce your forward movement.

After you get into you r veh icle, close the doorand lock it. Then adjust the seat to the positionthat suits you best.

Before fastening the front seat belt, make surethe shoulder belt passes through the belt holderon the top of the seatback.

To fasten the belt, pull the lap/ shoulder beltfrom the retractor so that the shoulder portion ofthe belt crosses your shoulder and chest. Be surethe belt is not twisted. If it is, remove the twist.Insert the belt tongue into the proper buckleuntil you hear a snap and feel it latch. Makesure the tongue is securely fastened in thebuckle.


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Fastening the front seat combination lap and shoulder belt

(coupe models)

Fastening the front seat combination lap and shoulder belt(convertible models)


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Automatic locking mode

In this operating mode, the shoulder belt

retractor w ill be automatically locked and remainlocked when the combination lap/ shouldersafety belt is buckled, and does not allow theoccupant freedom of movement. This modeprovides the following:

uA tight lap/ shoulder belt fit on the occupant.

uChild seat or infant carrier installationrestraint.

RWARNING

Never install a rear-facing child seat orinfant carrier in the right front passengerseat.

This mode must be used when installing a childsafety seat on the front passenger seat and rearoutboard seats where dual locking retractors areprovided.

To switch the retractor from the emergencylocking mode to the automatic locking mode,perform the following steps:

1. Buckle the lap/ shoulder combination belt.

2. Grasp the shoulder portion of the belt andpull dow nward until all of the belt isextracted and, when allowed to retract, aclicking sound is heard. At this time, the belt

retractor is in the automatic locking mode(child restraint mode).

3. A clicking sound will continue to be heardas the belt is allowed to retract.


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NOTE: When the combination lap/shoulderbelt is unbuckled and allowed toretract completely, the retractor will

switch back to the vehicle sensitive(emergency) locking mode. See thedetailed instructions under Safety Seats for Children in this chapter.

Front Passenger Lap Belt Retractor(Convertible Only)

Your convertible is equipped with a dual lockingmode retractor on the lap belt part of thelap/ shoulder belt for the front seat passenger.

Dual locking mode passenger seat lap beltretractors operate in two ways:

Vehicle sensitive (emergency) locking mode

In this operating mode, the lap belt retractor willallow the occupant freedom of movement,locking tight only on hard braking, hardcornering or impacts of approximately 5 mph(8 km/ h) or more. The retractor cannot be madeto lock by pulling on the belt.

Automatic locking mode

In this operating mode, the lap belt retractor willremain locked and does not allow the occupantfreedom of movement. This mode provides thefollowing:

uA tight lap/ shoulder belt on the occupant.

uChild safety seat installation.This mode must be used when installing aforward facing child safety seat on the frontpassenger seat. To switch the retractor fromthe vehicle sensitive (emergency) lockingmode to the automatic locking mode,perform th e following steps:


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RWARNING

Never install a rear-facing child seat or

infant carrier in the right front passengerseat.

1. Buckle the lap/ shoulder belt.

2. Grasp the lap portion of the belt below thechild seat label. Pull upward until all of thebelt is extracted and a click is heard. At thistime, the lap belt retractor is in theautomatic locking m ode (child restraint

mode).3. Allow the belt to retract. A clicking sound

will be heard as the belt retracts. Thisindicates that the retractor is in theautomatic locking mode.

4. Pull down on the belt to remove slack in thebelt.

NOTE: When the combination lap/shoulder

belt is unbuckled and allowed toretract completely, the retractor willswitch to the vehicle sensitive(emergency) locking mode. See thedetailed instructions under Safety Seats for Children in this chapter.


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RWARNING

The lap belts should fit snugly and as low

as possible around the hips, not aroundthe waist.

RWARNING

Failure to follow these precautions couldincrease the risk and/or severity of injuryin a collision. 1) Use the shoulder belt onthe outside shoulder only. Never wear theshoulder belt under the arm. 2) N ever

swing it around your neck over the insideshoulder. 3) Never use a single belt formore than one person.

To unfasten all the belts:

1. Push the release button on the end of thebuckle. This allows the tongu e to unlatchfrom the buckle.

Unfastening the front (coupes) and rear outboardlap/shoulder belts


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Unfastening the Mustang convertible front outboardlap/shoulder belts

2. While the belt retracts, guide the tongue toits stowed position. If you do not guide the

tongue, it m ay strike you or p art of thevehicle.

3. (Coup e only). Place the belt in the beltholder at the top of the seatback. Theretracted belt should be stored on this holderwhen not in use, except when a passenger isentering or leaving the rear seat area of thevehicle.


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Belt holder location coupe only

4. (Convertible only). Place the shoulder belt inthe belt holder at the top of the seatback and

place the lap belt in the belt guide at theside of the seat cushion. The retracted beltshould be stored on this holder and in thebelt guide when not in u se, except w hen apassenger is entering or leaving the rear seatarea of the vehicle.


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Belt holder location convertible only

RWARNING

The shoulder belt must always be in thebelt holder when the belt is in use.

Safety Belt Extension Assembly

For some people, the safety belt may be tooshort even when it is fully extended. You canadd about eight inches (20 cm) to the belt lengthwith a safety belt extension assembly (partnumber 611C22). Safety belt extensions areavailable at no cost from your dealer.

RWARNING

Failure to follow these instructions willaffect the performance of the safety beltsand increase the risk of personal injury.


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Use only extensions manufactured by the samesupp lier as the safety belt. Manufactureridentification is located at the end of the

webbing on the label. Also, use the safety beltextension only if the safety belt is too short foryou when fully extended. Do not use extensionto change the fit of the shoulder belt across thetorso.

Safety Belt Maintenance

Check the safety belt systems periodically tomake sure that they work properly and are not

damaged.All safety belt assemblies, including retractors,buckles, front seat belt buckle sup port assemblies(slide bar) (if equipped), child safety seat tetherbracket assemblies (if equipp ed), and attachinghardware, should be inspected after anycollision. Ford recommends that all safety beltassemblies used in vehicles involved in acollision be replaced. However, if the collisionwas minor and a qualified technician finds thatthe belts do not show damage and continue tooperate properly, they do n ot need to bereplaced. Safety belt assemblies not in useduring a collision should also be inspected andreplaced if either damage or improper operationis noted.

Cleaning the Safety Belts

Clean the safety belts with any mild soap

solution th at is recommend ed for cleaningupholstery or carpets. Do not bleach or dye thebelt webbing because this may weaken it.


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Air Bag Supplemental RestraintSystem (SRS)

The driver and right front passenger air bags areSupplemental Restraint Systems (SRS), providedat these seating positions in addition to thelap/ shoulder belt, and are designed tosupplement the protection provided to properlybelted occupants in moderate to severe frontalcollisions. The sup plemental air bag system doesnot p rovide restraint to the lower body.

The Importance of Wearing Safety Belts

RWARNING

Safety belts must be worn by all vehicleoccupants to be properly restrained andhelp reduce the risk of injury in acollision.

RWARNING

All occupants of the vehicle, including the

driver, should always wear their safetybelts, even when an air bag SupplementalRestraint System is provided.

There are four very important reasons to usesafety belts even with an air bag system. Useyour safety belts to:

uhelp keep you in the proper position (awayfrom the air bag) when it inflates

u reduce the risk of harm in rollover, side orrear impact collisions, because an air bag isnot designed to inflate in such situations

u redu ce the risk of h arm in frontal collisionsthat are not severe enough to activate thesupplemental air bag

u reduce the risk of being thrown from yourvehicle


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The Importance of Being Properly Seated

In a collision, the air bag mu st inflate extremely

fast to help provide additional protection foryou. In order to do this, the air bag must inflatewith considerable force. If you are not seated ina normal riding position with your back againstthe seatback, the air bag may not protect youproperly and could possibly hurt you as itinflates.

RWARNING

If a passenger is not properly seated andrestrained, an inflating air bag could causeserious injury.

RWARNING

Rear-facing infant seats should never beplaced in the front seat.

In rear-facing infant seats, the infants head iscloser to the air bag. The force of the rapidly

inflating air bag could push the top of therear-facing seat against the vehicle seatback,center console (if so equ ipped), or centerarmrests (if so equipped). REAR-FACINGINFANT SEATS MUST ALWAYS BE SECUREDIN THE REAR SEAT, and other child safetyseats and infant seats should be secured in therear seat whenever possible.

Your vehicle is equipped with a right front

passenger air bag. Air bags deploy with greatforce, faster than the blink of an eye. Frontpassengers, especially children and small adu lts,must never sit on the front edge of the seat,stand near the glove compartment of theinstrument panel, or lean over near the air bagcover when the vehicle is moving. All occupantsshould sit w ith their backs against the seatback,


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move the seat to the most rearward position ifpossible and use th e safety belts. Childrenweighing less than 40 lbs. (18 kg) always shou ld

use child or infant seats.

RWARNING

When using forward-facing child seatsmove the passenger seat as far back fromthe instrument panel as possible. NEVERSECURE REAR-FACING INFANT SEATSIN THE FRONT SEAT.

THE FORCE OF THE RAPIDLY INFLATINGPASSENGER AIR BAG COULD PUSH THE TOPOF THE REAR-FACING SEAT A GAINST THEVEHICLE SEATBACK OR CENTERCON SOLE/ ARMRESTS. REAR-FACINGINFANT SEATS MUST ALWAYS BE PLACEDIN THE REAR SEAT.

RWARNING

Do not place objects or mount equipmenton or near the air bag cover on thesteering wheel or in front seat areas thatmay come in contact with a deploying airbag. Failure to follow this instruction mayincrease the risk of personal injury in theevent of a collision.

For additional important safety information onthe p roper use of seat belts, child seats, andinfant seats, please read the other sections of thischapter of the Own er Gu ide, especially sectionsentitled Safety Belts for Children and Safety Seats for Children.


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For further information about the propermounting of equipment in the front seat of thisvehicle, please refer to Fords brochure entitled

Some Important Information A bout A ir BagSupplemental Restraint System which can beobtained by calling Helm Inc. at 1-800-782-4356.Ask for br ochur e FPS-8602.

How the Air Bag Supplemental RestraintSystem Operates

The driver air bag is in the center of the steeringwheel. The right front passenger seat air bag isin the u pper right hand section of the

instrument panel ledge above the glovecompartment. Both air bags are designed to stayout of sight until they are activated.

The location of the air bag and warning labels


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If a collision occurs, the sensors sense theseverity of the impact and activates the air bagsif necessary. The air bag system is designed to

dep loy in frontal and front-angled collisionsmore severe than hitting a parked vehicle (ofsimilar size and weight) head-on at about28 m ph (45 km/ h). Because the system sensesthe crash severity rather than vehicle speed,some frontal collisions at speeds above 28 m ph(45 km/ h) will not inflate the air bag.

The wh ole inflation and deflation p rocess takesplace in a matter of seconds.

RWARNING

Air bag system components get hot afterinflation. Do not touch them afterinflation.

Inflated driver side air bag


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Inflated right front passenger side air bag

RWARNING

If the air bag is inflated, THE AIR BAGWILL NOT FUNCTION AGAIN ANDMUS T BE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY. Ifthe air bag is not replaced, the unrepairedarea will increase the risk of injury in acollision.

The air bag system uses a readiness light on theinstrument cluster or a tone to indicate thecondition of the system. When you turn the

ignition to th e ON position, this light willilluminate for app roximately six (6) seconds andthen turn off. This indicates that the system isoperating normally. NOTE: Maintenance of th eair bag system is not required.


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A problem with the system is indicated by oneor more of the following:

u the read iness light will either flash or stay lit,or

u it will not light imm ediately after the ignitionis turned on, or

ua group of five beeps will be heard.

If any of these things happen, have the air bagsystem serviced at you r Ford or Lincoln-Mercurydealer imm ediately. Unless serviced, the air bagSup plemental Restraint System may not function

properly in the event of a collision.

RWARNING

Do not attempt to service, repair, ormodify the Air Bag SupplementalRestraint System or its fuses. See yourFord or Lincoln-Mercury dealer.

Disposal of air bags or air bag equipped

vehicles

For disposal of air bags or air bag equippedvehicles, see your local Ford or Lincoln-Mercurydealer. Air bags MUST be disposed of byqualified personnel.

Safety Restraints for Children

In the U.S. and Canada, you are required by lawto u se safety restraints for children. If small

children ride in your vehicle this generallyincludes children who are four years old oryounger and who w eigh 40 pounds (18 kg) orless you must put them in safety seats thatare made specially for children. Safety beltsalone do not provide maximum protection forthese children. Check your local and state lawsfor specific requirements.


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RWARNING

Never let a passenger hold a child on his

or her lap while the vehicle is moving.The passenger cannot protect the childfrom injury in a collision.

RWARNING

Passengers should not be allowed to ridein the cargo area. Persons not riding in aseat with a fastened seat belt are muchmore likely to suffer serious injury in a

collision. Cargo should always be securedto prevent it from shifting and causingdamage to the vehicle or harm topassengers.

When possible, put children in the rear seat ofyour vehicle. Accident statistics suggest thatchildren are safer when properly restrained inthe rear seating positions than in the frontseating positions.

RWARNING

Carefully follow all of the manufacturersinstructions included with the safety seatyou put in your vehicle. If you do notinstall and use the safety seat properly,the child may be injured in a sudden stopor collision.

RWARNINGSafety belts and seats can become hot in avehicle that has been closed up in sunnyweather; they could burn a small child.Check seat covers and buckles before youplace a child anywhere near them.


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RWARNING

Never leave a child unattended in your

vehicle.

RWARNING

When using forward-facing child seatsmove the passenger seat as far back fromthe instrument panel as possible. NEVERSECURE REAR-FACING INFANT SEATSIN THE FRONT SEAT.

Safety Seats for ChildrenUse a safety seat that is recommended for thesize and weight of the child. Always follow thesafety seat manu facturers instructions w heninstalling and using the safety seat.

Ford recommends the use of a child safety seathaving a top tether strap. Install the child safetyseat in a seating position which is capable ofproviding a tether anchorage. For more

information on top tether straps see your Fordor Lincoln-Mercury dealer.

When installing a child safety seat, be sure touse th e correct safety belt buckle for that seatingposition, and make sure the tongue is securelyfastened in the bu ckle. For a shoulder/ lap beltcombination with a sliding tongue, make surethe retractor is in the automatic locking mode.

Children weighing less than 40 lbs. (18 kg)should use child or infant seats. Forward facingchild seats must have the passenger seat movedas far back from the instrument panel aspossible.


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RWARNING

REAR-FACING INFANT SEATS SHOULD

NEVER BE USED IN THE FRONT SEAT.REAR-FACING INFANT SEATS MUSTALWAYS BE PLACED IN THE REARSEAT. Failure to follow these instructionscould result in serious injury.

All child restraint systems are d esigned to besecured in vehicle seats by lap belts or by thelap portion of a lap-shoulder belt.

RWARNINGIf you do not properly secure the safetyseat, the child occupying the seat may beinjured during a collision or sudden stop.An unsecured safety seat could also injureother passeng ers.

RWARNING

Carefully follow all of the manufacturersinstructions included with the safety seatyou put in your vehicle. If you do notinstall and use the safety seat properly,the child may be injured in a sudden stopor collision.

RWARNING

Always keep the buckle release buttonpointing upward and away from the childseat, with the tongue between the childseat and the release button as shown inthe following illustration.


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Installing Safety Seats in the Front Seat Convertible

Your Mustang Convertible is equipped with a

dual locking mode retractor on the lap beltportion of the lap/ shoulder belt at the frontpassenger seat.

The automatic locking mode must be used wheninstalling a child seat in the front passenger seat.

RWARNING

Never install a rear-facing child seat orinfant carrier in the right front passenger

seat.If you choose to install a child safety seat in thefront seat:

1. Position the child seat in the front passengerseat of the vehicle.

2. Pull up on the lap belt, Figure 1.


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3. Following the child seat manu facturersinstructions, route the lap/ shoulder beltthrough the child seat or infant carrier and

insert the belt tongue into the buckle untilyou hear and feel the latch engage, Figure 2.

Routing the lap/shoulder belt


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4. Grasp the lap portion of the belt below thechild seat label. Pull upward until all of thebelt is extracted and a click is heard. At this

time, the lap belt retractor is in theautomatic locking m ode (child seat restraintmod e), Figure 3.

Pull the lap belt out completely to set the automaticlocking mode


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5. Allow the belt to retract. A clicking soundwill be heard as the belt retracts. Thisindicates the retractor is in the automatic

locking m ode, Figure 4.

Allowing belt to retract


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6. Push down on the child seat while you pu lldown on the belt to remove any slack in thebelt, Figure 5.

Removing slack from the belt


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7. Before placing the child in the child seat orinfant carrier, forcibly tilt the seat from sideto side, and also tug it forward to m ake sure

that the seat is securely held in p lace,Figure 6.

Checking that the seat is secure


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8. Double check that the retractor is in theautomatic locking mode. Try to pull morebelt out of the retractor, if you cannot, the

belt is in the automatic locking mode,Figure 7.

Checking the retractor

9. Check to make sure that the child seat orinfant carrier is properly secured prior toeach use. If the lap belt is not locked, repeatsteps 4 through 8.

NOTE: To remove the retractor from automaticlock mode, allow seat belt to retract

fully to its stowed position and theretractor will automatically switch backto the vehicle sensitive locking modefor normal adult usage.


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Installing Safety Seats in the Front Seat(Coupe only) and Rear Seating Positions(Coupe and Convertible)

For seating positions equipped with a duallocking m ode retractor, use the followingprocedure.

If you choose to install a child safety seat orinfant carrier in the front seating positions, movevehicle seat as far back as possible.

1. Position the child seat in the center of thepassenger seat.

2. Pull down on shoulder belt, then graspshoulder belt and lap belt together. SeeFigure 1.

Pulling out belt webbing


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3. While holding the shoulder and lap beltportions together, route the tongue throughthe child seat according to the child seat

manufacturers instructions. See Figure 2. Besure that the belt webbing is not twisted.

Routing the lap/shoulder belt

4. Insert the belt tongue into the buckle for thatseating position until you hear and feel thelatch engage. See Figure 3. Make su re tongu eis latched securely to bu ckle by pu lling ontongue.


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Buckling the belt

5. Grasp the shoulder portion of the belt andpull dow nward until all of the belt isextracted and a click is heard. At this time,

the retractor is in the au tomatic lockingmod e (child seat restraint mod e). SeeFigure 4.

NOTE: The du al-locking mode retractor mustbe in the automatic locking mode toproperly restrain a child.


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Setting the retractor to automatic locking mode

6. Allow the belt to retract. Pull up on theshoulder w ebbing. A clicking sound will beheard as the belt retracts. This ind icates the

retractor is in the automatic locking mode.Push d own on the child seat while you pullup on the belt to remove any slack in thebelt. See Figures 5 and 6.


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Allowing shoulder belt to retract

Removing slack from belt


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7. Before placing the child in the child seat,forcibly tilt the seat from side to side, andtug it forward to make sure that the seat issecurely held in place. See Figure 7.

Checking that the seat is secure


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8. Double check that the retractor is in theautomatic locking mode. Try to pull morebelt out of the retractor. If you cannot, thebelt is in the automatic locking m ode. SeeFigure 8.

Checking the retractor

9. Check to make sure that the child seat isproperly secured prior to each use. If theretractor is not locked, repeat steps 4through 7.

To remove th e retractor from au tomatic lockmod e, allow w ebbing to retract fully to itsstowed position and the retractor willautomatically switch back to the vehicle sensitivelocking mode for normal adult usage.


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Safety Belts for Children

Children who are too large for child safety seatsshould always wear safety belts. (See instructions

with you r child seat, or contact its m anu facturer,to determine maximum size of child that willsafely fit in the seat.)

RWARNING

If safety belts are not properly worn andadjusted as described, the risk of seriousinjury to the child in a collision will bemuch greater.

If the shoulder belt portion of one of the lap andshoulder belts can be positioned so that it doesnot cross or rest in front of the childs face orneck, the child should wear the lap and shoulderbelt. Moving the child closer to the center of thevehicle may help provide a good shoulder beltfit.

To improve the fit of lap and shoulder belts onchildren who have outgrown child safety seats,Ford recommend s u se of a belt-positioningbooster seat that is labelled as conforming to allFederal motor vehicle safety stand ards.Belt-positioning booster seats raise the child andprovide a shorter, firmer seating cushion thatencourages safer seating posture and better fit oflap and shoulder belts on the child. A


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belt-positioning booster shou ld be used if theshoulder belt rests in front of the childs face orneck, or if the lap belt does not fit snugly onboth thighs, or if the thighs are too short to letthe child sit all the way back on the seat cushionwhen the lower legs hang over the edge of theseat cushion. You may wish to discuss thespecific needs of you r child w ith yourpediatrician.

RWARNING

Do not use a belt-positioning booster witha lap-only belt.

Lap belts and the lap belt portion of lap andshoulder belts should always be worn snuglyand below the hips, touching the childs thighs.

RWARNING

To reduce the risk of serious injury in acollision, children should always ride withthe seatback upright.


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Starting Your Mustang

Ignition

Understanding the Positions of the Ignition

The positions of the key in the ignition

ACCESSORY allows som e of you r vehicleselectrical accessories such as th e rad io and thewindshield wipers to operate while the engine isnot runn ing. You must push the key releasebutton to tu rn to the ACCESSORY position ifyour vehicle has a manual transmission.

LOCK locks the steering wheel. It also locks theautomatic transmission gearshift lever.

LOCK is the only position that allows you toremove the key. The LOCK feature helps toprotect your vehicle from theft.

OFF allows you to shut off the engine and allaccessories w ithout locking th e steering w heel orthe automatic transm ission gearshift lever.


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ON allows you to test your vehicles warninglights (except the brake system warning light) tomake sure they work before you start theengine. The key returns to the ON position oncethe engine is started and remains in this positionwhile the engine runs.

START cranks the engine. Release the key oncethe engine starts so that you do not d amage thestarter. The key should return to ON when yourelease it. The START position also allows youto test the brake warning light.

Removing the Key From the Ignition

1. Put the gearshift in P (Park) (automatictransmission) or 1 (First) (manualtransmission).

2. Set the parking brake fully.

3. Turn the ignition to the OFF (manualtransmission) or LOCK (automatictransmission).

4. Push in the key release button until it

catches and stays in (manual transmissiononly).

Key release button (manual transmission only)

5. Turn the key to LOCK (manualtransmission).

6. Remove the key.

NOTE If hi l h i


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NOTE: If your vehicle has an automatictransmission, the gearshift lever mustbe in the P (Park) position to removethe key from the ignition.

If the key is stuck in the LOCK position, movethe steering wheel left or right until the keyturns freely.

If the drivers door is open while the key is stillin the ignition, a warning chime sounds.

RWARNING

Always set the parking brake fully and

make sure that the gearshift is latched inP (Park) (automatic transmission) or 1(First) (manual transmission).

RWARNING

Do not leave children, unreliable adults,or pets alone in your vehicle. They couldaccidentally injure themselves or othersthrough inadvertent operation of the

vehicle. Further, on hot, sunny days,temperatures in a closed vehicle couldquickly become high enough to causesevere and possibly fatal injuries topeople as well as animals.

Fuel-Injected Engines

When starting a fuel-injected engine, the mostimportant thing to remember is to avoid

pressing down on the accelerator before orduring starting. Only use the accelerator whenyou have problems getting your vehicle started.See Starting Your Engine in this chapter fordetails about when to use the accelerator whileyou start your vehicle.

St ti Y V hi l


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Starting Your Vehicle

Preparing to Start Your Vehicle

RWARNING

Do not start your vehicle in a closedgarage or other enclosed area. Never sit ina stopped vehicle for more than a shortperiod of time with the engine running.Exhaust fumes are toxic. See Guarding Against Exhaust Fumes in this chapter formore instructions.

Before you start your vehicle, d o th e following:1. Make sure all occupants in the vehicle

buckle their safety belts. See Safety Restraintsin the Index for more details.

2. Make sure the headlamps and otheraccessories are tu rned off when starting.

3. If you have an automatic transmission,make sure that the gearshift is in P (Park)

and the parking brake is set before you turnthe key.

If you have a manual transmission, makesure that the parking brake is fully set, pushthe clutch pedal to the floor, and p ut thegearshift into Neutral before you turn thekey. The starter will operate only if theclutch pedal is pushed in all the way.

Before you start your vehicle, you should test

the warning lights on the instrument panel tomake sure that they work. Refer to the Warning Lights and Gauges chapter.

Starting Your Engine


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Starting Your Engine

To start your engine:

1. Follow the steps under Preparing to StartYour Vehicle at the beginning of this section.

2. Turn the ignition key to the ON position.

3. DO NOT depress the accelerator pedal whenstarting your engine. DO NOT use theaccelerator while the vehicle is p arked.

4. Turn the key to the START position(cranking) un til the engine starts. Allow thekey to return to the ON position after the

engine has started.

If you have difficulty in turning the key,rotate the steering w heel slightly because itmay be binding.

For a cold engine:

uAt temperatures 10F (-12C) and below: Ifthe engine does not start in fifteen (15)seconds on the first try, turn the key to OFF,

wait ap proximately ten (10) seconds so youdo not flood the engine, then try again.

uAt temperatures above 10F (-12C): If theengine does not start in five (5) seconds onthe first try, turn the key to OFF, waitapproximately ten (10) seconds so you do notflood the engine, then try again.

For a warm engine:

uDo not hold the key in the START positionfor more than five (5) seconds at a time. Ifthe engine does not start within five (5)seconds on the first try, turn the key to theOFF position. Wait a few seconds after th estarter stops, then try again.

Whenever you start your vehicle release the key


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Whenever you start your vehicle, release the keyas soon as the engine starts. Excessive crankingcould damage the starter.

After you start the en gine, let it idle for a fewseconds. Keep your foot on the brake pedal andput the gearshift lever in gear. Release theparking brake. Slowly release the brake pedaland drive away in the normal manner.

NOTE: Your vehicle h as an in terlock thatprevents you from shifting out of P(Park) unless your foot is on the brakepedal.

If the engine does not start after two attempts:

1. Turn the ignition key to the OFF position.

2. Press the accelerator all the way to the floorand hold it.

3. Turn the ignition key to the START position.

4. Release the ignition key when the enginestarts.

5. Release the accelerator gradu ally as theengine speeds up . Then d rive away in thenormal manner.

If the engine still does not start, the fuel pumpshut-off switch may have been triggered. Fordirections on how to reset the switch see FuelPump Shut-Off Switch later in this chapter.

A comp uter system controls the engines idlespeed. When you start your vehicle, the enginesidle speed normally runs higher than when itswarmed up. These faster engine speeds willmake your vehicle move slightly faster than itsnormal idle speed. It should, however, slowdown after a short time. If it does not, have theidle speed checked.

If the engine idle speed does not slow down


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If the engine idle speed does not slow downautomatically, do n ot allow you r veh icle to idlefor more than 10 minutes. Have the vehiclechecked.

RWARNING

Extended idling at high engine speeds canproduce very high temperatures in theengine and exhaust system, creating therisk of fire or other damage.

RWARNING

Do not park, idle, or drive your vehicle indry grass or other dry ground cover. Theemission system heats up the enginecompartment and exhaust system, whichcan start a fire.

If you consistently start you r vehicle in su bzerotemperatures, use an engine block heater (ifyour vehicle has this option).

Engine Block Heater (If equipped)

Engine block heaters are strongly recommendedif you live in a region where temperatures reach-10F (-23C) or below. An engine block heaterwarms the engine coolant, which improvesstarting, warms up the engine faster, and allowsthe heater-defrost system to respond quickly.

To turn the heater on, simply plug it into agrounded 110-volt outlet. Ford recommends that

you use a 110-volt circuit that is p rotected by aground fault circuit interrupter.

RWARNING

To prevent electrical shock, do not useyour heater with ungrounded electricalsystems or tw o-pronged (cheater) adapters.

For best results, plug the heater in at least three


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, p ghours before you start your vehicle. Using theheater for longer than three hours will notdamage the engine, so you can p lug it in at

night to start your vehicle the followingmorning.

NOTE: Be sure to disconnect the engine blockheater before driving your vehicle.

Guarding Against Exhaust Fumes

Carbon monoxide, although colorless andodorless, is present in exhaust fumes. Takeprecautions to avoid its dangerou s effects.

RWARNING

Do not start your vehicle in a closedgarage or other enclosed area. Never sit ina stopped vehicle for more than a shortperiod of time with the engine running.Exhaust fumes are toxic. See Guarding Against Exhaust Fumes in this chapter formore instructions.

RWARNING

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

Have the exhaust and body ventilation systemschecked whenever:

uyour vehicle is raised for service

u the sound of the exhaust system changes

uyour vehicle has been dam aged in a collision

Improve your ventilation by keeping all air inletvents clear of snow , leaves, and other d ebris.

If the engine is idling while you are stopped in


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an open area for long periods of time, open thewind ows at least one inch (2.5 cm). Also, theheating or air conditioning system should be set

to an y function except MAX A/ C or AUTO.

u If you use the heater, set the fan speed onMEDIUM or HIGH with the function controlknob at any desired position.

u If you u se the air conditioner, set the fanspeed on MEDIUM or HIGH with thefunction control knob at any position exceptOFF and the temperature control lever atmid-position.

If the Engine Cranks but DoesNot Start or Does Not Start Aftera Collision

Fuel System Shut-off Switch

If the engine cranks but does not start or doesnot start after a collision, the fuel system shut-offswitch may have been triggered. The shut-off

switch is a device intended to stop the fuelsystem when your vehicle has been involved ina substantial jolt.

Once the shu t-off switch is triggered, you mu streset the switch by hand before you can startyour vehicle. The switch is on the left side of thetrunk near the left tail lamp.


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The fuel pump shut-off switch

RWARNINGIf you see or smell fuel, do not reset theswitch or try to start your vehicle. Haveall the passengers get out of the vehicleand call the local fire department or atowing service.

If your engine cranks but does not start after acollision or substantial jolt:

1. Turn the ignition key to the OFF position.

2. Check und er the vehicle for leaking fuel.

3. If you do n ot see or smell fuel, push the redreset button down. If the button is alreadyset, you may have a different mechanicalproblem.

4. Turn the ignition key to the ON position fora few seconds, then turn it to the OFF

position.

5. Check und er the vehicle again for leakingf l If ll f l d t t t


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fuel. If you see or smell fuel, do not startyour vehicle again. If you d o not see orsmell fuel, you can try to start you r veh icle

again.

6. Check all vehicle warning lights beforedriving the vehicle.

Pushing

Vehicles with automatic transmissions cannot bestarted by pushing. Vehicles with manualtransmissions should not be p ush started d ue topossible catalytic converter damage. Follow the

directions under If Your Vehicle Needs aJump-Start.

Warning Lights and


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Warning Lights andGauges

The instrument panel (dashboard) on yourvehicle is divided into several different sections.The illustrations on the following pages showthe major p arts of the instrument panel that aredescribed in this chapter. Some items shownmay not be on all vehicles.

In your vehicle, the warning lights and gaugesare grouped together on the instrument panel.We call this grouping a cluster.

62Mu


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GTinstrumentcluster

Mus


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stang

instrumentcluster

The Cluster


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The following warning lights and gauges are onthe cluster. All of the warning lights and gauges

alert you to possible problems with your vehicle.Some of the lights listed are op tional. Thefollowing sections detail wh at each of theseindicators m eans.

Brake System Warning Light

The warning light for the brakes can show twothings that the parking brake is not fullyreleased, or that the brake fluid level is low inthe master cylinder reservoir. If the fluid level is

low, the brake system should be checked by aqualified service technician.

This light comes on when the parking brake isset, or if it is not set, it comes on briefly w henyou turn the ignition key to START. It normallygoes off shortly after the engine starts and yourelease the parking brake. If the light stays onafter you have fully released the parking brake,have the hydraulic brake system serviced.

RWARNING

The BRAKE light indicates that the brakesmay not be working properly. Have thebrakes checked immediately.

Anti-Lock Brake System Light(If equipped)


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This warning light will go on each time you

start your vehicle. If it remains on for longerthan five seconds, you should shut off yourengine and restart. If the anti-lock brake lightstays on, th is indicates that the anti-lock featureis disabled and should receive immediateattention by a qualified service technician.Normal braking is not affected unless the brakewarn ing light is also lit.

RWARNING

If the anti-lock brake system warning

light remains on or comes on whiledriving, have the braking system checkedby a qualified service technician as soonas possible.

NOTE: If a fault occurs in the anti-locksystem, and the brake warning light isnot lit, the anti-lock system is disabledbut normal brake function remainsoperational.

Low Oil Level Light (4.6L engines only)

This light indicates that the level of th e oil inyour engine is low and you have to add moreoil. The light may glow for a moment when theengine is started. If the light stays on while theengine is running, check the engine oil.

1. Park your car on level ground, and turn offthe engine and allow a few minutes for the

i il d i b k i h il


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engine oil to drain back into the oil pan.

2. Use the dipstick to check the oil. If the levelis low, add oil, but do not overfill. See Engine Oil Recommendations in the Index.

If you are parked on a steep incline, the LOWOIL LEVEL warning may come on when youstart your car, even though the oil is at thecorrect level.

NOTE: The LOW OIL LEVEL warning willstay on until you turn the ignition

OFF. After your car is on level ground,wait five minutes to allow the oil todrain back before turning the ignitionON again.

Safety Belt Warning Light and Chime

This warning light and chime remind you tofasten your safety belt. The following conditionswill take place:

u If the safety belt is not buckled when the keyis turned to the ON position, the light comes

on for 1 to 2 minutes and the chime soundsfor 4 to 8 seconds.

u If the safety belt is bu ckled wh ile the light ison and the chime is sounding, both the lightand chime will turn off.

u If the safety belt is bu ckled before the key isturned to the ON position, the light will

f 4 t 8 d ith hi


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come on for 4 to 8 seconds with no chime.

Air Bag Readiness Light

The air bag system uses a readiness light toindicate the condition of the system. If thesystem is functioning p roperly, the light w illstay on for 6 seconds when the ignition switch isturned to the ON position.

If there is a problem with the system, two thingsmay happen: the readiness light will either flashor stay lit up , or you will hear a beeping sound.If either of these things happen, have the air bagsystem serviced at you r Ford or Lincoln-Mercurydealer imm ediately.

Low Coolant Warning Light (4.6L EngineOnly)


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This light tells you that the coolant is low insidethe coolant recovery bottle and that you shouldadd more coolant.

This light comes on for a few seconds whenyour ignition key is turned to start, but shouldturn off when the engine starts. If this light stayson, check the level of coolant inside th e r ecoverybottle. See Engine Coolant in the Index.

Charging System Light

This light indicates that your battery is not beingcharged and that you need to have the electrical

system checked.

This light comes on every time you turn theignition to the ON or START position (engineoff). The light should go off when the enginestarts and the alternator begins to charge.

If the light stays on or comes on when theengine is ru nning, h ave the electrical systemchecked as soon as possible


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checked as soon as possible.

Overdrive Off Indicator (Automatic Only)

This light tells you that the Transmission ControlSwitch (O/ D) to the right of the gearshift leverhas been pu shed. When the light is on, thetransmission will not shift into overd rive.Depressing the button to the right of the shifterwill return the vehicle to overdrive on mode.The transmission will be in the overdrive onmode when the vehicle is started even if theO/ D OFF mode was selected when the vehiclewas last shut off. For more information see

Driving Your Mustang.NOTE: If the light does not come on w hen the

TCS is depressed or if the light flasheswhen you are driving, have yourvehicle serviced at the firstopportunity. If this condition persists,damage could occur to thetransmission.

High Beam Light

This light comes on when the headlamps ared hi h b h fl h h


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turned to high beam or when you flash thelights.

Check Engine Warning Light

The Powertrain On-Board Diagnostic II (OBD II)system consists of the hardware and softwarenecessary to monitor the operation of thepow ertrain. The OBD II system is designed tocheck the function of the vehicles powertraincontrol system during normal operation. If anemission problem is detected, th e Check EngineWarning Light (in the cluster) is turned on.

Modification or additions to the vehicle maycause incorrect operation of the OBD II system.Add itions su ch as burglar alarms, cellularphones, and CB radios must be carefullyinstalled. Do not install these d evices by tapp inginto or running wires close to powertrain controlsystem wires or components.

The light comes on briefly when you turn theignition key to ON , but it should turn off whenthe engine starts. If the light does not come on


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g gwhen you turn the ignition to ON or if it comes

on and stays on w hen you are driving, haveyour vehicle serviced as soon as possible. Thisindicates a possible problem with one of thevehicles emission control systems. You do notneed to have your vehicle towed in.

If the light turns on and off at one (1) secondintervals while you are driving the vehicle, itmeans that th e engine is misfiring. If thiscondition persists, damage could occur to the

engine or catalytic convertor. Have your vehicleserviced at the first opportunity. You do notneed to have your vehicle towed in.

If the light turns on and off on rare occasionswhile you are driving, it means that amalfunction occurred and the cond ition correcteditself.

An example of a condition wh ich corrects itselfoccurs when an engine running out of fuel

begins to misfire. In this case, the Check EngineWarning Light m ay turn on and will then set aDiagnostic Trouble Code indicating that theengine was misfiring while the last of the fuelwas being consumed. After refueling, the CheckEngine Warning Light will turn off after thevehicle has completed three consecutive w armup cycles without a misfire condition occurring.A warm up cycle consists of engine start from acold condition (engine at ambient temperature)

and running u ntil the engine reaches normaloperating temperature.

On the fourth engine start up, the Check EngineWarning Light will turn off as soon as theengine begins to crank. It is not necessary tohave the engine serviced.

Und er certain conditions, the Check EngineWarning Light may come on if the fuel cap isnot prop erly installed. If the Check Engine


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Warning Light comes on and you suspect that

the fuel cap is not properly installed, pull off theroad as soon as it is safely possible and turn offthe engine. Remove and replace the fuel cap,making sure it is properly seated.

After completing the three consecutive warm upcycles and on the fourth engine start up, theCheck Engine Warn ing Light should turn off. Ifthe light does not go off after the fourth enginerestart, have your vehicle serviced by your

dealer or a qualified technician.Anti-Theft Alarm Light (If equipped)

This light is used when you set the anti-theftalarm system. See Anti-Theft System in theFeatures chapter for more information.

Turn Signal Indicator Lights

The turn signal arrow will flash to indicate thedirection in which you are going to be turning.

Fuel Gauge


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The fuel gauge

The fuel gauge displays approximately howmuch fuel is in the fuel tank only w hen theignition switch is ON. For proper fuel gaugeindication after adding fuel, turn the ignitionswitch OFF while refueling the vehicle.

The fuel gauge indicator may vary slightly whenthe vehicle is in motion. The most accuratereading is obtained with the vehicle on levelground.

With ignition switch OFF, the fuel gaugeindicator may drift from the ignition switch ONposition.

Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge

This gauge indicates the temperature of theengine coolant, not the coolant level. If thecoolant is not at its proper level or mixture, thegauge indication w ill not be accurate.

The pointer moves from the C (cold) mark intothe NORMAL band as your engine coolantwarms up. Under n ormal driving conditions, thepointer should stay in the NORMAL band. It isacceptable for the pointer to fluctuate within theNORMAL band und er normal driving

conditions, and under certain driving conditionssuch as, heavy stop and go traffic, or driving uphills in hot weather, for the pointer to indicate atth t f th NORMAL b d


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the top of the NORMAL band.

If, under any circumstances, the pointer movesabove the NORMAL band, the engine isoverheating and continued operation may causeengine damage.

The engine coolant temperature gauge

If your engine coolant overheats:

1. Pull off the road as soon as safely possible.

2. Turn off the engine.

3. Let the engine cool. DO NOT REMOVECOOLANT SYSTEM FILL CAP UNTILTHE ENGINE IS COOL.

4. Check the coolant level following theinstructions on checking and adding coolantto your engine, see Engine Coolant in the

Index. If you do not follow theseinstructions, you or others could be injured .

If the coolant continues to overheat, have thecoolant system serviced.

Speedometer


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The speedometer

The speedometer tells you how many miles(kilometers) per hour your vehicle is moving.

Odometer

The odometer tells you the total number of miles(kilometers) your vehicle has been d riven.

Trip Odometer

If you want to track your mileage up to 999.9

miles (kilometers), use the trip odom eter. Simplyset the trip odometer to zero by pressing thereset button firmly when beginning the distanceyou w ish to measure.

Since the trip od ometer d isplays d istanceindependent of the odometer it will not alwaysadvance to the next mile (kilometer) at the sametime as the odometer.

Tachometer


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The tachometer

The tachometer displays the approximate enginerevolutions per minute (rpm), or how fast theengine is running.

The white zone shows the highest nu mber ofengine revolutions per minute (rpm) at whichyou should drive your car. Driving with thepointer in the red zone may cause enginedamage.

Battery Vo ltage Gauge (If Equippe d)This gauge shows you the battery voltage whenthe ignition key is in the ON position.

If the battery is operating under cold weatherconditions, the pointer may indicate in the upperrange of the NORMAL band while the battery ischarging. If you are running electrical accessorieswith the engine off or idling at a low speed, orthe battery is not fully charged, the pointer may

move toward the lower end of the N ORMALband.

If it stays outside the NORMAL band, have yourvehicles electrical system checked as soon as itis safely p ossible.


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Battery voltage gauge

Engine Oil Pressure Gauge

This gauge indicates the engine oil pressure, notthe oil level. How ever, if your engines oil levelis low, it could affect the oil pressure. With theengine ru nning, the pointer should m ove intothe NORMAL band. If the pointer drops belowthe NORMAL band while the engine is running,you have lost oil pressure and continuedoperation will cause severe engine damage.

Engine oil pressure gauge

If you lose engine oil pressure:

1. Pull off the road as soon as safely possible.

2. Shut off the engine immediately or severe


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2. Shut off the engine immediately or severe

engine damage could result.3. Check the engines oil level, following the

instructions on checking and adding engineoil, see the Engine Oil in the Index. If you donot follow these instructions, you or otherscould be injured. To assure an accuratereading, your car should be on level ground.

4. If the level is low, add oil as necessarybefore you start the engine again. Do not

overfill. Do not operate the engine if thepointer is below the NORMAL band,regardless of the oil level. Contact yournearest d ealer for further service actions.

For more information about adding oil, see Engine Oil Recommendations in the Index.

Mustangi


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nstrumentpanel

The m ain controls for the climate control system,clock, and radio are on the instrument panel.

NOTE: Any cleaner or polish that increases thegloss (shine) of the upper part of the


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gloss (shine) of the upper part of the

instrument panel should be avoided.The dull finish in this area is to helpprotect the driver from undesirablewindshield reflection.

The Climate Control Systems

Your vehicle has one of two different climatecontrol systems. The two systems are:

uan optional heating and air conditioningsystem

ua standard heating only system

If you are not sure which system your vehiclehas, see the diagrams on the following pages.

The Optional Heating and AirConditioning System

You can heat the inside of your vehicle, defrost

the windshield, and turn on the air conditioningwith the three knobs in the center of theinstrument panel:

uFAN

uTEMP

uSELECT


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The knobs that control the optional heating and airconditioning system

The heating system in the optional heating andair conditioning system operates the same as theheater on ly system. See The Heater Only System.

To cool your vehicle quickly in warm weather,turn the SELECT knob to MAX A/ C, turn theTEMP knob all the way to the end of the bluerange (full left) and turn the FAN knob to HI.MAX A/ C uses recirculated air and is the m ostfuel efficient way to cool your vehicle and canalso be used in heavy traffic to prevent exhaustfumes from entering the vehicle. MAX A/ C canalso be used in high humidity areas for moreefficient operation.

If the interior of your vehicle is very warm,drive for the first few minutes with the windowsopen. This forces most of the hot, stale air out ofthe vehicle and allows the air conditioning towork faster.

To cool your vehicle using outside air, turn theSELECT knob to NORM A/ C, turn the TEMPknob all the w ay to the end of the blue range

(full left) and turn the FAN knob to the desiredspeed between LO and HI. NORM A/ Cprovides quieter system operation than MAXA/ C.

Und er n ormal cond itions, the SELECT knobshould be left in any position other than MAXA/ C or OFF when the vehicle is parked. Thisallows the vehicle to breathe through the


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outside air inlet duct.The Heater Only System

You can heat the inside of your vehicle, defrostthe windshield, or use the vents by adjusting thethree knobs in the center of the instrumentpanel:

uFAN

uTEMP

uSELECT

The knobs that control the standard heating only system

To heat the inside of your vehicle, turn theSELECT knob to FLOOR, turn the TEMP knoball the way to the end of the red range (fullright) and turn the FAN knob to HI. After thevehicle is warm, the temperature and blowerspeed can be adjusted to maintain a comfortabletemperature.

To defrost the windshield and side windows,turn the SELECT knob to Defrost symbol, turnthe TEMP knob to the end of the red range (fullright) and turn the FAN knob to HI.

To heat the inside of your vehicle and defrostthe windshield and side w indows at the sametime, turn the SELECT knob to MIX, turn theTEMP knob into the red range, as required, and


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turn the FAN knob to the d esired speed betweenLO and HI.

On mild days you may want to ventilate yourvehicle with outside air. Turn the SELECT knobto VENT, turn the TEMP knob to the end of theblue range (full left) and turn the FAN knob tothe desired speed. Air will be delivered throughthe instrument panel registers.

Und er n ormal cond itions, the SELECT knob

should be left in any position except OFF whenthe vehicle is p arked. This allows the veh icle tobreathe through the outside air inlet duct.

Rear Window Defroster(If equipped)

The defroster for the rear window clears frost,fog, or thin ice from both the inside and outsideof the rear window.

The button for the rear window defroster islocated on the left side of the instrument panelbelow the headlamp switch.

The button that controls the rear window defroster

Clear away any snow that is on the rearwindow before using the defroster. With theengine ru nning, push the d efrost bu tton.

After app roximately 10 m inutes, the defroster


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will turn off. If the w indow is still not clear,turn the defroster on again.

The defroster will turn off when the ignition keyis turned to the OFF position.

The heating elements are bonded to the inside ofthe rear window. Do not use sharp objects toscrape the inside of the rear window or u seabrasive cleaners to clean it. Doing so coulddamage the heating elements.

The Interior and Exterior Lights

Daytime Running Light System

(Canadian vehicles only)

The Daytime Runn ing Light (DRL) system turnsthe high beam headlamps on, with a reducedlight ou tput, when:

uThe headlamp system is in the OFF position,and

uThe vehicle is run ning, and

uThe vehicle has a fully released parkingbrake.

NOTE: The high beam indicator will not turnon in the flash-to-pass mode duringnighttime driving.

NOTE: You may n otice that the lights flickerwhen the vehicle is turned on or off.This is a normal condition.

RWARNING

The Daytime Running Light (DRL) systemwill not illuminate the tail lamps andparking lamps. Turn on your headlamps


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p g p y pat dusk. Failure to do so may result in acollision.

Turning On the Exterior Lights

To turn on the headlamps, parking lamps, sidemarkers, and tail lamps, use the control knobthat is to the left of the steering wheel.

Headlamp switch location

The knob that controls the headlamps and parking lamps

When you turn on the headlamps, the parkinglamps, tail lamps, and side markersautomatically turn on. But you can turn on theparking lamps, tail lamps, and side markerswithout turning on the headlamps.


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For more information about how the high beamswork, refer to the Steering Column Controlschapter.

Cleaning the Exterior Lamps

Do not use dry paper towel, chemical solventsor abrasive cleaners to clean the lamps, as thesemay cause scratches or crack the lamps.

Fog Lamps (If equipped)The fog lamps switch is located on the consoleto the left of the parking brake. The fog lampsact as a supplement to the low beam headlampsun der limited visibility conditions such as rain,snow, dust or fog and operate only when thelow beam headlamps are on.

Fog lamp switch

uTo turn the fog lamps on, push the concaveside of the rocker switch. An indicator lightwill glow when the lamps are on.

uTo turn off, push the raised side of theswitch.

Lighting Up the Interior and InstrumentPanel

With the headlamp knob in the p arking lampsor headlamps position, you can brighten or dim

h li h h i l T d hi


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the lights on the instrument panel. To do this,rotate the headlamp knob clockwise (to dim thelights) or counterclockwise (to brighten thelights). Rotate the knob fully counterclockwise tooperate th e interior lights.

The knob controls the light on the instrument panel andthe interior light

Turning on the Map and Reading Lamps

Your vehicle has two map lamps for thepassenger and the driver. To turn on the maplamps, push the switch next to each lamp.


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Map lamp (convertible only)

Front seat map and dome lamps (coupe only)

The dual beam map lamps are located on eachside of the dom e lamp. Each map lamp can beturned on by the switches on the lamp.


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The controls on the steering column and wheelare designed to give you easy access to thecontrols while you are driving.

The Turn Signal Lever

You can use the turn signal lever on the left sideof the steering column to:

uoperate the turn signalsu turn the high beams on/ off

u flash the lamps

u turn the windshield wipers and washeron/ off

The turn signal lever

Turn Signals

Move the lever u p to signal a right tu rn. Moveit down to signal a left turn. The correspondingindicator light in the instrument cluster willflash.

If the turn signal stays on after you turn, movethe lever back to the center (off) position.

For lane changes, move the lever far enough tosignal but not to latch. The lever will return to

the off position when you release it.


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the off position when you release it.

High Beams

To turn on the high beams, turn the headlampcontrol knob to the h eadlamp ON position andpush the turn signal lever aw ay from you u ntilit latches. When the high beams are ON, thehigh beam indicator light on the instrumentpanel comes on.

To turn off the high beams, pull the levertoward you until it latches. The high beamindicator light turns off.

NOTE: The fog lamps w ill turn off if you puthigh beams on while fog lamps are on.

Flashing the Lights

To flash the headlamps, pull the lever towardyou for a moment and then release it. The

headlamps will flash whether the headlampknob is in the on or off position.

Windshield Wipers and Washer

To turn on the windshield wipers, the ignitionkey must be tu rned to the ON or ACC position.

Rotate the end of the lever away from you toactivate the wipers. The first seven detents areinterval wipe positions, the eighth detent is the

LO position and the ninth d etent is the H Iposition.

To turn the wipers off, turn the knob towardyou to the OFF position.

Variable Interval Wipers

In addition to two speed wipers, your vehiclehas wipers that you can set to operate atvarying intervals. For examp le, you can set the

interval so they wipe less often when it drizzlesft i h i i


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y por more often in heavier rain.

The variable interval wiper on the turn signal lever

To set the interval wipers, turn the knob at theend of the turn signal lever toward or awayfrom you u ntil the w ipers are going at thedesired interval.

Windshield Washer

To clean the windshield, push in the end of thewiper knob. For a constant spray, keep the knobpushed in. After you release the knob, thewipers operate for two to three cycles beforeturning off (if the wipers were OFF) orreturning to HI, LO, or the interval settingselected.

If the washer does not work, check the washerfluid level and fill it if it is low. See the ServicingYour Mustang chapter. If there is enough fluid,consult your nearest Ford or Lincoln-Mercurydealer.

Do not try to clean the w indshield when thewasher fluid container is empty or activate thewashers at any time for more than 15 secondscontinuously. This could damage the washerpump system.

R


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RWARNING

In freezing weather, the washer solutionmay freeze on the windshield and obscureyour vision. Always warm up thewindshield with the defroster before youuse the washer fluid. If you cannot seethrough the windshield clearly, it canincrease the risk of being involved in a

collision.

For information about refilling the washer fluidor replacing your windshield wiper blades, seeWindshield washer fluid and Wipers in the Index.

Hazard Flasher

To alert other drivers to hazardous situations,push in the hazard flasher on the top of thesteering column. The same switch turns theflashers off.

The flashers work whether your vehicle isrunning or not. The flashers work for u p to twohours when the battery is fully charged and ingood condition without draining the batteryexcessively. If the flashers run for longer thantwo hours or if the battery is not fully charged,the battery can be drained.


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The control switch for the hazard flashers

Horn

To sound the horn, push the center pad area ofthe steering wheel.

The horn on the steering wheel

Tilt Steering

RWARNING

Never adjust the steering wheel when the

vehicle is moving.


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The lever to tilt the steering wheel

To change the position of the steering wheel,pull the release lever on the column toward you.Tip the steering wheel to the desired position.Release the lever to lock the steering w heel inplace.

Speed Control (If equipped)

If your vehicle has speed control, you canautomatically maintain a constant speed at orabove 30 mph (50 km/ h).

Use of radio transmitting equipment that is not


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Federal Communications Commission (FCC) orin Canada the Canadian Radio andTelecommunications Commission (CRTC)approved may cause the speed control tomalfunction. Therefore, use only p roperlyinstalled FCC (CRTC in Canada) ap proved radiotransmitting equipment in your vehicle.

NOTE: For vehicles equipped w ith 5-speedmanual transmission, it may bepreferable to drive in 4 (Fourth) gear inmountainous areas or at high altitudeto improve speed control performance.

NOTE: When driving in hilly terrain, at highelevations, or w hen pulling a trailer, itmay be desirable to drive with thetransmission in the Overdrive offmode. This can be done by depressing

the Transmission Control Switch (O/D)to the right of the transmission gearselection lever. Driving in this modeprevents the transmission from shiftingexcessively when ascending grades, andhelps maintain speed when goingdown steep hills.

NOTE: Do not shift to N (Neutral) when usingthe speed control. This will cause the

engine to overspeed.When driving uphill, especially with a heavyload, significant sp eed d rops may occur. If thespeed drops m ore than 10 mp h (16 km/ h) theautomatic speed control will, by d esign, besuspended. Some vehicles may require

temporary resumption of manual speed controlwhile ascending steep grades in order tomaintain the selected speed.


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The speed control switches on the steering wheel

To set the speed control:

1. Press and release the ON switch.

2. Accelerate to the desired speed above30 mph (50 km/ h) using the acceleratorpedal.

3. Press the SET ACCEL switch and release itimmediately to set your speed. If you keepthis switch pressed, your speed will continueto increase.

4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.Your vehicle will maintain the sp eed you set.

If you d rive up or d own a steep hill, yourvehicle may momentarily slow down or speedup, even though the speed control is on. This isnormal.

NOTE: If your speed increases above your setspeed while driving in D (Drive) on a


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downhill grade, you may want todepress the Transmission ControlSwitch located on the shift lever toturn off overdrive to reduce vehiclespeed. Speed control cannot reduce thevehicle speed if it goes above your setspeed on a downhill grade.

NOTE: If your vehicle is equipped w ith a 5speed manual transmission, and if yourspeed increases above your set speedwhile driving in 5 (Fifth) gear on adownhill grade, you may want to shiftto 4 (Fourth) gear to reduce vehiclespeed. D epressing the clutch pedalcancels speed control, therefore speedcontrol must be reset by pressing theSET/ACCEL or RESUME buttons.

Speed control cannot reduce the vehiclespeed if it goes above your set speedon a downhill grade.

RWARNING

Do not use the speed control in heavytraffic or on roads that are winding,slippery, or unpaved.

Accelerating With the Speed ControlOperating

You can use the accelerator pedal to speed upmomentarily. When you take your foot off the

accelerator, the vehicle will return to th e setspeed.


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Resetting the Speed Control

To reset the speed control to a lower speed, useone of the following procedures:

uCOAST Press and hold the COAST switch.Release the switch when the vehicle slowsdown to the desired speed.

uLightly tap the brake pedal. When the vehicleattains the desired sp eed, press the SETACCEL switch an d release it immediately.

uTAP-DOWN Press and then quicklyrelease the COAST switch. Each time youtap the switch, the set speed will decreaseby one (1) mp h (1.6 km / h). Multiple tapswill cause the set speed to d ecrease inincrements of one (1) mp h (1.6 km / h). For

example, if the current set speed is 60 mph(96 km/ h) five (5) taps of the COAST switchwill decrease the vehicle speed and SET it at55 mp h (88 km/ h).

If vehicle speed is reduced below 30 mph(50 km/ h) by any of the above methods, thenyou must manually accelerate to a speed over30 m ph (50 km/ h) and reset the system.

To reset the speed control to a higher speed,

follow one of these procedures:

uACCEL Press and hold the SET ACCELswitch. Release the switch when the vehiclehas accelerated to the desired speed.

uDepress the accelerator pedal. When thevehicle attains th e d esired speed, press th eSET ACCEL switch and release itimmediately.

uTAP-UP Press and then quickly release theSET ACCEL switch. Each time you tap theswitch the set speed will increase by one (1)


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switch, the set speed will increase by one (1)mp h (1.6 km / h). Multiple taps will cause theset speed to increase in increments of one (1)mph (1.6 km/ h). For example, if the currentset speed is 55 mph (88 km/ h) five (5) tapsof the SET ACCEL switch will increase thevehicle speed and SET it at 60 mph(96 km/ h).

Resuming a Set Speed

If you press the brake or clutch pedal, speedcontrol is suspended. You can return to the setspeed you set by pressing the RESUME switch,as long as you did not press the OFF switch.You must be driving at least 30 mph (48 km/ h).

Your vehicle will gradually return to thepreviously set speed and then maintain it.

To Turn Speed Control Off

Press the OFF switch.

Speed control is also turned OFF each time thevehicle ignition is shut off.

Features

Your vehicle has a variety of features designedfor your comfort convenience and safety Read


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for your comfort, convenience and safety. Readthis chapter to find out about standard andoptional features.

Doors

Anti-theft front door lock knobs

Anti-theft lock knobs are designed to preventunlocking the door by pulling up on the lockknob. To unlock and open the front door frominside the vehicle, pull on the inside doorhandle.

Power Door Locks (If eq uipped)

If your vehicle has power door locks, thecontrols to lock the doors are on the trim panelof the front door. When you close the doors

after you set the door locks, the doors remainlocked. If the power mechanism fails, the manualdoor locks will override the power controls.Pulling on a front inside door handle willautomatically override and release the front doorlock.


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The power locks on the drivers door

Anti-Theft Alarm System(If equipped)

When armed, this system helps protect your

vehicle against break-ins or theft.When an unauthorized entry occurs, the systemtriggers and will:

u flash the headlamps, parking lamps, andalarm ind icator lamp

uhonk the horn

udisable the starting circuit to prevent thevehicle from being started

NOTE: The f actory installed Remote EntrySystem has a PANIC feature that alsochirps the vehicle horn and flashes theinterior/exterior lamps whe n thePANIC button on the remote entry

transmitter is pushed. The PANICalarm and the Anti-Theft alarm are twoseparate features Both the anti theft


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separate features. Both the anti-theftalarm and the PANIC feature can beactive at the same time.

To tell the difference between a PANIC alarmand a triggered Anti-theft alarm:

uonly the Anti-Theft alarm will cause thealarm indicator lamp (located in the

instrument cluster) to flash on and off.

uonly the Anti-Theft alarm will disable th estart circuit so that the vehicle can not bestarted.

u the Anti-Theft alarm will not stop by pushingthe PANIC button on the Remote Entrytransmitter.

For more information on the PANIC alarm, see

Remote Entry System in the Index.

Arming the system

To arm the system, do the following steps insequence:

1. Remove the key from the ignition. The hoodmust be closed to arm the system.

2. Open any door. The alarm indicator lightwill start flashing to remind you to arm thesystem.

3. Lock the doors by using the power doorlock switch or by pressing the remote entrytransmitter LOCK button.

The alarm indicator will now glow steadily.

4. Close all doors. The alarm ind icator lightwill then remain on steadily forapproximately 30 seconds and then go out.When the light goes out, the system isarmed.

NOTE: Be sure t