Ford Thunderbird 1997 Owner's Manual

Table of Contents

Introduction ....................................................1

Instrumentation .............................................. 7

Electronic Sound Systems ......................... 25

Controls and Features ................................ 59

Seating and Safety Restraints .................. 99

Starting ......................................................... 139

Driving ......................................................... 145

Roadside Emergencies .............................. 165

Maintenance and Care ............................. 195

Capacities and Specifications ................. 247

Reporting Safety Defects

(U.S. Only) .................................................. 253

Customer Assistance ................................. 255

Accessories .................................................. 267

Quick Index ................................................ 277

Index ............................................................. 287

Service Station Information .................... 308

Introduction

At Ford Motor Company, excellence is the continuous commitment to achieve the best result possible. It is dedication to learning what you want, determination to develop the right concept, and execution of that concept with care, precision, and attention to detail. In short, excellence means being the standard by which others are judged.

Our Guiding Principles

Quality comes first. For your satisfaction, the

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quality of our products and services must be our number one priority.

You are the focus of everything we do. Our

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work must be done with you in mind, providing better products and services than our competition.

Continuous improvement is essential to our

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success. We must strive for excellence in everything we do: in our products — in their safety and value — and in our services, our human relations, our competitiveness, and our profitability.

Employee involvement is our way of life.

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We are a team. We must treat one another with trust and respect.

Dealers and suppliers are our partners. We

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must maintain mutually beneficial relationships with dealers, suppliers, and our other business associates.

Integrity is never compromised. Our conduct

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worldwide must be pursued in a manner that is socially responsible and commands respect for its integrity and for its positive contributions to society.

This Guide

Congratulations on the purchase of your new vehicle. This guide has information about the equipment and the options for your new vehicle. You may not have bought all of the options available to you. If you do not know which information applies to your vehicle, talk to your dealer.

This guide describes equipment and gives specifications for equipment that was in effect when this guide was approved for printing. Ford may discontinue models or change specifications or design without any notice and without incurring obligation.

NOTES and WARNINGS

NOTES give you additional information about

the subject matter you are referencing. WARNINGS remind you to be especially careful

in those areas where carelessness can cause damage to your vehicle or personal injury to yourself, your passengers or other people. Please read all WARNINGS carefully.

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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 specific question or need additional information. To help you find specific information quickly, you can use the Quick Index or the Index.

The Quick Index at the end of the book provides a page number following each item which indicates where detailed information can be found.

To use the Index, turn to the back of the book and search in the alphabetical listing for the word that best describes the information you need. If the word you chose is not listed, think of other related words and look them up. We have designed the Index so that you can find information under a technical term.

Canadian Owners — French Version

French Owner Guides can be obtained from your dealer or by writing to Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited, Service Publications, P.O. Box 1580, Station B, Mississauga, Ontario L4Y 4G3.

Record Booklet

The Maintenance Schedule booklet lists the services that are most important for keeping your vehicle in good condition. A record log is also provided to help you keep track of all services performed.

Your vehicle is covered by three types of warranties: Basic Vehicle Warranty, Extended

Warranties on certain parts, and Emissions Warranties.

Read your Warranty Information Booklet carefully to find out about your vehicle’s warranties and your basic rights and responsibilities.

If you lose your Warranty Information Booklet, you can get a new one free of charge. Contact any Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer, or refer to the addresses and phone numbers on the first page of this Owner’s Guide.

Ford Extended Service Plan

More Protection for Your Vehicle

You can get more protection for your new car or light truck by purchasing a Ford Extended Service Plan (Ford ESP). Ford ESP is the only extended service program with the Ford name on it and the only service contract backed by Ford Motor Company.

Ford ESP is an optional service contract, backed and administered by Ford. It provides:

protection against repair costs after your

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Bumper to Bumper Warranty expires;

and

other benefits during the warranty period

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(such as: reimbursement for rentals; coverage for certain maintenance and wear items).

You may purchase Ford ESP from any participating Ford Motor Company dealer. There are several Ford ESP plans available in various time-and-mileage combinations. Each plan can be tailored to fit your own driving needs, including reimbursement benefits for towing and rental. (In Hawaii, rules vary. See your dealer for details.)

When you buy Ford ESP, you receive peace-of-mind protection throughout the United States and Canada, provided by a network of more than 5,100 participating Ford Motor Company dealers.

NOTE: Repairs performed outside the United

States and Canada are not eligible for ESP coverage.

This information is subject to change. Ask your dealer for complete details about Ford ESP coverage.

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-in period, you need to pay careful attention to how you drive your vehicle.

Avoid sudden stops. Because your vehicle

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has new brake linings, you should take these steps:

— Watch traffic carefully so that you can

anticipate when to stop. — Begin braking well in advance. — Apply the brakes gradually.

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

Use only the type of engine oil that Ford

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recommends. See Engine oil recommendations in the Index. Do not use special “break-in” oils.

Your vehicle is equipped with an Electronic Powertrain Control Module that limits engine and/or vehicle speeds with a cut-out mode to promote durability.

The instrument panel

Instrumentation

The instrument panel (dashboard) on your vehicle is divided into several different sections. The illustrations on the following pages show the major parts of the instrument panel that are described in this chapter. Some items shown may not be on all vehicles.

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

Mechanical cluster

The following warning lights and gauges are on the mechanical cluster. All of the warning lights and gauges alert you to possible problems with your vehicle. Some of the lights listed are optional. The following sections detail what each of these indicators means.

Brake System Warning Light

The warning light for the brakes can show two things — that the parking brake is not fully released, or that the brake fluid level is low in the master cylinder reservoir. If the fluid level is low, the brake system should be checked by a qualified service technician.

The brake system warning light

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

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The BRAKE light indicates that the brakes may not be working properly. Have the brakes checked immediately.

Anti-Lock Brake System Light (If equipped)

This warning light will go on each time you start your vehicle. If it remains on for longer than five seconds, you should shut off your engine and restart. If the anti-lock brake light stays on, this indicates that the anti-lock feature is disabled and should receive immediate attention by a qualified service technician. Normal braking is not affected unless the brake warning light is also lit.

The Anti-Lock Brake System has self-check capabilities. As previously described, the system turns on the anti-lock light each time you start your engine. After the engine is started and the anti-lock light is out, the system performs another test the first time the vehicle reaches 14 mph (22 km/h). The system turns on the Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) pump motor for approximately 1/2 second. At this time a mechanical noise may be heard. This is a normal part of the self-check feature. If a malfunction is found during this check the anti-lock light will come on.

The anti-lock brake system light

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If the anti-lock brake system warning light remains on or comes on while driving, have the braking system checked by a qualified service technician as soon as possible.

NOTE: If a fault occurs in the anti-lock

system, and the brake warning light is not lit, the anti-lock system is disabled but normal brake function remains operational.

Safety Belt Warning Light and Chime

This warning light and chime remind you to fasten your safety belt. The following conditions will take place:

If the safety belt is not buckled when the key

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is turned to the ON position, the light will come on for 1 to 2 minutes and the chime will sound for 4 to 8 seconds.

If the safety belt is buckled while the light is

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on and the chime is sounding, both the light and chime will turn off.

If the safety belt is buckled before the key is

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turned to the ON position, the light will not come on and the chime will not sound.

The safety belt warning light

Air Bag Readiness Light

The air bag system uses a readiness light and a tone to indicate the condition of the system. The readiness light is in the instrument cluster. When you turn the ignition key to the ON position, this light will light up for six (6) seconds and then turn off. This indicates that the system is operating normally. NOTE: Regularly scheduled maintenance of the air bag system is not required.

If the light fails to illuminate, continues to flash, remains on, or you hear a beeping sound, have the system serviced at your Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer immediately.

The air bag readiness light

Low Coolant Light

This light tells you that the coolant is low inside the coolant recovery bottle and that you should add more coolant.

This light comes on for a few seconds when your ignition key is turned to start, but should turn off when the engine starts. If this light stays on, check the level of coolant inside the recovery bottle. See Engine Coolant in the Index.

The low coolant light

Charging System Light

This light indicates that your battery is not being charged and that you need to have the electrical system checked.

The charging system light

This light illuminates every time you turn the ignition to the ON or START position (engine off). The light should go off when the engine starts and the alternator begins to charge.

If the light stays on or illuminates when the engine is running, have the electrical system checked as soon as possible.

Overdrive Off Indicator

The overdrive off indicator light

This light tells you that the Transmission Control Switch (TCS) has been pushed. When the light is on, the transmission will not shift into overdrive. Depressing the button will return the vehicle to “overdrive on” mode. The transmission will be in the “overdrive on” mode when the vehicle is started even if the O/D OFF mode was selected when the vehicle was last shut off.

NOTE: If the light does not come on when the

TCS is depressed or if the light flashes when you are driving, have your vehicle serviced at the first opportunity. If this condition persists, damage could occur to the transmission.

Traction Assist Off Indicator

The traction assist off indicator

This light comes on when the Traction Assist system has been turned off.

High Beam Light

This light illuminates when the headlamps are turned to high beam or when you flash the lights.

The high beam light

Service Engine Soon Warning Light

This light illuminates when the engine’s Emission Control System requires service. It will also illuminate when the ignition key is in the ON position and the engine is off.

The service engine soon warning light

Anti-Theft Alarm Light (If equipped)

Anti-theft alarm light

This light is used when you set the anti-theft alarm system. See Anti-Theft System in the Controls and Features chapter for more information.

Turn Signal Indicator Lights

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

The turn signal indicator light

Cruise Control Indicator Light

This light comes on when the cruise control system is actively maintaining the set speed. It will go off when the brakes are used or if the cruise control is turned off.

The cruise control indicator light

This light does not indicate any problems but is only a convenience to tell when the cruise control is active.

Door Ajar Light (If equipped)

This light tells you when any door is not completely shut. It glows when the key is in the ON position.

The door ajar light

Engine Oil Pressure Light

This light indicates the engine oil pressure, not the oil level. However, if your engine’s oil level is low, it could affect the oil pressure. The light should come on every time your ignition key is turned to ON or START, and should go out when the engine starts. If the light stays on or turns on while the engine is running, you have lost oil pressure and continued operation will

cause severe engine damage.

The engine oil pressure light

If you lose engine oil pressure:

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

2. Shut off the engine immediately. If you do not stop the engine as soon as safely possible, severe engine damage could result.

3. Check the engine’s oil level, following the instructions on checking and adding engine oil, see Engine Oil in the Index. If you do not follow these instructions, you or others could be injured. To assure an accurate reading, your vehicle should be on level ground.

4. If the level is low, add only as much oil as necessary before you start the engine again. Do not overfill. Do not operate the engine if the light is on, regardless of the oil level. Contact your nearest dealer for service as soon as possible.

For more information about adding oil, see Adding engine oil in the Maintenance and Care chapter of this guide.

Low Fuel Light

This light comes on when your fuel gauge indicates approximately 1/8 to 1/16 of a tank. Your vehicle must be turned to ON for this light to come on. This light will either flicker or glow steadily.

The low fuel light

Washer Fluid Low Light

This light comes on if the reservoir is less than a quarter full when you turn on the windshield washers.

The washer fluid low light

Fuel Gauge

The fuel gauge

The fuel gauge displays approximately how much fuel is in the fuel tank only when the ignition switch is ON. For proper fuel gauge indication after adding fuel, turn the ignition switch OFF while refueling the vehicle.

The fuel gauge indicator may vary slightly when the vehicle is in motion. The most accurate reading is obtained with the vehicle on level ground.

With ignition switch OFF, the fuel gauge indicator may drift from the ignition switch ON position.

Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge

This gauge indicates the temperature of the engine coolant, not the coolant level. If the coolant is not at its proper level or mixture, the gauge indication will not be accurate.

The pointer moves from the C (cold) mark into the normal band as your engine coolant warms up. Under normal driving conditions, the pointer should stay in the normal band. It is acceptable for the pointer to fluctuate within the normal band under normal driving conditions, and under certain driving conditions such as, heavy stop and go traffic, or driving up hills in hot weather, for the pointer to indicate at the top of the normal band.

If, under any circumstances, the pointer moves above the normal band, the engine is overheating and continued operation may cause engine damage.

The engine coolant temperature gauge

If your engine overheats:

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

2. Turn off the engine.

3. Let the engine cool. DO NOT REMOVE

COOLANT SYSTEM FILL CAP UNTIL THE ENGINE IS COOL.

4. Check the coolant level following the instructions on checking and adding coolant to your engine, see Engine Coolant in the Index. If you do not follow these instructions, you or others could be injured.

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

Speedometer

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 driven.

Trip Odometer

If you want to track your mileage up to 999.9 miles (kilometers), use the trip odometer. Simply set the trip odometer to zero by pressing the reset control firmly when beginning the distance you wish to measure.

Since the trip odometer displays distance independent of the odometer it will not always advance to the next mile (kilometer) at the same time as the odometer.

Tachometer

The tachometer

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

You can drive your vehicle at most rpm points on the tachometer but you must stay out of the red zone.

Regardless of the type of transmission in your vehicle, if you drive with the tachometer pointer in the red zone, you may damage the engine.

Compact Disc Radio

Electronic Sound Systems

The Compact Disc Radio combines the Electronic Stereo Radio with the Ford Compact Disc Player.

Using the Controls on Your New Compact Disc Radio

Most of the features of this unit work for both radio and CD operation. Also, some of the knobs and buttons control several different functions, so be sure to read all of the operating instructions carefully.

How to turn the radio on and off

Press the “POWER” button to turn the radio on. Press it again to turn it off.

How to adjust the volume

Press the (R/S) side of the “VOL” button to increase/decrease the volume. Bars illuminate in the display to show the relative volume level.

NOTE: If the volume level is set above a

certain listening level when the ignition switch is turned off, when the ignition switch is turned back on, the volume will come back to a “nominal” listening level. However, if the radio power is turned off, the volume will remain in the position it was set at when radio power was switched off.

Selecting the AM or FM frequency band

Push the “AM/FM” button to select the desired frequency band. When in the radio mode, pushing the button more than once will alternate between AM, FM1 and FM2. These functions are used with the station memory buttons described under How to tune radio stations.

How to tune radio stations

There are four ways for you to tune in a particular station. You can manually locate the station using the “SCAN/TUNE” button, “SEEK” the station, “SCAN” to the station or select the station by using the memory buttons, which you can set to any desired frequency. These four methods are described below.

Using the “SCAN/TUNE” button to manually

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tune

You can change the frequency up or down one increment at a time (FM changes in increments of 200kHz; AM changes in increments of 10kHz) by first pressing the “SCAN/TUNE” button twice (display shows “TUNE”), then — within approximately five seconds —pressing and releasing either the topaor bottombhalf of the “SEEK” button. To change frequencies quickly, press and hold down either the top or bottom half of the “SEEK” button. While you are manually tuning, the display will show a blinking “M”.

Manual tuning adjusts your radio to any allowable broadcast frequency, whether or not a station is present on that frequency. (See All About Radio Frequencies in this section.)

Using the “SEEK” function

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This feature on your radio allows you to automatically select listenable stations up or down the frequency band. Press the top half of the “SEEK” button to select the next listenable station up the frequency band. Press the bottombhalf of the button to select the next listenable station down the frequency band. By pressing and holding the button, listenable stations can be passed over to reach the desired station.

Using the “SCAN/TUNE” button to scan

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radio stations

Pressing the “SCAN/TUNE” button once enters the scan mode (display will indicate “SCN”). Pushing the topahalf of the “SEEK” button will begin the scan mode up the frequency band, stopping on each listenable station for approximately five seconds. Pushing the bottombhalf of the “SEEK” button will begin the scan mode down the frequency band, again stopping on each listenable station for approximately five seconds.

To stop the scan mode on the presently sampled station, press the “SCAN/TUNE” button again.

Setting the Station Memory Preset buttons

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Your radio is equipped with 6 station memory buttons. These buttons can be used to select up to 6 preset AM stations and 12 FM stations (6 in FM1 and 6 in FM2).

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