Ford Taurus Owners Manual: Brakes

GENERAL INFORMATION

Note: Occasional brake noise is normal. If a metal-to-metal, continuous grinding or continuous squeal sound is present, the brake linings may be worn out. Have them inspected by an authorized dealer. If your vehicle has continuous vibration or shudder in the steering wheel while braking, have your vehicle inspected by an authorized dealer.

Note: Brake dust may accumulate on the wheels, even under normal driving conditions. Some dust is inevitable as the brakes wear and does not contribute to brake noise. See the Vehicle Care chapter for wheel cleaning instructions.

chapter for information on the See the Instrument Cluster
chapter for information on the brake system warning light.

Wet brakes result in reduced braking efficiency. Gently press the brake pedal a few times when driving from a car wash or standing water to dry the brakes.

Brake Over Accelerator

In the event the accelerator pedal becomes stuck or entrapped, apply steady and firm pressure to the brake pedal to slow your vehicle and reduce engine power. If you experience this condition, apply the brakes and bring your vehicle to a safe stop. Turn the engine off, shift to position P and apply the parking brake, then inspect the accelerator pedal for any interferences. If none are found and the condition persists, have your vehicle towed to the nearest authorized dealer.

Brake Assist

Brake assist detects when you brake heavily by measuring the rate at which you press the brake pedal. It provides maximum braking efficiency as long as you press the pedal. Brake assist can reduce stopping distances in critical situations.

Anti-Lock Brake System

This system helps you maintain steering control during emergency stops by keeping the brakes from locking.

illuminates when you turn the ignition This lamp momentarily
illuminates when you turn the ignition on. If the light does not illuminate during start-up, remains on or flashes, the anti-lock brake system may be disabled and may need to be serviced.

If the anti-lock brake system is disabled, normal braking is still


If the anti-lock brake system is disabled, normal braking is still effective. If the brake warning lamp illuminates with the parking brake released, have your brake system serviced immediately.

All-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)
All wheel drive AWD uses all four wheels to power the vehicle. This increases traction, enabling you to drive over terrain and road conditions that a conventional two-wheel drive vehicles cannot. T ...

Hints on driving with anti-lock brakes
When the system is operating, the brake pedal will pulse and may travel further. Maintain pressure on the brake pedal. You may also hear a noise from the system. This is normal. The anti-lock bra ...

Other materials:

General Procedures
Window Grid Wire Repair General Equipment Material NOTE: The grid line material is not embedded into the glass, but is baked to the glass surface and consequently can be scraped off. An undamaged grid line will have small ridges that project above the surface of the glass and can easily be ...

Automatic high beam control
The system will automatically turn on your high beams if it is dark enough and no other traffic is present. When it detects an approaching vehicle’s headlights, a preceding vehicle’s tail lamps or street lighting, the system will turn off the high beams (low beams remain on) before they dist ...

Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) - Diagnosis and Testing
Special Tool(s) Diagnostic Theory The shortest route to an accurate diagnosis results from: system knowledge, including comparison with a known good system. system history, including repair history and usage patterns. condition history, especially any relationship to repairs or sudden change ...