Ford Taurus (2018 year). Manual — part 49

If a message regarding a blocked sensor
appears in the information display, the
radar signals from the sensor have been
obstructed. The sensors are located behind
a fascia cover near the driver side of the
lower grille. When the sensors are

obstructed, a vehicle ahead cannot be
detected and the collision warning system
does not function. The following table lists
possible causes and actions for this
message being displayed.

Action

Cause

Clean the grille surface in front of the radar

or remove the object causing the obstruc-

tion

The surface of the radar in the grille is dirty

or obstructed in some way

Wait a short time. It may take several

minutes for the radar to detect that it is no

longer obstructed

The surface of the radar in the grille is clean

but the message remains in the display

The collision warning system is temporarily
disabled. Collision warning should automat-

ically reactivate a short time after the

weather conditions improve

Heavy rain, spray, snow, or fog is interfering

with the radar signals

The collision warning system is temporarily
disabled. Collision warning should automat-

ically reactivate a short time after the

weather conditions improve

Swirling water, or snow or ice on the surface

of the road may interfere with the radar

signals

System Limitations

WARNING

The collision warning system’s brake
support can only help reduce the
speed at which a collision occurs if

the driver applies the vehicle’s brakes. The
brake pedal must be pressed just like any
typical braking situation.

Due to the nature of radar technology,
there may be certain instances where
vehicles do not provide a collision warning.
These include:

•

Stationary vehicles or vehicles moving
below 6 mph (10 km/h).

•

Pedestrians or objects in the roadway.

•

Oncoming vehicles in the same lane.

•

Severe weather conditions (see
blocked sensor section).

•

Debris build-up on the grille near the
headlamps (see blocked sensor
section).

•

Small distance to vehicle ahead.

•

Steering wheel and pedal movements
are large (very active driving style).

If the front end of the vehicle is hit or
damaged, the radar sensing zone may be
altered causing missed or false collision
warnings. See your authorized dealer to
have your collision warning radar checked
for proper coverage and operation.

LOAD LIMIT

Vehicle Loading - with and
without a Trailer

This section guides you in the
proper loading of your vehicle,
trailer, or both. Keep your loaded
vehicle weight within its design
rating capability, with or without
a trailer. Properly loading your
vehicle provides maximum return
of vehicle design performance.
Before you load your vehicle,
become familiar with the
following terms for determining
your vehicle’s weight rating, with
or without a trailer, from the
vehicle’s Tire and Loading
Information label or Safety
Compliance Certification label.

Tire and Loading Label Information
Example:

E198719

Payload

E143816

PAYLOAD

Payload is the combined weight
of cargo and passengers that your
vehicle is carrying. The maximum
payload for your vehicle appears
on the Tire and Loading label. The
label is either on the B-pillar or the
edge of the driver door. Vehicles
exported outside the US and
Canada may not have a tire and
loading label. Look for “The
combined weight of occupants
and cargo should never exceed
XXX kg OR XXX lb” for maximum
payload. The payload listed on the
Tire and Loading Information label
is the maximum payload for your
vehicle as built by the assembly
plant. If you install any additional
equipment on your vehicle, you
must determine the new payload.
Subtract the weight of the
equipment from the payload listed
on the Tire and Loading label.
When towing, trailer tongue
weight or king pin weight is also
part of payload.

WARNING

The appropriate loading
capacity of your vehicle can

be limited either by volume
capacity (how much space is
available) or by payload capacity
(how much weight the vehicle
should carry). Once you have
reached the maximum payload of
your vehicle, do not add more
cargo, even if there is space
available. Overloading or
improperly loading your vehicle
can contribute to loss of vehicle
control and vehicle rollover.

GAWR (Gross Axle Weight
Rating)

GAWR is the maximum allowable
weight that a single axle (front or
rear) can carry. These numbers
are on the Safety Compliance
Certification label. The label is
located on the door hinge pillar,
door-latch post, or the door edge
that meets the door-latch post,
next to the driver seating position.

The total load on each axle must
never exceed its Gross Axle
Weight Rating.

GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating)

GVWR is the maximum allowable
weight of the fully loaded vehicle.
This includes all options,
equipment, passengers and cargo.
It appears on the Safety
Compliance Certification label.
The label is located on the door
hinge pillar, door-latch post, or the
door edge that meets the
door-latch post, next to the driver
seating position.

The gross vehicle weight must
never exceed the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating.

Safety Compliance Certification Label
Example:

E198828

WARNING

Exceeding the Safety
Compliance Certification

label vehicle weight limits can
adversely affect the performance
and handling of your vehicle,
cause vehicle damage and can
result in the loss of control of your
vehicle, serious personal injury or
death.

Maximum Loaded Trailer
Weight

Maximum loaded trailer weight is
the highest possible weight of a
fully loaded trailer the vehicle can
tow. Consult an authorized dealer
(or the RV and Trailer Towing
Guide available at an authorized
dealer) for more detailed
information.

GCWR (Gross Combined
Weight Rating)

GCWR is the maximum allowable
weight of the vehicle and the
loaded trailer, including all cargo
and passengers, that the vehicle
can handle without risking
damage. (Important: The towing

vehicle’s braking system is rated
for operation at Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating, not at Gross
Combined Weight Rating.)
Separate functional brakes should
be used for safe control of towed
vehicles and for trailers where the
Gross Combined Weight of the
towing vehicle plus the trailer
exceed the Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating of the towing vehicle.

The gross combined weight must
never exceed the Gross Combined
Weight Rating.

Note:

For trailer towing

information refer to the RV and
Trailer Towing Guide available at
an authorized dealer.

WARNINGS

Do not exceed the GVWR or
the GAWR specified on the

certification label.

Do not use replacement tires
with lower load carrying

capacities than the original tires
because they may lower your
vehicle's GVWR and GAWR
limitations. Replacement tires
with a higher limit than the original
tires do not increase the GVWR
and GAWR limitations.

Exceeding any vehicle weight
rating can adversely affect

the performance and handling of
your vehicle, cause vehicle
damage and can result in the loss
of control of your vehicle, serious
personal injury or death.