Ford Taurus X (2009 year). Manual — part 71

WARNING: The use of tire sealants may damage your Tire
Pressure Monitoring System and should not be used.

WARNING: Refer to Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
in the Tires, Wheels and Loading chapter for important

information. If the tire pressure monitor sensor becomes damaged, it
will no longer function.

Dissimilar spare tire/wheel information

WARNING: Failure to follow these guidelines could result in an
increased risk of loss of vehicle control, injury or death.

If you have a dissimilar spare tire/wheel, then it is intended for
temporary use only. This means that if you need to use it, you should
replace it as soon as possible with a road tire/wheel that is the same size
and type as the road tires and wheels that were originally provided by
Ford. If the dissimilar spare tire or wheel is damaged, it should be
replaced rather than repaired.

A dissimilar spare tire/wheel is defined as a spare tire and/or wheel that
is different in brand, size or appearance from the road tires and wheels
and can be one of three types:

1. T-type mini-spare: This spare tire begins with the letter “T” for tire
size and may have “Temporary Use Only” molded in the sidewall

2. Full-size dissimilar spare with label on wheel: This spare tire has
a label on the wheel that states: “THIS TIRE AND WHEEL FOR
TEMPORARY USE ONLY”

When driving with one of the dissimilar spare tires listed above, do not:
• Exceed 50 mph (80 km/h)
• Load the vehicle beyond maximum vehicle load rating listed on the

Safety Compliance Label

• Tow a trailer
• Use snow chains on the end of the vehicle with the dissimilar spare

tire

• Use more than one dissimilar spare tire at a time
• Use commercial car washing equipment
• Try to repair the dissimilar spare tire

Roadside Emergencies

286

Use of one of the dissimilar spare tires listed above at any one wheel
location can lead to impairment of the following:

• Handling, stability and braking performance
• Comfort and noise
• Ground clearance and parking at curbs
• Winter weather driving capability
• Wet weather driving capability
3. Full-size dissimilar spare without label on wheel

When driving with the full-size dissimilar spare tire/wheel, do not:

• Exceed 70 mph (113 km/h)
• Use more than one dissimilar spare tire/wheel at a time
• Use commercial car washing equipment
• Use snow chains on the end of the vehicle with the dissimilar spare

tire/wheel

The usage of a full-size dissimilar spare tire/wheel can lead to
impairment of the following:
• Handling, stability and braking performance
• Comfort and noise
• Ground clearance and parking at curbs
• Winter weather driving capability
• Wet weather driving capability
• All-Wheel driving capability (if applicable)
• Load leveling adjustment (if applicable)
When driving with the full-size dissimilar spare tire/wheel additional
caution should be given to:
• Towing a trailer
• Driving vehicles equipped with a camper body
• Driving vehicles with a load on the cargo rack
Drive cautiously when using a full-size dissimilar spare tire/wheel and
seek service as soon as possible.

Roadside Emergencies

287

Stopping and securing the vehicle

1. Park on a level surface, set the
parking brake and activate hazard
flashers.

2. Place gearshift lever in P (Park)
and turn engine off.

Removing the spare tire and jack

If the 3rd row seat (if equipped) is stowed in the floor, you will need to
unstow it to access the spare tire and jack. Refer to Unstowing the
third row seat in the Seating and Safety Restraint chapter for this
procedure.

1. Remove the carpeted floor panel
located in the rear of the vehicle,
remove the wing nut that secures
the spare tire by turning it
counterclockwise.

2. Lift and remove the spare tire
from the trunk.

3. Remove the second wing nut that
secures the jack retention bracket
by turning it counterclockwise,
remove the jack kit from the
vehicle.

4. Remove the jack and the wrench
from the felt bag. Fold down the
wrench socket to use to loosen the
lug nuts and to operate the jack.

Roadside Emergencies

288

Tire change procedure

WARNING: When one of the front wheels is off the ground, the
transmission alone will not prevent the vehicle from moving or

slipping off the jack, even if the vehicle is in P (Park).

WARNING: To help prevent the vehicle from moving when you
change a tire, be sure to place the transmission in P (Park), set

the parking brake and block (in both directions) the wheel that is
diagonally opposite (other side and end of the vehicle) to the tire
being changed.

WARNING: If the vehicle slips off the jack, you or someone else
could be seriously injured.

WARNING: Do not attempt to change a tire on the side of the
vehicle close to moving traffic. Pull far enough off the road to

avoid the danger of being hit when operating the jack or changing the
wheel.

1. Block the diagonally opposite
wheel.

2. Remove wheel cover (if
equipped) with the lug wrench tip
and loosen each wheel lug nut
one-half turn counterclockwise but
do not remove them until the wheel
is raised off the ground.

Roadside Emergencies

289