2005 Ford Thunderbird Quick Reference Guide 1st Printing

Ford Motor Company

Customer Relationship Center

P.O. Box 6248

Dearborn, MI 48121

1-800-392-3673 (FORD)

This Quick Reference Guide is not intended to replace your vehicle Owner’s Guide which

contains more detailed information concerning the features of your vehicle as well as

important safety warnings designed to help reduce the risk of injury to you and your

passengers. Please read your entire Owner’s Guide carefully as you begin learning about your

new Thunderbird and refer to the appropriate sections when questions arise.

All information contained in this Quick Reference Guide was accurate at the time of duplication.

We reserve the right to change features, operation and/or functionality of any vehicle

specification at any time.

Your Ford dealer is the best source for the most current information.

5W6J-19G217-AA

*F5W6J19G217AA*

April 2004

First Printing

Quick Reference Guide

Ford Thunderbird

Litho in U.S.A.

Maintaining Your Removable Top

(if equipped)

Proper maintenance of your removable top will help you enjoy your ownership

experience more fully in the miles to come. The tape provided is not designed

to exceed 6 months continuous use.

Installing and Removing Your Removable Top

(if equipped)

Thunderbird’s removable top requires special attention in terms of removal, installation, and maintenance.

In fact, it should be removed every 3 months or 3000 miles for rear

seal and rear deck cleaning. Before removing or installing your top, please make sure your vehicle is parked on a level surface and be sure you have someone standing by to help

you.

(The top weighs approximately 84 lbs.)

Installing, Removing and Storing the Boot

(if equipped)

When the convertible top is in the stored (down) position, you have the option

of covering it with the convertible top boot.

When not in use, the boot can be

conveniently stored in your trunk.

Tape Removal

To remove the old tape, simply pull it off while the temperature is below 90°F. If you notice

adhesive residue on your vehicle, clean the surface with isopropyl alcohol or a very light

non-abrasive soap.

Applying New Tape

Don’t worry about positioning the tape perfectly on your first attempt; the tape won’t bond completely

until it has been in place for more than 24 hours. Only use the tape that has been approved by Ford for

use on painted surfaces. Before applying new tape, make sure the surface of your vehicle is clean and dry.

The temperature of the body surface should not be lower than 65°F or higher than 90°F.

✦

Retract the convertible top to the open

position.

✦

Start with the Driver-Side piece and remove

the backing paper, spraying the sticky side

with the gliding solution as it is exposed.

This stops the film from folding and sticking

to itself before you lay it on the car.

✦

Spray the driver’s section of the vehicle

liberally with the gliding solution.

✦

Lay the piece onto the car, getting as close

to position as possible. You should be able to

glide it into position.

✦

Use the foam pad on the bottom of the

spray bottle to help squeeze out bubbles.

✦

After the film has set for greater than 10

minutes, do not try to move.

✦

Repeat the process with the Passenger-Side

piece.

✦

Complete installation with the left and right

rear pieces.

Installation

01

While the convertible top is in the raised position, make sure it is completely

clean and dry. Lower the convertible top. Open the doors, lower the windows and

clean the area where the removable top is mounted to the body with a clean, damp

cloth.

Note: Before installing the removable top, apply the protective tape to the

rear deck of the vehicle; refer to “Applying New Tape” in this Quick Reference Guide.

02

Make sure the wheels on your storage rack are locked; remove the

protective cover.

03

Confirm that the top’s rear locking levers are rotated to the fully

open position.

04

Ensure that the removable top levers are rotated rearward to the fully open

position. Ask someone to assist you in carrying the top to the vehicle; lower the

rear of the top so that the pins are placed into the bracket receivers. (The

receivers should be lubricated once a year. Apply a small amount of silicone

lubricant to the receivers. Spray the lubricant directly into the holes to avoid

damaging trim parts.)

05

Position the front of the top so that the locating tabs on each side are

placed in the mounting castings.

06

Rotate the rear locking levers approximately one-half turn toward the front

of the vehicle. (The levers are on the rear left- and right-hand sides of the vehicle.)

07

Use the mounting key to loosely install the two mounting screws and the

left and right sides of the windscreen; give them two or three turns. Note: The

screws in the windscreen panel of the vehicle are already set in place.

08

Pull the rear locking levers fully forward and slightly downward to lock the

rear of the roof in place. The rear levers are locked when you feel the spring

engage; each lever will point toward the front of the vehicle.

09

Use the mounting key to fully tighten the front mounting screws. After

driving approximately 30 to 40 miles, check the front mounting screws to

confirm they’re secure.

Removal

01

Prepare the storage rack to accept the removable top.

Place the bumper

end of the uprights on the floor, with the wheels facing you.

02

Firmly squeeze the two chrome locking buttons (top and bottom) of one leg

and rotate the leg toward you until it locks in place. Repeat this step for the other leg.

03

Turn the rack over on its wheels and place it on a flat surface. Make sure the

center “T” section is fully locked by attempting to move it downward without

releasing the chrome locking buttons.

04

Push down on the two plastic levers on the front wheels to lock the

wheels in place.

05

Remove the mounting key (located in the bag in the trunk).

06

Using the mounting key, fully loosen the two screws at the front of the top

(one on each side of the windscreen). The two screws remain undetachable in the

windscreen panel of your vehicle.

07

Undo the locking levers at the rear right and left sides of the vehicle.

Rotate

each lever rearward while applying slight upward force to the top.

08

With the aid of a second person, remove the top and place it on the storage

rack, with the rear of the top resting on the rubber bumpers of the lower legs.

Push the two screws down into the windscreen panel of your vehicle.

09

Use the cover that has been provided to keep the top clean when not in use.

step 3

step 4

step 6

step 8

step 2

step 4

step 6

step 7

step 8

Storage

01

Fold the outboard

sixth of the boot inward,

exterior surface to

exterior surface. Repeat

for the other side.

02

Flip the boot; fold

the doubled-up ends

toward the center of the

boot.

Repeat for the

other side.

03

Fold the boot in

half and secure it with

the Velcro strap.

04

Place the folded

boot in the storage area

in the front of the trunk.

To prevent the boot

from getting dirty it

may be stored in the

plastic bag.

Installation

01

Fasten the snaps on the boot to the

quarter trim panels on both sides of the vehicle

and at the center.

02

Tuck the boot under the upper back panel

at the rear and the quarter panels along the sides.

03

Ensure that the cover is tucked into the

quarter panel and upper back panel and all snaps

are fastened before driving.

Removal

01

Unfasten all three driver’s side snaps and

all three passenger’s side snaps.

02

Untuck both sides and the rear of the boot

by sliding it forward.

03

Fold and fasten the Velcro strap and lift off.

step 1

step 2

step 3

step 4

2005 Ford Thunderbird Quick Reference Guide 1st Printing

2005 Ford Thunderbird Manual

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