tow Mercury Mercury Cougar 2002 Owner's Guide

Fuse/Relay
LocationFuse Amp
RatingPower Distribution Box
Description
R8 Ð High speed engine cooling fan
R9 Ð Engine cooling fan
R10 Ð Not used
R11 Ð Daytime running lamps (Canada
only)
D1 Ð Starter relay
D2 Ð Air conditioning
* Have these fuses replaced by your dealer or qualified technician.
CHANGING THE TIRES
If you get a flat tire while driving, do not apply the brake heavily.
Instead, gradually decrease your speed. Hold the steering wheel firmly
and slowly move to a safe place on the side of the road.
The use of tire sealants is not recommended and may compromise the
integrity of your tires. The use of tire sealants may also affect your tire
pressure monitoring system (if equipped).
Temporary spare tire information
The temporary spare tire for your vehicle is labeled as such. It is smaller
than a regular tire and is designed for emergency use only.
If you use the temporary spare tire continuously or do not follow
these precautions, the tire could fail, causing you to lose control
of the vehicle, possibly injuring yourself or others.
When driving with the temporary spare tiredo not:
²use more than one temporary spare tire at a time
²exceed 80 km/h (50 mph) or drive further than 3 200 km (2 000
miles) total under any circumstances
²load the vehicle beyond maximum vehicle load rating listed on the
Safety Compliance Label
²tow a trailer
²use tire chains
²drive through an automatic car wash, because of the vehicle's reduced
ground clearance
Roadside Emergencies
142

WRECKER TOWING
If you need to have your vehicle towed, contact a professional towing
service or, if you are a member, your roadside assistance center.
It is recommended that your vehicle be towed with a wheel lift or flatbed
equipment. Do not tow with a slingbelt. Ford Motor Company has not
approved a slingbelt towing procedure.
If your vehicle is to be towed from the rear using wheel lift equipment,
the front wheels (drive wheels) must be placed on a dolly to prevent
damage to the transmission.
If the vehicle is towed by other means or incorrectly, vehicle
damage may occur.
Ford Motor Company produces a towing manual for all authorized tow
truck operators. Have your tow truck operator refer to this manual for
proper hook-up and towing procedures for your vehicle.
Roadside Emergencies
151

In the United States, a warranty dispute must be submitted to the
Dispute Settlement Board before taking action under the Magnuson-Moss
Warranty Act, or to the extent allowed by state law, before pursuing
replacement or repurchase remedies provided by certain state laws. This
dispute handling procedure is not required prior to enforcing state
created rights or other rights which are independent of the
Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act or state replacement or repurchase laws.
FORD EXTENDED SERVICE PLAN
You can get more protection for your new car or light truck by
purchasing Ford Extended Service Plan (Ford ESP) coverage. Ford ESP
is an optional service contract which is backed by Ford Motor Company
or Ford Motor Service Company (in the U.S.) and Ford of Canada (in
Canada). It provides the following:
²Benefits during the warranty period depending on the plan you
purchase (such as: reimbursement for rentals; coverage for certain
maintenance and wear items).
²Protection against covered repair costs after your Bumper-to-Bumper
Warranty expires.
You may purchase Ford ESP from any participating Ford and Lincoln
Mercury and Ford of Canada dealer. There are several plans available in
various time, distance and deductible combinations which can be tailored
to fit your own driving needs. Ford ESP also offers reimbursement
benefits for towing and rental coverage.
When you buy Ford ESP, you receive Peace-of-Mind protection
throughout the United States and Canada, provided by a network of
more than 5,000 participating Ford or Lincoln Mercury and Ford of
Canada dealers.
If you did not take advantage of the Ford Extended Service Plan at the
time of purchasing your vehicle, you may still be eligible. Please contact
your dealer for further information. Since this information is subject to
change, please ask your dealer for complete details about Ford Extended
Service Plan coverage options, or visit the Ford ESP website at
www.ford-esp.com.
THE DISPUTE SETTLEMENT BOARD (U.S. ONLY)
The Dispute Settlement Board is:
²an independent, third-party arbitration program for warranty disputes.
²available free to owners and lessees of qualifying Ford Motor Company
vehicles.
Customer Assistance
154

WASHING THE EXTERIOR
Wash your vehicle regularly with cool or lukewarm water and a neutral
Ph shampoo, such as Detail Wash (ZC-3±A), which is available from your
dealer.
²Never use strong household detergents or soap, such as dish washing
or laundry liquid. These products can discolor and spot painted
surfaces.
²Never wash a vehicle that is ªhot to the touchº or during exposure to
strong, direct sunlight.
²Always use a clean sponge or carwash mitt with plenty of water for
best results.
²Dry the vehicle with a chamois or soft terry cloth towel in order to
eliminate water spotting.
²It is especially important to wash the vehicle regularly during the
winter months, as dirt and road salt are difficult to remove and cause
damage to the vehicle.
²Immediately remove items such as gasoline, diesel fuel, bird droppings
and insect deposits because they can cause damage to the vehicle's
paintwork and trim over time.
²Remove any exterior accessories, such as antennas, before entering a
car wash.
²Suntan lotions and insect repellents can damage any painted
surface; if these substances come in contact with your vehicle,
wash off as soon as possible.
WAXING
Applying a polymer paint sealant to your vehicle every six months will
assist in reducing minor scratches and paint damage.
²Wash the vehicle first.
²Do not use waxes that contain abrasives.
²Do not allow paint sealant to come in contact with any non-body
(low-gloss black) colored trim, such as grained door handles, roof
racks, bumpers, side moldings, mirror housings or the windshield cowl
area. The paint sealant will ªgrayº or stain the parts over time.
Cleaning
161

²Warming up a vehicle on cold mornings is not required and may
reduce fuel economy.
²Resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving may reduce fuel
economy.
²Combine errands and minimize stop-and-go driving.
Maintenance
²Keep tires properly inflated and use only recommended size.
²Operating a vehicle with the wheels out of alignment will reduce fuel
economy.
²Use recommended engine oil. Refer toLubricant specificationsin
this chapter.
²Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance items. Follow the
recommended maintenance schedule and owner maintenance checks
found in your vehicle scheduled maintenance guide.
Conditions
²Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a trailer may reduce fuel economy
at any speed.
²Carrying unnecessary weight may reduce fuel economy (approximately
0.4 km/L [1 mpg] is lost for every 180 kg [400 lb] of weight carried).
²Adding certain accessories to your vehicle (for example bug
deflectors, rollbars/light bars, running boards, ski/luggage racks) may
reduce fuel economy.
²Using fuel blended with alcohol may lower fuel economy.
²Fuel economy may decrease with lower temperatures during the first
12±16 km (8±10 miles) of driving.
²Driving on flat terrain offers improved fuel economy as compared to
driving on hilly terrain.
²Transmissions give their best fuel economy when operated in the top
cruise gear and with steady pressure on the gas pedal.
²Close windows for high speed driving.
EPA window sticker
Every new vehicle should have the EPA window sticker. Contact your
dealer if the window sticker is not supplied with your vehicle. The EPA
window sticker should be your guide for the fuel economy comparisons
with other vehicles.
Maintenance and Specifications
188

Inspection/maintenance (I/M)
testing ........................................190
Instrument panel
cleaning ...................................164
cluster ........................................10
lighting up panel and
interior .......................................48
J
Jack ............................................142
positioning ...............................142
storage .....................................142
Jump-starting your vehicle ......145
K
Keys .......................................74±76
key in ignition chime ...............16
positions of the ignition .........112
L
Lamps
bulb replacement
specifications chart ..................51
cargo lamps ...............................48
daytime running light ...............47
fog lamps ...................................47
headlamps .................................47
headlamps, flash to pass ..........48
instrument panel, dimming .....48
interior lamps ...........................50
replacing bulbs .........................51
Lane change indicator
(see Turn signal) ........................50
Lights, warning and indicator ....10
air bag ........................................12
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ....11, 117
brake ..........................................11
charging system ........................12check coolant ............................12
check engine .............................10
cruise indicator .........................13
door ajar ....................................15
high beam .................................14
low fuel ......................................13
low washer fluid .......................15
oil pressure ...............................12
overdrive off ..............................13
safety belt .................................12
speed control ............................65
traction control active ..............13
turn signal indicator .................13
Load limits .................................129
GAWR ......................................129
GVWR ......................................129
trailer towing ..........................129
Locks
doors ..........................................70
Lubricant specifications ...200±201
M
Manual transaxle
fluid capacities ........................199
lubricant specifications ..........201
reverse .....................................127
Manual transmission .................125
Message center ...........................66
Mirrors
side view mirrors (power) .......60
Moon roof ....................................65
Motorcraft parts ........................198
O
Octane rating ............................185
Odometer .....................................17
Oil (see Engine oil) ..................172
Index
210

rotating ....................................196
snow tires and chains ............198
tire grades ...............................196
treadwear ................................195
Towing .......................................130
recreational towing .................133
trailer towing ..........................130
wrecker ....................................151
Traction control ........................119
active light ................................13
Transaxle
fluid, refill capacities ..............199
lubricant specifications ..........201
Transmission
automatic operation ...............120
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................192
lubricant specifications ..........200
manual operation ....................125
Trip odometer .............................18
Trunk ...........................................70
remote release ....................67, 73
Turn signal ............................13, 50V
Vehicle Communication
System ...................................14±15
Vehicle dimensions ...................201
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................203
Vehicle loading ..........................129
Ventilating your vehicle ...........116
W
Warning chimes .....................15±16
Warning lights
(see Lights) ...........................10, 14
Water, Driving through .............128
Windows
power .........................................60
rear wiper/washer .....................57
Windshield washer fluid and
wipers
checking and cleaning ..............58
operation ...................................57
replacing wiper blades .............58
Wrecker towing .........................151
Index
212