Mercury Mystique 2000 Owner's Manuals

Roadside emergencies
161
Never use a tow bar that
attaches to the bumper
when you tow your vehicle. This
could damage the bumper and
cause an accident.
TOWING YOUR VEHICLE
BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE
Before you have your vehicle
towed:
• release the parking brake,
• move the gearshift to N
(Neutral),
• turn the ignition to the off
position and
• unlock the steering wheel.
Recreational towing or having
your vehicle towed
An example of recreational towing
would be towing your vehicle
behind a Motorhome. Follow these
guidelines if you have the need for
recreational towing.
These guidelines are designed to
ensure that your transaxle is not
damgaged.
It is not recommended to tow front
wheel drive vehicles with the front
drive wheels on the ground.
It is recommended to tow your
vehicle with the drive wheels on a
dolly or two wheel car hauling
trailer.Automatic transaxle
In case of a roadside emergency
with a disabled vehicle (without
access to wheel dollies, car hauling
trailer or flatbed transport vehicle)
your vehicle can be flat towed (all
wheels on the ground) under the
following conditions.
• Place the transaxle in N
(Neutral)
• Do not exceed a distance of
80 km (50 miles).
• Do not exceed 56 km/h (35 mph)
vehicle speed.
Manual transaxle
Do not tow your vehicle at a speed
faster than 90 km/h (55 mph). Your
maximum towing distance is
unlimited.
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Maintenance and care
162SERVICE RECOMMENDATIONS
• We highlight do-it-yourself items
in the engine compartment for easy
location.
• As possible, we design parts that
can be replaced without tools.
• We provide you with a
maintenance guide and or service
guide which makes tracking routine
service for your vehicle easy.
If your vehicle requires
professional service, your Ford or
Lincoln/Mercury dealership can
provide necessary parts and
service. Check your “Warranty
Guide” to find out which parts and
services are covered.
Use only recommended fuels,
lubricants, fluids and service parts
conforming to specifications.
Motorcraft parts are designed and
built to provide the best
performance in your vehicle.
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Maintenance and care
163 Precautions when servicing
your vehicle
Be especially careful when
inspecting or servicing your
vehicle. Here are some general
precautions for your safety:
• Do not work on a hot engine.
The cooling fan is automatic
and may come on at any
time. Always disconnect the
negative terminal of the battery
before working near the fan.
• If you must work with the engine
running, avoid wearing loose
clothing or jewelry that could get
caught in moving parts. Take
precautions with long hair.
• Do not work on a vehicle with the
engine running in an enclosed
space, unless you are sure you have
enough ventilation.
• Keep all lit cigarettes, open
flames and other lit material away
from the battery and all fuel related
parts.
If you disconnect the battery, the
engine must “relearn” its idle
conditions before your vehicle will
drive properly, as explained under
Battery in this chapter.
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Maintenance and care
164Working with engine off
(manual transaxle)
1. Set the parking brake, depress
the clutch and place the gearshift
in 1 (first) or R (Reverse).
2. Turn off the engine and remove
the key.
3. Block the wheels to prevent the
vehicle from moving unexpectedly.
Working with engine off
(automatic transaxle)
1. Set the parking brake fully and
ensure the gearshift is securely
latched in P (Park).
2. Turn off the engine and remove
the key.
3. Block the wheels to prevent the
vehicle from moving unexpectedly.
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Maintenance and care
165 Working with engine on
(automatic transaxle)
1. Set the parking brake fully and
ensure the gearshift is securely
latched in P (Park).
2. Block the wheels to prevent the
vehicle from moving unexpectedly.
Working with engine on
(manual transaxle)
1. Set the parking brake, depress
the clutch and place the gearshift
in neutral.
2. Block the wheels to prevent the
vehicle from moving unexpectedly.
Do not start your engine
with the air cleaner removed
and do not remove it while the
engine is running.
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Maintenance and care
166Opening the hood
• Pull the handle (1) located
under the instrument panel.
000123000010 20 3040506070
80
90
10 0
110
120
13 0MPH20 406055
80120 10 0
14 0
160
18 0
200EF12
03x 1000
4
5
6
7
8
CHECK
ENGINE TRACTION
CONTROLO/D
OFF
MIRRORS
1
TRACTION
TROLCH
• Release the safety catch by
reaching under the hood (2)
(adjacent to the Mercury emblem)
and pushing it to the left.
2
3
• Raise the hood and
support it with the strut (3) in the
yellow colored retainer, ensuring it
is secure.
To close, replace the support strut
in its retaining clip, lower the hood
and allow it to drop into the catch
for the last 20 – 30 cm
(8 – 12 inches).
Always check to ensure that the
hood lock is fully engaged.
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Maintenance and care
167 For ease of identification, all filler caps and the engine oil dipstick are
marked yellow/black. 2.0 litre EFI-engine compartment
Power
steering
reservoirEngine
coolant
reservoirAutomatic
transaxle
dipstick
(if equipped)Brake fluid
reservoir
BatteryWindshield
washer fluid
reservoirEngine oil
dipstickPower
distribution
box
Air
cleaner
Engine oil
filler cap
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Maintenance and care
168
Power
steering
reservoirEngine
coolant
reservoir 2.5 litre EFI-engine compartment
For ease of identification, all filler caps and the engine oil dipstick are
marked yellow/black.Air
cleanerBrake fluid
reservoirAutomatic
transaxle
dipstick
(if equipped)
BatteryWindshield
washer fluid
reservoirEngine oil
dipstickPower
distribution
boxEngine oil
filler cap
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Maintenance and care
169
ADDFULL
Engine oil
Use SAE 5W-30 motor oil
CERTIFIED FOR GASOLINE
ENGINES by the American
Petroleum Institute.
Do not use supplemental engine oil
additives, oil treatments or engine
treatments. They are unnecessary
and could, under certain
conditions, lead to engine damage
which is not covered by Ford
Warranty.
Checking the engine oil
Check the engine oil each time you
fuel your vehicle.
To check the oil:
1. Make sure the vehicle is on level
ground. If the engine is warm, turn
the engine off and wait a few
minutes for the oil to drain into the
oil pan.
2. Set the parking brake and ensure
the gearshift is securely latched in
P (Park). Put the manual gearshift
in 1 (first) or R (Reverse).
3. Open the hood. Protect yourself
from engine heat.
4. Locate and carefully remove the
engine oil dipstick.
5. Wipe the dipstick clean. Insert
the dipstick fully, then remove it
again. The oil level should be
between the MIN and MAX marks.2.0 l DOHC
2.5 l DOHC
AMERICANPETROLEUMINSTITUTE
CERTIFIED
FOR
GASOLINE
ENGINES
AMERICANPETROLEUMINSTITUTECERTIFIEDFOR
GASOLINE
ENGINES
Motorcraft
Do not exceed MAX!
Do not exceed MAX!
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Maintenance and care
1706. If the oil level is below the
minimum line, add engine oil as
necessary. If the oil level is beyond
the maximum line, engine damage
or high oil consumption may occur
and some oil must be removed
from the engine by a service
technician.
7. Put the dipstick back in and
ensure it is fully seated.
Continuous contact with
used motor oil has caused
cancer in laboratory mice.
Adding engine oil
1. Check the engine oil. For
instructions, refer to Checking the
engine oilin this chapter.
2. If the fluid level is not within the
normal range, add only certified
engine oil of the preferred
viscosity. Add engine oil through
the oil filler cap. Remove the filler
cap and use a funnel to pour oil in
the opening.
3. Recheck the oil level.
Make
sure the oil level is not above
the MAX mark on the dipstick.
Change your engine oil and oil filter
according to the scheduled mileage
and time requirements, whichever
occurs first.
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