warning FORD CONTOUR 1996 2.G Workshop Manual

Features
101
[FV10100(ALL)11/93]
7-1/2 pica art:0001188-A
The moon roof
*
[FV10150(ALL)01/95]
RWARNING
Do not let children play with the moon roof. They may
seriously hurt themselves.
*
[FV10200(ALL)01/95]
Sliding Shade
*
[FV10300(ALL)01/95]
The moon roof has a sliding shade that you can manually open
or close to block the sun when the glass panel is shut.
[FV10400(ALL)05/95]
To close the sliding shade, pull the shade toward the front of
the vehicle. The shade automatically opens when the moon roof
is opened.
*
[FV10500(ALL)01/95]
Seats
*
[FV10525(ALL)04/95]
Head Restraints
*
[FV10600(ALL)04/95]
If you use them properly, head restraints will help protect your
head and neck in a collision.
*
[FV10700(ALL)05/95]
A head restraint helps protect you best if you position it behind
your head and not behind your neck.
[FV10750(ALL)05/95]
If your vehicle has the four-way head restraint, you can adjust it
in four directions. You can raise it two (2) inches (50 mm) from
its normal position, or you can move it forward up to 60Ê until
you reach the desired position.
File:cdfvo.ex
Update:Thu Jan 25 12:20:30 1996

102
[FV10800(ALL)11/93]
10-1/2 pica
art:0001216-A
The four-way head restraint
%*
[FV11000(ALL)05/95]
Manual Seats
[FV11200(ALL)02/95]
10-1/2 pica
art:0001217-B
Manual seat adjustment
*
[FV11500(ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
Never adjust the driver's seat or seatback when the
vehicle is moving.
File:cdfvo.ex
Update:Thu Jan 25 12:20:30 1996

Features
103
*
[FV11600(ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
To reduce the risk of serious injury in a collision, always
drive and ride with your seatback upright and the lap
belt snug and low across the hips.
*
[FV11700(ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
Do not pile cargo higher than the seatbacks to avoid
injuring people in a collision or sudden stop.
[FV11801(ALL)02/94]
Manual lumbar support (If equipped)
[FV11901(ALL)02/94]
The handwheel on the side of the seatback inflates and deflates
the lumbar support pads. To inflate the pads, turn the wheel
counter-clockwise. To deflate the pads, turn the wheel clockwise.
[FV12001(ALL)02/94]
10-1/2 pica
art:0001261-A
Manual lumbar support adjustment
File:cdfvo.ex
Update:Thu Jan 25 12:20:30 1996

Features
105
[FV12725(O )05/94]
Power seatback (if equipped)
[FV12770(ALL)01/95]
13-1/2 pica art:0000462-E
The seatback controls on the driver's seat
[FV12800(ALL)05/94]
To tilt the seatback forward or back, slide the top part of the
top button forward or back. To inflate or deflate the lumbar
support pads, slide the bottom of the button forward or back.
[FV12900(ALL)11/93]
Folding Rear Seats (If equipped)
[FV13000(ALL)05/94]
The release knobs for the split rear folding seatbacks are in the
trunk. Pull the knob to fold down the seat.
[FV13100(ALL)11/93]
To raise the rear seatback, push the seatback upward until it
locks in place. Make sure it is firmly latched by pushing
forward and back on it.
*
[FV13200(ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
Securely latch the seatback in the upright position to
prevent the seatback or objects from being thrown
forward during a sudden stop or collision.
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Update:Thu Jan 25 12:20:30 1996

108
[FV15100(ALL)02/94]
10-1/2 pica
art:0001182-B
Electric remote control mirror knob
[FV15160(ALL)05/94]
Turn the knob back to the middle position to keep the mirror in
place.
[FV15170(ALL)02/94]
The side view mirror on the right is a convex mirror. This
mirror gives you a wider view of the lanes on your right and
behind you.
*
[FV15180(ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
The side view mirror on the right makes objects appear
smaller and farther away than they actually are.
%*
[FV15200(ALL)01/95]
Do not clean the housing or glass of any mirror with harsh
abrasives, fuel or other petroleum-based cleaning products.
[FV15300(ALL)02/94]
Heated mirror feature (If equipped)
*
[FV15400(ALL)03/95]
Both mirrors are heated whenever the Electric Rear Window
Defroster is turned on. Do not remove ice from the mirrors with
a scraper or you could damage them. If the outside mirror glass
is frozen in place, do not attempt to readjust or move the
mirror glass or damage may result.
File:cdfvo.ex
Update:Thu Jan 25 12:20:30 1996

140
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[DR00900(ALL)01/95]
Putting Your Vehicle in Gear
[DR00915(ALL)05/95]
You must push in the thumb button to move the gearshift to
the position you choose.
*
[DR00917(ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
Hold the brake pedal down while you move the gearshift
lever from position to position. If you do not hold the
brake pedal down, your vehicle may move unexpectedly
and injure someone.
*
[DR00918(ALL)03/95]
To operate:
*
[DR00919(ALL)01/95]1.
Start the engine.
*
[DR00920(ALL)01/95]2.
Depress and hold the brake pedal.
*
[DR00921(ALL)01/95]3.
Move the gearshift lever out of P (Park).
%*
[DR00923(ALL)04/95]
Your vehicle is equipped with a Brake Shift Interlock safety
feature. This feature prevents the gearshift from being moved
from the P (Park) position until the brake pedal is depressed.
This feature is active when the ignition is in the ON position. If
the gearshift lever CANNOT be moved from P (Park) with the
brake pedal depressed:
*
[DR00924(ALL)01/95]1.
Turn the engine off and remove the ignition key.
[DR00925(ALL)05/94]2.
With the parking brake applied and the brake pedal
depressed, insert a screwdriver about 2" (5 cm) into the
square opening to the right of the gearshift at the base of the
console.
[DR00926(ALL)05/94]3.
Rotate the screwdriver point rearward.
[DR00927(ALL)02/94]4.
Push and hold the thumb button and move the gearshift.
[DR00928(ALL)02/94]5.
Remove the screwdriver when the gearshift moves from the
P (Park) position.
File:cddro.ex
Update:Thu Jan 25 12:23:16 1996

144
*
[DR02100(ALL)01/95]
When to use 2 (Second)
[DR02200(ALL)05/94]
When your vehicle is in 2 (Second), it automatically starts off in
second gear. Use 2 (Second) to help drive up moderately steep
hills or restart from a standstill on slippery roads. It prevents
the transaxle from frequently shifting up and down. It also
gives more engine braking than D (Drive) (with Transaxle
Control Switch activated) when going down hills.
[DR02300(ALL)05/95]
Do not go faster than 55 mph (90 km/h) in this gear. You can
upshift from 2 (Second) into D (Overdrive) at any speed.
*
[DR02500(ALL)04/95]
When to use 1 (First)
[DR02700(ALL)05/94]
This position limits the transaxle to first gear. It helps brake the
vehicle when going down hills where 2 (Second) is not
sufficient.
[DR02800(ALL)05/95]
Do not go faster than 38 mph (60 km/h) in this gear. You can
upshift from 1 (First) to 2 (Second) or from 1 (First) to
D (Overdrive) at any speed.
*
[DR02900(ALL)01/95]
P (Park)
*
[DR03000(ALL)11/94]
Always come to a complete stop before you shift into P (Park).
Make sure that the gearshift is securely latched in P (Park). This
locks the transaxle and prevents the front wheels from rotating.
*
[DR03100(ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
Always set the parking brake fully and make sure that
the gearshift is securely latched in P (Park).
*
[DR03200(ALL)06/95]
RWARNING
Never leave your vehicle unattended while it is running.
[DR03400(ALL)01/89]
You can tell the gearshift is securely latched when the push
button has popped out. In this position the gear shift selector
lever cannot be moved unless the button is pushed in.
File:cddro.ex
Update:Thu Jan 25 12:23:16 1996

Driving Your Contour
151 hazardous driving situations, especially when driving on
hazardous road surfaces. Even with your anti-lock brake system,
you may not have total control of your vehicle when braking on
roads with loose surfaces such as snow or gravel, holes in the
pavement, or alternating patches of slippery and dry surfaces.
*
[DR17500(ALL)05/95]
If the brake pedal is applied while the vehicle is driven over
uneven road surfaces, the ABS may cycle and the driver may
sense a pulsation in the brake pedal, accompanied by a slight
up and down movement of the pedal height and a clicking
sound. This may also happen when driving on an inclined
surface such as a driveway while making a sharp turn. This is a
normal condition.
[DR17600(ALL)05/94]
Your vehicle may have an Anti-lock Brake System feature. If it
does, check the Anti-lock Brake System light each time you start
the engine. If it stays on longer than three (3) seconds, shut off
the engine and restart. If it stays on, that means the Anti-lock
Brake feature is not working and should be serviced
immediately to restore the benefits of the Anti-lock feature.
Normal braking is not affected unless the brake warning light is
also lit.
[DR17650(ALL)05/95]
The Anti-lock Brake System has self-check capabilities. As
described above, the system turns on the anti-lock light each
time you start your engine. After the engine is started and the
anti-lock light turns off, the system performs another test the
first time the vehicle reaches 5 mph (8 km/h) (12 mph
[20 km/h] for vehicles equipped with the traction control
system). The system turns on the ABS pump motor for
approximately 1/2 second. At this time, a mechanical noise may
be heard and felt. This is a normal part of the self-check feature.
If a malfunction is found during this check the anti-lock light
will come on.
*
[DR17700(ALL)12/93]
Ford Motor Company has not found any negative effects of
mobile radio transmitting equipment installed on vehicles with
the ABS system providing that the radio is installed according
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Update:Thu Jan 25 12:23:16 1996

152to the radio manufacturer's instructions. However, if you have
had a mobile radio transmitter installed and the check ABS light
comes on (at any time other than immediately after turning the
key to the ON position) have your mobile radio dealer inspect
the radio installation. Also, if the ABS system is activated other
than during maximum braking, have your mobile radio
installation checked.
*
[DR17800(ALL)03/95]
Parking Brake
*
[DR17900(ALL)01/95]
The parking brake should be used whenever you park your
vehicle.
*
[DR18100(ALL)11/93]
The parking brake lever is located between the front seats. To
set the parking brake, put your foot on the brake pedal while
pulling the parking brake handle fully and firmly upward.
*
[DR18300(ALL)12/89]
To release the parking brake, put your foot on the brake pedal,
pull the handle upward and push the button. Then lower the
handle to the released position while holding the button in.
*
[DR18400(ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
Always set the parking brake fully and make sure that
the gearshift is securely latched in P (Park) (automatic
transaxle) or in 1 (First) (manual transaxle).
*
[DR18500(ALL)11/91]
RWARNING
To prevent personal injury, do not release the parking
brake while outside the vehicle.
*
[DR18700(ALL)01/93]
RWARNING
If the parking brake is fully released, but the Brake
System light remains on, have the brakes checked
immediately. They may not be working properly.
File:cddro.ex
Update:Thu Jan 25 12:23:16 1996

Driving Your Contour
153
*
[DR19000(ALL)01/95]
The parking brake is not designed to stop a moving vehicle, but
you can use the parking brake to stop your vehicle in an
emergency if the normal brakes fail. However, since the parking
brake applies only the rear brakes, the stopping distance will
increase greatly and the handling of your vehicle will be
adversely affected.
*
[DR19050(ALL)03/95]
Always check the Brake Warning Light each time you start your
engine. Driving with the parking brake on will cause the brakes
to wear out quickly and will reduce the fuel economy.
%*
[DR19100(ALL)01/95]
Driving Under Special Conditions
*
[DR19200(ALL)01/95]
Tips for Safe Driving
*
[DR19300(ALL)05/95]
As with any new vehicle, yours may drive and handle
differently from your previous vehicle. Use care until you
become accustomed to its various features and driving
characteristics.
*
[DR19400(ALL)03/95]
Operate your vehicle within reasonable limits. Sudden
acceleration, deceleration, turning, or combinations of these
maneuvers can cause a vehicle to behave differently than
anticipated.
%*
[DR19750(ALL)01/95]
Driving in Bad Weather
%*
[DR19800(ALL)01/95]
Slippery roads
*
[DR19900(ALL)03/95]
On some slippery road surfaces, front-wheel drive may provide
better acceleration than rear-wheel drive. However, this does not
mean that your vehicle can stop any faster or any better than a
vehicle with rear-wheel drive. Exercise the same caution while
driving on slippery roads with your front-wheel drive vehicle as
you would with a rear-wheel drive vehicle.
*
[DR20100(ALL)03/95]
n
Do not quickly move the steering wheel unless necessary.
*
[DR20200(ALL)01/95]
n
Drive slower than you normally would.
*
[DR20400(ALL)01/95]
n
Give your vehicle more distance to stop.
File:cddro.ex
Update:Thu Jan 25 12:23:16 1996