service FORD E SERIES 1997 4.G Owner's Manual

the ignition to the LOCK position.
Do not move the wipers manually
across the windshield as this may
cause damage to the wiper system.
Inspect the wiper arm pivots on a
regular basis to ensure the wiper
arms move freely. Lubricate the
pivot points as necessary.
Replacing wiper blades
If the wiper blades do not work
properly after cleaning,
replacement of the blade assembly
or the blade element may be
necessary.
To replace the wiper blades:
1. Pull the wiper arm away from
the windshield and lock it into the
service position.
2. Turn the blade at an angle from
the wiper arm. Depress the lock
tab to release the wiper blade and
pull the wiper blade down toward
the windshield to remove it from
the arm.
3. Attach the new wiper to the
wiper arm and press it into place
until a click is heard.
eco_replacing_wiper_blades
com_about_tire_grades.01
Maintenance and care
150

conditions of their use, however,
and may depart significantly from
the norm due to variations in
driving habits, service practices,
and differences in road
characteristics and climate.
Traction A B C
The traction grades, from highest
to lowest are A, B, and C, and they
represent the tire's ability to stop
on wet pavement as measured
under test surfaces of asphalt and
concrete. A tire marked C may
have poor traction performance.
Warning: The traction grade
assigned to this tire is based on
braking (straightahead) traction
tests and does not include
cornering (turning) traction.
Temperature A B C
The temperature grades are A (the
highest), B, and C, representing
the tire's resistance to the
generation of heat and its ability to
dissipate heat when tested under
controlled conditions on a
specified indoor laboratory test
wheel. Sustained high temperature
can cause the material of the tire
to degenerate and reduce tire life,
and excessive temperature can
lead to sudden tire failure. The
grade C corresponds to a level of
performance which all passenger
car tires must meet under the
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard No. 109. Grades B and A
represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test
com_traction_abc.01
com_temperature_abc.01
Maintenance and care
152

wheel than the minimum required
by law.
The temperature grade for
this tire is established for a
tire that is properly inflated and
not overloaded. Excessive speed,
underinflation, or excessive
loading, either separately or in
combination, can cause heat
buildup and possible tire failure.
SERVICING YOUR TIRES
Checking the tire pressure
Check the tire pressure
periodically and inflate tires as
necessary. To check the tire
pressure, insert the tire pressure
gauge into the valve system.
eco_tire_service
eco_pressure_checking
Maintenance and care
153

The cold pressure amount is listed
on the Safety Compliance
Certification label.
Improperly inflated tires
can affect vehicle handling
and can fail suddenly, possibly
resulting in loss of vehicle
control.
Rotating the tires
Rotate your tires at regular
intervals for even wear. Rotation
intervals are listed in theService
Guide.
²Four tire rotation
eco_rotating_tiresMaintenance and care
154

²Five tire rotation
Replacing the tires
Replace the tires when the wear
band is visible through the tire
treads.
When replacing full size
tires, never mix radial,
bias-belted, or bias-type tires.
Use only the tire sizes that are
listed on the tire pressure decal.
Make sure that all tires are the
same size, speed rating, and
load-carrying capacity. Use only
the tire combinations
recommended on the decal. If
you do not follow these
precautions, your vehicle may
not drive properly and safely.
When purchasing replacement tires
for your vehicle, consult your
dealer or qualified service
technician to ensure that the
correct tire types are used.
eco_types_tires
eco_snow_chains
Maintenance and care
155

Using snow tires and chains
Snow tires must be the
same size and grade as the
tires you currently have on your
vehicle.
The tires on your vehicle have
allÐweather treads to provide
traction in rain and snow. However,
in some climates, using snow tires
and chains may be necessary. Ford
offers tire cables as a Ford
approved accessory and
recommends use of these or their
equivalents. See your dealer or
qualified service technician for
more information on tire cables for
your vehicle. Follow these
guidelines when using snow tires
and chains:
²Install chains securely, verifying
that the chains do not touch any
wiring, brake lines or fuel lines.
²Install the chains on the rear
tires only.
²Drive cautiously. If you hear the
chains rub or bang against the
vehicle, stop and retighten
them. If this does not work,
remove the chains to prevent
vehicle damage.
²Avoid overloading your vehicle.
²Remove the tire chains when
they are no longer needed. Do
not use chains on dry roads.
²The suspension insulation and
bumpers will help prevent
vehicle damage. Do not remove
Maintenance and care
156

recommended octane fuel, see
your dealer or a qualified service
technician to prevent any engine
damage.
Fuel quality
If you are experiencing starting,
rough idle or hesitation problems
try a different brand of fuel. If the
condition persists, see your dealer
or a qualified service technician.
The American Automobile
Manufacturers Association (AAMA)
issued a gasoline specification to
provide information on high quality
fuels that optimize the
performance of your vehicle. We
recommend the use of gasolines
that meet the AAMA specification
if they are available.
It should not be necessary to add
any aftermarket products to your
fuel tank if you continue to use a
high-quality fuel.
Cleaner air
Ford approves the use of gasolines
to improve air quality, including
reformulated gasolines, that
contain oxygenates such as a
maximum of 10% ethanol or 15%
MTBE. There should be no more
than 5% methanol with cosolvents
and additives to protect the fuel
system.
Calculating fuel economy
To accurately calculate your
vehicle's fuel economy:
com_fuel_quality.01
com_cleaner_air.01
com_calculating_economy.01
Maintenance and care
160

²Use only unleaded fuel.
²Avoid running out of fuel.
²Do not turn off the ignition
while the vehicle is in motion.
²Have regular maintenance
checks performed according to
the intervals in theService
Guide.
When servicing your vehicle, never
use a metal exhaust collector. A
metal collector may melt or deform
plastic parts.
Do not park, idle, or drive
your vehicle in dry grass
or other dry ground cover. The
emission system heats up the
engine compartment and exhaust
system, which can start a fire.
If you smell exhaust fumes
inside your vehicle, have
your dealer inspect your vehicle
immediately. Do not drive if you
smell exhaust fumes.
On vehicles without
original equipment floor
covering or insulation, do not let
passengers ride in your truck in
a manner that allows contact
between skin and the metal floor.
If you notice one or more of the
following, the emissions system
may not be working properly. Have
your vehicle serviced as soon as
possible.
Maintenance and care
162

²Fluid leaks
²The
or service engine soon
lights illuminate in the
instrument cluster and remain
lit.
²Strange odors
²Engine runs more than five
seconds after shut-off or engine
misfires, surges, stalls or
backfires
²Loss of oil pressure
Important emission control
information
By law, anyone who manufacturers,
repairs, services, leases, trades
vehicles or supervises a fleet of
vehicles is not permitted to
intentionally remove an emission
control device or prevent it from
working. Do not make any
unauthorized changes to the
vehicle or engine. Changes that
cause more unburned fuel to reach
the exhaust system can increase
the temperature of the engine or
exhaust system.
When your vehicle is serviced,
never use a metal exhaust
collector. The use of a metal
collector may melt or deform
plastic parts.
Do not park, idle, or drive
your vehicle in dry grass
or other dry ground cover. The
emission system heats up the
engine compartment and exhaust
system, which can start a fire.
eco_emission_info
eco_i-m_testing
Maintenance and care
163

Preparing your vehicle for
inspection/maintenance (I/M)
testing
In some localities it may be a legal
requirement to pass an I/M test of
the on-board diagnostic (OBD) II
system. If your vehicle's powertrain
system or battery has just been
serviced, the OBD II system is
reset to a condition unready for
I/M testing. To ready the OBD II
system for I/M testing, the law
specifies that additional city and
highway driving is necessary to
complete the check of the OBD II
system.
The driving modes required to
reach the ready condition consist
of a minimum of 30 minutes of city
and highway driving:
²At least 20 minutes driving in
stop and go city-type traffic with
at least four idle periods.
²At least ten minutes of driving
on an expressway or highway.
Before completing the above
driving modes, the engine must be
warmed up and at operating
temperature. Once started, the
vehicle must not be turned off
during these modes.
eco_bulbs_replace
Maintenance and care
164