light FORD WINDSTAR 1999 2.G Repair Manual

Washing your vehicle
Wash your vehicle regularly with
cold or lukewarm water. Never use
strong detergents or soap. If your
vehicle is particularly dirty, use a
quality car wash detergent. Always
use a clean sponge, washing glove
or similar device and plenty of water
for best results. To avoid spots,
avoid washing when the hood is still
warm, immediately after or during
exposure to strong sunlight.
During winter months, it is especially important to wash the vehicle on a
regular basis. Large quantities of dirt and road salt are difficult to
remove and also cause damage to the vehicle.
Remove any exterior accessories, such as antennas, before entering a car
wash. If you have wax applied to the vehicle at a commercial car wash, it
is recommended that you clean the wiper blades and windshield as
described inCleaning the wiper blades and windshield.
After washing, apply the brakes several times to dry them.
Waxing your vehicle
Wax when water stops beading on the surface. This could be every three
or four months, depending on operating conditions.
Use only carnauba or synthetic-based waxes. Use cleaning fluid or
alcohol with a clean cloth to remove any bugs and tar before waxing
vehicle. Use tar remover to remove any tar spots.
Avoid getting wax on the windshield. If you have wax applied at a
commercial car wash, it is recommended that you clean the wiper blades
and windshield as described inCleaning the wiper blades and
windshield.
Repairing paint chips
Minor scratches or paint damage from road debris may be repaired with
touch-up paint, repair foil or aerosol paint spray from the Ford accessory
line. Observe the application instructions on the products.
Remove particles such as bird droppings, tree sap, insect remains, tar
spots, road salt and industrial fallout immediately.
Maintenance and care
231

Cleaning the wheels
Wash with the same detergent as the body of your vehicle. Do not use
acid-based or alcohol-based wheel cleaners, steel wool, fuel or strong
detergents. Never use abrasives that will damage the finish of special
wheel surfaces. Use a tar remover to remove grease and tar.
Cleaning the engine
Engines are more efficient when they are clean because grease and dirt
buildup keep the engine warmer than normal. When washing:
²Take care when using a power washer to clean the engine. The high
pressure fluid could penetrate the sealed parts and cause damage.
²Do not spray with cold water to avoid cracking the engine block or
other engine components.
²Cover the highlighted areas to prevent water damage when cleaning
the engine.
²Never wash or rinse the engine while it is running; water in the
running engine may cause internal damage.
Cleaning plastic exterior parts
Use vinyl cleaner for routine cleaning. Clean with a tar remover if
necessary. Do not clean plastic parts with thinners, solvents or
petroleum-based cleaners.
Maintenance and care
232

Accessory delay ..........................78
Air bag supplemental restraint
system ........................................124
and child safety seats ............126
description .......................125,128
disposal ....................................131
indicator light ..................128,130
passenger air bag ............126,129
Air filter, cabin ..........................203
Anti-theft system ...99,100,101,102
,103
arming the system ..................100
disarming a triggered system 100
Automatic transaxle .................155
driving with ...............156,157,158
Brakes ........................................151
anti-lock ............................151,152
anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light ...........................152
fluid, checking and adding ....195
shift interlock ..........................155
Break-in period .............................3
Cargo net ...................................104
CD player .....................64,65,66,67
Child safety seats
attaching with tether straps ..136
in rear seat .......................133,136
tether anchorage
hardware ...................137,138,140
Cleaning your vehicle ...............230
built-in child seat ...........141,142,
145,146
engine compartment ..............232
exterior .............................231,234
exterior lamps .........................233
interior .....................................234
plastic parts ............................232
washing ....................................231
waxing .....................................231
wheels ......................................232
windows ..................................235
wiper blades ............................233Compass, electronic
set zone adjustment .......22,23,24
Console ........................................90
overhead ....................................86
Controls
power seat ...............................108
Coolant ......................................199
checking and adding ..............197
refill capacities ........................199
Cupholder(s) .110,112,113,115,117
Defrost
rear window ..............................37
Doors
power sliding .............87,88,89,90
Emission control system ..........222
Engine
check engine/service engine
soon light ...............................9,10
coolant .....................................197
idle speed control ...................206
service points ...................190,191
starting after a collision .........167
Engine block heater .................149
Engine oil
checking and adding ..............193
dipstick ....................................192
specifications ...................192,194
Exhaust fumes ..........................150
Floor mats ...................................91
Fuel
choosing the right fuel ...........216
comparisons with EPA fuel
economy estimates .................221
detergent in fuel .....................217
filling your vehicle
with fuel ...........................214,215
gauge .........................................12
quality ......................................217
running out of fuel .................218
safety information relating to
automotive fuels .....................214
Fuses ...................................168,169
Index
243

Gas mileage (see Fuel
economy) ..............218,219,220,221
Gauges .........................................12
engine coolant temperature
gauge .........................................13
GVWR
(Gross Vehicle Weight Rating)
calculating ...............................161
Hazard flashers .........................167
Head restraints ...........105,109,110
Headlamps
aiming ........................228,229,230
bulb specifications ..................228
high beam ..............................8,26
warning chime ..........................11
Heating ........................................27
heater only system ...27,28,29,30,
31,32,33,34
rear seat controls .....................35
Hood ..........................................189
Ignition .......................................239
Inspection/maintenance (I/M)
testing ........................................223
Instrument panel
cleaning ...................................233
Keyless entry system
autolock .....................................99
Keys
key in ignition chime ...............11
positions of the ignition ...........70
Lamps
autolamp system .......................27
daytime running light ...............26
headlamps .................................25
headlamps, flash to pass ..........26
instrument panel, dimming .....25
interior lamps ......................85,87
replacing bulbs .........224,226,227
Lane change indicator
(see Turn signal) ........................74
Liftgate ......................................103Lights, warning and indicator
air bag ..........................................8
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ..............8
anti-theft .....................................7
brake ............................................9
charging system ..........................6
door ajar ....................................10
high beam .................................11
low fuel ........................................6
low washer fluid .......................11
oil pressure .................................8
overdrive off ................................9
safety belt ...................................7
traction control off .....................7
turn signal indicator ...................7
Locks
childproof ..................................80
Lumbar support, seats ......108,109
Message center ......................14,15
system check button ...........15,16
warning messages ................16,21
Mirrors .........................................81
automatic dimming rearview
mirror ........................................80
cleaning ...................................235
fold away ...................................79
heated ........................................79
side view mirrors (power) .......78
Motorcraft parts ........................218
Octane rating ............................217
Odometer .....................................13
Overdrive ..............................75,156
Panic alarm feature, remote
entry system ................................95
Parking brake ............................152
Power distribution box
(see Fuses) ...............................173
Power door locks ...................79,80
Power steering ..........................154
fluid, checking and
adding ...............................200,201
Index
244

Radio ...37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,
46,47,48,49,50,51,52,53,54,
55,56,57,58,59,60,61,62,63
Relays ........................................168
Remote entry system .................91
illuminated entry ............26,96,99
locking/unlocking doors .92,93,94
replacement/additional
transmitters ...............................98
replacing the batteries .............97
Reverse sensing system .............67
Roof rack ...................................166
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ....................................11
Safety Compliance
Certification Label ....................241
Safety defects, reporting ..........242
Safety restraints
cleaning the safety belts .......123,
124,235
extension assembly ................122
for children .............................131
lap belt ....................................121
warning light and chime ..11,122,
123
Seat belts (see Safety
restraints) .............118,119,120,122
Seats ..........................................105
child safety seats ....................132
cleaning .....................233,234,235
Seats-easy access/easyout
feature .......................................106
Servicing your vehicle ..............188
Spark plugs, specifications .......236
Specification chart, lubricants .238
Speed control ..............................70
Speedometer ...............................13
Starting your vehicle .........147,149
jump starting ............182,183,185Steering wheel
tilting .........................................76
Tachometer .................................12
Tires .............................209,210,211
changing .............177,178,179,180
checking the pressure ............211
replacing ..................................212
rotating ....................................211
snow tires and chains ............213
tire grades ...............................210
treadwear ................................210
Towing ..................162,163,164,165
wrecker ....................................187
Traction control ...................69,153
active light ..................................6
Transaxle
fluid, refill capacities ..............237
Transmission
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) ...............201,202,203
Trip odometer .............................14
Turn signal ..................................11
Universal transmitter (see
garage door opener) ....81,82,83,84
Vehicle dimensions ...................239
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................241
Vehicle loading ..........................159
Ventilating your vehicle ...........150
Warning chimes .............................6
Washer fluid ..............................196
Water, Driving through .............159
Windows ......................................77
rear wiper/washer .....................75
Windshield washer fluid and
wipers
checking and cleaning ............208
operation ...................................74
replacing wiper blades ...........209
Index
245