maintenance LINCOLN CONTINENTAL 1997 User Guide

219
Maintenance and CareService Made EasyFord has two goals for servicing your vehicle.
1. When we can, we design parts that do not
need to be serviced.
2. We want to make servicing your vehicle as
easy as possible. To help you:q
We highlight do-it-yourself items in yellow in
the engine compartment so that you can find
them easily.
q
When possible, we design parts that can be
replaced without tools.
q
We give you a Maintenance Schedule that
makes tracking routine service for your vehicle
easy. The maintenance schedule is located in
theMaintenance Schedulebooklet.This chapter tells you about the basic parts that you
need to check and service regularly.
If your vehicle needs professional servicing, your
dealership can provide the parts and service
required. Check yourWarranty Information Booklet
to find out which parts and services are covered.
Also see theCustomer Assistancechapter of this
Owner Guide.
Ford Motor Company recommends that the Owner
Maintenance Checks listed in theMaintenance
Schedulebooklet be performed for the proper
operation of your vehicle. In addition to the
conditions listed in theOwner Maintenance
Checklist, be alert for any unusual noise, vibration,
or other indication that your vehicle may need
service. If you do notice something unusual, see
that your vehicle is serviced promptly.
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226Engine Oil RecommendationsWe recommend using Motorcraft oil or an
equivalent oil meeting Ford Specification
WSS-M2C153-F and displaying the American
Petroleum Institute CERTIFICATION MARK on the
front of the container.
The API Certification Mark
Neveruse:q
ªNon-Detergentº oils
q
Oils labeled API SA, SB, SC, SD, SE, SF or SG
q
Additional engine oil additives, oil treatments or
engine treatments
Engine oils with anSAE 5W-30viscosity are
PREFERREDfor your vehicle. They provide the
best engine performance, fuel economy and engine
protection for all climates down to-15ÊF (-25ÊC).
Synthetic engine oils which are CERTIFIED and of
the preferred viscosity may be used in your engine.
The engine oil and oil filter must still be changed
according to the maintenance schedule.
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228It may be necessary to add some oil between oil
changes. Make sure you use a CERTIFIED engine
oil of the preferred viscosity. Your vehicle's
warranty coverage may not apply if engine damage
is caused by the use of improper engine oil.
Add engine oil through the oil filler cap highlighted
in yellow. To add oil, remove the filler cap and use
a funnel to pour oil into the opening. Be careful not
to overfill the engine. Recheck the oil level after 30
minutes to allow the oil to settle.Changing the Engine Oil and the Oil
FilterChange your engine oil and oil filter according to
these mileage and time requirements, whichever
occurs first.
Refer to theMaintenance Schedulebooklet for
additional information.
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238The power steering fluid reservoirUse only MERCONHATF power steering fluid.If the power steering fluid is low, do not drive your
vehicle for a long period of time before adding fluid.
This can damage the power steering pump.
Automatic Transaxle FluidUnder normal circumstances, you do not need to
check the fluid level of the transaxle, since your
vehicle does not use up transaxle fluid. Refer to the
Maintenance Schedulebooklet for replacement
intervals. However, if the transaxle is not working
properly Ð for instance, the transaxle may slip or
shift slowly, or you may notice some sign of fluid
leakage Ð the fluid level should be checked.
NOTE:If the vehicle has been operated for an
extended period at high speeds or in city traffic
during hot weather, or pulling a trailer, the vehicle
should be turned off for about 30 minutes to allow
the fluid to cool before checking.
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240Adding Automatic Transaxle FluidBefore adding any fluid, be sure that the correct
type will be used. Correct type is shown on the
dipstick.
Add fluid in 1/2 pint (.25L) increments through the
filler tube to bring the level to the correct area on
the dipstick. DO NOT OVERFILL. If the level is
above the top hole in the dipstick, excess fluid
should be removed by a qualified technician.
NOTE:Always dispose of used automotive fluids in
a responsible manner. Follow your community's
standards for disposing of these types of fluids. Call
your local recycling center to find out about
recycling automotive fluids.Automatic overdrive transaxle fluid dipstick
BatteryYour vehicle may have a Motorcraft
maintenance-free battery. When the original
equipment battery is replaced under warranty it
may be replaced by a low-maintenance battery. See
Motorcraft Partsat the end of this chapter for the
proper replacement battery.
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241
The low-maintenance battery has removable vent
caps for checking the electrolyte level and adding
water. The electrolyte level should be checked at
least every 24 months or 24,000 miles
(40,000 km) in temperatures up to90ÊF(32ÊC)
and more often in temperatures above90ÊF(32ÊC).
Keep the electrolyte level in each cell up to the
level indicator. Do not overfill.
If the level gets low, refill the battery with distilled
water. If necessary, you can add tap water to the
battery, provided the water is not hard or does not
have a high mineral or alkali content. If the battery
needs water quite often, have the charging system
checked for a possible malfunction.Help Us Protect Our EnvironmentFord Motor Company strongly recommends that
used lead-acid batteries be returned to an
authorized recycling facility for disposal.Battery recycling symbol
Because your vehicle's engine is electronically
controlled by a computer, some control conditions
are maintained by power from the battery. If you
ever disconnect the battery or install a new battery,
you must allow the computer to ªrelearnº its idle
conditions before your vehicle will drive properly.
To let the engine do this, put the gearshift in P
(Park), turn off all the accessories, and start the
vehicle. Let the engine idle for at least one minute.
(Engine must be warm in order to ªlearn.º) Also,
allow approximately 10 miles (16 km) of stop and
go traffic for your vehicle's engine to completely
ªrelearnº its idle.
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244Pressure Alert SystemEach of your SecuriTires is monitored by a low tire
pressure sensor. A warning will appear in the
overhead console when the pressure in one of your
tires drops below acceptable levels or if the system
has malfunctioned.
The Low Tire Pressure warning in the
overhead console
THIS DEVICE COMPLIES WITH FCC RULES,
PART 15. OPERATION IS SUBJECT TO THE
FOLLOWING TWO CONDITIONS: (1) THIS
DEVICE MAY NOT CAUSE HARMFUL
INTEREFERENCE AND (2) THIS DEVICE MUST
ACCEPT ANY INTEREFERENCE THAT MAY BE
RECEIVED, INCLUDING INTEREFERENCE THAT
MAY CAUSE UNDESIRABLE OPERATION.Maintenance WarningThe ªLow Tire Pressureº warning will illuminate
and stay on when one of your vehicle's tires drops
below 18 psi (124 kps). The warning light will also
come on and stay lit if the Pressure Alert System
has malfunctioned.
If this warning appears, check the pressure in your
tires at the earliest possible convenience and adjust
any tire that is low to the recommended air
pressure level. This information can be found on
theService Station Informationpage at the back of
this manual or on the driver's door placard.
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247
Tire RotationBecause your vehicle's front and rear tires perform
different jobs, they often wear differently. To make
sure your tires wear evenly and last longer, rotate
them as indicated in the following diagram.
Do not include the spare tire as part of your
rotation.
For tire rotation intervals, see theMaintenance
Schedulebooklet. If you notice that the tires wear
unevenly, have them checked.
Rotating the tires
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257
q
English: MPG = (total miles)/(gallons used).
q
Metric: L/100K = (liters used) x 100/(total
kilometers)
Comparisons With Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) and Transport
Canada (TC) Fuel Economy EstimatesEPA fuel economy figures are obtained from
laboratory tests under simulated road conditions and
may not reflect the actual conditions you experience
or your style of driving. The EPA fuel economy
estimate is not a guarantee that you will achieve
the fuel economy shown.
The following decrease fuel economy:q
Lack of regular, scheduled maintenance
q
Rapid acceleration and excessive speed
q
Driving with your foot on the brake
q
Sudden stops
q
Extended engine idling
q
Using speed control in hilly terrain
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Extended use of the A/C, defroster, rear
window defroster and other accessories
q
Underinflated tires
q
Heavy loads
q
Aftermarket add-ons such as bike, ski or luggage
racks, bug deflectors, etc.
Self-Service PointersIf you choose to do your own fueling, you should
also perform a few simple maintenance routines.
This extra effort will save you additional money and
contribute to the driving efficiency of your vehicle.
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260Do not make any unauthorized changes to your
vehicle or engine. Changes that cause more
unburned fuel to reach the exhaust system can
increase the temperature of the engine or exhaust
system.
By law, anyone who manufactures, repairs, services,
sells, leases, trades vehicles, or supervises a fleet of
vehicles is not permitted to intentionally remove an
emission control device or prevent it from working.
In some of the United States and in Canada,
vehicle owners may be liable if their emission
control device is removed or is prevented from
working.
Do not drive your vehicle if it does not operate
properly. See your dealer if the engine runs on for
more than five seconds after you shut it off or if it
misfires, surges, stalls, or backfires.Information about your vehicle's emission control
system is on the Vehicle Emission Control
Information decal located on or near the engine.
This decal identifies engine displacement and gives
some tune-up specifications.
How to Prepare Your Vehicle for
Inspection/Maintenance (I/M) TestingIn some localities it may become a legal
requirement to pass an Inspection/Maintenance
(I/M) test of the On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) II
system. If the vehicle's powertrain system or its
battery has just been serviced, the OBD II system is
reset to a not ready for I/M testing condition. To
prepare for I/M testing, the law specifies that
additional mixed city and highway driving is
required to complete the check of the OBD II
system.
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