LINCOLN CONTINENTAL 1997 Owners Manual

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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242If you do not let the engine relearn its idle, the idle
quality of your vehicle may be adversely affected
until the idle is relearned. Your vehicle will
eventually relearn its idle while you drive it, but it
takes much longer than if you use the previous
procedure.Passenger Compartment Air FilterUsing a screwdriver,
1. Remove the two screws retaining the passenger
side half of the cowl vent screen.
2. From inside the vehicle, pull the hood release.
3. Open the hood, then pull the hood pad away
from the cowl vent screen.
4. Remove the cowl vent screen, then the filter.
Reverse procedure to install. The filter must be
properly positioned in the housing for proper
installation.
Wiper BladesCheck the windshield wiper blades at least twice a
year. Also check them whenever they seem less
effective than usual. Substances such as tree sap
and some hot wax treatments used by commercial
car washes reduce the effectiveness of wiper blades.
If the blades do not wipe properly, clean both the
windshield and the wiper blades. Use undiluted
windshield washer solution or a mild detergent.
Rinse thoroughly with clear water. Do not use fuel,
kerosene, paint thinner, or other solvents to clean
your wiper blades. These will damage your blades.
To make reaching the wiper blades easy, simply
turn the ignition to the ACC position and turn your
wipers on. Wait for them to reach a vertical
position and turn the ignition to the OFF position.
Do not move the wipers manually. Manually
moving the wipers across the windshield may
damage them.
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243
WARNING
If you rvehicl eis drive nwit halow

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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245
WARNING
Do no tus eaeroso ltir einflator/sealer

246
It is recommende dtha tyo ualway shav eyour
WARNING
Improperl yinflate dtire sca n affect

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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248
Replacingth e Tires
Becaus eyou rvehicle' stire sma ywea runevenly,
WARNING
Whe nreplacin gful lsiz etires ,never

249
Information About Tire Quality GradesNew vehicles are fitted with tires that have their
Tire Quality Grade (described below) molded into
the tire's sidewall. These Tire Quality Grades are
determined by standards that the United States
Department of Transportation has set.
Tire Quality Grades apply to new pneumatic tires
for use on passenger cars. They do not apply to
deep tread, winter-type snow tires, space-saver or
temporary use spare tires, tires with nominal rim
diameters of 10 to 12 inches or limited production
tires as defined in Title 49 Code of Federal
Regulations Part 575.104(c)(2).
U.S. Department of Transportation Ð Tire
quality grades:The U.S. Department of
Transportation requires Ford to give you the
following information about tire grades exactly as
the government has written it.
TreadwearThe treadwear grade is a comparative rating based
on the wear rate of the tire when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified government test
course. For example, a tire graded 150 would wear
one and one-half (1 1/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded 100. The
relative performance of tires depends upon the
actual 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 CThe 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 controlled
conditions on specified government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have
poor traction performance.
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