service LINCOLN MARK VIII 1997 Owner's Guide

213
After the vehicle is started, let it idle for a while to
let the engine ªrelearnº its idle conditions. Drive it
around for a while with all electrical accessories
turned off to let the battery recharge. Driveability
may be deteriorated slightly until all drive modes
are ªrelearned.ºYou may need to use a battery
charger to fully recharge the battery.
If you need to replace your battery, seeBatteryin
theMaintenance and Carechapter.
Towing Your VehicleIf you need to have your vehicle towed, contact a
professional towing service or, if you are a member,
your roadside assistance center. Typical towing
options include wheel lift towing or flat bed towing.
Front towing
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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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216Use only recommended fuels, lubricants, fluids, and
service parts conforming to Ford specifications.
Motorcraft parts are designed and built to provide
the best performance in your vehicle. Using these
parts for replacement is your assurance that
Ford-built quality stays in your vehicle.
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.Accident DamageShould your vehicle suffer accident damage
requiring new sheet metal or plastic replacement
parts, be sure your repair shop uses only genuine
Ford replacement parts.
While imitation body parts may appear similar to
genuine Ford parts on the surface, differences in
quality become obvious when both are subjected to
standard Ford quality tests.Ford tests indicate that you should be concerned
with the quality of the fit and finish, corrosion
resistance and structural integrity of these imitation
replacement parts, and how their use will affect
your warranty.
How Can You Protect Yourself?Beforeany repair work begins, tell your adjuster
that you want your vehicle repaired usingonly
genuine Ford body parts. If the adjuster refuses,
contact your insurance agent for help. If your agent
and your insurance company refuse to repair your
vehicle with original factory parts, you should
contact your state insurance commissioner, the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or a
local consumer protection agency.
In Canada, contact provincial insurance
commissioners, Transport Canada or local consumer
protection groups.
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220Whenever you close the hood, latch it securely.
NOTE:Apply lubricant to the hood latch at
six-month intervals to maintain smooth and
trouble-free operation.
NOTE:Read and understandPrecautions When
Servicing Your Vehicleat the beginning of this
chapter before opening the hood.
If the battery is disconnected, the computer must
relearn its idle control. SeeBatteryin the Index.
Engine CompartmentYour vehicle has a 4.6 liter 4V SFI engine. The
following page shows a diagram of where to find
items that you should regularly service.
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231
concentration in your vehicle is such that the
coolant will not freeze at the temperature level in
which you drive during winter months. Never
increase the engine coolant concentration above
60%. Leave a 50/50 mixture of engine coolant and
water in your vehicle year-round in non-extreme
climates.
Proper procedures for a complete coolant drain and
flush of the cooling system can be found in theCar
Service Manual.Following these recommended
procedures will ensure that the specified coolant
level and a 50/50 or appropriate mixture of coolant
and water is maintained.Engine Coolant Refill ProcedureWhen the entire cooling system is drained and
refilled, the following procedure should be used to
ensure a complete fill:
NOTE:It is imperative the following procedure be
adhered to. Failure to do so could result in damage
to your engine.
q
Remove coolant reservoir pressure cap.
q
Remove the engine coolant outlet tube fill plug
on the engine.
q
With the engine off and cool, add a 50/50
mixture of recommended cooling system fluid
and water to the coolant outlet tube fill neck
until the reservoir is full.
NOTE:DO NOT FILL COOLANT SYSTEM
THROUGH COOLANT RESERVOIR. COOLANT
WILL NOT ENTER ENGINE, WHICH CAN LEAD
TO ENGINE DAMAGE.
NOTE:Avoid spilling coolant on the front end
accessory drive belt, as this will allow the belt to
slip and become noisy.
q
Reinstall the pressure cap to the coolant
reservoir.
q
Continue filling at the engine coolant tube fill
neck slowly while allowing air to escape.
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241
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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246Octane recommendationYour vehicle is designed to use premium gasoline
for optimum performance with an (R+M)/2 octane
rating of 91 or higher. Gasolines with lower octane
ratings can be used, but performance and fuel
economy may decrease. We do not recommend
gasolines labeled as ªpremiumº in high altitude
areas that are sold with octane ratings less than 91.
Typical octane rating labelDo not be concerned if your vehicle sometimes
knocks lightly. However, if it knocks heavily under
most driving conditions on the recommended
octane fuel, see your dealer or a qualified service
technician to prevent any engine damage.
Fuel qualityIf 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.
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251
To make sure that the catalytic converter and the
other emission control parts continue to work
properly:q
Use only premium unleaded fuel.
q
Avoid running out of fuel.
q
Do not turn off the ignition while your vehicle
is moving, especially at high speeds.
q
Do not push start your vehicle.
q
Have the services listed in theMaintenance
Schedulebooklet performed according to the
specified schedule. The scheduled maintenance
services are required because they are
considered essential to the life and performance
of your vehicle and to its emissions system.In general, maintenance, replacement, or service of
the emissions control devices or systems in your
new Ford Motor Company vehicle or engine may
be performed at your expense by any automotive
repair establishment or individual using automotive
parts equivalent to those which your vehicle or
engine was originally equipped.
Ford strongly recommends the use of genuine Ford
replacement parts. If other than Ford or Motorcraft
parts or Ford authorized remanufactured parts are
used for maintenance replacements or for the
service of components affecting emission control,
such non-Ford parts should be equivalent to genuine
Ford Motor Company parts in performance and
durability. It is the owner's responsibility to
determine the equivalency of such parts. Please
consult your warranty booklet for complete
warranty information.
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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.
The driving modes required to reach the ready
condition consist of a minimum of 30 minutes of
city and highway driving as described below:q
At least twenty minutes driving in stop and go,
city type traffic with at least four idle periods.
q
At 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 driving modes.
Lights and Bulb ReplacementIt is a good idea to check the operation of the
following lights frequently:q
headlamps
q
high-mount brakelamp
q
tail lamps
q
brakelamps
q
hazard flasher
q
turn signals
q
license plate lamps
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Customer AssistanceIf You Have a Service ProblemFord Motor Company has authorized Ford and
Lincoln-Mercury dealerships that can service your
vehicle for you. This chapter tells you how to get
service or maintenance for your vehicle.Service/Maintenance Concerns
(U.S. or Canada)Ford recommends taking your vehicle to your
selling dealer who wants to ensure your continued
satisfaction. You may, however, take your vehicle to
any authorized Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer. In
most cases, your dealer will be able to resolve your
concern.
If you are not satisfied with the service you
received from your dealership's service department,
talk to the service manager at the dealership, or ifyou still are not satisfied, talk to the owner or
general manager of the dealership. In most cases,
you will have your concern resolved at this level.
If you are away from home when your vehicle
needs to be serviced, or if you need more help than
the dealer gave you, contact the Ford Customer
Assistance Center to find an authorized dealership
that may be able to help you.
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