LINCOLN TOWN CAR 1997 Owners Manual

209
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
Before your vehicle can be towed, the air
suspension switch in the luggage compartment
needs to be turned to the OFF position. It is
recommended that your Town Car be towed with
wheel lift or flatbed equipment. If slingbelt
equipment must be used, the towbar will deform
the soft fascia (bumper). However, it will return to
an acceptable shape.
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210Rear towing
When calling for a tow truck, tell the operator what
kind of vehicle you have. A towing manual is
available from Ford Motor Company for all
authorized tow truck operators. Have your tow
truck driver refer to this manual for the proper
hook-up and towing procedures for your vehicle.
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211
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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212Use 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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213
Precautions When Servicing Your
VehicleBe especially careful when inspecting or servicing
your vehicle. Here are some general precautions for
your safety:q
Do not work on a hot engine. The engine
cooling fan may come on unexpectedly. Always
turn the engine off and let it cool.
q
If you must work with the engine running,
avoid wearing loose clothing or jewelry that
could get caught in moving parts. Take
appropriate precautions with long hair.
q
Do not work on a vehicle in an enclosed space
with the engine running, unless you are sure
you have enough ventilation.
q
Never get under a vehicle while it is supported
by a jack only. If you must work under a
vehicle, use safety stands.
q
Keep all lit cigarettes and other smoking
materials away from the battery and all
fuel-related parts.
If you disconnect the battery, the engine must
ªrelearnº its idle conditions before your vehicle will
drive properly. To find out how the engine does
this, seeBatteryin this chapter.
Working with the engine off:1. Set the parking brake fully and make sure that
the gearshift is securely latched in P (Park).
2. Remove the key from the ignition after you
turn the engine off.
3. Block the wheels. This will prevent your
vehicle from moving unexpectedly.
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214
Workingwit hthe engin eon:
WARNING
Do no tstar tyou rengin ewit htheair
WARNING
Th ecoolin gfan is automati can dmay

215
Opening the Hood1. Inside the vehicle, pull the hood release handle
located under the bottom left corner of the
instrument panel.
The hood release under the instrument panel
2. Go to the front of the vehicle and release the
auxiliary latch that is located under the hood at
the center of the vehicle.
The auxiliary latch under the front edge of the
hood
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2163. Lift the hood until the lift cylinders hold it
open.
Whenever 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.
Engine CompartmentYour vehicle has a 4.6 liter engine. The following
page shows a diagram of where to find items that
you should regularly service.
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217
A 4.6 liter SFI engine
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218Engine 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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