Mercury Mercury Cougar 1997 Owner's Manuals

241
*
[MC37600( ALL)01/96]
RWARNING
Do not park, idle, or drive your vehicle in
dry grass or other dry ground cover. The
emission system heats up the engine
compartment and exhaust system, which
can start a fire.
*
[MC37700( ALL)01/96]
Watch for fluid leaks, strange odors, smoke, loss
of oil pressure, the charge warning light, the
check engine light, or the temperature warning
light. These sometimes indicate that the emission
system is not working properly.
*
[MC37800( ALL)01/96]
Do 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.
*
[MC37900( ALL)01/96]
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.
*
[MC38000( ALL)08/95]
Never use a metal exhaust collector when you
service your vehicle. If the metal collector
contacts any of your vehicle's plastic trim or
bumper parts they could melt or deform.
*
[MC38100( ALL)01/96]
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.
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Update:Mon Jun 3 09:27:52 1996

242 %
*
[MC38200( ALL)01/96]
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.
%*
[MC38300( ALL)03/96]
How to Prepare Your Vehicle for
Inspection/Maintenance (I/M) Testing
*
[MC38400( ALL)05/96]
In 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.
*
[MC38601( ALL)05/96]
The driving modes required to reach the ready
condition consist of a minimum of 30 minutes of
city and highway driving as described below:
*
[MC38701( ALL)05/96]
q
At least twenty minutes driving in stop and
go, city type traffic with at least four idle
periods.
*
[MC38801( ALL)05/96]
q
At least ten minutes of driving on an
expressway or highway.
[MC38901( ALL)04/96]
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.
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243
%*
[MC41200( ALL)03/96]
Lights and Bulb Replacement
*
[MC41300( ALL)01/96]
It is a good idea to check the operation of the
following lights frequently:
*
[MC41400( ALL)01/96]
q
headlamps
*
[MC41500( ALL)01/96]
q
tail lamps
*
[MC41600( ALL)01/96]
q
brakelamps
*
[MC41700( ALL)01/96]
q
hazard flasher
*
[MC41800( ALL)01/96]
q
high-mount brakelamp
*
[MC41900( ALL)01/96]
q
turn signals
*
[MC42100( ALL)05/96]
q
license plate lamps
%*
[MC42300( ALL)01/96]
The alignment of your headlamps should be
checked if:
*
[MC42400( ALL)01/96]
q
oncoming motorists frequently signal you to
turn off your vehicle's high beams when you
do not have the high beams on
*
[MC42500( ALL)01/96]
q
the headlamps do not seem to give you
enough light to see clearly at night
*
[MC42600( ALL)01/96]
q
the headlamp beams are pointed substantially
away from a position slightly down and to
the right
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244 %
*
[MC42700( ALL)01/96]
Headlamp Bulb
*
[MC42800( ALL)03/96]
The headlamps on your vehicle use replaceable
bulbs. When the lamp burns out, simply replace
the bulb, rather than the whole lamp.
*
[MC42900( ALL)01/96]
RWARNING
Handle a halogen headlamp bulb carefully
and keep out of children's reach. Grasp
the bulb only by its plastic base and do
not touch the glass. The oil from your
hand could cause the bulb to break the
next time the headlamps are operated.
*
[MC43000( ALL)01/96]
Do not remove the burned-out bulb unless you
can immediately replace it with a new one. If a
bulb is removed for an extended period of time,
contaminants may enter the headlamp housing
and affect its performance.
[MC43100( BC )12/95]
half page art:0010431-A
Parts of a headlamp
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245
*
[MC43400( ALL)03/96]
Removing the headlamp bulb
*
[MC43500( ALL)01/96]
1. Make sure that the headlamp switch is in
the OFF position.
*
[MC43800( BC )01/96]
2. Lift the hood and find the bulb in the
headlamp socket.
*
[MC44100( BC )12/95]
3. Remove the electrical connector from the
bulb by grasping the wire with a quick pull
rearward.
*
[MC44300( BC )12/95]
4. Remove the retaining ring by turning it 1/8
of a turn to free it from the socket. Then
slide the ring off the plastic base.Keep the
ring.You must use it again to hold the new
bulb in place.
*
[MC44800( ALL)03/96]
Installing the headlamp bulb
*
[MC45000(MBC )01/96]
1. With the flat side of the bulb's plastic base
facing upward, insert the glass end of the
bulb into the socket. You may need to turn
the bulb left or right to line up the grooves
in the plastic base with the tabs in the
socket. When the grooves are aligned, push
the bulb into the socket until the plastic base
contacts the rear of the socket.
*
[MC45200(MBC )01/96]
2. Slip the bulb retaining ring over the plastic
base until it contacts the rear of the socket.
Lock the ring into the socket by rotating it
clockwise until you feel a ªstop.º
*
[MC45300( ALL)01/96]
3. Push the electrical connector into the rear of
the plastic base until it snaps, locking it into
position.
*
[MC45400(MBC )01/96]
4. Turn the headlamps on and make sure that
they work properly. If the headlamp was
correctly aligned before you changed the
bulb, you should not need to align it again.
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246 %
*
[MC45700( BCGV)01/96]
High-Mount Brakelamp Bulbs
[MC45800( BCGV)12/95]
Your vehicle has a brakelamp mounted in the
rear window, called a high-mount brakelamp.
You may need to remove this lamp at times to
replace the brakelamp bulb or to clean the rear
window.
[MC46000( C )12/95]
half page art:0010435-A
Parts of the high-mount brakelamp
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247 % [MC46200( BCGV)12/95]
Toremovethe high-mount brakelamp:
[MC46300( BC )12/95]
1. Slide the trim cover toward the front of the
vehicle to disengage the retaining clips.
[MC46500( BC )12/95]
2. Twist the socket counterclockwise and
remove from lamp.
[MC46800( BC )12/95]
3. Pull bulb out of socket.
[MC47000( BC )12/95]
4. Remove the retaining screw.
[MC47100( BC )12/95]
5. Lift the lamp above the carpet and slide
away from the rear window.
[MC47300( BC )12/95]
6. Replace the burned out bulbs.
*
[MC47400( BCGV)01/96]
Toinstallthe high-mount brakelamp:
[MC47500( BC )12/95]
1. Slide the lamp into slots, toward the rear
window.
[MC47700( BC )12/95]
2. Install the screw.
[MC47900( BC )12/95]
3. Push bulb into the socket.
[MC48000( BC )12/95]
4. Install the bulb and socket into the lamp and
twist socket clockwise until it locks.
[MC48100( BC )12/95]
5. Slide the trim cover toward rear of vehicle
to engage the retaining clips.
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Update:Mon Jun 3 09:27:52 1996

248 %
*
[MC48200( ALL)01/96]
Using the Right Bulbs
[MC48400( C )05/96]
thirty-four pica chart:0010440-JFile:11rcmcc.ex
Update:Mon Jun 3 09:27:52 1996

249
%*
[MC48700( ALL)04/96]
Cleaning Your Vehicle
*
[MC48800( ALL)01/96]
Pollen, bird droppings and tree sap can damage
the paint, especially in hot weather. Wash your
vehicle as often as necessary to keep it clean.
*
[MC48900( ALL)01/96]
Take similar precautions if your vehicle is
exposed to chemical industrial fallout.
*
[MC49000( ALL)01/96]
Paint damage resulting from fallout is not
related to a defect in paint materials or
workmanship and therefore is not covered by
warranty. Ford, however, believes that continual
improvement in customer satisfaction is a high
priority. For this reason, Ford has authorized its
dealers to repair, at no charge to the owner, the
surfaces of new vehicles damaged by
environmental fallout within 12 months or 12,000
miles (20,000 km) of purchase, whichever comes
first. Customers may be required to bring their
vehicle in for inspection by a Ford
representative.
%*
[MC49100( ALL)01/96]
Washing and Polishing Your Vehicle
*
[MC49200( ALL)01/96]
Wash the outside of your vehicle, including the
underside, with a mild detergent.
*
[MC49300( ALL)01/96]
DO NOT:
*
[MC49400( ALL)01/96]
q
Wash your vehicle with hot water
*
[MC49500( ALL)01/96]
q
Wash your vehicle while it sits in direct
sunlight
*
[MC49600( ALL)01/96]
q
Wash your vehicle while the body is hot
*
[MC49700( ALL)01/96]
Polish your vehicle to remove harmful deposits
and protect the finish.
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250 %
*
[MC49800( ALL)01/96]
Cleaning Chrome and Aluminum Parts
*
[MC49900( ALL)12/95]
Wash chrome and aluminum parts with a mild
detergent. Do not use steel wool, abrasive
cleaners, fuel, or strong detergents.
%*
[MC50000( ALL)01/96]
Cleaning Plastic Parts
*
[MC50100( ALL)01/96]
Some of your vehicle's exterior trim parts are
plastic. Clean with a tar and road oil remover if
necessary. Use a vinyl cleaner for routine
cleaning.
*
[MC50200( ALL)01/96]
Do not clean plastic parts with thinners, solvents
or petroleum-based cleaners.
%*
[MC50300( ALL)01/96]
If you have your vehicle rustproofed, remove
oversprayed rustproofing with a tar and road oil
remover. If rustproofing is not removed from
plastic and rubber parts, it can cause
deterioration.
%*
[MC50400( ALL)02/96]
Cleaning the Safety Belts
*
[MC50500( ALL)02/96]
Clean the safety belts with any mild soap
solution that is recommended for cleaning
upholstery or carpets. Do not bleach or dye the
belt webbing because this may weaken it.
%*
[MC50600( ALL)01/96]
Cleaning the Exterior Lamps
*
[MC50700( ALL)01/96]
Do not use dry paper towel, chemical solvents
or abrasive cleaners to clean the lamps, as these
may cause scratches or crack the lamps.
File:11rcmcc.ex
Update:Mon Jun 3 09:27:52 1996