Battery Mercury Mountaineer 1998 s User Guide

²Keep all lit cigarettes, open
flames and other lit material
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, as explained in
Batteryin this chapter.
Working with the engine off
1. Set the parking brake and
ensure the gearshift is securely
latched in P (Park).
2. Turn off the engine and remove
the key.
3. Block the wheels to prevent the
vehicle from moving unexpectedly.
Working with the engine on
1. Set the parking brake and
ensure the gearshift is securely
latched in P (Park).
2. Block the wheels to prevent the
vehicle from moving unexpectedly.
Do not start your engine
with the air cleaner
removed and do not remove it
while the engine is running.
Maintenance and care
155

1. Windshield washer fluid
reservoir
2. Transmission fluid dipstick
3. Engine oil fill cap
4. Engine oil dipstick
5. Brake fluid reservoir
6. Battery
7. Power steering fluid reservoir
8. Air filter assembly
9. Engine coolant reservoir
5.0L engine
1. Engine coolant reservoir
2. Windshield washer fluid
reservoir
3. Engine oil fill cap
4. Automatic transmission fluid
dipstick
5. Brake fluid reservoir
6. Battery
1
23
6
54
879
Maintenance and care
157

lubrication. If the original universal
joints are replaced with universal
joints equipped with grease
fittings, lubrication will be
necessary.
BATTERY
Your vehicle may be equipped with
a Motorcraft maintenance-free
battery. If the original equipment
battery needs replacing, it may be
replaced with a low-maintenance
battery. The low-maintenance
battery normally does not require
additional water during its life of
service. However, for severe usage
or in high temperature climates,
check your battery electrolyte
level, at least every 24 months or
40,000 km (24,000 miles). Keep
the electrolyte in each cell up to
the ªlevelº indicator. Do not overfill
the battery cells.
If the electrolyte level in the
battery is low, you can add plain
tap water to the battery, as long as
you do not use hard water (water
with a high alkali content). If
possible, however, try to only fill
the battery cells with distilled
water. If the battery needs water
often, have the charging system
checked.
For longer, trouble-free operation,
keep the top of the battery clean
and dry. Also, make certain the
battery cables are always tightly
fastened to the battery terminals.
Maintenance and care
173

If you see any corrosion on the
battery or terminals, remove the
cables from the terminal(s) and
clean with a wire brush. You can
neutralize the acid with a solution
of baking soda and water. Reinstall
the cables when you are done
cleaning them, and apply a small
quantity of grease to the top of
each battery terminal to help
prevent corrosion.
If your battery has a
cover/shield, make sure it is
reinstalled after the battery is
replaced.
Because your vehicle's engine is
electronically controlled by a
computer, some control conditions
are maintained by power from the
battery. When the battery is
disconnected or a new battery is
installed, the engine must relearn
its idle conditions before your
vehicle will drive properly. To
begin this process:
1. Put the gearshift in P (Park),
turn off all accessories and start
the vehicle.
2. Let the engine idle for at least
one minute.
3. The relearning process will
automatically complete as you
drive the vehicle.
²If you do not allow the engine to
relearn its idle, the idle quality
of your vehicle may be adversely
affected until the idle is
eventually relearned.
Maintenance and care
174

²If the battery has been
disconnected or a new battery
has been installed, the clock and
the preset radio stations must
be reset once the battery is
reconnected.
²Always dispose of automotive
batteries in a responsible
manner. Follow your
communities standards for
disposal. Call your local
recycling center to find out
more about recycling automotive
batteries.
WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES
Check the wiper blades at least
twice a year or when they seem
less effective. Substances such as
tree sap and some hot wax
treatments used by commercial car
washes reduce the effectiveness of
wiper blades.
Checking the wiper blades
If the wiper blades do not wipe
properly, clean both the windshield
and wiper blades using undiluted
windshield wiper solution or a mild
detergent. Rinse thoroughly with
clean water. To avoid damaging the
blades, do not use fuel, kerosene,
paint thinner or other solvents.
Changing the wiper blades
When replacing wiper blade
assemblies, always use a
Motorcraft part or equivalent. To
make replacing the wipers easy,
Maintenance and care
175

not pass the I/M test with the
ªcheck engine/service engine soonº
light on.
If the vehicle's powertrain system
or its battery has just been
serviced, the OBD-II system is
reset to a ªnot ready for I/M testº
condition. To ready the OBD-II
system for I/M testing, a minimum
of 30 minutes of city and highway
driving is necessary as described
below:
²First, at least 10 minutes of
driving on an expressway or
highway.
²Next, at least 20 minutes driving
in stop and go, city type traffic
with at least four idle periods.
Allow the vehicle to sit for at least
eight hours without starting the
engine. Then, start the engine and
complete the above driving cycle.
The engine must warm up to its
normal operating temperature.
Once started, do not turn off the
engine until the above driving
cycle is complete.
EXTERIOR BULBS
Replacing exterior bulbs
Check the operation of the
following lamps frequently:
²headlamps
²foglamps
²high-mount brakelamp
²brakelamps
²turn signals
Maintenance and care
190

²license plate lamp
²tail lamps
²back-up lamps
Do not remove lamp bulbs unless
they can be replaced immediately
with new ones. If a bulb is
removed for an extended period of
time, contaminants may enter the
lamp housings and affect lamp
performance.
Replacing headlamp bulbs
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.
If the bulb is accidentally
touched, it should be cleaned
with rubbing alcohol before
being used.
To remove the headlamp bulb:
1. Make sure headlamp switch is in
OFF position, then open the hood.
If you are replacing the driver side
headlamp, unclip the electronic
module on the right side of the
battery and move it out of the way.
2. Locate the headlamp bulb
through the hole in the upper
radiator support assembly.
Maintenance and care
191

MOTORCRAFT PART NUMBERS
Component 4.0L SOHC engine 5.0L engine
Air filter FA-1658 FA-1658
Fuel filter FG-872 FG-872
Battery (standard) BXT-65-650 BXT-65-650
Battery (optional) - BXT-65-850
Oil filter FL-1A FL-820S
PCV valve EV-225 EV-152
Spark plugs* AGRF-22P AWSF-32EE
* Refer to Vehicle Emissions Control Information (VECI) decal for
spark plug gap information.
REFILL CAPACITIES
Fluid Ford Part
NameApplication
Capacity
Engine oil
(including filter
change)Motorcraft 5W30
Super Premium
Motor OilAll
4.7L
(5.0 quarts)
Brake fluid Ford High
Performance
DOT 3 Brake
FluidAll
Fill to the MAX
line on reservoir
Power steering
fluidMotorcraft
MERCONtAT FAll Fill to line on
reservoir
Capacities and specifications
204

Air bag supplemental restraint
system ..........................................73
and child safety seats ..............75
description ................................74
disposal ......................................78
indicator light ...........................77
passenger air bag .....................76
Air conditioning
manual heating and air
conditioning system .......18,21,23
Air suspension
description ..............................103
All wheel drive (AWD) .............118
Ambulance packages ....................3
Anti-lock brake system (ABS)..101
Anti-theft system ........................55
Autolamp system (see
Headlamps) .................................38
Automatic dimming mirror ...37,38
Battery .......................................173
voltage gauge ............................14
Brake fluid
checking and adding ..............162
Brakes ........................................100
anti-lock ...................................100
anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light ...........................101
fluid, checking and adding ....162
Brake-shift interlock .................104
Break-in period .............................2
Bulbs, replacing ........................190
headlamps ...............................191
specifications ..........................193
Cargo cover ............................44,45
Changing a tire .........................144
Child safety seats ........................81
built-in child seat ......86,87,91,92
Childproof locks ..........................41
Chime
headlamps on ............................12
Cleaning your vehicle ...............196
built-in child seat ...................201engine compartment ..............197
fabric ........................................200
instrument panel ....................200
plastic parts ............................199
safety belts ..............................201
tail lamps .................................200
washing ....................................196
waxing .....................................196
wheels ......................................199
windows ..................................203
woodtone trim ........................203
Compass, electronic ....................35
calibration .................................37
set zone adjustment .................36
Control trac 4WD system .........111
Controls .......................................42
Defrost
rear window ..............................24
Driving under special
conditions ...........................115,120
high water ........................115,120
slippery roads ....116,117,121,122
Emission control system ..........187
Engine ........................................209
service points ...................156,157
Engine block heater ...................97
Engine coolant
checking and adding ..............164
disposal ....................................166
refill capacities ........................167
Engine oil ...........................158,161
changing oil and oil filter .......161
checking and adding .......158,160
Exhaust fumes ............................98
Floor mats ...................................43
Foglamps .....................................16
Four-Wheel Drive vehicles
control trac ........................25,111
special driving
instructions ......................113,114
Fuel
calculating fuel economy .......187
Index
213