service Mercury Mountaineer 1998 s Owner's Guide

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

turn the ignition to ACC, then turn
the wipers on. When the wipers
reach the vertical position, turn
the ignition to LOCK.
To replace the wiper blades:
1. Pull the wiper arm away from
the windshield and lock into the
service position.
2. Turn the blade at an angle from
the wiper arm. Push the lock pin
with a screwdriver to release the
blade and pull the wiper blade
down toward the windshield to
remove it from the arm.
3. Attach the new wiper to the
wiper arm and press it into place
until a click is heard.
INFORMATION ABOUT TIRE
QUALITY GRADES
New 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
Maintenance and care
176

Regulations Part 575.104(c)(2).
U.S. Department of
Transportation-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.
Treadwear
The 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 grade 150
would wear one and one-half
(1 1/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire grade
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 C
The 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 test surfaces of asphalt and
concrete. A tire marked C may
have poor traction performance.
Maintenance and care
177

SERVICING YOUR TIRES
Checking the tire pressure
²Use an accurate tire pressure
gauge.
²Check the tire pressure when
tires are cold, after the vehicle
has been parked for at least one
hour or has been driven less
than 5 km (3 miles).
²Adjust tire pressure to
recommended specifications
found on the Safety Compliance
Certification Label.
Improperly inflated tires
can affect vehicle handling
and can fail suddenly, possibly
resulting in loss of vehicle
control.
Tire rotation
Because your vehicle's tires
perform different jobs, they often
wear differently. To make sure
your tires wear evenly and last
longer, rotate them as indicated in
the ªService Guide.º If you notice
that the tires wear unevenly, have
them checked.
Maintenance and care
179

with the recommended octane, see
your dealer or a qualified service
technician to prevent any engine
damage.
Fuel quality
If 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.
Cleaner air
Ford approves the use of gasolines
to improve air quality, including
reformulated gasolines that contain
oxygenates up to 10% ethanol or
15% MTBE.
Do not use gasolines containing
methanol, which can damage
critical fuel system components.
Damage resulting from the use of
methanol may not be covered by
your warranty.
Maintenance and care
186

²Do not turn off the ignition
while your vehicle is moving,
especially at high speeds.
²Have the services listed in your
ªService Guideº performed
according to the specified
schedule.
The Scheduled Maintenance
Services listed in the ªService
Guideº are required because they
are considered essential to the life
and performance of your vehicle
and to its emissions system.
If other than Ford, Motorcraft or
Ford authorized parts are used for
maintenance replacements or for
service of components affecting
emission control such non-Ford
parts should be equivalent to
genuine Ford Motor Company
parts in performance and
durability.
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.
Watch for fluid leaks, strange
odors, smoke, loss of oil pressure,
the charging system warning light,
the ªCheck Engineº light or the
temperature warning light. These
events could indicate that the
emission control system is not
working properly.
Maintenance and care
188

If you smell exhaust fumes
of any kind inside your
vehicle, have the dealer inspect
and fix your vehicle immediately.
Do not drive if you smell exhaust
fumes. These fumes are harmful
and could kill you.
Do not make any unauthorized
changes to your vehicle or engine.
By law, vehicle owners and anyone
who manufactures, repairs,
services, sells, leases, trades
vehicles, or supervises a fleet of
vehicles are not permitted to
intentionally remove an emission
control device or prevent it from
working. Information about your
vehicle's emission 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.
Please consult your ªWarranty
Guideº for complete emission
warranty information.
Readiness for
inspection/maintenance (I/M)
testing
In some localities, it may be a legal
requirement to pass an I/M test of
the on-board diagnostic (OBD-II)
system. If your ªcheck
engine/service engine soonº light is
on, reference the applicable light
description in theWarning Lights
and Chimessection of your
owners guide. Your vehicle may
Maintenance and care
189

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

Fluid Ford Part
NameApplication
Capacity
Windshield
washer fluidUltra-Clear
Windshield
ConcentrateAll vehicles
2.6L
(2.7 quarts)
1Fill to 6 mm to 14 mm (1/4 inch
to 9/16 inch) below bottom of fill
hole.
2Your vehicle's rear axle is
equipped with synthetic rear axle
lubricant. Rear axles containing
synthetic lubricant are lubricated
for life. These lubricants are not to
be checked or changed unless a
leak is suspected, service required
or the axle assembly has been
submerged in water. The axle
lubricant should be changed any
time the axle has been submerged
in water. For Traction±Lok add
118 ml (4 oz.) of additive friction
modifier C8AZ±19B546±A, Ford
specification EST-M2C118±A, to
your rear axle whenever the
lubricant is changed.
3Vehicles equipped with 4.0L
SOHC engines and 3.73 or 4.10
rear axle ratios or 5.0L engines
require synthetic rear axle
lubricant. Rear axles containing
synthetic lubricant are lubricated
for life. These lubricants are not to
be checked or changed unless a
leak is suspected, service required
or the axle assembly has been
submerged in water. The axle
lubricant should be changed any
time the axle has been submerged
in water. For Traction-Lok rear
Capacities and specifications
206

axles, add 118 ml (4 oz.) of
additive friction modifier
C8AZ-19B546-A, Ford specification
EST-M2C118±A, whenever the
lubricant is changed.
4Refer to your ªService Guideº for
axle fluid change intervals.
LUBRICANT SPECIFICATIONS
FluidFord part
name or
equivalentFord part
numberFord
specification
Windshield
washer fluid
reservoirFord Ultra-Clear
Windshield
Washer
ConcentrateC9AZ-19550-AA
OR -BAESR-M17P5-A
Body hinges,
latches, door
stricker plates
and rotors, seat
tracks, fuel filler
door hinge and
spring, hood
latch, auxiliary
latchMulti-Purpose
GreaseD7AZ-19584-AA
OR
DOAZ-19584-AAESR-M1C159-A
AND
ESB-M1C93-B
Driveshaft, slip
spline, universal
jointsPremium Long
Life GreaseXG-1-C or K ESA-M1C75-B
Engine coolantFord Premium
Cooling System
FluidE2FZ-19549-AA ESE-M97B44-A
Engine oilMotorcraft 5W30
Super Premium
Motor OilXO-5W30-QSPWSS-M2C153-G
with API
Certification
Mark
Capacities and specifications
207