maintenance schedule Mercury Mountaineer 1999 s User Guide

Checking and adding transfer case fluid
1. Clean the filler plug.
2. Remove the filler plug and
inspect the fluid level.
3. Add only enough fluid through
the filler opening so that the fluid
level is at the bottom of the
opening.
Use only fluid that meets Ford specifications. Refer to theCapacities
and specificationschapter.
DRIVELINE UNIVERSAL JOINT AND SLIP YOKE
Your vehicle may be equipped with universal joints that require
lubrication. Refer to the Scheduled Maintenance Guide for maintenance
intervals. If the original universal joints are replaced with universal joints
equipped with grease fittings, lubrication will also be necessary.

Maintenance and care
205

BATTERY
Your vehicle is equipped with a
Motorcraft maintenance-free battery
which normally does not require
additional water during its life of
service.
However, for severe usage or in high temperature climates, check the
battery electrolyte level. Refer to the Scheduled Maintenance Guide for
the service interval schedules.
Keep the electrolyte level in each cell up to the ªlevel indicatorº.
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
mineral or 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.
If your battery has a cover/shield, make sure it is reinstalled
after the battery has been cleaned or replaced.
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.
If you see any corrosion on the battery or terminals, remove the cables
from the terminals and clean with a wire brush. You can neutralize the
acid with a solution of baking soda and water.
Batteries normally produce explosive gases which can cause
personal injury. Therefore, do not allow flames, sparks or lighted
substances to come near the battery. When working near the battery,
always shield your face and protect your eyes. Always provide proper
ventilation.
Maintenance and care
206

Temperature A B C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C, representing the
tire's resistance to the generation of heat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the material of the tire
to degenerate and reduce tire life, and excessive temperature can lead to
sudden tire failure. The grade C corresponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by
law.
The temperature grade for this tire is established for a tire that
is properly inflated and not overloaded. Excessive speed,
underinflation, or excessive loading, either separately or in
combination, can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.
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, located on the drivers door
jamb.
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 Schedule maintenance guide. If you notice that
the tires wear unevenly, have them checked.
Maintenance and care
210

If you do not use the proper fuel filler cap, the pressure in the
fuel tank can damage the fuel system or cause it to work
improperly in a collision.
Fuel Filter
Your vehicle is equipped with a fuel filter that is mounted on the
underbody.
For fuel filter replacement, see your dealer or a qualified service
technician. Refer to the Scheduled Maintenance Guide for the
appropriate intervals for changing the fuel filter.
If you replace the fuel filter, replace it with an authorized
Motorcraft part. The customer warranty may be void for any
damage to the fuel system if an authorized Motorcraft fuel filter
is not used.
ESSENTIALS OF GOOD FUEL ECONOMY
Measuring techniques
Your best source of information about actual fuel economy is you, the
driver. You must gather information as accurately and consistently as
possible. Fuel expense, frequency of fillups or fuel gauge readings are
NOT accurate as a measure of fuel economy. We do not recommend
taking fuel economy measurements during the first 1 600 km (1 000
miles) of driving (engine break-in period). You will get a more accurate
measurement after 3 000 km±5 000 km (2 000 miles-3 000 miles).
The advertised fuel capacity of the fuel tank on your vehicle is equal to
the rated refill capacity of the fuel tank as listed in the Refill Capacities
chart in this ªOwner Guide.º The advertised capacity is the amount of
the Indicated Capacity and the Empty Reserve combined. Indicated
Capacity is the difference in the amount of fuel in a full tank and a tank
when the fuel gauge indicates empty. Empty Reserve is the small amount
of usable fuel remaining in the fuel tank after the fuel gauge indicates
empty.
The amount of Empty Reserve varies and should not be relied
upon to increase driving range. When refueling your vehicle after
the fuel gauge indicates empty, you might not be able to refuel
the full amount of the advertised capacity of the fuel tank due to
the empty reserve still present in the tank.
Maintenance and care
217

Habits
²Smooth, moderate operation can yield up to 10% savings in fuel.
²Steady speeds without stopping will usually give the best fuel
economy.
²Idling for long periods of time (greater than one minute) may waste
fuel.
²Anticipate stopping; slowing down may eliminate the need to stop.
²Sudden or hard accelerations may reduce fuel economy.
²Slow down gradually.
²Drive at reasonable speeds (traveling at 105 km /h [65 mph] uses 15%
more fuel than traveling at 88 km/h [55 mph]).
²Revving the engine before turning it off may reduce fuel economy.
²Use of the air conditioner or defroster may reduce fuel economy.
²Use of speed control (if equipped) may improve fuel economy. Speed
control can help maintain a constant speed and reduce speed changes.
You may want to turn off the speed control in hilly terrain as
unnecessary shifting between third and fourth gears may occur and
could result in reduced fuel economy.
²Warming up a vehicle on cold mornings is not required and may
reduce fuel economy.
²Resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving may reduce fuel
economy.
²Combine errands and minimize stop-and-go driving.
Maintenance
²Keep tires properly inflated and use only recommended size.
²Operating a vehicle with the wheels out of alignment will reduce fuel
economy.
²Use recommended engine oil. Refer toLubricant Specifications.
²Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance items. Follow the
recommended maintenance schedule and owner maintenance checks
found in your vehicle Scheduled Maintenance Guide.
Maintenance and care
219

EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM
Your vehicle is equipped with various emission control components and a
catalytic converter which will enable your vehicle to comply with
applicable exhaust emission standards. To make sure that the catalytic
converter and other emission control components continue to work
properly:
²Use only unleaded fuel.
²Avoid running out of fuel.
²Do not turn off the ignition while your vehicle is moving, especially at
high speeds.
²Have the items listed in your Scheduled Maintenance Guide performed
according to the specified schedule.
The scheduled maintenance items listed in the Scheduled Maintenance
Guide are 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.
Illumination of the charging system warning light, ªCheck Engineº light
or the temperature warning light, fluid leaks, strange odors, smoke or
loss of oil pressure, could indicate that the emission control system is
not working properly.
Exhaust leaks may result in entry of harmful and potentially
lethal fumes into the passenger compartment.
Maintenance and care
221

1If your engine coolant is green in color, use Ford Premium Cooling
System Fluid. If your coolant is orange in color, use Ford Extended Life
Engine Coolant. Refer toAdding engine coolant, in the Maintenance
and Care chapter.
2Fill to 6 mm to 14 mm (1/4 inch to 9/16 inch) below bottom of fill hole.
3Vehicles equipped with a 4.0L SOHC V6 engine may be equipped with a
conventional rear axle. Refer to your Scheduled Maintenance Guide for
axle fluid change intervals.
4Vehicles equipped with 4.0L SOHC V6 engine and 3.73:1 or 4.10:1 rear
axle ratios or with a 5.0L V8 engine 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 or
service is required. The axle lubricant should be changed any time the
axle has been submerged in water.
Add 118 ml (4 oz.) of additive friction modifier C8AZ-19B546-A, Ford
specification EST-M2C118±A for complete refill of Traction-Lok axles.
LUBRICANT SPECIFICATIONS
ItemFord part
name or
equivalentFord part
numberFord
specification
Brake fluidHigh
Performance
DOT 3 Motor
Vehicle Brake
FluidC6AZ-19542-ABESA-M6C25-A
and DOT 3
Body hinges,
latches, door
striker plates
and rotors, seat
tracks, fuel filler
door hinge and
spring, hood
latch, auxiliary
latchMulti-Purpose
GreaseDOAZ-19584-AA
or
F5Az-19G209-AAESB-M1C93-B or
ESR-M1C159-A
Capacities and specifications
235

Item Information
Recommended fuel Unleaded fuel only - 87 octane
Fuel tank capacity 78.7L (20.8 gallons)
Engine oil capacity (includes filter
change)4.7L (5.0 quarts). Use Motorcraft
5W30 Super Premium Motor Oil,
Ford specification WSS-M2C153-G.
Tire size and pressure See Safety Compliance
Certification Label on inside of
driver door.
Hood release Pull handle under the instrument
panel.
Coolant capacity-(4.0L SOHC V6
engine)
113.2L (14.0 quarts)
Coolant capacity (5.0L V8 engine)
114.9L (15.7 quarts)
Power steering fluid capacity Fill to line on reservoir. Use
Motorcraft MERCONtAT F.
Automatic transmission fluid
capacity (4R70W with 5.0L V8
engine AWD)
2
13.1L (13.9 quarts). Use
Motorcraft MERCONtV ATF.
Automatic transmission fluid
capacity (4x2 vehicles with 5R55E
and 4.0L SOHC V6 engine)
2
9.5L (10.0 quarts). Use Motorcraft
MERCONtV ATF.
Automatic transmission fluid
capacity (4x4 vehicles with 5R55E
and 4.0L SOHC V6 engine)
2
9.8L (10.3 quarts). Use Motorcraft
MERCONtV ATF.
1If your engine coolant is green in color, use Ford Premium Cooling
System Fluid. If your engine coolant is orange in color, use Ford
Extended Life Engine Coolant. Refer toAdding engine coolant, in the
Maintenance and Care chapter.
2Ensure correct automatic transmission fluid is used for a specific
application. Check the container to verify the fluid is MERCONtand/or
MERCONtV approved. Some fluids have been approved as meeting both
MERCONtand MERCONtV requirements and will be labeled as such.
Fluids labeled as meeting only MERCONtor only MERCONtV
requirements must not be used interchangeably. DO NOT mix MERCONt
and MERCONtV. Transmission fluid requirements are indicated on the
dipstick or on the dipstick handle. Refer to your Scheduled Maintenance
Guide to determine the correct service interval.
Filling station information
248