tires Mercury Mystique 1998 s User Guide

Maintenance and care
154
Dispose of worn tires in
accordance with local
environmental regulations.
Refer to the Safety Compliance
Certification label to determine the
specific size tire and wheel Ford
Motor Company recommends for
use on this vehicle.
When purchasing replacement tires
for your vehicle, consult your
dealer or a qualified service
technician to ensure that the
correct tire type is used.
CDW VA1-19Maint en MM 5/15/97 7:56 PM Page 154

Maintenance and care
155 The tires on your vehicle have all-
weather treads to provide traction
in rain and snow. However, in some
climates, using snow tires and
chains may be necessary. Ford
offers snow chains as a Ford
approved accessory and
recommends use of these or their
equivalents on approved tires. See
your dealer or a qualified service
technician for more information on
tire chains for your vehicle. Follow
these guidelines when using snow
tires and chains:
•Install chains securely, verifying
that the chains do not touch any
wiring, brake lines or fuel lines.
•Install the chains on the front
tires only.
•Do not use tire chains 205/60
tires and 205/55R16 Z rated tires.
Steering, suspension and body
components may be damaged by
use of chains.
Snow tires must be the same
size and grade as the tires
you currently have on your
vehicle.
Using snow tires and chains
CDW VA1-19Maint en MM 5/15/97 7:56 PM Page 155

Maintenance and care
156Change over from winter to
summer tires as soon as road
conditions allow, this will reduce
fuel consumption and noise in the
vehicle’s interior.
•Drive cautiously. If you hear the
chains rub or bang against the
vehicle, stop and retighten them.
If this does not work, remove the
chains to prevent vehicle
damage.
•Local regulations may prohibit or
restrict the use of tire chains.
Investigate the laws and
regulations in your area before
installing chains.
•Avoid overloading your vehicle.
•Do not use tire chains on
temporary spare tires.
•Remove the tire chains when
they are no longer needed. Do
not use chains on dry roads.
•The suspension insulation and
bumpers will help prevent
vehicle damage. Do not remove
these components from the
vehicle when using snow tires
and chains.
CDW VA1-19Maint en MM 5/15/97 7:56 PM Page 156

190
Index
APage
Accessory position on
the ignition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Additives, engine oil . . . . . . . . .132
Air bag supplemental
restraint system
and child safety seats . . . . . . . .56
description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
disposal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
indicator light . . . . . . . . . . . .8, 59
operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
wearing safety belts . . . . . . . . .55
Air conditioning
(see Climate control system)
Alarm, activating panic . . . . . . . .39
Antenna, radio
(see Audio sytem) . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) . .84
Anti-theft system (see Passive
Anti-Theft System) . . . . . . . . . . .41
Antifreeze (see Engine coolant)
Audio system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Automatic transaxle
driving with . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89
fluid, adding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .141
fluid, checking . . . . . . . . . . . . .142
fluid, refill capacities . . . . . . . .184
fluid, specification . . . . . . . . . .185
B
Backing up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89, 95
Battery
charging system warning light . .6
jumping a disabled battery . . .121
proper disposal, recycling . . . .145
replacement, specifications . .183
servicing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .143BPage
Brake fluid
checking and adding . . . . . . . .135
specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . .185
Brake-shift interlock . . . . . . . . . .88
Brakelamps
(see Bulb replacement)
Brakes
anti-lock brake system (ABS) .84
brake warning light . . . . . . . . . . .9
fluid, checking and adding . . .135
fluid, refill capacities . . . . . . . .184
fluid, specification . . . . . . . . . .185
parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86
Built-in child seat
folding up the seat . . . . . . . . . .70
inspection after a collision . . . .70
interlock safety feature . . . . . . .66
operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
retractors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69
Break-in period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Bulbs, replacing
foglamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .169
headlamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .168
high-mounted brake lamp . . . .171
license plate lamp . . . . . . . . . .170
rear lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .170
specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . .172
C
Cabin air filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . .147
Capacities for refilling fluids . . .184
Carbon monoxyde in exhaust . .163
Catalytic converter . . . . . . . . . .163
Chains, tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .155
Changing a tire . . . . . . . . . . . . .116
Charging system warning light . . .6
CDW_Index_en _MM 5/15/97 8:00 PM Page 190

Index
194MPage
Maintenance (see Servicing)
Manual transaxle
backing up (reverse) . . . . . . . . .95
clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93
fluid, capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . .184
fluid, checking and adding . . .141
shift speeds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94
Mileage, calculating fuel
economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .162
Mirrors
side view mirrors (power) . . . .17
Motorcraft parts . . . . . . . . . . . .183
N
National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . .189
O
Octane rating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .160
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Oil (see Engine oil)
Oil filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .133, 183
On-board diagnostic (OBDII)
system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .166
Overdrive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7, 90
Overhead controls . . . . . . . . . . . .33
P
Panel dimmer control . . . . . . . . .16
Panic alarm, remote entry sytem39
Parking brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86
Parts (see Motorcraft parts) . . .138
Passenger compartment
air filter (see Cabin air filter) . .147
Passive Anti-Theft
System (PATS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41PPage
Power distribution box
(see Fuses)
Power door locks . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Power features
mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Power steering
fluid, checking and adding . . .140
fluid, refill capacity . . . . . . . . .184
fluid, specification . . . . . . . . . .185
R
Radio (see Audio system) . . . . . .18
Rear window defroster . . . . . . . .16
Refill capacities for fluids . . . . .184
Relays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109
Remote control
luggage compartment . . . . . . . .36
Remote entry system
locking/unlocking doors . . . . . .38
opening the trunk . . . . . . . . . . .39
panic alarm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
replacing the batteries . . . . . . .39
replacement/additional
transmitters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
Repairing paint chips . . . . . . . .178
Reporting safety defects . . . . . .189
Restraints, safety . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
Rotating the tires . . . . . . . . . . . .152
CDW_Index_en _MM 5/15/97 8:00 PM Page 194

Index
195 SPage
Safety belts
(see Safety restraints)
Safety chains, when towing
a trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104
Safety Compliance Certification
Label . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102
Safety defects, reporting . . . . . .189
Safety restraints
adjusting the safety belts . .47, 51
automatic locking mode
(retractors) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
cleaning the safety belts . . . . .182
extention assembly . . . . . . . . . .53
for children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
head restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
lap and shoulder belts . . . . . . . .48
maintenance . . . . . . . . . . .54, 182
vehicle sensitive locking mode .49
warning light and chime . . . .7, 11
Safety seats for children
and air bags . . . . . . . . . . . . .56, 72
attaching with tether straps . . .74
automatic locking mode
(retractors) . . . . . . . . . . . . .49, 71
built-in child seat . . . . . . . . . . .65
in front seat . . . . . . . . . . . . .56, 72
tether anchorage hardware . . .75
Seats
adjusting the seats, manual . . .44
adjusting the seats, power . . . .45
folding rear seats . . . . . . . . . . . .46
head restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Servicing your vehicle . . . . . . . .125
Shift-lock system . . . . . . . . . . . . .88
Shift positions (see Gearshift)
Snow tires and chains . . . . . . . .155SPage
Spare tire
changing the tire . . . . . . . . . . .116
removing the spare tire . . . . . .118
temporary spare tire . . . . . . . .117
Spark plugs, certifications . . . .183
Specification charts, lubricants185
Speed control
disengaging speed control . . . .32
return to a set speed . . . . . . . . .32
set a speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
set a higher speed . . . . . . . . . . .31
set a lower speed . . . . . . . . . . . .31
turn speed control off . . . . . . . .29
turn speed control on . . . . . . . .29
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Starting your vehicle
preparing to start the vehicle . .79
starting the engine . . . . . . . . . .82
Steering column controls . . . . . .24
Steering wheel
horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
speed control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
tilting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Supplemental restraint
system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11, 53
T
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Tail lamps (see Rear lamps)
Temperature control
(see Climate control)
Testing the warning lights . . . . . .10
Tether anchor installation
(see Child safety restraints)
Tilt steering wheel . . . . . . . . . . . .25
CDW_Index_en _MM 5/15/97 8:00 PM Page 195

Index
196TPage
Tires
changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116
checking tire pressure . . . . . .152
cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .178
inspection and maintenance . .152
replacing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120
rotating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .152
snow tires and chains . . . . . . .155
spare tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
tire grades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .149
treadwear . . . . . . . . . . . . .150, 153
wearbands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .153
Towing your vehicle . . . . . . . . .124
Trailer towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100
Transaxle
automatic, operation . . . . . . . . .87
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .141
fluid, refill capacities . . . . . . . .184
lubricant specifications . . . . . .185
manual, operation . . . . . . . . . . .93
Transmitter (see Remote entry)
Trip odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Trunk (see Luggage compartment)
remote release lever . . . . . . . . .36
using the remote entry system .39
Turn signal
indicator lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
U
Used engine oil, disposal . . . . . .134VPage
Variable interval wipers . . . . . . . .28
Vehicle care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .176
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .188
Vehicle Emission Control
Information(VECI) . . . . . . . . . .163
Vehicle loading . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96
Ventilating your vehicle . . . . . . .77
Viscosity (see Engne oil)
W
Warning chimes
headlamps on . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
key in ignition . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
safety belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Warning lights (seeLights)
Washer fluid reservoir . . . . . . . .130
Weight limits (GAWR, GVWR) . .96
Wheels
cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .178
inspection and maintenance . .152
Windows
one-touch down . . . . . . . . . . . .34
power windows, operating . . . .34
rear, defrosting . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Windshield washer fluid and wipers
checking and adding fluid . . . .135
checking and replacing
wiper blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . .147
operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
fluid, specification . . . . . . . . . .185
variable interval wipers . . . . . . .28
Wrecker towing . . . . . . . . . . . . .124
CDW_Index_en _MM 5/15/97 8:00 PM Page 196