check engine Mercury Sable 1996 s User Guide

197 %
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[DR06765(ALL)04/95]
Your vehicle is equipped with a Brake Shift
Interlock safety feature. This feature prevents the
gearshift from being moved from the P (Park)
position until the brake pedal is depressed. This
feature is active when the ignition is in the ON
position. If the gearshift lever CANNOT be
moved from P (Park) with the brake pedal
depressed:
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[DR06770(ALL)01/95]
1. Turn the engine off and remove the ignition
key.
[DR06775(ALL)11/94]
2. Reinsert the ignition key and turn clockwise
to the first position (OFF).
[DR06780(ALL)11/94]
3. Depress the brake pedal, move the gearshift
lever to N (Neutral) and start the engine.
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[DR06783(ALL)03/95]
RWARNING
If you need to shift out of P (Park)
by using the alternate procedure
described above, it is possible that a
fuse has blown and that your
brakelamps may also not be
functional. Please refer to the chapter
titledServicing Your Vehiclein this
Owner Guide for instructions on
checking and replacing fuses. DO
NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE
UNTIL YOU VERIFY THAT THE
BRAKELAMPS ARE WORKING.
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202
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[DR10175(ALL)01/95]
RWARNING
Do not use the P (Park) position in
place of the parking brake. Always
set the parking brake fully and make
sure that the gearshift is securely
latched in P (Park).
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[DR10225(ALL)03/95]
Always turn off the ignition
whenever you leave your vehicle. Do
not leave your vehicle unattended
while the engine is running.
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[DR10250(ALL)01/95]
If you do not take these precautions,
your vehicle may move unexpectedly
and injure someone.
[DR10275(ALL)11/94]
You can tell a console-mounted gearshift is
securely latched in P (Park) if you cannot move
it without pushing in the thumb button.
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[DR15600(ALL)01/95]
Steering Your Vehicle
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[DR15800(ALL)01/95]
Your vehicle comes with power steering. Power
steering uses energy from the engine to help
steer your vehicle.
[DR15970(ALL)11/94]
Your vehicle has variable-assist steering. This
system provides light power steering efforts for
parking and heavier power steering efforts for
highway driving. If you notice that the power
steering effort does not change according to the
speed you are traveling, or if the power steering
system is not working, have the system checked.
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[DR16100(ALL)04/95]
If the amount of effort needed to steer your
vehicle changes at a constant vehicle speed, have
the power steering system checked. If the power
steering system breaks down (or if the engine is
turned off), you can steer the vehicle manually
but it takes more effort.
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205 [DR17650(ALL)11/94]
ABS has self-check capabilities. As described
above, the system turns on the ABS light each
time you start your engine. After the engine is
started and the ABS light turns off, the system
performs another test the first time the vehicle
reaches 4-9 mph (6-15 km/h). The system turns
on the ABS pump motor for approximately 1/2
second. At this time, a mechanical noise may be
heard. This is a normal part of the self-check
feature. If a malfunction is found during this
check the ABS light will come on.
[DR17675(ALL)02/95]
Vehicles with ABS are identified with a label on
the front door pillar.
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[DR17700(ALL)12/93]
Ford Motor Company has not found any
negative effects of mobile radio transmitting
equipment installed on vehicles with the ABS
system providing that the radio is installed
according to the radio manufacturer's
instructions. However, if you have had a mobile
radio transmitter installed and the check ABS
light comes on (at any time other than
immediately after turning the key to the ON
position) have your mobile radio dealer inspect
the radio installation. Also, if the ABS system is
activated other than during maximum braking,
have your mobile radio installation checked.
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[DR17800(ALL)03/95]
Parking Brake
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[DR17900(ALL)01/95]
The parking brake should be used whenever
you park your vehicle.
[DR18000(ALL)01/95]
This brake is suspended just below the bottom
of the instrument panel to the left of the brake
pedal.
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207
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The parking brake is not designed to stop a
moving vehicle, but you can use the parking
brake to stop your vehicle in an emergency if
the normal brakes fail. However, since the
parking brake applies only the rear brakes, the
stopping distance will increase greatly and the
handling of your vehicle will be adversely
affected.
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[DR19050(ALL)03/95]
Always check the Brake Warning Light each
time you start your engine. Driving with the
parking brake on will cause the brakes to wear
out quickly and will reduce the fuel economy.
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Driving Under Special Conditions
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Tips for Safe Driving
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[DR19300(ALL)03/95]
As with any new vehicle, yours may drive and
handle differently from your previous vehicle.
Use care until you become accustomed to its
various features and driving characteristics.
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[DR19400(ALL)03/95]
Operate your vehicle within reasonable limits.
Sudden acceleration, deceleration, turning, or
combinations of these maneuvers can cause a
vehicle to behave differently than anticipated.
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[DR19750(ALL)01/95]
Driving in Bad Weather
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Slippery roads
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[DR19900(ALL)03/95]
On some slippery road surfaces, front-wheel
drive may provide better acceleration than
rear-wheel drive. However, this does not mean
that your vehicle can stop any faster or any
better than a vehicle with rear-wheel drive.
Exercise the same caution while driving on
slippery roads with your front-wheel drive
vehicle as you would with a rear-wheel drive
vehicle.
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[DR20100(ALL)03/95]
q
Do not quickly move the steering wheel
unless necessary.
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219
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[RE01200(ALL)03/95]
2. Do not disconnect the battery of the disabled
vehicle. You could damage the vehicle's
electrical system.
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[RE01300(ALL)04/95]
3. Park the booster vehicle close to the hood of
the disabled vehicle.Make sure the vehicles
do not touch each other.Set the parking
brake on both vehicles and stay clear of the
engine cooling fan and other moving parts.
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[RE01400(ALL)03/95]
4. Check all battery terminals and remove any
excessive corrosion before you attach the
jumper cables.
[RE01500(ALL)04/95]
5. Turn on the heater fan in both vehicles. If
you have electronic climate control, press the
VF-DEF button. Turn off all other switches
and lights.
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[RE01700(ALL)08/95]
Connecting the jumper cables
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[RE02500(ALL)03/95]
1. Connect one end of the first jumper cable to
the positive (+) terminal of the discharged
battery. (You can connect either jumper cable
to the positive (+) terminal, as long as you
use the same cable for both positive
terminals.) Most jumper cables have a red
cable and a black cable. The red cable is
generally used for the positive terminals and
the black for the negative ones.
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[RE02600(ALL)04/95]
2. Connect the other end of the first cable to
the positive (+) terminal of the booster
battery.
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[RE02700(ALL)03/95]
3. Connect one end of the second cable to the
negative (s) terminal of the booster battery
Ð NOT to the discharged battery.
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[RE02800(ALL)04/95]
4. Connect the other end of the second cable to
a good metallic surface on the engine or
frame of the disabled vehicle.
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Update:Tue Aug 8 11:02:29 1995

232
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[RE15050(ALL)02/95]
If the Engine Cranks But Does
Not Start or Does Not Start After
a Collision
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[RE15100(ALL)04/95]
The Fuel Pump Shut-off Switch
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[RE15200(ALL)03/95]
If the engine cranks but does not start or if you
have had a collision, the fuel pump shut-off
switch may have been triggered. The shut-off
switch is a device that stops the fuel pump
when your vehicle has been involved in a
substantial jolt.
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[RE15250(ALL)01/95]
For information on how to check and reset the
fuel pump shut-off switch, seeFuel pump shut-off
switchin the Index.
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[RE16400(ALL)03/95]
Towing Your Vehicle
[RE16500(ALL)08/95]
If you need to have your vehicle towed, contact
a professional towing service or, if you are a
member, your roadside assistance center. Your
Sable should be towed from the front unless
conditions do not allow it. It is recommended
that your vehicle be towed with wheel lift or
flatbed equipment.
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Update:Tue Aug 8 11:02:29 1995

255
Servicing Your Sable
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[SV00300(ALL)03/95]
Service Made Easy
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[SV00400(ALL)01/95]
Ford has two goals for servicing your vehicle.
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[SV00500(ALL)01/95]
1. When we can, we design parts that do not
need to be serviced.
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[SV00600(ALL)01/95]
2. We want to make servicing your vehicle as
easy as possible. To help you:
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[SV00700(ALL)01/95]
q
We highlight do-it-yourself items in yellow in
the engine compartment so that you can find
them easily.
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[SV00800(ALL)01/95]
q
When possible, we design parts Ð such as
the headlamp bulbs Ð that can be replaced
without tools.
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[SV00900(ALL)05/94]
q
We give you a Maintenance Schedule that
makes tracking routine service for your
vehicle easy. The maintenance schedule is
located in theMaintenance Schedule and Record
booklet.
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[SV01000(ALL)01/95]
This chapter tells you about the basic parts that
you need to check and service regularly.
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[SV01100(ALL)03/95]
If your vehicle needs professional servicing, see
theCustomer Assistancechapter.
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[SV01200(ALL)03/95]
Check yourWarranty Information Bookletto find
out which parts are covered.
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[SV01250(ALL)03/95]
Ford Motor Company recommends that you
perform the Owner Maintenance Checks listed in
theMaintenance Schedule and Recordbooklet.
These services are important for the proper
operation of your vehicle. In addition to the
conditions listed in the Owner Maintenance
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256Checklist, be alert for any unusual noise,
vibration, or other indication that your vehicle
may need service. If you do notice something
unusual, see that your vehicle is serviced
promptly.
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[SV01275(ALL)03/95]
Use only recommended fuels, lubricants, fluids,
and service parts conforming to specifications.
Motorcraft parts are designed and built to
provide the best performance in your vehicle.
Using these parts for replacement is your
assurance that Ford-built quality stays in your
vehicle.
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[SV01300(ALL)04/95]
NOTE: Always dispose of used automotive
fluids in a responsible manner. Follow
your community's standards for
disposing of these types of fluids. Call
your local recycling center to find out
about recycling automotive fluids.
%
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[SV01600(ALL)03/95]
Precautions When Servicing Your
Vehicle
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[SV01700(ALL)01/95]
Be especially careful when inspecting or
servicing your vehicle. Here are some general
precautions for your safety:
%*
[SV01800(ALL)08/95]
q
Do not work on a hot engine. The engine
cooling fans may come on unexpectedly.
Always turn the engine off and let it cool.
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[SV01850(ALL)08/95]
RWARNING
Your vehicle is equipped with two
automatic cooling fans. It may come
on at any time without warning. To
avoid injury, always disconnect the
negative terminal of the battery
before working near the fan.
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270 %
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[SV11300(ALL)01/95]
Running Out of Fuel
[SV11500(ALL)05/91]
If your vehicle runs out of fuel, try to stop on
level ground away from traffic. Add at least one
gallon (four liters) of fuel to start your vehicle
again. If your vehicle is not on level ground,
you may need as much as five gallons (20 liters)
of fuel to start it.
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[SV11550(ALL)02/95]
You may need to crank the engine several times
before the fuel system starts to pump fuel from
the tank to the engine.
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[SV11575(ALL)03/95]
If the engine does not start, check the fuel pump
shut-off switch and reset as required. SeeFuel
pump shut-off switchin the Index.
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[SV11580(ALL)01/95]
RWARNING
Never pour fuel in the throttle body
or attempt to start the engine with
the air cleaner removed. Doing so
could result in fire and personal
injury.
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[SV13505(ALL)01/95]
Calculating the Fuel Economy
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[SV13510(ALL)04/95]
Fuel economy is an estimate. It tells you
approximately the distance you can drive for
each gallon (liter) of fuel that your vehicle uses.
Do not calculate the fuel economy during your
vehicle's break-in period. This would not be an
accurate estimate of how much fuel your vehicle
will normally use.
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[SV13515(ALL)04/95]
To calculate fuel economy:
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[SV13521(ALL)04/95]
1. Make sure the fuel tank is full when you
record the first odometer reading.
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272
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The following decrease fuel economy:
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[SV13568(ALL)02/95]
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Lack of regular, scheduled maintenance
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[SV13572(ALL)02/95]
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Excessive speed
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[SV13576(ALL)02/95]
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Rapid acceleration
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[SV13581(ALL)02/95]
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Driving with your foot on the brake
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[SV13584(ALL)02/95]
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Sudden stops
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[SV13589(ALL)02/95]
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Extended engine idling
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[SV13591(ALL)02/95]
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Using speed control in hilly terrain
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[SV13593(ALL)02/95]
q
Extended use of the A/C, defroster, rear
window defroster and other accessories
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[SV13596(ALL)02/95]
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Underinflated tires
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[SV13598(ALL)02/95]
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Heavy loads
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[SV13599(ALL)02/95]
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Aftermarket add-ons such as bike, ski or
luggage racks, bug deflectors, etc.
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[SV13605(ALL)02/95]
Self-Service Pointers
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[SV13611(ALL)01/95]
If you choose to do your own fueling, you
should also perform a few simple maintenance
routines. This extra effort will save you
additional money and contribute to the driving
efficiency of your vehicle.
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[SV13615(ALL)01/95]
The following procedures require only a tire
gauge, a rag, an oil can spout and windshield
washer fluid.
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[SV13620(ALL)01/95]
q
Check the engine oil at every refueling stop
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[SV13625(ALL)01/95]
q
Clean the windshield, outside mirrors and
headlights
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[SV13630(ALL)01/95]
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Check windshield washer fluid
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[SV13633(ALL)02/95]
q
Check tires for excessive wear or worn edges
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[SV13636(ALL)01/95]
q
Check the tire pressure at least monthly
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Update:Wed Dec 20 09:36:55 1995