service Mercury Sable 1996 Owner's Manuals

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[PI00560(ALL)04/01]
Table of ContentsIntroductory Information ...............................1
Safety Restraints ..............................................9
Starting Your Sable .......................................61
Warning Lights and Gauges .......................73
Instrument Panel Controls ..........................91
Steering Column Controls ........................115
Features ..........................................................125
Electronic Sound Systems .........................169
Driving Your Sable .....................................191
Roadside Emergencies ................................217
Customer Assistance ...................................235
Reporting Safety Defects ......................243
Accessories ....................................................247
Servicing Your Sable ..................................255
Quick Index ..................................................335
Index ...............................................................347
Service Station Information ......................364
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Update:Thu Dec 21 08:19:24 1995

1
Introductory Information
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Ford's Commitment to You
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At Ford Motor Company, excellence is the
continuous commitment to achieve the best
result possible. It is dedication to learning what
you want, determination to develop the right
concept, and execution of that concept with care,
precision, and attention to detail. In short,
excellence means being the standard by which
others are judged.
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Our Guiding Principles
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Quality comes first.For your satisfaction, the
quality of our products and services must be
our number one priority.
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You are the focus of everything we do.Our
work must be done with you in mind,
providing better products and services than
our competition.
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Continuous improvement is essential to our
success.We must strive for excellence in
everything we do: in our products Ð in their
safety and value Ð and in our services, our
human relations, our competitiveness, and
our profitability.
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[IN00800(ALL)04/95]
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Employee involvement is our way of life.
We are a team. We must treat one another
with trust and respect.
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Update:Tue Aug 8 11:13:48 1995

3
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Finding Information in This Guide
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After you have read this guide once, you will
probably return to it when you have a specific
question or need additional information. To help
you find specific information quickly, you can
use the Quick Index or the Index.
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[IN01700(ALL)04/95]
TheQuick Indexat the end of the book
provides a page number following each item
which indicates where detailed information can
be found.
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[IN01900(ALL)04/95]
To use theIndex, turn to the back of the book
and search in the alphabetical listing for the
word that best describes the information you
need. If the word you chose is not listed, think
of other related words and look them up. We
have designed the Index so that you can find
information under a technical term.
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[IN02000(ALL)04/95]
Canadian Owners Ð French Version
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[IN02100(ALL)04/95]
French Owner Guides can be obtained from your
dealer or by writing to Ford Motor Company of
Canada, Limited, Service Publications, P.O. Box
1580, Station B, Mississauga, Ontario L4Y 4G3.
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Update:Tue Aug 8 11:13:48 1995

4
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Your Maintenance Schedule and
Record Booklet
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[IN02500(ALL)03/95]
TheMaintenance Schedule and Recordbooklet lists
the services that are most important for keeping
your vehicle in good condition. A record log is
also provided to help you keep track of all
services performed.
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About the Warranties
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Your vehicle is covered by three types of
warranties:Basic Vehicle Warranty,Extended
Warrantieson certain parts, andEmissions
Warranties.
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[IN03100(ALL)03/95]
Read yourWarranty Information Bookletcarefully
to find out about your vehicle's warranties and
your basic rights and responsibilities.
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[IN03300(ALL)03/95]
If you lose yourWarranty Information Booklet,you
can get a new one free of charge. Contact any
Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer, or refer to the
addresses and phone numbers on the first page
of this owner guide.
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Update:Tue Aug 8 11:13:48 1995

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[IN04000(ALL)01/95]
Buying a Ford Extended Service Plan
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[IN04100(ALL)01/94]
If you bought your vehicle in the U.S., you can
buy a Ford Extended Service Plan for your
vehicle. This optional contract provides service
protection for a longer period of time than the
basic warranty that comes with your vehicle.
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[IN04200(ALL)01/95]
You do not have to buy this option when you
buy your vehicle. However, your option to
purchase the Ford Extended Service Plan runs
out after 18 months or 18,000 miles. See your
dealer for more details about the Ford Extended
Service Plan.
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[IN04250(ALL)01/95]
If you purchased a Canadian vehicle and did not
take advantage of the Ford Extended Service
Plan at the time of purchase, you may still be
eligible. See your dealer for the details.
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Breaking Your Vehicle In
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Your new vehicle goes through an adjustment or
break-in period during the first 1,000 miles
(1,600 km) that you drive it. During the break-in
period, you need to pay careful attention to how
you drive your vehicle.
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q
Avoid sudden stops.Because your vehicle
has new brake linings, you should take these
steps:
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[IN06400(ALL)01/95]
Ð Watch traffic carefully so that you can
anticipate when to stop.
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Ð Begin braking well in advance.
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Ð Apply the brakes gradually.
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[IN06700(ALL)01/95]
The break-in period for new brake linings
lasts for 100 miles (160 km) of city driving or
1,000 miles (1,600 km) of highway driving.
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31 %
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[SR18450(ALL)03/95]
The air bag system uses a readiness light on the
instrument cluster and a tone to indicate the
condition of the system. When you turn the
ignition key to the ON position, this light will
illuminate for approximately six (6) seconds and
then turn off. This indicates that the system is
operating normally. NOTE: Maintenance of the
air bag system is not required.
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A problem with the system is indicated by one
or more of the following:
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the readiness light will either flash or stay lit,
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or it will not light immediately after ignition
is turned on,
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or a group of five beeps will be heard. The
tone pattern will repeat periodically until the
problem and light are repaired.
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If any of these things happen, have the air bag
system serviced at your Ford or Lincoln-Mercury
dealer immediately. Unless serviced, the Air Bag
Supplemental Restraint System may not function
properly in the event of a collision.
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[SR18601(ALL)01/95]
RWARNING
Do not attempt to service, repair, or
modify the Air Bag Supplemental
Restraint System; tampering could
cause activation of the system and
increase the risk of personal injury.
DO NOT REPLACE OR
OTHERWISE TAMPER WITH THE
AIR BAG FUSES. For servicing of
the Air Bag Supplemental Restraint
System, see your Ford or
Lincoln-Mercury dealer.
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Update:Wed Dec 20 09:34:02 1995

68
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For best results, plug the heater in at least three
hours before you start your vehicle. Using the
heater for longer than three hours will not
damage the engine, so you can plug it in at
night to start your vehicle the following
morning.
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RWARNING
Do not use your heater with
ungrounded electrical systems or
two-pronged (cheater) adapters. You
can be injured by an electrical shock
if you use an ungrounded
connection.
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If the Engine Cranks but Does
Not Start or Does Not Start After
a Collision
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Fuel Pump Shut-off Switch
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If the engine cranks but does not start or does
not start after a collision, the fuel pump shut-off
switch may have been triggered. The shut-off
switch is a device intended to stop the fuel
pump when your vehicle has been involved in a
substantial jolt.
[ST11500(ALL)03/95]
Once the shut-off switch is triggered, you must
reset the switch by hand before you can start
your vehicle. If you have asedan, the switch is
on the right side of the trunk behind the trunk
liner. If you have awagon, it is behind the
service panel on the right side of the cargo area.
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half page art:0000399-E
The right side of the trunk in the sedan
[ST11700(ALL)11/94]
one third page art:0000516-E
Inside the right side service panel in the wagon
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70
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RWARNING
If you see or smell fuel, do not reset
the switch or try to start your vehicle.
You could injure yourself or others.
Have all the passengers get out of
the vehicle and call the local fire
department or a towing service.
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If your engine cranks but does not start after a
collision or substantial jolt:
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1. Turn the ignition key to the OFF position.
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2. Check under the vehicle for leaking fuel.
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3. If you do not see or smell fuel, push the red
reset button on the fuel pump shut-off
switch down.
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4. Turn the ignition key to the ON position for
a few seconds, then turn it to the OFF
position.
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5. Check under the vehicle again for leaking
fuel.If you see or smell fuel, do not start
your vehicle again.If you do not see or
smell fuel, you can try to start your vehicle
again.
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6. Check all vehicle warning lights before
driving the vehicle.
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Pushing
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Vehicles with automatic transaxles cannot be
started by pushing. Follow the directions under
If Your Vehicle Needs a Jump-Startin theRoadside
EmergenciesChapter.
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Guarding Against Exhaust Fumes
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Carbon monoxide, although colorless and
odorless, is present in exhaust fumes. Take
precautions to avoid its dangerous effects.
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RWARNING
Never idle the engine in closed areas.
Never sit in a parked or stopped
vehicle for more than a short period
of time with the engine running.
Exhaust fumes, particularly carbon
monoxide, may build up. These
fumes are harmful and could kill
you.
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[ST12600(ALL)01/95]
RWARNING
If you ever smell exhaust fumes of
any kind inside your vehicle, have
your dealer inspect and fix your
vehicle immediately. Do not drive if
you smell exhaust fumes. These
fumes are harmful and could kill
you.
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[ST12700(ALL)01/95]
Have the exhaust and body ventilation systems
checked whenever:
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[ST12800(ALL)02/95]
q
your vehicle is raised for service
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[ST12900(ALL)02/95]
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the sound of the exhaust system changes
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[ST13000(ALL)01/95]
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your vehicle has been damaged in a collision
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[ST13200(ALL)01/95]
Improve your ventilation by keeping all air inlet
vents clear of snow, leaves, and other debris.
File:fcsts.ex
Update:Wed Dec 20 09:34:24 1995