ECU Mercury Sable 1997 Owner's Manuals

STORAGE COMPARTMENT (WAGON ONLY)
Your vehicle comes
equipped with a
storage compartment
in the floor of the
cargo area. An
additional
compartment is in the
rear trim panel on the
right. Always put the
load you are carrying as far forward as possible.
CARGO NET (IF EQUIPPED)
The cargo net secures
lightweight objects in
the cargo area. Attach
the net to the anchors
provided. Do not put
more than 22 kg (50
lbs.) in the net. This
net is not designed to
restrain objects during
a collision.
CARGO COVER (WAGON - IF EQUIPPED)
You can cover the rear
compartment by
fastening the cover
into the pockets in the
trim panel (make sure
the cover is right side
up so it unrolls from
the top), then pulling
and hooking the cover
into the pockets into the trim panel.
REWINDING THE SLIDING SHADE
If the shade is damaged or loses its spring tension
from excessive use, manual rewinding of the shade
may be necessary. The following procedure is a
two-person operation:
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35

1. Remove the shade from the mounting brackets by
detaching the safety clip and pressure fit plastic
knobs from either side of the shade.
2.Wrap the vinyl around the tube twice by twisting
the tube away from you. Tuck the edged of the vinyl
end cap with each wrap.
3. Fold the vinyl toward the center, making sure the
edges clear the end cap slots. Use tape or a rubber
band to hold the vinyl on the left side of the tube..
4. Push in the right end cap (marked R) about 6 mm
(1/4 inch) to disengage the clutch and hold in while
turning the tube toward you fourteen times.
5. Let go of the right end cap and unfold the vinyl.
Place the vinyl into the end cap slots.
6. Place the shade back into the vehicle.
The cover may cause injury in a sudden stop
or accident if it is not securely installed.
LUGGAGE RACK (WAGON ONLY)
The rear crossbar can be adjusted to fit the item
being carried. The front crossbar does not move. No
more than 44 kg (100 lbs.) can be loaded on the
luggage rack.
To adjust the luggage
rack, loosen the
adjusting levers by
pushing them toward
the front of the
vehicle, then slide the
crossbar forward and
lock the adjusting
levers by pulling them
toward the back of the vehicle.dno_luggage
com_keyless_entry.01
Controls and features
36

2. Press 1/2 within five
seconds of step one.
3. Wait six seconds.
For maximum security, do not set a code that
presents the numbers in sequential order or uses the
same button five times.
Unlocking the doors with the keyless entry
system
The driver's door must be unlocked before any
other. If more than five seconds pass between
pressing numbers, enter the code again. The system
has shut down if the keypad light is out. If the
keyless entry system does not work, use the key or
remote entry transmitter(s).
1. To unlock the driver's door, enter one of the two
codes. After pressing the fifth number, the driver's
door unlocks.
2. To unlock the
passenger's door(s) and
liftgate (wagon), press
the 3/4 button within
five seconds of unlocking the driver's door.
3. To unlock the trunk
or liftgate (wagon),
enter the five-digit
factory code, then
press the 5/6 button within five seconds.
Locking the doors with the keyless entry
system
To lock all the doors,
press 7/8 and 9/0 at the
same time. It is not
necessary to first enter
the keypad code.
123
45678
90
123
45678
90
123
45678
90
123
45678
90
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Controls and features
38

To attach the shoulder
belt to the lap belt, pull
the shoulder belt out
from the retractor in
the seatback and insert
into the lap belt
connecting pin into the
wide end of the key
slot on the shoulder
belt. Pull the
connecting pin into the
narrow end of the key
slot until you hear a
snap and feel it latch.
Make sure the shoulder
belt is securely
fastened to the lap belt
by pulling up on the shoulder belt.
Lap belts
The lap belts in the center front seating position (if
equipped) and center rear seating position (wagon)
do not adjust automatically. You must adjust them to
fit snugly and low as possible around your hips. Do
not wear the lap belt around your waist.
Make sure you insert the tongue into the correct
buckle. If you need to lengthen the belt, turn the
tongue at a right angle to the belt and pull across
your lap until it reaches the buckle. If you need to
tighten the belt, pull the loose end of the belt
through the tongue until it is snugly across the hips.
Shorten and fasten the belt when not in use.
LAP BELTS
The lap belt in the center rear seating position
(wagon) does not adjust automatically. You must
adjust it to fit snugly and low as possible around
your hips. Do not wear the lap belt around your
waist.
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Make sure you insert the tongue into the correct
buckle. If you need to lengthen the belt, turn the
tongue at a right angle to the belt and pull across
your lap until it reaches the buckle. If you need to
tighten the belt, pull the loose end of the belt
through the tongue until it is snugly across the hips.
Shorten and fasten the belt when not in use.
Safety belts for rear-facing occupants (wagon
only)
Never use child safety seats in the third seat
of a wagon.
Your vehicle is equipped with safety belts containing
an adjust tongue at the rear-facing seating positions.
When the adjust tongue of the lap/shoulder
combination seat belt is latched into the buckle, the
tongue will allow the lap portion to become shorter,
but locks the webbing in place to restrict it from
becoming longer.
Before you reach and latch a combination lap and
shoulder belt having an adjust tongue into the
buckle. you may have to lengthen the lap belt
portion of it. To lengthen the lap belt, pull some
webbing out of the shoulder belt retractor. While
holding the webbing below the tongue, grasp the
tongue so that it is parallel to the webbing and slide
the tongue upward. provide enough length so that
the tongue can reach the buckle.
To fasten the belt, pull the combination lap and
shoulder belt from the retractor so that the shoulder
belt portion of the safety belt crosses your shoulder
and chest. Be sure the belt is not twisted. If the belt
is twisted, remove the twist. Insert the tongue into
the proper buckle for your seating position until you
hear a snap and fell it latch. Make sure the tongue is
securely fastened to the buckle by pulling on the
tongue.
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Seating and safety restraints
57

You may wish to discuss the special needs of your
child with your pediatrician.
SAFETY SEATS FOR CHILDREN
Child and infant or child safety seats
Use a safety seat that is recommended for the size
and weight of the child. Carefully follow all of the
manufacturer's instructions with the cafety seat you
put in your vehicle. If you do not install and use the
safety seat properly, the child may be injured in a
sudden stop or collision.
When installing a child safety seat:
²Use the correct
safety belt buckle
for that seating
position.
²Make sure the
tongue is securely
fastened in the
buckle.
²Keep the buckle release button pointing up and
away from the safety seat, with the tongue
between the child seat and the release button, to
prevent accidental unbuckling.
²Place seatback in upright position.
²Put the safety belt in the automatic locking mode.
Refer toUsing the automatic locking mode.
Ford recommends the use of a child safety seat
having a top tether strap. Install the child safety seat
in a seating position which is capable of providing a
tether anchorage. For more information on top
tether straps, refer toAttaching safety seats with
tether straps.dno_child-belt
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66

3. While holding the
shoulder and lap belt
portions together, route
the tongue through the
child seat according to
the child seat
manufacturers'
instructions. Be sure
the belt webbing is not
twisted.
4. Insert the belt
tongue into the proper
buckle for that seating
position until you hear
and feel the latch
engage. Make sure the
tongue is latched
securely by pulling on
it.
5. To put the retractor
in the automatic
locking mode, grasp
the shoulder portion of
the belt and pull
downward until all of
the belt is extracted
and a click is heard.
6. Allow the belt to retract. The belt will click as it
retracts to indicate it is in the automatic locking
mode.
7. Pull the lap belt
portion across the child
seat toward the buckle
and pull up on the
shoulder belt while
pushing down with
knee on the child seat.
PRESS
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68

8. Allow the safety belt
to retract to remove
any slack in the belt.
9. Before placing the
child in the seat,
forcibly tilt the seat
forward and back to
make sure the seat is
securely held in place.
10. Try to pull the belt out of the retractor to make
sure the retractor is in the automatic locking mode
(you should not be able to pull more belt out). If the
retractor is not locked, unbuckle the belt and repeat
steps two through nine.
Check to make sure the child seat is properly
secured before each use.
Attaching safety seats with tether straps
Some manufacturers make safety seats that include
a tether strap that goes over the back of the vehicle
seat and attaches to an anchoring point. Other
manufacturers offer the tether strap as an accessory.
Contact the manufacturer of your child safety seat
for information about ordering a tether strap.
Front seats
To install a tether from a child safety seat in the
front seat:
1. Buckle the lap/shoulder belt (in the seat behind
the front passenger seat in which the child safety
seat will be installed).
2. Pull all the stored belt out of the rear seat
retractor to switch the retractor to automatic locking
mode.
3. Let the retractor wind up the slack from the
lap/shoulder belt.
4. Install the child safety seat in the front seat. Refer
toInstalling child safety seats in combination lap
and shoulder belt seating positions. Hook the
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69

tether strap hook around the webbing near the
center of the shoulder portion of the locked
lap/shoulder belt.
5. Tighten the tether strap.
Rear seats
If you must use a tethered safety seat on one of the
rear seats, you can anchor the strap to the
appropriate tether anchor directly behind that seat
position.
Tether anchorage hardware
Attachment holes (at each rear outboard seating
position) have been provided in your vehicle to
attach anchor hardware, if required. Tether
anchorage hardware kits (part number 613D74)
including instructions, may be obtained at no charge
from any Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer. All
vehicles built for sale in Canada include a tether
anchor hardware kit.
Be sure to follow the child safety seat
manufacturer's instructions.
Tighten the anchor according to
specifications. Otherwise, the safety seat
may not be properly secured and the child may be
injured in a sudden stop or collision.
If you have a station wagon, tether anchors are
already installed for each of the second row seating
positions.
1. Behind the second
seat, find the plastic
snap-on covers for the
floor anchors.
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Seating and safety restraints
70

2. Use a screwdriver or
coin to snap the covers
off the anchor in a
rearward and upward
direction. Remove the
covers completely.
3. Snap the tether strap hook onto the U-shaped
tether anchor.
BUILT-IN CHILD SEATS
Built-in child safety seat (wagon - if equipped)
The second row bench seat may include a built-in
child seat. This child seat conforms to all Federal
and local motor vehicle safety standards. Read the
labels located on the child seat cushion and shoulder
belt for information on the built-in child seat.
Use the built-in child seatonlyif the child is at least
one year old, weighs 10±27 kg (22±60 lbs.) and the
child's shoulders fit below the shoulder harness slots
on the built-in child seat.
Children not meeting these requirements should be
secured in an approved aftermarket seat. Refer to
Children and infant or child safety seatsin this
chapter.
Built-in child seat retractors
The belts on built-in child seats are equipped with a
retractor that locks when both tongues are latched
into the crotch safety belt buckle. The retractor will
automatically snug the belts around the child. If the
belts do not remain snug, take the vehicle to the
dealer for child seat repair. The belts will not snug
during a collision.
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