maintenance Mercury Sable 1998 s Service Manual

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.
Lumination of the charging system warning light,
ªService Engine Soonº 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.
Do not make any unauthorized changes to your
vehicle or engine. By law, vehicle owners and anyone
who manufactures, repairs, items, sells, leases,
trades vehicles, or supervises a fleet of vehicles are
not permitted to intentionally remove an emission
control device or prevent it from working.
Information about your vehicle's emission system is
on the Vehicle Emission Control Information Decal
located on or near the engine. This decal identifies
engine displacement and gives some tune up
specifications.
Please consult your ªWarranty Guideº for complete
emission warranty information.
Readiness for inspection/maintenance (I/M)
testing
In some localities, it may be a legal requirement to
pass an I/M test of the on-board diagnostic (OBD-II)
system. If your ªCheck Engine/Service Engine Soonº
light is on, refer to the description in theWarning
Lights and Chimessection of theInstrumentation
chapter. Your vehicle may not pass the I/M test with
the ªCheck Engine/Service Engine Soonº light on.
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159

If the vehicle's powertrain system or its battery has
just been serviced, the OBD-II system is reset to a
ªnot ready for I/M testº condition. To ready the
OBD-II system for I/M testing, a minimum of 30
minutes of city and highway driving is necessary as
described below:
²First, at least 10 minutes of driving on an
expressway or highway.
²Next, at least 20 minutes driving in stop-and-go,
city-type traffic with at least four idle periods.
Allow the vehicle to sit for at least eight hours
without starting the engine. Then, start the engine
and complete the above driving cycle. The engine
must warm up to its normal operating temperature.
Once started, do not turn off the engine until the
above driving cycle is complete.
EXTERIOR BULBS
Replacing exterior bulbs
Check the operation of the following lamps
frequently:
²Headlamps
²Tail lamps
²Brakelamps
²High-mount brakelamp
²Turn signals
²Backup lamps
²License plate lamp
Do not remove lamp bulbs unless they will be
replaced immediately. If a bulb is removed for an
extended period of time, contaminants may enter
the lamp housings and affect performance.
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160

Replacing headlamp bulbs
Handle a halogen headlamp bulb carefully
and keep out of children's reach. Grasp the
bulb only by its plastic base and do not touch the
glass. The oil from your hand could cause the bulb
to break the next time the headlamps are
operated.
If the bulb is accidentally touched, it should be
cleaned with rubbing alcohol before being used.
To remove the headlamp bulb:
1. Make sure headlamp switch is in OFF position,
then open the hood. If you are replacing the driver
side headlamp, unclip the electronic module on the
right side of the battery and move it out of the way.
2. Locate the headlamp bulb through the hole in the
upper radiator support assembly.
3. Release clip and
disconnect the
electrical connector
from the bulb.
4. Remove the bulb
retaining ring by
rotating it
counterclockwise
(when viewed from the
rear) about 1/8 turn to
free it from the bulb socket, and slide the ring off
the plastic base. Keep the ring to retain the new
bulb.
5. With out turning, remove the old bulb from the
lamp assembly by gently pulling it straight out of the
lamp assembly.
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161

To install the new bulb:
1. With the flat side of
the bulb's plastic base
facing upward, insert
the glass end of the
bulb into the lamp
assembly. You may
need to turn the bulb left or right to align the
grooves in the plastic base with the tabs in the lamp
assembly. When the grooves are aligned, push the
bulb into the lamp assembly until the plastic base
contacts the rear of the lamp assembly.
2. Install the bulb retaining ring over the plastic base
until it contacts the rear of the socket by rotating
clockwise until you feel a ªstop.º
3. Install the electrical connector into the rear of the
plastic base until it snaps, locking it into position.
4. Turn the headlamps on and make sure they work
properly. If the headlamp was correctly aligned
before you changed the bulb, you should not need to
align it again.
High-mount brakelamp bulbs
The following
procedure is for sedans
only. For wagon, refer
to a qualified
technician.
1. Open trunk.
2. Inside trunk, locate
access hole under the
rear window
3. Remove the bulb
socket by rotating it 45 degrees and pulling it out of
the lamp assembly.
4. Carefully pull bulb straight out of socket and push
in new bulb.
5. To complete installation, follow the removal
procedure in reverse order.
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162

License plate lamp bulbs
To change the license plate bulbs:
Sedan
1. Remove two screws
and the license plate
lamp assembly from
the rear bumper.
2. Remove bulb socket
by turning
counterclockwise .
3. Carefully pull the
bulb out from the
socket and push in the
new bulb.
4. Install the lamp assembly on rear bumper with
two screws.
Wagon
1. Remove screw and
the license plate lamp
assembly from liftgate.
2. Remove bulb socket
by turning
counterclockwise .
3. Carefully pull the
bulb out from the
socket and push in the
new bulb.
4. Install the lamp assembly on liftgate with screw.
Replacing front parking lamp/turn signal bulbs
For bulb replacement, see a dealer or qualified
technician.
Replacing tail lamp/backup bulbs
For bulb replacement, see a dealer or qualified
technician.
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163

REPLACING THE INTERIOR BULBS
Check the operation of the following interior bulbs
frequently:
²interior overhead lamp
²map lamp
Using the right bulbs
FunctionTrade
Number
Front side marker lamp 194
Front park/turn lamp 3457 NA
Headlamp 9007
Tail lamp/brake lamp 3157
Rear turn lamp 3456K
Backup lamp 3156
License plate lamp 168
High-mount brake lamp 912
Rear side marker lamp 168
Cargo lamp (wagon) 211-2
Dome lamp 211-2
Dome/map lamp 578
Dome lamp/moon roof 208
Visor vanity lamp (passenger/driver) 74-194
Floor console 194
Luggage compartment lamp 906
Glove compartment 194
I/P ashtray lamp 194
To replace all instrument panel lights - see your
dealer.
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164

AIMING THE HEADLAMPS
Your vehicle is equipped with a Vehicle Headlamp
Aim Device (VHAD) on each headlamp body. Each
headlamp may be properly aimed in the horizontal
direction (left/right) and the vertical position
(up/down) using your VHAD system. The headlamps
on your vehicle are properly aimed at the assembly
plant.
A bubble (vertical indicator) that is not centered
between the two black lines does not necessarily
indicate out-of-aim headlamps. If your vehicle is not
positioned on a level surface, the slope will be
included in the level indicator. Therefore, vertical
and horizontal headlamp adjustment should be
performed only when beam direction appears to be
incorrect.
You will need one 7 mm wrench or socket with
ratchet to make the adjustments.
If the vehicle has been in an accident, the vehicle's
front structure should be properly aligned before
aiming the headlamps.
Horizontal aim adjustment
1. Park the vehicle on a
level surface.
2. With the hood open,
locate the horizontal
indicator and adjusting
screw. Remove the
protective cap to
access the 7 mm
adjusting screw head.
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165

3. Turn the horizontal
adjusting screw in the
direction of the arrow
to change the
horizontal aim as
shown.
4.Usea7mmwrench
or socket to turn the
horizontal adjusting screw until the ª0º reference
mark on the view dial is aligned with the rearward
facing tab (as shown) on the plastic housing.
Vertical aim adjustment
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface.
2. With the hood open,
locate the bubble level
vertical aim indicator.
It is visible when
viewed from above
center rear of the
headlamp. Locate the
vertical adjusting
screw, located on the
outboard side of the headlamp adjacent to the
headlamp upper outboard attachment.
3. The ªUPº and ªDNº on the bubble label indicate
the directional change (up or down) of the vertical
aim.
4.Usea7mmwrench or socket to turn the vertical
adjusting screw clockwise or counterclockwise until
the bubble aligns with the ª0º reference mark on the
vertical indicator when viewed directly from above.
Repeat the above procedures to the other headlamp,
if necessary.
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166

CLEANING AND CARING FOR YOUR VEHICLE
Refer to the ªCustomer Assistance Guideº for a list
of Ford-approved cleaners, polishes and waxes.
Washing your vehicle
Wash your vehicle
regularly with cold or
lukewarm water. Never
use strong detergents
or soap. If your vehicle
is particularly dirty, use
a quality car wash
detergent. Always use a
clean sponge, washing
glove or similar device and plenty of water for best
results. To avoid spots, avoid washing when the
hood is still warm, immediately after or during
exposure to strong sunlight.
During winter months, it is especially important to
wash the vehicle on a regular basis. Large quantities
of dirt and road salt are difficult to remove and also
cause damage to the vehicle.
Remove any exterior accessories, such as antennas,
before entering a car wash. If you have wax applied
to the vehicle at a commercial car wash, it is
recommended that you clean the wiper blades and
windshield as described inCleaning the wiper
blades and windshield.
After washing, apply the brakes several times to dry
them.
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167

Waxing your vehicle
Wax when water stops beading on the surface. This
could be every three or four months, depending on
operating conditions.
Use only carnauba or synthetic-based waxes. Use
cleaning fluid or alcohol with a clean cloth to remove
any bugs and tar before waxing vehicle. Use tar
remover to remove any tar spots.
Avoid getting wax on the windshield. If you have
wax applied at a commercial car wash, it is
recommended that you clean the wiper blades and
windshield as described inCleaning the wiper
blades and windshield.
Repairing paint chips
Minor scratches or paint damage from road debris
may be repaired with touch-up paint, repair foil or
aerosol paint spray from the Ford accessory line.
Observe the application instructions on the
products.
Remove particles such as bird droppings, tree sap,
insect remains, tar spots, road salt and industrial
fallout immediately.
Cleaning the wheels
Wash with the same detergent as the body of your
vehicle. Do not use acid-based or alcohol-based
wheel cleaners, steel wool, fuel or strong detergents.
Never use abrasives that will damage the finish of
special wheel surfaces. Use a tar remover to remove
grease and tar.
Cleaning the engine
Engines are more efficient when they are clean
because grease and dirt buildup keep the engine
warmer than normal. When washing:
²Take care when using a power washer to clean
the engine. The high pressure fluid could
penetrate the sealed parts and cause damage.
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168