belt Mercury Sable 1999 s Owner's Guide

4. Insert the belt
tongue into the proper
buckle (the buckle
closest to the direction
the tongue is coming
from) for that seating
position until you hear
a snap 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
your knee on the child
seat.
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.
Seating and safety restraints
93

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.
Installing child safety seats in the lap belt
seating positions
1. Lengthen the lap belt. To lengthen the belt, hold
the tongue so that its bottom is perpendicular to the
direction of webbing while sliding the tongue up the
webbing.
2. Place the child safety seat in the center seating
position.
3. Route the tongue and webbing through the child
seat according to the child seat manufacturer's
instructions.
4. Insert the belt tongue into the proper buckle for
the center seating position until you hear a snap and
feel it latch. Make sure the tongue is securely
fastened to the buckle by pulling on tongue.
5. Push down on the child seat while pulling on the
loose end of the lap belt webbing to tighten the belt.
6. Before placing the child into the child seat,
forcibly tilt the child seat from side to side and in
forward direction to make sure that the seat is held
securely in place. If the child seat moves excessively,
repeat steps 5 through 6, or properly install the
child seat in a different position.
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.
Seating and safety restraints
94

Important safety precautions
A computer system controls the engine's idle
revolutions per minute (RPM). When the engine
starts, the idle RPM runs faster to warm the engine.
If the engine idle speed does not slow down
automatically, have the vehicle checked. Do not
allow the vehicle to idle for more than ten minutes
at the higher engine RPM.
Before starting the vehicle:
1. Make sure all vehicle occupants have buckled
their safety belts. For more information on safety
belts and their proper usage, refer to theSeating
and safety restraintschapter.
2. Make sure the headlamps and vehicle accessories
are off.
3. Make sure the
parking brake is set.
4. Make sure the
gearshift is in P (Park).
5. Turn the key to 4
(ON) without turning
the key to 5 (START).
PRNDD1
1
23
4
5
Starting
97

Make sure the corresponding lights illuminate briefly.
If a light fails to illuminate, have the vehicle
serviced.
²If the driver's safety belt is fastened, the
light
may not illuminate.
STARTING THE ENGINE
1. Turn the key to 5
(START) without
pressing the
accelerator pedal and
release as soon as the
engine starts. The key
will return to 4 (ON).
2. If the temperature is above ±12É C (10É F) and
the engine does not start within five seconds on the
first try, turn the key to OFF, wait ten seconds and
try again.
3. If the temperature is below -12ÉC (10ÉF) and the
engine does not start in fifteen seconds on the first
try, turn the key OFF and wait ten seconds and try
again. If the engine does not start in two attempts,
depress the accelerator and start the engine while
holding the accelerator down to the floor. Release
the accelerator when the engine starts.
4. After idling for a few seconds, apply the brake
and release the parking brake.
CRUISE
RPMx1000
0 1234
5
6
7EFC H
FUEL DOOR>
SERVICE
ENGINE
SOONP!
BRAKEABS
+ –
UNLEADED FUEL ONLY
THEFT LOW
COOLANTO/D
OFF102030405060
70
80
90
100
1202060100
140
180
P R N D 2 1MPH km/h
00
000
00000
110
1
23
4
5
Starting
98

5. Be sure that the cables are clear of fan blades,
belts and other moving parts of both engines.
Jump starting
1. Start the engine of the booster vehicle and run
the engine at moderately increased speed.
2. Start the engine of the disabled vehicle.
3. Once the disabled vehicle has been started, run
both engines for a further three minutes before
disconnecting the jumper cables.
Removing the jumper cables, 3.0L Vulcan and
3.0L Duratec engines
Remove the jumper cables in the reverse order
that they were connected.
1. Remove the jumper cable. For the 3.0L Vulcan,
remove the jumper cable from thegroundmetal
surface. For the 3.0L Duratec, remove the jumper
cable from the hood latch.
2. Remove the jumper cable on the negative (-)
connection of the booster vehicle's battery.
+–+–
+–+–
Roadside emergencies
132

WRECKER TOWING
If you need to have your vehicle towed, contact a
professional towing service or, if you are a member,
your roadside assistance center.
It is recommended that your vehicle be towed with a
wheel lift or flatbed equipment. Do not tow with a
slingbelt. Ford Motor Company has not approved a
slingbelt towing procedure.
Ford Motor Company provides a towing manual for
all authorized tow truck operators. Have your tow
truck operator refer to this manual for proper
hook-up and towing procedures for your vehicle.
Roadside emergencies
134

Replacing the tires
Replace the tires when
the wear band is
visible through the tire
treads.
When replacing full size tires, never mix
radial bias-belted, or bias-type tires. Use
only the tire sizes that are listed on the
Certification Label. Make sure that all tires are the
same size, speed rating, and load-carrying capacity.
Use only the tire combinations recommended on
the label. If you do not follow these precautions,
your vehicle may not drive properly and safely.
Make sure that all replacement tires are of
the same size, type, load-carrying capacity
and tread design (e.g., ªAll Terrainº, etc.), as
originally offered by Ford.
Failure to follow these precautions may
adversely affect the handling of the vehicle
and make it easier for the driver to lose control
and roll over.
Tires that are larger or smaller than your vehicle's
original tires may also affect the accuracy of your
speedometer.
Maintenance and care
156

finish in this area helps protect the driver from
undesirable windshield reflection.
Cleaning the interior fabric
Remove dust and loose dirt with a whisk broom or a
vacuum cleaner. Remove fresh spots immediately. Do
not use household or glass cleaners. These agents
can stain and discolor the fabric. Use a mild soap
and water solution if necessary.
Cleaning leather seats (if equipped)
To clean, simply use a soft cloth dampened with
water and a mild soap. Wipe the leather again with a
damp cloth to remove soap residue. Dry with a soft
cloth. For tougher soiling concerns, Ford
recommends using the leather cleaning kit
F8AZ-19G253±AA, which is available from your Ford
Dealer. This mild cleaner and special pad, cleans the
leather and maintains its natural beauty. Follow the
instructions on the cleaner label. Regular cleaning of
your leather upholstery helps maintain its resiliency
and color.
Do not use household cleaning products,
alcohol solutions, solvents or cleaners intended
for rubber, vinyl or plastics.
Cleaning and maintaining the safety belts
Clean the safety belts with a mild soap solution
recommended for cleaning upholstery or carpets. Do
not bleach or dye the belts, because these actions
may weaken the belt webbing.
Check the safety belt system periodically to make
sure there are no nicks, wear or cuts. If your vehicle
has been involved in an accident, refer to theSafety
belt maintenancesection in theSeating and safety
restraintschapter.
Maintenance and care
179

Lights, warning and
indicator ...................... 6
air bag ...................... 11
anti-lock brakes
(ABS) ........................ 9
anti-theft ................... 9
brake ........................ 10
charging system ...... 10
cruise indicator ....... 10
door ajar .................... 7
low coolant ................ 9
low fuel ...................... 8
oil pressure ............. 10
safety belt ................. 7
service engine soon .. 7
speed control .......... 44
turn signal indicator . 6
Locks
childproof ................ 51
Lumbar support,
seats ...................... 72,73
Mirrors ....................... 48
heated ...................... 51
side view mirrors
(power) ................... 50
Moon roof .................. 48
Motorcraft parts ...... 162
Octane rating .......... 161
Overdrive ................. 106
Parking brake .......... 103
Power distribution box
(see Fuses) ............. 123
Power door locks ...... 50
Power steering ........ 104
fluid, checking and
adding ............. 146,147
Radio ................ 29,30,31
32,33,34,35,36
Relays ............... 119,125
Remote entry
system ................... 56,58
illuminated entry .... 58locking/unlocking
doors ........................ 57
replacement/additional
transmitters ............. 59
replacing the
batteries .................. 59
Roof rack ................. 117
Safety Compliance
Certification Label .. 187
Safety defects,
reporting .................. 204
Safety restraints ........ 80
cleaning the safety
belts .................. 83,179
extension
assembly .................. 82
for children ........ 88,89
lap belt ............... 78,79
warning light and
chime ....................... 82
Seat belts (see Safety
restraints) ............. 74,75
76,77,78
Seats .......................... 70
child safety seats .... 90
cleaning ................. 179
Servicing your
vehicle ............... 135,136
Spark plugs,
specifications ........... 180
Specification chart,
lubricants ................. 183
Speed control ............ 41
Starting your
vehicle .............. 96,97,98
jump
starting .... 129,130,132
preparing to start
your vehicle ....... 66,68
Steering wheel
tilting ....................... 46
Tires ........... 153,154,155
Index
207