air condition Mercury Sable 2001 s Owner's Guide

²Sudden or hard accelerations may reduce fuel economy.
²Slow down gradually.
²Driving at reasonable speeds (traveling at 88 km/h [55 mph] uses 15%
less fuel than traveling at 105 km/h [65 mph]).
²Revving the engine before turning it off may reduce fuel economy.
²Using the air conditioner or defroster may reduce fuel economy.
²You may want to turn off the speed control in hilly terrain if
unnecessary shifting between third and fourth gear occurs.
Unnecessary shifting of this type could result in reduced fuel
economy.
²Warming up a vehicle on cold mornings is not required and may
reduce fuel economy.
²Resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving may reduce fuel
economy.
²Combine errands and minimize stop-and-go driving.
Maintenance
²Keep tires properly inflated and use only recommended size.
²Operating a vehicle with the wheels out of alignment will reduce fuel
economy.
²Use recommended engine oil. Refer toLubricant Specifications.
²Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance items. Follow the
recommended maintenance schedule and owner maintenance checks
found in your vehicle scheduled maintenance guide.
Conditions
²Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a trailer may reduce fuel economy
at any speed.
²Carrying unnecessary weight may reduce fuel economy (approximately
0.4 km/L [1 mpg] is lost for every 180 kg [400 lb] of weight carried).
²Adding certain accessories to your vehicle (for example bug
deflectors, rollbars/light bars, running boards, ski/luggage racks) may
reduce fuel economy.
²Using fuel blended with alcohol may lower fuel economy.
²Fuel economy may decrease with lower temperatures during the first
12±16 km (8±10 miles) of driving.
Maintenance and care
189

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.
Illumination of the
indicator, charging system warning light or the
temperature warning light, fluid leaks, strange odors, smoke or loss of
engine power, 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, services,
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 diagnostics system. If your
indicator is on, refer to the
description in theWarning Lights and Chimessection of the
Instrumentationchapter. Your vehicle may not pass the I/M test with
the
indicator on.
If the vehicle's powertrain system or its battery has just been serviced,
the on-board diagnostics system is reset to a ªnot ready for I/M testº
condition. To ready the on-board diagnostics 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.
Maintenance and care
191

Any gasoline spilled on the vehicle or deposits such as bird droppings
should be washed and sponged off as soon as possible. Deposits not
removed promptly can cause damage to the vehicle's paintwork.
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.
Underbody
Flush the complete underside of vehicle frequently. Keep body drain
holes unplugged. Inspect for road damage.
Waxing your vehicle
Waxing your vehicle on a regular basis will reduce minor scratches and
paint damage.
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 a cleaning fluid with a
clean cloth to remove any bugs before waxing your vehicle. Use tar
remover to remove any tar spots.
Avoid getting wax on the windshield, or on any surfaces which appear
coarse or bumpy. 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
the Ultra Touch Prep and Finishing Kit (#F7AZ-19K507±BA), Lacquer
Touch-up Paint (#ALBZ-19500±XXXXA), or Exterior Acrylic Spray
Lacquer (#ALAZ-19500±XXXXA) from the Ford Car Care Chemicals line.
Please note that the part numbers (shown as XXXX above) will vary with
your vehicle's specific coloring. 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.
Maintenance and care
205

Obtaining a French owner's guide
French Owner's 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.
IN CALIFORNIA (U.S. ONLY)
California Civil Code Section 1793.2(d) requires that, if a manufacturer
or its representative is unable to repair a motor vehicle to conform to the
vehicle's applicable express warranty after a reasonable number of
attempts, the manufacturer shall be required to either replace the
vehicle with one substantially identical or repurchase the vehicle and
reimburse the buyer in an amount equal to the actual price paid or
payable by the consumer (less a reasonable allowance for consumer
use). The consumer has the right to choose whether to receive a refund
or replacement vehicle.
California Civil Code Section 1793.22(b) presumes that the manufacturer
has had a reasonable number of attempts to conform the vehicle to its
applicable express warranties if, within the first 18 months of ownership
of a new vehicle or the first 29 000 km (18 000 miles), whichever occurs
first:
1. Two or more repair attempts are made on the same nonconformity
likely to cause death or serious bodily injury OR
2. Four or more repair attempts are made on the same nonconformity (a
defect or condition that substantially impairs the use, value or safety of
the vehicle) OR
3. The vehicle is out of service for repair of nonconformities for a total of
more than 30 calendar days (not necessarily all at one time)
In the case of 1 or 2 above, the consumer must also notify the
manufacturer of the need for the repair of the nonconformity at the
following address:
16800 Executive Plaza Drive
Mail Drop 3NE-B
Dearborn, MI 48126
Customer assistance
229

A
Accessory delay ..........................57
Air bag supplemental
restraint system ............96±97, 101
and child safety seats ..............99
description ........................97, 101
disposal ....................................103
driver air bag ............97, 100, 102
indicator light .....................13, 99
operation ...................97, 100, 102
passenger air bag .....97, 100, 102
side air bag ..............................101
Air cleaner filter .......................210
Air conditioning ..........................19
automatic temperature
control system ..........................23
Air filter, cabin ..........................170
Antifreeze
(see Engine coolant) ................162
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ......................118±119
Anti-theft system ........................67
arming the system ....................67
disarming a triggered system ..68
warning light .............................11
Audio system (see Radio) .........29
Automatic transaxle .................123
driving with .............................125
fluid, adding ............................168
fluid, checking ........................168
fluid, refill capacities ..............211
fluid, specification ..................213
Auxiliary power point .................29
Axle
lubricant specifications ..........212B
Battery .......................................175
acid, treating emergencies .....175
charging system
warning light .............................13
jumping a disabled battery ....147
maintenance-free ....................175
replacement, specifications ...210
servicing ..................................175
Belt minder .................................92
Brakes ........................................118
anti-lock ...........................118±119
anti-lock brake system
(ABS) warning light .........11, 119
brake warning light ..................12
fluid, checking and adding ....160
fluid, refill capacities ..............211
fluid, specifications .........212±213
lubricant specifications ..212±213
parking ....................................120
pedals (see Power
adjustable foot pedals) ............46
shift interlock ..........................123
Break-in period .............................3
C
Capacities for refilling fluids ....211
Cargo area shade ........................62
Cargo cover .................................61
Cargo net .....................................61
CD changer .................................42
Cellular telephone
Wireless Interface Module .......54
Certification Label ....................215
Child safety restraints ..............104
child safety belts ....................104
Index
231

Child safety seats ......................105
attaching with tether straps ..109
in front seat ............................106
in rear seat ......................106, 109
LATCH .....................................111
Cleaning your vehicle ...............204
engine compartment ..............207
exterior ....................................205
exterior lamps .........................206
instrument cluster lens ..........208
instrument panel ....................208
interior .............................208±209
mirrors .....................................206
plastic parts ............................206
safety belts ..............................209
washing ....................................204
waxing .....................................205
wheels ......................................206
windows ..................................209
wiper blades ............................206
woodtone trim ........................209
Climate control (see Air
conditioning or Heating) ............19
Clock ......................................35, 41
Console ........................................59
Controls
power seat .................................78
Coolant
checking and adding ..............162
refill capacities ................165, 211
specifications ..................212±213
Cruise control
(see Speed control) ....................47
Customer Assistance ................135
Ford accessories
for your vehicle ......................225
Ford Extended
Service Plan ............................217Getting assistance outside
the U.S. and Canada ..............224
Getting roadside assistance ...135
Getting the
service you need ....................217
Ordering additional
owner's literature ...................228
The Dispute
Settlement Board ...................220
Utilizing the Mediation/
Arbitration Program ...............223
D
Daytime running lamps
(see Lamps) ................................17
Defrost
rear window ..............................19
Dipstick
automatic
transmission fluid ...................168
engine oil .................................157
Doors
door ajar warning .......................9
lubricant specifications ..........212
Driving under special
conditions
through water .........................129
E
Emergencies, roadside
jump-starting ..........................147
Emission control system ..........190
Engine ........................................213
check engine/
service engine soon light ...........9
cleaning ...................................207
coolant .....................................162
Index
232

high beam .............................8, 17
replacing bulbs .......................193
turning on and off ....................17
warning chime ..........................13
Heating ........................................19
heating and
air conditioning system ............19
Hood ..........................................154
I
Ignition .................................47, 213
Infant seats
(see Safety seats) .....................105
Inspection/maintenance
(I/M) testing ..............................191
Instrument panel
cleaning ...................................208
cluster ..................................8, 208
lighting up
panel and interior .....................18
location of components ..............8
J
Jack ............................................143
positioning ...............................143
storage .....................................143
Jump-starting your vehicle ......147
K
Keyless entry system .................69
autolock .....................................71
keypad .......................................69
locking and unlocking doors ....71
programming entry code .........70
Keys .......................................73, 75
key in ignition chime ...............13positions of the ignition ...........47
L
Lamps
autolamp system .......................18
bulb replacement
specifications chart ................201
cargo lamps ...............................18
daytime running light ...............17
fog lamps ...................................18
headlamps .................................17
headlamps, flash to pass ..........17
instrument panel, dimming .....18
interior lamps .............52±53, 201
replacing
bulbs ........192±193, 195±197, 200
Lane change indicator
(see Turn signal) ........................50
Liftgate ..................................60, 64
Lights, warning and indicator ......8
air bag ........................................13
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ....11, 119
anti-theft ...................................11
brake ..........................................12
charging system ........................13
check coolant ............................12
cruise indicator .........................12
door ajar ......................................9
fuel cap light ...............................9
high beam ...................................8
low coolant ................................11
low fuel ......................................11
oil pressure ...............................12
safety belt ...................................9
service engine soon ....................9
speed control ............................50
traction control active ................8
turn signal indicator ...................8
Load limits .................................128
Index
234