climate control Mercury Sable 2002 s User Guide

cooling the vehicle if driven for two or three minutes with the
windows open. This will force most of the hot, stale air out of the
vehicle. Once the vehicle has been“aired out”, operate the climate
control system as desired.
•Do not place objects under the front seat that will interfere with the
airflow to the rear seats.
•Remove any snow, ice or leaves from the air intake area at the base of
the windshield.
•Do not place objects over the defroster outlets. These objects can
block airflow and reduce your ability to see through your windshield.
Avoid placing small objects on top of the instrument panel. These
objects may fall down into the defroster outlets and block airflow, in
addition to damaging the climate control system.
Do not place objects on top of the instrument panel, as these
objects may become projectiles in a collision or sudden stop.
REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER
The rear defroster control is located
on the instrument panel.
Press the rear defroster control to
clear the rear window of thin ice
and fog.
•A small LED will illuminate when
the rear defroster is activated.
The ignition must be in the ON position to operate the rear window
defroster.
The defroster turns off automatically after 10 minutes or when the
ignition is turned to the OFF position. To manually turn off the defroster
before 10 minutes have passed, push the control again.
Activating the rear window defroster will also activate the heated mirrors
(if equipped). For more information refer toHeated outside mirrorsin
theDriver controls chapter.
R
Climate Controls
44

CABIN AIR FILTER (IF EQUIPPED)
Your vehicle may be equipped with a cabin air filter. This particulate air
filtration system is designed to reduce the concentration of airborne
particles such as dust, spores and pollen in the air being supplied to the
interior of the vehicle. The particulate filtration system gives the
following benefits to customers:
•Improves the customer’s driving comfort by reducing particle
concentration
•Improves the interior compartment cleanliness
•Protects the climate control components from particle deposits
The filter is located just in front of the windshield under the cowl grille
on the passenger side of the vehicle.
For more information, or to replace the filter, contact your Ford, Lincoln
or Mercury Dealer.
Climate Controls
45

conditions of their use, however, and may depart significantly from the
norm due to variations in driving habits, service practices, and
differences in road characteristics and climates.
Traction AA A B C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest are AA, A, B, and C. The
grades represent the tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on specified government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.
The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on
straight-ahead braking traction tests, and does not include
acceleration, cornering, hydroplaning or peak traction characteristics.
Temperature A B C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B and C, representing the
tire’s resistance to the generation of heat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the material of the tire
to degenerate and reduce tire life, and excessive temperature can lead to
sudden tire failure. The grade C corresponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by
law.
The temperature grade for this tire is established for a tire that
is properly inflated and not overloaded. Excessive speed,
underinflation, or excessive loading, either separately or in
combination, can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.
SERVICING YOUR TIRES
Checking the tire pressure
•Use an accurate tire pressure gauge.
•Check the tire pressure when tires are cold, after the vehicle has been
parked for at least one hour or has been driven less than 5 km
(3 miles).
•Adjust tire pressure to recommended specifications found on the
Certification Label located on the driver’s door panel.
Maintenance and Specifications
221

Make sure that all replacement tires are of the same size, type,
load-carrying capacity and tread design (e.g.,“All Terrain”,
“Touring”, 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.
SNOW TIRES AND CHAINS
Snow tires must be the same size and grade as the tires you
currently have on your vehicle.
The tires on your vehicle have all weather treads to provide traction in
rain and snow. However, in some climates, you may need to use snow
tires and chains. If you need to use snow tires and chains, it is
recommended that steel wheels are used of the same size and
specifications as those originally installed.
Follow these guidelines when using snow tires and chains:
•Use only cable type chains offered by Ford as an accessory or
equivalent. SAE class“S”or other conventional link type chains may
cause damage to the vehicle’s wheel house and/or body.
•Install cable chains securely, verifying that the cables do not touch any
wiring, brake lines or fuel lines.
•Drive cautiously. If you hear the cables rub or bang against your
vehicle, stop and re-tighten the cables. If this does not work, remove
the cables to prevent damage to your vehicle.
•If possible, avoid fully loading your vehicle.
•Remove the tire cables when they are no longer needed. Do not use
tire cables on dry roads.
•The suspension insulation and bumpers will help prevent vehicle
damage. Do not remove these components from your vehicle when
using snow tires and cables.
•Do not exceed 48 km/h (30 mph) with tire cables on your vehicle.
Maintenance and Specifications
223