spare wheel Mercury Sable 2003 Owner's Manuals

CHANGING THE TIRES
If you get a flat tire while driving, do not apply the brake heavily.
Instead, gradually decrease your speed. Hold the steering wheel firmly
and slowly move to a safe place on the side of the road.
The use of tire sealants is not recommended and may
compromise the integrity of your tires.
Temporary spare tire information
The temporary spare tire for your vehicle is labeled as such. It is smaller
than a regular tire and is designed for emergency use only. Replace the
temporary spare tire with a full-size tire as soon as possible.
If you use the temporary spare tire continuously or do not follow
these precautions, the tire could fail, causing you to lose control
of the vehicle, possibly injuring yourself or others.
When driving with the temporary spare tiredo not:
•use more than one temporary spare tire at a time
•exceed 80 km/h (50 mph)
•load the vehicle beyond maximum vehicle load rating listed on the
Safety Compliance Label
•tow a trailer
•use tire chains
•drive through an automatic car wash, because of the vehicle’s reduced
ground clearance
•try to repair the temporary spare tire or remove it from its wheel
•use the wheel for any other type of vehicle
Use of a temporary spare tire at any one wheel location can lead to
impairment of the following:
•handling, stability and braking performance
•comfort and noise
•ground clearance and parking at curbs
•Winter driving capability
Roadside Emergencies
136

Tire change procedure
1. Park on a level surface, activate hazard flashers and set parking brake.
When one of the front wheels is off the ground, the transaxle
alone will not prevent the vehicle from moving or slipping off the
jack, even if the vehicle is in P (Park).
To prevent the vehicle from moving when you change a tire, be
sure the parking brake is set, then block (in both directions) the
wheel that is diagonally opposite (other side and end of the vehicle) to
the tire being changed.
If the vehicle slips off the jack, you or someone else could be
seriously injured.
2. Place gearshift lever in P (Park),
turn engine OFF, block the
diagonally opposite wheel, then
remove the spare tire, jack and lug
wrench.
•In the sedan, these are located in
the trunk cargo area storage
compartment.
Roadside Emergencies
137

•In the wagon, they are stored in
the left side rear trim panel for
the temporary spare and in the
floor cargo area storage
compartment for the full size
spare.
3. If equipped with a wheel cover
that’s bolted on, loosen the five
plastic nuts with the lug nut
wrench.
4. Remove the center ornament or wheel cover from the wheel with the
tapered end of the wheel lug nut wrench that came with your vehicle.
Insert and twist the handle, then pry against the wheel.
5. Loosen each wheel lug nut
one-half turn counterclockwise but
do not remove them until the wheel
is raised off the ground.
Roadside Emergencies
138

6. Put the jack in the jack notch
next to the door of the tire you are
changing. Turn the jack handle
clockwise until the wheel is
completely off the ground.
7. Remove the lug nuts with the lug
nut wrench.
8. Replace the flat tire with the spare tire, making sure the valve stem is
facing outward. Reinstall lug nuts until the wheel is snug against the hub.
Do not fully tighten the lug nuts until the wheel has been lowered.
9. Lower the wheel by turning the jack handle counterclockwise.
10. Remove the jack and fully
tighten the lug nuts in the order
shown.
11. Return the flat tire, jack and lug
wrench to their proper storage
locations. Make sure the jack is
fastened so it does not rattle when
you drive.
12. Unblock the wheels.
1
4 3
2 5
Roadside Emergencies
139

locking/unlocking doors ...........60
opening the trunk .....................63
Roadside assistance ..................127
Roof rack .....................................59
S
Safety Belt Maintenance ............91
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ..................77, 79–82, 84
Safety defects, reporting ..........155
Safety restraints ..............77, 79–85
belt minder ...............................87
extension assembly ..................90
for adults .............................80–82
for children .........................97–98
lap belt ......................................84
safety belt maintenance ...........91
warning light and chime ....86–87
Safety seats for children ..........101
Seat belts (see Safety
restraints) ....................................77
Seats ............................................73
child safety seats ....................101
cleaning ...................................159
Servicing your vehicle ..............162
Spare tire (see Changing the
Tire) ...........................................136
Spark plugs,
specifications .....................196, 200
Specification chart,
lubricants ...........................198, 200
Speed control ..............................51
Starting a flex fuel vehicle .......112
Starting your vehicle .......109–110,
112
jump starting ..........................140Steering wheel
tilting .........................................46
T
Tilt steering wheel ......................46
Tires ...........................136, 191–193
changing ..........................136–137
checking the pressure ............193
replacing ..................................194
rotating ....................................193
snow tires and chains ............195
tire grades ...............................193
treadwear ................................192
Towing .......................................123
recreational towing .................126
trailer towing ..........................123
wrecker ....................................145
Traction control ........................115
Transaxle
fluid, refill capacities ..............197
lubricant specifications ..........200
Transmission .............................117
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................190
lubricant specifications ..........198
Trunk ...............................57, 59–60
remote release ....................56, 63
Turn signal ..................................32
V
Vehicle dimensions ...................200
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................203
Vehicle loading ..........................121
Ventilating your vehicle ...........113
W
Warning chimes .........................115
Index
211