check engine light Mercury Villager 1998 s User Guide

Service Made Easy
Ford has two goals for servicing your vehicle.
1. When we can, we design parts that do not need to be
serviced.
2. We want to make servicing your vehicle as easy as possible.
To help you:
mWe highlight do-it-yourself items in yellow in your engine
compartment so that you can find them easily.
mWhen possible, we design parts that can be replaced without
tools.
mWe give you a Maintenance Schedule that makes tracking
routine service for your vehicle easy. TheMaintenance
Schedulebooklet is part of your owners portfolio.
This chapter tells you about the basic parts that you need to
check and service regularly.
If your vehicle needs professional servicing, your dealership can
provide the parts and service required. Check yourWarranty Guide
to find out which parts and services are covered. Also see the
Customer Assistancechapter of this Owner's Manual.
Ford Motor Company recommends that the Owner Maintenance
Checks listed in theMaintenance Schedulebooklet be
performed for the proper operation of your vehicle. In addition
to the conditions listed in the Owner Maintenance Checklist, be
alert for any unusual noise, vibration, or other indication that
your vehicle may need service. If you do notice something unusual,
see that your vehicle is serviced promptly.
Use only recommended fuels, lubricants, fluids, and service parts
that meet Ford Motor Company specifications. Motorcraft
parts are designed and built to provide the best performance in
your vehicle.
Maintenance and Care
275

7. Refill the engine with a CERTIFIED engine oil of the preferred
viscosity. Start the engine and check for leaks. Follow
directions inChecking and adding engine oilto be sure the
engine is filled to the proper level.
WARNING
Continuous contact with USED motor oil has caused
cancer in laboratory mice.
Protect your skin by washing with soap and water.
Brake Fluid
Your vehicle is equipped with a brake fluid level indicator in the
master cylinder which lights the BRAKE warning light on the
instrument panel when the brake fluid level is low.
Under normal circumstances, your vehicle should not use up
brake fluid rapidly. However, expect the level of the brake fluid
to slowly fall as you put more mileage on your vehicle and
the brake pads wear.
Check the brake fluid at least once a year. You can do this by
looking at the fluid level in the plastic brake fluid reservoir on the
master cylinder. The fluid level should be at or near the MAX
mark.
WARNING
Brake fluid is toxic.
If brake fluid contacts eyes, flush eyes with running water for 15
minutes. Get medical attention if irritation persists. If taken
internally, drink water and induce vomiting. Get medical attention
immediately.
282

Windshield Washer Fluid
Check the level of the windshield washer fluid every time you
stop for fuel, or when the warning light indicates low washer fluid.
The reservoir for washer fluid is located in the engine
compartment. This reservoir contains the fluid for both the
windshield and liftgate washers.
WARNING
Do not put windshield washer fluid in the container for
the engine coolant.
If sprayed to clean the glass, engine coolant or antifreeze could
make it difficult to see through the windshield.
Windshield washer fluid reservoir
284

WARNING
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.
WARNING
Do not remove the floor carpet in your vehicle. Emission
controls cause high exhaust temperatures under the
floor.
Watch for fluid leaks, strange odors, smoke and loss of oil
pressure. Also watch for the charge warning light, the check engine
light, or the temperature warning light. These sometimes
indicate that the emission system is not working properly.
Do not make any unauthorized changes to your vehicle or engine.
Changes that cause more unburned fuel to reach the exhaust
system can increase the temperature of the engine or exhaust
system.
In general, maintenance, replacement, or service of the emission
control devices or systems in your new Ford Motor
Company vehicle or engine may be performed at your expense
by any automotive repair establishment or individual using
automotive parts equivalent to those with which your vehicle or
engine was originally equipped.
By law, anyone who manufactures, repairs, services, sells, leases
vehicles, trades vehicles, or supervises a fleet of vehicles is
not permitted to intentionally remove an emission control device
or prevent it from working. In some of the United States and
in Canada, vehicle owners may be liable if their emission control
device is removed or is prevented from working.
314

A
Accessory position on the ignition..............86
Air bag supplemental restraint system...........144
and child safety seats..................153
description.....................144, 146
driver air bag....................144, 146
indicator light.......................11
operation........................146
passenger air bag....................146
service and information labels..............146
tone generator....................149, 149
Air cleaner filter
location.........................341
Alcohol
in fuel..........................310
Antenna, radio (see Electronic sound system).......29,84
Antifreeze (see Engine coolant)...............285
Anti-lock brake system (ABS)
description........................215
noise...........................215
see also Brake......................215
warninig light.......................9
Anti-theft lug nuts and key.................261
Anti-theft system
triggering........................116
Appeals (see Dispute settlement board)...........348
Assistance (see Customer assistance)............345
Audio system (see Electronic sound system).........29
Automatic transaxle
driving with.......................221
fluid, adding....................291, 292
fluid, checking......................291
fluid, specification....................339
Index
373

Controls
mirrors..........................109
Convenience kit in cargo area................255
Coolant (see Engine coolant)................285
checking and adding...................285
drain and flush.....................289
preparing for storage...................335
specifications.......................339
temperature gauge...................18,23
warnings.........................285
Cooling fan.........................276
Customer Assistance Centre, Ford of Canada........352
D
Daytime running light system................78
Defrost
rear window.......................75
windshield........................56
Dipstick..........................281
automatic transaxle fluid.................291
engine oil........................281
power steering fluid.................289, 289
Disabled vehicle (see Towing)................272
Dispute Settlement Board..................348
Doors............................97
door ajar warning light..................15
lubricant specifications..................339
Driving under special conditions
heavy load........................226
towing a trailer.....................227
Index
377

E
Electrical system
circuit breakers......................252
fuses........................243, 244
relays..........................253
Electronic sound system
antenna..........................84
atenna..........................84
tuning the radio......................33
warranty and service information.............51
Emergencies, roadside
assistance........................345
battery acid spills..................268, 295
fuel...........................310
towing..........................272
Emergency brake (parking brake)..............218
Emission control system..................313
catalytic converter....................313
emissions warranty.................313, 314
Engine
check engine warning light................12
does not start....................209, 210
fuel injected engine, starting...............207
fuel pump shut-off switch................210
preparing to start..................207, 207
service points......................341
starting.........................207
starting after a collision.................242
storing your vehicle.................333, 334
Engine block heater.....................210
Engine coolant.......................285
checking and adding...................285
disposal.........................292
drain and flush.....................289
378

preparing for storage...................335
proper solution......................292
recovery reservoir..................285, 341
specifications.......................339
temperature gauge...................18,23
Engine coolant temperature gauge............18,23
description......................18,23
mechanical......................18,23
Engine coolant temperature guage:electronic.......18,23
Engine fan.........................276
Engine knocking......................309
Engine oil.........................279
changing oil and oil filter................281
check oil warning light..................14
checking and adding...................281
dipstick.........................281
disposal.........................292
engine oil pressure warning light.............14
filter, specifications....................337
low oil warning light...................14
ªbreak-inº oils.......................5
specifications.......................279
synthetic oil.......................279
viscosity.........................279
Engine:idle speed control..................209
Exhaust fumes.......................212
F
Fan
engine fan, avoiding injury................276
Federal Communications Commission............51
Flashers, hazard.....................77,241
Flat tire...........................254
Ford Dispute Settlement Board...............348
Index
379

Lights, warning and indicator
airbag ..........................11
brake............................9
charging system......................14
check engine.......................12
door ajar.........................15
engine oil pressure....................14
hazard warning light.................77,241
high beam........................17
low fuel..........................17
lowoil ..........................14
low washer fluid.....................17
oil pressure........................14
safety belt.........................11
service engine soon....................12
turn signal indicator....................87
Load limits.........................226
GAWR ..........................226
GVWR..........................226
trailer towing......................233
Lubricant specifications...................339
Lug nuts..........................258
anti-theft.........................261
tightening sequence.................258, 265
Luggage rack........................239
M
Maintenance (see Servicing).................275
Maintenance (see servicing).................275
Map pockets........................126
Master cylinder, brakes...................282
Message center
low washer fluid.....................17
Methanol in fuel......................310
384