1996 FORD CONTOUR maintenance

Customer Assistance
187
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[HS08100(ALL)03/95]
Canadian Motor Vehicle Arbitration Plan (CAMVAP)
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[HS08200(ALL)03/95]
If a specific item of concern arises, where a solution cannot be
reached between a vehicle owner, Ford of Canada, and/or one
of its dealers (that all parties can agree upon), the owner may
wish to use the services offered by the Canadian Motor Vehicle
Arbitration Plan (CAMVAP).
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[HS08300(ALL)05/95]
CAMVAP uses the services of Provincial Administrators to
assist consumers in scheduling and preparing for their
arbitration hearings. However, before you can proceed with
CAMVAP you must follow your manufacturer's dispute
resolution process as outlined under ªService/Maintenance
Concerns (U.S. or Canada)º earlier in this chapter.
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[HS08400(ALL)05/95]
Consumers wishing to obtain further information about the
program can obtain an information booklet from your dealer or
contact the Provincial Administrator, Canadian Motor Vehicle
Arbitration Plan, at the address or telephone number shown
below.
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[HS08450(ALL)05/95]
O & P Services
595 Bay Street Ð Suite 300
Toronto, Ontario
M5G 2C2
Telephone 1 (800) 207-0685
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[HS08500(ALL)06/95]
This plan is not available in the province of Quebec.
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[HS08600(ALL)06/95]
Getting Help Outside the U.S. and Canada
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Before you export your vehicle to a foreign country, contact the
appropriate foreign embassy or consulate to make sure local
regulations do not prevent you from registering your vehicle.
Officials at the embassy can also help you decide whether you
should import your vehicle to that country.
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195
Servicing Your Contour
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Service Made Easy
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Ford has two goals for servicing your vehicle.
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[SV00500(ALL)01/95]1.
When we can, we design parts that do not need to be
serviced.
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[SV00600(ALL)01/95]2.
We want to make servicing your vehicle as easy as possible.
To help you:
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We highlight do-it-yourself items in yellow in the engine
compartment so that you can find them easily.
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When possible, we design parts Ð such as the headlamp
bulbs Ð that can be replaced without tools.
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[SV00900(ALL)05/94]
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We give you a Maintenance Schedule that makes tracking
routine service for your vehicle easy. The maintenance
schedule is located in theMaintenance Schedule and Record
booklet.
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[SV01000(ALL)01/95]
This chapter tells you about the basic parts that you need to
check and service regularly.
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[SV01150(ALL)02/95]
If your vehicle needs professional servicing, your dealership can
provide the parts and service required. Check yourWarranty
Information Bookletto find out which parts and services are
covered. Also see theCustomer Assistancechapter of this Owner
Guide.
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[SV01250(ALL)03/95]
Ford Motor Company recommends that the Owner Maintenance
Checks listed in theMaintenance Schedule and Recordbooklet be
performed for the proper operation of your vehicle. In addition
to the conditions listed in theOwner 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.
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208
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Use these equations to calculate your fuel economy:
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English: MPGU(total miles driven)V(gallons used)
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[SV12275(ALL)05/95]
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Metric: L/100kU(liters used)V(100 kilometers)
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Comparisons With EPA Fuel Economy Estimates
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EPA fuel economy figures are obtained from laboratory tests
under simulated road conditions and may not reflect the actual
conditions you experience or your style of driving. The EPA
fuel economy estimate is not a guarantee that you will achieve
the fuel economy shown.
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The following decrease fuel economy:
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[SV12615(ALL)05/95]
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Lack of regular, scheduled maintenance
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Rapid acceleration and excessive speed
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Driving with your foot on the brake
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Sudden stops
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Extended engine idling
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Using speed control in hilly terrain
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Extended use of the A/C, defroster, rear window defroster
and other accessories
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Underinflated tires
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Heavy loads
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Aftermarket add-ons such as bike, ski or luggage racks, bug
deflectors, etc.
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Servicing Your Contour
209
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Self-Service Pointers
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If you choose to do your own fueling, you should also perform
a few simple maintenance routines. This extra effort will save
you additional money and contribute to the driving efficiency of
your vehicle.
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The following procedures require only a tire gauge, a rag, an oil
can spout and windshield washer fluid.
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Check the engine oil at every refueling stop
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Clean the windshield, outside mirrors and headlights
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Check windshield washer fluid
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Check tires for excessive wear or worn edges
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Check the tire pressure at least monthly
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Engine Oil Recommendations
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We recommend using Motorcraft oil or an equivalent oil
meeting Ford Specification ESE-M2C153-E and displaying the
American Petroleum Institute CERTIFICATION MARK on the
front of the container.
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[SV13650(ALL)05/94]
10-1/2 pica
art:0001314-A
The API Certification Mark
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210
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Neveruse:
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ªNon-Detergentº oils
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Oils labeled API SA, SB, SC, SD, SE, SF or SG
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Additional engine oil additives, oil treatments or engine
treatments
[SV13710(ALL)04/95]
Engine oils with anSAE 5W-30viscosity arePREFERREDfor
your vehicle. They provide the best engine performance, fuel
economy and engine protection for all climates down to-15ÊF
(-25ÊC).
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Synthetic engine oils which are CERTIFIED and of the preferred
viscosity may be used in your engine. The engine oil and oil
filter must still be changed according to the maintenance
schedule.
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Checking and Adding Engine Oil
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Since the proper amount of engine oil is important for safe
engine operation, check the oil using the dipstick each time you
put fuel in your vehicle. Remember the engine must be off, the
oil must be warm and the vehicle must be parked on level
ground.
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Checking the engine oil level:
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[SV14000(ALL)02/95]1.
Turn the engine off after it has warmed up and allow a few
minutes for the engine oil to drain back into the oil pan.
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Set the parking brake fully and make sure that the gearshift
is securely latched in P (Park) (automatic transaxle) or
1 (First) (manual transaxle).
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[SV14100(ALL)02/95]3.
Open the hood. Protect yourself from engine heat.
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[SV14200(ALL)03/95]4.
Locate the engine oil dipstick (highlighted in yellow) and
carefully pull it out of the engine.
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212
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Add engine oil through the oil filler cap highlighted in yellow.
To add oil, remove the filler cap and use a funnel to pour oil
into the opening. Be careful not to overfill the engine. Recheck
the oil level after you finish adding oil.
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Nearly all engines will consume engine oil. As a result, it may
be necessary to add some oil between oil changes.
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Changing the Engine Oil and the Oil Filter
[SV16400(ALL)03/95]
Change the engine oil and oil filter per the following, whichever
occurs first.
[SV16500(ALL)05/95]
twelve pica
chart:0001472-A*
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Refer to the Maintenance Schedule and Record Booklet for
additional information.
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[SV16700(ALL)04/95]
NOTE: Always dispose of used automotive fluids in a
responsible manner. Follow your community's
standards for disposing of these types of fluids. Call
your local recycling center to find out about recycling
automotive fluids.
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214
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Your vehicle's coolant protects your engine from overheating in
the summer and from freezing in the winter. Check the level of
the coolant at least once a month. Simply look at the engine
coolant reservoir located in the engine compartment. To locate
the reservoir, see the diagram of your vehicle's engine under
Engine Type, in this chapter.
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[SV17850(ALL)01/95]
Check the engine coolant level in the engine coolant reservoir at
least once a month using the following guidelines.
[SV17900(ALL)01/95]
When your vehicle's engine is cool, the coolant level in the
engine coolant recovery reservoir should be at or above the
MIN mark. When the engine is hot, the coolant level should be
at the MAX mark. If the level is below the indicator mark in
either condition, coolant may need to be added.
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[SV18000(ALL)05/95]
The coolant additives also protect the entire cooling system from
internal passageway corrosion and these additives lubricate the
water pump. The coolant should be serviced as noted in the
Maintenance Schedule and Recordbooklet.
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Adding engine coolant
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RWARNING
Do not put engine coolant in the container for the
windshield washer fluid.
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RWARNING
Never remove the coolant recovery cap while the engine
is running or hot.
[SV18500(ALL)01/95]1.
Before you remove the cap, turn the engine off and let it
cool. Even when the engine is cool, be careful when you
remove the coolant recovery cap.
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Servicing Your Contour
217
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Battery
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Your vehicle may have a Motorcraft maintenance-free battery.
The Motorcraft maintenance-free battery does not require
additional water during its life of service. The vents are part of
the cover and cannot be removed. For longer, trouble-free
operation, keep the top of the battery clean and dry. Also, make
certain the battery cables are tightly fastened to the battery
terminals.
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[SV20150(ALL)02/95]
If you see any corrosion on the battery cables or terminals,
remove the cables from the terminal and clean them both with a
wire brush. You can neutralize the acid with a solution of
baking soda and water. Reinstall the cables when you are done
cleaning them, and apply a small quantity of grease to the top
of each battery terminal to help prevent corrosion.
[SV20200(ALL)02/95]
Battery Replacement
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If your original equipment battery requires replacement (under
warranty), it may in some cases be replaced by a Motorcraft
low-maintenance battery. The low-maintenance battery has
removable vent caps for checking the electrolyte level and for
adding water, if needed.
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[SV20300(ALL)05/95]
Check your battery's electrolyte level, at least every 12 months
or 12,000 miles (20,000 km), in temperatures above90ÊF (32ÊC)
and more often in temperatures above90ÊF (32ÊC).Keep the
electrolyte in each cell up to the ªlevelº indicator. Do not
overfill the battery cell.
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[SV20350(ALL)02/95]
If the electrolyte level in your battery gets low, you can add
plain tap water to the battery, as long as you don't use hard
water, or water with a high mineral or alkali content. If
possible, however, try to only fill the battery cell with distilled
water. If the battery needs water often, have the charging
system checked.
File:cdsvo.ex
Update:Thu Jan 25 12:09:28 1996