1996 FORD CONTOUR light

*[PI00560(ALL)05/95]
Table of Contents
Introductory Information............... 1
Safety Restraints ................... 7
Starting Your Contour ................. 41
Warning Lights and Gauges .............. 53
Instrument Panel Controls ............... 69
Steering Column Controls ............... 83
Features ....................... 93
Electronic Sound Systems .............. 115
Driving Your Contour ................ 139
Roadside Emergencies ................ 163
Customer Assistance ................ 179
Reporting Safety Defects ............. 185
Accessories ..................... 189
Servicing Your Contour ............... 195
Quick Index .................... 261
Index ........................ 273
Service Station Information ............. 292
File:cdpio.ex
Update:Thu Jan 25 12:11:09 1996

Introductory Information
5
%*
[IN06900(ALL)04/95]
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle
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[IN06920(ALL)05/95]
Pollen, bird droppings and tree sap can damage the paint,
especially in hot weather. Wash your vehicle as often as
necessary to keep it clean.
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[IN06940(ALL)05/95]
Take similar precautions if your vehicle is exposed to chemical
industrial fallout.
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[IN06960(ALL)06/95]
Paint damage resulting from fallout is not related to a defect in
paint materials or workmanship and therefore is not covered by
warranty. Ford, however, believes that continual improvement
in customer satisfaction is a high priority. For this reason, Ford
has authorized its dealers to repair, at no charge to the owner,
the surfaces of new vehicles damaged by environmental fallout
within 12 months or 12,000 miles (20,000 km) of purchase,
whichever comes first. Customers may be required to bring their
vehicle in for inspection by a Ford representative.
%*
[IN07001(ALL)04/95]
Washing and Polishing Your Vehicle
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[IN07101(ALL)04/95]
Wash the outside of your vehicle, including the underside, with
a mild detergent.
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[IN07201(ALL)04/95]
DO NOT:
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[IN07301(ALL)04/95]
n
Wash your vehicle with hot water
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[IN07401(ALL)04/95]
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Wash your vehicle while it sits in direct sunlight
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[IN07501(ALL)04/95]
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Wash your vehicle while the body is hot
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[IN07901(ALL)04/95]
Polish your vehicle to remove harmful deposits and protect the
finish.
File:cdino.ex
Update:Thu Jan 25 12:11:14 1996

7
Safety Restraints
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[SR00500(ALL)04/95]
Important Safety Belt Information
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[SR00600(ALL)03/95]
The use of safety belts helps to restrain you and your
passengers in case of a collision. In most states and in Canada
the law requires their use.
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[SR00700(ALL)01/95]
Safety belts provide best restraint when:
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[SR00800(ALL)01/95]
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the seatback is upright
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[SR00900(ALL)01/95]
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the occupant is sitting upright (not slouched)
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[SR01000(ALL)01/95]
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the lap belt is snug and low on the hips
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[SR01100(ALL)01/95]
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the shoulder belt is snug against the chest
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[SR01200(ALL)01/95]
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the knees are straight forward
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[SR02250(ALL)05/95]
To help you remember to fasten your safety belt, a warning
light may come on and a chime may sound. SeeSafety Belt
Warning Light and Chimein theWarning Lights and Gauges
chapter.
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[SR02300(ALL)01/95]
See the following sections in this chapter for directions on how
to properly use these safety belts. Also seeSafety Restraints for
Childrenin this chapter for special instructions about using
safety belts for children.
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[SR02400(ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
Make sure that you and your passengers wear safety
belts. Always drive and ride with your seatback upright
and the lap belt snug and low across the hips.
File:cdsro.ex
Update:Thu Jan 25 12:13:11 1996

Safety Restraints
23
[SR17740(ALL)02/94]
17-1/2 pica
art:0001206-A
Inflated passenger-side air bag
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[SR18400(ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
If the air bag is inflated, THE AIR BAG WILL NOT
FUNCTION AGAIN AND MUST BE REPLACED
IMMEDIATELY. If the air bag is not replaced, the
unrepaired area will increase the risk of injury in a
collision.
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[SR18425(ALL)05/95]
To ensure that the air bag system will operate as intended in a
crash, the system is equipped with a diagnostic module, which
controls a readiness lamp and a warning tone. The diagnostic
module monitors its own circuits, the air bag electrical system,
the air bag readiness light, the air bag power, and the air bag
inflators.
File:cdsro.ex
Update:Thu Jan 25 12:13:11 1996

24
%*
[SR18450(ALL)05/95]
The air bag system uses a readiness light on the instrument
cluster and a tone to indicate the condition of the system. When
you turn the ignition key to the ON position, this light will
illuminate for approximately six (6) seconds and then turn off.
This indicates that the system is operating normally. NOTE:
Maintenance of the air bag system is not required.
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[SR18475(ALL)05/95]
A problem with the system is indicated by one or more of the
following:
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[SR18501(ALL)05/95]
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the readiness light will either flash or stay lit,
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[SR18525(ALL)05/95]
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or it will not light immediately after ignition is turned on,
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[SR18550(ALL)05/95]
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or a group of five beeps will be heard. The tone pattern will
repeat periodically until the problem and light are repaired.
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[SR18575(ALL)05/95]
If any of these things happen, have the air bag system serviced
at your Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer immediately. Unless
serviced, the air bag supplemental restraint system may not
function properly in the event of a collision.
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[SR18601(ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
Do not attempt to service, repair, or modify the Air Bag
Supplemental Restraint System or its fuses. See your
Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer.
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[SR19000(ALL)05/95]
Disposal of air bags or air bag equipped vehicles
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[SR19500(ALL)05/95]
For disposal of air bags or air bag equipped vehicles, see your
local Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer. Air bagsMUSTbe
disposed of by qualified personnel.
File:cdsro.ex
Update:Thu Jan 25 12:13:11 1996

42
[ST04400(ALL)05/94]
ACCESSORY allows some of your vehicle's electrical accessories
to operate while the engine is not running. For example, you
can use ACCESSORY to turn on the radio without starting the
engine.
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[ST04425(ALL)05/95]
ON allows you to test your vehicle's warning lights (except the
brake system warning light) to make sure they work before you
start the engine. The key returns to the ON position once the
engine is started and remains in this position while the engine
runs.
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[ST04450(ALL)03/95]
START cranks the engine. Release the key once the engine starts
so that you do not damage the starter. The key should return to
ON when you release it. The START position also allows you to
test the brake warning light.
%*
[ST04500(ALL)02/95]
Removing the Key From the Ignition
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[ST04600(ALL)05/94]
Procedures for removing your key from the ignition vary,
depending on whether your vehicle has an automatic or manual
transaxle.
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[ST04700(ALL)04/94]
If your vehicle has an automatic transaxle:
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[ST04800(ALL)06/92]1.
Put the gearshift lever in P (Park).
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[ST04900(ALL)01/95]2.
Set the parking brake fully.
[ST05000(ALL)05/94]3.
Rotate the ignition key to the LOCK position.
[ST05100(ALL)02/95]4.
Remove the key from the ignition.
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[ST05200(ALL)04/94]
If your vehicle has a manual transaxle:
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[ST05300(ALL)06/92]1.
Put the gearshift lever in 1 (First).
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[ST05400(ALL)01/95]2.
Set the parking brake fully.
[ST05701(ALL)05/94]3.
Rotate the ignition key to the LOCK position.
[ST05801(ALL)02/95]4.
Remove the key from the ignition.
File:cdsto.ex
Update:Thu Jan 25 12:13:36 1996

Starting Your Contour
45
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[ST09100(ALL)03/95]
Before you start your vehicle, you should test the warning lights
on the instrument panel to make sure that they work. Refer to
theWarning Lights and Gaugeschapter.
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[ST09310(ALL)02/95]
Starting Your Engine
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[ST09320(ALL)02/95]
To start your engine:
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[ST09330(ALL)05/95]1.
Follow the steps underPreparing to Start Your Vehicleat the
beginning of this section.
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[ST09340(ALL)03/95]2.
Keep your foot on the brake pedal and turn the ignition key
to the ON position.
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[ST09350(ALL)03/95]3.
DO NOT depress the accelerator pedal when starting your
engine. DO NOT use the accelerator while the vehicle is
parked.
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[ST09360(ALL)02/95]4.
Turn the key to the START position (cranking) until the
engine starts. Allow the key to return to the ON position
after the engine has started.
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[ST09370(ALL)02/95]
If you have difficulty in turning the key, rotate the steering
wheel slightly because it may be binding.
File:cdsto.ex
Update:Thu Jan 25 12:13:36 1996

46
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[ST09372(ALL)04/95]
For a cold engine:
[ST09375(ALL)05/95]
2.0L engine:
[ST09380(ALL)06/95]
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At temperaturesbelow-10ÊF (-23ÊC):Turn the key to ON,
crank the engine and depress the accelerator about 1/4 of
the way down and hold that position forfive (5) seconds.If
the engine fails to start, continue to crank with the
accelerator depressed about 1/4 of the way down and hold
that position until the engine starts.DO NOT crank for
more than 30 seconds,or you could damage the starter. If
the engine fails to start on the first try, turn the key to OFF
and wait two (2) minutes before trying again. Allow engine
to warm up for a few minutes before putting transaxle into
gear.
[ST09385(ALL)05/95]
n
At temperaturesbetween-10ÊF (-23ÊC) and 10ÊF(-12ÊC):
Turn the key to ON, and crank the engine forfive (5)
seconds.If the engine fails to start, continue to crank and
depress the accelerator about 1/4 of the way down and hold
that position until the engine starts.DO NOT crank for
more than 30 seconds,or you could damage the starter. If
the engine fails to start on the first try, turn the key to OFF
and wait two (2) minutes before trying again.
[ST09391(ALL)05/95]
n
At temperaturesbetween10ÊF (-12ÊC) and 32ÊF (0ÊC):If the
engine does not start infifteen (15) secondson first try, turn
the key to OFF, then try again.
[ST09395(ALL)05/95]
n
At temperaturesabove32ÊF (0ÊC):If the engine does not
start infive (5) secondson the first try, turn the key to OFF,
then try again.
[ST09401(ALL)05/95]
If you have the 4-cylinder 2.0L engine and are not using an
engine block heater, warm up the engine for a minute or two
before putting the transaxle in gear. Depressing the accelerator
slightly will also help with cold starts.
File:cdsto.ex
Update:Thu Jan 25 12:13:36 1996