1996 FORD CONTOUR warning

*[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

2
*
[IN01100(ALL)05/95]
Things to Know About Using This Guide
*
[IN01200(ALL)05/95]
Congratulations on the purchase of your new vehicle. This
guide has information about the equipment and the options for
your new vehicle. You may not have bought all of the options
available to you. If you do not know which information applies
to your vehicle, talk to your dealer.
*
[IN01300(ALL)05/95]
This guide describes equipment and gives specifications for
equipment that was in effect when this guide was approved for
printing. Ford may discontinue models or change specifications
or design without any notice and without incurring obligation.
[IN01350(ALL)05/95]
As you read through your owner guide, carefully read all
Warningsbecause they tell you how toavoid endangering
yourself, your passengers, and other people.
*
[IN01400(ALL)05/95]
NOTES and WARNINGS
*
[IN01420(ALL)05/95]
NOTESgive you additional information about the subject
matter you are referencing.
*
[IN01440(ALL)05/95]
WARNINGSremind you to be especially careful in those areas
where carelessness can cause damage to your vehicle or
personal injury to yourself, your passengers or other people.
Please read allWARNINGScarefully.
*
[IN01460(ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
*
[IN01500(ALL)05/95]
Finding Information in This Guide
*
[IN01600(ALL)04/95]
After you have read this guide once, you will probably return
to it when you have a specific question or need additional
information. To help you find specific information quickly, you
can use the Quick Index or the Index.
File:cdino.ex
Update:Thu Jan 25 12:11:14 1996

7
Safety Restraints
*
[SR00500(ALL)04/95]
Important Safety Belt Information
*
[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.
*
[SR00700(ALL)01/95]
Safety belts provide best restraint when:
*
[SR00800(ALL)01/95]
n
the seatback is upright
*
[SR00900(ALL)01/95]
n
the occupant is sitting upright (not slouched)
*
[SR01000(ALL)01/95]
n
the lap belt is snug and low on the hips
*
[SR01100(ALL)01/95]
n
the shoulder belt is snug against the chest
*
[SR01200(ALL)01/95]
n
the knees are straight forward
*
[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.
*
[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.
%*
[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

8
*
[SR02700(ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
Never wear the shoulder belt under the arm. Never
swing it around the neck over the inside shoulder. Never
use a single belt for more than one person or across more
than one seating position. Each seating position in your
vehicle has a specific safety belt assembly which is made
up of one buckle and one tongue that are designed to be
used as a pair. Failure to follow these precautions could
increase the risk and/or severity of injury in a collision.
*
[SR02850(ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
Ford recommends that all safety belt assemblies and
attaching hardware should be inspected by a qualified
technician after any collision. Safety belt assemblies not
in use during a collision should also be inspected and
replaced if either damage or improper operation is noted.
*
[SR02900(ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
To reduce the risk of serious injury in a collision,
children should always ride with the seatback upright.
File:cdsro.ex
Update:Thu Jan 25 12:13:11 1996

Safety Restraints
9
*
[SR03000(ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
Never let a passenger hold a child on his or her lap
while the vehicle is moving. The passenger cannot
protect the child from injury in a collision.
*
[SR03200(ALL)05/95]
Lock the doors of your vehicle before driving to lessen the risk
of the door coming open in a collision.
*
[SR03600(ALL)05/95]
Combination Lap and Shoulder Belts
*
[SR03900(ALL)05/95]
While your vehicle is in motion, the combination lap and
shoulder belt adjusts to your movement. However, if you brake
hard, turn hard, or if your vehicle receives an impact of 5 mph
(8 km/h) or more, the lap and shoulder belt locks and helps
reduce your forward movement.
*
[SR04000(ALL)05/95]
After you get into your vehicle, close the door and lock it. Then
adjust the seat to the position that suits you best.
*
[SR04100(ALL)05/95]
Pull the combination lap/shoulder belt from the retractor so
that the shoulder portion of the belt crosses your shoulder and
chest. Be sure the belt is not twisted. If it is, remove the twist.
Insert the belt tongue into the proper buckle until you hear a
snap and feel it latch. Make sure the tongue is securely fastened
to the buckle by pulling on tongue.
File:cdsro.ex
Update:Thu Jan 25 12:13:11 1996

Safety Restraints
11
% [SR05625(ALL)03/95]
Dual Locking Mode Lap/Shoulder Belt Retractor
[SR05650(ALL)12/94]
The front passenger seat and the rear outer seat combination lap
and shoulder belts are equipped with a dual locking mode
retractor on theshoulderbelt portion of the lap/shoulder belt.
This retractor can be switched from vehicle sensitive
(emergency) locking mode to automatic locking mode by pulling
the belt webbing all of the way out of the retractor. The
retractor modes function as follows.
*
[SR05675(ALL)02/95]
Vehicle sensitive (emergency) locking mode
[SR05700(ALL)05/94]
In this operating mode, the lap/shoulder belt retractor will
allow the occupant freedom of movement, locking tight only on
hard braking, hard cornering or impacts of approximately
5 mph (8 km/h) or more.
*
[SR05725(ALL)01/95]
Automatic locking mode
*
[SR05800(ALL)03/95]
This mode must be used when installing a child seat on the
front passenger seat and rear seats where dual locking retractors
are provided. To switch the retractor from the emergency
locking mode to the automatic locking mode, perform the
following steps:
*
[SR05850(ALL)03/95]
RWARNING
Rear facing infant seats should never be placed in the
front seat.
*
[SR05900(ALL)03/95]1.
Buckle the lap/shoulder combination belt.
*
[SR05950(ALL)01/95]2.
Grasp the shoulder portion of the belt and pull downward
until all of the belt is extracted and a click is heard. At this
time, the retractor is in the automatic locking mode (child
restraint mode).
[SR06000(ALL)03/95]3.
Allow the belt to retract. A clicking sound will be heard as
the belt retracts. This indicates that the retractor is in the
automatic locking mode.
File:cdsro.ex
Update:Thu Jan 25 12:13:11 1996

Safety Restraints
13
[SR06057(ALL)05/95]
10-1/2 pica
art:0001184-D
Figure 2 Ð Adjusting the shoulder belt height
[SR06070(ALL)05/95]
Make sure the adjuster is firmly in one of the four positions.
The belt should be adjusted up or down until the belt rests on
your shoulder near your neck.
*
[SR06075(ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
Position the shoulder belt height adjuster so that the belt
rests across the middle of your shoulder. Be sure the
shoulder belt is properly positioned on your shoulder
each time you use the belt. If the shoulder belt is off
your shoulder, on your upper arm or neck, there is a
greater risk of severe injury in a collision.
*
[SR06100(ALL)05/95]
Lap Belts
*
[SR06200(ALL)05/95]
The lap belt in the center of the rear seat does not adjust
automatically. You must adjust it to fit snugly and as low as
possible around your hips. Do not wear it around your waist.
*
[SR06300(ALL)05/95]
Pull the belt across your hips andinsert the tongue into the
correct buckleon your seat until you hear a snap and feel it
lock. Make sure the buckle is securely fastened.
File:cdsro.ex
Update:Thu Jan 25 12:13:11 1996

Safety Restraints
15
*
[SR07550(ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
Failure to follow these instructions will affect the
performance of the safety belts and increase the risk of
personal injury.
*
[SR07600(ALL)05/95]
Safety Belt Maintenance
*
[SR07650(ALL)05/95]
Check the safety belt systems periodically to make sure that
they work properly and are not damaged.
%*
[SR07700(ALL)05/95]
All safety belt assemblies, including retractors, buckles, front
seat belt buckle support assemblies (slide bar) (if equipped),
child safety seat tether bracket assemblies (if equipped), and
attaching hardware, should be inspected after any collision. Ford
recommends that all safety belt assemblies used in vehicles
involved in a collision be replaced. However, if the collision was
minor and a qualified technician finds that the belts do not
show damage and continue to operate properly, they do not
need to be replaced. Safety belt assemblies not in use during a
collision should also be inspected and replaced if either damage
or improper operation is noted.
[SR07725(ALL)05/95]
Safety Belt Warning Label
[SR07750(ALL)05/95]
A warning label has been placed on the buckle of each of your
vehicle's front seat safety belts.
[SR07760(ALL)05/95]
In a collision of sufficient severity while the safety belt is in use,
the safety belt buckle will pull out of the sleeve so that all or
part of the orange portion of the label is visible.
[SR07775(ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
Whenever the orange portion of the label is visible, the
safety belt must be replaced.
File:cdsro.ex
Update:Thu Jan 25 12:13:11 1996