1997 FORD ASPIRE maintenance

145
Maintenance and Care
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Service Made Easy
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Ford has two goals for servicing your vehicle.
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1. When we can, we design parts that do not
need to be serviced.
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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 that can be
replaced without tools.
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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 Schedulebooklet.
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This chapter tells you about the basic parts that
you need to check and service regularly.
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If your vehicle needs professional servicing, your
dealership can provide the parts and service
required. Check yourWarranty Information Booklet
to find out which parts and services are covered.
Also see theCustomer Assistancechapter of this
Owner Guide.
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[MC01000(ALL)02/96]
Ford Motor Company recommends that the
Owner Maintenance Checks listed in the
Maintenance Schedulebooklet 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,
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149
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Engine Oil Recommendations
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We recommend using Motorcraft oil or an
equivalent oil meeting Ford Specification
WSS-M2C153-F and displaying the American
Petroleum Institute CERTIFICATION MARK on
the front of the container.
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one third page art:0060021-E
The API Certification Mark
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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
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Engine oils with anSAE 5W-30viscosity are
PREFERREDfor your vehicle. They provide the
best engine performance, fuel economy and
engine protection for all climates down to-15ÊF
(-25ÊC).
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[MC05600(ALL)03/96]
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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Changing the Engine Oil and the Oil Filter
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Change the engine oil and oil filterper the
following, whichever occurs first.
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one third page art:0060618-C
Oil change intervals
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Refer to theMaintenance Schedulebooklet for
additional information.
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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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WARNING
Continuous contact with USED motor oil
has caused cancer in laboratory mice.
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Protect your skin by washing with soap and
water.
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Brake Fluid
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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.
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159 %
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Engine Coolant Drain and Flush
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The proper procedures to completely drain and
flush the engine cooling system can be found in
the Service Manual for your vehicle or you can
see your dealer. See the order form located
before this chapter. Follow these recommended
procedures to ensure that your vehicle has the
specified engine level and 50/50 mixture of
cooling system fluid and water.
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Checking Hoses
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Check all engine and heater system hoses and
hose connections for deterioration, leaks, and
loose hose clamps as specified in themaintenance
schedule. Repair or replace with Motorcraft hoses
or equivalent as necessary.
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Power Steering Fluid
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Check the level of the power steering fluid at
least twice a year (i.e., every Spring and Fall).
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Checking and Adding Power Steering
Fluid
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1. Start the engine and let it run until the
power steering fluid reaches normal
operating temperature. The power steering
fluid will be at the right temperature when
the engine coolant temperature gauge in the
instrument cluster is near the center of the
normal operating temperature range.
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2. While the engine idles, turn the steering
wheel back and forth several times. Make
sure that the cap assembly is installed at this
time.
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3. Turn the engine off.
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Automatic Transaxle Fluid
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Under normal circumstances, you do not need to
check the fluid level of the transaxle, since your
vehicle does not use up transaxle fluid. Refer to
theMaintenance Schedulebooklet for replacement
intervals. However, if the transaxle is not
working properly Ð for instance, the transaxle
may slip or shift slowly, or you may notice
some sign of fluid leakage Ð the fluid level
should be checked.
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Checking the Automatic Transaxle Fluid
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With the vehicle on a level surface and the brake
pedal fully applied, start the engine and move
the gearshift selector through all of the gears.
Allow sufficient time for each position to engage.
Securely latch the gearshift selector in the P
(Park) position. Fully set the parking brake and
leave the engine running.
[MC29550(ALL)01/96]
Pull the dipstick out and wipe the indicator end
clean. Put the dipstick back into the filler tube
and make sure it is fully seated; otherwise, you
will not get an accurate reading. Pull the
dipstick out and read the fluid level.
[MC29555(ALL)01/96]
one third page art:0032228-B
Automatic transaxle fluid dipstick
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162 [MC29560(ALL)01/96]The fluid level must be above the ªLº mark. If it
is not, you should not drive your vehicle until
more fluid is added. Ideally, the fluid level
should be within the specified area of the
dipstick.
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If you must add transaxle fluid in an emergency,
use only MERCONHfluid, such as Motorcraft
MERCONHMulti-Purpose ATF. Add the fluid in
1/2-pint increments until you raise the fluid
level to within the crosshatched area on the
dipstick. Never overfill the transaxle. If the fluid
level gets too high, remove the excess fluid as
soon as possible; otherwise, you could damage
the transaxle.
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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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Manual Transaxle Fluid
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The lubricant level and quality should not
deteriorate under normal use. However, you
should periodically have your Ford Dealer check
the fluid level during regular oil changes.
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Battery
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The Motorcraft maintenance-free battery
normally does not require additional water
during its life of service. However, for severe
service usage or in high temperature climates,
check your battery electrolyte level, at least
every 24 months or 24,000 miles (40,000 km).
Keep the electrolyte in each cell up to the
ªlevelº indicator. Do not overfill the battery
cells.
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Tire Inspection and Maintenance
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Inspect the tire treads and remove stones, nails,
glass or other objects that may be wedged in the
tread grooves. Check for holes or cuts that may
permit air to leak from the tire and make the
necessary repairs.
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Inspect the tire sidewalls for cuts, bruises and
other damage. If you suspect internal damage to
the tire, have it removed and checked. You may
need to repair or replace it.
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Tire Rotation
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Because your vehicle's front and rear tires
perform different jobs, they often wear
differently. To make sure your tires wear evenly
and last longer, rotate them as indicated in the
following diagram.
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Do not include the spare tire as part of your
rotation.
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For tire rotation intervals, see theMaintenance
Schedulebooklet. If you notice the tires wearing
unevenly, have them checked.
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one third page art:0030224-E
Rotating the tires
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180
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3. After at least three to five tankfuls, fill the
fuel tank and record the final odometer
reading.
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4. Divide the total number of miles that you
have driven by the total number of gallons
that your vehicle has used. In metric,
multiply the number of liters used by 100
and divide the answer by the number of
kilometers traveled. This will give you the
number of liters used per 100 km.
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Comparisons With Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) and Transport
Canada (TC) 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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Improving Fuel Economy
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Fuel economy is affected by a number of
variables which can reduce efficiency. You can
improve fuel economy by understanding these
variables and minimizing their effect.
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The following decrease fuel economy:
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Lack of regular, scheduled maintenance
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Excessive speed
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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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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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