1997 FORD CONTOUR Owners Manual

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thirty-two pica
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thirty-six pica chart:
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Table of ContentsIntroduction...................... 1
Instrumentation..................... 7
Audio......................... 23
Controls and Features.................. 47
Seating and Safety Restraints............... 83
Starting....................... 117
Driving....................... 125
Roadside Emergencies................. 149
Maintenance and Care................. 177
Capacities and Specifications.............. 229
Reporting Safety Defects................ 235
Customer Assistance................. 237
Accessories...................... 247
Quick Index..................... 259
Index......................... 271
Service Station Information.............. 292
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1
Introduction
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Ford's Commitment to You
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At Ford Motor Company, excellence is the continuous
commitment to achieve the best result possible. It is dedication
to learning what you want, determination to develop the right
concept, and execution of that concept with care, precision, and
attention to detail. In short, excellence means being the standard
by which others are judged.
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Our Guiding Principles
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Quality comes first.For your satisfaction, the quality of our
products and services must be our number one priority.
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You are the focus of everything we do.Our work must be
done with you in mind, providing better products and
services than our competition.
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Continuous improvement is essential to our success.We
must strive for excellence in everything we do: in our
products Ð in their safety and value Ð and in our services,
our human relations, our competitiveness, and our
profitability.
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Employee involvement is our way of life. We are a team.
We must treat one another with trust and respect.
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Dealers and suppliers are our partners.We must maintain
mutually beneficial relationships with dealers, suppliers, and
our other business associates.
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Integrity is never compromised.Our conduct worldwide
must be pursued in a manner that is socially responsible and
commands respect for its integrity and for its positive
contributions to society.
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2
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Things to Know About Using This Guide
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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.
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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.
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As you read through your owner guide, carefully read all
Warningsbecause they tell you how to avoid endangering
yourself, your passengers, and other people.
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NOTES and WARNINGS
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NOTESgive you additional information about the subject
matter you are referencing.
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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.
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RWARNING
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Finding Information in This Guide
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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.
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Introduction
3
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TheQuick Indexat the end of the book provides a page
number following each item which indicates where detailed
information can be found.
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To use theIndex, turn to the back of the book and search in the
alphabetical listing for the word that best describes the
information you need. If the word you chose is not listed, think
of other related words and look them up. We have designed the
Index so that you can find information under a technical term.
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Canadian Owners Ð French Version
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French Owner Guides can be obtained from your dealer or by
writing to Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited, Service
Publications, P.O. Box 1580, Station B, Mississauga, Ontario L4Y
4G3.
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Your Maintenance Schedule and Record
Booklet
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TheMaintenance Schedulebooklet lists the services that are most
important for keeping your vehicle in good condition. A record
log is also provided to help you keep track of all services
performed.
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About the Warranties
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Your vehicle is covered by three types of warranties:Basic
Vehicle Warranty,Extended Warrantieson certain parts, and
Emissions Warranties.
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Read yourWarranty Information Bookletcarefully to find out
about your vehicle's warranties and your basic rights and
responsibilities.
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If you lose yourWarranty Information Booklet,you can get a new
one free of charge. Contact any Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer,
or refer to the addresses and phone numbers on the first page
of this Owner's Guide.
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4
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Ford Extended Service Plan
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More Protection for Your Vehicle
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You can get more protection for your new car or light truck by
purchasing a Ford Extended Service Plan (Ford ESP). Ford ESP
is the only extended service program with the Ford name on it
and the only service contract backed by Ford Motor Company.
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Ford ESP is an optional service contract, backed and
administered by Ford. It provides:
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protection against repair costs after your Bumper to Bumper
Warranty expires;
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and
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other benefits during the warranty period (such as:
reimbursement for rentals; coverage for certain maintenance
and wear items).
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You may purchase Ford ESP from any participating Ford Motor
Company dealer. There are several Ford ESP plans available in
various time-and-mileage combinations. Each plan can be
tailored to fit your own driving needs, including reimbursement
benefits for towing and rental. (In Hawaii, rules vary. See your
dealer for details.)
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When you buy Ford ESP, you receive peace-of-mind protection
throughout the United States and Canada, provided by a
network of more than 5,100 participating Ford Motor Company
dealers.
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NOTE: Repairs performed outside the United States and
Canada are not eligible for ESP coverage.
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This information is subject to change, ask your dealer for
complete details about Ford ESP coverage.
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Introduction
5
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Breaking Your Vehicle In
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Your new vehicle goes through an adjustment or break-in
period during the first 1,000 miles (1,600 km) that you drive it.
During the break-in period, you need to pay careful attention to
how you drive your vehicle.
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Avoid sudden stops.Because your vehicle has new brake
linings, you should take these steps:
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Ð Watch traffic carefully so that you can anticipate when to
stop.
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Ð Begin braking well in advance.
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Ð Apply the brakes gradually.
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The break-in period for new brake linings lasts for 100 miles
(160 km) of city driving or 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of
highway driving.
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Use only the type of engine oil that Ford recommends.See
Engine oil recommendationsin the Index. Do not use special
ªbreak-inº oils.
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