1997 FORD CONTOUR spare tire

142
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[GF14200(ALL)01/96]
n
Service your vehicle more frequently if you tow a trailer.
(SeeServicing your vehicle if you towin this chapter.)
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[GF14300(ALL)12/95]
Ten to 15% of the loaded trailer's weight should be on the
tongue. However, the tongue load should never exceed 10% of
the maximum weight that your vehicle can safely tow.
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[GF14400(ALL)12/95]
New vehicles should be driven 2,000 miles (3,200 km) before
towing a trailer.
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[GF14500(ALL)01/96]
RWARNING
Towing trailers beyond the maximum recommended
gross trailer weight exceeds the limit of the vehicle and
could result in engine damage, transaxle damage,
structural damage, loss of control, and personal injury.
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[GF14600(ALL)01/96]
RWARNING
Do not tow a trailer when using a temporary spare tire.
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[GF14700(ALL)12/95]
You should also limit your trailer's load when you tow in high
altitudes.
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[GF14800(ALL)03/96]
Preparing to Tow
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[GF14900(ALL)01/96]
For your safety and for the good of your vehicle, use the right
equipment for the type of trailer you tow. Also, make sure that
all towing equipment is properly attached to your vehicle. If
you are not certain that you are using the right equipment in
the proper manner, see your Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer.
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[GF15000(ALL)12/95]
Do not use hitches that clamp onto your vehicle's bumper. The
bumper is not designed to bear the load.
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Update:Thu Sep 12 11:04:39 1996

Roadside Emergencies
161
[ER04900(ALL)12/95]
Circuit breakers will reset themselves and allow the electrical
parts to work again once the overload on the circuit is gone. If
the circuit breakers continue to cut off electricity, have your
vehicle's electrical system checked.
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[ER05000(ALL)01/96]
If you replace a circuit breaker, use one with the same
amperage rating. To remove a circuit breaker mounted in the
fuse panel, grip it with your finger and thumb and pull it
straight out of its socket.
%*
[ER05100(ALL)02/96]
Changing a Tire
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[ER05200(ALL)02/96]
If you get a flat tire while you are driving, do not apply the
brake heavily. Instead, gradually decrease the speed. Hold the
steering wheel firmly and slowly move to a safe place on the
side of the road. Park on a level spot, turn off the ignition, set
the parking brake, and turn on the hazard flashers.
%*
[ER05300(ALL)02/96]
The Temporary Spare Tire
%*
[ER05400(ALL)02/96]
You may have a high pressure temporary spare tire. This spare
tire is smaller than a regular tire and is designed for emergency
use only. Use it only when you get a flat tire and replace it as
soon as you can. This spare tire is marked with the words
ªTEMPORARY USE ONLYº so that you can easily identify it.
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[ER05500(ALL)02/96]
RWARNING
If you use the temporary spare tire continuously or do
not follow these precautions, the tire could fail, causing
you to lose control of the vehicle, possibly injuring
yourself or others.
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Update:Thu Sep 12 11:06:09 1996

162
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[ER05600(ALL)02/96]
When you drive with the temporary spare tire, DO NOT:
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[ER05700(ALL)02/96]
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exceed 50 mph (80 km/h) under any circumstances.
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[ER05800(ALL)02/96]
n
load your vehicle so that it is heavier than the maximum
vehicle load rating listed on the tire decal.
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[ER05900(ALL)02/96]
n
tow a trailer.
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[ER06000(ALL)02/96]
n
use tire chains on this tire.
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[ER06100(ALL)02/96]
n
try to repair the temporary spare tire or remove it from its
wheel.
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[ER06200(ALL)02/96]
n
use the wheel for any other type of vehicle.
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[ER06300(ALL)02/96]
n
drive through an automatic car wash with this tire. Because
the temporary spare tire is smaller than a conventional tire,
it reduces the ground clearance. Your vehicle may get caught
in the rails and it could be damaged.
%*
[ER06400(ALL)02/96]
Spare Tire Location
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[ER06500(ALL)12/95]
The spare tire is stored under the carpet on the floor of the
trunk.
[ER06600(ALL)12/95]
You will find additional instructions for the spare tire on the
wheel decal (located on the temporary spare wheel).
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Update:Thu Sep 12 11:06:09 1996

Roadside Emergencies
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[ER06700(ALL)12/95]
17-1/2 pica
art:0000531-B
The temporary spare tire
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[ER06800(ALL)03/96]
Preparing to Change the Tire
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[ER06900(ALL)01/96]1.
Make sure that your vehicle will not move or roll. If you
have an automatic transaxle, put the gearshift in P (Park). If
you have a manual transaxle, put the gearshift in 1 (First).
Set the parking brake and block the wheel that is diagonally
opposite the tire that you are changing.
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[ER07000(ALL)12/95]
When one of the front wheels is off the ground, the transaxle
alone will not prevent the vehicle from moving or slipping off
the jack, even if the vehicle is in P (Automatic) or 1 (Manual).
To prevent the vehicle from moving when you change one of
the front tires, put a block behind the wheel that is diagonally
opposite the tire.
File:10cdero.ex
Update:Thu Sep 12 11:06:09 1996

164
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[ER07100(ALL)03/96]
RWARNING
If the vehicle slips off the jack, you or someone else
could be seriously injured.
*
[ER07200(ALL)01/96]2.
Get out the spare tire and jack.
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[ER07300(ALL)03/96]
RWARNING
To avoid injury, never run the engine with one wheel off
the ground, such as when changing a tire.
[ER07400(ALL)12/95]3.
Remove the wheel cover from the wheel with the tapered
end of the wheel lug wrench. Insert and twist the handle,
then pry against the inner wheel cover flange. For
information about removing optional wheel center ornaments
seeStyled Polycast Wheel Ornamentslater in this section.
[ER07500(ALL)12/95]4.
Loosen the wheel lug nuts by pulling up on the handle of
the wrench one-half turn counterclockwise. Do not remove
the wheel lug nuts until you raise the tire off the ground.
For information about removing anti-theft lug nuts, see
Anti-Theft Wheel Lug Nutslater in this section.
%*
[ER07600(ALL)01/96]
Removing and Replacing the Tire
[ER07700(ALL)12/95]1.
Place the scissors-type jack under the side of the vehicle and
adjust the jack height with the jack handle. The jack should
fit in the notch in the vertical rocker panel flange which is
nearest to the wheel to be changed. The front and rear
jacking notches on each side of the vehicle are marked by
arrows in the rocker panel.
[ER07800(O )02/96]
On sport models with ªskirts,º you must remove a portion
of the skirt before placing the jack under the vehicle.
Squeeze the removeable portion of the skirt and pull down.
A tether connects it to the rocker panel.
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166
[ER08100(ALL)12/95]
17-1/2 pica art:0000528-E
The notches for the jack
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[ER08200(ALL)12/95]2.
Turn the jack handle clockwise until the wheel clears the
ground. Remove the wheel lug nuts.
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[ER08300(ALL)03/96]3.
Replace the flat tire with the spare tire, making sure that the
air valve stem is facing outward.
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[ER08400(ALL)03/96]4.
Reinstall the lug nuts, tightening until the wheel is snug
against the hub. The beveled edges on the lug nuts face
inward. Do not fully tighten the lug nuts until you lower the
vehicle. If you do, you could force the vehicle off the jack.
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[ER08500(ALL)03/96]5.
Lower the vehicle by turning the jack handle
counterclockwise.
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Update:Thu Sep 12 11:06:09 1996

204
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[MC19000(ALL)01/96
]
Tire Rotation
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[MC19100(ALL)01/96]
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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[MC19200(ALL)01/96]
Do not include the spare tire as part of your rotation.
[MC19300(ALL)03/96]
For tire rotation intervals, see theMaintenance Schedulebooklet.
If you notice that the tires wear unevenly, have them checked.
[MC19400(ALL)12/95]
13-1/2 pica
art:0001224-A
Rotating the tires
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Update:Thu Sep 12 11:08:18 1996

206
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[MC21000(ALL)01/96
]
Information About Tire Quality Grades
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[MC21100(ALL)01/96]
New vehicles are fitted with tires that have their Tire Quality
Grade (described below) molded into the tire's sidewall. These
Tire Quality Grades are determined by standards that the
United States Department of Transportation has set.
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[MC21200(ALL)01/96]
Tire Quality Grades apply to new pneumatic tires for use on
passenger cars. They do not apply to deep tread, winter-type
snow tires, space-saver or temporary use spare tires, tires with
nominal rim diameters of 10 to 12 inches or limited production
tires as defined in Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations Part
575.104(c)(2).
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[MC21300(ALL)01/96]
U.S. Department of Transportation Ð Tire quality grades:The
U.S. Department of Transportation requires Ford to give you the
following information about tire grades exactly as the
government has written it.
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[MC21400(ALL)01/96
]
Treadwear
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[MC21500(ALL)01/96]
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear
rate of the tire when tested under controlled conditions on a
specified government test course. For example, a tire graded 150
would wear one and one-half (1 1/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded 100. The relative
performance of tires depends upon the actual conditions of their
use, however, and may depart significantly from the norm due
to variations in driving habits, service practices and differences
in road characteristics and climate.
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[MC21600(ALL)01/96]
Traction A B C
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[MC21700(ALL)05/96]
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are A, B, and C,
and they represent the tire's ability to stop on wet pavement as
measured under controlled conditions on specified government
test surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have
poor traction performance.
File:11cdmco.ex
Update:Thu Sep 12 11:08:18 1996