1997 FORD CONTOUR Owners Manual

212
*
[MC25800(ALL)05/96]
Cleaner Air
*
[MC25900(ALL)05/96]
Ford approves the use of gasolines to improve air quality,
including reformulated gasolines that contain oxygenates such as
a maximum of 10% ethanol or 15% MTBE. There should be no
more than 5% methanol with cosolvents and additives to protect
the fuel system.
*
[MC26000(ALL)04/96]
Reformulated fuel is also required in certain areas of the U.S.
These fuels are designed to further reduce the emissions from
your vehicle.
*
[MC26100(ALL)05/96]
Generally, you should not experience difficulties operating your
vehicle on fuels containing oxygenates. We encourage you to
use these fuels.
%*
[MC26200(ALL)01/96
]
Safety Information Relating to Automotive Fuels
*
[MC26300(ALL)01/96]
RWARNING
Automotive fuels can cause serious injury or death if
misused or mishandled.
*
[MC26400(ALL)05/96]
n
Turn vehicle off when refueling.
*
[MC26500(ALL)08/95]
n
Do not smoke when refueling. Fuels are extremely
flammable.
*
[MC26600(ALL)08/95]
n
Do not siphon any fuel by mouth.
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Maintenance and Care
213
*
[MC26700(ALL)02/96]
RWARNING
Gasoline or gasoline blended with methanol can cause
blindness and possible death when swallowed. If any
fuel is swallowed, call a physician or poison control
center immediately.
*
[MC26800(ALL)08/95]
n
Avoid breathing vapors while refueling.
*
[MC26900(ALL)08/95]
n
If fuel is splashed on the skin, wash with soap and water.
*
[MC27000(ALL)08/95]
n
If fuel is splashed in the eyes, remove contact lenses (if
worn), flush with water for 15 minutes, and seek medical
attention.
*
[MC27100(ALL)01/96]
Gasoline and gasoline blends may contain small amounts of
carcinogens, such as benzene. Long-term exposure to unleaded
gasoline vapors has caused cancer in laboratory animals.
*
[MC27200(ALL)01/96]
If you are taking the medication ªAntabuseº or other forms of
disulfiram for the treatment of alcoholism, vapor or skin contact
with a gasoline-methanol blend may cause the same kind of
adverse reaction as drinking an alcoholic beverage. In sensitive
individuals, serious personal injury or sickness could result.
Consult a physician promptly if you experience an adverse
reaction.
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214
%*
[MC27300(ALL)01/96
]
Running Out of Fuel
*
[MC27400(ALL)08/95]
NOTE: Avoid running out of fuel because this situation may
have an adverse effect on modern powertrain
components.
*
[MC27500(ALL)01/96]
You may need to crank the engine several times before the fuel
system starts to pump fuel from the tank to the engine.
*
[MC27600(ALL)01/96]
RWARNING
Never pour fuel in the throttle body or attempt to start
the engine with the air cleaner removed. Doing so could
result in fire and personal injury.
%*
[MC27700(ALL)03/96]
Fuel Economy
*
[MC27800(ALL)01/96]
Fuel economy is an estimate of the efficiency of your vehicle
and can be calculated as Miles Per Gallon (MPG) or Liters Per
100 Kilometers (L/100K).
*
[MC27900(ALL)01/96]
Do not calculate fuel economy during your vehicle's break-in
period. This would not be an accurate estimate of how much
fuel your vehicle will normally use.
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Maintenance and Care
215
*
[MC28000(ALL)01/96]
To calculate fuel economy:
*
[MC28100(ALL)01/96]1.
Fill the tank completely and record the initial odometer
reading.
*
[MC28200(ALL)01/96]2.
Every time you buy fuel record the amount (in gallons or
liters) purchased.
*
[MC28300(ALL)01/96]3.
After at least three to five tankfuls, fill the fuel tank and
record the final odometer reading.
*
[MC28400(ALL)01/96]4.
Use these equations to calculate your fuel economy:
*
[MC28500(ALL)01/96]
n
English: MPGU(total miles driven)V(gallons used)
*
[MC28600(ALL)01/96]
n
Metric: L/100kU(liters used)V(100 kilometers)
%*
[MC28700(ALL)01/96
]
Comparisons With Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) and Transport Canada (TC) Fuel Economy
Estimates
*
[MC28800(ALL)05/96]
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.
*
[MC28900(ALL)01/96]
The following decrease fuel economy:
*
[MC29000(ALL)01/96]
n
Lack of regular, scheduled maintenance
*
[MC29100(ALL)01/96]
n
Rapid acceleration and excessive speed
*
[MC29200(ALL)01/96]
n
Driving with your foot on the brake
*
[MC29300(ALL)01/96]
n
Sudden stops
*
[MC29400(ALL)01/96]
n
Extended engine idling
*
[MC29500(ALL)01/96]
n
Using speed control in hilly terrain
*
[MC29600(ALL)01/96]
n
Extended use of the A/C, defroster, rear window defroster
and other accessories
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216
*
[MC29700(ALL)01/96]
n
Underinflated tires
*
[MC29800(ALL)01/96]
n
Heavy loads
*
[MC29900(ALL)01/96]
n
Aftermarket add-ons such as bike, ski or luggage racks, bug
deflectors, etc.
*
[MC30000(ALL)12/95]
Self-Service Pointers
*
[MC30100(ALL)12/95]
If you choose to do your own fueling, you should also perform
a few simple maintenance routines. This extra effort will save
you additional money and contribute to the driving efficiency of
your vehicle.
*
[MC30200(ALL)12/95]
The following procedures require only a tire gauge, a rag, an oil
can spout and windshield washer fluid.
*
[MC30300(ALL)12/95]
n
Check the engine oil at every refueling stop
*
[MC30400(ALL)12/95]
n
Clean the windshield, outside mirrors and headlights
*
[MC30500(ALL)12/95]
n
Check windshield washer fluid
*
[MC30600(ALL)12/95]
n
Check tires for excessive wear or worn edges
*
[MC30700(ALL)12/95]
n
Check the tire pressure at least monthly
%*
[MC30800(ALL)01/96]
Emission Control System
*
[MC30900(ALL)01/96]
Your vehicle is equipped with a catalytic converter which
enables your vehicle to comply with applicable exhaust emission
requirements.
*
[MC31000(ALL)05/96]
RWARNING
Exhaust leaks may result in the entry of harmful and
potentially lethal fumes into the passenger compartment.
Under extreme conditions excessive exhaust temperatures
could damage the fuel system, the interior floor covering,
or other vehicle components, possibly causing a fire.
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Maintenance and Care
217
*
[MC31100(ALL)01/96]
To make sure that the catalytic converter and the other emission
control parts continue to work properly:
*
[MC31200(ALL)01/96]
n
Use only unleaded fuel.
*
[MC31300(ALL)01/96]
n
Avoid running out of fuel.
*
[MC31400(ALL)01/96]
n
Do not turn off the ignition while your vehicle is moving,
especially at high speeds.
*
[MC31500(ALL)02/96]
n
Have the services listed in theMaintenance Schedulebooklet
performed according to the specified schedule. The scheduled
maintenance services are required because they are
considered essential to the life and performance of your
vehicle and to its emissions system.
*
[MC31600(ALL)01/96]
Ford strongly recommends the use of genuine Ford replacement
parts. If other than Ford or Motorcraft parts or Ford authorized
remanufactured parts are used for maintenance replacements or
for the service of components affecting emission control, such
non-Ford parts should be equivalent to genuine Ford Motor
Company parts in performance and durability. It is the owner's
responsibility to determine the equivalency of such parts. Please
consult your warranty booklet for complete warranty
information.
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218
*
[MC31700(ALL)01/96]
RWARNING
Do not park, idle, or drive your vehicle in dry grass or
other dry ground cover. The emission system heats up
the engine compartment and exhaust system, which can
start a fire.
*
[MC31800(ALL)01/96]
Watch for fluid leaks, strange odors, smoke, loss of oil pressure,
the charge warning light, the check engine light, or the
temperature warning light. These sometimes indicate that the
emission system is not working properly.
*
[MC31900(ALL)01/96]
Do not make any unauthorized changes to your vehicle or
engine. Changes that cause more unburned fuel to reach the
exhaust system can increase the temperature of the engine or
exhaust system.
*
[MC32000(ALL)01/96]
By law, anyone who manufactures, repairs, services, sells, leases,
trades vehicles, or supervises a fleet of vehicles is not permitted
to intentionally remove an emission control device or prevent it
from working. In some of the United States and in Canada,
vehicle owners may be liable if their emission control device is
removed or is prevented from working.
*
[MC32100(ALL)01/96]
Do not drive your vehicle if it does not operate properly. See
your dealer if the engine runs on for more than five seconds
after you shut it off or if it misfires, surges, stalls, or backfires.
%*
[MC32200(ALL)01/96
]
Information about your vehicle's emission control system is on
the Vehicle Emission Control Information decal located on or
near the engine. This decal identifies engine displacement and
gives some tune-up specifications.
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Maintenance and Care
219
%*
[MC32300(ALL)03/96
]
How to Prepare Your Vehicle for
Inspection/Maintenance (I/M) Testing
*
[MC32400(ALL)05/96]
In some localities it may become a legal requirement to pass an
Inspection/Maintenance (I/M) test of the On-Board Diagnostic
(OBD) II system. If the vehicle's powertrain system or its battery
has just been serviced, the OBD II system is reset to a not ready
for I/M testing condition. To prepare for I/M testing, the law
specifies that additional mixed city and highway driving is
required to complete the check of the OBD II system.
*
[MC32500(ALL)05/96]
OBD II Drive Cycle
*
[MC32601(ALL)05/96]
The driving modes required to reach the ready condition consist
of a minimum of 30 minutes of city and highway driving as
described below:
*
[MC32701(ALL)05/96]
n
At least twenty minutes driving in stop and go, city type
traffic with at least four idle periods.
*
[MC32801(ALL)05/96]
n
At least ten minutes of driving on an expressway or
highway.
*
[MC32901(ALL)05/96]
Before completing the above driving modes, the engine must be
warmed up and at operating temperature. Once started, the
vehicle must not be turned off during these driving modes.
%*
[MC34300(ALL)03/96]
Lights and Bulb Replacement
*
[MC34400(ALL)01/96]
It is a good idea to check the operation of the following lights
frequently:
*
[MC34500(ALL)01/96]
n
headlamps
*
[MC34600(ALL)01/96]
n
tail lamps
*
[MC34700(ALL)01/96]
n
brakelamps
*
[MC34800(ALL)01/96]
n
high-mount brakelamp
*
[MC34900(ALL)01/96]
n
hazard flasher
File:11cdmco.ex
Update:Thu Sep 12 11:08:18 1996