1997 FORD CONTOUR Owners Manual

Instrumentation
15
*
[IS03850(ALL)04/96]
If you lose engine oil pressure:
*
[IS03900(ALL)04/96]1.
Pull off the road as soon as safely possible.
*
[IS04000(ALL)03/96]2.
Shut off the engine immediately. If you do not stop the
engine as soon as safely possible, severe engine damage
could result.
*
[IS04100(ALL)12/95]3.
Check the engine's oil level, following the instructions on
checking and adding engine oil in this Owner Guide. (See
Engine oilin the Index.) If you do not follow these
instructions, engine damage could result. To ensure an
accurate reading, your vehicle should be on level ground.
*
[IS04200(ALL)12/95]4.
If the level is low, add only as much oil as necessary to
bring it to the full level before you start the engine again.
Do not overfill. Do not operate the engine if the light is on,
regardless of the oil level. Contact your nearest dealer for
further service actions.
%*
[IS04300(ALL)03/96]
High Beam Light
*
[IS04400(ALL)03/96]
This light illuminates when the headlamps are turned to high
beam or when you flash the lights.
[IS04500(ALL)12/95]
If the high beam light flashes in a vehicle equipped with the
Daytime Running Light (DRL) system (Canada), it indicates a
failure in the DRL circuit. Check the bulbs and fuses or have
the DRL system checked by your dealer or a qualified service
technician.
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16
[IS04600(ALL)12/95]
6 pica art:0000295-B*
[IS04700(ALL)08/95]
Chime for Headlamps On
[IS04800(ALL)12/95]
This chime sounds if the driver's door is open when the parking
lamps or headlamps are on. The chime sounds until you close
the door or turn off the lamps.
%*
[IS04900(ALL)03/96]
Air Bag Readiness Light
*
[IS05000(ALL)03/96]
The air bag supplemental restraint system uses a readiness light
and a tone to indicate the condition of the system. The
readiness light is in the instrument cluster. When you turn the
ignition key to ON, this light will illuminate for approximately
six (6) seconds and then turn off. This indicates that the system
is operating normally.NOTE:Maintenance of the air bag system
is not required.
[IS05100(ALL)12/95]
A problem with the system is indicated by one or more of the
following: the readiness light will either flash or stay lit, or it
will not light or a group of five beeps will be heard.
*
[IS05200(ALL)03/96]
RWARNING
If any of these things happen, even intermittently, have
the air bag system serviced at your Ford or
Lincoln-Mercury dealer immediately.
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Instrumentation
17
[IS05300(ALL)12/95]
6 pica art:0001212-A[IS05320(ALL)02/96]
Traction Control System Light (If equipped)
[IS05340(ALL)02/96]
This light comes on when the traction control system has been
disengaged. It may come on or flash on and off while traction
control is operating.
[IS05360(ALL)02/96]
If the light stays on for more than three (3) seconds after the
ignition is turned to the ON position or does not come on when
the T/C OFF button is pressed, have the traction control system
checked by a qualified technician as soon as possible.
[IS05380(ALL)02/96]
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18
%*
[IS05400(ALL)03/96]
Check Engine Warning Light
[IS05501(ALL)04/96]
This light illuminates when the engine's Emission Control
System requires service. It will also illuminate when the ignition
key is in the ON position and the engine is off.
[IS05700(ALL)12/95]
6 pica art:0000640-B[IS06500(ALL)12/95]
Overdrive Off Indicator (Automatic Transaxle Only)
[IS06600(ALL)12/95]
This light tells you that the Transaxle Control Switch (TCS) on
the gearshift lever has been pushed. When the light is on, the
transaxle will not shift into overdrive. Depressing the TCS
button located below the gearshift release button on the shifter
will return the vehicle to ªoverdrive onº mode. The transaxle
will be in the ªoverdrive onº mode when the vehicle is started
even if the O/D OFF mode was selected when the vehicle was
last shut off.
[IS06700(ALL)12/95]
If the light does not come on when the TCS is depressed or if
the light flashes when you are driving, have your vehicle
serviced at the first opportunity.
[IS06800(ALL)02/96]
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Instrumentation
19
%*
[IS06900(ALL)03/96]
Turn Signal Indicator Lights
*
[IS07000(ALL)03/96]
The turn signal arrow will flash to indicate the direction in
which you are going to be turning.
*
[IS07100(ALL)02/96]
one inch art:0050190-A
%*
[IS07200(ALL)03/96]
Fuel Gauge
*
[IS07300(ALL)01/96]
The fuel gauge displays approximately how much fuel you have
in the fuel tank.
[IS07400(ALL)12/95]
For proper fuel gauge operation, the ignition must be in the
OFF position before you add fuel to the fuel tank.
*
[IS07500(ALL)01/96]
The fuel gauge indicator may vary slightly while the vehicle is
in motion. This is the result of fuel movement within the tank.
An accurate reading may be obtained with the vehicle on
smooth, level ground.
%*
[IS07600(ALL)03/96]
Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge
*
[IS07700(ALL)02/96]
This gauge indicates the temperature of the engine coolant, not
the coolant level. If the coolant is not at its proper level or
mixture, the gauge indication will not be accurate.
[IS07800(ALL)12/95]
The pointer moves from the white mark into the NORMAL
band as the engine coolant warms up. It is acceptable for the
pointer to fluctuate within the NORMAL band under normal
driving conditions. Under certain driving conditions, such as
heavy stop and go traffic or driving up hills in hot weather, the
pointer may indicate at the top of the NORMAL band.
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20
[IS07900(ALL)12/95]
10-1/2 pica
art:0001097-B
The engine coolant temperature gauge
*
[IS08000(ALL)04/96]
If, under any circumstances, the pointer moves above the
NORMAL band, the engine is overheating and continued
operation may cause engine damage.
*
[IS08100(ALL)03/96]
If your engine overheats:
*
[IS08200(ALL)04/96]1.
Pull off the road as soon as safely possible.
*
[IS08300(ALL)01/96]2.
Turn off the engine.
*
[IS08400(ALL)01/96]3.
Let the engine cool.
*
[IS08500(ALL)03/96]4.
Check the coolant level following the instructions on
checking and adding coolant to your engine, seeEngine
Coolantin the Index. If you do not follow these instructions,
you or others could be injured.
*
[IS08600(ALL)01/96]
If the coolant continues to overheat, have the coolant system
serviced as soon as possible.
%*
[IS08700(ALL)03/96]
Speedometer
*
[IS08800(ALL)03/96]
The speedometer tells you how many miles (kilometers) per
hour your vehicle is moving.
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Instrumentation
21
%*
[IS08900(ALL)03/96]
Odometer
*
[IS09000(ALL)01/96]
The odometer tells you the total number of miles (kilometers)
your vehicle has been driven.
%*
[IS09100(ALL)01/96]
Trip Odometer
[IS09200(ALL)12/95]
The trip odometer tells you how many miles (kilometers) your
vehicle has been driven since the last reset. Press the reset
control to return the trip odometer to zero.
[IS09300(O )12/95]
Sport Cluster
*
[IS09400(O )12/95]
The sport cluster has basically the same standard warning lights
and gauges as the standard cluster, with the following
additional features:
%*
[IS09500(ALL)03/96]
Tachometer
*
[IS09600(ALL)01/96]
The tachometer displays the approximate engine revolutions per
minute (rpm), or how fast the engine is running.
*
[IS09700(ALL)03/96]
If you drive with the tachometer in the red zone, you may
damage the engine.
%*
[IS09800(ALL)01/96]
Anti-lock Brake System Warning Light (If equipped)
[IS09900(ALL)12/95]
Your vehicle may have an Anti-lock Brake System feature. If it
does, check the Anti-lock Brake System light each time you start
the engine. If it stays on longer than three (3) seconds, shut off
the engine and restart. If it stays on, that means the Anti-lock
Brake feature is not working and should be serviced
immediately to restore the benefits of the Anti-lock feature.
Normal braking is not affected unless the brake warning light is
also lit.
[IS10000(ALL)12/95]
The Anti-Lock Brake System has self-check capabilities. As
described above, the system turns on the anti-lock light each
time you start your engine. After the engine is started and the
anti-lock light turns off, the system performs another test the
first time the vehicle reaches 5 mph (8 km/h) (between 12 and
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2225 mph [20 and 40 km/h] for vehicles equipped with the
traction control system). The system turns on the ABS pump
motor for approximately 1/2 second. At this time, a mechanical
noise may be heard and felt. This is a normal part of the
self-check feature. If a malfunction is found during this check
the anti-lock light will come on.
[IS10100(ALL)12/95]
6 pica art:0001210-A% [IS10200(ALL)12/95]
Low Coolant Light (If equipped)
*
[IS10300(ALL)03/96]
This light indicates that the level of the engine coolant is low
inside the coolant recovery bottle and that you should add more
coolant. SeeEngine Coolantin the Index.
[IS10400(ALL)12/95]
6 pica art:0001214-B[IS10500(ALL)12/95]
This light comes on for a few seconds when the ignition is
turned to the START position, but should turn off when the
engine starts. If this light stays on, check the level of coolant
inside the recovery bottle. The level may be slightly above the
MIN line because the light is an ªearly warning.º
File:03cdiso.ex
Update:Thu Sep 12 10:58:17 1996