1997 LINCOLN MARK VIII maintenance

113
The electric remote control switchTo adjust the side mirrors:
1. Find the control switch in the driver's door
panel.
2. Select the right or left mirror by moving the
selector switch to R or L.
3. Move the mirror switch in the direction you
want to move the mirror.
4. Return the selector switch to the middle
position to keep the mirror in place.Do not clean the housing or glass of any mirror
with harsh abrasives, fuel or other petroleum-based
cleaning products.
Remote Control Fuel Filler Door
Release ButtonYour vehicle has a remote control fuel filler door
which cannot be opened from outside of the
vehicle. To unlatch the fuel filler door, push the
fuel door button on the driver side door. Refer to
theMaintenance and Carechapter for further
information.
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149
q
and the electrical wiring which connects the
components.
The diagnostic module monitors its own circuits,
the air bag electrical system, the air bag readiness
light, the air bag power, and the air bag inflators.
Determining if System Is OperationalThe 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:
Routine maintenance of the air bag system is not
required.A problem with the system is indicated by one or
more of the following:
q
the readiness light will either flash or stay lit,
q
the readiness light will not light immediately
after ignition is turned on,
q
a group of five beeps will be heard. The tone
pattern will repeat periodically until the problem
and light are repaired.
If any of these things happen, even intermittently,
have the Air Bag Supplemental Restraint System
serviced at your Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer
immediately. Unless serviced, the system may not
function properly in the event of a collision.
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188If you tow in D (Overdrive) while riding through
hilly country, your vehicle may frequently shift
between Overdrive and Third gears. To prevent
your vehicle from shifting too much, press the
Transmission Control Switch located on the shift
lever. This will also give the engine more power
going up hills and better engine braking going down
hills.
If you use the speed control while you are towing
on very long, steep grades, the speed control may
shut off.
Servicing Your Vehicle If You TowIf you tow a trailer for a long distance, your vehicle
will need to be serviced more frequently than usual.
Refer to theMaintenance Schedulebooklet for
additional information.
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213
After the vehicle is started, let it idle for a while to
let the engine ªrelearnº its idle conditions. Drive it
around for a while with all electrical accessories
turned off to let the battery recharge. Driveability
may be deteriorated slightly until all drive modes
are ªrelearned.ºYou may need to use a battery
charger to fully recharge the battery.
If you need to replace your battery, seeBatteryin
theMaintenance and Carechapter.
Towing Your VehicleIf you need to have your vehicle towed, contact a
professional towing service or, if you are a member,
your roadside assistance center. Typical towing
options include wheel lift towing or flat bed towing.
Front towing
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215
Maintenance and CareService Made EasyFord has two goals for servicing your vehicle.
1. When we can, we design parts that do not
need to be serviced.
2. We want to make servicing your vehicle as
easy as possible. To help you:q
We highlight do-it-yourself items in yellow in
the engine compartment so that you can find
them easily.
q
When possible, we design parts that can be
replaced without tools.
q
We give you a Maintenance Schedule that
makes tracking routine service for your vehicle
easy. The maintenance schedule is located in
theMaintenance Schedulebooklet.This chapter tells you about the basic parts that you
need to check and service regularly.
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.
Ford Motor Company recommends that the Owner
Maintenance Checks listed in theMaintenance
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, vibration,
or other indication that your vehicle may need
service. If you do notice something unusual, see
that your vehicle is serviced promptly.
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222Engine Oil RecommendationsWe 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.
The API Certification Mark
Neveruse:q
ªNon-Detergentº oils
q
Oils labeled API SA, SB, SC, SD, SE, SF or SG
q
Additional engine oil additives, oil treatments or
engine treatments
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).
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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234Fluid level for power steeringUse only MERCONHATF power steering fluid.If the power steering fluid is low, do not drive your
vehicle for a long period of time before adding fluid.
This can damage the power steering pump.
Automatic Transmission FluidUnder normal circumstances, you do not need to
check the fluid level of the transmission, since your
vehicle does not use up transmission fluid. Refer to
theMaintenance Schedulebooklet for replacement
intervals. However, if the transmission is not
working properly Ð for instance, the transmission
may slip or shift slowly, or you may notice some
sign of fluid leakage Ð the fluid level should be
checked.
It is preferable to check the transmission fluid level
at normal operating temperature150ÊF-170ÊF
(66ÊC-77ÊC),after approximately 20 miles (30 km)
of driving. However, if necessary, you can check
the fluid level without having to drive 20 miles
(30 km) to obtain a normal operating temperature if
outside temperatures are above50ÊF(10ÊC).
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236NOTE: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.
Automatic transmission dipstick
BatteryYour vehicle may have a Motorcraft
maintenance-free battery. When the original
equipment battery is replaced under warranty it
may be replaced by a low-maintenance battery. See
Motorcraft Partsat the end of this chapter for the
proper replacement battery.
The low-maintenance battery has removable vent
caps for checking the electrolyte level and adding
water. The electrolyte level should be checked at
least every 24 months or 24,000 miles
(40,000 km) in temperatures up to90ÊF(32ÊC)
and more often in temperatures above90ÊF(32ÊC).
Keep the electrolyte level in each cell up to the
level indicator. Do not overfill.
If the level gets low, refill the battery with distilled
water. If necessary, you can add tap water to the
battery, provided the water is not hard or does not
have a high mineral or alkali content. If the battery
needs water quite often, have the charging system
checked for a possible malfunction.
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