1997 Mercury Mercury Cougar Owner's Manuals

225 [MC22800(MBC )12/95]
one third page art:0011152-A
Detail of the automatic transmission dipstick
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[MC23200( ALL)01/96]
Battery
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[MC23300( ALL)01/96]
Your vehicle may have a Motorcraft
maintenance-free battery. When the original
equipment battery is replaced under warranty, it
may be replaced by a Motorcraft
Low-Maintenance Battery.
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[MC23400( ALL)01/96]
The Low-Maintenance Battery has removable
vent caps for checking the electrolyte level and
for adding water, if necessary. The electrolyte
level should be checked at least every 24 months
or 24,000 miles (40,000 km) in temperatures up
to 90ÊF (32ÊC) andmore often in temperatures
above90ÊF (32ÊC).Keep the electrolyte level in
each cell up to the level indicator. Do not
overfill.
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[MC23500( ALL)01/96]
If the level gets low, you can add tap water to
the battery, provided the water isn't hard or
doesn't have a high mineral or alkali content.
However, if possible you should refill the battery
with distilled water. If the battery needs water
quite often, have the charging system checked
for a possible malfunction.
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Update:Mon Jun 3 09:27:52 1996

226 %
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[MC23600( ALL)01/96]
Help Us Protect Our Environment
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[MC23700( ALL)01/96]
Ford Motor Company strongly recommends that
used lead-acid batteries be returned to an
authorized recycling facility for disposal.
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[MC23800( ALL)01/96]
one inch art:0000983-A
Battery recycling symbol
%*
[MC24000( BCGV)12/95]
Because your vehicle's engine is electronically
controlled by a computer, some control
conditions are maintained by power from the
battery. If you ever disconnect the battery or
install a new battery, you must allow the
computer to ªrelearnº its idle conditions before
your vehicle will drive properly. To let the
engine do this, put the gearshift in P (Park), turn
off all the accessories, and start the vehicle. Let
the engine idle for at least one minute. (Engine
must be warm in order to ªlearn.º) Also, allow
approximately 10 miles (16 km) of stop and go
traffic for your vehicle's engine to completely
ªrelearnº its idle.
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[MC24300( ALL)02/96]
Wiper Blades
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[MC24400( ALL)01/96]
Check the windshield wiper blades at least twice
a year. Also check them whenever they seem
less effective than usual. Substances such as tree
sap and some hot wax treatments used by
commercial car washes reduce the effectiveness
of wiper blades.
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[MC24500( ALL)01/96]
If the blades do not wipe properly, clean both
the windshield and the wiper blades. Use
undiluted windshield washer solution or a mild
detergent. Rinse thoroughly with clear water. Do
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227
not use fuel, kerosene, paint thinner, or other
solvents to clean your wiper blades. These will
damage your blades.
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[MC24600( ALL)01/96]
To make reaching the wiper blades easy, simply
turn the ignition to the ACC position and turn
your wipers on. Wait for them to reach a
vertical position and turn the ignition to the OFF
position. Do not move the wipers manually.
Manually moving the wipers across the
windshield may damage them.
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[MC24700( ALL)02/96]
Wiper blade replacement
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[MC24800( ALL)01/96]
If the wiper blades still do not work properly
after you clean them, you may need to replace
the wiper blade assembly or the blade element.
When replacing the wiper blade assembly, blade
refill, or wiper arm always use a Motorcraft part
or equivalent. To replace the blades, follow the
instructions that come with them.
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[MC24900( ALL)01/96]
Tires
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[MC25001( ALL)03/96]
Checking Tire Pressure
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[MC25100( ALL)02/96]
q
Use an accurate tire pressure gauge.
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[MC25200( ALL)02/96]
q
Check the tire pressure when tires are cold,
after the vehicle has been parked for at least
one hour or has been driven less than 3 miles
(5 km).
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[MC25400( ALL)03/96]
q
Adjust tire pressure to recommended
specifications found on the Safety Compliance
Certification Label.
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[MC25900( ALL)01/96]
RWARNING
Improperly inflated tires can affect vehicle
handling and can fail suddenly, possibly
resulting in loss of vehicle control.
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228 %
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[MC26000( ALL)01/96]
Tire Rotation
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[MC26100( 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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[MC26200( ALL)05/96]
For tire rotation intervals, see theMaintenance
Schedulebooklet. If you notice that the tires wear
unevenly, have them checked.
[MC26500( C )12/95]
half page art:0011087-B
Rotating the tires
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229 %
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[MC26800( ALL)01/96]
Replacing the Tires
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[MC26900( ALL)01/96]
Replace any tires that show wear bands. When
your tire shows a wear band, it has only 1/16
inch (2 mm) of tread left.
% [MC27000( ALL)12/95]
one inch art:0001318-A
A worn-out tire
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[MC27100( ALL)02/96]
Because your vehicle's tires may wear unevenly,
you may need to replace them before a wear
band appears across the entire tread.
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[MC27200( ALL)01/96]
RWARNING
When replacing full size tires, never mix
radial, bias-belted, or bias-type tires. Use
only the tire sizes that are listed on the
tire pressure decal. Make sure that all tires
are the same size, speed rating, and
load-carrying capacity. Use only the tire
combinations recommended on the decal.
If you do not follow these precautions,
your vehicle may not drive properly and
safely.
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[MC27300( ALL)01/96]
Tires that are larger or smaller than your
vehicle's original tires may also affect the
accuracy of your speedometer.
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230 %
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[MC27400( ALL)01/96]
Information About Tire Quality Grades
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[MC27500( 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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[MC27600( 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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[MC27700( 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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[MC27800( ALL)01/96]
Treadwear
*
[MC27900( 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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231
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[MC28000( ALL)01/96]
Traction A B C
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[MC28100( 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.
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[MC28150( ALL)05/96]
RWARNING
The traction grade assigned to this tire is
based on braking (straightahead) traction
tests and does not include cornering
(turning) traction.
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[MC28200( ALL)01/96]
Temperature A B C
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[MC28300( ALL)05/96]
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B,
and C, representing the tire's resistance to the
generation of heat and its ability to dissipate
heat when tested under controlled conditions on
a specified indoor laboratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire
life, and excessive temperature can lead to
sudden tire failure. The grade C corresponds to
a level of performance which all passenger car
tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A
represent higher levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than the minimum
required by law.
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232
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[MC28325( ALL)05/96]
RWARNING
The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly
inflated and not overloaded. Excessive
speed, underinflation, or excessive
loading, either separately or in
combination, can cause heat buildup and
possible tire failure.
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[MC28350( ALL)03/96]
RWARNING
Driving too fast for conditions creates the
possibility of loss of vehicle control.
Driving at very high speeds for extended
periods of time may result in damage to
vehicle components.
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[MC28400( ALL)01/96]
Snow Tires and Chains
*
[MC28500( BCGV)03/96]
The tires on your vehicle have all-weather treads
that provide traction in rain or snow. However,
during the winter months in some climates, you
may need to use snow tires and occasionally
chains for your tires.
*
[MC28700( ALL)01/96]
RWARNING
Snow tires must be the same size and
grade as the tires you currently have on
your vehicle.
File:11rcmcc.ex
Update:Mon Jun 3 09:27:52 1996