1997 Mercury Mercury Cougar service

*
[PI00425( ALL)05/95]
Table of ContentsIntroduction ....................................................1
Instrumentation ..............................................7
Electronic Sound Systems .........................25
Controls and Features ................................59
Seating and Safety Restraints ................103
Starting .........................................................145
Driving .........................................................151
Roadside Emergencies ..............................171
Maintenance and Care .............................201
Capacities and Specifications .................253
Reporting Safety Defects
(U.S. Only) ..................................................261
Customer Assistance .................................263
Accessories ..................................................275
Quick Index ................................................285
Index .............................................................295
Service Station Information ......................316
File:01rcpic.ex
Update:Mon Jun 3 09:22:39 1996

1
Introduction
*
[II00200( ALL)01/96]
Ford's Commitment to You
*
[II00300( ALL)01/96]
At Ford Motor Company, excellence is the
continuous commitment to achieve the best
result possible. It is dedication to learning what
you want, determination to develop the right
concept, and execution of that concept with care,
precision, and attention to detail. In short,
excellence means being the standard by which
others are judged.
*
[II00400( ALL)01/96]
Our Guiding Principles
*
[II00500( ALL)01/96]
q
Quality comes first.For your satisfaction, the
quality of our products and services must be
our number one priority.
*
[II00600( ALL)01/96]
q
You are the focus of everything we do.Our
work must be done with you in mind,
providing better products and services than
our competition.
*
[II00700( ALL)01/96]
q
Continuous improvement is essential to our
success.We must strive for excellence in
everything we do: in our products Ð in their
safety and value Ð and in our services, our
human relations, our competitiveness, and
our profitability.
*
[II00800( ALL)01/96]
q
Employee involvement is our way of life.
We are a team. We must treat one another
with trust and respect.
*
[II00900( ALL)01/96]
q
Dealers and suppliers are our partners.We
must maintain mutually beneficial
relationships with dealers, suppliers, and our
other business associates.
File:02rciic.ex
Update:Thu May 30 10:22:07 1996

3
*
[II01800( ALL)01/96]
Finding Information in This Guide
*
[II01900( ALL)12/95]
After you have read this guide once, you will
probably return to it when you have a specific
question or need additional information. To help
you find specific information quickly, you can
use the Quick Index or the Index.
*
[II02000( ALL)03/96]
TheQuick Indexat the end of the book
provides a page number following each item
which indicates where detailed information can
be found.
*
[II02100( ALL)01/96]
To use theIndex, turn to the back of the book
and search in the alphabetical listing for the
word that best describes the information you
need. If the word you chose is not listed, think
of other related words and look them up. We
have designed the Index so that you can find
information under a technical term.
%*
[II02200( ALL)01/96]
Canadian Owners Ð French Version
*
[II02300( ALL)01/96]
French Owner Guides can be obtained from your
dealer or by writing to Ford Motor Company of
Canada, Limited, Service Publications, P.O. Box
1580, Station B, Mississauga, Ontario L4Y 4G3.
File:02rciic.ex
Update:Thu May 30 10:22:07 1996

4
%*
[II02400( ALL)01/96]
Your Maintenance Schedule and
Record Booklet
*
[II02500( ALL)03/96]
TheMaintenance Schedulebooklet lists the
services that are most important for keeping
your vehicle in good condition. A record log is
also provided to help you keep track of all
services performed.
%
*
[II02600( ALL)01/96]
About the Warranties
[II02700( ALL)12/95]
Your vehicle is covered by three types of
warranties:Basic Vehicle Warranty, Extended
Warrantieson certain parts, andEmissions
Warranties.
%*
[II02800( ALL)01/96]
Read yourWarranty Information Bookletcarefully
to find out about your vehicle's warranties and
your basic rights and responsibilities.
*
[II02900( ALL)03/96]
If you lose yourWarranty Information Booklet,you
can get a new one free of charge. Contact any
Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer, or refer to the
addresses and phone numbers on the first page
of this Owner's Guide.
%*
[II03000( ALL)03/96]
Ford Extended Service Plan
*
[II03030( ALL)05/96]
More Protection for Your Vehicle
*
[II03060( ALL)05/96]
You can get more protection for your new car or
light truck by purchasing a Ford Extended
Service Plan (Ford ESP). Ford ESP is the only
extended service program with the Ford name
on it and the only service contract backed by
Ford Motor Company.
File:02rciic.ex
Update:Thu May 30 10:22:07 1996

5
*
[II03090( ALL)05/96]
Ford ESP is an optional service contract, backed
and administered by Ford. It provides:
*
[II03120( ALL)05/96]
q
protection against repair costs after your
Bumper to Bumper Warranty expires;
[II03150( ALL)05/96]
and
*
[II03180( ALL)05/96]
q
other benefits during the warranty period
(such as: reimbursement for rentals; coverage
for certain maintenance and wear items).
*
[II03210( ALL)05/96]
You may purchase Ford ESP from any
participating Ford Motor Company dealer. There
are several Ford ESP plans available in various
time-and-mileage combinations. Each plan can be
tailored to fit your own driving needs, including
reimbursement benefits for towing and rental.
(In Hawaii, rules vary. See your dealer for
details.)
*
[II03240( ALL)05/96]
When you buy Ford ESP, you receive
peace-of-mind protection throughout the United
States and Canada, provided by a network of
more than 5,100 participating Ford Motor
Company dealers.
*
[II03270( ALL)05/96]
NOTE: Repairs performed outside the United
States and Canada are not eligible for
ESP coverage.
*
[II03310( ALL)05/96]
This information is subject to change. Ask your
dealer for complete details about Ford ESP
coverage.
File:02rciic.ex
Update:Thu May 30 10:22:07 1996

10
%*
[IS01700( BCGV)01/96]
The Mechanical Cluster
*
[IS02000( BCGV)01/96]
The following warning lights and gauges are on
the mechanical cluster. All of the warning lights
and gauges alert you to possible problems with
your vehicle. Some of the lights listed are
optional. The following sections detail what each
of these indicators means.
%*
[IS02600( ALL)01/96]
Brake System Warning Light
*
[IS02700( ALL)03/96]
The warning light for the brakes can show two
things Ð that the parking brake is not fully
released, or that the brake fluid level is low in
the master cylinder reservoir. If the fluid level is
low, the brake system should be checked by a
qualified service technician.
[IS02800( BC )04/96]
one inch art:0000108-E
The brake system warning light
[IS03100( ALL)12/95]
This light comes on when the parking brake is
set, or if it is not set, it comes on briefly when
you turn the ignition key to START. It normally
goes off shortly after the engine starts and you
release the parking brake. If the light stays on
after you have fully released the parking brake,
have the hydraulic brake system serviced.
*
[IS03200( ALL)03/96]
RWARNING
The BRAKE light indicates that the brakes
may not be working properly. Have the
brakes checked immediately.
File:03rcisc.ex
Update:Fri Jun 7 13:56:06 1996

11 % [IS03300( ALL)04/96]
Anti-Lock Brake System Light
(If equipped)
[IS03400( ALL)12/95]
This warning light will go on each time you
start your vehicle. If it remains on for longer
than five seconds, you should shut off your
engine and restart. If the anti-lock brake light
stays on, this indicates that the anti-lock feature
is disabled and should receive immediate
attention by a qualified service technician.
Normal braking is not affected unless the brake
warning light is also lit.
*
[IS03500( ALL)03/96]
The Anti-Lock Brake System has self-check
capabilities. As previously described, the system
turns on the anti-lock light each time you start
your engine. After the engine is started and the
anti-lock light is out, the system performs
another test the first time the vehicle reaches
14 mph (22 km/h). The system turns on the
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) pump motor for
approximately 1/2 second. At this time a
mechanical noise may be heard. 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.
[IS03600( ALL)04/96]
one inch art:0011194-B
The anti-lock brake system light
File:03rcisc.ex
Update:Fri Jun 7 13:56:06 1996

12
*
[IS03700( ALL)03/96]
RWARNING
If the anti-lock brake system warning
light remains on or comes on while
driving, have the braking system checked
by a qualified service technician as soon
as possible.
*
[IS03800( ALL)03/96]
NOTE: If a fault occurs in the anti-lock
system, and the brake warning light is
not lit, the anti-lock system is disabled
but normal brake function remains
operational.
%*
[IS04600( ALL)03/96]
Safety Belt Warning Light and Chime
*
[IS04700( ALL)03/96]
This warning light and chime remind you to
fasten your safety belt. The following conditions
will take place:
[IS05000( BC )12/95]
q
If the safety belt is not buckled when the key
is turned to the ON position, the light will
come on for 1 to 2 minutes and the chime
will sound for 4 to 8 seconds.
*
[IS05100(MBC )01/96]
q
If the safety belt is buckled while the light is
on and the chime is sounding, both the light
and chime will turn off.
[IS05500( BC )04/96]
q
If the safety belt is buckled before the key is
turned to the ON position, the light will not
come on and the chime will not sound.
[IS05600( ALL)04/96]
one inch art:0010118-A
The safety belt warning light
File:03rcisc.ex
Update:Fri Jun 7 13:56:06 1996