1997 Mercury Mountaineer Owner's Manuals

7. Remove the jack handle (located
underneath rear seat).
8. Assemble the jack handle to the
lug wrench.
9. Insert drive section of the jack
handle into the actuator hole and
turn counterclockwise until the
cable is slack enough to allow
spare tire to be pulled rearward
from under the vehicle.
10. Slide spare tire rearward and
remove retainer.
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11. Insert tapered end of the lug
nut wrench behind hubcaps and
twist off.
Not using the tapered end
of the lug nut wrench at
the pry-off notches may result in
damage to the finish of the
wheel and ornament.
12. Loosen the wheel lug nuts with
the lug wrench about one half
turn.
13. Position the jack on the lower
suspension arm to raise front
wheel.
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Position the jack under the rear
axle to raise the rear wheel.
14. Turn the jack handle clockwise
and raise the vehicle until the tire
just clears the ground.
15. Remove the wheel lug nuts and
flat tire, and install the spare.
16. Install the lug nuts and tighten
until snug.
Use of wheel or lug nuts
other than original
equipment could cause damage
to the wheel or mounting system
and allow the wheels to come off
while the vehicle is in motion.
17. Lower the vehicle and tighten
the wheel lug nuts as shown.
18. Unblock the wheels and put
the flat tire, jack, jack handle and
lug wrench away.
Stowing flat tires
Stow aluminum wheel and tire
with valve stem down.
1
4
2
5 3
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To stow largest flat tire, place
inside vehicle and secure with
webbing retainer.
JUMP STARTING A DISABLED
VEHICLE
The gases around the
battery can explode if
exposed to flames, sparks, or lit
cigarettes. An explosion could
result in injury or vehicle
damage.
To protect yourself when
charging a battery, always
shield your face and eyes. Make
sure that you can breath fresh
air.
Batteries contain sulfuric
acid which burns skin,
eyes and clothing.
If the acid touches someone's skin,
eyes, or clothing, immediately flush
the area with water for at least 15
minutes. If someone swallows the
acid, have him or her drink lots of
milk or water first, then Milk of
Magnesia, a beaten egg, or
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vegetable oil. Call a doctor
immediately.
To avoid damage or injury,
follow these directions in
the order they are given. If in
doubt, call for road service.
Before jump starting a vehicle:
²Make sure the booster battery
vehicle has a 12-volt starting
system (a 24-volt power supply
will cause vehicle damage).
²Park the vehicles close to each
other, but do not allow the
vehicles to touch each other.
²Check to make sure neither
battery is disconnected.
²Remove any excessive corrosion
from the battery terminals.
²Turn on the heater fan in each
vehicle to prevent damage from
voltage surges.
To jump start the vehicle, connect
the jumper cables in the following
order:
1. Disabled battery positive
terminal.
2. Booster battery positive
terminal.
3. Booster battery negative
terminal.
4. Disabled vehicle engine.
+ –
4
2
3
1
+ –
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Do not connect the end of
the second cable to the
negative (-) terminal of the
battery to be jumped. A spark
may cause an explosion of the
gases that surround the battery.
5. Start the engine in the vehicle
with the booster battery.
6. Wait a few minutes and start the
engine in the vehicle with the
disabled battery.
7. After a few minutes, the
disabled battery should be
recharged. Disconnect the jumper
cables in reverse order.
Let the vehicle idle for a few
minutes to allow the engine to
relearn the proper idle conditions.
Avoid using unnecessary electrical
accessories for a short while to let
the battery fully recharge. A
battery charger may need to be
used to fully recharge the battery.
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WRECKER TOWING
It is recommended that your
vehicle be towed with wheel lift
and dollies or flatbed equipment.
Do not tow with slingbelt
equipment. Ford Motor Company
has not developed or approved a
T-hook or slingbelt towing
procedure.
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SERVICE RECOMMENDATIONS
Whenever possible, Ford has
designed parts that do not require
servicing. However, when servicing
is required, Ford's goal is to make
servicing your vehicle as easy as
possible. To help you:
²We highlight do-it-yourself items
in the engine compartment for
easy location.
²Often, parts (such as the
headlamp bulbs) may be
replaced without tools.
²We provide you with aService
Guidethat makes tracking
routine service of your vehicle
easy.
If your vehicle requires
professional servicing, your
dealership can provide the
necessary parts and service. Check
theWarranty Guideto find out
which parts and services are
covered. Use only recommended
fuels, lubricants, fluids, and service
parts conforming to Ford
specifications. Motorcraft parts are
designed and built to provide the
best performance in your vehicle.
Precautions for servicing your
vehicle
Be particularly careful when
inspecting or servicing your
vehicle. Here are some general
precautions for your safety:
²Do not work on a hot engine.
The engine cooling fan may
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136