1997 Mercury Mountaineer ECU

come on unexpectedly; always
turn the engine off and let it
cool.
The cooling fan is
automatic and may come
on at any time. Always
disconnect the negative terminal
of the battery before working
near the fan.
²Never get under a vehicle
supported only by a jack. If you
must work under a vehicle, use
safety stands.
²Keep all lit cigarettes and other
smoking materials away from
the battery and all fuel-related
parts.
Working with the engine off
1. Set the parking brake and make
sure that the gearshift is securely
latched in P (Park).
2. Turn the engine off and remove
the key from the ignition.
3. Block the wheels to prevent the
vehicle from moving unexpectedly.
0020406080100
120
140
160
180
200P RND21
000000oooo
MPH km/h
UNLEADED
FUEL ONLY
RPM x 100012345
6H
C
F
E
RSM
SET
ACC
COAST OFF ON
SRS
- +H
H
L L
Maintenance and care
137

Working with the engine on
1. Set the parking brake and make
sure that the gearshift is securely
latched in P (Park).
2. Do not work on a vehicle in an
enclosed space with the engine
running.
3. Block the wheels to prevent the
vehicle from moving unexpectedly.
4. If work must be done with the
engine running, avoid wearing
loose clothing or jewelry that could
get caught in moving parts. Take
appropriate precautions with long
hair.
Opening the hood
1. Inside the vehicle, pull the hood
release handle located under the
steering column.
2. While applying downward
pressure on the hood, push the
hood latch handle located behind
the grille near the center front of
the vehicle to the left.
3. Lift the hood.
After closing the hood, try to lift it
to be sure that it is closed
securely.
Lubricate the hood latch every six
months to ensure proper
operation.
0020406080100
120
140
160
180
200P RND21
000000oooo
MPH km/h
UNLEADED
FUEL ONLY
RPM x 100012345
6H
C
F
E
RSM
SET
ACC
COAST OFF ON
SRS
- +H
H
L L
Maintenance and care
138

Changing your air filter
1. Loosen the clamp that secures
the air cleaner in place. Separate
the two halves of the air cleaner.
2. Remove the air filter element
from the open end of the engine
air cleaner and replace it with a
new element.
3. Replace the two halves of the
air cleaner and secure the clamp.
CHECKING AND CHANGING
WIPER BLADES
Check the windshield wiper blades
at least twice a year or whenever
the wipers seem less effective than
usual. Substances such as tree sap
and some hot wax treatments used
by commercial car washes can
reduce the effectiveness of wiper
blades.
Maintenance and care
156

Failure to follow these
precautions may adversely
affect the handling of the vehicle
and make it easier to lose control
and roll over.
IDENTIFYING TIRE TYPES
Refer to the Safety Compliance
Certification Label to determine
the specific size tire and wheel
Ford Motor Company recommends
for use on this vehicle.
All wheel/tire combinations
(including spare) must be the
same size for AWD equipped
vehicles.
SNOW TIRES AND CHAINS
Snow tires must be the
same size and grade as the
tires you currently have on your
vehicle.
The tires on your vehicle have all
weather treads to provide traction
in rain and snow. However in some
climates, you may need to use
snow tires and chains. Follow
these guidelines when using snow
tires and chains:
²Use only SAE Class ªSº chains.
²Install chains securely, verifying
that the chains do not touch any
wiring, brake lines or fuel lines.
²Install tire chains on rear tires
only.
Maintenance and care
163