1997 Mercury Mountaineer Owner's Manuals

²Add only enough fluid through
the filler opening so that the
fluid level is at the bottom of
the opening.
BATTERY
If the original equipment
maintenance-free battery needs
replacing, it may be replaced with
a low-maintenance battery. For
information on replacement
batteries, refer toMotorcraft part
numbersin theCapacities and
specificationschapter.
Batteries normally produce
explosive gases that can
cause personal injury. Do not
allow flames, sparks, or lit
smoking materials to come near
the battery. When charging or
working near a battery, always
cover your face, protect your
eyes, and provide ventilation.
Batteries contain sulfuric
acid that can burn skin,
eyes, and clothing.
Applying too much
pressure on the ends when
lifting a battery could cause acid
to spill. Lift the battery with a
carrier or with your hands on
opposite corners.
Servicing your battery
The low-maintenance battery has
removable vent caps for checking
+
–
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153

the electrolyte level and adding
water. Check the electrolyte level
every 24 months or 40,000 km
(24,000 miles) in average
temperatures 32ÉC (90ÉF). 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, distilled water may be
substituted with tap water that is
not hard and 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.
Your vehicle is equipped with a
battery saver control feature
designed to prevent your battery
from accidental wear down due to
doors left ajar. For information on
the system and how it works, see
Interior overhead lampin the
Controls and featureschapter.
Because your vehicle's engine is
electronically controlled by a
computer, some control conditions
are maintained by power from the
battery. When the battery is
disconnected or a new battery is
installed, the computer must
ªrelearnº its idle conditions before
your vehicle will drive properly. To
begin this process:
1. Put the gearshift in P (Park).
2. Turn off all accessories, and
start the vehicle.
Maintenance and care
154

3. Let the engine idle for at least
one minute.
4. The relearning process will
automatically complete as you
drive the vehicle.
²If you do not allow the engine to
relearn its idle, the idle quality
of your vehicle may be adversely
affected until the idle is
eventually relearned.
²If the battery has been
disconnected or a new battery
has been installed, the clock and
preset radio stations must be
reset once the battery is
reconnected.
²Always dispose of used
automotive batteries in a
responsible manner. Follow your
community's standards for
disposal. Call your local
recycling center to find out
more about recycling automotive
batteries.
Maintenance and care
155

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

To make reaching the wiper blades
easy, simply turn the ignition to
the ON position and turn the
wipers on. Wait for them to reach
a vertical position and turn the
ignition to LOCK. Do not move the
wipers manually across the
windshield as this may cause
damage to the wipers.
Inspect the wiper arm pivots on a
regular basis to ensure that the
wiper arms move freely. Lubricate
the pivot points as necessary.
Replacing wiper blades
If the wiper blades do not work
properly after cleaning,
replacement of the blade assembly
or the blade element may be
necessary.
There are two different length
wiper blades on your vehicle. The
windshield wiper blades are 45 cm
(17.75 in) long and the liftgate
wiper is 34.9 cm (13 3/4 in) long.
Make sure you install the correct
size wiper blade in the correct
location.
To replace windshield wiper
blades:
1. Pull the wiper arm away from
the windshield and lock it into the
service position.
2. Turn the blade at an angle from
the wiper arm. Depress lock tab
and push wiper mounting arm
away from wiper blade assembly.
3. Attach the new wiper blade by
pulling wiper mounting arm down
Maintenance and care
157

on wiper blade until lock tab is
engaged.
To replace liftgate wiper blade:
1. Pull wiper arm away from
liftgate window.
2. Use small screwdriver to
depress lock tab and pull wiper
blade upwards and away from
wiper arm.
3. Attach new wiper blade by
pushing wiper arm post through
hole in wiper blade until lock tab is
engaged.
Information about tire grades
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.
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 25.4 cm to 30.48 cm
(10 to 12 in.) or limited production
tires as defined in Title 49 Code of
Federal Regulations Part
575.104(c)(2).
U.S. Department of Transportation
- Tire quality grades: The U.S.
Department of Transportation
requires Ford to give you the
following information about tire
Maintenance and care
158

grades exactly as the government
has written it.
Treadwear
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 1
1¤2times 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.
Traction A B C
The temperature grades, from
highest to lowest, are A, B and C.
These grades 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.
The traction grade
assigned to this tire is
based on braking (straight
ahead) traction tests and does
not include cornering (turning)
traction.
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159

Temperature A B C
The temperature grades, from
highest to lowest, are A, B and C.
These grades represent 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
failure. The grade C corresponds
to a level of performance which all
passenger tires must meet under
the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard No. 109. Grades A and B
represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test
wheel than the minimum required
by law.
The temperature grade for
this tire is established for a
tire that is properly inflated and
not overloaded. Excessive speed,
under inflation, or excessive
loading, either separately or in
combination, can cause heat
build up and possible tire failure.
SERVICING YOUR TIRES
Checking the tire pressure
Check the tire pressure at least
once a month or after rotating
tires and inflate tires as necessary.
Tire pressure is most accurate
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160