1997 Mercury Sable Owner's Manuals

Cleaner air
Ford approves the use of gasolines to improve air
quality, including reformulated gasolines, that
contain oxygenates such as a maximum of 10%
ethanol or 15% MTBE. There should be no more
than 5% methanol with cosolvents and additives to
protect the fuel system.
Calculating fuel economy
To accurately calculate your vehicle's fuel economy:
1. Fill the tank completely and record the initial
odometer reading.
2. Each time you fill the tank, record the amount of
fuel added (in liters or gallons).
3. After at least three to five fuel tank fill-ups, fill
the fuel tank and record the current mileage
reading.
4. Use one of the following equations to calculate
fuel economy.
Liters used x 1004Total kilometers traveled
Total miles traveled4Total gallons used
Keep a record for at least one month. This will
provide an accurate estimate of the vehicle's fuel
economy.
EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM
Your vehicle is equipped with catalytic converters
which enable your vehicle to comply with applicable
exhaust emission requirements.
Exhaust leaks may result in the entry of
harmful and potentially lethal fumes into the
passenger compartment. Under extreme conditions
excessive exhaust temperatures could damage the
fuel system, the interior floor covering, or other
vehicle components, possibly causing a fire.
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To make sure that the catalytic converter and the
other emission control parts continue to work
properly:
²Use only unleaded fuel.
²Avoid running out of fuel.
²Do not turn off the ignition while your vehicle is
moving, especially at high speeds.
²Have the services listed in yourService Guide
performed according to the specified schedule.
The Scheduled Maintenance Services listed in the
Service Guideare required because they are
considered essential to the life and performance of
your vehicle and to its emissions system.
Ford strongly recommends the use of genuine Ford
replacement parts. If other than Ford or Motorcraft
parts or Ford authorized parts are used for
maintenance replacements or for the service of
components affecting emission control, such
non-Ford parts should be equivalent to genuine Ford
Motor Company parts in performance and durability.
It is the owner's responsibility to determine the
equivalency of such parts. Please consult your
Warranty Information Booklet for complete warranty
information.
Do not park, idle, or drive your vehicle in
dry grass or other dry ground cover. The
emission system heats up the engine compartment
and exhaust system, which can start a fire.
Watch for fluid leaks, strange odors, smoke, loss of
oil pressure, the charging system warning light, the
service engine soon light or the temperature warning
light. These sometimes indicate that the emissions
system is not working properly.
Do not make any unauthorized changes to your
vehicle or engine. Changes that cause more
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unburned fuel to reach the exhaust system can
increase the temperature of the engine or exhaust
system.
By law, anyone who manufactures, repairs, services,
sells, leases, trades vehicles, or supervises a fleet of
vehicles is not permitted to intentionally remove an
emission control device or prevent it from working.
In some of the United States and Canada, vehicle
owners may be liable if their emission control device
is removed or prevented from working.
Never use a metal exhaust collector when you
service your vehicle. If the metal collector contacts
any of your vehicle's plastic trim or bumper parts
they could melt or deform.
Do not drive your vehicle if it does not operate
properly. See your dealer if the engine runs on for
more than five seconds after you shut it off or if it
misfires, surged, stalls or backfires.
Information about your vehicle's emission system is
on the Vehicle Emission Control Information decal
located on or near the engine. This decal identifies
engine displacement and gives some tune up
specifications.
Readiness for inspection/maintenance testing
In some localities, it may become a legal
requirement to pass an Inspection/Maintenance (I/M)
test of the On-board Diagnostic (OBD) II system. If
the vehicle's powertrain system or its battery has
just been serviced, the OBD II system is reset to a
not ready for I/M testing condition. To prepare for
I/M testing, the law specifies that additional mixed
city and highway driving is required to complete the
check of the OBD II system.
The driving modes required to reach the ready
condition consist of a minimum of 30 minutes of city
and highway driving as described below:
²At least twenty minutes driving in stop and go,
city type traffic with at least four idle periods.
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139

²At least ten minutes of driving on an expressway
or highway.
Before completing the above driving modes, the
engine must be warmed up and at operating
temperature. Once started, the vehicle must not be
turned off during these driving modes.
EXTERIOR LAMPS
It is a good idea to check the operation of the
following lights frequently:
²Headlamps
²High-mount brake lamp
²Tail lamps
²Brake lamps
²Backup lamps
²Hazard flashers
²Turn signals
²License plate lamp
²Interior overhead lamps
Do not remove lamp bulbs unless they will be
replaced immediately. If a bulb is removed for an
extended period of time, contaminants may enter
the lamp housings and affect performance.
High-mount brake lamp - Sedan
To remove the brake lamp:
1. Remove package
tray trim, then push
attachment toward the
rear.
2. Slide brake lamp up
and away from the rear
window to remove it
from the tabs that hold
it down.
3. Disconnect bulbs.
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To install brake lamp:
1. Install bulbs, then position the brake lamp over
tab slots and line up the tab with the tab slots.
2. Push down and toward the rear window to engage
the tabs.
3. Push attachment toward the rear window and line
up slot in attachment with the edge of the sheet
metal screw.
4. Release the attachment slot onto the sheet metal
hole. Install the package tray trim.
High-mount brake lamp - Wagon
To remove the brake lamp:
1. Remove interior trim
panel, then remove the
three attachment nuts
that hold brake lamp in
place.
2. Lift whole assembly
off vehicle from the
outside.
3. Disconnect bulbs.
To install brake lamp:
1. Install bulbs, the position brake lamp into tailgate
holes.
2. From the inside of the vehicle, stall and tighten
the four nuts that hold the brake lamp in place.
3. Install the interior trim panel.
Using the right bulbs
Function Trade Number
Front side marker lamp 194
Front park/turn lamp 3457NA
Headlamp 9007
Tail lamp/brake lamp 3157
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Function Trade Number
Rear turn lamp 3156
Backup lamp 3156
License plate lamp 168
High-mount brake lamp 912
Rear side marker lamp 168
Cargo lamp (wagon) 211-2
Dome lamp 211-2
Dome/map lamp 578
Dome lamp/moon roof 208
Visor vanity lamp
(passenger/driver)74-194
Door courtesy lamp 168
Floor console 194
Luggage compartment lamp 906
Glove compartment 194
Instrument courtesy lamps 168
I/P ashtray lamp 194
Radio illuminationGo to Ford
authorized radio
service center
ClockGo to Ford
authorized
dealer
Warning indicator lights (except
THEFT)Go to Ford
authorized
dealer
THEFT warningGo to Ford
authorized
dealer
Cluster illuminationGo to Ford
authorized
dealer
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142

Function Trade Number
Heater-A/CGo to Ford
authorized
dealer
Automatic climate controlGo to Ford
authorized
dealer
Rear window defrost switchGo to Ford
authorized
dealer
Rear window wiper/washer
switch (wagon)Go to Ford
authorized
dealer
Headlamps
To remove the headlamp bulb:
1. Make sure headlamp switch is in OFF position,
then open the hood. If you are replacing the driver
side headlamp, unclip the electronic module on the
right side of the battery and move it out of the way.
2. Remove the
electrical connector
from the bulb by
pulling the connector.
3. Remove the bulb
retaining ring by
rotating it
counterclockwise
(when viewed from the
rear) about an eighth
of a turn to free it from
the bulb socket, and by
sliding the ring off the
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143

plastic base. Keep the ring because it will be used
again to retain the new bulb.
4. Remove the old bulb from its socket by gently
pulling it straight back out of the socket. Do not
turn the bulb while you are removing it.
To install the new bulb:
1. With the flat side of
the bulb's plastic base
facing upward, insert
glass end of the bulb
into the socket. You
may need to turn the
bulb left or right to line
up the grooves in the
plastic base with the
tabs in the socket. When the grooves are aligned,
push the bulb into the socket until the plastic base
contacts the rear of the socket.
2. Slip the bulb retaining ring over the plastic base
until it contacts the rear of the socket by rotating it
clockwise until you feel a ªstop.º
3. Push the electrical connector into the rear of the
plastic base until it snaps, locking it into position.
4. Turn the headlamps on and make sure they work
properly. If the headlamp was correctly aligned
before you changed the bulb, you should not need to
align it again.
AIMING THE HEADLAMPS
Your vehicle is equipped with a Vehicle Headlamp
Aim Device (VHAD) on each headlamp body. Each
headlamp may be proeprly aimed in the horizontal
direction (left/right) and the vertical position
(up/down).
A non-zero bubble reading does not necessarily
indicate out-of-aim headlamps. If your vehicle is not
positioned on a level surface, the slope will be
included in the level indicator. Therefore, vertical
headlamp adjustment should be performed only
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