1997 Mercury Sable Owner's Manuals

when beam direction appears to be incorrect or a
level surface can not be verified.
The horizontal aim must be adjusted first. You will
need one 7 mm box wrench or open end wrench.
The following procedure assumes that the vehicle's
front structure is properly aligned. If the vehicle has
been in an accident requiring the front end of the
vehicle to be repaired, the horizontal indicator
should be recalibrated by the service facility.
Horizontal aim adjustment
1. With the hood open,
locate the horizontal
indicator and adjusting
screw.
2.Usea7mmwrench to turn the horizontal
adjusting screw until the reference mark on the
reflector extension aligns with the ª0º reference
mark on the horizontal indicator when viewed
directly from above.
3. When the horizontal aim has been adjusted, close
the headlamp access panel.
Adjusting the vertical aim
The numbers shown on the vial indicate beam
direction in degrees up or down.
1. Do not adjust the vertical aim until after adjusting
the horizontal aim.
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2. With the hood open,
locate the bubble level
vertical aim indicator.
It is visible when
viewed from the above
rear of the headlamp.
3.Usea7mmwrench to turn the vertical adjusting
screw until the reference mark on the reflector
extension aligns with the ª0º reference mark on the
vertical indicator when viewed directly from above.
4. Close the hood.
CLEANING AND CARING FOR YOUR VEHICLE
Refer to the ªCustomer Assistance Guideº for a list
of Ford-approved cleaners, polishes and waxes.
Washing your vehicle
Wash your vehicle regularly
with cold or lukewarm
water. Never use strong
detergents or soap. If your
vehicle is particularly dirty,
use a quality car wash
detergent. Always use a
clean sponge, washing glove
or similar device and plenty of water for best results.
To avoid spots, avoid washing when the hood is still
warm, immediately after or during exposure to
strong sunlight.
During winter months, it is especially important to
wash the vehicle on a regular basis. Large quantities
of dirt and road salt are difficult to remove, and they
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146

exterior accessories, such as antennas, before
entering a car wash.
²After washing, apply the brakes several times to
dry them.
Waxing your vehicle
The best way to determine when the paintwork
needs waxing is by noting when water stops beading
on the surface. This could be every three or four
months, depending on operating conditions.
Use only carnauba or synthetic-based waxes.
Remove any bugs and tar before waxing vehicle. Use
cleaning fluid or alcohol with a clean cloth to
remove. Use tar remover to remove any tar spots.
Repairing paint chips
Minor scratches or paint damage from road debris
may be repaired with touch-up paint, paint repair
foil or aerosol paint spray from the Ford accessory
line. Observe the application instructions on the
products.
Remove particles such as bird droppings, tree sap,
insect remains, tar spots, road salt and industrial
fallout immediately.
Cleaning the wheels
Wash the wheels with
the same detergent you
use to clean the body
of your vehicle. Do not
use acid-based wheel cleaners, steel wool, fuel or
strong detergents. Never use abrasives that will
damage the finish of special wheel surfaces. Use a
tar remover to remove grease and tar.
Cleaning the engine
Engines are more efficient when they are clean
because grease and dirt buildup act as insulators and
keep the engine warmer than normal. Follow these
guidelines to clean your engine:
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Maintenance and care
147

²Take care when using a power washer to clean
the engine. The high pressure fluid could
penetrate the sealed parts and cause damage.
²Do not spray with cold water to avoid cracking
the engine block.
²Cover the
highlighted areas to
prevent water
damage when
cleaning the engine.
²Never wash or rinse the engine while it is
running; water in the running engine may cause
internal damage.
Cleaning plastic exterior parts
Use a vinyl cleaner for routine cleaning of plastic.
Clean with a tar remover if necessary. Do not clean
plastic parts with thinners, solvents or
petroleum-based cleaners.
Cleaning the exterior lamps
Wash the exterior
lamps with the same
detergent you used to
wash the exterior of
your vehicle. Use glass
cleaner or tar remover
if necessary.
To avoid scratching the
lamps, do not use a dry paper towel, chemical
solvents or abrasive cleaners to clean the lamps.
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Cleaning the wiper blades
If the wiper blades do
not wipe properly,
clean both the
windshield and wiper
blades using undiluted
windshield wiper
solution or a mild
detergent. Rinse
thoroughly with clean
water. To avoid
damaging the blades,
do not use fuel,
kerosene, paint thinner
or other solvents.
Cleaning the instrument panel
Clean instrument panel with a damp cloth, then dry
with a dry cloth.
Any cleaner or polish that increases the gloss of the
upper portion of the instrument panel should be
avoided. The dull finish in this area is to help
protect the driver from undesirable windshield
reflection.
Cleaning the interior fabric
Remove dust and loose dirt with a whisk broom or a
vacuum cleaner. Remove fresh spots immediately.
Follow the directions that come with the cleaner.
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Maintenance and care
149

Cleaning leather seats (if equipped)
For routine cleaning, wipe the surface with a soft,
damp cloth. For more thorough cleaning, wipe the
surface with a leather and vinyl cleaner or a mild
soap.
Cleaning and maintaining the safety belts
Clean the safety belts with a mild soap solution
recommended for cleaning upholstery or carpets. Do
not bleach or dye the belts, because these actions
may weaken the belt webbing.
Check the safety belt system periodically to make
sure there are no nicks, wear or cuts. If your vehicle
has been involved in an accident, have all the safety
restraints examined by a qualified technician.
Cleaning the built-in child seat (if equipped)
Clean the built-in child seat with mild soap and
water. Do not use household cleaning products
because they may weaken the safety belt webbing or
damage the vinyl parts of the seat.
The child seat liner is removable and may be
machine-washed and air dried.
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Maintenance and care
150

MOTORCRAFT PART NUMBERS
3.0L Vulcan engine
Component Part number
Air filter FA-1630
Fuel filter FG-800-A
Battery (standard) BXT-58R
Battery (optional) BXT-36R
Fuel filter FG-800-A
Passenger
compartment air filter
(if equipped)FP-6
Oil filter FL-400-S
PCV valve EV-228
Spark plug* AWSF-32PP**
* Refer to Vehicle Emissions Control Information
(VECI) decal for spark plug and gap information.
** If a spark plug is removed for inspection, it
must be reinstalled in the same cylinder. Cylinders
No. 1, 2 and 3 have a PG suffix. Cylinders No. 4, 5
and 6 have a P suffix. If a spark plug needs to be
replaced, use only spark plugs with the service
part number suffix letter9PP9as shown on the
engine decal.
3.0L Duratec engine
Component Part number
Air filter FA-1630
Fuel filter FG-800-A
Battery BXT-36R
Fuel filter FG-800-A
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151

Component Part number
Passenger
compartment air filter
(if equipped)FP-6
Oil filter FL-820-S
PCV valve EV-152
Spark plug AWSF-32F
REFILL CAPACITIES
3.0L Vulcan engine
Fluid Ford Part
NameVehicle
TypeCapacity
Brake
fluidHigh
performance
DOT 3
brake fluidAll Fill to line
in reservoir
Engine
coolantPremium
cooling
system fluidAll 11.0 (11.6)
Engine oil
(with
filter
change)Motocraft
motor oil
5W30 super
premiumAll 4.25 (4.5)
Fuel tank
capacityN/A All 60.6 (16.0
gallons)
Power
steering
fluidMotorcraft
MERCONt
AT FAll Fill to line in
reservoir
Automatic
transaxle
- AX4NMotorcraft
MERCONt
AT FAll 12.8 (13.5)
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152