1997 Mercury Sable battery

REMOVING THE JUMPER CABLES
1. Remove the jumper
cables in reverse order.
Take the cable off the
metallic surface (1)
first, followed by the
cable on the negative
(-) booster battery
terminal (2).
2. Remove the cable
from the positive (+)
terminal of the booster
battery (3) and then
the discharged battery (4).
3. After the disabled vehicle has been started, allow
it to idle for a while so the engine can ªrelearnº its
idle conditions.
WRECKER TOWING
If you need to have
your vehicle towed,
contact a professional
towing service or, if
you are a member,
your roadside
assistance center. Your
vehicle should be
towed from the front
unless conditions do
not allow it. It is
recommended that
your vehicle be towed
with a wheel lift or flatbed equipment.
When calling for a tow truck, tell the operator what
kind of vehicle you have. A towing manual is
available from Ford Motor Company for all
authorized tow truck operators. Have your tow truck
driver refer to this manual for proper hook-up and
towing procedures for your vehicle.
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SERVICE RECOMMENDATIONS
To help you service your vehicle:
²We highlight do-it-yourself items in the engine
compartment for easy location.
²As possible, we design parts that can be replaced
without tools.
²We provide you with a ªService Guideº which
makes tracking routine service for your vehicle
easy.
If your vehicle requires professional service, your
dealership can provide necessary parts and service.
Check your ªWarranty Information Bookletº to find
out which parts and services are covered.
Use only recommended fuels, lubricants, fluids and
service parts conforming to specifications. Motorcraft
parts are designed and built to provide the best
performance in your vehicle.
Precautions when servicing your vehicle
Be especially careful when inspecting or servicing
your vehicle. Here are some general precautions for
your safety:
²Do not work on a hot engine.
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.
²If you must work with the engine running, avoid
wearing loose clothing or jewelry that could get
caught in moving parts. Take precautions with
long hair.
²Do not work on a vehicle with the engine running
in an enclosed space, unless you are sure you
have enough ventilation.
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114

²Keep all lit cigarettes, open flames and other lit
material away from the battery and all fuel related
parts.
If you disconnect the battery, the engine must
ªrelearnº its idle conditions before your vehicle will
drive properly, as explained inBatteryin this
chapter.
Working with the engine off
1. Set the parking
brake fully and make
sure the gearshift is
securely latched is P
(Park).
2. Turn off the engine
and remove the key.
3. Block the wheels
fully to prevent the
vehicle from moving
unexpectedly.
Working with the engine on
1. Set the parking
brake fully and make
sure the gearshift is
securely latched is P
(Park).
2. Block the wheels
fully to prevent the
vehicle from moving
unexpectedly.
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Maintenance and care
115

2. Brake fluid reservoir
3. Air filter assembly
4. Battery
5. Engine oil filler cap
6. Engine oil dipstick
7. Power steering fluid reservoir
8. Engine coolant reservoir
9. Windshield washer fluid reservoir
3.0L Duratec engine
1. Automatic transaxle fluid dipstick
2. Brake fluid reservoir
3. Air filter assembly
4. Battery
5. Engine oil filler cap
6. Engine oil dipstick
7. Engine coolant reservoir
8. Windshield washer fluid reservoir
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Maintenance and care
117

Adding transaxle fluid
Before adding any fluid, be sure the correct type is
being used (this is indicated on the transaxle
dipstick).
Add fluid in 250 ML (1/2 pint) increments through
the filler tube to bring the level within the
crosshatched area. If the level is above the top hole
on the dipstick, a qualified technician should remove
the excess fluid.
Always dispose of automotive fluids in a responsible
manner. Follow your community's standards for
disposing of these types of fluids. Call your local
recycling center to find out about recycling
automotive fluids.
BATTERY
If the original
equipment
maintenance-free
battery needs
replacing, it may be
replaced with a
low-maintenance
battery. For more
information on
replacement batteries, refer toMotorcraft part
numbersin theCapacities and specifications
chapter.
The gases around the battery can explode if
exposed to flames, sparks, or lit cigarettes.
An explosion could result in injury or vehicle
damage.
Batteries contain sulfuric acid which burns
skin, eyes, and clothing.
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Maintenance and care
127

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 the opposite corners.
Servicing your battery
The low-maintenance battery has removable vent
caps for checking electrolyte level and adding water.
Check electrolyte level every 24 months or 40,000
km (24,000 miles) in an average temperature of
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 or has a
high mineral or alkali content. If the battery needs
water quite often, have the charging system checked
for a possible malfunction.
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 engine must relearn its idle conditions before
you vehicle will drive properly. To begin this process:
1. Put the gearshift in P (Park), turn off all
accessories and start the vehicle.
2. Let the engine idle for at least one minute.
3. 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 the
preset radio stations must be reset once the
battery is reconnected.
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128

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

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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