1997 Mercury Sable check engine

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.
Maintenance and care
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.
dno_ready-test
Maintenance and care
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.
dno_drive-cycle
dno_exterior-bulbs
Maintenance and care
140

Aiming headlamps .. 144
Air bag supplemental
restraint system
and child safety
seats ......................... 61
description .............. 60
disposal .................... 64
indicator light ......... 63
passenger air bag ... 62
Air cleaner filter
replacing ................ 129
Air conditioning
automatic temperature
control system 16,17,18,
19,20
manual heating and air
conditioning
system ........... 14,15,16
Anti-theft system ...... 44
warning light ............. 8
Audio system (see
Electronic sound
system) ...................... 21
Autolamp system (see
Headlamps) ............... 13
Battery ..................... 127
servicing ................ 128
Brakes
adjustment .............. 81
anti-lock ................... 81
fluid, checking and
adding .................... 120
Brake-shift interlock . 83
Break-in period ........... 2
Cargo cover ............... 35
Cargo net ................... 35
Child safety seats ...... 66
Childproof locks ........ 31
Cleaning your vehicle 146
built-in child seat . 150engine
compartment ......... 147
fabric ...................... 149
instrument panel .. 149
plastic parts .......... 148
safety belts ............ 150
tail lamps ............... 148
washing .................. 146
waxing ................... 147
wheels .................... 147
Climate control
system ........................ 14
Console, description . 31
Daytime running light
system ........................ 14
Emission control
system ...................... 137
Engine
service points . 116,117
Engine block heater . 79
Engine coolant
checking and
adding ............. 121,122
disposal .................. 123
refill capacities ...... 124
Engine oil ................ 119
changing oil and oil
filter ....................... 119
checking and
adding .................... 118
Entry system
illumination ............. 43
Exhaust fumes .......... 79
Floor mats ................. 33
Fuel
calculating fuel
economy ................ 137
improving fuel
economy .................. 95
octane rating ......... 136
Index
163

quality .................... 136
safety information
relating to automotive
fuels ....................... 134
Fuel gauge ................. 12
Fuel pump shut-off
switch .................... 21,96
Fuse panels
instrument panel .... 98
power
distribution box .... 102
Fuses .......................... 97
Gauges, Mechanical
engine coolant
temperature gauge . 11
Hazard flashers .... 26,96
Headlamps
flashing .................... 26
high beam ............... 25
turning on and off .. 13
Hood ........................ 116
Ignition
positions of the
ignition .................... 21
Instrument cluster ...... 6
Jump-starting your
vehicle ............... 110,111
attaching cables .... 110
disconnecting cables 112
Keyless entry system
autolock ................... 39
keypad ..................... 37
locking and unlocking
doors ........................ 38
programming entry
code ......................... 37
Lamps ........................ 13
instrument panel,
dimming ................... 13
map lamps ............... 27
replacing bulbs .... 140,
141,143Liftgate
remote release ........ 34
Lights, warning and
indicator
air bag ........................ 9
anti-lock
brakes (ABS) ....... 8,81
brake .......................... 9
charging system ........ 9
cruise indicator ......... 8
door ajar .................... 7
engine oil pressure ... 9
high beam ................. 6
low coolant ................ 7
low fuel ...................... 7
overdrive off .............. 8
safety belt ................. 7
service engine soon .. 7
Lubricant
specifications ........... 154
Luggage rack ............. 36
Mirrors
heated ...................... 30
side view mirrors
(power) ................... 30
Moon roof .................. 27
Motorcraft parts ...... 151
Odometer ................... 11
Parking brake ............ 82
Phone, cellular .......... 33
Power door locks ...... 29
Power steering
fluid, checking and
adding .................... 124
Rear window
defroster .................. 20
Refill capacities for
fluids ........................ 152
Relays ...................... 104
Remote entry system 41
Index
164

arming and disarming
the anti-theft
system ..................... 42
locking/unlocking
doors ................... 41,42
opening the trunk ... 41
panic alarm ............. 42
replacement/additional
transmitters ............. 43
replacing the
batteries .................. 43
Reporting safety
defects ..................... 162
Safety restraints
automatic locking
mode (retractor) 53,54
center rear lap belt 55
extension assembly 58
for children ............. 64
for second row bench
seats ............... 71,72,74
lap and shoulder
belts ......................... 52
maintenance ............ 60
proper use ............... 52
warning light and
chime ....................... 59
Safety seats for children
attaching with tether
straps .................. 69,70
automatic locking
mode (retractor) .... 67
tether anchorage
hardware ................. 70
Seats
adjusting the seat,
manual ..................... 48
adjusting the seat,
power ....................... 49
folding rear seats .... 50
head restraints ........ 48Servicing your
vehicle ...................... 114
precautions when
servicing ................ 114
Spare tire ................. 105
Speed control ............ 22
Speedometer ............. 10
Starting your vehicle 77
preparing to start your
vehicle ..................... 76
starting a warm
engine ...................... 78
Storage
compartments ........... 35
Tachometer
mechanical cluster . 11
Tilt steering wheel .... 27
Tires ......................... 132
changing ................ 106
checking the
pressure ................. 132
replacing ................ 133
rotating .................. 132
snow tires and
chains .................... 133
tire grades ............. 130
treadwear .............. 130
Towing your vehicle 113
Trailer towing ............ 91
tips ........................... 94
Transaxle ................... 83
automatic
operation ...... 84,85,86,
87,88,89
fluid, checking and
adding
(automatic) ... 125,126,
127
Trip odometer ........... 12
Trunk
using the remote entry
system to open ....... 34
Turn signal ................ 25
Index
165