1997 Mercury Sable light

Driving while you tow
Do not drive faster than 72 km/h (45 mph) with any
weight on the trailer while towing on a hot day or in
hilly country.
Cruise control may shut off if you are towing on
long, steep grades.
When towing a trailer:
²Use 2 (Second) (if equipped) or 1 (First) when
towing up or down steep hills. This will eliminate
excessive downshifting and upshifting for
optimum fuel economy and transaxle cooling.
²Anticipate stops and brake gradually.
Servicing after towing
If you tow a trailer for long distances, your vehicle
will require more frequent service intervals. Refer to
theService Guidefor more information.
Trailer towing tips
²Practice turning, stopping and backing up in an
area before starting on a trip to get the feel of the
vehicle trailer combination. When turning, drive
slightly beyond the normal turning point so the
trailer wheels will clear curbs and other obstacles.
²Allow more room for stopping with a trailer
attached.
²The trailer tongue weight should be 10±15% of
the loaded trailer weight.
²After you have traveled 80 km (50 miles),
thoroughly check your hitch, electrical
connections and trailer wheel lug nuts.
²When stopped in traffic for long periods of time in
hot weather, place the gearshift in P (Park) and
increase idle speed. This aids engine cooling and
air conditioner efficiency.
²Vehicles with trailers should not be parked on a
grade. If you must park on a grade, place wheel
chocks under the trailer's wheels.
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HAZARD LIGHTS CONTROL
Use only in an
emergency to warn
traffic of vehicle
breakdown,
approaching danger,
etc. Depress to activate
all indicators
simultaneously.
Depress again to switch
off. The warning lights
can be operated when
the ignition is off.
FUEL PUMP SHUT-OFF SWITCH
If the engine cranks but does not start after a
collision, the fuel pump shut-off switch may have
been activated. The shut-off switch is a device
intended to stop the electric fuel pump when your
vehicle has been involved in a substantial jolt.
1. Turn the ignition switch to the OFF position.
2. Check the fuel system for leaks.
3. If no fuel leak is apparent, reset the fuel pump
shut-off switch by pushing in the button on the
switch.
4. Turn the ignition switch to the ON position. Pause
for a few seconds and return the key to the OFF
position.
5. Make a further check for leaks in the fuel system.com_hazard_switch.01
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Roadside emergencies
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Standard fuse amperage rating and color
Fuse rating Color
10 amp Red
15 amp Blue
20 amp Yellow
30 amp Light Green
30 amp fuse link Pink
40 amp Amber
Passenger compartment fuse panel
The fuse panel is
located below and to
the left of the steering
wheel by the brake
pedal. Pull the panel
cover outward to
access the fuses.
To remove a fuse, use the fuse puller tool provided
on the fuse panel cover.
The fuses are coded as follows:
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Roadside emergencies
98

Fuse/Relay
LocationFuse Amp
RatingDescription
12 5A Instrument
cluster,
autolamps,
transaxle
control switch,
integrated
control panel,
GEM
13 5A Air bag, blower
motor,
electronic
automatic
temperature
control module
14 5A Lamp outage
indication
15 10A Turn signals
16 - Not used
17 30A Wiper system
(front)
18 5A Headlamp
switch
19 15A Wiper system
(rear)
20 5A Integrated
control panel,
remote entry,
cellular phone,
cigar lighter
21 20A Cigar lighter
22 5A Power mirrors,
power antenna,
autolamps,
decklid lamps
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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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Maintenance and care
114

CHECKING AND ADDING WASHER FLUID
Check the washer fluid
whenever you stop for
fuel. The reservoir is
highlighted with a
washer symbol.
If the level is low, add enough fluid to fill the
reservoir. In very cold weather, do not fill the
reservoir all the way.
Checking and adding washer fluid for the
liftgate (wagon only)
The opening for the reservoir is located on the
passenger side under the tail lamp. Refill this
reservoir with the same fluid you use for your
windshield.
CHECKING AND ADDING ENGINE COOLANT
Check the level of the
coolant in the reservoir
at least once a month.
Be sure to read and
understand
Precautions when
servicing your vehicle
in this chapter.
If the engine coolant has not been checked for a
long period of time, the engine coolant reservoir may
eventually empty. If this occurs, add engine coolant
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Maintenance and care
121

engine will perform adequately on other gasolines,
the performance of the emission control devices and
systems may be adversely affected. Repair of
damage caused by using a fuel that your vehicle was
not designed for may not be covered by your
warranty.
Octane recommendations
Your vehicle is
designed to use regular
gasoline with an
(R+M)/2 octane rating
of 87. We do not
recommend gasolines
labeled as ªregularº in
high altitude areas that
are sold with octane
ratings of 86 or even less.
Do not be concerned if your vehicle sometimes
knocks lightly. However, if it knocks heavily under
most driving conditions on the recommended octane
fuel, see your dealer or a qualified service technician
to prevent any engine damage.
Fuel quality
If you are experiencing starting, rough idle or
hesitation problems try a different brand of fuel. If
the condition persists, see your dealer or a qualified
service technician.
The American Automobile Manufacturers Association
(AAMA) issued a gasoline specification to provide
information on high quality fuels that optimize the
performance of your vehicle. We recommend the use
of gasolines that meet the AAMA specification if
they are available.
It should not be necessary to add any aftermarket
products to your fuel tank if you continue to use a
high-quality fuel.
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Maintenance and care
136

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
Maintenance and care
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