1997 Mercury Sable lock

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

²Always dispose of automotive batteries in a
responsible manner. Follow your communities
standards for disposal. Call your local recycling
center to find out more about recycling
automotive batteries.
CHANGING YOUR AIR FILTER
To replace your air
filter, unclip the two
latches, separate the
housing and remove
the old filter. Wipe the
interior clean before
inserting new air filter.
Lock the two latches.
Do not use oil-impregnated air filters. Filters other
than the ones specified in this owner guide can
cause serious damage. Your warranties may not
apply if your vehicle is damaged because you use
the wrong air filter. Refer toMotorcraft part
numbersin theCapacities and specifications
chapter.
CHECKING AND CHANGING WIPER BLADES
Check the wiper blades at least twice a year or when
they seem less effective than usual. Substances such
as tree sap and some hot wax treatments used by
commercial car washes reduce the effectiveness of
wiper blades.
Checking the wiper blades
If the wiper blades do not clean properly, clean the
windshield and wipers. Use an undiluted windshield
washer solution or a mild detergent, then rinse
thoroughly with clear water. Do not use fuel,
kerosene, paint thinner or other solvents to clean
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Maintenance and care
129

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
Maintenance and care
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
Maintenance and care
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
dno_formality
Maintenance and care
144

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.
com_plastic_exterior.01
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Maintenance and care
148

Fluid Ford Part
NameVehicle
TypeCapacity
Windshield
washer
fluid -
FrontUltra-clear
windshield
washer
concentrateAll 2.7 (90 oz.)
Windshield
washer
fluid -
RearUltra-clear
windshield
washer
concentrateWagon 2.1 (70 oz.)
LUBRICANT SPECIFICATIONS
FluidFord Part
Name or
EquivalentFord
Part
NumberFord
Specification
Brake
master
cylinderC6AZ-
19542-ABFord
high
perfor-
mance
DOT 3
brake
fluidESA-
M6C25-A
Door
latch,
hood
latch,
auxiliary
latch,
trunk and
liftgate
latchesD0AZ-
19584
-AAMulti-
purpose
greaseESR-
M1C159-A and
ESA-
M1C93-A
Lock
cylindersE8AZ-
19A501-BPenetrating
lubricantN/A
dno_lubricant-specs
Capacities and specifications
154

of your vehicle for maximum theft protection:
²left and right front fenders
²hood
²left and right front doors
²front and rear bumpers
²left and right rear quarter panels
²decklid
²liftgate
²engine compartment
²transaxle Engine number
The engine number is stamped on the engine block.
dno_engine-no.
Capacities and specifications
161