1997 Mercury Sable maintenance

Vehicle Identification Number:
Owner name:
Address:
Phone:
Selling dealer name:
Address:
Phone:
Your satisfaction is our #1 goal. If you have questions or concerns about your vehicle, we
suggest you follow these steps:
1. Contact your Sales Representative or Service Advisor at your selling/servicing dealership.
2. If the inquiry or concern remains unresolved, contact the Sales Manager or Service
Manager at the dealership.
3. If the inquiry or concern cannot be resolved at the dealership level, please contact the
Ford Customer Assistance Center.
In the US, contact:
In Canada, contact:
Outside the US or Canada, contact:Ford Motor Company
Customer Assistance Center
300 Renaissance Center
PO Box 43360
Detroit, MI 48243
1-800-392-3673 (FORD)
TDD for the hearing impaired: 1-800-232-5952
Customer Assistance Centre
Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited
PO Box 2000
Oakville, Ontario L6J 5E4
1-800-565-3673 (FORD)
Ford Motor Company
Worldwide Export Operations
1555 Fairlane Drive
Allen Park, Michigan 48101 USA
Telephone: (313) 594-4857
Fax: (313) 390-0804
General maintenance information
1

General maintenance information 3
Normal schedule 5
Severe duty schedule 14
Owner maintenance checks 27
Table of Contents
2

GENERAL MAINTENANCE INFORMATION
The required scheduled maintenance services listed
in this guide are considered essential to the proper
operation, safety and performance of your Ford
Motor Company vehicle. We recommend that you
also perform the Owner Maintenance Checks listed.
These services are matters of day-to-day care that
are also important to the proper operation of your
vehicle. The recommended lubricants, fluids and
service parts conforming to Ford Specifications are
available from your Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer.
This guide gives you a place to record the services
that are performed on your vehicle so that you can
keep a record of when parts should be checked or
replaced. Give your ªService Guideº to your Ford or
Lincoln-Mercury service manager.
Maintenance: An investment
Maintenance is an investment that will pay dividends
in the form of improved reliability, durability and
resale value.
To assure the durability of your vehicle and its
emission control systems, it is necessary that
scheduled maintenance be performed at the
designated intervals.
Ford strongly recommends the use of genuine Ford
replacement parts. If other than Ford or Motorcraft
parts or Ford authorized remanufactured parts are
used for maintenance replacements or for the
service of components affecting emission control,
the 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 ªWarranty Information Bookletº for
complete warranty information.
No cost PCV valve replacement
The PCV valve is a critical emission component. Your
dealer will replace the valve at no cost at 96,000
General maintenance information
3

kilometers (60,000 miles), except in Canada and
California.
PRE-DELIVERY SERVICE CHECK
rPre-Delivery Service Inspection Completed
DEALER AUTHORIZATION
Date:
Mileage:
WHAT MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE DO YOU
FOLLOW?
Normal Schedule
Follow the Normal Schedule for most normal
everyday driving conditions.
Severe Duty Schedule
Follow the Severe Duty Schedule if your driving
habitsFREQUENTLYinclude one or more of the
following conditions:
rTowing a trailer or using a car-top carrier.
rOperating in severe dust conditions.
rExtensive idling, such as police, taxi or
door-to-door delivery service.
rShort trips of less than 16 km (10 miles) when
outside temperatures remain below 0ÉF (-18ÉC).
General maintenance information
4

32,000 KILOMETERS (20,000 MILES)
rChange engine oil and replace oil filter.
DEALER AUTHORIZATION
Date:
Mileage:
40,000 KILOMETERS (25,000 MILES)
rChange engine oil and replace oil filter.
rRotate tires and adjust air pressure.
DEALER AUTHORIZATION
Date:
Mileage:
48,000 KILOMETERS (30,000 MILES)
rChange engine oil and replace oil filter.
rReplace spark plugs (3.0L Flexible Fuel
Vehicle-FFV only).
rReplace air cleaner filter every 48,000 km
(30,000 miles) or 30 months. If operating in
dusty conditions, consult your dealer and/or
follow severe duty maintenance schedule.
rInspect engine cooling system, hoses, and
clamps; check coolant strength every 24,000
km (15,000 miles) or 12 months.
rReplace passenger compartment air filter
rChange automatic transaxle fluid.
rInspect exhaust heat shield(s).
rInspect front and rear brakes. (1)
Normal schedule
6

Owner maintenance checks
Listed below are vehicle maintenance checks and
inspections that should be performed by the owner
or qualified service technician at the indicated
intervals. Service information and supporting
specifications are provided in the ªOwner Guideº.
Any adverse conditions should be brought to the
attention of your dealer or qualified service
technician for expert service advice as soon as
possible.
The owner maintenance checks are generally not
covered by warranties and you may be charged for
labor, parts and lubricants used.
WHEN YOU STOP FOR FUEL:
rCheck the engine oil level.
rCheck coolant level in the recovery bottle.
rCheck the windshield washer fluid level.
rLook for low or under-inflated tires.
WHILE OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE:
rNote any changes in the sound of the exhaust or
any smell of exhaust fumes in the vehicle.
rCheck for vibrations in the steering wheel. Notice
any increased steering effort or looseness in the
steering wheel.
rNotice if your vehicle constantly turns slightly or
ªpullsº to one side of the road.
rWhen stopping, listen and check for strange
sounds,pulling to one side, increased brake
pedal travel or ªhard to pushº brake pedal.
rIf any slipping or changes in the operation of your
transaxle occur, check the transaxle fluid level.
Owner maintenance checks
27

rCheck automatic transaxle PARK function.
rCheck parking brake.
rCheck for fluid leaks under your vehicle (water
dripping from the air conditioning system after
use is normal.
AT LEAST MONTHLY:
rCheck the tire pressure - check tires when cold,
not after a long drive.
rCheck coolant level in the coolant recovery
reservoir.
rCheck the operation of all exterior lamps,
including the brake lamps, turn signals and
hazard warning flashers.
AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR: (I.E., EVERY SPRING
AND FALL)
rCheck radiator, heater and air-conditioning hoses
for leaks or damage.
rCheck windshield washer spray and wiper
operation. Check and replace worn wiper blades.
rCheck for worn tires and loose wheel lug nuts.
rCheck muffler, exhaust pipes, shields and clamps.
rCheck headlamp alignment.
rCheck the lap-shoulder belts for wear and
function.
rCheck air pressure in the spare tire.
rInspect halfshaft dust boots.
Owner maintenance checks
28

AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR:
rLubricate all hinges, checks, latches, and all
outside key locks.
rLubricate door rubber weatherstrips.
rClean the body water drain holes.
rCheck the air conditioning system before the
warm weather season.
rCheck the power steering fluid level.
rInspect engine cooling system, hoses and clamps;
and check coolant strength
rCheck the brake fluid level.
rCheck the battery connections.
rLubricate the transaxle controls and linkage.
If any of these conditions are noted, bring them to
the attention of your dealer or qualified service
technician as soon as possible.
Owner maintenance checks
29