1998 FORD CONTOUR Owners Manual

Maintenance and care
169 Preparing your vehicle for
inspection/maintenance (I/M)
testing
In some localities it may be a legal
requirement to pass an I/M test of
the on-board diagnostic(OBD) II
system. If your vehicle’s powertrain
system or battery has just been
serviced, the OBD II system is reset
to a condition unready for I/M
testing. To ready the OBDII system
for I/M testing, the law specifies
that additional city and highway
driving is necessary to complete
the check of the OBDII system.
The driving mode required to reach
the ready condition consists of a
minimum of 30 minutes of city and
highway driving:
•At least 20 minutes driving in
stop and go city-type traffic with
at least four idle periods.
•At least 10 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 modes.
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Maintenance and care
170The bulbs for the low beam, high
beam, turn signals and side lamps
are housed in the lamp assembly.
To replace a bulb, the complete
lamp assembly has to be removed
as follows:
1. Switch off the lamps.
2. Open the hood.
3. Remove the lower screw (2)
from the headlamp housing.
4. Remove the two upper screws
(1) from the headlamp housing.
5. Gently pull the headlamp
housing outward.
6. Replace the headlamp bulbs. BULB REPLACEMENT
Handle a halogen headlamp
bulb carefully and keep out
of children’s reach.Grasp the bulb
only by its plastic base and do not
touch the glass. The oil from your
hand could cause the bulb to
break the next time the
headlamps are operated.
1
1
2
Removing the headlamps
assembly
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Maintenance and care
171 Reinstalling the headlamp
assembly
The gasket lining must be seated
properly around the lamp assembly
when reinstalling.
All bulb connectors must be
correctly connected.
Install in the reverse order.
Headlamps – low beam
Disconnect the electrical connector
and replace the bulb.
Do not touch the glass part of the
bulb and pay attention to the tab
guides when replacing.
Headlamp alignment
Check the headlamp alignment
after each replacement of a bulb.
Refer to Aiming the headlamps. Headlamps – high beam
Replacement instructions are the
same as for the low beam
headlamp.
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Maintenance and care
172Foglamps (if equipped)
1. Detach the cover (access at
bottom of front bumper).
2. Turn the bulb counterclockwise
and pull it out of the light assembly.
3. Remove the electrical connector.
4. Fit the new bulb in reverse order
(do not touch the glass part of the
bulb).
Front turn signal/side lamps
Pull the socket out. Pull the bulb
out and replace it.
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Maintenance and care
173 License plate lamp
Unscrew the bulb holder with a
screwdriver. Remove the bulb from
the clip holder.
Replace with the new bulb in
reverse sequence.
Brake/turn signal/tail lamps
1. Disconnect the electrical
conector.
2. Turn the socket
counterclockwise and pull it out.
3. Turn the bulb counterclockwise
and pull it out.
4. To install, fit the new bulb in
reverse order.
Backup lamps
The backup lamps are located in
the trunk lid. Replacement
instructions are the same as for the
brake/turn signal/tail lamps.
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Maintenance and care
174
High-mounted brake lamp
Enter the rear seat compartment.
Unscrew both screws and remove
the complete lamp assembly. Bend
the housing outwards to unclip the
lamp module. Press the reflector
fitting from the four locking points
and pull it off. Pull out the wedge
base bulb and replace.
To install, fit the new bulb in
reverse sequence.
On vehicles equipped with a rear
spoiler, the high-mounted brake
lamp is included in the spoiler.
Luggage compartment lamp
Pry out the light assembly from the
holder with a flat screwdriver. Turn
the spherical bulb under slight
pressure counterclockwise and
remove.
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Maintenance and care
175 Reading lamps (if equipped)
Open the lamp assembly.
The bulbs can be replaced after the
contact plate has been hinged
back.
Interior lamps
Switch off the interior lamps
(middle switch position). Pry out
the lamp assembly with a flat
screwdriver, release the reflector at
the side and replace the festoon
bulb.
To install, fit the new bulb in
reverse sequence.
FunctionTrade number
3457 NA
9005
9006
893
1157
1156 Front /turn lamp
Headlamp (high)
Headlamp (low)
Foglamp
Rear tail/turn/brake lamp
Backup lamp
Bulb specifications
2723
C5W High-mounted brake lamp
License plate lamp
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Maintenance and care
176Aiming the headlamps
Your vehicle is equipped with a
Vehicle Headlamp Aim Device
(VHAD) on each headlamp body.
Each headlamp may be properly
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 when beam
direction appears to be incorrect
and a level surface can be verified. AIMING THE HEADLAMPS
The alignment of your headlamps
should be checked if:
•Oncoming motorists frequently
signal you to deactivate your high
beams, and your high beams are
not activated.
•The headlamps do not seem to
provide enough light for clear
night vision.
•The headlamp beams are pointed
substantially away from a slightly
down and to the right position.
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