1998 FORD CONTOUR tow

Maintenance and care
183 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 use 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.
Cleaning the wiper blades
If the wiper blades do not wipe
properly, clean both the windshield
and wiper blades using undiluted
windshield wiper solution or a mild
detergent. Rinse thoroughly with
clean water. To avoid damaging the
blades, do not use fuel, kerosene,
paint thinner or other solvents.
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CPage
Child safety restraints
built-in child seat . . . . . . . . . . .68
child safety seats . . . . . . . . . . . .74
children and safety belts . . .64, 66
Child safety seats
and air bags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
attaching with tether straps . . .77
automatic locking mode . . . . . .52
Childproof safety locks . . . . . . . .38
Chimes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Circuit breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . .112
Cleaning your vehicle
engine compartment . . . . . . . .182
exterior lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . .183
fabric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .184
instrument panel . . . . . . . . . . .184
plastic exterior parts . . . . . . . .183
safety belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .185
wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .181
wiper blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . .183
Climate control system
air conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
controlling airflow . . . . . . . . . . .23
defrosting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Clutch
operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96
recommended shift speeds . . . .97
Cold engine starting . . . . . . . . . .85
Controls
instrument panel . . . . . . . . . . . .17
mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
power seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
steering column . . . . . . . . . . . . .27DPage
Daytime running lights . . . . . . . .18
Defects, reporting . . . . . . . . . . .192
Defrost
rear window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
windshield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Dipstick, engine oil . . . . . . . . . .133
Door mounted controls . . . . . . . .37
Driving under special conditions
heavy load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102
towing a trailer . . . . . . . . . . . .103
E
Electrical system
fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112
Emergencies, roadside
fuel pump shut-off switch . . . .110
jump starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . .124
towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .127
Emergency brake (see Parking
brake)
Emission control system . . . . . .166
Engine
check engine warning light . . . . .9
fuel pump shut-off switch . . . .110
lubricant specifications . . . . . .188
preparing to start . . . . . . . . . . .82
refill capacities . . . . . . . . . . . .187
starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85
Engine block heater . . . . . . . . . .86
Engine coolant
checking and adding . . . . . . . .139
disposal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .141
low coolant warning light . . . . . .8
refilll capacities . . . . . . . . . . . .187
specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . .188
Engine fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .129
Index
194
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SPage
Safety belts
(see Safety restraints)
Safety chains, when towing
a trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107
Safety Compliance Certification
Label . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105
Safety defects, reporting . . . . . .192
Safety restraints
adjusting the safety belts . .50, 54
automatic locking mode
(retractors) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
cleaning the safety belts . . . . .185
extention assembly . . . . . . . . . .56
for children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
head restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
lap and shoulder belts . . . . . . . .51
maintenance . . . . . . . . . . .57, 185
vehicle sensitive locking mode .52
warning light and chime . . . .7, 12
Safety seats for children
and air bags . . . . . . . . . . . . .59, 75
attaching with tether straps . . .77
automatic locking mode
(retractors) . . . . . . . . . . . . .53, 74
built-in child seat . . . . . . . . . . .68
in front seat . . . . . . . . . . . . .59, 75
tether anchorage hardware . . .78
Seats
adjusting the seats, manual . . .47
adjusting the seats, power . . . .48
folding rear seats . . . . . . . . . . . .49
head restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
Servicing your vehicle . . . . . . . .128
Shift-lock system . . . . . . . . . . . . .91
Shift positions (see Gearshift)
Snow tires and chains . . . . . . . .158SPage
Spare tire
changing the tire . . . . . . . . . . .119
removing the spare tire . . . . . .121
temporary spare tire . . . . . . . .120
Spark plugs, certifications . . . .186
Specification charts, lubricants188
Speed control
disengaging speed control . . . .35
return to a set speed . . . . . . . . .35
set a speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
set a higher speed . . . . . . . . . . .34
set a lower speed . . . . . . . . . . . .34
turn speed control off . . . . . . . .32
turn speed control on . . . . . . . .32
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Starting your vehicle
preparing to start the vehicle . .82
starting the engine . . . . . . . . . .85
Steering column controls . . . . . .27
Steering wheel
horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
speed control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
tilting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Supplemental restraint
system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13, 58
T
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Tail lamps (see Rear lamps)
Temperature control
(see Climate control)
Testing the warning lights . . . . . .12
Tether anchor installation
(see Child safety restraints)
Tilt steering wheel . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Index
198
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Index
199 TPage
Tires
changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .122
checking tire pressure . . . . . .155
cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .181
inspection and maintenance . .155
replacing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .123
rotating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .155
snow tires and chains . . . . . . .158
spare tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120
tire grades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .152
treadwear . . . . . . . . . . . . .153, 156
wearbands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .156
Towing your vehicle . . . . . . . . .127
Trailer towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103
Transaxle
automatic, operation . . . . . . . . .90
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .144
fluid, refill capacities . . . . . . . .187
lubricant specifications . . . . . .188
manual, operation . . . . . . . . . . .93
Transmitter (see Remote entry)
Trip odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Trunk (see Luggage compartment)
remote release lever . . . . . . . . .39
using the remote entry system .42
Turn signal
indicator lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
U
Used engine oil, disposal . . . . . .137VPage
Variable interval wipers . . . . . . . .31
Vehicle care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .179
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .191
Vehicle Emission Control
Information(VECI) . . . . . . . . . .166
Vehicle loading . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99
Ventilating your vehicle . . . . . . .80
Viscosity (see Engne oil)
W
Warning chimes
headlamps on . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
key in ignition . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
safety belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Warning lights (seeLights)
Washer fluid reservoir . . . . . . . .133
Weight limits (GAWR, GVWR) . .90
Wheels
cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .181
inspection and maintenance . .155
Windows
one-touch down . . . . . . . . . . . .37
power windows, operating . . . .37
rear, defrosting . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Windshield washer fluid and wipers
checking and adding fluid . . . .138
checking and replacing
wiper blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . .150
operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
fluid, specification . . . . . . . . . .188
variable interval wipers . . . . . . .31
Wrecker towing . . . . . . . . . . . . .127
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