1998 FORD CONTOUR maintenance

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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Maintenance and care
184Cleaning the interior fabric
Remove dust and loose dirt with a
whisk broom or a vacuum cleaner.
Remove fresh spots immediately.
Follow the directions that come
with the cleaner.
Cleaning leather seats
(if equipped)
For routine cleaning, wipe the
surface with a soft, damp cloth. For
more thorough cleaning, wipe the
surface with a leather and vinyl
cleaner or a mild soap.
Cleaning the instrument panel
HM:
I0 20OFF LOPNL/FLR
PANEL
A/CFLOOR
DEF FLR
DEF
MAX
A/C HI/
POWERAUDIOAM/FM
SCAN
SEEK 312645ANSSIDE1-2EJECTVOLUME
000123000010 20 3040506070
80
90
100
110
120
130MPH20 406055
80120 100
140
160
180
200EF 1
/
2UNLEADED FUEL ONLY12
03x 1000
4
5
6
7
8NORMALBRAKE
CHECK
ENGINE TRACTION
CONTROLO/D
OFF
MIRRORS
Clean the instrument panel with a
damp cloth, then dry with a dry
cloth.
Any cleaner or polish that
increases the gloss of the upper
portion of the instrument panel
should be avoided. The dull finish
in this area is to help protect the
driver from undesirable windshield
reflection.
CDW VA1-19Maint en C 5/15/97 8:56 PM Page 184

Maintenance and care
185 Cleaning and maintaining the
safety belts
Clean the safety belts with a mild
soap solution recommended for
cleaning upholstery or carpets and
warm water. Do not bleach or dye
the belts, because these actions
may weaken the belt webbing.
Check the safety belt system
periodically to make sure there are
no nicks, wear or cuts.
Cleaning and caring for your
vehicle
Refer to the “Customer Assistance
Guide” for a list of Ford-approved
cleaners, polishes and waxes.
Ford recommends that all
safety belt assemblies and
attaching hardware should be
inspected by a qualified technician
after any collision. Safety belt
assemblies not in use during a
collision should also be inspected
and replaced if either damage or
improper operation is noted.
CDW VA1-19Maint en C 5/15/97 8:56 PM Page 185

Index
197 MPage
Maintenance (see Servicing)
Manual transaxle
backing up (reverse) . . . . . . . . .98
clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96
fluid, capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . .187
fluid, checking and adding . . .138
shift speeds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97
Mileage, calculating fuel
economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .165
Mirrors
side view mirrors (power) . . . .20
Motorcraft parts . . . . . . . . . . . .186
N
National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . .192
O
Octane rating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .163
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Oil (see Engine oil)
Oil filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .136, 187
On-board diagnostic (OBDII)
system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .169
Overdrive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9, 93
Overhead controls . . . . . . . . . . . .36
P
Panel dimmer control . . . . . . . . .19
Panic alarm, remote entry sytem42
Parking brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89
Parts (see Motorcraft parts) . . .186
Passenger compartment
air filter (see Cabin air filter) . .150
Passive Anti-Theft
System (PATS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44PPage
Power distribution box
(see Fuses)
Power door locks . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
Power features
mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
Power steering
fluid, checking and adding . . .143
fluid, refill capacity . . . . . . . . .187
fluid, specification . . . . . . . . . .188
R
Radio (see Audio system) . . . . . .21
Rear window defroster . . . . . . . .19
Refill capacities for fluids . . . . .187
Relays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112
Remote control
luggage compartment . . . . . . . .39
Remote entry system
locking/unlocking doors . . . . . .41
opening the trunk . . . . . . . . . . .42
panic alarm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
replacing the batteries . . . . . . .42
replacement/additional
transmitters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Repairing paint chips . . . . . . . .181
Reporting safety defects . . . . . .192
Restraints, safety . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
Rotating the tires . . . . . . . . . . . .155
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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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