1998 FORD WINDSTAR service

268
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[ER15500(ALL)04/96]
Towing Your Vehicle
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[ER15600(ALL)01/96]
If you need to have your vehicle towed, contact a professional
towing service or, if you are a member, your roadside assistance
center.
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[ER15700(ALL)01/96]
When calling for a tow truck, tell the operator what kind of
vehicle you have. A towing manual is available from Ford
Motor Company for all authorized tow truck operators. Have
your tow truck driver refer to this manual for the proper
hook-up and towing procedures for your vehicle.
File:10wners.ex
Update:Mon Oct 7 11:47:52 1996

269
Maintenance and Care
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[MC00200(ALL)01/96]
How Ford Makes Servicing Your Vehicle
Easy
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[MC00300(ALL)01/96]
Ford has two goals for servicing your vehicle.
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[MC00400(ALL)01/96]1.
When we can, we design parts that do not need to be
serviced.
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[MC00500(ALL)01/96]2.
We want to make servicing your vehicle as easy as possible.
To help you:
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[MC00600(ALL)01/96]
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We highlight do-it-yourself items in yellow in your engine
compartment so that you can find them easily.
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[MC00700(ALL)03/96]
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When possible, we design parts that can be replaced without
tools.
[MC00800(ALL)07/96]
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We give you aMaintenance Schedulebooklet that makes
tracking routine service for your vehicle easy.
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[MC00900(ALL)01/96]
This chapter tells you about the basic parts that you need to
check and service regularly.
[MC01000(ALL)01/96]
If you need professional servicing, see the chapter onCustomer
Assistancein this Owner Guide.
[MC01100(ALL)01/96]
Check yourWarranty InformationBooklet to find out which parts
are covered.
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[MC01200(ALL)01/96]
Precautions When Servicing Your Vehicle
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[MC01300(ALL)01/96]
Be especially careful when inspecting or servicing your vehicle.
Here are some general precautions for your safety:
[MC01400(ALL)04/96]
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If you must work with the engine running, avoid wearing
loose clothing or jewelry that could get caught in moving
parts.
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[MC01500(ALL)01/96]
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Do not work on a vehicle in an enclosed space with the
engine running, unless you are sure you have enough
ventilation.
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Update:Tue Oct 8 10:24:50 1996

Maintenance and Care
273
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[MC03600(ALL)03/96]
Engine Compartment
[MC03700(ALL)08/96]
Your vehicle has a 3.0 liter SFI, V-6 engine or an optional 3.8
liter SPI, V-6 engine. The following illustrations show diagrams
of your engine and where you can find items you should
service regularly.
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[MC04000(ALL)04/96]
What to Check When You Stop at a Service
Station
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[MC04100(ALL)01/96]
Engine Oil Recommendations
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[MC04200(ALL)01/96]
We recommend using Motorcraft oil or an equivalent oil
meeting Ford Specification WSS-M2C153-F and displaying the
American Petroleum Institute CERTIFICATION MARK on the
front of the container.
[MC04300(ALL)04/96]
Use only engine oils displaying the American Petroleum
Institute CERTIFICATION MARK on the front of the container:
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[MC04400(ALL)01/96]
10-1/2 pica
art:0001314-A
The API Certification Mark
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[MC04500(ALL)01/96]
Neveruse:
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[MC04600(ALL)01/96]
n
ªNon-Detergentº oils
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[MC04700(ALL)02/96]
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Oils labeled API SA, SB, SC, SD, SE, SF or SG
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[MC04800(ALL)01/96
]
n
Additional engine oil additives, oil treatments or engine
treatments
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Update:Tue Oct 8 10:24:50 1996

Maintenance and Care
285
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[MC10700(ALL)05/96]
Ford Premium Cooling System Fluid is an optimized formula
that will protect all metals and rubber elastomers used in Ford
engines for four years or 50,000 miles (80,000 km). It is not
necessary and not recommended to use supplemental coolant
additives in your gasoline powered vehicle. These additives may
harm your engine cooling system. Follow the recommended
service interval for changing your engine coolant.
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[MC10800(ALL)05/96]
NOTE: When adding to or changing your engine coolant, it is
important to maintain a coolant concentration between
40% (s11ÊF [s24ÊC]) and 60% (s62ÊF [s52ÊC])
depending on your local climate conditions. When
coolant concentration falls below 40%, you will lose
freeze protection; above 60%, your engine may
overheat on a warm day. If coolant concentration is
outside this range, you may lose corrosion and rust
protection for the metals in your engine cooling
system.
[MC10900(ALL)01/96]
NOTE: Do not use an engine coolant that does not meet all
14 requirements of Ford specification ESE-M97B44-A.
The use of a coolant that does not meet the 14
requirements may void your warranty for the engine
cooling system. Use only a premium, nationally
recognized brand name engine coolant.
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[MC11000(ALL)05/96]
Ford Motor Company expressly authorizes the Ford Rotunda
engine coolant recycling process and chemicals. Use only Ford
Rotunda recycled engine coolant or an equivalent non-Ford
Rotunda recycled engine coolant that is certified by the supplier
to meet Ford specification ESE-M97B44-A.
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[MC11100(ALL)05/96
]
NOTE: Always dispose of used automotive fluids in a
responsible manner. Follow your community's
standards for disposing of these types of fluids. Call
your local recycling center to find out about recycling
automotive fluids.
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286
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[MC11200(ALL)05/96]
Leave the coolant in all year. Make sure that the coolant will
not freeze at the temperature level in which you usually drive
during winter months. Keep an engine coolant in your engine
that has a protection rating of at leasts20ÊF (s29ÊC).
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[MC11300(ALL)05/96]
To find out how much engine coolant mixture your vehicle's
coolant system can hold, seeRefill CapacitiesinCapacities and
Specificationschapter.
[MC11400(ALL)01/96]
You may add water by itself only in an emergency, but you
should replace it with a 50/50 mixture of water and coolant as
soon as possible.
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[MC11500(ALL)05/96]
Have your dealer check the engine cooling system for leaks if
you have to add engine coolant more than once a month, or
you have to add more than a quart (liter) at a time.
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[MC11600(ALL)01/96]
Checking Hoses
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[MC11700(ALL)01/96]
Inspect all engine and heater system hoses for deterioration,
leaks and loose clamps before adding or replacing engine
coolant. Make whatever repairs or replacements are necessary
using Motorcraft parts or their equivalents.
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[MC11800(ALL)05/96]
Engine Coolant Drain and Flush
[MC11900(ALL)01/96]
To drain and flush your engine coolant, youMUSTsee your
Ford dealer or refer to the procedure in the service manual.
Failing to do so could result in engine damage.
% [MC12000(ALL)04/96]
Power Steering Fluid
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[MC12100(ALL)01/96]
Check the level of the power steering fluid at least twice a
year (i.e., every Spring and Fall).
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[MC12200(ALL)01/96]
To check the level of your power steering fluid:
[MC12300(ALL)01/96]1.
Start the engine and let it run until the power steering fluid
reaches normal operating temperature. The power steering
fluid will reach the right temperature after at least five
minutes of idling or at least one mile (1 km) of driving.
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[MC14260(ALL)09/96]
Normal operating temperature is reached after driving
approximately 20 miles (32 km). The fluid level should be
within the crosshatched area on the dipstick.
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[MC14300(ALL)01/96]
Adding Automatic Transaxle Fluid
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[MC14400(ALL)01/96]
The fluid type is stamped on the dipstick. Before adding any
fluid, be sure that the correct type will be used.
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[MC14500(ALL)01/96]
Add fluid in 1/2 pint (0.25 liter) increments through the filler
tube to bring the level to the correct area on the dipstick. If an
overfill occurs, excess fluid should be removed by a qualified
technician.
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[MC14600(ALL)05/96
]
NOTE: Always dispose of used automotive fluids in a
responsible manner. Follow your community's
standards for disposing of these types of fluids. Call
your local recycling center to find out about recycling
automotive fluids.
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[MC14700(ALL)01/96]
NOTE: Always use Motorcraft MERCONHor equivalent
MERCONHautomatic transaxle fluid when you refill
your automatic transaxle fluid.
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[MC14800(ALL)01/96]
Battery
[MC14900(ALL)09/96]
The Motorcraft maintenance-free battery normally does not
require additional water during its life of service. However, for
severe service usage or in high temperature climates, check your
battery electrolyte level, at least every 24 months or 24,000 miles
(40,000 km). Keep the electrolyte in each cell up to the ºlevelª
indicator. Do not overfill the battery cell. For longer, trouble-free
operation, keep the top of the battery clean and dry. Also, make
certain the battery cables are always tightly fastened to the
battery terminals.
File:11wnmcs.ex
Update:Tue Oct 8 10:24:50 1996

Maintenance and Care
291
[MC15000(ALL)09/96]
If you see any corrosion on the battery cables or terminals,
remove the cables from the terminal(s) and clean with a wire
brush. You can neutralize the acid with a solution of baking
soda and water. Reinstall the cables when you are done cleaning
them, and apply a small quantity of grease to the top of each
battery terminal to help prevent corrosion.
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[MC15100(ALL)01/96]
Battery replacement
[MC15200(ALL)09/96]
If your original equipment battery requires replacement while
under warranty, it will be replaced with a Motorcraft service
battery, identical in design technology. Like the original
equipment battery, it should not require water addition during
its normal life of service; however, for severe service usage or in
high temperature climates, check your battery electrolyte level,
at least every 24 months or 24,000 miles (40 000 km). Do not
overfill the battery cell.
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[MC15400(ALL)05/96]
If the electrolyte level in your battery gets low, you can add
plain tap water to the battery, as long as you do not use hard
water (water with a high mineral or alkali content). If possible,
however, try to only fill the battery cell with distilled water. If
the battery needs water often, have the charging system
checked.
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[MC15500(ALL)01/96]
Help Us Protect Our Environment
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[MC15600(ALL)01/96]
Ford Motor Company strongly recommends that used lead-acid
batteries be returned to an authorized recycling facility for
disposal.
File:11wnmcs.ex
Update:Tue Oct 8 10:24:50 1996