1998 Mercury Mountaineer service

with the recommended octane, see
your dealer or a qualified service
technician to prevent any engine
damage.
Fuel quality
If you are experiencing starting,
rough idle or hesitation problems
try a different brand of fuel. If the
condition persists, see your dealer
or a qualified service technician.
The American Automobile
Manufacturers Association (AAMA)
issued a gasoline specification to
provide information on high quality
fuels that optimize the
performance of your vehicle. We
recommend the use of gasolines
that meet the AAMA specification
if they are available.
It should not be necessary to add
any aftermarket products to your
fuel tank if you continue to use a
high-quality fuel.
Cleaner air
Ford approves the use of gasolines
to improve air quality, including
reformulated gasolines that contain
oxygenates up to 10% ethanol or
15% MTBE.
Do not use gasolines containing
methanol, which can damage
critical fuel system components.
Damage resulting from the use of
methanol may not be covered by
your warranty.
Maintenance and care
186

²Do not turn off the ignition
while your vehicle is moving,
especially at high speeds.
²Have the services listed in your
ªService Guideº performed
according to the specified
schedule.
The Scheduled Maintenance
Services listed in the ªService
Guideº are required because they
are considered essential to the life
and performance of your vehicle
and to its emissions system.
If other than Ford, Motorcraft or
Ford authorized parts are used for
maintenance replacements or for
service of components affecting
emission control such non-Ford
parts should be equivalent to
genuine Ford Motor Company
parts in performance and
durability.
Do not park, idle, or drive
your vehicle in dry grass
or other dry ground cover. The
emission system heats up the
engine compartment and exhaust
system, which can start a fire.
Watch for fluid leaks, strange
odors, smoke, loss of oil pressure,
the charging system warning light,
the ªCheck Engineº light or the
temperature warning light. These
events could indicate that the
emission control system is not
working properly.
Maintenance and care
188

If you smell exhaust fumes
of any kind inside your
vehicle, have the dealer inspect
and fix your vehicle immediately.
Do not drive if you smell exhaust
fumes. These fumes are harmful
and could kill you.
Do not make any unauthorized
changes to your vehicle or engine.
By law, vehicle owners and anyone
who manufactures, repairs,
services, sells, leases, trades
vehicles, or supervises a fleet of
vehicles are not permitted to
intentionally remove an emission
control device or prevent it from
working. Information about your
vehicle's emission system is on the
Vehicle Emission Control
Information Decal located on or
near the engine. This decal
identifies engine displacement and
gives some tune up specifications.
Please consult your ªWarranty
Guideº for complete emission
warranty information.
Readiness 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 ªcheck
engine/service engine soonº light is
on, reference the applicable light
description in theWarning Lights
and Chimessection of your
owners guide. Your vehicle may
Maintenance and care
189

not pass the I/M test with the
ªcheck engine/service engine soonº
light on.
If the vehicle's powertrain system
or its battery has just been
serviced, the OBD-II system is
reset to a ªnot ready for I/M testº
condition. To ready the OBD-II
system for I/M testing, a minimum
of 30 minutes of city and highway
driving is necessary as described
below:
²First, at least 10 minutes of
driving on an expressway or
highway.
²Next, at least 20 minutes driving
in stop and go, city type traffic
with at least four idle periods.
Allow the vehicle to sit for at least
eight hours without starting the
engine. Then, start the engine and
complete the above driving cycle.
The engine must warm up to its
normal operating temperature.
Once started, do not turn off the
engine until the above driving
cycle is complete.
EXTERIOR BULBS
Replacing exterior bulbs
Check the operation of the
following lamps frequently:
²headlamps
²foglamps
²high-mount brakelamp
²brakelamps
²turn signals
Maintenance and care
190

Fluid Ford Part
NameApplication
Capacity
Windshield
washer fluidUltra-Clear
Windshield
ConcentrateAll vehicles
2.6L
(2.7 quarts)
1Fill to 6 mm to 14 mm (1/4 inch
to 9/16 inch) below bottom of fill
hole.
2Your vehicle's rear axle is
equipped with synthetic rear axle
lubricant. Rear axles containing
synthetic lubricant are lubricated
for life. These lubricants are not to
be checked or changed unless a
leak is suspected, service required
or the axle assembly has been
submerged in water. The axle
lubricant should be changed any
time the axle has been submerged
in water. For Traction±Lok add
118 ml (4 oz.) of additive friction
modifier C8AZ±19B546±A, Ford
specification EST-M2C118±A, to
your rear axle whenever the
lubricant is changed.
3Vehicles equipped with 4.0L
SOHC engines and 3.73 or 4.10
rear axle ratios or 5.0L engines
require synthetic rear axle
lubricant. Rear axles containing
synthetic lubricant are lubricated
for life. These lubricants are not to
be checked or changed unless a
leak is suspected, service required
or the axle assembly has been
submerged in water. The axle
lubricant should be changed any
time the axle has been submerged
in water. For Traction-Lok rear
Capacities and specifications
206

axles, add 118 ml (4 oz.) of
additive friction modifier
C8AZ-19B546-A, Ford specification
EST-M2C118±A, whenever the
lubricant is changed.
4Refer to your ªService Guideº for
axle fluid change intervals.
LUBRICANT SPECIFICATIONS
FluidFord part
name or
equivalentFord part
numberFord
specification
Windshield
washer fluid
reservoirFord Ultra-Clear
Windshield
Washer
ConcentrateC9AZ-19550-AA
OR -BAESR-M17P5-A
Body hinges,
latches, door
stricker plates
and rotors, seat
tracks, fuel filler
door hinge and
spring, hood
latch, auxiliary
latchMulti-Purpose
GreaseD7AZ-19584-AA
OR
DOAZ-19584-AAESR-M1C159-A
AND
ESB-M1C93-B
Driveshaft, slip
spline, universal
jointsPremium Long
Life GreaseXG-1-C or K ESA-M1C75-B
Engine coolantFord Premium
Cooling System
FluidE2FZ-19549-AA ESE-M97B44-A
Engine oilMotorcraft 5W30
Super Premium
Motor OilXO-5W30-QSPWSS-M2C153-G
with API
Certification
Mark
Capacities and specifications
207

applications must add 118ml
(4 oz.) of additive friction modifier
C8AZ-19B546±A, Ford specification
EST-M2C118±A to the rear axle
whenever the axle has been
serviced.
ENGINE DATA
Engine 5.0L engine 4.0L SOHC engine
Cubic inches 302 245
Horsepower 215 @ 4200 rpm 205 @ 5000 rpm
Torque 288 lbs.ft. @ 3300 rpm 250 lb. ft. @ 3000 rpm
Required fuel grade 87 octane 87 Octane
Firing order 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8 1-4-2-5-3-6
Spark plug gap 1.3 mm-1.4 mm
(0.052-.056 inch)1.3 mm-1.4 mm
(0.052-.056 inch)
Ignition system EDIS EDIS
Compression ratio 9.0:1 9.7:1
VEHICLE DIMENSIONS
Dimensions mm (in.)
(1) Overall length 4 788 (188.5)
(2) Overall width 1 783 (70.2)
(3) Maximum height 1 725 (67.9)
(4) Wheelbase 2 835 (111.6)
(5) Front track/ rear 1 486/1487 (58.5/58.5)
Capacities and specifications
209

Air bag supplemental restraint
system ..........................................73
and child safety seats ..............75
description ................................74
disposal ......................................78
indicator light ...........................77
passenger air bag .....................76
Air conditioning
manual heating and air
conditioning system .......18,21,23
Air suspension
description ..............................103
All wheel drive (AWD) .............118
Ambulance packages ....................3
Anti-lock brake system (ABS)..101
Anti-theft system ........................55
Autolamp system (see
Headlamps) .................................38
Automatic dimming mirror ...37,38
Battery .......................................173
voltage gauge ............................14
Brake fluid
checking and adding ..............162
Brakes ........................................100
anti-lock ...................................100
anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light ...........................101
fluid, checking and adding ....162
Brake-shift interlock .................104
Break-in period .............................2
Bulbs, replacing ........................190
headlamps ...............................191
specifications ..........................193
Cargo cover ............................44,45
Changing a tire .........................144
Child safety seats ........................81
built-in child seat ......86,87,91,92
Childproof locks ..........................41
Chime
headlamps on ............................12
Cleaning your vehicle ...............196
built-in child seat ...................201engine compartment ..............197
fabric ........................................200
instrument panel ....................200
plastic parts ............................199
safety belts ..............................201
tail lamps .................................200
washing ....................................196
waxing .....................................196
wheels ......................................199
windows ..................................203
woodtone trim ........................203
Compass, electronic ....................35
calibration .................................37
set zone adjustment .................36
Control trac 4WD system .........111
Controls .......................................42
Defrost
rear window ..............................24
Driving under special
conditions ...........................115,120
high water ........................115,120
slippery roads ....116,117,121,122
Emission control system ..........187
Engine ........................................209
service points ...................156,157
Engine block heater ...................97
Engine coolant
checking and adding ..............164
disposal ....................................166
refill capacities ........................167
Engine oil ...........................158,161
changing oil and oil filter .......161
checking and adding .......158,160
Exhaust fumes ............................98
Floor mats ...................................43
Foglamps .....................................16
Four-Wheel Drive vehicles
control trac ........................25,111
special driving
instructions ......................113,114
Fuel
calculating fuel economy .......187
Index
213