1998 Mercury Mystique Owner's Manuals

Roadside emergencies
121 JUMPSTARTING YOUR
VEHICLE
The gases around the
battery can explode if
exposed to flames, sparks, or lit
cigarettes. An explosion could
result in injury or vehicle damage.
Do not push start your
vehicle. You could damage
the catalytic converter. For
further information, see
Jumper
cablesin the index.
Batteries contain sulfuric
acid which burns skin, eyes,
and clothing.
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Roadside emergencies
122Connecting jumper cables
1. Position the vehicles so that they
do not touch one another.
2. Switch off the engine. Switch off
any unnecessary electrical
equipment.
3. Connect the positive (+)
terminal of the discharged battery
to the positive (+) terminal of the
booster battery (1).
4. Connect one end of the second
lead to the negative (–) terminal of
the booster battery and the other
end to a metal part of the engine to
be started (2).
5. Make sure that the jumper
cables are clear of moving parts of
the engine.
12
Do not connect the end of
the second cable to the
negative (-) terminal of the
battery to be jumped. A spark may
cause an explosion of the gases
that surround the battery.
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Roadside emergencies
123 Jump starting
1. Start the booster vehicle and run
the engine at moderately increased
speed.
2. Start the engine of the vehicle
with the discharged battery.
3. Once the engine has been
started, run both vehicles for an
additional three minutes before
disconnecting the cable leads.
Removing jumper cables
1. Remove the jumper cables in
reverse order. Take the cable off
the metallic surface first (1), then
the cable on the negative (-)
booster battery terminal (2).
2. Remove the cable from the
positive (+) terminal of the booster
battery (3) and then the
discharged battery (4).
3. After the disabled vehicle has
been started, allow it to idle for a
while so the engine can “relearn”
its idle conditions.
2
1
3
4
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Roadside emergencies
124If towing is necessary, it is
recommended that your vehicle be
towed with a wheel lift or flatbed
equipment. Do not tow with
slingbelt equipment. Ford Motor
Company has not developed or
approved a T-hook or slingbelt
towing procedure.
TOWING YOUR VEHICLE
BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE
Before you have your vehicle
towed:
•release the parking brake,
•move the gearshift to N
(Neutral),
•turn the ignition to the off
position and
•unlock the steering wheel.
Do not tow your vehicle at a speed
faster than 55 km/h (35 mph) or
for a distance greater than 80 km
(55 miles) unless the drive wheels
are placed on dollies. WRECKER TOWING
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Maintenance and care
125 SERVICE RECOMMENDATIONS
•We highlight do-it-yourself items
in the engine compartment for
easy location.
•As possible, we design parts that
can be replaced without tools.
•We provide you with a “Service
Guide” which makes tracking
routine service for your vehicle
easy.
If your vehicle requires
professional service, your Ford
dealership can provide necessary
parts and service. Check your
“Warranty Guide” to find out which
parts and services are covered.
Use only recommended fuels,
lubricants, fluids and service parts
conforming to specifications.
Motorcraft parts are designed and
built to provide the best
performance in your vehicle.
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Maintenance and care
126Precautions when servicing
your vehicle
Be especially careful when
inspecting or servicing your
vehicle. Here are some general
precautions for your safety:
•Do not work on a hot engine.
The cooling fan is automatic
and may come on at any
time. Always disconnect the
negative terminal of the battery
before working near the fan.
•If you must work with the engine
running, avoid wearing loose
clothing or jewelry that could get
caught in moving parts. Take
precautions with long hair.
•Do not work on a vehicle with the
engine running in an enclosed
space, unless you are sure you
have enough ventilation.
•Keep all lit cigarettes, open
flames and other lit material
away from the battery and all fuel
related parts.
If you disconnect the battery, the
engine must “relearn” its idle
conditions before your vehicle will
drive properly, as explained under
Battery in this chapter.
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Maintenance and care
127 Working with engine off
(automatic transaxle)
1. Set the parking brake fully and
ensure the gearshift is securely
latched in P (Park).
2. Turn off the engine and remove
the key.
3. Block the wheels to prevent the
vehicle from moving unexpectedly.
Working with engine off
(manual transaxle)
1. Set the parking brake, depress
the clutch and place the gearshift
in 1 (first) or R (Reverse).
2. Turn off the engine and remove
the key.
3. Block the wheels to prevent the
vehicle from moving unexpectedly.
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Maintenance and care
128Working with engine on
(automatic transaxle)
1. Set the parking brake fully and
ensure the gearshift is securely
latched in P (Park).
2. Block the wheels to prevent the
vehicle from moving unexpectedly.
Do not start your engine with
the air cleaner removed and
do not remove it while the engine is
running.
Working with engine on
(manual transaxle)
1. Set the parking brake, depress
the clutch and place the gearshift
in neutral.
2. Block the wheels to prevent the
vehicle from moving unexpectedly.
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