1998 Mercury Mystique tow

Maintenance and care
180Cleaning 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.
CDW VA1-19Maint en MM 5/15/97 7:56 PM Page 180

Index
191 CPage
Child safety restraints
built-in child seat . . . . . . . . . . .65
child safety seats . . . . . . . . . . . .71
children and safety belts . . .61, 63
Child safety seats
and air bags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
attaching with tether straps . . .74
automatic locking mode . . . . . .49
Childproof safety locks . . . . . . . .35
Chimes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Circuit breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . .109
Cleaning your vehicle
engine compartment . . . . . . . .179
exterior lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . .180
fabric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .181
instrument panel . . . . . . . . . . .181
plastic exterior parts . . . . . . . .180
safety belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .182
wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .178
wiper blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . .180
Climate control system
air conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
controlling airflow . . . . . . . . . . .20
defrosting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Clutch
operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93
recommended shift speeds . . . .94
Cold engine starting . . . . . . . . . .82
Controls
instrument panel . . . . . . . . . . . .14
mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
power seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
steering column . . . . . . . . . . . . .24DPage
Daytime running lights . . . . . . . .15
Defects, reporting . . . . . . . . . . .189
Defrost
rear window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
windshield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Dipstick, engine oil . . . . . . . . . .130
Door mounted controls . . . . . . . .34
Driving under special conditions
heavy load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99
towing a trailer . . . . . . . . . . . .100
E
Electrical system
fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109
Emergencies, roadside
fuel pump shut-off switch . . . .107
jump starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121
towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .124
Emergency brake (see Parking
brake)
Emission control system . . . . . .163
Engine
check engine warning light . . . . .8
fuel pump shut-off switch . . . .107
lubricant specifications . . . . . .185
preparing to start . . . . . . . . . . .79
refill capacities . . . . . . . . . . . .184
starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82
Engine block heater . . . . . . . . . .83
Engine coolant
checking and adding . . . . . . . .136
disposal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .138
low coolant warning light . . . . . .7
refilll capacities . . . . . . . . . . . .184
specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . .185
Engine fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .126
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Index
195 SPage
Safety belts
(see Safety restraints)
Safety chains, when towing
a trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104
Safety Compliance Certification
Label . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102
Safety defects, reporting . . . . . .189
Safety restraints
adjusting the safety belts . .47, 51
automatic locking mode
(retractors) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
cleaning the safety belts . . . . .182
extention assembly . . . . . . . . . .53
for children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
head restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
lap and shoulder belts . . . . . . . .48
maintenance . . . . . . . . . . .54, 182
vehicle sensitive locking mode .49
warning light and chime . . . .7, 11
Safety seats for children
and air bags . . . . . . . . . . . . .56, 72
attaching with tether straps . . .74
automatic locking mode
(retractors) . . . . . . . . . . . . .49, 71
built-in child seat . . . . . . . . . . .65
in front seat . . . . . . . . . . . . .56, 72
tether anchorage hardware . . .75
Seats
adjusting the seats, manual . . .44
adjusting the seats, power . . . .45
folding rear seats . . . . . . . . . . . .46
head restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Servicing your vehicle . . . . . . . .125
Shift-lock system . . . . . . . . . . . . .88
Shift positions (see Gearshift)
Snow tires and chains . . . . . . . .155SPage
Spare tire
changing the tire . . . . . . . . . . .116
removing the spare tire . . . . . .118
temporary spare tire . . . . . . . .117
Spark plugs, certifications . . . .183
Specification charts, lubricants185
Speed control
disengaging speed control . . . .32
return to a set speed . . . . . . . . .32
set a speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
set a higher speed . . . . . . . . . . .31
set a lower speed . . . . . . . . . . . .31
turn speed control off . . . . . . . .29
turn speed control on . . . . . . . .29
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Starting your vehicle
preparing to start the vehicle . .79
starting the engine . . . . . . . . . .82
Steering column controls . . . . . .24
Steering wheel
horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
speed control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
tilting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Supplemental restraint
system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11, 53
T
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Tail lamps (see Rear lamps)
Temperature control
(see Climate control)
Testing the warning lights . . . . . .10
Tether anchor installation
(see Child safety restraints)
Tilt steering wheel . . . . . . . . . . . .25
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Index
196TPage
Tires
changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116
checking tire pressure . . . . . .152
cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .178
inspection and maintenance . .152
replacing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120
rotating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .152
snow tires and chains . . . . . . .155
spare tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
tire grades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .149
treadwear . . . . . . . . . . . . .150, 153
wearbands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .153
Towing your vehicle . . . . . . . . .124
Trailer towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100
Transaxle
automatic, operation . . . . . . . . .87
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .141
fluid, refill capacities . . . . . . . .184
lubricant specifications . . . . . .185
manual, operation . . . . . . . . . . .93
Transmitter (see Remote entry)
Trip odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Trunk (see Luggage compartment)
remote release lever . . . . . . . . .36
using the remote entry system .39
Turn signal
indicator lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
U
Used engine oil, disposal . . . . . .134VPage
Variable interval wipers . . . . . . . .28
Vehicle care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .176
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .188
Vehicle Emission Control
Information(VECI) . . . . . . . . . .163
Vehicle loading . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96
Ventilating your vehicle . . . . . . .77
Viscosity (see Engne oil)
W
Warning chimes
headlamps on . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
key in ignition . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
safety belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Warning lights (seeLights)
Washer fluid reservoir . . . . . . . .130
Weight limits (GAWR, GVWR) . .96
Wheels
cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .178
inspection and maintenance . .152
Windows
one-touch down . . . . . . . . . . . .34
power windows, operating . . . .34
rear, defrosting . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Windshield washer fluid and wipers
checking and adding fluid . . . .135
checking and replacing
wiper blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . .147
operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
fluid, specification . . . . . . . . . .185
variable interval wipers . . . . . . .28
Wrecker towing . . . . . . . . . . . . .124
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