1998 Mercury Villager light

gasolines, the performance of the emission control devices and
systems may be adversely affected. Repair of damage caused by
using a fuel that your vehicle was not designed for may not
be covered by your warranty.
Octane recommendation
Your vehicle is designed to use regular gasoline with an
(R+M)/2 octane rating of 87. We do not recommend gasolines
labeled as ªregularº in high altitude areas that are sold with
octane ratings of 86 or even less.
Do not be concerned if your vehicle sometimes knocks lightly.
However, if it knocks heavily under most driving conditions
on the recommended octane fuel, 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.
Typical octane rating label
Maintenance and Care
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WARNING
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.
WARNING
Do not remove the floor carpet in your vehicle. Emission
controls cause high exhaust temperatures under the
floor.
Watch for fluid leaks, strange odors, smoke and loss of oil
pressure. Also watch for the charge warning light, the check engine
light, or the temperature warning light. These sometimes
indicate that the emission system is not working properly.
Do not make any unauthorized changes to your vehicle or engine.
Changes that cause more unburned fuel to reach the exhaust
system can increase the temperature of the engine or exhaust
system.
In general, maintenance, replacement, or service of the emission
control devices or systems in your new Ford Motor
Company vehicle or engine may be performed at your expense
by any automotive repair establishment or individual using
automotive parts equivalent to those with which your vehicle or
engine was originally equipped.
By law, anyone who manufactures, repairs, services, sells, leases
vehicles, trades vehicles, or supervises a fleet of vehicles is
not permitted to intentionally remove an emission control device
or prevent it from working. In some of the United States and
in Canada, vehicle owners may be liable if their emission control
device is removed or is prevented from working.
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Do not drive your vehicle if it does not operate properly. See
your dealer if the engine runs on for more than five seconds after
you shut it off or if it misfires, surges, stalls, or backfires.
Information about your vehicle's emissions control 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.
How to Prepare Your Vehicle 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``Service
Engine Soon''light is on, reference the applicable light
description in the Warning Light and Gauges section of your
owners guide. Your vehicle may not pass the I/M test with the
``Service Engine Soon''light on.
If the vehicles powertrain system or battery has just been
serviced, the OBD-II system is reset to a ``not ready for I/M test''
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:
mFirst, at least ten minutes of driving on an expressway or
highway.
mNext, at least twenty minutes of driving in stop-and-go,
city-type driving with at least four idle periods.
Allow the vehicle to sit for at least 8 hours without starting the
engine. Then, start the engine and complete the above driving cycle.
The engine must warm up to it's normal operating
temperature. Once started, do not turn off the engine until the
above driving cycle is complete.
Maintenance and Care
315

Lights and Bulb Replacement
It is a good idea to check the operation of the following lights
frequently:
mheadlamps
mhigh-mount brakelamp
mtail lamps
mbrakelamps
mcornering lamps
mhazard flasher
mturn signals
mlicense plate lamps
The alignment of your headlamps should be checked if:
moncoming motorists frequently signal you to turn off your
vehicle's high beams when you do not have the high
beams on
mthe headlamps do not seem to give you enough light to see
clearly at night
mthe headlamp beams are not pointed slightly down and to the
right
Headlamp Bulb
The headlamps on your vehicle use replaceable bulbs. When the
lamp burns out, simply replace the bulb, rather than the
whole lamp.
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Cleaning Your Vehicle
Washing and Polishing Your Vehicle
Wash the outside of your vehicle, including the underside, with a
mild detergent.
DO NOT:
mWash your vehicle with hot water
mWash your vehicle while it sits in direct sunlight
mWash your vehicle while the body is hot
Pollen, bird droppings and tree sap can damage the paint,
especially in hot weather. Wash your vehicle as often as necessary
to keep it clean.
Take similar precautions if your vehicle is exposed to chemical
industrial fallout.
Paint damage resulting from fallout is not related to a defect in
paint materials or workmanship and therefore, is not covered by
warranty. Ford, however, believes that continual improvement
in customer satisfaction is a high priority. For this reason, Ford has
authorized their dealers to repair, at no charge to the owner,
the surfaces of new vehicles damaged by environmental fallout
within 12 months or 12,000 miles (20,000 km) of purchase,
whichever comes first. Customers may be required to bring their
vehicle in for inspection by a Ford representative.
Polish your vehicle to remove harmful deposits and protect the
finish.
Maintenance and Care
329

Vehicle Storage
Maintenance Tips
If you plan on storing your vehicle for an extended period of
time (60 days or more), refer to the following maintenance
recommendations to keep your vehicle in good operating condition.
General
mStore your vehicle in a dry, ventilated place.
mProtect from sunlight, if possible.
mWhen your vehicle is stored outside, it will require regular
maintenance to protect against rust and damage.
Body
mWash your vehicle thoroughly to remove dirt, grease, oil, tar
or mud from exterior surfaces, rear wheel housings and
underside of front fenders.
mTouch-up raw or primed metal to prevent rust.
mCover chrome and stainless steel parts with a thick coat of
auto wax to prevent discoloration. Re-wax as necessary
when your vehicle is washed.
mLubricate all hood, door and trunk lid hinges and latches with
a light grade oil.
mCover interior soft trim to prevent fading.
mKeep all rubber parts free from oil and solvents.
Maintenance and Care
333

Cooling system
mProtect your vehicle against freezing temperatures.
Battery
mCheck and recharge the battery as necessary.
mKeep connections clean and covered with a light coat of
grease.
Brakes
mMake sure the brakes and parking brake are fully released.
Tires
mMaintain recommended air pressure.
Miscellaneous
mMake sure all linkages, cables, levers and clevis pins under
the vehicle are covered with grease to prevent rust.
mLubricate working parts to prevent corrosion.
Maintenance and Care
335

A warranty dispute must be submitted to the Dispute Settlement
Board before taking action under the Magnuson-Moss
Warranty Act, or to the extent allowed by state law, before
pursuing replacement or repurchase remedies provided by certain
state laws. This dispute handling procedure is not required
prior to enforcing state created rights or other rights which are
independent of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act or state
replacement or repurchase laws.
The Dispute Settlement Board (U.S. Only)
The Dispute Settlement Board is:
man independent, third-party arbitration program for warranty
disputes
mavailable free to owners and lessees of qualifying Ford Motor
Company vehicles
The Dispute Settlement Board may not be available in all states.
Ford Motor Company reserves the right to change eligibility
limitations, modify procedures and/or discontinue this service
without notice and without incurring obligations.
What kinds of cases does the Board review?
The Board reviews all warranty performance complaints on Ford,
Mercury and Lincoln cars and Ford and Mercury light trucks
under the new vehicle limited warranty that have not been resolved
by either a dealer or Ford Motor Company, except those
involving:
ma non-Ford product
ma non-Ford dealership
ma vehicle sales transaction
mrequest for reimbursement of consequential expenses.
Expenses incidental to the warranty complaint being reviewed
are eligible for consideration
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