1998 Mercury Villager warning

Emission Control System
Your vehicle is equipped with a catalytic converter which enables
your vehicle to comply with applicable exhaust emission
requirements.
WARNING
Exhaust leaks may result in the entry of harmful and
potentially lethal fumes into the passenger compartment.
Under extreme conditions excessive exhaust
temperatures could damage the fuel system, the interior
floor covering, or other vehicle components, possibly
causing a fire.
Malfunctions in the engine or exhaust system can result in
excessive exhaust system temperatures. Under extreme conditions
(for example, towing a trailer up a steep hill on a very hot day
with a malfunctioning engine or exhaust system), high exhaust
system temperatures could be damaging.
To make sure that the catalytic converter and the other emission
control parts continue to work properly:
mUse only unleaded fuel.
mAvoid running out of fuel.
mNever turn off the ignition while your vehicle is moving,
especially at high speeds.
mHave the services listed in yourMaintenance Schedulebooklet
performed according to the specified schedule.
Maintenance and Care
313

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.
314

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

WARNING
Handle a halogen headlamp bulb carefully and keep out
of children's reach. Grasp the bulb only by its plastic
base and do not touch the glass. The oil from your hand
could cause the bulb to break the next time the headlamps
are operated.
Do not remove the burned out bulb unless you can immediately
replace it with a new one. If a bulb is removed for an
extended period of time, contaminants may enter the headlamp
and affect its performance.
Removing the headlamp bulb
1. Make sure that the engine is off and the headlamp switch on
the instrument panel is in the OFF position.
2. Remove the electrical connector from the bulb by pulling the
connector away from the bulb assembly.
The headlamp bulb assembly
Maintenance and Care
317

Automatic transmission
driving an automatic overdrive..............223
fluid, adding.......................291
B
Backing up.........................222
Battery
acid, treating emergencies............268, 294, 295
charging system warning light..............14
disconnecting......................272
proper disposal, recycling................294
voltage gauge.......................14
when storing your vehicle................335
Brake fluid.........................282
brake warning light....................9
checking and adding...................282
description........................282
specifications....................283, 339
Brakes...........................215
adjustment........................215
anti-lock.........................215
applying the brakes...................218
brake warning light....................9
fluid, checking and adding................282
fluid, refill capacities...................282
fluid, specifications.................283, 339
front disc........................215
if brakes do not grip well..............217, 218
lubricant specifications..................339
master cylinder.....................282
new brake linings.....................5
noise........................215, 217
parking.........................218
power braking......................215
374

servicing......................217, 282
stopping distances....................218
trailer..........................235
when storing your vehicle................335
Brights (high beams).....................17
Bulbs, replacing.......................316
halogen.........................316
headlamps........................316
specifications.......................322
C
Canada, customer assistance................352
Canadian Motor Vehicle Arbitration Plan (CAMVAP)....352
Car seats for children (see Child safety seats)........153
Carbon monoxide in exhaust................212
Cargonet ..........................111
Catalytic converter.....................313
Chains, tires........................305
Changing a tire.......................254
Charging system warning light................14
Child safety restraints....................151
child safety belts.....................166
child safety seats.....................153
Child safety seats......................153
and air bags.......................153
attaching with tether straps...............160
automatic locking mode (retractor)..........136, 153
in front seat.......................153
in rear outboard seat...................153
in rear seat........................153
tether anchorage hardware................160
Childproof locks......................100
Index
375

Controls
mirrors..........................109
Convenience kit in cargo area................255
Coolant (see Engine coolant)................285
checking and adding...................285
drain and flush.....................289
preparing for storage...................335
specifications.......................339
temperature gauge...................18,23
warnings.........................285
Cooling fan.........................276
Customer Assistance Centre, Ford of Canada........352
D
Daytime running light system................78
Defrost
rear window.......................75
windshield........................56
Dipstick..........................281
automatic transaxle fluid.................291
engine oil........................281
power steering fluid.................289, 289
Disabled vehicle (see Towing)................272
Dispute Settlement Board..................348
Doors............................97
door ajar warning light..................15
lubricant specifications..................339
Driving under special conditions
heavy load........................226
towing a trailer.....................227
Index
377

E
Electrical system
circuit breakers......................252
fuses........................243, 244
relays..........................253
Electronic sound system
antenna..........................84
atenna..........................84
tuning the radio......................33
warranty and service information.............51
Emergencies, roadside
assistance........................345
battery acid spills..................268, 295
fuel...........................310
towing..........................272
Emergency brake (parking brake)..............218
Emission control system..................313
catalytic converter....................313
emissions warranty.................313, 314
Engine
check engine warning light................12
does not start....................209, 210
fuel injected engine, starting...............207
fuel pump shut-off switch................210
preparing to start..................207, 207
service points......................341
starting.........................207
starting after a collision.................242
storing your vehicle.................333, 334
Engine block heater.....................210
Engine coolant.......................285
checking and adding...................285
disposal.........................292
drain and flush.....................289
378