1998 Mercury Villager brake

NOTE: Always dispose of used automotive fluids in a
responsible manner. Follow your community's
standards for disposing of these types of fluids. Call
your local recycling center to find out about recycling
automotive fluids.
Precautions When Servicing Your Vehicle
Be especially careful when inspecting or servicing your vehicle.
Here are some general precautions for your safety:
mYour vehicle is equipped with an automatic cooling fan. It
may come on at any time without warning. To avoid
injury, always disconnect the negative (-) terminal of the
battery before working near the fan.
mDo not work on a vehicle in an enclosed space with the
engine running, unless you are sure you have enough
ventilation.
mNever get under a vehicle while it is supported only by a jack.
If you must work under a vehicle, use safety stands.
mKeep all lit cigarettes and other smoking materials away from
the battery and all fuel-related parts.
If you plan to work under the hood while the engine is off:
WARNING
Always set the parking brake fully and make sure the
gearshift is latched in P (Park). Turn off the ignition
whenever you leave your vehicle.
WARNING
Always remove the key from the ignition after you turn
off the engine.
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If you must work under the hood while the engine is running:
mSet the parking brake fully and make sure that the gearshift
is securely latched in P (Park). This will prevent your
vehicle from moving unexpectedly.
WARNING
Do not start your engine with the air cleaner removed and
do not remove it while the engine is running.
mAvoid wearing loose clothing or jewelry that could get caught
in moving parts. Take appropriate precautions with long hair.
Opening the Hood
1. Pull the hood release handle, located below the fuse panel
door.
Hood release handle location
Maintenance and Care
277

Checking Engine Oil
Check the engine oil each time you fuel your vehicle.
1. Make sure the vehicle is on level ground.
2. Turn the engine off and wait a few minutes for the oil to drain
into the oil pan.
3. Set the parking brake and ensure the gearshift is securely
latched in Park,9P9.
4. Open the hood. Protect yourself from engine heat.
5. Locate and carefully remove the engine oil level indicator (dip
stick).
6. Wipe the indicator clean. Insert the indicator fully, then
remove it again.
mIf the oil level isbetween the L and H marks,the oil level is
acceptable.DO NOT ADD OIL
mIf the level is below the L mark, add enough oil to raise the
level within the L-H range
WARNING
Oil level above the H mark may cause engine damage.
Some oil must be removed from the engine by a service
technician.
7. Put the indicator back in and ensure it is fully seated.
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7. Refill the engine with a CERTIFIED engine oil of the preferred
viscosity. Start the engine and check for leaks. Follow
directions inChecking and adding engine oilto be sure the
engine is filled to the proper level.
WARNING
Continuous contact with USED motor oil has caused
cancer in laboratory mice.
Protect your skin by washing with soap and water.
Brake Fluid
Your vehicle is equipped with a brake fluid level indicator in the
master cylinder which lights the BRAKE warning light on the
instrument panel when the brake fluid level is low.
Under normal circumstances, your vehicle should not use up
brake fluid rapidly. However, expect the level of the brake fluid
to slowly fall as you put more mileage on your vehicle and
the brake pads wear.
Check the brake fluid at least once a year. You can do this by
looking at the fluid level in the plastic brake fluid reservoir on the
master cylinder. The fluid level should be at or near the MAX
mark.
WARNING
Brake fluid is toxic.
If brake fluid contacts eyes, flush eyes with running water for 15
minutes. Get medical attention if irritation persists. If taken
internally, drink water and induce vomiting. Get medical attention
immediately.
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If the fluid is low, carefully clean and remove the filler cap from
the reservoir. Fill the reservoir to the MAX line with Ford
High Performance DOT 3 Brake Fluid C6AZ-19542-AB or DOT 3
equivalent fluid meeting Ford specification ESA-M6C25-A.
WARNING
If you use a brake fluid that is not DOT 3, you will cause
permanent damage to your brakes.
Do not fill the reservoir above the MAX line.
If you find that the fluid level is excessively low Ð below the
seam or ridge on the outside of the plastic reservoir Ð have the
brake system inspected.
WARNING
Do not let the reservoir for the master cylinder run dry.
This may cause the brakes to fail.
Brake fluid master cylinder reservoir
Maintenance and Care
283

Automatic Transmission Fluid
Under normal circumstances, you do not need to check the fluid
level of the transaxle since your vehicle does not use up
transmission fluid. However, if the transaxle is not working
properly (for example, slipping or shifting slowly), or you notice
some sign of fluid leakage, the fluid level should be checked.
It is best to check the transmission fluid level at normal operating
temperature, after approximately 20 miles (30 km) of driving.
However, if necessary, you can check the fluid level without having
to drive 20 miles (30 km) to obtain a normal operating
temperature if outside temperatures are above 50É F (10É C).
NOTE: If the vehicle has been operated for an extended period
at high speeds or in city traffic during hot weather, or
if it has been pulling a trailer, the engine should be
turned off for about 30 minutes to allow the fluid to
cool before checking.
Checking the Automatic Transmission Fluid
With the vehicle on a level surface, start the engine and move the
gearshift lever through all of the gear ranges allowing
sufficient time for each position to engage. Securely latch the
gearshift lever in the P (Park) position, fully set the parking brake
and leave the engine running.
Wipe off the dipstick cap, pull the dipstick out and wipe the
indicator end clean. Put the dipstick back into the filler tube and
make sure it is fully seated. Pull the dipstick out and read the
fluid level.
Maintenance and Care
291

mMetric: L/100k = Multiply the number of liters used by 100
and divide the answer by the number of kilometers
travelled.
Comparisons With Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) Fuel Economy Estimates
EPA fuel economy figures are obtained from laboratory tests
under simulated road conditions and may not reflect the actual
conditions you experience or your style of driving. The EPA fuel
economy estimate is not a guarantee that you will achieve the
fuel economy shown.
The following decrease fuel economy:
mLack of regular, scheduled maintenance
mRapid acceleration and excessive speed
mDriving with your foot on the brake
mSudden stops
mExtended engine idling
mUsing speed control in hilly terrain
mExtended use of the A/C, defroster, rear window defroster
and other accessories
mUnderinflated tires
mHeavy loads
mAftermarket add-ons such as bike, ski or luggage racks, bug
deflectors, etc.
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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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