1998 Mercury Villager wheel

If you have optional cast-aluminum wheels, remove the wheel
cap to gain access to the lug nuts. Insert the tapered end of the jack
handle behind the notch in the wheel cap and gently pry it off.
To replace it, press it back on. You must line up the raised circle on
the back of the wheel cap with the indented area on the wheel
in order to press the wheel cap on.
4. Fit the hex-shaped end of the lug wrench over the wheel lug nuts
and loosen them one-half turn (counterclockwise). Do not
remove the wheel lug nuts until you raise the tire off the ground.
If your vehicle has the optional locking lug nuts, you must
use the lug nut removal tool provided with your vehicle's tool
kit.
Removing the optional wheel cap
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261

WARNING
Do not jack on the running board.
WARNING
To avoid injury, never run the engine with one wheel off
the ground, such as when changing a tire.
WARNING
To lessen the risk of personal injury, do not put any part
of your body under the vehicle while changing a tire.
Do not start the engine when your vehicle is on the jack.
The jack is only meant for changing the tire.
Placing the jack
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263

7. Turn the lug nut wrench (attached to the jack handle)
clockwise to raise the vehicle off the ground.
8. Remove the wheel lug nuts with the lug nut wrench.
9. Remove the flat tire and replace it with the spare tire.
10. Place the wheel lug nuts on the spare tire. Use the lug nut
wrench to screw the lug nuts snug against the wheel, but
do not tighten fully.
11. Lower the vehicle by turning the jack handle
counterclockwise.
12. Use the wheel lug wrench to tighten lug nuts in the
appropriate sequence. Re-check for complete tightness.
The lug nuts should be tightened to 72-87 ft-lb (98-118 N²m).
Lug nut tightening sequence
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265

WARNING
Never use wheels or lug nuts different than the original
equipment as this could damage the wheel or mounting
system. This damage could allow the wheels to come
off while the vehicle is being driven.
13. Replace the wheel cover by pressing it into place. If you have
the standard wheel covers, you must align the notch in the
wheel cover with the tire's valve stem and align the recess in the
back of the wheel cover with one of the lug nuts. If you
have the optional aluminum wheel, press the center wheel
cap into place after matching up the design of the wheel cap
to the wheel.
14. Make sure the jack is securely fastened. When you replace
the jack in the jack storage compartment, place the base
against the square-shaped fastening bracket and open the jack
slightly so that the jack is snug against the fastening
brackets.
15. Store the flat tire under the vehicle just as you would store
the spare tire. Refer to the section onStowing the Spare Tire
in this chapter.
266

16. Make sure the lug wrench is secured back into the tool kit and
store it next to the jack.
17. Unblock the wheels.
Retighten the lug nuts to the specified torque at 500 miles (800
km) of operation, after any wheel change, or any time the lug nuts
are loosened.
Storing the jack
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267

Jump-Starting
1. Make sure that the jumper cables are not in the way of
moving engine parts, then start the booster vehicle. Run the
engine at a moderate speed.
2. Let the discharged battery charge for a few minutes and then
start the disabled vehicle. It may take a couple of tries before
the vehicle starts. If the vehicle does not start after several
attempts, there may be a different problem.
3. When both vehicles are running, let them idle for a few
minutes to charge the discharged battery.
Removing jumper cables
1.Always remove the jumper cables in the reverse order.
Remove the negative (±) end of the jumper cable from the
metallic surface on the engine or frame of the disabled
vehicle.
2. Remove the negative (±) cable from the booster battery.
3. Remove the positive (+) cable from the booster battery.
4. Remove the other end of the positive (+) cable from the
discharged battery.
If you need to replace your battery, seeBatteryin theMaintenance
and Carechapter.
Towing Your Vehicle
If you need to have your vehicle towed, contact a professional
towing service or, if you are a member, your roadside assistance
center.
DO NOT TOW YOUR VILLAGER WITH SLINGBELT
EQUIPMENT. Ford Motor Company has not developed or
approved a T-hook sling-type procedure. Use wheel lift or flatbed
equipment.
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Engine Coolant Drain and Flush
To have your engine coolant drained, see your Ford or
Lincoln-Mercury dealer or refer to the procedure in the Service
Manual.
Power Steering Fluid
Check the level of the power steering fluid at least twice a year
(i.e., every Spring and Fall).
Checking and Adding Power Steering Fluid
1. Start the engine and let it run until the power steering fluid
reaches normal operating temperature. The power steering
fluid will be at the right temperature when the engine coolant
temperature gauge in the instrument cluster is near the
center of the NORMAL operating temperature range.
2. While the engine idles, turn the steering wheel back and forth
several times. Make sure that the cap assembly is installed at
this time.
3. Then turn the engine off.
4. Check the fluid level in the power steering fluid reservoir.
Maintenance and Care
289

After each rotation, adjust individual tire pressure as specified
on the Tire Pressure Decal. Tighten wheel lug nuts to the required
torque specification and retighten again after 500 miles (800
km).
If your vehicle has the optional full-size spare tire, you may
rotate the spare tire into the rotation pattern.
WARNING
If you use the temporary spare tire continuously or do not
follow these precautions, the tire could fail, causing
you to lose control of the vehicle.
If your vehicle has aluminum wheels, you may remove the full-
size spare tire from the wheel and remount it on an
aluminum wheel to rotate the spare tire into your vehicle's
rotation pattern.
Replacing the Tires
Replace tires that show wear bands. When your tire shows a
wear band, it has only 1/16 of an inch (1.59 mm) of tread left.
Rotating the tires
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301