1999 FORD MUSTANG Owners Manual

Washing your vehicle
Wash your vehicle
regularly with cold or
lukewarm water. Never
use strong detergents
or soap. If your vehicle
is particularly dirty, use
a quality car wash
detergent. Always use a
clean sponge, washing
glove or similar device and plenty of water for best
results. To avoid spots, avoid washing when the
hood is still warm, immediately after or during
exposure to strong sunlight.
During winter months, it is especially important to
wash the vehicle on a regular basis. Large quantities
of dirt and road salt are difficult to remove and also
cause damage to the vehicle.
Remove any exterior accessories, such as antennas,
before entering a car wash. If you have wax applied
to the vehicle at a commercial car wash, it is
recommended that you clean the wiper blades and
windshield as described inCleaning the wiper
blades and windshield.
After washing, apply the brakes several times to dry
them.
Waxing your vehicle
Wax when water stops beading on the surface. This
could be every three or four months, depending on
operating conditions.
Use only carnauba or synthetic-based waxes. Use
cleaning fluid or alcohol with a clean cloth to remove
any bugs before waxing vehicle. Use tar remover to
remove any tar spots.
Avoid getting wax on the windshield. If you have
wax applied at a commercial car wash, it is
recommended that you clean the wiper blades and
windshield as described inCleaning the wiper
blades and windshield.
Maintenance and care
177

Repairing paint chips
Minor scratches or paint damage from road debris
may be repaired with the Ultra Touch Prep and
Finishing Kit (#F7AZ-19K507±BA), touch-up paint
(#ALBZ-19500±XXXXA), or aerosol paint spray
(#ALAZ-19500±XXXXA) from the Ford Car Care
Chemicals line. Please note that the part numbers
(shown as XXXX above) will vary with your vehicle's
specific coloring. Observe the application
instructions on the products.
Remove particles such as bird droppings, tree sap,
insect remains, tar spots, road salt and industrial
fallout immediately.
Cleaning the wheels
Wash with the same detergent as the body of your
vehicle. Do not use acid-based or alcohol-based
wheel cleaners, steel wool, fuel or strong detergents.
Never use abrasives that will damage the finish of
special wheel surfaces. Use a tar remover to remove
grease and tar.
The brushes used in some automatic car washes may
damage the finish on your wheels. Before going to a
car wash, find out if the brushes are abrasive.
Cleaning the engine
Engines are more efficient when they are clean
because grease and dirt buildup keep the engine
warmer than normal. When washing:
²Take care when using a power washer to clean
the engine. The high pressure fluid could
penetrate the sealed parts and cause damage.
²Do not spray with cold water to avoid cracking
the engine block or other engine components.
²Never apply anything to the drive belt (including
belt dressing).
Maintenance and care
178

²Cover the highlighted areas to prevent water
damage when cleaning the engine.
²Never wash or rinse the engine while it is
running; water in the running engine may cause
internal damage.
Cleaning plastic exterior parts
Use vinyl cleaner for routine cleaning. Clean with a
tar remover if necessary. Do not clean plastic parts
with thinners, solvents or petroleum-based cleaners.
Cleaning the exterior lamps
Wash with the same detergent as 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.
Cleaning the wiper blades and windshield
If the wiper blades do not wipe properly, clean the
wiper blade rubber element with undiluted
windshield washer solution or a mild detergent. To
avoid damaging the blades, do not use fuel,
kerosene, paint thinner or other solvents.
Maintenance and care
179

If the wiper still does not wipe properly, this could
be caused by substances on the windshield such as
tree sap and some hot wax treatments used by
commercial car washes. Clean the outside of the
windshield with a non-abrasive cleanser such as the
non-abrasive Bon-Amitpowder. Rinse thoroughly
with clean water.Do notuse abrasive cleansers on
glass as they may cause scratches. The windshield is
clean if beads do not form when you rinse it with
water. The windshield and wiper blades should be
cleaned on a regular basis, and blades or rubber
elements replaced when worn.
Cleaning the instrument panel
Clean with a damp cloth, then dry with a dry cloth.
Avoid cleaner or polish that increases the gloss of
the upper portion of the instrument panel. The dull
finish in this area helps protect the driver from
undesirable windshield reflection.
Cleaning the interior fabric
Remove dust and loose dirt with a whisk broom or a
vacuum cleaner. Remove fresh spots immediately. Do
not use household or glass cleaners. These agents
can stain and discolor the fabric. Use a mild soap
and water solution if necessary.
Cleaning leather seats (if equipped)
To clean, simply use a soft cloth dampened with
water and a mild soap. Wipe the leather again with a
damp cloth to remove soap residue. Dry with a soft
cloth. For tougher soiling concerns, Ford
recommends using the Deluxe Leather Care Kit
F8AZ-19G253±AA, which is available from your Ford
Dealer. This mild cleaner and special pad, cleans the
leather and maintains its natural beauty. Follow the
instructions on the cleaner label. Regular cleaning of
your leather upholstery helps maintain its resiliency
and color.
Maintenance and care
180

Do not use household cleaning products,
alcohol solutions, solvents or cleaners intended
for rubber, vinyl or plastics.
Cleaning and maintaining the safety belts
Clean the safety belts with a mild soap solution
recommended for cleaning upholstery or carpets. Do
not bleach or dye the belts, because these actions
may weaken the belt webbing.
Check the safety belt system periodically to make
sure there are no nicks, wear or cuts. If your vehicle
has been involved in an accident, refer to theSafety
belt maintenancesection in theSeating and safety
restraintschapter.
Inside windows
Use glass cleaner for the inside windows if they
become fogged.
Convertible top and padded molding care
To avoid damage to the vinyl top and moldings, use
only an approved Ford cleaner, or equivalent. Do not
use stiff bristle brushes or abrasive materials or
cleaners.
Hot waxes applied by commercial car washes can
affect the cleanability of vinyl material.
Using high water pressure or wand-type car washes
against the convertible top and windows may cause
water leaks and possible seal damage.
Underbody
Flush the complete underside of vehicle frequently.
Keep body drain holes unplugged. Inspect for road
damage.
Maintenance and care
181

MOTORCRAFT PART NUMBERS
Component 3.8L OHV V6
engine4.6L SOHC V8
engine
Air filter
elementFA-1611 FA-1634
Fuel filter FG-800A FG-800A
Battery BXT-59 BXT-59
Oil filter FL-400S FL-820S
PCV valve EV-152 EV-98
Spark plugs* AWSF-42EE** AWSF-32PP***
* Refer to Vehicle Emissions Control Information
(VECI) decal for spark plug gap information.
**If a spark plug is removed for inspection, it must
be reinstalled in the same cylinder. If a spark plug
needs to be replaced, use only spark plugs with the
same service part number suffix letter as shown on
the engine decal.
*** If a spark plug is removed for inspection, it must
be reinstalled in the same cylinder. Cylinders No. 1,
2, 3 and 4 have a ªPGº suffix. Cylinders No. 5, 6, 7
and 8 have a ªPº suffix. If a spark plug needs to be
replaced, use only spark plugs with the same service
part number suffix letter ªPPº as shown on the
engine decal.
Capacities and specifications
182

REFILL CAPACITIES
Fluid Ford Part
NameApplicationCapacity
Brake fluid High Per-
formance
DOT 3
Motor
Vehicle
Brake FluidAll Fill to line
on
reservoir
Engine oil
(includes
filter
change)Motorcraft
5W-30
Super
Premium
Motor OilAll 4.7L (5.0
quarts)
Engine
coolant
1Premium
Engine
Coolant3.8L OHV
V6 engine11.2L (11.8
quarts)
4.6L SOHC
V8 engine13.3L (14.1
quarts)
Power
steering
fluidMotorcraft
MERCONt
AT F3.8L OHV
V6 engineKeep in
FULL HOT
range on
dispstick
4.6L SOHC
V8 engineFill to
between
MIN and
MAX lines
on
reservoir
Rear axle
lubricant
2Motorcraft
SAE 80W90
Premium
Rear Axle
Lubricant7.5 inch
axle1.5L (3.25
pints)
8.8 inch
axle1.7L (3.75
pints)
Fuel tank N/A All 58.7L (15.5
gallons)
Capacities and specifications
183

Fluid Ford Part
NameApplicationCapacity
Trans-
mission
fluidMotorcraft
MERCONtV
AT F
3
Automatic
with 3.8L
OHV V6
engine13.1L (13.9
quarts)
Automatic
with 4.6L
SOHC V8
engine12.0L (12.8
quarts)
Motorcraft
MERCONt
AT FManual
with 3.8L
OHV V6
engine2.6L (5.6
pints)
Manual
with 4.6L
SOHC V8
engine
4
3.1L (6.6
pints)
Windshield
washer
fluidUltra-Clear
Windshield
Washer
ConcentrateAll Fill to line
on
reservoir
1Use Ford Premium Engine Coolant (green in
color). DO NOT USE Ford Extended Life Engine
Coolant (orange in color). Refer toAdding engine
coolant, in the Maintenance and Care chapter.
2Rear axle lubricants do not need to be checked or
changed unless a leak is suspected, service is
required or the axle assembly has been submerged
in water. The axle lubricant should be changed any
time the rear axle has been submerged in water. Fill
6 mm to 14 mm (1/4 inch to 9/16 inch) below
bottom of fill hole. Add 118 ml (4 oz.) of additive
friction modifier C8AZ-19B546-A, Ford specification
EST-M2C118±A for complete refill of Traction-Lok
axles.
Capacities and specifications
184