1999 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL air condition

Keep a record for at least one month and record the type of driving (city
or highway). This will provide an accurate estimate of the vehicle's fuel
economy. Additionally, keeping records during summer and winter will
show how temperature impacts fuel economy. In general, lower
temperatures give lower fuel economy.
Driving style Ð good driving and fuel economy habits
Give consideration to the lists that follow and you may be able to change
a number of variables and improve your fuel economy.
Habits
²Smooth, moderate operation can yield up to 10% savings in fuel.
²Steady speeds without stopping will usually give the best fuel
economy.
²Idling for long periods of time (greater than one minute) may waste
fuel.
²Anticipate stopping; slowing down may eliminate the need to stop.
²Sudden or hard accelerations may reduce fuel economy.
²Slow down gradually.
²Drive at reasonable speeds (traveling at 105 km /h [65 mph] uses 15%
more fuel than traveling at 88 km/h [55 mph]).
²Revving the engine before turning it off may reduce fuel economy.
²Use of the air conditioner or defroster may reduce fuel economy.
²Use of speed control (if equipped) may improve fuel economy. Speed
control can help maintain a constant speed and reduce speed changes.
You may want to turn off the speed control in hilly terrain as
unnecessary shifting between third and fourth gears may occur and
could result in reduced fuel economy.
²Warming up a vehicle on cold mornings is not required and may
reduce fuel economy.
²Resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving may reduce fuel
economy.
²Combine errands and minimize stop-and-go driving.
Maintenance
²Keep tires properly inflated and use only recommended size.
Maintenance and care
180

Do not make any unauthorized changes to your vehicle or engine. By
law, vehicle owners and anyone who manufactures, repairs, items, sells,
leases, trades vehicles, or supervises a fleet of vehicles are not permitted
to intentionally remove an emission control device or prevent it from
working. Information about your vehicle's emission 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.
Please consult your ªWarranty Guideº for complete emission warranty
information.
Readiness 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 ªCheck Engine/Service
Engine Soonº light is on, refer to the description in theWarning Lights
and Chimessection of theInstrumentationchapter. Your vehicle may
not pass the I/M test with the ªCheck Engine/Service Engine Soonº light
on.
If the vehicle's powertrain system or its battery has just been serviced,
the OBD-II system is reset to a ªnot ready for I/M testº 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:
²First, at least 10 minutes of driving on an expressway or highway.
²Next, at least 20 minutes driving in stop-and-go, city-type traffic with
at least four idle periods.
Allow the vehicle to sit for at least eight hours without starting the
engine. Then, start the engine and complete the above driving cycle. The
engine must warm up to its normal operating temperature. Once started,
do not turn off the engine until the above driving cycle is complete.
REPLACING EXTERIOR BULBS
Check the operation of the following lamps frequently:
²Headlamps
²Tail lamps
²Brakelamps
²High-mount brakelamp
²Turn signals
Maintenance and care
183

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 and tar 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.
Repairing paint chips
Minor scratches or paint damage from road debris may be repaired with
touch-up paint, repair foil or aerosol paint spray from the Ford accessory
line. 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.
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.
Maintenance and care
191

Accessory delay ..........................75
Air bag supplemental restraint
system ........................................101
and child safety seats ............102
description .......................101,105
disposal ....................................107
indicator light ..................105,107
passenger air bag ............103,106
Air conditioning
automatic temperature
control system ...........26,27,28,30
Air filter, cabin ..........................166
Air suspension
warning light ...........................124
Anti-theft system .................79,122
arming the system ....................79
disarming a triggered system ..80
Automatic transaxle .................125
driving with ...............127,128,129
Automatic transmission
fluid, refill capacities ................12
Brakes ........................................120
anti-lock ............................120,121
anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light ...........................121
fluid, checking and adding ....157
shift interlock ..........................125
Break-in period .............................3
CD player .....................44,45,46,47
Child safety seats
attaching with tether straps ..114
in rear seat ..............................111
tether anchorage hardware ...114
Cleaning your vehicle ...............190
engine compartment ..............191
exterior .............................191,193
exterior lamps .........................192
plastic parts ............................192
washing ....................................190
waxing .....................................191
wheels ......................................191
windows ..................................194wiper blades ............................192
woodtone trim ........................194
Clock ............................................32
Compass, electronic ....................71
calibration .................................72
set zone adjustment .................71
Console ...................................78,79
overhead ....................................55
Controls
power seat ............................92,94
Coolant ...............................160,161
checking and adding ..............159
refill capacities ........................161
Defrost
rear window ..............................31
Emission control system ..........182
Engine
coolant .....................................158
idle speed control ...................164
service points ..........................153
starting after a collision .........135
Engine block heater .................118
Engine oil
checking and adding ..............155
dipstick ....................................154
specifications ...................154,156
Exhaust fumes ..........................118
Floor mats ...................................79
Fuel
choosing the right fuel ...........176
comparisons with EPA fuel
economy estimates .................181
detergent in fuel .....................178
filling your vehicle
with fuel ...........................174,176
fuel filler door override ............78
fuel filler door release lever ....78
gauge .........................................10
quality ......................................177
running out of fuel .................178
safety information relating to
automotive fuels .....................174
Index
202