1999 Mercury Sable maintenance

Function Trade Number
High-mount brake lamp 912
Rear side marker lamp 168
Cargo lamp (wagon) 211-2
Dome lamp 211-2
Dome/map lamp 578
Dome lamp/moon roof 208
Visor vanity lamp
(passenger/driver)74-194
Floor console 194
Luggage compartment lamp 906
I/P ashtray lamp 194
To replace all instrument panel lights - see your
dealer.
AIMING THE HEADLAMPS
Your vehicle is equipped with a Vehicle Headlamp
Aim Device (VHAD) on each headlamp body. Each
headlamp may be properly aimed in the horizontal
direction (left/right) and the vertical position
(up/down) using your VHAD system. The headlamps
on your vehicle are properly aimed at the assembly
plant.
A bubble (vertical indicator) that is not centered
between the two black lines does not necessarily
indicate out-of-aim headlamps. If your vehicle is not
positioned on a level surface, the slope will be
included in the level indicator. Therefore, vertical
and horizontal headlamp adjustment should be
performed only when beam direction appears to be
incorrect.
You will need one 7 mm wrench or socket with
ratchet to make the adjustments.
If the vehicle has been in an accident, the vehicle's
front structure should be properly aligned before
aiming the headlamps.
Maintenance and care
173

Horizontal aim adjustment
1. Park the vehicle on a
level surface.
2. With the hood open,
locate the horizontal
indicator and the
adjusting screw.
Remove the protective
cap to access the 7 mm
adjusting screw head.
3. Turn the horizontal
adjusting screw in the
direction of the arrow
to change the
horizontal aim as
shown.
4.Usea7mmwrench
or socket to turn the
horizontal adjusting screw until the ª0º reference
mark on the view dial is aligned with the rearward
facing tab (as shown) on the plastic housing.
Vertical aim adjustment
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface.
2. With the hood open,
locate the bubble level
the vertical aim
indicator. It is visible
when viewed from
above center rear of
the headlamp. Locate
the vertical adjusting
screw, located on the
outboard side of the headlamp adjacent to the
headlamp upper outboard attachment.
Maintenance and care
174

3.The ªUPº and ªDNº on the bubble label indicate the
directional change (up or down) of the vertical aim.
4.Usea7mmwrench or socket to turn the vertical
adjusting screw clockwise or counterclockwise until
the bubble aligns with the ª0º reference mark on the
vertical indicator when viewed directly from above.
Repeat the above procedures to the other headlamp,
if necessary.
CLEANING AND CARING FOR YOUR VEHICLE
Refer to the Customer Assistance chapter for a list
of Ford-approved cleaners, polishes and waxes.
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.
Maintenance and care
175

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 Car Care
Chemicals 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.
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:
Maintenance and care
176

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.
²Cover the highlighted areas to prevent water
damage when cleaning the engine.
²3.0L Vulcan engine
²3.0L Duratec engine
Maintenance and care
177

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.
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
Maintenance and care
178

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 leather cleaning 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.
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.
Maintenance and care
179

Fluid Ford Part
NameAppli-
cationCapacity
Automatic
transaxle -
AX4NMotorcraft
MER-
CONtV
AT F3.0L V6
Vulcan
engine12.8L
(13.5 quarts)
3.0L V6
Duratec
engine12.7L
(13.4 quarts)
Automatic
transaxle -
AX4SMotorcraft
MER-
CONtV
AT F3.0L V6
Vulcan
engine11.6L
(12.2 quarts)
Windshield
washer
fluid -
FrontUltra-Clear
Windshield
Washer
Concen-
trateAll 2.7L (90 oz.)
Windshield
washer
fluid -
RearUltra-Clear
Windshield
Washer
Concen-
trateWagon 2.1L (70 oz.)
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.
Capacities and specifications
182