1999 Mercury Villager check engine

CHANGING THE AIR FILTER ELEMENT
1. Release the four clamps that
secure the air filter housing cover.
2. Carefully separate the two halves
of the air filter housing.
3. Remove the air filter element
from the air filter housing.
4. Install a new air filter element. Be
careful not to crimp the filter
element edges between the air filter
housing and cover. This could cause
filter damage and allow unmetered
air to enter the engine if not
properly seated.
5. Replace the air filter housing
cover and secure the four clamps.
BATTERY
Your vehicle is equipped with a
Motorcraft maintenance-free battery
which normally does not require
additional water during its life of
service.
However, for severe usage or in high temperature climates, check the
battery electrolyte level. Refer to the Scheduled Maintenance Guide for
the service interval schedules.
Keep the electrolyte level in each cell up to the ªlevel indicatorº.
Do not overfill the battery cells.
Maintenance and care
205

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.
²Driving at reasonable speeds (traveling at 88 km/h [55 mph] uses 15%
less fuel than traveling at 105 km/h [65 mph]).
²Revving the engine before turning it off may reduce fuel economy.
²Using the air conditioner or defroster may reduce fuel economy.
²You may want to turn off the speed control in hilly terrain if
unnecessary shifting between third and fourth gear occurs.
Unnecessary shifting of this type 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.
²Operating a vehicle with the wheels out of alignment will reduce fuel
economy.
²Use recommended engine oil. Refer toLubricant Specifications.
²Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance items. Follow the
recommended maintenance schedule and owner maintenance checks
found in your vehicle Scheduled Maintenance Guide.
Conditions
²Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a trailer may reduce fuel economy
at any speed.
Maintenance and care
222

The scheduled maintenance items listed in the Scheduled Maintenance
Guide are essential to the life and performance of your vehicle and to its
emissions system.
If other than Ford, Motorcraft or Ford-authorized parts are used for
maintenance replacements or for service of components affecting
emission control, such non-Ford parts should be equivalent to genuine
Ford Motor Company parts in performance and durability.
Do not park, idle, or drive your vehicle in dry grass or other dry
ground cover. The emission system heats up the engine
compartment and exhaust system, which can start a fire.
Illumination of the ªService Engine Soonº light, charging system warning
light or the temperature warning light, fluid leaks, strange odors, smoke
or loss of engine power, could indicate that the emission control system
is not working properly.
Exhaust leaks may result in entry of harmful and potentially
lethal fumes into the passenger compartment.
Do not make any unauthorized changes to your vehicle or engine. By
law, vehicle owners and anyone who manufactures, repairs, services,
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 diagnostics 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 on-board diagnostics system is reset to a ªnot ready for I/M testº
Maintenance and care
224

condition. To ready the on-board diagnostics system for I/M testing,
follow the procedure described below:
1. Allow the engine to cool to ambient temperature (the engine coolant
temperature gauge indicator will point to C).
2. Start the engine and let it run until it reaches normal operating
temperature (the engine coolant temperature gauge indicator will be
near the center of the normal area between H and C).
3. Accelerate the vehicle to 88 km/h (55 mph), then quickly release the
accelerator pedal completely for at least six seconds.
4. Quickly depress the accelerator pedal for a moment, then drive the
vehicle at a speed of 86 to 96 km/h (53 to 60 mph) for at least five
minutes.
5. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
6. Accelerate the vehicle to 55 km/h (35 mph), and maintain the speed
for 20 seconds.
7. Repeat steps five and six at least three times.
8. Accelerate the vehicle to 88 km/h (55 mph), and maintain the speed
for at least three minutes.
9. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop and turn the engine off.
10. Repeat steps one through nine at least one more time.
If step one through eight are interrupted, repeat the preceding step. Any
safe driving mode is acceptable between steps. Once started, do not turn
off the engine until step seven is completed.
EXTERIOR BULBS
Replacing exterior bulbs
It is a good idea to check the operation of the following lights frequently:
²Headlamps
²Turn signals
²Cornering lamps
²High-mount brakelamp
²Tail lamps
²Brakelamps
²Backup lamps
²License plate lamps
Maintenance and care
225

Accessory delay ..........................90
Air bag supplemental restraint
system ........................................131
and child safety seats ............133
description ..............................131
disposal ....................................135
driver air bag ..........................133
indicator light ......................6,135
operation .................................133
passenger air bag ...................133
Air cleaner filter .........204,205,235
Air conditioning ..........................21
automatic temperature
control system ..........................29
Air filter, cabin ..........................207
Anti-theft system ......................104
arming the system ..................104
disarming a triggered
system .....................................105
disarming an untriggered
system .....................................105
Automatic transaxle .................160
driving with .............................161
fluid, refill capacities ..............235
fluid, specification ..................237
Battery .......................................205
acid, treating emergencies .....205
charging system warning
light ..............................................6
jumping a disabled battery ....185
maintenance-free ....................205
replacement, specifications ...235
servicing ..................................205
Brakes ........................................157
anti-lock ............................157,158
anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light ........................8,158
brake warning light ....................7
fluid, checking and adding ....197
fluid, refill capacities ..............235
fluid, specifications ..........236,237
lubricant specifications ...236,237parking ....................................158
shift interlock ..........................160
Break-in period .............................2
Capacities for refilling fluids ....235
Cargo cover ...............................108
Cargo net ............................107,108
CD changer .................................76
Child safety restraints ..............136
child safety belts ....................136
child safety seats ....................137
Child safety seats ......................137
attaching with tether straps ..141
built-in child seat ...................137
in front seat ............................138
in rear seat .......................138,141
tether anchorage hardware ...143
Cleaning your vehicle ...............230
built-in child seat .....148,151,234
engine compartment ..............232
exterior .............................231,233
exterior lamps .........................233
instrument panel ....................233
interior ..............................233,234
mirrors .....................................234
plastic parts ............................232
safety belts ..............................234
washing ....................................230
waxing .....................................231
wheels ......................................231
windows ..................................234
wiper blades ............................233
Clock ..................................47,59,71
Console
overhead ...............................97,98
Controls ........................93,94,95,96
power seat ...............................111
steering column ........................85
Coolant ...............................198,201
checking and adding ..............199
refill capacities .................201,235
specifications ...................236,237
Customer Assistance ................241
Index
255

Ford accessories for your
vehicle .....................................248
Ford Extended Service
Plan ..........................................242
Getting assistance outside the
U.S. and Canada .....................248
Getting roadside
assistance ................................241
Getting the service you
need .........................................243
Ordering additional owner's
literature .................................253
The Dispute Settlement
Board .......................................245
Defrost
rear window ..............................39
Dipstick
engine oil .................................194
Doors
door ajar warning .......................7
Driving under special
conditions
through water .........................164
Emergencies, roadside
jump-starting ..........................185
Emission control system ..........223
Engine .................................237,238
check engine/service engine
soon light ....................................9
coolant .....................................198
idle speed control ...................205
lubrication
specifications ...................236,237
refill capacities ........................235
service points ..........................193
starting after a collision .........171
Engine block heater .................155
Engine oil ..................................194
checking and adding .......194,195
dipstick ....................................194
filter, specifications .........196,235
recommendations ...................196refill capacities .................194,235
specifications .....194,196,236,237
Exhaust fumes ..........................155
Floor mats ...................................92
Fluid capacities .........................235
Fuel ............................................215
calculating fuel economy .......220
cap ...........................................217
capacity ...................................235
choosing the right fuel ...........218
comparisons with EPA fuel
economy estimates .................223
detergent in fuel .....................219
filling your vehicle with
fuel .............................215,217,220
filter, specifications .........220,235
fuel pump shut-off switch .....171
gauge .........................................13
improving fuel economy ........220
low fuel warning light ................8
octane rating .............219,237,238
quality ......................................219
running out of fuel .................219
safety information relating to
automotive fuels .....................215
Fuses ...................................172,173
Garage door opener ..........93,94,98
Gas cap (see Fuel cap) ............217
Gas mileage (see Fuel
economy) ...................................220
Gauges .........................................11
engine coolant temperature
gauge .........................................14
fuel gauge ..................................13
odometer ...................................13
speedometer .............................12
trip odometer ............................13
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight
Rating) .......................................165
definition .................................165
driving with a heavy load ......165
location ....................................165
Index
256