2000 FORD CONTOUR Owners Manual

Maintenance and care
177 After any coolant has been added,
check the coolant concentration
(see Checking engine coolant
section). If the concentration is not
50/50 (protection to -34°F /-36°C),
drain some coolant and adjust the
concentration. It may take several
drains and additions to obtain a
50/50 coolant concentration.
Whenever coolant has been added,
the coolant level in the coolant
reservoir should be checked the
next few times you drive the
vehicle. If necessary, add enough
50/50 concentration of engine
coolant and distilled water to bring
the liquid level to the proper level.
If you have to add more than
1.0 liter (1.0 quart) of engine
coolant per month, have your
dealer check the engine cooling
system. Your cooling system may
have a leak. Operating an engine
with a low level of coolant can
result in engine overheating and
possible engine damage.
Changing engine coolant
Change your engine coolant
according to the appropriate
schedule listed in the “Scheduled
Maintenance Guide“. It is important
that the engine coolant be changed
at the specified intervals. The
corrosion protection of engine
coolant is depleted with time and
usage. Use of engine coolant with
depleted corrosion protection may
result in damage to the coolant
system. Color, specific gravity and
freeze point of the coolant are not indicators of depletion.
To find out how much fluid your
vehicle’s cooling system can hold,
refer to the Refill capacities in the
Capacities and Specifications
chapter. Fill your coolant reservoir
following the directions given in
the Adding engine coolant
section.
Coolant usage in severe winter
climate
If you drive in extremely cold
climates less than -34°F (-36°C), it
may be necessary to increase the
coolant concentration above 50 %.
Refer to the chart on the coolant
container to ensure the coolant
concentration in your vehicle will
provide adequate freeze protection.
Never increase the engine
coolant concentration above
60 %(protection to -60°F). At a
level over 60 %, your engine could
overheat and become damaged.
Coolant usage in hot climate
If you drive in hot climates, it is still
necessary to maintain the coolant
concentration at 50/50 coolant and
water. Do not allow the
concentration to fall below
40 % coolant.At a concentration
less than 40 %, the corrosion
protection to your engine and
cooling components may be
compromised and permanent
damage may result.
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Disposal of used engine coolant
Used engine coolant should be
disposed of in an appropriate
manner. Follow your community’s
regulations and standards for
recycling and/or disposal of
automotive fluids.
Checking and adding power
steering fluid
Switch off the engine. With the
steering system at normal
operating temperature, the fluid
level should come up to the MAX
mark.
If the fluid level drops below the
MIN mark, add the specified fluid.
Refer to the Capacities and
specificationschapter.
Use of recycled engine coolant
Ford Motor Company recommends
the use of recycled engine coolant
produced by Ford-approved
processes. However, not all coolant
recycling processes produce
coolant that meets Ford
specification ESE-M97B44A. Use of
such coolant may harm the engine
and coolant system components.
Maintenance and care
178MAX
MIN
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Maintenance and care
179 Checking and adding automatic
transaxle fluid
Follow the scheduled service
intervals outlined in the
“Scheduled Maintenance Guide“.
Your transaxle does not consume
fluid. However, it is recommended
that you refer to your “Scheduled
Maintenance Guide“ for scheduled
intervals for fluid checks and
changes. The fluid level should be
checked or changed by a qualified
technician at the appropriate
intervals or if the transaxle is not
working properly, i.e., if the
transaxle slips or shifts slowly or if
you notice some sign of fluid
leakage.
Note: Automatic transaxle fluid
expands when warmed. To obtain
an accurate fluid level check drive
the vehicle until warmed,
approximately 30 km (20 miles). If
your vehicle has been operated for
an extended period at high speeds,
in city traffic during hot weather or
pulling a trailer, the vehicle should
be turned off for about 30 minutes
to allow fluid to cool before
checking.
1. Drive the vehicle 30 km (20
miles) or until the vehicle reaches
normal operating temperatures.
2. Park the vehicle on a level
surface and engage the parking
brake.
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Maintenance and care
180
3. With the parking brake engaged
and your foot on the brake pedal,
start the engine and move the
gearshift lever through all of the
gear ranges. Allow sufficient time
for each gear to engage.
4. Latch the gearshift lever in P
(Park) and leave the engine
running.
5. Remove the dipstick, wiping it
with a clean, dry lint free rag.
6. Install the dipstick making sure
it is fully seated in the filler tube.
7. Remove the dipstick and inspect
the fluid level. The fluid level
should be in the designated areas
for normal and room temperature.
Low fluid level
Do not drive the vehicle if the fluid
level is below the hole at the
bottom of the dipstick.
Correct fluid level
The transaxle fluid level should be
checked at normal operating
temperatures 66°C - 77°C (150°F -
170°F) on a level surface. The
normal operating temperature can
be reached after approximately
30 km (20 miles) of driving.
The transaxle fluid should be in
this range if at normal operating
temperature of 66°C - 77°C
(150°F - 170°F).Normal operating temperature
66°C - 77°C (150°F - 170°F)Do not drive if below this area
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Maintenance and care
181 Adjusting automatic transaxle
fluid levels
Before adding any fluid, make sure
the correct type is used. The type
of fluid used is normally indicated
on the dipstick and/or dipstick
handle and also in the Lubricant
specificationssection in the
Capacities and Specifications
chapter.
Use of a non approved
automatic transaxle fluid may
cause internal transaxle
component damage.
If necessary, add fluid in 250 ml
(1/2 pint) increments through the
filler tube until the level is correct.
If an overfill occurs, excess fluid
should be removed by a qualified
technician.
An overfill condition of
transaxle fluid may cause shift
and/or engagement concerns
and/or possible damage. High fluid level
Fluid levels above the safe range
may result in transaxle failure. An
overfill condition of transaxle fluid
may cause shift and/or possible
damage. High fluid levels can be
caused by an overheating
condition, see note.
Do not add if above the
crosshatched area
Do not add if above the
crosshatched area
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Maintenance and care
182Battery
Your vehicle may be equipped with
a Motorcraft maintenance-free
battery. The Motorcraft
maintenance-free battery normally
does not require additional water
during its life of service. However,
for severe service usage or in high
temperature climates, refer to the
“Scheduled Maintenance Guide” for
additional information. Keep the
electrolyte in each cell up to the
“level” indicator. Do not overfill the
battery cell.
For longer, trouble-free operation,
keep the top of the battery clean
and dry. Also, make certain the
battery cables are always tightly
fastened to the battery terminals.
If you see any corrosion on the
battery cables or terminals, remove
the cables from the terminal(s) and
clean with a wire brush. You can
neutralize the acid with a solution
of baking soda and water. Reinstall
the cables when you are done
cleaning them, and apply a small
quantity of grease to the top of
each battery terminal to help
prevent corrosion.
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Maintenance and care
183 Battery replacement
If your original equipment battery
requires replacement while under
warranty, it will be replaced with a
Motorcraft service battery,
identical in design technology. Like
the original equipment battery, it
should not require water addition
during its normal life of service;
however, for severe service usage
or in high temperature climates,
refer to the “Scheduled
Maintenance Guide” for more
information. Do not overfill the
battery cell.
If the electrolyte level in your
battery gets low, you can add plain
tap water to the battery, as long as
you do not use hard water (water
with a high mineral or alkali
content). If possible, however, try
to only fill the battery cell with
distilled water. If the battery needs
water often, have the charging
system checked.
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Maintenance and care
184
Batteries normally produce
explosive gases which can
cause personal injury. Do not allow
flames, sparks or lit tobacco to
come near the battery. Always
cover your face and protect your
eyes and also provide ventilation.
Applying too much pressure
on the ends when lifting a
battery could cause acid to spill.
Lift the battery with a carrier or
with your hands on the opposite
corners.
Follow these steps to
minimize risk of personal
injury.
Always dispose of automotive
batteries in a responsible
manner. Follow your community’s
local standards for disposal. Call
your local recycling center to find
out more about recycling
automotive batteries.
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