2000 Mercury Mystique ESP

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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Maintenance and care
190Temperature A B C
The temperature grades are A (the
highest), B, and C, representing
the tire’s resistance to the
generation of heat and its ability to
dissipate heat when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified
indoor laboratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can
cause the material of the tire to
degenerate and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead to
sudden tire failure. The grade C
corresponds to a level of
performance which all passenger
car tires must meet under the
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard No. 109. Grades B and A
represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test
wheel than the minimum required
by law.
The temperature grade for
this tire is established for a
tire that is properly inflated and
not overloaded. Excessive speed,
underinflation, or excessive
loading, either separately or in
combination, can cause heat
buildup and possible tire failure.
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Maintenance and care
202EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM
Your vehicle is equipped with
various emission control
components and a catalytic
converter which will enable your
vehicle to comply with applicable
exhaust emission standards. To
make sure that the catalytic
converter and other emission
control components continue to
work properly:
• Use unleaded fuel only.
• Avoid running out of fuel.
• Do not turn off the ignition while
your vehicle is moving, especially
at high speeds.
• Have the items listed in your
“Scheduled Maintenance Guide”
performed according to the
specified schedule.
The scheduled maintenance
services listed in the “Scheduled
Maintenance Guide“ are required
because they are considered
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
emissions control, such non-Ford
parts should be equivalent to
genuine Ford Motor Company parts
in performance and durability.
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Maintenance and care
217 Waxing your vehicle
The best way to determine when
the paintwork needs waxing is by
noting 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. Remove any bugs and
tar before waxing the vehicle. Use
cleaning fluid or alcohol with a
clean cloth to remove bugs. Use tar
remover to remove any tar spots.
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 they also
cause damage to the vehicle.
Remove or lower any exterior
accessories, such as antennas,
before entering a car wash.
Remove particles such as bird
droppings, tree sap, insect remains,
tar spots, road salt and industrial
fallout immediately.
After washing, apply the brakes
several times to dry them.
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Customer assistance
230Ford extended service plan
You can get more protection for
your new car or light truck by
purchasing Ford Extended Service
Plan (Ford ESP) coverage. Ford
ESP is an optional service contract
which is backed by Ford Motor
Company or Ford Motor Service
Company (in the U.S.) and Ford of
Canada (in Canada). It provides:
• Protection against repair costs
after your New Vehicle Limited
Warranty period expires
and
• other benefits during the
warranty period (such as
reimbursement for rentals and
towing).
You may purchase Ford ESP from
any participating Ford or Lincoln-
Mercury or Ford of Canada dealer.
There are several plans available in
various time, distance and
deductible combinations which can
be tailored to fit your own driving
needs. Ford ESP also offers
reimbursement benefits for towing
and rental coverage. (In Hawaii,
rules vary. See your dealer for
details.)
When you buy Ford ESP you
receive Peace-of-Mind protection
throughout the United States and
Canada, provided by a network of
more than 5,200 participating Ford,
Lincoln-Mercury and Ford of
Canada dealers.If you did not take advantage of the
Ford Extended Service Plan at the
time of purchasing your vehicle,
you may still be eligible. Please
contact your dealer for further
information. Since this information
is subject to change, please ask
your dealer for complete details
about Ford Extended Service Plan
coverage options.
Also, please be aware that some
dealers offer service contracts that
are not backed by Ford Motor
Company or Ford of Canada. On
the surface, many independent
plans appear to be like Ford's. The
problem is that they can often
require the use of non-factory
approved parts and have much
more complex and restrictive
claims coverage terms than Ford.
At Ford Motor Company and Ford
of Canada, we are dedicated to
providing Ford, Lincoln and
Mercury vehicle owners with
programs that will enhance your
ownership experience and protect
you from unexpected repair bills.
Genuine Ford ESP is the only
Extended Service Plan that enables
us to provide that service.
33MCAen 24.6.99 15:40 Uhr Seite 230

Customer assistance
236If your vehicle must be serviced
while you are traveling or living in
Central or South America, the
Caribbean, or the Middle East,
contact the nearest Ford
dealership. If the dealership cannot
help you, write or call:
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
WORLDWIDE DIRECT MARKET
OPERATIONS
1555 Fairlane Drive
Fairlane Business Park #3
Allen Park, Michigan 48101
U.S.A.
Telephone: (313) 594-4857
FAX: (313) 390-9804
If you are in another foreign
country, contact the nearest Ford
dealership. If the dealership
employees cannot help you, they
can direct you to the nearest Ford
affiliate office.
If you buy your vehicle in North
America and then relocate outside
of the U.S. or Canada, register your
vehicle identification number
(VIN) and new address with Ford
Motor Company Worldwide Direct
Market Operations. GETTING ASSISTANCE
OUTSIDE THE U.S. AND
CANADA
Before exporting your vehicle to a
foreign country, contact the
appropriate foreign embassy or
consulate. These officials can
inform you of local vehicle
registration regulations and where
to find unleaded fuel.
If you cannot find unleaded fuel or
can only get fuel with an anti-knock
index lower than is recommended
for your vehicle, contact a district
or owner relations/customer
assistance office.
The use of leaded fuel in your
vehicle without proper conversion
may damage the effectiveness of
your emission control system and
may cause engine knocking or
serious engine damage. Ford Motor
Company/Ford of Canada is not
responsible for any damage caused
by use of improper fuel.
In the United States, using leaded
fuel may also result in difficulty
importing your vehicle back into
the U.S.
33MCAen 24.6.99 15:40 Uhr Seite 236

Customer assistance
240ORDERING ADDITIONAL
OWNER'S LITERATURE
To order the publications in this
portfolio in the United States:
Make checks payable to:
HELM, INCORPORATED
P.O. Box 07150
Detroit, Michigan, 48207
For a free publication catalog,
order toll free: 1-800-782-4356
Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. - 6:00
p.m. EST.,
for credit card holders only.
To order the publications in this
portfolio in Canada
Make cheques payable to:
Ford Motor Company of Canada,
Ltd.
Service Publications
P.O. Box 1580, Station B
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L4Y
4G3
or order toll free:
1-800-387-4966
Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. - 6:00
p.m. EST.,
for credit card holders only. • Mobile communications systems
may harm the operation of your
vehicle, particularly if they are not
properly designed for automotive
use or are not properly installed.
When operated, such systems may
cause the engine to stumble or
stall. In addition, such systems may
be damaged or their performance
may be affected by operating your
vehicle. (Citizens band [CB]
transceivers, garage door openers
and other transmitters with
outputs of five watts or less will not
ordinarily affect your vehicle's
operation.)
• Ford cannot assume
responsibility for any adverse
effects or damage that may result
from the use of such equipment.
33MCAen 24.6.99 15:40 Uhr Seite 240