2000 Mercury Mystique battery

Roadside emergencies
154JUMP STARTING YOUR
VEHICLE
The gases around the
battery can explode if
exposed to flames, sparks, or lit
cigarettes. An explosion could
result in injury or vehicle damage.
Do not push start your
vehicle. You could damage
the catalytic converter.
Batteries contain sulfuric
acid which burns skin, eyes,
and clothing if contacted.
Do not attempt to push start
your vehicle. Automatic
transaxles do not have push-
start capability.
Preparing your vehicle
1.Use only a 12-volt supply to
start your vehicle.
2. Do not disconnect the battery of
the disabled vehicle as this could
damage the vehicles electrical
system.
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Roadside emergencies
155
3. Park the booster vehicle close to
the hood of the disabled vehicle,
making sure the two vehicles do
nottouch. Set the parking brake
on both vehicles and stay clear of
the engine cooling fan and other
moving parts.
4. Check all battery terminals and
remove any excessive corrosion
before you attach the battery
cables. Ensure that vent caps are
tight and level.
5. Turn the heater fan on in both
vehicles to protect from any
electrical surges. Turn all other
accessories off.
Connecting the jumper cables
1. Connect the positive (+) booster
cable to the positive (+) terminal of
the discharge battery.
Note:In the illustrations,
“lightning bolts” are used to
designate the assisting (boosting)
battery.
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Roadside emergencies
1562. Connect the other end of the
positive (+) cable to the positive
(+) terminal of the assisting
battery.
3. Connect the negative (-) cable
to the negative (-) terminal of the
assisting battery.
4. Make the final connection of the
negative (-) cable to an exposed
metal part of the stalled vehicle’s
engine, away from the battery and
the carburetor.
The preferred locations of an
exposed metal part (to “ground”
the circuit) are the accessible
engine mount studs or an engine
lifting “eye”. Do notuse fuel lines,
engine rocker covers, or the intake
manifold as “grounding” points.
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Roadside emergencies
157
Do not connect the end of
the second cable to the
negative (-) terminal of the
battery to be jumped. A spark may
cause an explosion of the gases
that surround the battery.
• 2.0 litre engine
• 2.5 litre engine
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Roadside emergencies
159 2. Remove the jumper cable on the
negative (-) connection of the
booster vehicle’s battery.
4. Remove the jumper cable from
the positive (+) terminal of the
disabled vehicle’s battery. 3. Remove the jumper cable from
the positive (+) terminal of the
booster vehicle’s battery.
After the disabled vehicle has been
started and the jumper cables
removed, allow it to idle for several
minutes so the engine computer
can “relearn” its idle conditions.
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Maintenance and care
163 Precautions when servicing
your vehicle
Be especially careful when
inspecting or servicing your
vehicle. Here are some general
precautions for your safety:
• Do not work on a hot engine.
The cooling fan is automatic
and may come on at any
time. Always disconnect the
negative terminal of the battery
before working near the fan.
• If you must work with the engine
running, avoid wearing loose
clothing or jewelry that could get
caught in moving parts. Take
precautions with long hair.
• Do not work on a vehicle with the
engine running in an enclosed
space, unless you are sure you have
enough ventilation.
• Keep all lit cigarettes, open
flames and other lit material away
from the battery and all fuel related
parts.
If you disconnect the battery, the
engine must “relearn” its idle
conditions before your vehicle will
drive properly, as explained under
Battery in this chapter.
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Maintenance and care
167 For ease of identification, all filler caps and the engine oil dipstick are
marked yellow/black. 2.0 litre EFI-engine compartment
Power
steering
reservoirEngine
coolant
reservoirAutomatic
transaxle
dipstick
(if equipped)Brake fluid
reservoir
BatteryWindshield
washer fluid
reservoirEngine oil
dipstickPower
distribution
box
Air
cleaner
Engine oil
filler cap
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Maintenance and care
168
Power
steering
reservoirEngine
coolant
reservoir 2.5 litre EFI-engine compartment
For ease of identification, all filler caps and the engine oil dipstick are
marked yellow/black.Air
cleanerBrake fluid
reservoirAutomatic
transaxle
dipstick
(if equipped)
BatteryWindshield
washer fluid
reservoirEngine oil
dipstickPower
distribution
boxEngine oil
filler cap
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