Page 217 of 248
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.
31MMCen 24.6.99 15:31 Uhr Seite 217
Page 242 of 248

Index
242APage
Accessory position on
the ignition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
Additives, engine oil . . . . . . . . .169
Air bag supplemental
restraint system
and child safety seats . . . . . . . .87
description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87
disposal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92
indicator light . . . . . . . . . . .15, 91
operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89
wearing safety belts . . . . . . . . .87
Air conditioning
(see Climate control system)
Alarm, activating panic . . . . . . . .69
Antenna, radio
(see Audio system) . . . . . . . . . . .53
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) .116
Anti-theft system (see Passive
Anti-Theft System)
Antifreeze (see Engine coolant)
Audio system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Automatic transaxle
driving with . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121
fluid, adding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .179
fluid, checking . . . . . . . . . . . . .179
fluid, refill capacities . . . . . . . .224
fluid, specification . . . . . . . . . .225
B
Backing up . . . . . . . . . . . . .123, 129
Battery
charging system warning light . .9
jumping a disabled battery . . .154
proper disposal, recycling . . . .184
replacement, specifications . .223
servicing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .182
Brake fluid
checking and adding . . . . . . . .172
specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . .225
Brake-shift interlock . . . . . . . . .121
Brakelamps
(see Bulb replacement)BPage
Brakes
anti-lock brake system (ABS) 116
brake warning light . . . . . . . . . .16
fluid, checking and adding . . .172
fluid, refill capacities . . . . . . . .224
fluid, specification . . . . . . . . . .225
parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116
Built-in child seat
folding up the seat . . . . . . . . .102
inspection after a collision . . .102
interlock safety feature . . . . . . .98
operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97
retractors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98
Break-in period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Bulbs, replacing
foglamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .208
headlamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .206
high-mounted brake lamp . . . .210
license plate lamp . . . . . . . . . .209
rear lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .209
specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . .212
C
Cabin air filter . . . . . . . . . . .33, 186
Capacities for refilling fluids . . .224
Carbon monoxyde in exhaust . .110
Catalytic converter . . . . . . . . . .202
Chains, tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .194
Changing a tire . . . . . . . . . . . . .150
Charging system warning light . . .9
Child safety restraints
built-in child seat . . . . . . . . . . .97
child safety seats . . . . . . . . . . .103
children and safety belts . . .93, 95
Child safety seats
and air bags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88
attaching with tether straps . .104
automatic locking mode . . . . . .79
Childproof safety locks . . . . . . . .65
Chimes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Circuit breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . .143
4MInden 24.6.99 15:41 Uhr Seite 242
Page 245 of 248

Index
245 LPage
Lamps
bulb replacement specification
chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .212
daytime running light system . .23
flashing the lamps . . . . . . . . . . .57
foglamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23, 208
hazard flashers . . . . . . . . .56, 141
headlamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
high beams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
high-mounted brake lamp . . . .210
instrument panel, dimming . . .25
interior lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62
reading lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62
replacing bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . .206
rear lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .209
Lights, warning and indicator
air bag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
anti-lock brakes (ABS) . . . . . . .17
brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
charging system . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
check engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
engine oil pressure . . . . . . . . . .18
high beam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
low coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
low fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
overdrive off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
safety belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
testing the warning lights . . . . .19
turn signal indicator . . . . . . . . . .8
Load limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .130
Lubricant specifications . . . . . .225
Luggage compartment . . . . . . . .66
M
Maintenance (see Servicing)
Manual transaxle
backing up (reverse) . . . . . . . .129
clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .127
fluid, capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . .224
shift speeds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .128MPage
Mileage, calculating fuel
economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .201
Mirrors
side view mirrors (power) . . . .25
Motorcraft parts . . . . . . . . . . . .223
N
National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . .241
O
Octane rating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .199
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Oil (see Engine oil)
Oil filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .170, 223
On-board diagnostic
(OBD II) system . . . . . . . . . . . .205
Overdrive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11, 124
Overhead controls . . . . . . . . . . . .62
P
Panel dimmer control . . . . . . . . .25
Panic alarm, remote entry sytem 69
Parking brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118
Parts (see Motorcraft parts) . . .223
Passenger compartment
air filter (see Cabin air filter)
Passive Anti-Theft
System (PATS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71
Power distribution box
(see Fuses)
Power door locks . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
Power features
mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75
sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
Power steering
fluid, checking and adding . . .178
fluid, refill capacity . . . . . . . . .224
fluid, specification . . . . . . . . . .225
4MInden 24.6.99 15:41 Uhr Seite 245