2000 Mercury Mystique tires

Maintenance and care
191 Checking tire pressure
Check the tire pressure
periodically after the vehicle has
been parked for at least one hour
or has been driven less than 5 km
(3 miles). Inflate the tires as
necessary. To check the tire
pressure, insert the tire pressure
gauge into the valve.
The cold pressure amount is listed
on the Safety Compliance
Certification label.
Improperly inflated tires can
affect vehicle handling and
can fail suddenly, possibly
resulting in loss of vehicle control.
Rotating tires
Rotate your tires at regular
intervals for even wear. Rotation
intervals are listed in the
maintenance guide and or service
guide.
31MMCen 24.6.99 15:31 Uhr Seite 191

Maintenance and care
192
Failure to follow these
precautions may adversely
affect the handling of the vehicle
and make it easier to lose control
and roll over.
Replacing tires
Replace tires when the wear band
is visible through the tire treads.
When replacing full size
tires, never mix radial, bias-
belted, or bias-type tires. Use only
the tire sizes that are listed on the
tire pressure decal. Make sure that
all tires are the same size, speed
rating, and load-carrying capacity.
Use only the tire combinations
recommended on the decal. If you
do not follow these precautions,
your vehicle may not drive
properly and safely.
Do not replace your tires
with “high performance”
tires or larger size tires.
31MMCen 24.6.99 15:31 Uhr Seite 192

Maintenance and care
193 Dispose of worn tires in
accordance with local
environmental regulations.
Refer to the Safety Compliance
Certification label to determine the
specific size tire and wheel Ford
Motor Company recommends for
use on this vehicle.
When purchasing replacement tires
for your vehicle, consult your
dealer or a qualified service
technician to ensure that the
correct tire type is used.
31MMCen 24.6.99 15:31 Uhr Seite 193

Maintenance and care
194The tires on your vehicle have all-
weather treads to provide traction
in rain and snow. However, in some
climates, using snow tires and
chains may be necessary. Ford
offers snow chains as a Ford
approved accessory and
recommends use of these or their
equivalents on approved tires. See
your dealer or a qualified service
technician for more information on
tire chains for your vehicle. Follow
these guidelines when using snow
tires and chains:
• Install chains securely, verifying
that the chains do not touch any
wiring, brake lines or fuel lines.
• Install the chains on the front
tires only.
• Do not use tire chains on 205/60
tires and 205/55R16 Z rated tires.
Steering, suspension and body
components may be damaged by
use of chains.
Snow tires must be the same
size and grade as the tires
you currently have on your
vehicle.
Using snow tires and chains
31MMCen 24.6.99 15:31 Uhr Seite 194

Maintenance and care
195 Change over from winter to
summer tires as soon as road
conditions allow, this will reduce
fuel consumption and noise in the
vehicle’s interior.
• Drive cautiously. If you hear the
chains rub or bang against the
vehicle, stop and retighten them. If
this does not work, remove the
chains to prevent vehicle damage.
• Local regulations may prohibit or
restrict the use of tire chains.
Investigate the laws and
regulations in your area before
installing chains.
• Avoid overloading your vehicle.
• Do not use tire chains on
temporary spare tires.
• Remove the tire chains when
they are no longer needed. Do not
use chains on dry roads.
• The suspension insulation and
bumpers will help prevent vehicle
damage. Do not remove these
components from the vehicle when
using snow tires and chains.
31MMCen 24.6.99 15:31 Uhr Seite 195

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
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Index
246RPage
Radio (see Audio system) . . . . . .34
Rear window defroster . . . . . . . .24
Refill capacities for fluids . . . . .224
Relays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .146
Remote control
luggage compartment . . . . . . . .66
Remote entry system
locking/unlocking doors . . . . . .68
opening the trunk . . . . . . . . . . .69
panic alarm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69
replacing the batteries . . . . . . .69
replacement/additional
transmitters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70
Repairing paint chips . . . . . . . .218
Reporting safety defects . . . . . .241
Restraints, safety . . . . . . . . . . . . .77
Rotating the tires . . . . . . . . . . . .191
S
Safety belts
(see Safety restraints)
Safety chains, when towing
a trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .138
Safety Compliance Certification
Label . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .136
Safety defects, reporting . . . . . .241
Safety restraints
adjusting the safety belts . . . . .81
automatic locking mode
(retractors) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79
cleaning the safety belts . . . . .222
extention assembly . . . . . . . . . .85
for children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93
head restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . .74
lap and shoulder belts . . . . . . . .78
maintenance . . . . . . . . . . .86, 222
vehicle sensitive locking mode .79
warning light and chime . . . .9, 19
Safety seats for children
and air bags . . . . . . . . . . . .87, 103
attaching with tether straps . .104
automatic locking mode SPage
(retractors) . . . . . . . . . . . .79, 102
built-in child seat . . . . . . . . . . .97
in front seat . . . . . . . . . . . .87, 104
tether anchorage hardware . .107
Seats
adjusting the seats, manual . . .74
adjusting the seats, power . . . .75
folding rear seats . . . . . . . . . . . .76
head restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . .74
Servicing your vehicle . . . . . . . .162
Shift-lock system . . . . . . . . . . . .121
Shift positions (see Gearshift)
Snow tires and chains . . . . . . . .194
Spare tire
changing the tire . . . . . . . . . . .150
removing the spare tire . . . . . .151
temporary spare tire . . . . . . . .150
Spark plugs, certifications . . . .223
Specification charts, lubricants 225
Speed control
disengaging speed control . . . .62
return to a set speed . . . . . . . . .62
set a speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
set a higher speed . . . . . . . . . . .61
set a lower speed . . . . . . . . . . . .61
turn speed control off . . . . . . . .59
turn speed control on . . . . . . . .59
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Starting your vehicle
preparing to start the vehicle .111
starting the engine . . . . . . . . .114
Steering column controls . . . . . .55
Steering wheel
horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
speed control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
tilting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
Supplemental restraint
system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87
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Index
247 TPage
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Tail lamps (see Lamps)
Temperature control
(see Climate control)
Testing the warning lights . . . . . .19
Tether anchor installation
(see Child safety restraints)
Tilt steering wheel . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Tires
changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .150
checking tire pressure . . . . . .191
cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .218
inspection and maintenance . .191
replacing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .192
rotating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .191
snow tires and chains . . . . . . .194
spare tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .151
tire grades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .188
treadwear . . . . . . . . . . . . .189, 192
wearbands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .192
Towing your vehicle . . . . . . . . .161
Trailer towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . .134
Transaxle
automatic, operation . . . . . . . .121
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .179
fluid, refill capacities . . . . . . . .224
lubricant specifications . . . . . .225
manual, operation . . . . . . . . . .127
Transmitter (see Remote entry)
Trip odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Trunk (see Luggage compartment)
remote release lever . . . . . . . . .66
using the remote entry system .69
Turn signal
indicator lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
U
Used engine oil, disposal . . . . . .171VPage
Variable interval wipers . . . . . . . .58
Vehicle care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .228
Vehicle Emission Control
Information(VECI) . . . . . . . . . .204
Vehicle loading . . . . . . . . . . . . .130
Ventilating your vehicle . . . . . .109
Viscosity (see Engine oil)
W
Warning chimes
headlamps on . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
key in ignition . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
safety belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Warning lights (see Lights)
Washer fluid reservoir . . . .167, 168
Weight limits (GAWR, GVWR) .130
Wheels
cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .218
inspection and maintenance . .191
Windows
one-touch down . . . . . . . . . . . .64
power windows, operating . . . .64
rear, defrosting . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Windshield washer fluid and wipers
checking and adding fluid . . . .172
checking and replacing
wiper blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . .186
operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
fluid, specification . . . . . . . . . .225
variable interval wipers . . . . . . .58
Wrecker towing . . . . . . . . . . . . .160
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