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.
31MMCen 24.6.99 15:30 Uhr Seite 179
Customer assistance
238Travel equipment
Console
Console armrest
Daytime running lights
Factory luggage rack
Factory luggage rack adapters
Fog lights
Framed luggage covers
Heavy-duty battery
Neutral towing transfer case kit
(Explorer 4.0L only)
Off road lights
Pickup box rails
Removable luggage rack
Removable luggage rack adapters
Retractable bed hooks and loops
Running boards
Snow traction cables
Soft luggage cover
Speed control
Towing mirrors
Trailer hitch
Trailer hitch bars and balls
Trailer hitch wiring adaptor Vehicle Security
Remote keyless entry
Styled wheel protector locks
Vehicle security systems
Comfort and convenience
Air conditioner
Air filtration systems
Cargo nets
Cargo organizers
Cargo shades
Cargo trays
Dash trim
Engine block heaters
Gear shift knob
Luggage presenter (Continental
only)
Manual sliding rear window
Tire step
33MCAen 24.6.99 15:40 Uhr Seite 238
243
Index
CPage
Cleaning your vehicle
engine compartment . . . . . . . .219
exterior lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . .220
fabric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .221
instrument panel . . . . . . . . . . .221
plastic exterior parts . . . . . . . .220
safety belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .222
wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .218
wiper blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . .220
Climate control system
air conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
controlling airflow . . . . . . . . . . .26
defrosting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
Clutch
operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .127
recommended shift speeds . . .128
Cold engine starting . . . . . . . . .114
Controls
instrument panel . . . . . . . . . . . .20
power seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75
steering column . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Customer assistance . . . . . . . . .229
D
Daytime running lights . . . . . . . .23
Defects, reporting . . . . . . . . . . .241
Defrost
rear window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
windshield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Dipstick, engine oil . . . . . . . . . .167
Door mounted controls . . . . . . . .64
Driving under special conditions
heavy load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .133
towing a trailer . . . . . . . . . . . .134
E
Electrical system
fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .143EPage
Emergencies, roadside
fuel pump shut-off switch . . . .141
jump starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . .154
towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .160
Emergency brake (see Parking
brake)
Emission control system . . . . . .202
Engine
check engine warning light . . . .12
fuel pump shut-off switch . . . .141
lubricant specifications . . . . . .225
preparing to start . . . . . . . . . .111
refill capacities . . . . . . . . . . . .224
starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114
Engine block heater . . . . . . . . .115
Engine coolant
checking and adding . . . . . . . .174
disposal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .178
low coolant warning light . . . . .11
refilll capacities . . . . . . . . . . . .224
specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . .225
Engine fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .163
Engine oil
changing oil and filter . . . . . . .170
checking and adding . . . . . . . .169
dipstick . . . . . . . . . .167, 168, 169
disposal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .171
engine oil pressure
warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
filter specifications . . . . . . . . .223
refill capacities . . . . . . . . . . . .224
specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . .225
Exhaust fumes . . . . . . . . . .110, 202
F
Fan (see Engine fan)
Flasher, hazard . . . . . . . . . .56, 141
Flashing the lights . . . . . . . . . . . .57
Floor mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67
Fluid refill capacities . . . . . . . . .224
Foglamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23, 208
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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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