2000 Mercury Mystique Owner's Manuals

Roadside emergencies
153 Replacing a tire
1. Push the spare tire onto the
wheel studs.
2. Screw on the wheel nuts,
ensuring the tapered end of the
wheel nuts are facing the wheel,
and secure in a clockwise direction.
3. Lower the vehicle and remove
the jack by turning the handle
counterclockwise.
4. Fully tighten the wheel nuts in a
crosswise pattern.
5. Align the hub cap with the valve
and push firmly into position with
the ball of the hand.
6. Stow the jack and damaged tire
in the luggage compartment by
reversing the spare tire removal
instructions.
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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
1585. Be sure that the cables are clear
of fan blades, belts and other
moving parts of both engines.
Jump starting
1. Start the engine of the booster
vehicle and run the engine at a
moderately increased speed.
2. Start the engine of the disabled
vehicle.
3. Once the disabled vehicle has
been started, run both engines for
a further three minutes before
disconnecting the jumper cables.
Removing jumper cables
Remove the jumper cables in
the reverse order that they
were connected.
1. Remove the jumper cable from
the “ground” metal surface.
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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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Roadside emergencies
160If towing is necessary, it is
recommended that your vehicle be
towed with a wheel lift or flatbed
equipment. Do not tow with
slingbelt equipment. Ford Motor
Company has not developed or
approved a T-hook or slingbelt
towing procedure. WRECKER TOWING
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