2000 Mercury Mystique check engine light

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.
23MREen 24.6.99 15:28 Uhr Seite 155

Maintenance and care
162SERVICE RECOMMENDATIONS
• We highlight do-it-yourself items
in the engine compartment for easy
location.
• As possible, we design parts that
can be replaced without tools.
• We provide you with a
maintenance guide and or service
guide which makes tracking routine
service for your vehicle easy.
If your vehicle requires
professional service, your Ford or
Lincoln/Mercury dealership can
provide necessary parts and
service. Check your “Warranty
Guide” to find out which parts and
services are covered.
Use only recommended fuels,
lubricants, fluids and service parts
conforming to specifications.
Motorcraft parts are designed and
built to provide the best
performance in your vehicle.
31MMCen 24.6.99 15:30 Uhr Seite 162

Maintenance and care
197 Observe the following guidelines
when handling automotive fuel:
• Extinguish all smoking materials
and any open flames before fueling
your vehicle.
• Always turn off the vehicle
before fueling.
• Make sure the fuel cap is
correctly fitted after fueling.
Failure to do so may cause the on
board diagnostic system to
illuminate the check enginelight.
• Automotive fuels can be harmful
or fatal if swallowed. If fuel is
swallowed, call a physician
immediately, even if no symptoms
are immediately apparent. The
toxic effects of fuel may not be
visible for hours.
• Fuels can also be harmful if
absorbed through the skin. If fuel is
splashed on the skin, promptly
remove contaminated clothing and
wash skin thoroughly with soap
and water.
• If fuel is splashed in the eyes,
remove contact lenses (if worn),
flush with water for 15 minutes and
seek medical attention.
• Be particularly careful if you are
taking “Antabuse” or other forms of
disulfiram for the treatment of
alcoholism. Breathing gasoline
vapors or skin contact could cause
an adverse reaction. Consult a
physician immediately.
31MMCen 24.6.99 15:31 Uhr Seite 197

Maintenance and care
203 Watch for fluid leaks, strange
odors, smoke, loss of oil pressure,
engine overheating, illumination of
the charging systemwarning light
or the check enginewarning light.
These events could indicate that
the emission control system is not
working properly.
Exhaust leaks may result in
entry of harmful and
potentially lethal fumes into the
passenger compartment.
BRAKE
CHECK
ENGINE
Alternative design Alternative design
Do not park, idle or drive
your vehicle in dry grass or
other dry ground cover. The
emission system heats up the
engine compartment and exhaust
system, which can start a fire.
31MMCen 24.6.99 15:31 Uhr Seite 203

Maintenance and care
204
Do not make any unauthorized
changes to your vehicle or engine.
By law, vehicle owners and anyone
who manufactures, repairs,
services, sells, leases, trades
vehicles, or supervises a fleet of
vehicles are not permitted to
intentionally remove an emission
control device or prevent it from
working. Information about your
vehicle's emission system is on the
Vehicle Emission Control
Information Decal located under
the hood. This decal identifies
engine displacement and gives
some tune up specifications.
Please consult your “Warranty
Guide“ for complete emission
warranty information.
Readiness for
inspection/maintenance (I/M)
testing
In some localities, it may be a legal
requirement to pass an I/M test of
the on-board diagnostic (OBD-II)
system. If your check enginelight
is on, refer to the description in the
Instrument Cluster Lights and
Chimessection of the
Instrumentation chapter. Your
vehicle may not pass the I/M test
with the check engine light on.
31MMCen 24.6.99 15:31 Uhr Seite 204

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

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
4MInden 24.6.99 15:41 Uhr Seite 243

Index
244FPage
Fuel
calculating fuel economy . . . .201
capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .224
choosing the right fuel . . . . . .198
consumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . .140
fuel gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
low fuel warning light . . . . . . . .15
octane rating . . . . . . . . . . . . . .199
quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .199
running out of fuel . . . . . . . . .202
safety information relating
to automotive fuels . . . . . . . . .196
Fuel pump shut-off switch . . . .141
Fuse panels
engine compartment . . . . . . . .144
instrument panel . . . . . . . . . . .146
Fuses
charts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .145, 148
checking and replacing . . . . . .143
G
Gas mileage (see Fuel)
Gauges
engine coolant temperature . . .20
fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
trip odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
GAWR
(Gross Axle Weight Rating) . . .131
Gearshift . . . . . . . . . . . . . .123, 128
GVWR
(Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) .131
H
Hazard flashers . . . . . . . . . .56, 141
Head restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74
Headlamps
aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .213
bulb specifications . . . . . . . . .212
daytime running light . . . . . . . .23
flashing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57HPage
high beam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
replacing bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . .206
turning on and off . . . . . . . . . . .22
warning chime . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
High beams
indicator light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
High-mount brakelamp . . . . . . .210
Hood
latch location . . . . . . . . . . . . . .166
release lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . .166
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
I
Identification Number, Vehicle
(VIN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .228
Idle, relearning . . . . . . . . . . . . .185
Idle, speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .185
Ignition
chime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
positions on the ignition . . . . . .54
Instrument cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Instrument panel
cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .221
lighting up the panel . . . . . . . . .25
Integrated child seat (see Built-in
child seat)
Intermittent wipers . . . . . . . . . . .58
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
J
Jack
positioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .152
storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .151
Jump starting your vehicle
attaching cables . . . . . . . . . . . .155
disconnecting cables . . . . . . . .158
K
Keys
key in ignition warning chime .19
positions of the ignition . . . . . .54
4MInden 24.6.99 15:41 Uhr Seite 244