2000 Mercury Sable warning

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.
Illumination of the
indicator, charging system warning light or the
temperature warning light, fluid leaks, strange odors, smoke or loss of
engine power, 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.
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 on or near the
engine. This decal identifies engine displacement and gives some tune up
specifications.
Please consult your ªWarranty Guideº 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 diagnostics system. If your
indicator is on, refer to
the description in theWarning Lights and Chimessection of the
Instrumentationchapter. Your vehicle may not pass the I/M test with
the
indicator on.
If the vehicle's powertrain system or its battery has just been serviced,
the on-board diagnostics system is reset to a ªnot ready for I/M testº
condition. To ready the on-board diagnostics system for I/M testing, a
minimum of 30 minutes of city and highway driving is necessary as
described below:
²First, at least 10 minutes of driving on an expressway or highway.
²Next, at least 20 minutes driving in stop-and-go, city-type traffic with
at least four idle periods.
Maintenance and care
186

Accessory delay ..........................53
Air bag supplemental
restraint system ................93,94,97
and child safety seats ..............95
description ...........................94,97
disposal ......................................99
driver air bag ..................93,96,98
indicator light ......................12,96
operation .........................93,96,98
passenger air bag ...........93,96,98
side air bag ................................97
Air cleaner filter .......................204
Air conditioning ..........................18
automatic temperature
control system ..........................22
Air filter, cabin ..........................165
Antifreeze
(see Engine coolant) ................156
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) .......................112,113
Anti-theft system ........................63
arming the system ....................63
disarming a triggered system ..65
warning light .............................11
Audio system (see Radio) .........28
Automatic transaxle .................117
driving with .............................119
fluid, adding ............................162
fluid, checking ........................162
fluid, refill capacities ..............205
fluid, specification ..................207
Auxiliary power point .................28
Axle
lubricant specifications ..........206
Battery .......................................170
acid, treating emergencies .....170
charging system
warning light .............................12
jumping a disabled battery ....141
maintenance-free ....................170
replacement, specifications ...204
servicing ..................................170Belt minder .................................89
Brakes ........................................112
anti-lock ............................112,113
anti-lock brake system
(ABS) warning light ..........11,113
brake warning light ..................12
fluid, checking and adding ....154
fluid, refill capacities ..............205
fluid, specifications ..........206,207
lubricant specifications ...206,207
parking ....................................114
pedals (see Power
adjustable foot pedals) ............42
shift interlock ..........................117
Break-in period .............................3
Capacities for refilling fluids ....205
Cargo area shade ........................58
Cargo cover .................................57
Cargo net .....................................57
CD changer .................................38
Cellular telephone
Wireless Interface Module .......50
Certification Label ....................209
Child safety restraints ..............100
child safety belts ....................100
Child safety seats ......................101
attaching with tether straps ..105
in front seat ............................102
in rear seat .......................102,105
Cleaning your vehicle ...............197
engine compartment ..............200
exterior ....................................199
exterior lamps .........................200
instrument panel ....................202
instrument panel lens ............202
interior ..............................202,203
mirrors .....................................199
plastic parts ............................199
safety belts ..............................203
washing ....................................198
waxing .....................................198
wheels ......................................199
Index
224

windows ..................................202
wiper blades ............................200
woodtone trim ........................202
Climate control (see Air
conditioning or Heating) ............18
Clock .......................................31,38
Console ........................................55
Controls
power seat .................................74
Coolant
checking and adding ..............156
refill capacities .................160,205
specifications ...................206,207
Cruise control
(see Speed control) ....................43
Customer Assistance ................129
Ford accessories for your
vehicle .....................................218
Ford Extended
Service Plan ............................211
Getting assistance outside
the U.S. and Canada ..............217
Getting roadside assistance ...129
Getting the
service you need ....................211
Ordering additional owner's
literature .................................222
The Dispute
Settlement Board ...................214
Utilizing the Mediation/
Arbitration Program ...............217
Daytime running lamps
(see Lamps) ................................16
Defrost
rear window ..............................18
Dipstick
automatic
transmission fluid ...................162
engine oil .................................151
Doors
door ajar warning .......................9
lubricant specifications ..........206Driving under special
conditions
through water .........................123
Emergencies, roadside
jump-starting ..........................141
Emission control system ..........185
Engine ........................................207
check engine/
service engine soon light ...........9
cleaning ...................................200
coolant .....................................156
idle speed control ...................170
lubrication
specifications ...................206,207
refill capacities ........................205
service points ...................149,150
starting after a collision .........130
Engine block heater .................110
Engine oil ..................................151
checking and adding ..............151
dipstick ....................................151
filter, specifications .........153,204
recommendations ...................153
refill capacities ........................205
specifications ...................206,207
Exhaust fumes ..........................110
Floor mats ...................................55
Fluid capacities .........................205
Foglamps .....................................17
Fuel ............................................177
calculating fuel economy .......182
cap ...........................................179
capacity ...................................205
choosing the right fuel ...........180
comparisons with EPA fuel
economy estimates .................185
detergent in fuel .....................181
filling your vehicle
with fuel ....................177,179,182
filter, specifications .........182,204
fuel pump shut-off switch .....130
gauge .........................................15
Index
225

improving fuel economy ........182
low fuel warning light ..............10
octane rating ....................180,207
quality ......................................181
running out of fuel .................181
safety information relating to
automotive fuels .....................177
Fuses ...................................132,133
Gas cap (see Fuel cap) ............179
Gas mileage
(see Fuel economy) .................182
Gauges .........................................13
engine coolant
temperature gauge ...................14
fuel gauge ..................................15
odometer ...................................15
speedometer .............................13
tachometer ................................14
trip odometer ............................15
GAWR
(Gross Axle Weight Rating) .....122
definition .................................122
driving with a heavy load ......122
location ....................................122
GVWR (Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating) .............122
calculating ...............................122
definition .................................122
driving with a heavy load ......122
location ....................................122
Hazard flashers .........................130
Head restraints ...........................73
Headlamps ...................................16
aiming ......................................196
autolamp system .......................17
bulb specifications ..................194
daytime running lights .............16
flash to pass ..............................16
high beam ..............................8,16
replacing bulbs .......................188
turning on and off ....................16
warning chime ..........................13Heating ........................................18
heating and air conditioning
system .......................................18
Hood ..........................................148
Ignition ..................................43,207
Infant seats
(see Safety seats) .....................101
Inspection/maintenance
(I/M) testing ..............................186
Instrument panel
cleaning ...................................202
cluster ...................................8,202
lighting up
panel and interior .....................17
location of components ..............8
Jump-starting your vehicle ......141
Keyless entry system .................66
autolock .....................................68
keypad .......................................66
locking and unlocking doors ....67
programming entry code .........66
Keys
key in ignition chime ...............13
positions of the ignition ...........43
Lamps
autolamp system .......................17
bulb replacement
specifications chart ................194
cargo lamps ...............................17
daytime running light ...............16
fog lamps ...................................17
headlamps .................................16
headlamps, flash to pass ..........16
instrument panel, dimming .....17
interior lamps ...............48,49,194
replacing
bulbs ............187,188,190,191,192
Lane change indicator
(see Turn signal) ........................46
Liftgate ...................................56,60
Lights, warning and indicator ......8
air bag ........................................12
Index
226

anti-lock brakes (ABS) .....11,113
anti-theft ...................................11
brake ..........................................12
charging system ........................12
check coolant ............................11
cruise indicator .........................11
door ajar ......................................9
high beam ...................................8
low coolant ................................10
low fuel ......................................10
oil pressure ...............................12
safety belt ...................................9
service engine soon ....................9
speed control ............................46
traction control active ................8
turn signal indicator ...................8
Load limits .................................122
GAWR ......................................122
GVWR ......................................122
trailer towing ..........................122
Locks
autolock .....................................68
childproof ..................................53
Lubricant specifications ....206,207
Lumbar support, seats ...............75
Mirrors .........................................50
cleaning ...................................199
heated ........................................54
side view mirrors (power) .......54
Moon roof ....................................50
Motorcraft parts .................182,204
Octane rating ............................180
Odometer .....................................15
Oil (see Engine oil) ..................151
Overdrive ...................................118
Panic alarm feature, remote
entry system ................................60
Parking brake ............................114
Parts (see Motorcraft parts) ....204
Pedals (see Power adjustable
foot pedals) .................................42
Power adjustable foot pedals .....42Power distribution box
(see Fuses) ...............................135
Power door locks ........................53
Power steering ..........................116
fluid, checking and adding ....161
fluid, refill capacity ................205
fluid, specifications ..........206,207
Radio ............................................28
Relays .................................132,137
Remote entry system ............59,60
illuminated entry ......................61
locking/unlocking doors ......59,60
opening the trunk .....................60
panic alarm ...............................60
replacement/additional
transmitters ...............................61
replacing the batteries .............62
Roof rack ...................................128
Safety belts
(see Safety restraints) .....13,78,80
81,82,83,84,85
Safety defects, reporting ..........223
Safety
restraints ..78,80,81,82,83,84,85,86
belt minder ...............................89
cleaning the safety belts ...92,203
extension assembly ..................88
for adults ....................81,82,83,84
for children ........................99,100
lap belt ......................................86
warning light and chime ..9,13,88
Safety seats for children ..........101
Seat belts
(see Safety restraints) ...............78
Seats ............................................73
child safety seats ....................101
cleaning ............................202,203
SecuriLock passive
anti-theft system ....................69,70
Servicing your vehicle ..............147
Spark plugs,
specifications ......................204,207
Index
227

Specification chart,
lubricants ............................206,207
Speed control ..............................43
Speedometer ...............................13
Starting your vehicle .........107,109
jump starting ..........................141
Steering wheel
tilting .........................................48
Tachometer .................................14
Tires ......................137,173,174,175
changing ...........................137,138
checking the pressure ............175
replacing ..................................176
rotating ....................................175
snow tires and chains ............176
tire grades ...............................174
treadwear ................................174
Towing ................................124,175
recreational towing .................127
trailer towing ..........................124
wrecker ....................................146
Traction control ...................43,115
active light ..................................8
Transaxle
automatic operation ...............117
fluid, refill capacities ..............205
lubricant specifications ..........207
Transmission
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................162lubricant specifications ..........206
Trip odometer .............................15
Trunk ............................57,59,60,71
remote release ..........................56
Turn signal ...............................8,46
Vehicle dimensions ...................207
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................210
Vehicle loading ..........................122
Ventilating your vehicle ...........111
Warning chimes ...........................13
Warning lights (see Lights) .........8
Washer fluid ..............................155
Water, Driving through .............123
Windows
power .........................................52
rear wiper/washer .....................47
Windshield washer
fluid and wipers
checking and adding fluid .....155
checking and cleaning .....172,173
liftgate reservoir .....................156
operation ...................................46
replacing wiper blades ...........173
Wrecker towing .........................146
Index
228