2000 Mercury Sable maintenance

5. Disconnect the electrical
connector from the bulb by pulling
rearward.
6. Remove the bulb retaining ring by
rotating it counterclockwise.
7. Remove the old bulb from the
lamp assembly by pulling it straight
out of the lamp assembly.
To install the new bulb:
Handle a halogen headlamp bulb carefully and keep out of
children's reach. Grasp the bulb only by its plastic base and do
not touch the glass. The oil from your hand could cause the bulb to
break the next time the headlamps are operated.
1. Install the new bulb in lamp assembly by pushing straight in with the
flat surface of the bulb's plastic base facing upward. You may need to
turn the bulb slightly to align the grooves in the plastic base with the
tabs in the lamp assembly.
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189

2. Install the bulb retaining ring over the plastic base and lock the ring
by rotating clockwise until it snaps into place.
3. Connect the electrical connector to the bulb.
4. Install the protective dust shield and lock the shield by rotating it
clockwise until it locks into position.
5. Carefully position the headlamp assembly onto the vehicle.
6. Hold the headlamp assembly snugly against the vehicle and install the
retainer pins straight down to lock the lamp into place.
7. Before reinstalling the bolt, make sure the retainer pins are fully
seated, and install bolt on headlamp housing.
8. Turn the headlamps on and make sure they work properly. If the
headlamp was correctly aligned before you changed the bulb, you should
not need to align it again.
Replacing front parking lamp/turn signal/cornering lamp bulbs
1. Make sure the headlamp control
is in the OFF position.
2. Remove the bolt from the
headlamp housing.
3. At the back of the headlamp, pry
up and remove the two retainer pins
to release the headlamp assembly
from the vehicle and pull headlamp
forward.
4. Rotate the bulb socket
counterclockwise and remove it
from the lamp assembly.
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190

5. Carefully pull bulb straight out of
the socket and push in the new
bulb.
6. Install the bulb socket into the
lamp assembly by rotating it
clockwise.
7. Carefully position the headlamp
assembly onto the vehicle.
8. Hold the headlamp assembly
snugly against the vehicle and install
the retainer pins straight down to lock the lamp into place.
9. Before reinstalling the bolt, make sure the retainer pins are fully
seated, and install bolt on headlamp housing.
10. Turn the headlamps on and make sure they work properly. If the
headlamp was correctly aligned before you changed the bulb, you should
not need to align it again.
Replacing high-mount brakelamp bulbs
The following procedure is for
sedans only. For wagon, refer to a
qualified technician.
1. Open trunk.
2. Inside trunk, locate access hole
under the rear window.
3. Remove the bulb socket by
rotating it counterclockwise and
pulling it down from the lamp
assembly.
4. Carefully pull bulb straight out of
socket and push in new bulb.
5. To complete installation, follow the removal procedure in reverse
order.
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191

Replacing license plate lamp bulbs
The following procedure is for wagons only. For sedans, refer to a
qualified technician.
1. Remove screw and the license
plate lamp assembly from liftgate.
2. Remove bulb socket by turning
counterclockwise.
3. Carefully pull the bulb out from
the socket and push in the new
bulb.
4. Install the lamp assembly on
liftgate with screw.
Replacing tail/brake/turn signal/backup lamp bulbs
Sedan
The tail lamp, brake lamp, turn
signal lamp and backup lamp bulbs
are located in the same portion of
the tail lamp assembly. Follow the
same steps to replace either bulb.
1. Open trunk and remove two
plastic mushroom nuts, three push
pins and the plastic cover from
inside the trunk to access the lamp
assembly.
2. Carefully pull the carpet away to
expose the lamp assembly hardware.
3. Remove four nut and washer
assemblies and the lamp assembly
from the vehicle.
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192

4. Remove the bulb socket by
rotating it counterclockwise, then
pulling it out of the lamp assembly.
5. Pull the bulb from the socket and
push in the new bulb.
6. Install the bulb socket into the
lamp assembly by rotating it
clockwise.
7. Install the lamp assembly on the
vehicle with four nut and washer
assemblies ensuring the washers on the nuts are flush with the body to
prevent water from entering the trunk.
8. Carefully push the carpet back in to place and install the plastic cover
inside the trunk with three push pins and two plastic mushroom nuts.
Wagon
The tail lamp/turn lamp bulbs are
located in the same portion of the
tail lamp assembly, one just below
the other. Follow the same steps to
replace either bulb:
1. Open the liftgate to expose the
lamp assemblies.
2. Remove the two bolts from the
tail lamp assembly.
3. Carefully pull the lamp assembly
from the tailgate.
4. Twist the bulb socket
counterclockwise and remove from
lamp assembly.
5. Pull the bulb straight out of the
socket and push in the new bulb.
6. Install bulb socket in lamp
assembly by turning clockwise.
7. Carefully install the tail lamp assembly on tailgate and secure with two
bolts.
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193

Replacing the interior bulbs
Check the operation of the following interior bulbs frequently:
²interior overhead lamp
²map lamp
For bulb replacement, see a dealer or qualified technician.
Using the right bulbs
Replacement bulbs are specified in the chart below. Headlamp bulbs must
be marked with an authorized ªD.O.T.º for North America and an ªEº for
Europe to assure lamp performance, light brightness and pattern and safe
visibility. The correct bulbs will not damage the lamp assembly or void the
lamp assembly warranty and will provide quality bulb burn time.
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194

FunctionNumber of
bulbsTrade Number
Front park/turn lamp 23457 NAK
(amber)
Headlamp 29007 QL (9007
LL optional)
Tail lamp/brake/turn lamp 2 3157
Tail lamp/brake lamp (wagon) 2 3157
Rear turn lamp (wagon) 2 3156K
Backup lamp 2 921
Backup lamp (wagon) 2 3156K
License plate lamp 2 168
High-mount brake lamp 3 912
Rear side marker lamp (wagon) 2 168
Foglamp (if equipped) 2 899
Cargo lamp (wagon) 1 578
Dome lamp 1 578
Dome/map lamp 3 578
Dome lamp/moon roof 2 578
Visor vanity lamp (passenger/driver) 2 DE 3021
Floor console 2 194
Luggage compartment lamp 1 906
I/P ashtray lamp 1 194
All replacement bulbs are clear in color except where noted.
To replace all instrument panel lights - see your dealer.
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195

AIMING THE HEADLAMPS
The headlamps on your vehicle are properly aimed at the assembly plant.
If your vehicle has been in an accident the alignment of your headlamps
should be checked by a qualified service technician.
Vertical aim adjustment
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface approximately 7.6 meters (25 feet)
from a vertical wall or screen directly in front of it.
²(A) Eight feet
²(B) Center height of lamp to ground
²(C) Twenty five feet
²(D) Horizontal reference line
1. Measure the height of the headlamp bulb center from the ground and
mark a 2.5 meter (8 foot) horizontal reference line on the vertical wall or
screen at this height (a piece of masking tape works well).
2. Turn on the low beam headlamps to illuminate the wall or screen and
open the hood.
A
D
B
C
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