2002 FORD MUSTANG check engine

²Always dispose of
automotive batteries
in a responsible
manner. Follow your
local authorized
standards for
disposal. Call your
local authorized
recycling center to find out more about recycling
automotive batteries.
ENGINE COOLANT
Checking engine coolant
The concentration and level of engine coolant should
be checked at the mileage intervals in the scheduled
maintenance guide. The coolant concentration
should be maintained at 50/50 coolant and water,
which equates to a freeze point of -36É C (-34É F).
Coolant concentration testing is possible with a
hydrometer or antifreeze tester (such as the
Rotunda Battery and Antifreeze Tester, 014±R1060).
The level of coolant should be maintained at the
ªcold fullº of ªcold fill rangeº level in the coolant
reservoir. If the level falls below, add coolant per the
instructions in theAdding Engine Coolantsection.
Your vehicle was factory-filled with a 50/50 engine
coolant and water concentration. If the
concentration of coolant falls below 40% or above
60%, the engine parts could become damaged or not
work properly.A 50±50 mixture of coolant and
water provides the following:
²freeze protection down to -36É C (-34É F)
²boiling protection up to 129É C (265É F)
²protection against rust and other forms of
corrosion
²enables calibrated gages to function properly
LEAD
RETURN
RECYCLE
Maintenance and Specifications
213

²3.8L OHV V6 engine
²4.6L SOHC V8
engine
When the engine is cold, check the level of the
engine coolant in the reservoir.
²The engine coolant should be at the ªcold fill
levelº as listed on the engine coolant reservoir.
²Refer to the scheduled maintenance guide for
service interval schedules.
²Be sure to read and understandPrecautions
when servicing your vehiclein this chapter.
If the engine coolant has not been checked at the
recommended interval, the engine coolant reservoir
may become low or empty. If the reservoir is low or
empty, add engine coolant to the reservoir. Refer to
Adding engine coolantin this chapter.
Note:Automotive fluids are not interchangeable; do
not use engine coolant, antifreeze or windshield
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214

washer fluid outside of its specified function and
vehicle location.
Adding engine coolant
When adding coolant, make sure it is a 50/50
mixture of engine coolant and distilled water. Add
the mixture to the coolant reservoir,when the
engine is cool, until the appropriate fill level is
obtained.
Do not add engine coolant when the engine
is hot. Steam and scalding liquids released
from a hot cooling system can burn you badly.
Also, you can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts.
Do not put engine coolant in the windshield
washer fluid container. If sprayed on the
windshield, engine coolant could make it difficult
to see through the windshield.
The cooling system in your vehicle is filled with
either green-colored Motorcraft Premium Engine
Coolant meeting Ford specification ESE-M97B44±A
or yellow-colored Motorcraft Premium Gold Engine
Coolant meeting Ford Specification
WSS-M97B51±A1. To determine your vehicle's
coolant type (color), check your coolant reservoir.
²Add Motorcraft Premium Engine Coolant
(green-colored), VC-4±A (U.S.) or CXC-10
(Canada) or Motorcraft Premium Gold
Engine Coolant (yellow-colored), VC-7±A,
depending on the type of coolant originally
equipped in your vehicle.
If you are unsure
which type of coolant your vehicle requires, check
your coolant reservoir or contact your local dealer.
Note:Use of Motorcraft Cooling System Stop Leak
Pellets, VC-6, darkens the color of Motorcraft Premium
Gold Engine Coolant from yellow to golden tan.
Maintenance and Specifications
215

8. Reinstall the radiator cap.
9. Start and idle the engine until the upper radiator
hose is warm (this indicates the thermostat is open
and coolant is flowing through the entire system).
10. Immediately shut the engine off.
11. Wrap a thick cloth around the radiator cap and
cautiously remove the radiator cap.
12. Add a50/50 mixtureof engine coolant and
distilled water to the radiator until full.
13. Reinstall the radiator cap.
14. Check the coolant level in the reservoir before
you drive your vehicle the next few times (with the
engine cool).
15. If necessary, add a50/50 mixtureof engine
coolant and distilled water to the engine coolant
reservoir until the coolant level is at the ªcold fill
levelº as listed on the reservoir.
If you are unsure of how to operate the cooling
system vent plug when adding engine coolant to the
3.8L V6 engine, contact your dealer.
Engine coolant refill procedure-4.6L V8 engine
The following procedure should be used when
refilling the cooling system of a 4.6L V8 engine after
it has been drained or become extremely low.
1. Remove the pressure relief cap from the engine
coolant reservoir as previously outlined.
2. Slowly add a50/50 mixtureof engine coolant
and distilled water to the engine coolant reservoir
until the coolant level is at the ªcold fill levelº as
listed on the reservoir.
3. Reinstall the pressure relief cap.
4. Start and idle the engine until the upper radiator
hose is warm (this indicates the thermostat is open
and coolant is flowing through the entire system).
5. Shut the engine off and let it cool.
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218

6. Remove the pressure relief cap from the engine
coolant reservoir as previously outlined.
7. Add a50/50 mixtureof engine coolant and
distilled water to the engine coolant reservoir until
the coolant level is at the ªcold fill levelº as listed on
the reservoir.
8. Reinstall the pressure relief cap.
9. Check the coolant level in the reservoir before
you drive your vehicle the next few times (with the
engine cool).
10. If necessary, add a50/50 mixtureof engine
coolant and distilled water to the engine coolant
reservoir until the coolant level is at the ªcold fill
levelº as listed on the reservoir.
After any coolant has been added, check the coolant
concentration see Checking Engine Coolant section).
If the concentration is not 50/50 (protection to ±34É
F/±36É C), drain some coolant and adjust the
concentration. It may take several drains and
additions to obtain a 50/50 coolant concentration.
Whenever coolant has been added, the coolant level
in the coolant reservoir should be checked the next
few times you drive the vehicle. If necessary, add
enough 50/50 concentration of engine coolant and
distilled water to bring the liquid level to the proper
level.
If you have to add more than 1.0 liter (1.0 quart) of
engine coolant per month, have your dealer check
the engine cooling system. Your cooling system may
have a leak. Operating an engine with a low level of
coolant can result in engine overheating and possible
engine damage.
Maintenance and Specifications
219

Use the following guidelines to avoid static build-up
when filling an ungrounded fuel container:
²Place approved fuel container on the ground.
²DO NOT fill a fuel container while it is in the
vehicle (including the cargo area).
²Keep the fuel pump nozzle in contact with the
fuel container while filling.
²DO NOT use a device that would hold the fuel
pump handle in the fill position.
Fuel Filler Cap
Your fuel tank filler cap has an indexed design with
a 1/8 turn on/off feature.
When fueling your vehicle:
1. Turn the engine off.
2. Carefully turn the filler cap counterclockwise 1/8
of a turn until it stops.
3. Pull to remove the cap from the fuel filler pipe.
4. To install the cap, align the tabs on the cap with
the notches on the filler pipe.
5. Turn the filler cap clockwise 1/8 of a turn until it
stops.
ªCheck Fuel Capº illuminates when the ignition is
turned to the ON position to ensure your bulb is
working. When this light turns on, check the fuel
filler cap. Continuing to operate the vehicle with the
Check Fuel Cap light on, can activate the Service
Engine Soon warning. When the fuel filler cap is
properly re-installed, the light(s) will turn off after a
period of normal driving.It may take a long
period of time for the system to detect an
improperly installed fuel filler cap.
If you must replace the fuel filler cap, replace
it with a fuel filler cap that is designed for
your vehicle. The customer warranty may be
void for any damage to the fuel tank or fuel
system if the correct genuine Ford or
Motorcraft fuel filler cap is not used.
Maintenance and Specifications
224

²Anticipate stopping; slowing down may eliminate
the need to stop.
²Sudden or hard accelerations may reduce fuel
economy.
²Slow down gradually.
²Driving at reasonable speeds (traveling at 88 km/h
[55 mph] uses 15% less fuel than traveling at
105 km/h [65 mph]).
²Revving the engine before turning it off may
reduce fuel economy.
²Using the air conditioner or defroster may reduce
fuel economy.
²You may want to turn off the speed control in
hilly terrain if unnecessary shifting between third
and fourth gear occurs. Unnecessary shifting of
this type could result in reduced fuel economy.
²Warming up a vehicle on cold mornings is not
required and may reduce fuel economy.
²Resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving
may reduce fuel economy.
²Combine errands and minimize stop-and-go
driving.
Maintenance
²Keep tires properly inflated and use only
recommended size.
²Operating a vehicle with the wheels out of
alignment will reduce fuel economy.
²Use recommended engine oil. Refer toLubricant
specificationsin this chapter.
²Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance
items. Follow the recommended maintenance
schedule and owner maintenance checks found in
your vehicle scheduled maintenance guide.
Maintenance and Specifications
230

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 yourWarranty Guidefor 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 ªCheck Engine/Service Engine Soonº light is
on, refer to the description in theWarning lights
and chimessection of theInstrument Cluster
chapter. Your vehicle may not pass the I/M test with
the ªCheck Engine/Service Engine Soonº light 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.
Allow the vehicle to sit for at least eight hours
without starting the engine. Then, start the engine
and complete the above driving cycle. The engine
must warm up to its normal operating temperature.
Once started, do not turn off the engine until the
above driving cycle is complete.
Maintenance and Specifications
233