2004 Mercury Monterey tow

WASHING THE EXTERIOR
Wash your vehicle regularly with cool or lukewarm water and a neutral
Ph shampoo, such as Motorcraft Detail Wash (ZC-3–A), which is available
from your dealer.
•Never use strong household detergents or soap, such as dish washing
or laundry liquid. These products can discolor and spot painted
surfaces.
•Never wash a vehicle that is“hot to the touch”or during exposure to
strong, direct sunlight.
•Always use a clean sponge or carwash mitt with plenty of water for
best results.
•Dry the vehicle with a chamois or soft terry cloth towel in order to
eliminate water spotting.
•It is especially important to wash the vehicle regularly during the
winter months, as dirt and road salt are difficult to remove and cause
damage to the vehicle.
•Immediately remove items such as gasoline, diesel fuel, bird droppings
and insect deposits because they can cause damage to the vehicle’s
paintwork and trim over time.
•Remove any exterior accessories, such as antennas, before entering a
car wash.
•Suntan lotions and insect repellents can damage any painted
surface; if these substances come in contact with your vehicle,
wash off as soon as possible.
WAXING
Applying a polymer paint sealant to your vehicle every six months will
assist in reducing minor scratches and paint damage.
•Wash the vehicle first.
•Do not use waxes that contain abrasives.
•Do not allow paint sealant to come in contact with any non-body
(low-gloss black) colored trim, such as grained door handles, roof
racks, bumpers, side moldings, mirror housings or the windshield cowl
area. The paint sealant will“gray”or stain the parts over time.
•Do not allow paint sealant to come in contact with the sliding door
electrical contact switches. Paint sealant or other contaminants could
interfere with the proper operation of the power locks or power
2004 Monterey(mty)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Cleaning
Cleaning
210

Habits
•Smooth, moderate operation can yield up to 10% savings in fuel.
•Steady speeds without stopping will usually give the best fuel
economy.
•Idling for long periods of time (greater than one minute) may waste
fuel.
•Anticipate stopping; slowing down may eliminate the need to stop.
•Sudden or hard accelerations may reduce fuel economy.
•Slow down gradually.
•Driving at reasonable speeds (traveling at 88 km/h [55 mph] uses 15%
less fuel than traveling at 105 km/h [65 mph]).
•Revving the engine before turning it off may reduce fuel economy.
•Using the air conditioner or defroster may reduce fuel economy.
•You 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.
•Warming up a vehicle on cold mornings is not required and may
reduce fuel economy.
•Resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving may reduce fuel
economy.
•Combine errands and minimize stop-and-go driving.
Maintenance
•Keep tires properly inflated and use only recommended size.
•Operating a vehicle with the wheels out of alignment will reduce fuel
economy.
•Use recommended engine oil. Refer toLubricant specificationsin
this chapter.
•Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance items. Follow the
recommended maintenance schedule and owner maintenance checks
found in your vehicle scheduled maintenance guide.
Conditions
•Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a trailer may reduce fuel economy
at any speed.
•Carrying unnecessary weight may reduce fuel economy (approximately
0.4 km/L [1 mpg] is lost for every 180 kg [400 lb] of weight carried).
2004 Monterey(mty)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
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Maintenance and Specifications
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•Avoid fast starts, stops and turns
•Avoid potholes and objects on the road
•Do not run over curbs or hit the tire against a curb when parking
If you vehicle is stuck in snow, mud, sand, etc.,do notrapidly spin the
tires; spinning the tires can tear the tire and cause an explosion. A tire
can explode in as little as three to five seconds.
Tire explosions can cause death, personal injury or property
damage. Do not allow anyone to stand near, or directly ahead or
behind the spinning tire.
Never spin the tires in excess of the 55 km/h (35 mph) point
indicated on the speedometer.
Highway hazards
No matter how carefully you drive there’s always the possibility that you
may eventually have a flat tire on the highway. Drive slowly to the
closest safe area out of traffic. This may further damage the flat tire, but
your safety is more important.
If you feel a sudden vibration or ride disturbance while driving or you
suspect your tire or vehicle has been damaged, immediately reduce your
speed. Drive with caution until you can safely pull off the road. Stop and
inspect the tire for damage. If the tire is under-inflated or damaged,
deflate it, remove wheel and replace it with your spare tire and wheel. If
you cannot detect a cause, have the vehicle towed to the nearest repair
facility or tire dealer to have the vehicle inspected.
SNOW TIRES AND CHAINS
Driving too fast for conditions creates the possibility of loss of
vehicle control. Driving at very high speeds for extended periods
of time may result in damage to vehicle components.
Snow tires must be the same size and grade as the tires you
currently have on your vehicle.
The tires on your vehicle have all weather treads to provide traction in
rain and snow. However, in some climates, you may need to use snow
tires and chains. If you need to use chains, it is recommended that steel
wheels (of the same size and specifications) be used as chains may chip
aluminum wheels.
2004 Monterey(mty)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
253

Lifestyle
Bike racks
Cargo organization and management
Engine block heaters and blankets
Rear seat entertainment systems - DVD
Towing mirrors
Trailer hitches, wiring harnesses and accessories
Peace of mind
Airbag anti-theft locks
First aid and safety kits
Full vehicle covers
Locking gas cap
Remote start
Vehicle security systems
For maximum vehicle performance, keep the following information in
mind when adding accessories or equipment to your vehicle:
•When adding accessories, equipment, passengers and luggage to your
vehicle, do not exceed the total weight capacity of the vehicle or of
the front or rear axle (GVWR or GAWR as indicated on the Safety
Compliance Certification label). Consult your dealer for specific weight
information.
•The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Canadian Radio
Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) regulate the use of mobile
communications systems—such as two-way radios, telephones and
theft alarms - that are equipped with radio transmitters. Any such
equipment installed in your vehicle should comply with FCC or CRTC
regulations and should be installed only by a qualified service
technician.
•Mobile communications systems may harm the operation of your
vehicle, particularly if they are not properly designed for automotive
use.
2004 Monterey(mty)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Accessories
264

R
Radio ......................................17, 20
Relays ........................................179
Remote entry system .................84
illuminated entry ..........39, 87–88
locking/unlocking doors .....82, 84
Roadside assistance ..................177
Roof rack .....................................80
S
Safety Belt Maintenance ..........128
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ..................116, 119–121
Safety Canopy ...........................137
Safety defects, reporting ..........209
Safety restraints ........116, 119–121
belt minder .............................123
extension assembly ................127
for adults .........................120–121
for children .....................140–141
Occupant Classification
Sensor ......................................117
safety belt maintenance .........128
warning light and chime 122–123
Safety seats for children ..........144
Seat belts
(see Safety restraints) .............116
Seats ............................................97
child safety seats ....................144
front seats ...................97, 99–100
memory seat .....................90, 100
second row seats ....................103
third row
seats .................103, 109, 113–114
SecuriLock passive anti-theft
system ..........................................94Servicing your vehicle ..............216
Spare tire (see Changing
the Tire) ............................187–188
Spark plugs, specifications ......254,
258
Specification chart,
lubricants ...........................256, 258
Speed control ..............................61
Starting your vehicle ........154–156
jump starting ..........................194
Steering wheel
controls ......................................64
tilting .........................................48
T
Tilt steering wheel ......................48
Tires ...................................241–242
changing ..................187–189, 194
snow tires and chains ............253
tire grades ...............................242
treadwear ................................242
Towing .......................................172
recreational towing .................176
trailer towing ..........................172
wrecker ....................................200
Transaxle
automatic operation ...............162
fluid, refill capacities ..............255
lubricant specifications ..........258
Transmission
brake-shift interlock (BSI) ....162
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................239
lubricant specifications ..........256
Turn signal ..................................41
V
Vehicle dimensions ...................258
2004 Monterey(mty)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Index
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Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................260
Vehicle loading ..........................169
Ventilating your vehicle ...........157
W
Warning lights (see Lights) .......10
Washer fluid ..............................219
Water, Driving through .............169Windows
power
.........................................58
rear wiper/washer
.....................47
Windshield washer fluid and
wipers
..........................................47
checking and adding fluid
.....219
liftgate reservoir
.....................219
replacing wiper blades
.............48
Wrecker towing
.........................200
2004 Monterey(mty)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Index
270