2005 Mercury Monterey towing

WRECKER TOWING
If you need to have your vehicle towed, contact a professional towing
service or, if you are a member of a roadside assistance program, your
roadside assistance service provider.
It is recommended that your vehicle be towed by wheel lift or flatbed
equipment. Do not tow with a slingbelt. Ford Motor Company has not
approved a slingbelt towing procedure.
If your vehicle is to be towed from the rear using wheel lift, the front
wheels must be placed on a dolly to prevent damage to the transaxle.
If your vehicle must be towed with the drive wheels on the ground:
•Place the transaxle in N (Neutral).
•Do not exceed the distance of 50 miles (80 km).
•Do not exceed the speed of 35 mph (56 km/h).
If the vehicle is towed by other means or incorrectly, vehicle
damage may occur.
Ford Motor Company produces a towing manual for all authorized tow
truck operators. Have your tow truck operator refer to this manual for
proper hook-up and towing procedures for your vehicle.
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Roadside Emergencies
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FORD EXTENDED SERVICE PLAN
You can get more protection for your new car or light truck by
purchasing Ford Extended Service Plan (Ford ESP) coverage. It provides
the following:
•Benefits during the warranty period depending on the plan you
purchase (such as: reimbursement for rentals; coverage for certain
maintenance and wear items).
•Protection against covered repair costs after your Bumper-to-Bumper
Warranty expires.
You may purchase Ford ESP from any participating Ford and Lincoln
Mercury and Ford of Canada dealer. There are several plans available in
various time, distance and deductible combinations which can be tailored
to fit your own driving needs. Ford ESP also offers reimbursement
benefits for towing and rental coverage.
When you buy Ford ESP, you receive Peace-of-Mind protection
throughout the United States and Canada, provided by a network of
more than 4,600 participating Ford or Lincoln Mercury and Ford of
Canada dealers.
If you did not take advantage of the Ford Extended Service Plan at the
time of purchasing your vehicle, you may still be eligible. Since this
information is subject to change, please ask your dealer for complete
details about Ford Extended Service Plan coverage options, or visit the
Ford ESP website at www.ford-esp.com.
GETTING ASSISTANCE OUTSIDE THE U.S. AND CANADA
Before exporting your vehicle to a foreign country, contact the
appropriate foreign embassy or consulate. These officials can inform you
of local vehicle registration regulations and where to find unleaded fuel.
If you cannot find unleaded fuel or can only get fuel with an anti-knock
index lower than is recommended for your vehicle, contact a regional
office or owner relations/customer relationship office.
The use of leaded fuel in your vehicle without proper conversion may
damage the effectiveness of your emission control system and may cause
engine knocking or serious engine damage. Ford Motor Company/Ford of
Canada is not responsible for any damage caused by use of improper
fuel. Using leaded fuel may also result in difficulty importing your vehicle
back into the U.S.
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Customer Assistance
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•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 inscheduled maintenance information.
Conditions
•Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a trailer may reduce fuel economy
at any speed.
•Carrying unnecessary weight may reduce fuel economy (approximately
1 mpg [0.4 km/L] is lost for every 400 lb [180 kg] of weight carried).
•Adding certain accessories to your vehicle (for example bug
deflectors, rollbars/light bars, running boards, ski/luggage racks) may
reduce fuel economy.
•Using fuel blended with alcohol may lower fuel economy.
•Fuel economy may decrease with lower temperatures during the first
8–10 miles (12–16 km) of driving.
•Driving on flat terrain offers improved fuel economy as compared to
driving on hilly terrain.
•Transmissions give their best fuel economy when operated in the top
cruise gear and with steady pressure on the gas pedal.
•Close windows for high speed driving.
EPA window sticker
Every new vehicle should have the EPA window sticker. Contact your
dealer if the window sticker is not supplied with your vehicle. The EPA
window sticker should be your guide for the fuel economy comparisons
with other vehicles.
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Maintenance and Specifications
275

illuminated entry ................43, 99
locking/unlocking doors .....91, 95
Roadside assistance ..................222
Roof rack .....................................89
S
Safety Belt Maintenance ..........141
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ..................128, 131–135
Safety Canopy ...........................152
Safety defects, reporting ..........247
Safety restraints ........128, 131–135
belt minder .............................137
extension assembly ................141
for adults .........................132–134
for children .............................155
Occupant Classification
Sensor ......................................129
safety belt maintenance .........141
warning light and
chime ...............................136–137
Safety seats for children ..........158
Seat belts (see Safety
restraints) ..................................128
Seats ..........................................109
child safety seats ....................158
front seats ...............109, 111–112
memory seat ...................100, 112
second row seats ....................115
third row
seats .................115, 121, 125–126
SecuriLock passive anti-theft
system ........................................106
Servicing your vehicle ..............254
Spare tire (see Changing
the Tire) ............................173, 175Spark plugs,
specifications .....................285, 289
Specification chart,
lubricants ...........................287, 289
Speed control ..............................68
Starting your vehicle ........206–208
jump starting ..........................232
Steering wheel
controls ......................................71
tilting .........................................54
T
Tilt steering wheel ......................54
Tire warning ..............................191
Tires ...........................167–168, 191
alignment ................................189
care ..........................................188
changing ..................173, 175, 177
checking the pressure ............170
inspecting and inflating .........169
label .........................................187
replacing ..................................172
rotating ....................................190
safety practices .......................189
sidewall information ...............182
snow tires and chains ............193
spare tire .................................174
terminology .............................168
tire grades ...............................168
treadwear ........................167, 188
Towing .......................................201
recreational towing .................205
trailer towing ..........................201
wrecker ....................................238
Transaxle
automatic operation ...............214
fluid, refill capacities ..............286
lubricant specifications ..........289
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Index
299

Transmission
brake-shift interlock (BSI) ....214
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................279
lubricant specifications ..........287
Turn signal ..................................46
V
Vehicle dimensions ...................289
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................291
Vehicle loading ..........................194
Ventilating your vehicle ...........209W
Warning lights (see Lights) .......10
Washer fluid ..............................257
Water, Driving through .............221
Windows
power .........................................65
rear wiper/washer .....................53
Windshield washer fluid and
wipers ..........................................53
checking and adding fluid .....257
liftgate reservoir .....................257
replacing wiper blades .............54
Wrecker towing .........................238
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Index
300