Ford Contour (2000 year). Manual - part 40

Roadside emergencies

158

Jump starting

1. Start the engine of the booster
vehicle and run the engine at a
moderately increased speed.

2. Start the engine of the disabled
vehicle.

3. Once the disabled vehicle has
been started, run both engines for
a further three minutes before
disconnecting the jumper cables.

Removing jumper cables

Remove the jumper cables in
the reverse order that they
were connected.

1. Remove the jumper cable from
the “ground” metal surface.

5. Be sure that the cables are clear
of fan blades, belts and other
moving parts of both engines.

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Roadside emergencies

159

2. Remove the jumper cable on the
negative (-) connection of the
booster vehicle’s battery.

4. Remove the jumper cable from
the positive (+) terminal of the
disabled vehicle’s battery.

3. Remove the jumper cable from
the positive (+) terminal of the
booster vehicle’s battery.

After the disabled vehicle has been
started and the jumper cables
removed, allow it to idle for several
minutes so the engine computer
can “relearn” its idle conditions.

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Roadside emergencies

160

If towing is necessary, it is
recommended that your vehicle be
towed with a wheel lift or flatbed
equipment. Do not tow with
slingbelt equipment. Ford Motor
Company has not developed or
approved a T-hook or slingbelt
towing procedure.

WRECKER TOWING

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Roadside emergencies

161

Never use a tow bar that
attaches to the bumper

when you tow your vehicle.  This
could damage the bumper and
cause an accident.

TOWING YOUR VEHICLE
BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE

Before you have your vehicle
towed:

• release the parking brake,

• move the gearshift to N

(Neutral),

• turn the ignition to the off

position and

• unlock the steering wheel.

Recreational towing or having
your vehicle towed

An example of recreational towing
would be towing your vehicle
behind a Motorhome. Follow these
guidelines if you have the need for
recreational towing.

These guidelines are designed to
ensure that your transaxle is not
damgaged.

It is not recommended to tow front
wheel drive vehicles with the front
drive wheels on the ground.

It is recommended to tow your
vehicle with the drive wheels on a
dolly or two wheel car hauling
trailer.

Automatic transaxle

In case of a roadside emergency
with a disabled vehicle (without
access to wheel dollies, car hauling
trailer or flatbed transport vehicle)
your vehicle can be flat towed (all
wheels on the ground) under the
following conditions.

• Place the transaxle in N

(Neutral)

• Do not exceed a distance of 80

km (50 miles).

• Do not exceed 56 km/h (35 mph)

vehicle speed.

Manual transaxle

Do not tow your vehicle at a speed
faster than 90 km/h (55 mph). Your
maximum towing distance is
unlimited.

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