Ford Contour (2000 year). Manual - part 51

Maintenance and care

202

EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM

Your vehicle is equipped with
various emission control
components and a catalytic
converter which will enable your
vehicle to comply with applicable
exhaust emission standards. To
make sure that the catalytic
converter and other emission
control components continue to
work properly:

• Use unleaded fuel only.

• Avoid running out of fuel.

• Do not turn off the ignition while
your vehicle is moving, especially
at high speeds.

• Have the items listed in your
“Scheduled Maintenance Guide”
performed according to the
specified schedule.

The scheduled maintenance
services listed in the “Scheduled
Maintenance Guide“ are required
because they are considered
essential to the life and
performance of your vehicle and to
its emissions system.

If other than Ford, Motorcraft, or
Ford authorized parts are used for
maintenance replacements or for
service of components affecting
emissions control, such non-Ford
parts should be equivalent to
genuine Ford Motor Company parts
in performance and durability.

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Maintenance and care

203

BRAKE

O/D
OFF

TRACTION

CONTROL

Alternative design

Alternative design

Watch for fluid leaks, strange
odors, smoke, loss of oil pressure,
engine overheating, illumination of
the charging system warning light
or the check engine warning light.
These events could indicate that
the emission control system is not
working properly.

Exhaust leaks may result in
entry of harmful and

potentially lethal fumes into the
passenger compartment.

Do not park, idle or drive
your vehicle in dry grass or

other dry ground cover. The
emission system heats up the
engine compartment and exhaust
system, which can start a fire.

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204

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 under
the hood. This decal identifies
engine displacement and gives
some tune up specifications.

Please consult your “Warranty
Guide“ for 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 diagnostic (OBD-II)
system. If your check engine light
is on, refer to the description in the
Instrument Cluster Lights and
Chimes section of the
Instrumentation chapter. Your
vehicle may not pass the I/M test
with the check engine light on.

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205

If the vehicle’s powertrain system
or its battery has just been
serviced, the OBD-II system is
reset to a “not ready for I/M test“
condition. To ready the OBD-II
system for I/M testing, a minimum
of 30 minutes of city and highway
driving is necessary as described
below:

• First, at least 10 minutes of
driving on an expressway or
highway.

• Next, at least 20 minutes of
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.

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