Ford Contour (2000 year). Manual - part 55

Maintenance and care

218

Repairing paint chips

Minor scratches or paint damage
from road debris may be repaired
with the Ultra Touch Prep and
Finishing Kit (# F7AZ-19K507-BA).
Lacquer Touch-up Paint (# ALBZ-
19500-XXXXA) or Exterior Acrylic
Spray Lacquer (# ALAZ-19500-
XXXXA) from the Ford Car Care
Chemicals line. Please not that the
part numbers (shown as XXXX
above) will vary with your vehicle’s
specific coloring. Observe the
application instructions on the
products.

Cleaning the wheels

Wash the wheels with the same
detergent you use to clean the
body of your vehicle. Do not use
acid-based wheel cleaners, steel
wool, fuel or strong detergents.
Never use abrasives that will
damage the finish of special wheel
surfaces. Use a tar remover to
remove grease and tar.

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Maintenance and care

219

Cleaning the engine

Engines are more efficient when
they are clean because grease and
dirt buildup act as insulators and
keep the engine warmer than
normal. Follow these guidelines to
clean your engine:

• Take care when using a power
washer to clean the engine. The
high pressure fluid could penetrate
the sealed parts and cause damage.

• Do not spray with cold water, to
avoid cracking the engine block.

• Cover the alternator to prevent
water damage when cleaning the
engine.

• Never wash or rinse the engine
while it is running; water in the
running engine may cause internal
damage.

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Maintenance and care

220

Cleaning plastic exterior parts

Use a vinyl cleaner for routine
cleaning of plastic. Clean with a tar
remover if necessary. Do not clean
plastic parts with thinners, solvents
or petroleum-based cleaners.

Cleaning the exterior lamps

Wash the exterior lamps with the
same detergent you use to wash
the exterior of your vehicle. Use
glass cleaner or tar remover if
necessary.

To avoid scratching the lamps, do
not use a dry paper towel, chemical
solvents or abrasive cleaners to
clean the lamps.

Cleaning the wiper blades

If the wiper blades do not wipe
properly, clean both the windshield
and wiper blades using undiluted
windshield wiper solution or a mild
detergent. Rinse thoroughly with
clean water. To avoid damaging the
blades, do not use fuel, kerosene,
paint thinner or other solvents.

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Maintenance and care

221

Cleaning the interior fabric

Remove dust and loose dirt with a
whisk broom or a vacuum cleaner.
Remove fresh spots immediately.
Follow the directions that come
with the cleaner.

Cleaning leather seats 
(if equipped)

For routine cleaning, wipe the
surface with a soft, damp cloth. For
more thorough cleaning, wipe the
surface with a leather and vinyl
cleaner or a mild soap.

Ford recommends using the
Deluxe Leather Care Kit 
F8AZ-196253-AA, which is
available from your Ford dealer.
This mild cleaner and special pad
cleans the leather and maintains its
natural beauty. Follow the
instructions on the cleaner label.
Regular cleaning of your leather
upholstery helps maintain its
resiliency and color.

Cleaning the instrument panel

OFF

LO

PNL/FLR

PANEL

A/C

FLOOR

DEF

FLR 

       DEF

MAX

A/C

HI

/

POWER

AUDIO

AM/FM

SCAN

SEEK

3

1

2

4

5

ANS

SIDE

1-2

EJECT

VOLUME

0 0 0 1 2 3

0 0 0 0

10

20

30

40

50

60 70 80

90

100

110

120

130

MPH

20

40

60

55

80

120

100

140

160

180

200

E

F

1

2

0

3

x 1000

4

5

6

7

8

CHECK
ENGINE

TRACTION
CONTROL

O/D
OFF

MIRRORS

CLOCK

H

C

Clean the instrument panel with a
damp cloth, then dry with a dry
cloth.

Any cleaner or polish that
increases the gloss of the upper
portion of the instrument panel
should be avoided. The dull finish
in this area is to help protect the
driver from undesirable windshield
reflection.

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