Mercury Mystique (2000 year). Manual - part 11

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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162

SERVICE RECOMMENDATIONS

• We highlight do-it-yourself items
in the engine compartment for easy
location.

• As possible, we design parts that
can be replaced without tools.

• We provide you with a
maintenance guide and or service
guide which makes tracking routine
service for your vehicle easy.

If your vehicle requires
professional service, your Ford or
Lincoln/Mercury dealership can
provide necessary parts and
service. Check your “Warranty
Guide” to find out which parts and
services are covered.

Use only recommended fuels,
lubricants, fluids and service parts
conforming to specifications.
Motorcraft parts are designed and
built to provide the best
performance in your vehicle.

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163

Precautions when servicing
your vehicle

Be especially careful when
inspecting or servicing your
vehicle. Here are some general
precautions for your safety:

• Do not work on a hot engine.

The cooling fan is automatic
and may come on at any

time. Always disconnect the
negative terminal of the battery
before working near the fan.

• If you must work with the engine
running, avoid wearing loose
clothing or jewelry that could get
caught in moving parts. Take
precautions with long hair.

• Do not work on a vehicle with the
engine running in an enclosed
space, unless you are sure you have
enough ventilation.

• Keep all lit cigarettes, open
flames and other lit material away
from the battery and all fuel related
parts.

If you disconnect the battery, the
engine must “relearn” its idle
conditions before your vehicle will
drive properly, as explained under
Battery in this chapter.

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164

Working with engine off 
(manual transaxle)

1. Set the parking brake, depress
the clutch and place the gearshift
in 1 (first) or R (Reverse).

2. Turn off the engine and remove
the key.

3. Block the wheels to prevent the
vehicle from moving unexpectedly.

Working with engine off
(automatic transaxle)

1. Set the parking brake fully and
ensure the gearshift is securely
latched in P (Park).

2. Turn off the engine and remove
the key.

3. Block the wheels to prevent the
vehicle from moving unexpectedly.

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165

Working with engine on
(automatic transaxle)

1. Set the parking brake fully and
ensure the gearshift is securely
latched in P (Park).

2. Block the wheels to prevent the
vehicle from moving unexpectedly.

Working with engine on
(manual transaxle)

1. Set the parking brake, depress
the clutch and place the gearshift
in neutral.

2. Block the wheels to prevent the
vehicle from moving unexpectedly.

Do not start your engine
with the air cleaner removed

and do not remove it while the
engine is running.

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Maintenance and care

166

Opening the hood 

• Pull the handle (1) located
under the instrument panel.

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

M

IRRORS

1

TRACTION

       TROL

C

H

• Release the safety catch by
reaching under the hood (2)
(adjacent to the Mercury emblem)
and pushing it to the left.

2

3

•

Raise the hood and

support it with the strut (3) in the
yellow colored retainer, ensuring it
is secure.

To close, replace the support strut
in its retaining clip, lower the hood
and allow it to drop into the catch
for the last 20 – 30 cm 
(8 – 12 inches).

Always check to ensure that the
hood lock is fully engaged.

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167

For ease of identification, all filler caps and the engine oil dipstick are
marked yellow/black. 

2.0 litre EFI-engine compartment

Power

steering

reservoir

Engine

coolant

reservoir

Automatic

transaxle

dipstick 

(if equipped)

Brake fluid

reservoir

Battery

Windshield

washer fluid

reservoir

Engine oil

dipstick

Power

distribution

box

Air

cleaner

Engine oil

filler cap

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168

Power

steering

reservoir

Engine

coolant

reservoir

2.5 litre EFI-engine compartment

For ease of identification, all filler caps and the engine oil dipstick are
marked yellow/black.

Air

cleaner

Brake fluid

reservoir

Automatic

transaxle

dipstick 

(if equipped)

Battery

Windshield

washer fluid

reservoir

Engine oil

dipstick

Power

distribution

box

Engine oil

filler cap

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169

ADD

FULL

Engine oil

Use SAE 5W-30 motor oil
CERTIFIED FOR GASOLINE
ENGINES by the American
Petroleum Institute.

Do not use supplemental engine oil
additives, oil treatments or engine
treatments. They are unnecessary
and could, under certain
conditions, lead to engine damage
which is not covered by Ford
Warranty.

Checking the engine oil

Check the engine oil each time you
fuel your vehicle. 

To check the oil:

1. Make sure the vehicle is on level
ground. If the engine is warm, turn
the engine off and wait a few
minutes for the oil to drain into the
oil pan.

2. Set the parking brake and ensure
the gearshift is securely latched in
P (Park). Put the manual gearshift
in 1 (first) or R (Reverse).

3. Open the hood. Protect yourself
from engine heat.

4. Locate and carefully remove the
engine oil dipstick.

5. Wipe the dipstick clean. Insert
the dipstick fully, then remove it
again. The oil level should be
between the MIN and MAX marks.

2.0 l DOHC

2.5 l DOHC

A

M

E

R

IC

A

N

PET

ROLEUM

IN

ST

IT

U

T

E

CERTIFIED

FOR

GASOLINE

ENGINES

A

M

E

R

IC

A

N

PE

TROLEUM

IN

ST

IT

U

T

E

CERTIFIED

FOR

GASOLINE

ENGINES

Motorcraft

Do not exceed MAX!

Do not exceed MAX!

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6. If the oil level is below the
minimum line, add engine oil as
necessary. If the oil level is beyond
the maximum line, engine damage
or high oil consumption may occur
and some oil must be removed
from the engine by a service
technician.

7. Put the dipstick back in and
ensure it is fully seated.

Continuous contact with
used motor oil has caused

cancer in laboratory mice.

Adding engine oil 

1. Check the engine oil. For
instructions, refer to Checking the
engine oil in this chapter.

2. If the fluid level is not within the
normal range, add only certified
engine oil of the preferred
viscosity. Add engine oil through
the oil filler cap. Remove the filler
cap and use a funnel to pour oil in
the opening.

3. Recheck the oil level. Make
sure the oil level is not above
the MAX mark on the dipstick.

Change your engine oil and oil filter
according to the scheduled mileage
and time requirements, whichever
occurs first.

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171

Empty and used oil

containers must be disposed

of at an authorized waste disposal
facility.

Engine oil filler cap 

The design of the filler cap varies
by engine. To open, turn in the
direction of the arrow and pull. Do
not open the cap while the engine
is running.

Refer to the “Scheduled
Maintenance Guide” for additional
information.

Always dispose of used

automotive fluids in a

responsible manner. Follow your
community’s standards for
disposing of these types of fluids.
Call your local recycling center to
find out more about recycling
automotive fluids.

It is recommended you use the
appropriate Motorcraft oil filter (or
another brand meeting Ford
specifications) for your engine
application.

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Brake/clutch fluid reservoir

Brake and clutch fluid systems are
supplied from the same reservoir.

The level of the fluid must lie
between the MIN and MAX marks
on the side of the reservoir. If the
level falls below the MIN mark, the
brake fluid level warning light on
the instrument cluster will
illuminate. Add only DOT 3, DOT 4
or Super DOT 4 brake fluid that
meets the Ford specification (see
the chapter Capacities and
specifications).

If you use brake fluid that is not
DOT 3, DOT 4 or Super DOT 4 you
will cause permanent damage to
your brakes.

MAX

MIN

Brake fluid is toxic.

BRAKE

BRAKE

Do not let the reservoir for
the master cylinder run dry.

This may cause the brakes to fail.

Windshield washer system 

If necessary, add enough washer
fluid to fill the reservoir. Follow the
instructions on the washer fluid
label.

Do not put engine coolant in
the container for the

windshield washer fluid.

Alternative design

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173

MAX

MIN

The importance of engine
coolant

Engine coolant provides freeze
protection, boil protection, cooling
efficiency and corrosion protection
to the engine and cooling
components. In order to obtain
these protections, the engine
coolant must be maintained at the
proper concentration and fluid
level in the coolant reservoir.

Your vehicle was factory-filled with
a 50/50 engine coolant and water
concentration. If the concentration
of coolant falls below 40 % or rises
above 60 %, the engine parts could
become damaged or not work
properly. A 50/50 mixture of
coolant and water provides the
following:

• Boiling protection up to 265°F
(129°C).

• Freeze protection down to -34°F
(-36°C).

• Protection against rust and other
forms of corrosion.

• Enables calibrated gauges to
function properly.

Cooling system - engine coolant

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Checking engine coolant

The concentration and level of
engine coolant should be checked
at the mileage intervals listed in the
“Scheduled Maintenance Guide“.
The coolant concentration should
be maintained at 50/50 coolant and
water, which equates to a freeze
point of -34°F (-36°C). Coolant
concentration testing is possible
with a hydrometer or antifreeze
tester (such as the Rotunda
Battery and Antifreeze Tester, 014-
R1060). The level of coolant should
be maintained at the “cold full“ or
“cold fill range“ level in the coolant
reservoir. If the level falls below,
add coolant per the instructions in
the Adding engine coolant
section.

Adding engine coolant 

When adding engine coolant, make
sure it is a 50/50 mixture of engine
coolant and distilled water. Add the
mixture to the coolant reservoir
when the engine is cool until the
appropriate fill level is obtained.

Do not put engine coolant in
the windshield washer fluid

container. If sprayed on the
windshield, engine coolant could
make it difficult to see through the
windshield.

Do not add engine coolant
when the engine is hot.

Steam and scalding liquids
released from a hot cooling system
can burn you badly. Also, you can
be burned if you spill coolant on
hot engine parts.

The coolant system in your vehicle
is filled with Ford Premium Engine
Coolant E2FZ-19549-AA
(Motorcraft CXC-8-B in Canada) or
equivalent meeting Ford
specification ESE-M97B44-A.

To maintain the integrity of the
coolant and the cooling system
and maintain the warranty on
the cooling system:

• Add the type of coolant
originally equipped in your
vehicle. If you are unsure which
type of coolant your vehicle
requires, contact your local dealer.

• Do not mix the factory-filled
coolant with an orange-colored
EXTENDED LIFE COOLANT
such as F6AZ-19544-A, meeting
WSS-M97B44-D. Mixing of Ford
Premium Engine Coolant with an
extended life product can result in
degraded corrosion protection.

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• A large amount of water without
engine coolant may be added, in
case of emergency, to reach a
vehicle service location. In this
instance, the cooling system must
be drained and refilled with a 50/50
mixture of engine coolant and
distilled water as soon as possible.
Water alone (without engine
coolant) can cause engine damage
from corrosion, overheating or
freezing. 

• Do not use alcohol or
methanol or any engine
coolants mixed with alcohol or
methanol antifreeze (coolant).
Alcohol and other liquids can cause
engine damage from overheating or
freezing.

• Do not add extra inhibitors
or additives to the coolant.
These can be harmful and
compromise the corrosion
protection of the engine coolant.

• Do not mix with recycled
coolant unless the bottle label
states compliance with Ford
specification ESE-M97B44-A.

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MAX

MIN

1. Before you begin, turn the
engine off and let it cool.

2. When the engine is cool, wrap a
thick cloth around the coolant
pressure relief cap on the coolant
reservoir (an opaque plastic
bottle). Slowly turn the cap
counterclockwise (left) until the
pressure begins to release.

3. Step back while the pressure
releases (you may hear a hissing
sound).

4. When you are sure that all the
pressure has been released from
the cooling system, use the cloth to
turn the cap counterclockwise and
remove it.

5. Fill the coolant reservoir slowly
with the proper coolant mixture
(see above) to within the “cold full“
or the “cold fill range“ level on the
reservoir. 

6. Replace the cap. Turn until
tightly installed. (Cap must be
tightly installed to prevent coolant
loss.)

To avoid personal injury,
make sure the engine is cool

before unscrewing the coolant
pressure relief cap. The cooling
system is under pressure; steam
and hot liquid can come out
forcefully when the cap is
loosened slightly.

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