Mercury Mystique (2000 year). Manual - part 12

Maintenance and care

177

After any coolant has been added,
check the coolant concentration
(see Checking engine coolant
section). If the concentration is not
50/50 (protection to -34°F /-36°C),
drain some coolant and adjust the
concentration. It may take several
drains and additions to obtain a
50/50 coolant concentration.

Whenever coolant has been added,
the coolant level in the coolant
reservoir should be checked the
next few times you drive the
vehicle. If necessary,  add enough
50/50 concentration of engine
coolant and distilled water to bring
the liquid level to the proper level.

If you have to add more than
1.0 liter (1.0 quart) of engine
coolant per month, have your
dealer check the engine cooling
system. Your cooling system may
have a leak. Operating an engine
with a low level of coolant can
result in engine overheating and
possible engine damage.

Changing engine coolant

Change your engine coolant
according to the appropriate
schedule listed in the “Scheduled
Maintenance Guide“. It is important
that the engine coolant be changed
at the specified intervals. The
corrosion protection of engine
coolant is depleted with time and
usage. Use of engine coolant with
depleted corrosion protection may
result in damage to the coolant
system. Color, specific gravity and
freeze point of the coolant are not 

indicators of depletion.

To find out how much fluid your
vehicle’s cooling system can hold,
refer to the Refill capacities in the
Capacities and Specifications
chapter. Fill your coolant reservoir
following the directions given in
the Adding engine coolant
section.

Coolant usage in severe winter
climate

If you drive in extremely cold
climates less than -34°F (-36°C), it
may be necessary to increase the
coolant concentration above 50 %.
Refer to the chart on the coolant
container to ensure the coolant
concentration in your vehicle will
provide adequate freeze protection.
Never increase the engine
coolant concentration above
60 % (protection to -60°F). At a
level over 60 %, your engine could
overheat and become damaged.

Coolant usage in hot climate

If you drive in hot climates, it is still
necessary to maintain the coolant
concentration at 50/50 coolant and
water. Do not allow the
concentration to fall below
40 % coolant. At a concentration
less than 40 %, the corrosion
protection to your engine and
cooling components may be
compromised and permanent
damage may result.

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Maintenance and care

178

Checking and adding power
steering fluid

Switch off the engine. With the
steering system at normal
operating temperature, the fluid
level should come up to the MAX
mark.

If the fluid level drops below the
MIN mark, add the specified fluid.
Refer to the Capacities and
specifications chapter.

MAX

MIN

Disposal of used engine coolant

Used engine coolant should be
disposed of in an appropriate
manner. Follow your community’s
regulations and standards for
recycling and/or disposal of
automotive fluids.

Use of recycled engine coolant

Ford Motor Company recommends
the use of recycled engine coolant
produced by Ford-approved
processes. However, not all coolant
recycling processes produce
coolant that meets Ford
specification ESE-M97B44A. Use of
such coolant may harm the engine
and coolant system components.

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Maintenance and care

179

Checking and adding automatic
transaxle fluid

Follow the scheduled service
intervals outlined in the
“Scheduled Maintenance Guide“.

Your transaxle does not consume
fluid. However, it is recommended
that you refer to your “Scheduled
Maintenance Guide“ for scheduled
intervals for fluid checks and
changes. The fluid level should be
checked or changed by a qualified
technician at the appropriate
intervals or if the transaxle is not
working properly, i.e., if the
transaxle slips or shifts slowly or if
you notice some sign of fluid
leakage.

Note: Automatic transaxle fluid
expands when warmed. To obtain
an accurate fluid level check drive
the vehicle until warmed,
approximately 30 km (20 miles). If
your vehicle has been operated for
an extended period at high speeds,
in city traffic during hot weather or
pulling a trailer, the vehicle should
be turned off for about 30 minutes
to allow fluid to cool before
checking.

1. Drive the vehicle 30 km (20
miles) or until the vehicle reaches
normal operating temperatures.

2. Park the vehicle on a level
surface and engage the parking
brake.

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180

3. With the parking brake engaged
and your foot on the brake pedal,
start the engine and move the
gearshift lever through all of the
gear ranges. Allow sufficient time
for each gear to engage.

4. Latch the gearshift lever in P
(Park) and leave the engine
running.

5. Remove the dipstick, wiping it
with a clean, dry lint free rag.

6. Install the dipstick making sure
it is fully seated in the filler tube.

7. Remove the dipstick and inspect
the fluid level. The fluid level
should be in the designated areas
for normal and room temperature.

Low fluid level

Do not drive the vehicle  if the fluid
level is below the hole at the
bottom of the dipstick.

Correct fluid level

The transaxle fluid level should be
checked at normal operating
temperatures 66°C - 77°C (150°F -
170°F) on a level surface. The
normal operating temperature can
be reached after approximately 
30 km (20 miles) of driving.

The transaxle fluid should be in
this range if at normal operating
temperature of 66°C - 77°C
(150°F - 170°F).

Do not drive if below this area 

Normal operating temperature
66°C - 77°C (150°F - 170°F)

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181

Adjusting automatic transaxle
fluid levels

Before adding any fluid, make sure
the correct type is used. The type
of fluid used is normally indicated
on the dipstick and/or dipstick
handle and also in the Lubricant
specifications section in the
Capacities and Specifications
chapter.

Use of a non approved
automatic transaxle fluid may
cause internal transaxle
component damage. 

If necessary, add fluid in 250 ml
(1/2 pint) increments through the
filler tube until the level is correct.

If an overfill occurs, excess fluid
should be removed by a qualified
technician.

An overfill condition of
transaxle fluid may cause shift
and/or engagement concerns
and/or possible damage.

High fluid level

Fluid levels above the safe range
may result in transaxle failure. An
overfill condition of transaxle fluid
may cause shift and/or possible
damage. High fluid levels can be
caused by an overheating
condition, see note.

Do not add if above the
crosshatched area

Do not add if above the
crosshatched area

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Maintenance and care

182

Battery

Your vehicle may be equipped with
a Motorcraft maintenance-free
battery. The Motorcraft
maintenance-free battery normally
does not require additional water
during its life of service. However,
for severe service usage or in high
temperature climates, refer to the
“Scheduled Maintenance Guide” for
additional information. Keep the
electrolyte in each cell up to the
“level” indicator. Do not overfill the
battery cell.

For longer, trouble-free operation,
keep the top of the battery clean
and dry. Also, make certain the
battery cables are always tightly
fastened to the battery terminals.

If you see any corrosion on the
battery cables or terminals, remove
the cables from the terminal(s) and
clean with a wire brush. You can
neutralize the acid with a solution
of baking soda and water. Reinstall
the cables when you are done
cleaning them, and apply a small
quantity of grease to the top of
each battery terminal to help
prevent corrosion.

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183

Battery replacement

If your original equipment battery
requires replacement while under
warranty, it will be replaced with a
Motorcraft service battery,
identical in design technology. Like
the original equipment battery, it
should not require water addition
during its normal life of service;
however, for severe service usage
or in high temperature climates,
refer to the “Scheduled
Maintenance Guide“ for additional
information. Do not overfill the
battery cell.

If the electrolyte level in your
battery gets low, you can add plain
tap water to the battery, as long as
you do not use hard water (water
with a high mineral or alkali
content). If possible, however, try
to only fill the battery cell with
distilled water. If the battery needs
water often, have the charging
system checked.

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184

Batteries normally produce
explosive gases which can

cause personal injury. Do not allow
flames, sparks or lit tobacco to
come near the battery. Always
cover your face and protect your
eyes and also provide ventilation.

Applying too much pressure
on the ends when lifting a

battery could cause acid to spill.
Lift the battery with a carrier or
with your hands on the opposite
corners.

Follow these steps to
minimize risk of personal

injury.

Always dispose of automotive

batteries in a responsible

manner. Follow your community’s
local standards for disposal. Call
your local recycling center to find
out more about recycling
automotive batteries.

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Maintenance and care

185

Relearning the idle function

Because your vehicle’s engine is
electronically controlled, some
control conditions are maintained
by power from the battery. When
the battery is disconnected or a
new battery is installed, the
computer must “relearn” its idle
conditions before your vehicle can
drive properly. To begin this
process:

1. Put the automatic transaxle
gearshift in P (Park). Put the
manual transaxle gearshift in
neutral.

2. Turn off all accessories and start
the vehicle.

3. Let the engine idle for at least
one minute.

4. The “relearning” process will
automatically complete as you
drive the vehicle.

• If you do not allow the engine to
“relearn” its idle, the idle quality of
your vehicle may be adversely
affected until the idle is eventually
“relearned”.

• If the battery has been
disconnected or if a new battery
has been installed, the clock and
preset radio stations must be reset
once the battery is reconnected.

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Maintenance and care

186

Checking wiper blades

Check the wiper blades on your
vehicle for roughness by running
the tips of your fingers over the
edge of the blade.

Traces of grease, silicone and fuel
prevent wiper blades from
functioning properly. We
recommend Ford cleaning
solutions or equivalent to clean
wiper blades.

Change the wiper blades on your
vehicle at least once a year.

Cabin air filter replacement

In your climate control system, you
have a filter that cleans the air
before it enters the interior of the
vehicle. This filter should be
replaced at the intervals in the
“Scheduled Maintenance Guide“.

To replace the cabin air filter:

1. Unscrew the nut in the base of
each windshield wiper arm.
Remove the windshield wiper arms.

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187

2. Remove the plastic caps from
the screws on the grille. Remove
the screws.

3. Open the hood. Pull off the
rubber weatherstrip at the back of
the engine compartment. Remove
the screws that hold the grille,
separate the two halves and
remove the grille.

4. The filter is in a housing at the
back of the engine compartment,
on the passenger side. Pull off the
two clips on the sides of the
housing. Slide out the top part of
the housing and filter.

5. Slide the filter out of the
housing, replace with the new filter
and slide the top part of the
housing and cabin air filter back
into place. Reinstall the clips on the
housing.

6. Replace the grille and wiper
arms.

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Maintenance and care

188

New vehicles are fitted with tires
that have their Tire Quality Grade
(described below) molded into the
tire’s sidewall. These Tire Quality
Grades are determined by
standards that the United States
Department of Transportation has
set.

Tire Quality Grades apply to new
pneumatic tires for use on
passenger cars. They do not apply
to deep tread, winter-type snow
tires, space-saver or temporary use
spare tires, tires with nominal rim
diameters of 10 to 12 inches or
limited production tires as defined
in Title 49 Code of Federal
Regulation Part 575.104(c)(2).

U.S. Department of
Transportation – Tire quality
grades: 

The U.S. Department of

Transportation requires Ford to
give you the following information
about tire grades exactly as the
government has written it.

INFORMATION ABOUT TIRE
QUALITY GRADES

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189

Treadwear

The treadwear grade is a
comparative rating based on the
wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a
specified government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150
would wear one and one-half
(1 1/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded
100. The relative performance of
tires depends upon the actual
conditions of their use, however,
and may depart significantly from
the norm due to variations in
driving habits, service practices,
and differences in road
characteristics and climate.

Traction AA A B C

The traction grades, from highest
to lowest are AA, A, B, and C.
Those grades represent the tire’s
ability to stop on wet pavement as
measured under controlled
conditions on specified government
test surfaces of asphalt and
concrete. A tire marked C may
have poor traction performance.

The traction grade assigned
to this tire is based on

straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include
acceleration, cornering,
hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.

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Temperature A B C

The temperature grades are A (the
highest), B, and C, representing
the tire’s resistance to the
generation of heat and its ability to
dissipate heat when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified
indoor laboratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can
cause the material of the tire to
degenerate and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead to
sudden tire failure. The grade C
corresponds to a level of
performance which all passenger
car tires must meet under the
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard No. 109. Grades B and A
represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test
wheel than the minimum required
by law.

The temperature grade for
this tire is established for a

tire that is properly inflated and
not overloaded. Excessive speed,
underinflation, or excessive
loading, either separately or in
combination, can cause heat
buildup and possible tire failure.

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Checking tire pressure

Check the tire pressure
periodically after the vehicle has
been parked for at least one hour
or has been driven less than 5 km
(3 miles). Inflate the tires as
necessary. To check the tire
pressure, insert the tire pressure
gauge into the valve. 

The cold pressure amount is listed
on the Safety Compliance
Certification label.

Improperly inflated tires can
affect vehicle handling and

can fail suddenly, possibly
resulting in loss of vehicle control.

Rotating tires

Rotate your tires at regular
intervals for even wear. Rotation
intervals are listed in the
maintenance guide and or service
guide.

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Failure to follow these
precautions may adversely

affect the handling of the vehicle
and make it easier to lose control
and roll over.

Replacing tires

Replace tires when the wear band
is visible through the tire treads.

When replacing full size
tires, never mix radial, bias-

belted, or bias-type tires. Use only
the tire sizes that are listed on the
tire pressure decal. Make sure that
all tires are the same size, speed
rating, and load-carrying capacity.
Use only the tire combinations
recommended on the decal. If you
do not follow these precautions,
your vehicle may not drive
properly and safely.

Do not replace your tires
with “high performance”

tires or larger size tires.

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