Mercury Mystique (2000 year). Manual - part 13

Maintenance and care

193

Dispose of worn tires in

accordance with local

environmental regulations.

Refer to the Safety Compliance
Certification label to determine the
specific size tire and wheel Ford
Motor Company recommends for
use on this vehicle.

When purchasing replacement tires
for your vehicle, consult your
dealer or a qualified service
technician to ensure that the
correct tire type is used.

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The tires on your vehicle have all-
weather treads to provide traction
in rain and snow. However, in some
climates, using snow tires and
chains may be necessary. Ford
offers snow chains as a Ford
approved accessory and
recommends use of these or their
equivalents on approved tires. See
your dealer or a qualified service
technician for more information on
tire chains for your vehicle. Follow
these guidelines when using snow
tires and chains:

• Install chains securely, verifying
that the chains do not touch any
wiring, brake lines or fuel lines.

• Install the chains on the front
tires only.

• Do not use tire chains on 205/60
tires and 205/55R16 Z rated tires.
Steering, suspension and body
components may be damaged by
use of chains.

Snow tires must be the same
size and grade as the tires

you currently have on your
vehicle.

Using snow tires and chains

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Change over from winter to

summer tires as soon as road

conditions allow, this will reduce
fuel consumption and noise in the
vehicle’s interior.

• Drive cautiously. If you hear the
chains rub or bang against the
vehicle, stop and retighten them. If
this does not work, remove the
chains to prevent vehicle damage.

• Local regulations may prohibit or
restrict the use of tire chains.
Investigate the laws and
regulations in your area before
installing chains.

• Avoid overloading your vehicle.

• Do not use tire chains on
temporary spare tires.

• Remove the tire chains when
they are no longer needed. Do not
use chains on dry roads.

• The suspension insulation and
bumpers will help prevent vehicle
damage. Do not remove these
components from the vehicle when
using snow tires and chains.

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196

IMPORTANT FUEL
INFORMATON

Important safety precautions

Do not overfill the fuel tank.
The pressure in an overfilled

tank may cause leakage and lead
to fuel spray and fire.

If you do not use the proper
fuel cap, the pressure in the

fuel tank can damage the fuel
system or cause it to work
improperly in a collision.

The fuel system may be
under pressure. If the fuel

cap is venting vapor or if you hear
a hissing sound, wait until it stops
before completely removing the
cap.

Automotive fuels can cause
serious injury or death if

misused or mishandled.

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Observe the following guidelines
when handling automotive fuel:

• Extinguish all smoking materials
and any open flames before fueling
your vehicle.

• Always turn off the vehicle
before fueling.

• Make sure the fuel cap is
correctly fitted after fueling.
Failure to do so may cause the on
board diagnostic system to
illuminate the check engine light.

• Automotive fuels can be harmful
or fatal if swallowed. If fuel is
swallowed, call a physician
immediately, even if no symptoms
are immediately apparent. The
toxic effects of fuel may not be
visible for hours.

• Fuels can also be harmful if
absorbed through the skin. If fuel is
splashed on the skin, promptly
remove contaminated clothing and
wash skin thoroughly with soap
and water.

• If fuel is splashed in the eyes,
remove contact lenses (if worn),
flush with water for 15 minutes and
seek medical attention.

• Be particularly careful if you are
taking “Antabuse” or other forms of
disulfiram for the treatment of
alcoholism. Breathing gasoline
vapors or skin contact could cause
an adverse reaction. Consult a
physician immediately.

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198

Choosing the right fuel

Use only UNLEADED FUEL. The
use of leaded fuel is prohibited by
law and could damage your vehicle.
The damage may not be covered by
your warranty.

Your vehicle was not designed to
use fuel containing manganese-
based additives such as MMT.
Additionally, vehicles certified to
California emission standards
(indicated on the underhood
Vehicle Emission Control
Information label) are designed to
operate on California reformulated
gasolines. If California reformulated
gasoline is not available when you
refuel, your vehicle can be
operated on non-California fuels.
However, even though your engine
will perform adequately on other
gasolines, the performance of the
emission control devices and
systems may be adversely affected.
Repair of damage caused by a fuel
that your vehicle was not designed
for may not be covered by your
warranty.

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Octane recommendations

Your vehicle is designed to use
regular gasoline with an (R+M)/2
octane rating of 87. We do not
recommend gasolines labeled as
“regular” in high altitude areas that
are sold with octane ratings of 86
or even less.

Do not be concerned if your vehicle
sometimes knocks lightly. However,
if it knocks heavily under most
driving conditions on the
recommended octane, see your
dealer or a qualified service
technician to prevent any engine
damage.

87

MINIMUM OCTANE RATING

(R+M)/2 Method

Fuel quality

If you are experiencing starting,
rough idle or hesitation problems
try a different brand of fuel. If the
condition persists, see your dealer
or qualified service technician.

The American Automobile
Manufacturers Association
(AAMA) issued a gasoline
specification to provide information
on high quality fuels that optimize
the performance of your vehicle.
We recommend the use of gasolines
that meet the AAMA specification
if they are available.

It should not be necessary to add
any aftermarket products to your
fuel tank if you continue to use a
high-quality fuel.

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Fuel filler cap

If the check engine indicator
comes on and stays on when you
start the engine, the fuel filler cap
may not be properly installed. Turn
off the engine, remove the fuel
filler cap and reinstall it being
careful to align the cap properly.

If you must replace the fuel
filler cap, replace it with an
authorized Motorcraft part.
The customer warranty may be
void for any damage to the fuel
tank or fuel system if an
authorized Motorcraft fuel
filler cap is not used.

The fuel system may be
under pressure. If the fuel

filler cap is venting vapor or if you
hear a hissing sound, wait until it
stops before completely removing
the fuel filler cap. Otherwise fuel
may spray out and injure you or
others.

Cleaner air

Ford approves the use of gasolines
to improve air quality, including
reformulated gasolines that contain
oxygenates such as a maximum of
10% ethanol or 15% MTBE. There
should be no more than 5%
methanol with cosolvents and
additives to protect the fuel
system.

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Calculating fuel economy

To accurately calculate your
vehicle’s fuel economy:

1. Fill the tank completely and
record the initial odometer reading.

2. Each time you fill the tank,
record the amount of fuel added
(in litres or gallons).

3. After at least three to five fill-
ups, fill the fuel tank and record
the current mileage reading.

4. Use one of the following
equations to calculate fuel
economy.

Litres used x 100 / Total kilometres
traveled.

Total miles traveled / Total gallons
used.

Keep a record for at least one
month. This will provide an
accurate estimate of the vehicle’s
fuel economy.

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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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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.

BRAKE

CHECK

ENGINE

Alternative design

Alternative design

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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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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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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1

1

2

The bulbs for the low beam, high
beam, turn signals and side lamps
are housed in the lamp assembly.
To replace a bulb, the complete
lamp assembly has to be removed
as follows:

1. Switch off the lamps.

2. Open the hood.

3. Remove the lower screw (2)
from the headlamp housing.

4. Remove the two upper screws
(1) from the headlamp housing.

5. Gently pull the headlamp
housing outward.

6. Replace the headlamp bulbs.

BULB REPLACEMENT

Handle a halogen headlamp
bulb carefully and keep out

of children’s reach.Grasp the bulb
only by its plastic base and do not
touch the glass. The oil from your
hand could cause the bulb to
break the next time the
headlamps are operated.

Removing the headlamps
assembly

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Reinstalling the headlamp
assembly

The gasket lining must be seated
properly around the lamp assembly
when reinstalling.

All bulb connectors must be
correctly connected.

Install in the reverse order.

Headlamp – low beam

Pull off the connector, release the
wire clip and replace the bulb.

Pay attention to the tab guides
when replacing.

Headlamp alignment

Check the headlamp alignment
after each replacement of a bulb.
Refer to Aiming the headlamps.

Headlamps – high beam

Replacement instructions are the
same as for the low beam
headlamp.

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Front turn signal/side lamps

Pull the socket out. Pull the bulb
out and replace it.

Foglamps (if equipped)

1. Turn the bulb counterclockwise
and pull it out of the light assembly.

2. Remove the electrical connector.

3. Fit the new bulb in reverse order
(do not touch the glass part of the
bulb).

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