Mercury 1996 Sable User manual

[PI00090(S )04/95]
thirty-six pica chart:
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*[PI00100(ALL)04/95]
thirty-six pica chart:
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*[PI00560(ALL)04/01]
Table of Contents
Introductory Information ............................... 1
Safety Restraints .............................................. 9
Starting Your Sable ....................................... 61
Warning Lights and Gauges ....................... 73
Instrument Panel Controls .......................... 91
Steering Column Controls ........................ 115
Features .......................................................... 125
Electronic Sound Systems ......................... 169
Driving Your Sable ..................................... 191
Roadside Emergencies ................................ 217
Customer Assistance ................................... 235
Reporting Safety Defects ...................... 243
Accessories .................................................... 247
Servicing Your Sable .................................. 255
Quick Index .................................................. 335
Index ............................................................... 347
Service Station Information ...................... 364
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1
Introductory Information
*[IN00300(ALL)04/95] Ford’s Commitment to You
*[IN00400(ALL)04/95] At Ford Motor Company, excellence is the
continuous commitment to achieve the best
result possible. It is dedication to learning what
you want, determination to develop the right
concept, and execution of that concept with care,
precision, and attention to detail. In short,
excellence means being the standard by which
others are judged.
*[IN00500(ALL)04/95] Our Guiding Principles
*[IN00600(ALL)04/95] ❑Quality comes first. For your satisfaction, the
quality of our products and services must be
our number one priority.
*[IN00700(ALL)04/95] ❑You are the focus of everything we do. Our
work must be done with you in mind,
providing better products and services than
our competition.
*[IN00750(ALL)04/95] ❑Continuous improvement is essential to our
success. We must strive for excellence in
everything we do: in our products — in their
safety and value — and in our services, our
human relations, our competitiveness, and
our profitability.
*[IN00800(ALL)04/95] ❑Employee involvement is our way of life.
We are a team. We must treat one another
with trust and respect.
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*[IN00900(ALL)04/95] ❑Dealers and suppliers are our partners. We
must maintain mutually beneficial
relationships with dealers, suppliers, and our
other business associates.
*[IN01000(ALL)04/95] ❑Integrity is never compromised. Our conduct
worldwide must be pursued in a manner that
is socially responsible and commands respect
for its integrity and for its positive
contributions to society.
*[IN01100(ALL)04/95] Things to Know About Using
This Guide
*[IN01200(ALL)04/95] Congratulations on the purchase of your new
vehicle. This guide has information about the
equipment and the options for your new vehicle.
You may not have bought all of the options
available to you. If you do not know which
information applies to your vehicle, talk to your
dealer.
*[IN01300(ALL)04/95] This guide describes equipment and gives
specifications for equipment that was in effect
when this guide was approved for printing. Ford
may discontinue models or change specifications
or design without any notice and without
incurring obligation.
*[IN01400(ALL)04/95] As you read through your owner guide,
carefully read all Warnings because they tell you
how to avoid endangering yourself, your
passengers, and other people.
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3
*[IN01500(ALL)04/95] Finding Information in This Guide
*[IN01600(ALL)04/95] After you have read this guide once, you will
probably return to it when you have a specific
question or need additional information. To help
you find specific information quickly, you can
use the Quick Index or the Index.
*[IN01700(ALL)04/95] The Quick Index at the end of the book
provides a page number following each item
which indicates where detailed information can
be found.
*[IN01900(ALL)04/95] To use the Index, turn to the back of the book
and search in the alphabetical listing for the
word that best describes the information you
need. If the word you chose is not listed, think
of other related words and look them up. We
have designed the Index so that you can find
information under a technical term.
%*[IN02000(ALL)04/95] Canadian Owners — French Version
*[IN02100(ALL)04/95] French Owner Guides can be obtained from your
dealer or by writing to Ford Motor Company of
Canada, Limited, Service Publications, P.O. Box
1580, Station B, Mississauga, Ontario L4Y 4G3.
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4
*[IN02400(ALL)04/95] Your Maintenance Schedule and
Record Booklet
*[IN02500(ALL)03/95] The Maintenance Schedule and Record booklet lists
the services that are most important for keeping
your vehicle in good condition. A record log is
also provided to help you keep track of all
services performed.
%*[IN02600(ALL)01/95] About the Warranties
*[IN02700(ALL)04/95] Your vehicle is covered by three types of
warranties: Basic Vehicle Warranty,Extended
Warranties on certain parts, and Emissions
Warranties.
%*[IN03100(ALL)03/95] Read your Warranty Information Booklet carefully
to find out about your vehicle’s warranties and
your basic rights and responsibilities.
*[IN03300(ALL)03/95] If you lose your Warranty Information Booklet, you
can get a new one free of charge. Contact any
Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer, or refer to the
addresses and phone numbers on the first page
of this owner guide.
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5
%*[IN04000(ALL)01/95] Buying a Ford Extended Service Plan
*[IN04100(ALL)01/94] If you bought your vehicle in the U.S., you can
buy a Ford Extended Service Plan for your
vehicle. This optional contract provides service
protection for a longer period of time than the
basic warranty that comes with your vehicle.
*[IN04200(ALL)01/95] You do not have to buy this option when you
buy your vehicle. However, your option to
purchase the Ford Extended Service Plan runs
out after 18 months or 18,000 miles. See your
dealer for more details about the Ford Extended
Service Plan.
*[IN04250(ALL)01/95] If you purchased a Canadian vehicle and did not
take advantage of the Ford Extended Service
Plan at the time of purchase, you may still be
eligible. See your dealer for the details.
%*[IN06000(ALL)01/95] Breaking Your Vehicle In
*[IN06100(ALL)03/95] Your new vehicle goes through an adjustment or
break-in period during the first 1,000 miles
(1,600 km) that you drive it. During the break-in
period, you need to pay careful attention to how
you drive your vehicle.
%*[IN06300(ALL)01/95] ❑Avoid sudden stops. Because your vehicle
has new brake linings, you should take these
steps:
*[IN06400(ALL)01/95] — Watch traffic carefully so that you can
anticipate when to stop.
*[IN06500(ALL)01/95] — Begin braking well in advance.
*[IN06600(ALL)01/95] — Apply the brakes gradually.
*[IN06700(ALL)01/95] The break-in period for new brake linings
lasts for 100 miles (160 km) of city driving or
1,000 miles (1,600 km) of highway driving.
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%*[IN06800(ALL)01/95] ❑Use only the type of engine oil that Ford
recommends. See Engine oil recommendations
in the Index. Do not use special “break-in”
oils.
[IN06810(ALL)04/95] Safety Labels
[IN06820(ALL)04/95] There are labels, decals and tags on your vehicle
to alert you about possible hazards. The signal
word on the label tells you the degree of hazard
and is used in the following ways:
[IN06830(ALL)04/95] ❑DANGER: Used to indicate the presence of a
hazard which will cause severe personal
injury or death if the warning is ignored.
[IN06840(ALL)04/95] ❑WARNING: Used to indicate the presence of
a hazard which can cause severe personal
injury or death if the warning is ignored.
[IN06850(ALL)04/95] ❑CAUTION: Used to indicate the presence of a
hazard which will or can cause minor
personal injury or property damage if the
warning is ignored.
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%*[IN06900(ALL)04/95] Cleaning the Outside of Your
Vehicle
*[IN07001(ALL)04/95] Pollen, bird droppings and tree sap can damage
the paint, especially in hot weather. Wash your
vehicle as often as necessary to keep it clean.
*[IN07101(ALL)04/95] Take similar precautions if your vehicle is
exposed to chemical industrial fallout.
*[IN07201(ALL)08/95] Paint damage resulting from fallout is not
related to a defect in paint materials or
workmanship and therefore is not covered by
warranty. Ford, however, believes that continual
improvement in customer satisfaction is a high
priority. For this reason, Ford has authorized its
dealers to repair, at no charge to the owner, the
surfaces of new vehicles damaged by
environmental fallout within 12 months or 12,000
miles (20,000 km) of purchase, whichever comes
first. Customers may be required to bring their
vehicle in for inspection by a Ford
representative.
%*[IN07301(ALL)04/95] Washing and Polishing Your Vehicle
[IN07401(ALL)03/95] Wash the outside of your vehicle, including the
underside, with a cleaner made for washing cars.
If your vehicle has clear-coat, make sure that the
cleaner is recommended for clear-coat.
*[IN07501(ALL)04/95] DO NOT:
*[IN07601(ALL)04/95] ❑Wash your vehicle with hot water
*[IN07701(ALL)04/95] ❑Wash your vehicle while it sits in direct
sunlight
*[IN07801(ALL)04/95] ❑Wash your vehicle while the body is hot
*[IN07901(ALL)04/95] Polish your vehicle to remove harmful deposits
and protect the finish.
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%*[IN08101(ALL)04/95] Cleaning Chrome and Aluminum Parts
*[IN08201(ALL)04/95] Wash chrome and aluminum parts with a mild
detergent. Do not use steel wool, abrasive
cleaners, fuel or strong detergents.
%*[IN08301(ALL)04/95] Cleaning Plastic Parts
*[IN08401(ALL)04/95] Some of your vehicle’s exterior trim parts are
plastic. Clean with a tar and road oil remover if
necessary. Use a vinyl cleaner for routine
cleaning.
*[IN08501(ALL)04/95] Do not clean plastic parts with thinners, solvents
or petroleum-based cleaners.
%*[IN08701(ALL)04/95] If you have your vehicle rustproofed, remove
oversprayed rustproofing with a tar and road oil
remover. If rustproofing is not removed from
plastic and rubber parts, it can cause
deterioration.
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9
Safety Restraints
%*[SR00500(ALL)04/95] Important Safety Belt Information
*[SR00600(ALL)03/95] The use of safety belts helps to restrain you and
your passengers in case of a collision. In most
states and in Canada the law requires their use.
*[SR00700(ALL)01/95] Safety belts provide best restraint when:
*[SR00800(ALL)01/95] ❑the seatback is upright
*[SR00900(ALL)01/95] ❑the occupant is sitting upright (not slouched)
*[SR01000(ALL)01/95] ❑the lap belt is snug and low on the hips
*[SR01100(ALL)01/95] ❑the shoulder belt is snug against the chest
*[SR01200(ALL)01/95] ❑the knees are straight forward
*[SR02200(ALL)04/95] To help you remember to fasten your safety belt,
a warning light may come on and a chime may
sound. See Safety Belt Warning Light and Chime in
the Warning Lights and Gauges chapter.
*[SR02300(ALL)01/95] See the following sections in this chapter for
directions on how to properly use these safety
belts. Also see Safety Restraints for Children in this
chapter for special instructions about using
safety belts for children.
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%*[SR02400(ALL)03/95] RWARNING
Make sure that you and your
passengers, including pregnant
women, wear safety belts. Always
drive and ride with your seatback
upright and the lap belt portion of
your safety belt snug and low across
the hips. This will reduce the risk of
serious injury to the abdomen or
neck that could be caused by sliding
under the safety belts in a collision.
If safety belts are not used properly,
the risk of you or your passengers
being injured in a collision greatly
increases.
*[SR02700(ALL)03/95] RWARNING
Never wear the shoulder belt under
the arm. Never swing it around the
neck over the inside shoulder. Never
use a single belt for more than one
person or across more than one
seating position. Each seating
position in your vehicle has a
specific safety belt assembly which is
made up of one buckle and one
tongue that are designed to be used
as a pair. Failure to follow these
precautions could increase the risk
and/or severity of injury in a
collision.
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*[SR02850(ALL)01/95] RWARNING
Never drive or ride with a twisted or
jammed safety belt. If you cannot
untwist or unjam the safety belt, see
the nearest qualified technician
immediately.
*[SR02900(ALL)04/95] RWARNING
Children should always ride with the
seatback in the fully upright
position. When the seatback is not
fully upright, there is a greater risk
that the child will slide under the
safety belt and be seriously injured
in a collision.
*[SR03000(ALL)04/95] RWARNING
Never let a passenger hold a child on
his or her lap while the vehicle is
moving. The passenger cannot protect
the child from injury in a collision.
*[SR03200(ALL)02/95] Lock the doors of your vehicle before driving to
lessen the risk of the door coming open in a
collision.
[SR03600(ALL)03/95] Combination Lap and Shoulder
Belts
*[SR03900(ALL)02/95] While your vehicle is in motion, the combination
lap and shoulder belt adjusts to your movement.
However, if you brake hard, turn hard, or if
your vehicle receives an impact of 5 mph
(8 km/h) or more, the lap and shoulder belt
locks and helps reduce your forward movement.
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*[SR04000(ALL)02/95] After you get into your vehicle, close the door
and lock it. Then adjust the seat to the position
that suits you best.
*[SR04100(ALL)08/95] Pull the combination lap/shoulder belt from the
retractor so that the shoulder portion of the belt
crosses your shoulder and chest. Be sure the belt
is not twisted. If it is, remove the twist. Insert
the belt tongue into the proper buckle until you
hear a snap and feel it latch. Make sure the
tongue is securely fastened to the buckle by
pulling on tongue.
*[SR04200(ALL)01/95]
quarter page art:0010018-B
Fastening the front seat combination lap and shoulder belt
*[SR04300(ALL)02/95] NOTE: Be sure to read and understand
Important Safety Belt Information at
the beginning of this chapter.
[SR04500(ALL)02/95]
one third page art:0000685-I
Unfastening the combination lap and shoulder belts —
front and rear outboard seating positions
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*[SR04700(ALL)03/95] While the belt retracts, guide the tongue to its
original position to prevent it from striking you
or the vehicle.
[SR05625(ALL)04/95] Safety Belts for Front Outboard Passenger
and Rear Outboard Seating Positions
(Except Wagon Rear-Facing Seat)
[SR05650(ALL)04/95] Your vehicle is equipped with a dual locking
mode retractor on the shoulder belt portion of
the combination lap/shoulder safety belt for the
front seat outboard passenger and rear outboard
passengers.
*[SR05670(ALL)03/95] Dual locking mode retractors operate in two
ways:
*[SR05675(ALL)03/95]
Vehicle Sensitive (Emergency) Locking Mode
*[SR05700(ALL)03/95] In this operating mode, the shoulder belt
retractor will allow the occupant freedom of
movement, locking tight only on hard braking,
hard cornering or impacts of approximately
5 mph (8 km/h) or more. The retractor can also
be made to lock by pulling on the belt.
%*[SR05725(ALL)04/95]
Automatic locking mode
*[SR05750(ALL)03/95] In this operating mode, the shoulder belt
retractor will be automatically locked and will
remain locked when the combination
lap/shoulder safety belt is buckled, and does not
allow the occupant freedom of movement. This
mode provides the following:
*[SR05775(ALL)00/00] ❑A tight lap/shoulder belt on the occupant.
*[SR05800(ALL)03/95] ❑Child safety seat installation.
*[SR05810(ALL)03/95] RWARNING
Rear-facing infant seats should never
be placed in the front seats.
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*[SR05825(ALL)03/95] This mode must be used when installing a child
safety seat on the front passenger seat and rear
outboard seats where dual locking retractors are
provided.
*[SR05830(ALL)04/95] To switch the retractor from the emergency
locking mode to the automatic locking mode,
perform the following steps:
*[SR05875(ALL)03/95] 1. Buckle the lap/shoulder combination belt.
*[SR05900(ALL)03/95] 2. Grasp the shoulder portion of the belt and
pull downward until all of the belt is
extracted, and when allowed to retract, a
clicking sound will be heard. At this time,
the belt retractor is in the automatic locking
mode (child restraint mode).
*[SR05925(ALL)04/95] 3. A clicking sound will continue to be heard
as the belt is allowed to retract. This
indicates that the retractor is in the
automatic locking mode.
*[SR05930(ALL)04/95] NOTE: When the combination lap/shoulder
belt is unbuckled and allowed to
retract completely, the retractor will
switch to the vehicle sensitive
(emergency) locking mode. See the
detailed instructions under Safety Seats
for Children in this chapter.
%*[SR05940(ALL)04/95] Shoulder Belt Height Adjustment
*[SR05950(ALL)04/95]
Driver and right front passenger
*[SR05960(ALL)03/95] You can adjust the shoulder belt height to one of
five (5) positions.
[SR05962(ALL)03/95] To adjust the belt down, pinch the release
button. To adjust the belt up, slide the adjuster
up. (You do not have to pinch the release
button.)
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*[SR05964(ALL)03/95] Make sure the adjuster is firmly in one of the
five positions. The belt should be adjusted up or
down until the belt rests on your shoulder near
your neck.
[SR05966(ALL)03/95]
one third page art:0001402-B
The shoulder belt height adjuster
*[SR05968(ALL)04/95] RWARNING
Position the shoulder belt height
adjuster so that the belt rests across
the middle of your shoulder. Be sure
the shoulder belt is properly
positioned on your shoulder each
time you use the belt. If the shoulder
belt is off your shoulder, on your
upper arm or neck, there is a greater
risk of severe injury in a collision.
[SR06000(ALL)04/95] Safety Belts for Rear-Facing Occupants
(Wagon)
[SR06050(ALL)04/95] RWARNING
If you have a wagon, never use child
safety seats in the third seat. Safety
seats for children are not intended
for use in rear facing seats.
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[SR06060(ALL)04/95] Your vehicle is equipped with safety seat belts
containing a cinch tongue at the rear-facing
seating positions.
*[SR06075(ALL)03/95] The locking cinch tongue will slide up and
down the belt webbing when the belt is in the
stowed position or while putting seat belts on.
When the locking cinch tongue of the
lap/shoulder combination seat belt is latched
into the buckle, the cinch tongue will allow the
lap portion to become shorter, but locks the
webbing in place to restrict it from becoming
longer.
*[SR06125(ALL)03/95] Before you can reach and latch a combination
lap and shoulder belt having a cinch tongue into
the buckle, you may have to lengthen the lap
belt portion of it. To lengthen the lap belt, pull
some webbing out of the shoulder belt retractor.
While holding the webbing below the tongue,
grasp the tip (metal portion) of the tongue so
that it is parallel to the webbing and slide the
tongue upward. Provide enough lap belt length
so that the tongue can reach the buckle.
*[SR06151(ALL)03/95] NOTE: If you grasp the tongue by the tongue
cover to lengthen the belt, the tongue
cover will grab the webbing, making it
difficult to slide.
*[SR06175(ALL)03/95] To fasten a cinch tongue, pull the combination
lap and shoulder belt from the retractor so that
the shoulder belt portion of the safety belt
crosses your shoulder and chest. Be sure the belt
is not twisted. If the belt is twisted remove the
twist. Insert the belt tongue into the proper
buckle for your seating position until you hear a
snap and feel it latch. Make sure the tongue is
securely fastened to the buckle by pulling of the
tongue.
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*[SR06201(ALL)03/95] RWARNING
Make sure that the lap belt is as low
around your hips as possible. Do not
wear the lap belt around your waist.
If you do not use the lap belts
properly, the risk of being injured in
a collision greatly increases.
*[SR06225(ALL)03/95] RWARNING
All front and rear seat outboard
occupants (including pregnant
women) should wear lap and
shoulder belts, for optimum
protection in a collision.
*[SR06251(ALL)03/95] RWARNING
Use the shoulder belt on the outside
shoulder only. Never wear the
shoulder belt under the arm. Never
swing it around your neck over the
inside shoulder. Never use a single
belt for more than one person.
Failure to follow these precautions
could increase the risk and/or
severity of injury in a collision.
*[SR06275(ALL)03/95] Due to folding rear seats, sometimes the buckles
and tongues toward the center of the vehicle
may be hidden by the rear edge of the seat
cushion. Pull them out so they will be accessible.
*[SR06301(ALL)03/95] While you are fastened in the seat belt, the
combination lap/shoulder belt with a cinch
tongue adjusts to your movement. However, if
you brake hard, turn hard, or if your vehicle
receives an impact of 5 mph (8 km/h) or more,
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