Mercury 1997 Sable User manual

Before driving
Introduction 2
Instrumentation 4
Controls and features 13
Seating and safety restraints 48
Starting and driving
Starting 76
Driving 81
Roadside emergencies 96
Servicing
Maintenance and care 114
Capacities and specifications 151
Reporting safety defects 162
Index 163
Contents
1

ICONS
Indicates a warning.
Read the following
section on Warnings
for a full explanation of
them.
Indicates that vehicle
information related to
recycling and other
environmental
concerns will follow.
We must all play our part in protecting the
environment. Correct vehicle usage and the
authorized disposal of waste cleaning and lubrication
materials are significant steps towards this aim.
WARNINGS
How can you reduce the risk of personal injury and
prevent possible damage to others, your vehicle and
its equipment?
In this owner’s guide, answers to such questions are
contained in comments highlighted by the warning
triangle symbol.
BREAKING-IN YOUR VEHICLE
There are no particular breaking-in rules for your
vehicle. Simply avoid driving too briskly during the
first 1,600 km (1,000 miles) of driving. Vary speeds
frequently. This is necessary to give the moving
parts a chance to break in.
If possible, you should avoid full use of the brakes
for the first 1,600 km (1,000 miles).
From 1,600 km (1,000 miles) onwards you can
gradually increase the performance of your vehicle
up to the permitted maximum speeds.
com_icons.01
com_warn.01
com_breaking_vehicle.01
com_info_guide.01
Introduction
2

INFORMATION ABOUT THIS GUIDE
The information found in this guide was in effect at
the time of printing. Ford may change the contents
without notice and without incurring obligation.
Introduction
3

BASS
TREB
BAL
FADE
REW FF
EJECT
123456
w
TAPE SIDE
TAPE
R-DEF
TUNE
SEEK
SCAN
AM
FM
MH
LO
HI
OFF
A/C
MAX
A/C
VENT
VOL
PUSH-ON
w
ST
FM 12
AMC
BL RF
E
F
C
H
FUEL DOOR>
SERVICE
ENGINE
SOON LOW
COOLANT THEFT
10
20
30
40 50 60 70 80
90
100
120
20
60
100
140
180
P R N D 2 1
MPH km/h
0
0000
00000
P!
BRAKE
+—
110
CRUISE
RPMx1000
ABS
O/D
OFF REAR LAMP
OUT
PREMIUM UNLEADED
FUEL RECOMMENDED
0
1
2
345
6
7
8
Fuel gauge
(pg. 12)
Headlamp control
(pg. 13)
Engine coolant
temperature gauge
(pg. 11) Speedometer
(pg. 10)
Tachometer
(pg. 11)
Driver
air bag
(pg. 60)
Cruise
control*
(pg. 22)
Turn signal/wiper
washer control
(pg. 25)
Parking brake
release
(pg. 82)
Remote
trunk release*
(pg. 34)
Instrumentation
4

* if equipped
BASS
TREB
BAL
FADE
REW FF
EJECT
123456
w
TAPE SIDE
TAPE
R-DEF
TUNE
SEEK
SCAN
AM
FM
MH
LO
HI
OFF
A/C
MAX
A/C
VENT
VOL
PUSH-ON
w
ST
FM 12
AMC
BL RF
Electronic sound system;
refer to Audio Guide
(pg. 21)
Climate
control
(pg. 14)
Gearshift
(floor-mounted shown)
(pg. 83)
Instrumentation
5

WARNING LIGHTS AND GAUGES
Standard instrument cluster
Optional instrument cluster
Turn signal
Illuminates when the
left or right turn signal
or the hazard lights are
turned on.
High beams
Illuminates when the
headlamp high beams
are on.
CRUISE
RPMx1000
0
1
2
34
5
6
7
E
F
C
H
FUEL DOOR>
SERVICE
ENGINE
SOON
10
20
30
40 50 60 70
80
90
100
110
00
20
40
60
80 100 120
140
160
180
P R N DD 1
MPH km/h
0
0122
00013
P!
BRAKE
ABS
+–
UNLEADED FUEL ONLY
THEFT
LOW
COOLANT O/D
OFF
E
F
C
H
FUEL DOOR>
SERVICE
ENGINE
SOON THEFT
10
20
30
40 50 60 70 80
90
100
120
20
60
100
140
180
P R N D 2 1
MPH km/h
0
0000
00000
P!
BRAKE
LOW
COOLANT
+–
110
CRUISE
RPMx1000
ABS
O/D
OFF
PREMIUM UNLEADED
FUEL RECOMMENDED
0
1
2
345
6
7
8
dno_optional
com_turn_signal.01
com_high_beams.01
com_safety_belt.01
Instrumentation
6

Safety belt
Illuminates when the
ignition is switched on
to remind you to fasten
your safety belts. For
more information, refer to Using the safety
restraints properly in the Seating and safety
restraints chapter.
Door ajar
Illuminates when the
ignition switch is in the
ON or START position
and any door is open.
Service engine soon
This light illuminates
when the engine’s
Emission Control
System requires
service. It will also
illuminate when the ignition key is in the ON
position and the engine is off.
Low fuel
If the fuel gauge
reaches approximately
1/16th of a tank, this
lamp will illuminate.
The ignition must be turned on for this lamp to
illuminate.
Low coolant (if equipped)
This lamp will
illuminate when the
engine coolant inside
the reservoir is low.
This lamp will come on
when the ignition is first turned on, but then should
turn off. If the lamp stays on and a chime sounds,
SERVICE
ENGINE
SOON
LOW
COOLANT
com_door-ajar.02
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dno_low-fuel
dno_low-coolant
Instrumentation
7

you should check the coolant level inside the
reservoir. For instructions on adding coolant, see
Engine coolant in the index.
Anti-theft alarm light (if equipped)
This light is used when
you set the anti-theft
alarm system. See
Anti-theft system in
the index.
O/D off (if equipped)
Illuminates when the
transaxle control
switch (TCS) has been
pushed. When the light
is on, the transaxle does not shift into overdrive. If
the light does not come on when the TCS is
depressed or if the light flashes when you are
driving, have your vehicle serviced.
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) (if equipped)
Momentarily illuminates
when the ignition is
turned on and the
engine is off. If the
light stays on or continues to flash, the ABS needs
to be serviced.
Cruise control (if equipped)
This light comes on
when the cruise control
ON button is pressed.
It turns off when the
cruise control OFF
button is pressed or when the ignition is turned to
the OFF position.
THEFT
O/D
OFF
ABS
CRUISE
dno_theft
dno_overdrive-off
dno_abs
dno_cruise-light
com_brake_system.01
Instrumentation
8

Brake system warning
Extinguishes when the
parking brake is
released. Illumination
after releasing the
parking brake indicates low brake fluid level.
Engine oil pressure
When the oil pressure
is below the normal
operating range, this
lamp will illuminate.
The engine oil level being too high or too low could
cause this lamp to illuminate. This lamp will come
on when the ignition is first turned on but then
should turn off. If the lamp stays on, continued
operation will cause severe engine damage.
Charging system
Briefly illuminates
when the ignition is
turned on and the
engine is off. The light
also illuminates when the battery is not charging
properly, requiring electrical system service.
Air bag readiness
Briefly illuminates
when the ignition is
turned on and the
engine is off. If the
light fails to illuminate, continue to flash or remains
on, have the system serviced immediately.
Headlamps on warning chime
Sounds when the headlamps are on, the ignition is
off (and the key is not in the ignition) and the
driver’s door is opened.
P!
BRAKE
dno_engine-oil-pressure
com_charging_system.01
dno_srs-light
dno_warning-lights
com_headlamps_chime.01
com_key_chime.01
Instrumentation
9

Key-in-ignition warning chime
Sounds when the key is left in the ignition in the
OFF/LOCK or ACC position and the driver’s door is
opened.
Low coolant chime
Sounds when the engine coolant in the coolant
reservoir is low.
Safety belt warning chime
For information on the safety belt warning chime,
refer to the Seating and safety restraints chapter.
Supplemental restraint system (SRS) warning
chime
For information on the SRS warning chime, refer to
the Seating and safety restraints chapter.
Speedometer
Indicates the current
vehicle speed.
10
20
30
40 50 60 70
80
90
100
110
00
20
40
60
80 100 120
140
160
180
P R N DD 1
MPH km/h
0
0000
00000
10
20
30
40 50 60 70 80
90
100
120
20
60
100
140
180
P R N D 2 1
MPH km/h
0
0000
00000
110
dno_coolant-chime
com_safety_chime.01
com_srs_chime.01
com_speedometer.01
com_tachometer.01
Instrumentation
10