Home

Manual - JustGiveMeTheDamnManual.com

1. If you wish to activate the remote personal alarm press the PANIC button This will honk the horn and flash the low beam headlamps and tail lamps for approximately two minutes forty five seconds You can turn it off by pressing the PANIC button again on the same transmitter or by turning the ignition key to the ON position Replacing the batteries The remote entry transmitter is powered by two coin type three volt lithium 2016 batteries included that should last for several years of normal use If you notice a significant decrease in Operating range the batteries should be replaced Replacement batteries can be purchased at most pharmacies watch stores or at your Ford or Lincoln Mercury dealer 96 Features NOTE The operating range of the remote entry system can also be affected by weather conditions such as very cold temperatures or structures around the vehicle buildings other vehicles radio towers etc Typical operating range will allow you to be up to 33 feet 10 meters away from your vehicle Batteries Front of transmitter do not take apart Replacing the batteries The transmitter can be snapped apart to replace the batteries by twisting a thin coin between the two halves of the transmitter DO NOT TAKE THE FRONT PART OF THE TRANSMITTER APART When installing the new batteries be sure to place the positive side down as marked Snap the two halves back together Replacement additional trans
2. At temperatures above 32 F 0 C If the engine does not start in five 5 seconds on the first try turn the key to OFF then try again If you have the 4 cylinder 2 0L engine and are not using an engine block heater warm up the engine for a minute or two before putting the transaxle in gear Depressing the accelerator slightly will also help with cold starts 46 Starting Your Contour 2 5L engine E At temperatures 10 F 12 C and below If the engine does not start in fifteen 15 seconds on the first try turn the key to OFF wait approximately ten 10 seconds so you do not flood the engine then try again E At temperatures above 10 F 12 C If the engine does not start in five 5 seconds on the first try wait approximately ten 10 seconds so you do not flood the engine then try again For a warm engine E Do not hold the key in the START position for more than five 5 seconds at a time If the engine does not start within five 5 seconds on the first try wait a few seconds after the starter stops then try again Whenever you start your vehicle release the key as soon as the engine starts Excessive cranking could damage the starter or flood the engine After you start the engine let it idle for a few seconds Keep your foot on the brake pedal and put the gearshift lever in gear Release the parking brake Slowly release the brake pedal and drive away in the normal manner NOTE If your vehicle
3. For information about refilling the washer fluid or replacing your windshield wiper blades see Windshield washer fluid and Wipers in the Index 85 Hazard Flasher The hazard flasher serves as a warning to other drivers to be careful when approaching or passing your vehicle Steering Hazard warning flasher switch push down and release to turn flashers on or off Using the hazard flasher switch The flashers work whether your vehicle is running or not The flashers work for up to two hours when the battery is fully charged and in good condition without draining the battery excessively If the flashers run for longer than two hours or if the battery is not fully charged the battery can be drained Horn To sound the horn push the pad in the center of the steering wheel Check the horn regularly to be sure it operates properly 86 Steering Column Controls Speed Control If equipped If your vehicle has speed control you can automatically maintain a constant speed at or above 30 mph 50 km h Use of radio transmitting equipment that is not Federal Communications Commission FCC or in Canada the Canadian Radio and Telecommunications Commission CRTC approved may cause the speed control to malfunction Therefore use only properly installed FCC CRTC in Canada approved radio transmitting equipment in your vehicle NOTE Do not shift to N Neutral when using the speed control This will cause the engin
4. If play does not begin after the CD button is pushed E The radio is not on E The unit is in the stop mode E Moisture may have condensed on the lenses within the unit If this occurs remove the disc and wait approximately an hour until the moisture evaporates If the sound skips E Badly scratched discs or extremely rough roads will cause the sound to skip Skipping will not damage the disc player or scratch the discs 127 8cl OIJPVY 091979 2140442917 Power Audio AM FM Display Volume 6c1 a4JassvD YI1M OIPVY 0344S 910199913 Cassette Scan Fast forward door Reverse Automatic Volume Memory music presets search su 3s Ss punos 1uU0 ns 3 Electronic Stereo and Stereo Cassette Radios Both the Electronic Stereo Radio and Cassette Radio offer full electronic tuning with new soft touch controls Using the Controls on Your New Radio How to turn the radio on and adjust the volume Press the POWER button to turn the radio on Press it again to turn it off Press the right side of the VOLUME button to increase the volume Press the left side of the button to decrease the volume Illuminated bars in the display show the relative volume level NOTE If the volume level is set above a certain listening level when the ignition switch is turned off when the ignition switch is turned back on the volume will come back to a nominal listening level However if
5. Brake feature is not working and should be serviced immediately to restore the benefits of the Anti lock feature Normal braking is not affected unless the brake warning light is also lit The Anti lock Brake System has self check capabilities As described above the system turns on the anti lock light each time you start your engine After the engine is started and the anti lock light turns off the system performs another test the first time the vehicle reaches 5 mph 8 km h 12 mph 20 km h for vehicles equipped with the traction control system The system turns on the ABS pump motor for approximately 1 2 second At this time a mechanical noise may be heard and felt This is a normal part of the self check feature If a malfunction is found during this check the anti lock light will come on Ford Motor Company has not found any negative effects of mobile radio transmitting equipment installed on vehicles with the ABS system providing that the radio is installed according 151 to the radio manufacturer s instructions However if you have had a mobile radio transmitter installed and the check ABS light comes on at any time other than immediately after turning the key to the ON position have your mobile radio dealer inspect the radio installation Also if the ABS system is activated other than during maximum braking have your mobile radio installation checked Parking Brake The parking brake should be used whenever you par
6. Windshield Washer Fluid and Wipers Washer Fluid Check the level of the windshield washer fluid every time you stop for fuel The reservoir for washer fluid is located on the passenger s side of the engine compartment Visual inspection can determine if the washer fluid is adequate Do not operate the washer when the reservoir is empty 219 Add windshield washer fluid here Check level in filler tube The windshield washer fluid reservoir Adding washer fluid Z WARNING Do not put windshield washer fluid in the container for the engine coolant If sprayed to clean the glass engine coolant or antifreeze could make it difficult to see through the windshield Use specially formulated windshield washer fluid rather than plain water because specially formulated washer fluids contain additives that dissolve road grime For safety reasons washer fluids containing an appropriate antifreeze such as methanol should be used in freezing weather temperatures below 32 F 0 C State or local regulations on Volatile Organic Compounds VOC s may restrict use of the most common antifreeze methanol Washer fluids containing non methanol antifreeze agents should be used only if they provide cold weather protection without damaging the vehicle s paint finish wiper blades and windshield washer system 220 Servicing Your Contour Wiper Blades Check the windshield wiper blades at least twice a year Also check them wh
7. cause damage to the rear window defroster 76 Instrument Panel Controls The Interior and Exterior Lights Turning On the Exterior Lights To turn on your headlamps parking lamps and tail lamps use the knob that is on the instrument panel to the left of the steering wheel Tail lamps parking lamps lt interior lamps on D Headlamps tail lamps parking lamps interior lamps on Pull out to turn on fog lamps if equipped The knob for the exterior lights To turn on the parking lamps and tail lamps turn the knob clockwise to the first position To turn on the headlamps parking lamps and tail lamps turn the knob clockwise to the second position 77 Push the lever away from you for high beams Pull the lever toward you to flash the lights Turning on the high beams To change the headlamps from low to high beam push the lever away from you until it latches and release The high beam indicator in the instrument cluster glows when the headlamps are On high beam To change the headlamps from high beam to low beam pull the lever toward you until it latches Fog Lamps If equipped The fog lamps act as a supplement to the low beam headlamps under limited visibility conditions such as rain snow dust or fog The fog lamps operate only when the low beam headlamps are on To operate the fog lamps turn the headlamp control knob to the second position headlamps on and pull the knob out A
8. however take your vehicle to any authorized Ford or Lincoln Mercury dealer In most cases your dealer will be able to resolve your concern If you are not satisfied with the service you received from your dealership s service department talk to the service manager at the dealership or if you still are not satisfied talk to the owner or general manager of the dealership In most cases you will have your concern resolved at this level If you are away from home when your vehicle needs to be serviced or if you need more help than the dealer gave you contact the Ford Customer Assistance Center to find an authorized dealership that may be able to help you Ford Motor Company Customer Assistance Center 300 Renaissance Center P O Box 43360 Detroit Michigan 48243 1 800 392 3673 FORD TDD for the hearing impaired 1 800 232 5952 If you live in Canada and have any questions or concerns that the dealership cannot answer contact the Customer Assistance Centre 180 Customer Assistance Customer Assistance Centre Ford Motor Company of Canada Limited P O Box 2000 Oakville Ontario L6J 5E4 1 800 565 3673 FORD Please have the following information available when contacting Ford Customer Assistance E your telephone number both business and home E the name of the dealer and the city where the dealership is located the year and make of your vehicle the date purchased the current mileage on your vehicle you
9. of the VOLUME button to shift the sound to the right speakers and push the bottom to shift the sound to the left speakers Adjusting speaker fader Fade control allows you to adjust the sound distribution between the front and rear speakers Push the AUDIO button repeatedly until the display reads FADE Push the top of the VOLUME button to shift the sound to the front speakers and push the bottom to shift the sound to the rear speakers NOTE Illuminated bars in the display show relative levels of 120 bass and treble and positions of speaker balance and fader functions left to right front to rear Tcl dahvjg Isiq javdwmoy prog Compression COMPRESS SHUFFLE oo CH AMS CD sn SCAN PE PLAY STOP Go REV FF Automatic music search Scan Play Stop Shuffle Reverse Fast forward sum SAS punos 110 099 13 Ford Compact Disc Player The Ford Compact Disc Player operates when the Audio System is on and a disc is inserted label side up Handle the disc by its edge only Be sure to read and follow all of the care and cleaning instructions under How To Take Care of and Clean Your CD Player and Discs in this section The digital display on your CD player shows the track selection number and the elapsed time Indicators for play P stop MM compression on COMP and shuffle on SHUF are also in the display These featur
10. or FM E Setting the Station Memory Preset buttons Your radio is equipped with 6 station memory buttons These buttons can be used to select up to 6 preset AM stations and 12 FM stations 6 in FM1 and 6 in FM2 Follow the easy steps below to set these buttons to the desired frequencies 1 Select a band then select a frequency 2 Press one of the memory buttons and hold the button until the sound returns That station is now held in memory on that button 3 Follow the two steps above for each station memory preset button you want to set NOTE If the vehicle s battery is disconnected the clock and station memory preset buttons if programmed in auto mode will need to be reset 132 Electronic Sound Systems Adjusting the tone balance and speaker output of your radio E Increasing or decreasing bass response Push the AUDIO button repeatedly until the display reads BASS Push the right side of the VOLUME button to increase bass more lows and push the left side to decrease bass less lows Increasing or decreasing treble response Push the AUDIO button repeatedly until the display reads TREB Push the right side of the VOLUME button to increase the treble more highs and push the left side to decrease treble less highs Adjusting speaker balance Balance control allows you to adjust the sound distribution between the
11. 202 Spare tire under cover pg 169 xmoZz RO CO OZC quougaoduo 241843 TOT L Engine coolant recovery reservoir pg 213 Windshield washer fluid pg 219 Power steering fluid reservoir pg 234 A Engine oil dipstick pg 210 Passenger compartment air filter hidden pg 221 Auxiliary hood release pg 198 Automatic transaxle fluid dipstick pg 229 Brake and clutch fluid reservoir pg 231 Air filter pg 253 n Engine oil filler cap pg 212 Battery pg 217 Power distribution box pg 235 TZZ Passenger compartment i Power steering fluid air filter Automatic transaxle Brake and clutch reservoir pg 234 hidden fluid dipstick fluid reservoir pg 229 pg 231 Windshield washer fluid pg 219 Air filter pg 253 quamysvdmog 2u1843 TST HL Power distribution box pg 235 Engine coolant recovery reservoir A A ia pg 213 Engine oil Engine oil Auxiliary Hood dipstick filler cap release Battery pg 210 pg 212 pg 198 pg 217 AO CO INDEX A ABS warning light see Anti lock brake system 66 Additives engine oil o 210 Air bag supplemental restraint system and child safety seats 2 1 a 18 26 ESOPO 0 0 hh e a dee it 16 Cisposal oe varo ae Gv we Boe Gn ac Ge hat 24 driver airbag nya D e
12. 242 Use the charts to decide which fuse you should check On the fuse panel decal located on the cover of the power distribution box or on the end of the instrument panel fuse panel find the number of the fuse you want to check Find the corresponding fuse and remove it with the fuse pulling tool that is provided Check the fuse to see if it is blown Look through the clear side of the fuse to see if the metal wire inside is separated If it is the fuse should be replaced Replace the fuse with one that has the right amperage rating See the following chart Servicing Your Contour E aes UE Ma AP Ea Good fuse Blown fuse The side view of a typical fuse Violet Brown Red Blue Yellow Natural Green Amber Z WARNING Always replace a fuse with one that has the specified amperage rating Using a fuse with a higher amperage rating can cause severe wire damage and could start a fire Circuit Breakers If you need to check a circuit breaker that is on the instrument panel fuse panel see Checking and replacing fuses to find out how to locate the fuse panel and pull it down Diagnostic equipment is needed to check circuit breakers Refer to the manufacturer s instructions Circuit breakers will reset themselves and allow the electrical parts to work again once the overload on the circuit is gone If 243 the circuit breakers continue to cut off electricity have your vehicle s electri
13. 7 MHz may call itself Radio 99 even though 99 0 MHz is not an allowable FM broadcast frequency 136 Electronic Sound Systems Important Warranty and Service Information E Warranty Your sound system is warranted for three years or 36 000 miles 60 000 kilometers whichever comes first Consult your vehicle warranty booklet for further information Ask your dealer for a copy of this limited warranty M Service At Ford Electronics we stand behind our audio systems with a comprehensive service and repair program If anything should go wrong with your Ford audio system return to your dealer for service There is a nationwide network of qualified Ford authorized repair centers to assist you 137 Driving Your Contour Procedures for driving your vehicle will vary depending on which type of transaxle your vehicle has You may be familiar with the term transmission We use transaxle because it is a more accurate term for vehicles that have front wheel drive Your vehicle will have one of the following types of transaxles E an automatic overdrive transaxle with transaxle control switch or M a manual transaxle If you are not sure which transaxle your vehicle has talk to your dealer Your vehicle is equipped with an Electronic Powertrain Control Module that limits engine and or vehicle speeds with a cut out mode to promote durability Driving with an Automatic Overdrive Transaxle Your automatic over
14. 7 Starting Your Contour 2 a a ee 41 Warning Lights and Gauges 53 Instrument Panel Controls 69 Steering Column Controls 83 Features tii ied fra Gh Sor A A A tah 93 Electronic Sound Systems 2 a 115 Driving Your Contour a o o 139 Roadside Emergencies ee ew 163 Customer Assistance ee ee o 179 Reporting Safety Defects 185 ACCESSONIES y a el ti AEE A Go Bt od 189 Servicing Your Contour 195 Quick Index mts Be Bi ee Se ae ee 261 INGO X 2 Hcy Seog ee Ee Ne ind ete ee 273 Introductory Information Ford s Commitment to You 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 Our Guiding Principles Quality comes first For your satisfaction the quality of our products and services must be our number one priority 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 Continuous improvement is essential to our success We must strive for excellence in everything we do in our products in their saf
15. BE SECURED IN THE REAR SEAT and other child safety seats and infant seats should be secured in the rear seat whenever possible Z WARNING When using forward facing child seats move the passenger seat as far back from the instrument panel as possible NEVER SECURE REAR FACING INFANT SEATS IN THE FRONT SEAT Your vehicle is equipped with a right front passenger air bag Air bags deploy with great force faster than the blink of an eye Front passengers especially children and small adults must never sit on the front edge of the seat stand near the glove compartment of the instrument panel or lean over near the air bag cover when the vehicle is moving All occupants should sit with their backs against the seatback move the seat to the most rearward position if possible and use the safety belts Children weighing less than 40 lbs 18 kg always should use child or infant seats 18 Safety Restraints WARNING Do not place objects or mount equipment on or near the air bag cover on the steering wheel or in front seat areas that may come in contact with a deploying air bag Failure to follow this instruction may increase the risk of personal injury in the event of a collision For further information about the proper mounting of equipment in the front seat of this vehicle please refer to Ford s brochure entitled Some Important Information About Air Bag Supplemental Restraint System which can be obtained by calling He
16. Canada Customer Assistance If you live in Canada and have any questions or concerns that the dealership cannot answer contact the Customer Assistance Centre Customer Assistance Centre Ford Motor Company of Canada Limited P O Box 2000 Oakville Ontario L6J 5E4 1 800 565 3673 FORD Please have the following information available when contacting the Customer Assistance Centre E your telephone number both business and home E the name of the dealer and the city where the dealership is located the year and make of your vehicle the date purchased the current mileage on your vehicle your Vehicle Identification Number VIN listed on your owner card and or your vehicle ownership license 186 Customer Assistance Canadian Motor Vehicle Arbitration Plan CAMVAP If a specific item of concern arises where a solution cannot be reached between a vehicle owner Ford of Canada and or one of its dealers that all parties can agree upon the owner may wish to use the services offered by the Canadian Motor Vehicle Arbitration Plan CAMVAP CAMVAP uses the services of Provincial Administrators to assist consumers in scheduling and preparing for their arbitration hearings However before you can proceed with CAMVAP you must follow your manufacturer s dispute resolution process as outlined under Service Maintenance Concerns U S or Canada earlier in this chapter Consumers wishing to obtain further informa
17. Here are some general precautions for your safety E Do not work on a hot engine The engine cooling fan may come on unexpectedly Always turn the engine off and let it cool NWARNING 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 E Tf you must work with the engine running avoid wearing loose clothing or jewelry that could get caught in moving parts Take appropriate precautions with long hair E Do not work on a vehicle in an enclosed space with the engine running unless you are sure you have enough ventilation E Never get under a vehicle while it is supported by a jack only If you must work under a vehicle use safety stands 196 Servicing Your Contour M Keep all lit cigarettes and other smoking materials away from the battery and all fuel related parts Working with the engine off 1 Set the parking brake fully and make sure that the gearshift is securely latched in P Park automatic transaxle or 1 First gear manual transaxle 2 Remove the key from the ignition after you turn the engine off 3 Block the wheels This will prevent your vehicle from moving unexpectedly Working with the engine on 1 Set the parking brake fully and make sure the gearshift is securely latched in P Park automatic transaxle or Neutral manual transaxle 2 Block the wheels This will prevent your vehicle from
18. MAX engine damage and or high oil consumption may occur and some oil must be removed from the engine 7 Put the dipstick back in and make sure it is fully seated It may be necessary to add some oil between oil changes Make sure you use a CERTIFIED engine oil of the preferred viscosity Your vehicle s warranty coverage may not apply if engine damage is caused by the use of improper engine oil 211 Add engine oil through the oil filler cap highlighted in yellow To add oil remove the filler cap and use a funnel to pour oil into the opening Be careful not to overfill the engine Recheck the oil level after you finish adding oil Nearly all engines will consume engine oil As a result it may be necessary to add some oil between oil changes Changing the Engine Oil and the Oil Filter Change the engine oil and oil filter per the following whichever occurs first 5 000 MILES 8 000 KM OR 6 MONTHS NORMAL SCHEDULE 3 000 MILES 5 000 KM OR 3 MONTHS SEVERE DUTY SCHEDULE EXTENSIVE IDLING TRAILER TOWING DRIVING IN SEVERE DUST POLICE TAXI OR DELIVERY Refer to the Maintenance Schedule and Record Booklet for additional information NOTE 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 about recycling automotive fluids 212 Servicing Your Contour NWARNING Conti
19. Motorcraft or equivalent part WARNING 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 NOTE If you replace your fuel cap with an aftermarket fuel filler cap the customer warranty may be void for any damage to the fuel tank and or fuel system Choosing the Right Fuel Use only UNLEADED FUEL in your vehicle Using leaded fuel is prohibited by federal law Your warranty may not apply if your vehicle is damaged because you used the wrong fuel Using a high quality fuel makes your vehicle more responsive and maintain its good fuel economy and emissions It should not be necessary to add any aftermarket products to your fuel tank if you continue to use a high quality fuel Octane recommendations Your engine is designed to use regular fuel with an octane rating of 87 In most cases it is not necessary to use a fuel with an octane rating higher than 87 At service stations the octane rating is displayed in a label on the pumps 204 Servicing Your Contour MINIMUM OCTANE RATING R M 2 Method 87 Typical octane rating label Using a fuel with a lower octane rating can cause persistent and heavy knocking which can damage the engine Do not be concerned if your vehicle sometimes knocks lightly when you drive up a hill or when you accelerate However see your dealer or a qualified service technician if persistent heavy k
20. OR send cash Service Manuals and Multiple Item Orders g 10 00 French Owner Guide No Charge VISA Expiration Date mo yr Check here it billing address is different CUSTOMER SIGNATURE DATE NOTE Dealers and Companies please provide dealer or company name along with the name of the person to whom the shipment should be sent Mail completed order form to Ford Motor Company of Canada Ltd Service Publications PO Box 1580 Station B Mississsauga Ontario Canada L4Y 4G3 Please allow 6 8 weeks for delivery Prices are sub ject to change without notice and without incurring obligation P A Y E So x o UREN pee T S H P CUSTOMER NAME ATTENTION STREET ADDRESS NO P O BOX NUMBERS APTNO CITY PROVINCE POSTAL CODE DAYTIME AREA TELEPHONE CODE A e 194 Servicing Your Contour Service Made Easy Ford has two goals for servicing your vehicle 1 When we can we design parts that do not need to be serviced 2 We want to make servicing your vehicle as easy as possible To help you E We highlight do it yourself items in yellow in the engine compartment so that you can find them easily E When possible we design parts such as the headlamp bulbs that can be replaced without tools E We give you a Maintenance Schedule that makes tracking routine service for your vehicle easy The maintenance schedule is l
21. This allows the transaxle to upshift and downshift from first through fourth gears When the TCS is pressed the 142 Driving Your Contour transaxle control indicator light will illuminate OD OFF on the instrument panel When this OD OFF is illuminated the transaxle will upshift and downshift from first through third gears and provide coast braking in second and third gears To return the transaxle to normal operation first through fourth gears depress the TCS again This switch may be used to cancel overdrive any time the vehicle is being driven Each time your vehicle is started the overdrive system will automatically be in the normal overdrive mode and the light will not be illuminated When to use D Overdrive without Transaxle Control Switch activated D Overdrive is the usual driving position for an automatic overdrive transaxle It automatically upshifts or downshifts as the vehicle speeds or slows However D Overdrive also shifts into a fourth gear an overdrive gear when your vehicle cruises at a consistent speed for any length of time This fourth gear will increase your fuel economy when you travel at cruising speeds When to use D Drive with Transaxle Control Switch activated D Overdrive may not be appropriate for certain terrain If the transaxle shifts back and forth between third and fourth gears while you are driving on hilly roads or if your vehicle requires additional power for cli
22. When your tire shows a wear band it has only 1 16 inch 2 mm of tread left Wear Band A worn out tire Because your vehicle s tires may wear unevenly you may need to replace them before a wear band appears across the entire tread Some spots wear more heavily than others 225 NWARNING 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 Tires that are larger or smaller than your vehicle s original tires may also affect the accuracy of your speedometer Information About Tire Quality Grades 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 Regulations Part 575 104 c 2 U S Department of Transportation Tire qua
23. With the wiper arm in the horizontal position lift the arm away from the windshield while pulling the retaining clip at the base toward the windshield Release the wiper arm then lift it off the base 221 Remove these screws The screws on the grille 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 Remove screws Removing the grille 4 The filter is in a housing at the back of the engine compartment on the left side Pull off the two clips on the sides of the housing Slide out the housing and filter 222 Servicing Your Contour Undo clips here and slide housing and filter out Power steering fluid reservoir cap Removing the passenger compartment air filter 5 Slide the filter out of the housing replace with the new filter and slide the housing and passenger compartment air filter back into place Reinstall the clips on the housing 6 Replace the grille and wiper arms Tires Look at your tires each time you fill your fuel tank If one tire looks lower than the others check the pressure in all of them Always follow these precautions E Keep your tires inflated to the recommended pressures E Stay within the recommended load limits see Load limits in the Index E Make sure the weight o
24. a preset is activated NOTE If there are fewer than five strong stations in the frequency band the remaining unfilled buttons will store the last strong station detected on the band After all stations have been filled the radio will begin playing the station stored on memory button 1 To deactivate the Auto Memory Store mode and return to the manually set memory button stations or those stations set using Auto Memory Load simply push the AUTO PRESET button Display will show AUTO then OFF The next time Auto Memory Store is activated on that band the radio will store the next set of five strong stations Adjusting the tone balance and speaker output of your radio E Increasing or decreasing bass response Push the AUDIO button repeatedly until the display reads BASS Push the top of the VOLUME button to increase bass more lows and push the button to decrease bass less lows E Increasing or decreasing treble response Push the AUDIO button repeatedly until the display reads TREB Push the top of the VOLUME button to increase treble more highs and push the bottom to decrease treble less highs 119 Adjusting speaker balance Balance control allows you to adjust the sound distribution between the right and left speakers Push the AUDIO button repeatedly until the display button reads BAL Push the top
25. brake lining wears You should check the brake fluid at every scheduled engine oil change but be sure to check it at least once a year You can do this by looking at the fluid level in the plastic reservoir on the master cylinder See The Engine Types in this chapter to locate the brake fluid reservoir The fluid level should be at or near the MAX mark WARNING Brake fluid is toxic If brake fluid contacts eyes flush eyes with running water for 15 minutes Get medical attention if irritation persists If taken internally drink water and induce vomiting Get medical attention immediately If the fluid is low carefully clean and remove the cap from the reservoir Fill the reservoir to the MAX line with Ford High Performance DOT 3 Brake Fluid C6AZ 19542 AA or equivalent DOT 3 fluid meeting Ford specification ESA M6C25 A WARNING If you use a brake fluid that is not DOT 3 you will cause permanent damage to your brakes Do not fill the reservoir above the MAX line 232 Servicing Your Contour If you find that the fluid level is excessively low below the seam or ridge on the outside of the plastic reservoir have the brake system inspected Z WARNING Do not let the reservoir for the master cylinder run dry This may cause the brakes to fail Add brake fluid here The brake fluid reservoir 233 Power Steering Fluid Checking and Adding Power Steering Fluid With the power steering system at
26. front passenger seat and the rear outer seat combination lap and shoulder belts are equipped with a dual locking mode retractor on the shoulder belt portion of the lap shoulder belt This retractor can be switched from vehicle sensitive emergency locking mode to automatic locking mode by pulling the belt webbing all of the way out of the retractor The retractor modes function as follows Vehicle sensitive emergency locking mode In this operating mode the lap 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 Automatic locking mode This mode must be used when installing a child seat on the front passenger seat and rear seats where dual locking retractors are provided To switch the retractor from the emergency locking mode to the automatic locking mode perform the following steps Z WARNING Rear facing infant seats should never be placed in the front seat 1 Buckle the lap shoulder combination belt 2 Grasp the shoulder portion of the belt and pull downward until all of the belt is extracted and a click is heard At this time the retractor is in the automatic locking mode child restraint mode 3 Allow the belt to retract A clicking sound will be heard as the belt retracts This indicates that the retractor is in the automatic locking mode 11 4 Pull up on the shoulder belt to remove
27. fuel system and may also clog small orifices Ford Gas Stabilizer should be added whenever actual or expected storage periods exceed 60 days Follow the instructions on the label The vehicle should then be operated at idle speed to circulate the additive throughout the fuel system A volatile corrosion inhibitor added to the fuel system will protect the fuel system s inner surfaces from corrosion Follow the instructions packaged with the product Cooling system E Protect against freezing temperatures Battery M Check and recharge as necessary E Keep connections clean and covered with a light coat of grease E Tf storing your vehicle for more than 30 days without recharging the battery it may be advisable to disconnect the battery cables to ensure battery charge is maintained for quick starting 256 Servicing Your Contour Brakes E Make sure brakes and parking brake are fully released Tires E Maintain recommended air pressure Miscellaneous E Make sure all linkages cables levers and clevis pins under vehicle are covered with grease to prevent rust M Move vehicles at least 25 feet 10 m every 15 days to lubricate working parts to prevent corrosion 257 YOU FOUND THE RIGHT PLACE p Quality Care is more than automotive service It s our goal to make you so happy with your vehicle and our service you ll want to come back For service And your next vehicle Qual
28. function of the vehicle s powertrain control system during normal operation If an emission problem is detected the Check Engine Warning Light in the cluster is turned on Modification or additions to the vehicle may cause incorrect operation of the OBD II system Additions such as burglar alarms cellular phones and CB radios must be carefully installed Do not install these devices by tapping into or running wires close to powertrain control system wires or components CHECK ENGINE This light comes on briefly when you turn the ignition to the ON position but should turn off when the engine starts If the light does not come on when you turn the ignition to the ON position or if it comes on and stays on when you are driving have your vehicle serviced as soon as possible This indicates a possible problem with one of the engine s emission control systems You do not need to have your vehicle towed in If the light turns on and off at one 1 second intervals while you are driving the vehicle it means that the engine is misfiring If this condition persists damage could occur to the engine or catalytic convertor Have your vehicle serviced at the first opportunity You do not need to have your vehicle towed in 61 If the light turns on and off on rare occasions while you are driving it means that a malfunction occurred and the condition corrected itself An example of a condition which corrects itself occurs when an en
29. is equipped with an automatic transaxle your vehicle has an interlock that prevents you from shifting out of P Park unless your foot is on the brake pedal If the engine does not start after two attempts 1 Press the accelerator pedal all the way to the floor and hold its 2 Turn the ignition key to the START position 3 Release the ignition key when the engine starts 47 4 Release the accelerator gradually as the engine speeds up Then drive away in the normal manner If the engine still does not start the fuel pump shut off switch may have been triggered For directions on how to reset the switch see Fuel Pump Shut Off Switch later in this chapter A computer system controls the engine s idle speed When you start your vehicle the engine s idle speed normally runs high These faster engine speeds will make your vehicle move slightly faster than its normal idle speed It should however slow down after a short time If it does not have the idle speed checked If the engine idle speed does not slow down automatically do not allow your vehicle to idle for more than 10 minutes Have the vehicle checked Z WARNING Extended idling at high engine speeds can produce very high temperatures in the engine and exhaust system creating the risk of fire or other damage WARNING 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 exha
30. is on or the chime is sounding both the light and the chime will turn off E Tf the driver s safety belt is buckled before the ignition is turned to the ON position neither the light nor the chime will turn on 56 Waming Lights and Gauges Brake System Warning Light The warning light for the brakes can show two things that the parking brake is not fully released or that the brake fluid level is low in the master cylinder reservoir If the fluid level is low the brake system should be checked by a qualified service technician BRAKE This light comes on when the parking brake is set or if it is not set it comes on briefly when you turn the ignition to the START position It normally goes off shortly after the engine starts and you release the parking brake If the light stays on after you have fully released the parking brake have the hydraulic brake system serviced by your dealer or a qualified service technician Z WARNING The BRAKE light indicates that the brakes may not be working properly Have the brakes checked immediately 57 Charging System Light This light indicates that your battery is not being charged and that you need to have the electrical system checked This light comes on every time you turn the ignition to the ON or START position engine off The light should go off when the engine starts and the alternator begins to charge If the light stays on or comes on when the en
31. lamps aoa a aa a 84 Platt cdas og real OA a RS air eA e 168 Fluid refill capacities o 252 Foglamps 6 e ee 78 Ford Dispute Settlement Board 2 182 Ford Extended Service Plan 4 Ford of Canada Customer Assistance Centre 186 Foreign registration a a 6 1 ee ee es 187 French owner guides how to obtain 2 2 1 3 Fuel calculating fuel economy 2 2 2 2 207 Capacity oes ara tk ae Be aig Me eo Me woe 252 choosing the right fuel 2 2 2 ee 204 comparisons with EPA fuel economy estimates 208 filling your vehicle with fuel 202 filter specifications o a a 253 fuel cause Lon pai a A pl er 64 running out of fuel 207 Fuel continued safety information relating to automotive fuels 206 storing your vehicle 2 2 ee 256 treating emergencies 2 2 6 1 ee ee es 206 Fuel cap PEMOVING c d ek ew ee Ee a ad 202 replacing te i te i ee ak ee Soy at Be ee E g 204 Fuel filler door remote release 2 2 202 Fuel filter specifications 2 ee en 253 Fuel gaucho eh ee a ee oe a 64 Fuel pump shut off switch engine does not start 2 a a a a a a 50 starting after a collision oaa a a 2 ee 50 Fuse panels instrument panel 242 Fuses Charts at e sis h il E a A A ee 242 checking and replacing a
32. moving unexpectedly Z WARNING Do not start your engine with the air cleaner removed and do not remove it while the engine is running If the battery is disconnected the computer must relearn its idle control See Battery in the Index 197 Opening the Hood 1 Inside the vehicle pull the hood release handle located under the bottom left corner of the instrument panel The hood release under the instrument panel 2 Go to the front of the vehicle and release the auxiliary latch that is located under the hood at the center of the vehicle Auxiliary hood release The auxiliary latch under the front edge of the hood 198 Servicing Your Contour 3 Lift the hood and secure it in the open position with the prop rod Make sure only the hole in the hood marked in yellow is used When you close the hood make sure the prop rod is in its retainer and that the hood latches securely NOTE Apply lubricant to the hood latch at six month intervals to maintain smooth and trouble free operation NOTE Read and understand Precautions When Servicing Your Vehicle at the beginning of this chapter before opening the hood Engine Compartment Your vehicle has a 4 cylinder 2 0L EFI or 6 cylinder 2 5L EFI engine 199 002 241842 143 TOT L Power steering fluid reservoir Engine coolant recovery reservoir Windshield washer fluid Automatic transaxle fluid dipstick Engine oil dipstick Brake an
33. or exhaust system By law anyone who manufactures repairs services sells leases trades vehicles or supervises a fleet of vehicles is not permitted to intentionally remove an emission control device or prevent it from working In some of the United States and in Canada vehicle owners may be liable if their emission control device is removed or is prevented from working Do not drive your vehicle if it does not operate properly See your dealer if the engine runs on for more than five seconds after you shut it off or if it misfires surges stalls or backfires Information about your vehicle s emission control system is on the Vehicle Emission Control Information decal located on or near the engine This decal identifies engine displacement and gives some tune up specifications 249 Readiness for Inspection Maintenance Testing In some localities it may become a legal requirement to pass an Inspection Maintenance I M test of the On Board Diagnostic OBD II system 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 testing condition To prepare for I M testing the law specifies a need for additional mixed city and highway driving to complete the check of the OBD II system As soon as all of the OBD II system checks are successfully completed the OBD II system is set to the ready condition The amount of driving required to reach the ready cond
34. power anti lock disc brakes or power front disc and rear drum anti lock brakes which adjust automatically through everyday use 149 If your vehicle does not have anti lock brakes it may have four wheel power disc brakes or power front disc brakes and rear drum brakes which adjust automatically as the brake pads or linings wear down If your vehicle does not have anti lock brakes apply the brake pedal gradually Use the squeeze technique push on the brake pedal with a steadily increasing force This allows the wheels to continue to roll while you are slowing down which lets you steer properly If your vehicle does not have anti lock brakes extreme braking can make the wheels lock and slide causing you to lose control of the steering If the wheels lock release the brake pedal and repeat the squeeze technique Do not drive with your foot resting on the brake pedal you will wear out the linings and increase your vehicle s stopping distance Brake rotor damage may also eventually occur NOTE If you are driving down a long or steep hill shift to a lower gear and do not apply your brakes continuously If you apply your brakes continuously they may overheat and become less effective Occasional brake squeal during light to moderate stops does not affect the function of the brake system and is normal However if the squeal becomes louder or more frequent have your brakes inspected by your dealer or a qualified
35. service technician Anti lock Brake System If equipped Your vehicle may come with the optional anti lock brake system Whenever your wheels start to lock which could result in a skid the anti lock brake system prevents the lock up by automatically releasing and re applying the brakes The brake pedal will pulsate as a result of the automatic releasing and re applying of the brakes In spite of this improvement in braking performance you should continue to be cautious in all 150 Driving Your Contour hazardous driving situations especially when driving on hazardous road surfaces Even with your anti lock brake system you may not have total control of your vehicle when braking on roads with loose surfaces such as snow or gravel holes in the pavement or alternating patches of slippery and dry surfaces If the brake pedal is applied while the vehicle is driven over uneven road surfaces the ABS may cycle and the driver may sense a pulsation in the brake pedal accompanied by a slight up and down movement of the pedal height and a clicking sound This may also happen when driving on an inclined surface such as a driveway while making a sharp turn This is a normal condition Your vehicle may have an Anti lock Brake System feature If it does check the Anti lock Brake System light each time you start the engine If it stays on longer than three 3 seconds shut off the engine and restart If it stays on that means the Anti lock
36. slow down or climb a steep hill always downshift before the engine starts to lose power Downshifting reduces the chance of stalling and gives your vehicle better acceleration to increase speed again When you drive down steep hills downshifting helps you keep a safe speed and helps prevent unnecessary wear on the brakes When you come to a stop do not downshift through each gear Disengage the clutch and use the brake as necessary Downshifting through the gears decreases your vehicle s fuel economy Do not attempt to shift into 1 First gear with the clutch pedal depressed at speeds higher than 20 mph 30 km h If you do it could cause a complete clutch failure making your vehicle inoperative Traction Control If equipped The traction control system prevents the wheels from spinning on slippery roads Working with the anti lock brake system the traction control system monitors the speed of the wheels as they roll over the road surface When a wheel starts to spin because of slippery conditions the traction control system slows the engine by closing the throttle At speeds below 35 mph 55 km h the traction control system also applies the brake to the spinning wheel When the traction control system becomes active the driver may notice a very slight kick and then a hard resistance in the accelerator pedal and a mechanical noise The traction control system light on the instrument panel comes on or flashes on and off
37. tape player mechanism E Protect cassettes from exposure to direct sunlight high humidity and extreme heat or cold If they are exposed to extreme conditions allow them to reach a moderate temperature before playing E If a tape is loose inside the cassette tighten it before playing by putting your finger or a pencil into one of the holes and turning the hub until the tape is tight E Loose labels on cassette tapes can become lodged in the mechanism Remove any loose label material before inserting a Cassette E Do not leave a tape in the cassette tape player when not in use High heat in the vehicle can cause the cassette to warp 135 Common Radio Reception Conditions Several conditions prevent FM reception from being completely clear and noise free such as the following 1 Distance Strength The strength of the FM signal is directly related to the distance the signal must travel The listenable range of an average FM signal is approximately 25 miles 40 kilometers Beyond this distance the radio is operating in a fringe area and the signal becomes weaker 2 Terrain The terrain hilly mountainous tall buildings of the area over which the signal travels may prevent the FM signal from being noise free 3 Rounded off frequencies Some FM radio stations advertise a rounded off frequency which is not the frequency they actually broadcast on For example a radio station that is assigned a frequency of 98
38. trailer puts extra strain on your vehicle you must follow certain precautions for your safety and the good of your vehicle E Stay within the load limits when you tow See Knowing Your Vehicle s Load Limits E Carefully and thoroughly prepare your vehicle for towing making sure to use the right equipment and to attach it properly See Preparing to Tow in this chapter E Use extra caution when driving your vehicle while you tow See Driving while you tow in this chapter E Service your vehicle more frequently if you tow a trailer See Servicing your vehicle if you tow in this chapter 157 Ten to 15 of the loaded trailer s weight should be on the tongue However the tongue load should never exceed 10 of the maximum weight that your vehicle can safely tow New vehicles should be driven 2 000 miles 3 200 km before towing a trailer Z WARNING Towing trailers beyond the maximum recommended gross trailer weight exceeds the limits of the vehicle and could result in engine damage transaxle axle damage structural damage loss of control and personal injury WARNING Do not tow a trailer when the temporary spare tire is being used You should also limit your trailers load when you tow in high altitudes Preparing to Tow For your safety and for the good of your vehicle use the right equipment for the type of trailer you tow Also make sure that all towing equipment is properly attached to your vehicl
39. which could block the air intake The intake area is located at the bottom of the windshield Passenger Compartment Air Filter Your vehicle may have an air filter that removes pollen and road dust from outside air before it is directed to the interior of the vehicle For maintenance of this filter see Servicing Your Contour 75 Rear Window Defroster and Heated Side View Mirrors If equipped The defroster for the rear window clears frost fog or thin ice from both the inside and outside of the rear window and activates the heated side view mirrors The button for the rear window defroster and heated side view mirrors is on the instrument panel to the right of the steering wheel Indicator light glows when defrosters are on Push here to defrost the rear window and side mirrors The rear window defroster and heated side view mirrors Clear away any snow that is on the rear window and side view mirrors before using the defroster With the engine running push the defroster button After approximately 10 minutes the defroster will turn off If the window or mirrors are still not clear turn the defroster on again The defroster will turn off when the ignition key is turned to the OFF or START position NOTE Never use sharp instruments or window cleaners with abrasives to clean the inside of your rear window If you do you may damage the heating elements that are bonded to the inside of the rear window and
40. year shown above write for availability to the address shown below Please allow ample time for postal service delivery U S RESIDENTS Make checks payable to HELM INCORPORATED MAIL ORDER TO HELM INCORPORATED P O Box 07150 Detroit Michigan 48207 OR ORDER TOLL FREE 1 800 782 4356 Monday Friday 8 00 A M 6 00 P M EST For Credit Card Holder Orders Only CANADIAN RESIDENTS Make cheques payable to Ford Motor Company of Canada Ltd MAIL ORDERTO Ford Motor Company of Canada Ltd Service Publications P O Box 1580 Station B Mississauga Ontario Canada L4Y 4G3 OR ORDER TOLL FREE 1 800 387 4966 Monday Friday 8 30 A M 6 00 PM EST For Credit Card Holder Orders Only 192 Accessories U S ORDER TOLL FREE 1 800 782 4356 RESIDENTS NOTE For Credit Card Holder Orders Only Monday Friday 8 00 A M 6 00 P M EST USE THIS If further information is needed write to the address shown below or call 1 800 782 4356 PAGE Material cannot be returned for credit without receiving advance authorization within 14 days of delivery On returns a re stocking fee may be applied against the original order 1 ond ues PRICE EE ee L A om A 9 Car Service Spec FWD 3200 6 i FCS 12253 96 Contour EVTM TOTAL MATERIAL Michigan Purchasers add 6 sales tax Handling Charge MasterCard GRAND TOTAL visa _ Discover Expiration Check here if billing Date mo yr address is
41. 2 6 6 ee ee 60 Head restraints oaio ee ee oe e aw a oe 101 High beams indicator light aoa a o 59 Operator de 3 84 High mount brakelamp CeSChpPHON i esc vg OS oie ES a a Pe ee e a 246 replacing the bulb 2 2 ee 246 Hiten 3S os Gk aS te es ds ue Wd oie Ge a 159 Hood latch location 2 2 eal e i 198 lubrication specifications 2 2 a a 254 release lever ocio it e a es e E 198 working under the hood 2 2 ee 196 FIO dd tt ak da ete ee Aa ae te ae 86 I Identification Number Vehicle VIN 181 186 Idle relearning sua si e 1 ee en 167 Speed dianas Sak ber hgh Ba ake ha Me Se gece ek 48 Ignition CHE Aw Se he do eres yd eR a Se tN 43 positions of the ignition a a a 2 2 ww 41 removing the key 2 2 2 2 r EE en 42 Infant seats see Safety seats 2 2 ee 26 Instrument cluster 2 2 1 ee 2 53 Instrument panel lighting up panel and interior o 80 location of components 2 2 2 2 a en 69 J Jack operation s ao uo st o 171 Jump starting your vehicle attaching cables 2 2 2 2 en 164 disconnecting cables 2 2 ee ee 167 K Keys key in ignition chime 2 2 2 ee en 43 positions of the ignition 2 a 41 removing from the ignition 42 stuck in lock position 2 2 ee eee 41 L Lamps Checking i oia tai a a ae Be a 244 daytime runni
42. Assistance coverages beyond this period through Ford Auto Club contact your Ford or Lincoln Mercury dealer not available in Canada Roadside Assistance will cover the following E Mount your spare if you have a flat tire Jump start your battery if it is dead Unlock your vehicle if you are locked out Bring you fuel if you run out Tow your vehicle if you are stranded Even non warranty related tows like accidents or getting stuck in mud or snow are covered some exclusions apply such as impound towing and repossession How to use Roadside Assistance Your Roadside Assistance identification card can be found in the Owner Guide portfolio in your glove compartment Complete the card and place it in your wallet for quick reference To receive roadside assistance in the United States call 1 800 241 FORD in Canada call 1 800 665 2006 Should you need to arrange for roadside assistance yourself Ford Motor Company will reimburse the reasonable cost To obtain information about reimbursement call 1 800 241 FORD in Canada call 1 800 665 2006 179 If You Have a Service Problem Ford Motor Company has authorized Ford and Lincoln Mercury dealerships that can service your vehicle for you This chapter tells you how to get service or maintenance for your vehicle Service Maintenance Concerns U S or Canada Ford recommends taking your vehicle to your selling dealer who wants to ensure your continued satisfaction You may
43. CONTOUR Your satisfaction is our 1 goal If you have questions or concerns with your vehicle we suggest you follow these steps 1 Contact your Sales Representative or Service Advisor at your selling servicing dealership 2 If the inquiry or concern remains unresolved contact the Sales Manager or Service Manager at the dealership 3 If the inquiry or concern cannot be resolved at the dealership level please contact the Ford Customer Assistance Center In the United States Ford Motor Company Customer Assistance Center 300 Renaissance Center P O Box 43360 Detroit MI 48243 1 800 392 3673 FORD TDD for the hearing impaired 1 800 232 5952 In Canada Customer Assistance Centre Ford Motor Company of Canada Limited P O Box 2000 Oakville Ontario L6J 5E4 1 800 565 3673 FORD Outside the U S or Canada FORD MOTOR COMPANY WORLDWIDE EXPORT OPERATIONS 1555 Fairlane Drive Fairlane Business Park 3 Allen Park Michigan 48101 Telephone 313 317 4282 Fax 313 390 0804 All rights reserved Reproduction by any means electronic or mechanical including photocopying recording or by any information storage and retrieval system or translation in whole or part is not permitted without written authorization from Ford Motor Company Copyright O 1995 Ford Motor Company Table of Contents Introductory Information aoa a a we 1 Safety Restraints s s mrem i dinies Slee we 8 ob es
44. E button again Setting the Station Memory Preset buttons Your radio is equipped with 6 station memory buttons These buttons can be used to select up to 6 preset AM stations and 12 FM stations 6 in FM1 and 6 in FM2 Select a band then select a frequency Press one of the memory buttons and hold the button until the sound returns That station is now held in memory on that button Follow the two steps above for each station memory preset button you want to set NOTE If the vehicle s battery is disconnected the clock and 118 station memory preset buttons if programmed in auto mode will need to be reset Using the Automatic Memory Store feature With Auto Memory Store you can continually set strong stations into your memory buttons without losing your existing memory presets which is especially handy while traveling Your radio will automatically set your memory buttons to the strong local stations so you don t have to continually manually tune to existing stations Electronic Sound Systems Activate Auto Memory Store by pushing the AUTO PRESET button once Your radio will set the first five strong stations of the band you are in AM FM1 or FM2 into the memory buttons The display will show AUTO then run through the frequencies stopping momentarily on the stations being set into the memory buttons The radio is now in the AUTO mode and this display will show AUTO each time
45. E Depress the accelerator pedal When the vehicle attains the desired speed press and release the SET ACC switch E TAP UP Press and then quickly release the SET ACC switch Each time you tap the switch the set speed will increase by 1 mph 1 6 km h 90 Steering Column Controls To Cancel Speed Control Speed control can be cancelled at any time by pressing the brake pedal slightly After cancelling you can return to the speed you set by pressing the RES switch or set a new speed by pressing the SET ACC or COAST switch Cancelling and Resuming a Set Speed If you press the brake pedal the speed control is suspended You can return to the set speed by pressing the RES switch as long as you did not press the OFF switch You must be driving at least 30 mph 50 km h Your vehicle will gradually return to the previously set speed and then maintain it To Turn Off the Speed Control System Press the OFF switch In addition the speed control is turned off each time you turn the vehicle off 91 Features Your vehicle has a variety of features designed for your comfort convenience and safety Read this chapter to find out about standard and optional features Doors Childproof Locks for the Rear Doors In addition to standard or power locks your vehicle has childproof locks for the rear doors If you set these locks the rear doors cannot be opened from the inside of the vehicle The doors can still be ope
46. RNING Carefully follow all of the manufacturer s instructions included with the safety seat you put in your vehicle If you do not install and use the safety seat properly the child may be injured in a sudden stop or collision Installing Child Safety Seats in the Rear Center Seating Position Some child safety seats are too wide to fit in the rear center seat Choose a child safety seat with a narrow base that can fit between the safety belt buckles Attaching Safety Seats With Tether Straps Some manufacturers make safety seats that include a tether strap that goes over the back of the vehicle seat and attaches to an anchoring point Other manufacturers offer the tether strap as an accessory Contact the manufacturer of your child safety seat for information about ordering a tether strap To install a tether from a child safety seat in the front seat route the tether strap under the vehicle seat head restraint and hook the tether hook into the hole in the tongue of the center rear lap belt After the hook is in the hole pull on the loose end of the lap belt webbing to shorten the belt and tighten the tether strap To install a tethered child safety seat in the rear seat you will need tether anchorage hardware Tether anchorage hardware Canadian vehicles only All vehicles built for sale in Canada include a tether anchor hardware kit for use with child safety seats Attachment holes at each rear seating position have b
47. T WRENCH ON THE LUG NUT KEY Anti theft lug nut Lug nut key The anti theft lug nut and key Removing the anti theft lug nut Insert the key over the locking lug nut Make sure that you hold the key square to the lug nut If you hold the key on an angle you may damage the key and the lug nut Place the lug nut wrench over the lug nut key and apply pressure on the key with the wrench Turn the wrench in a counterclockwise direction to remove the lug nut 174 Roadside Emergencies Replacing the anti theft lug nut Insert the key over the locking lug nut Place the lug nut wrench over the lug nut key and while applying pressure on the key install the lug nut If the Engine Cranks But Does Not Start or Does Not Start After a Collision The Fuel Pump Shut off Switch If the engine cranks but does not start or if you have had a collision the fuel pump shut off switch may have been triggered The shut off switch is a device that stops the fuel pump when your vehicle has been involved in a substantial jolt For information on how to check and reset the fuel pump shut off switch see Fuel pump shut off switch in the Index Towing Your Vehicle If you need to have your vehicle towed contact a professional towing service or if you are a member your roadside assistance center Recommended towing options include wheel lift towing or flat bed towing 175 Wheel lift When calling for a tow truck tell the operator w
48. a 242 circuit breakers a ou a a a a a 243 G Gas cap see Fuel Cap 2 a a 202 Gas mileage see Fuel economy 207 Gasoline see Fuel aoa a a a 202 Gauges Mechanical engine coolant temperature gauge 64 fuel gauge aaa aR eek a a oh Pale iE Eal 64 odometer dy fit A eee OB 65 speedometer o s os osoa s we poa od os Es 65 tachometer s mica d a g ns a na SO T 66 trip odome ters ois e gan e a e ai a 65 GAWR Gross Axle Weight Rating calctlatinS g a i e i lea gh a AL be oe B 156 definition ar a A a 155 driving with a heavy load 155 LOCAtION extinta e yor a a Ck ae hes 155 280 Gearshift automatic operation a a 139 locking the gearshift 2 2 eee 41 POSItIONS ka a a ie pr enw 140 shifting the gears 2 145 shiftlock va o e a e E 140 GVWR Gross Vehicle Weight Rating caleulating a se te as a e Ee A 156 defino cocotero da 155 driving with a heavy load 155 LOCA diis as as a A e ey Be A 155 H Hazard flashers 2 o E e e 86 Headlamps A eB lo a a Ge tg a ae de 244 checking alignment a a 2 244 Cleaning a ee e ec et 79 daytime running lights 2 2 1 1 79 Hashing ua x ih a ae A seh RN eG Raed 84 high beam ui i af a agt n ae ee Se ee os 84 replacing bulbs 2 2 245 turning on and Of 77 warning chime
49. a a 2 185 Safety information relating to automotive fuels 206 Safety restraints adjusting the safety belts 12 14 cleaning the safety belts 16 dual locking mode retractorS 11 extension assembly a 2 ee o 14 foriadults aop a do a A ed 7 for Children s at iads gaie e BS 25 forintants 2 Loc es rs Ae do 25 A A E A E 101 lap and shoulder belts 9 lap Delt o o A as a ee te 13 maintenance oaoa a a 15 Proper USE p i Sans 0s ede a NR So ah AR Sp ge we 7 replacement al 446 cs BON eI ek OS EE a a 15 warning light and chime 2 2 2 2 ww 56 Safety seats for children and air PASS of Ae e a aa Puen ae ad a Ae a eas 18 26 attaching with tether straps 2 2 7 37 in front seat s si eis icb a ew a eS 26 in rear outboard 2 2 en 29 irean Seat Va as Bi oh ew a A ae DE il cr Co 37 tether anchorage hardware 2 2 2 Dee 37 Seat belts see Safety restraints 0 7 Seats adjusting the seat manual 2 2 2 102 adjusting the seats power 2 a 2 2 2 a 104 child safety seats 2 2 2 ee 26 head restraints 2 2 2 a 101 Serial number VIN 181 186 Service concerns 2 2 a ah GD iaa AE A ae oA 180 286 Servicing your vehicle precautions when servicing a a 196 servicing when yout
50. a matter of seconds Z WARNING Air bag system components get hot after inflation Do not touch them after inflation 21 Inflated passenger side air bag Z WARNING If the air bag is inflated THE AIR BAG WILL NOT FUNCTION AGAIN AND MUST BE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY If the air bag is not replaced the unrepaired area will increase the risk of injury in a collision To ensure that the air bag system will operate as intended in a crash the system is equipped with a diagnostic module which controls a readiness lamp and a warning tone The diagnostic module monitors its own circuits the air bag electrical system the air bag readiness light the air bag power and the air bag inflators 23 The air bag system uses a readiness light on the instrument cluster and a tone to indicate the condition of the system When you turn the ignition key to the ON position this light will illuminate for approximately six 6 seconds and then turn off This indicates that the system is operating normally NOTE Maintenance of the air bag system is not required A problem with the system is indicated by one or more of the following E the readiness light will either flash or stay lit E or it will not light immediately after ignition is turned on M or a group of five beeps will be heard The tone pattern will repeat periodically until the problem and light are repaired If any of these things happen have the air bag system ser
51. ak in period This would not be an accurate estimate of how much fuel your vehicle will normally use To calculate fuel economy 1 Fill the tank completely and record the initial odometer reading 2 Every time you buy fuel record the amount in gallons or liters purchased 3 After at least three to five tankfuls fill the fuel tank and record the final odometer reading 207 4 Use these equations to calculate your fuel economy E English MPG total miles driven gallons used E Metric L 100k liters used 100 kilometers Comparisons With EPA Fuel Economy Estimates EPA fuel economy figures are obtained from laboratory tests under simulated road conditions and may not reflect the actual conditions you experience or your style of driving The EPA fuel economy estimate is not a guarantee that you will achieve the fuel economy shown The following decrease fuel economy Lack of regular scheduled maintenance Rapid acceleration and excessive speed Driving with your foot on the brake a a a E Sudden stops E Extended engine idling E Using speed control in hilly terrain a Extended use of the A C defroster rear window defroster and other accessories Underinflated tires Heavy loads E Aftermarket add ons such as bike ski or luggage racks bug deflectors etc 208 Servicing Your Contour Self Service Pointers If you choose to do your own fueling you should also perform a few simple mai
52. anties Basic Vehicle Warranty Extended Warranties on certain parts and Emissions Warranties Read your Warranty Information Booklet carefully to find out about your vehicles warranties and your basic rights and responsibilities 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 Buying a Ford Extended Service Plan 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 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 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 Breaking Your Vehicle In 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 E Avoid sudden stops Because your vehicle has new brake linings you should
53. ary spare tire This spare tire is smaller than a regular tire and is designed for emergency use only Use it only when you get a flat tire and replace it as soon as you can This spare tire is marked with the words TEMPORARY USE ONLY so that you can easily identify it NWARNING If you use the temporary spare tire continuously or do not follow these precautions the tire could fail causing you to lose control of the vehicle possibly injuring yourself or others When you drive with the temporary spare tire DO NOT E exceed 50 mph 80 km h under any circumstances E load your vehicle so that it is heavier than the maximum vehicle load rating listed on the tire decal E tow a trailer E use tire chains on this tire E try to repair the temporary spare tire or remove it from its wheel Ml use the wheel for any other type of vehicle 168 Roadside Emergencies E drive through an automatic car wash with this tire Because the temporary spare tire is smaller than a conventional tire it reduces the ground clearance Your vehicle may get caught in the rails and it could be damaged Spare Tire Location The spare tire is stored under the carpet on the floor of the trunk You will find additional instructions for the spare tire on the wheel decal located on the temporary spare wheel The temporary spare tire 169 Preparing to Change the Tire 1 Make sure that your vehicle will not move or roll I
54. ausing damage to the vehicle or harm to passengers When possible put children in the rear seat of your vehicle Accident statistics suggest that children are safer when properly restrained in the rear seating positions than in the front seating positions WARNING Carefully follow all of the manufacturer s instructions included with the safety seat you put in your vehicle If you do not install and use the safety seat properly the child may be injured in a sudden stop or collision 25 Z WARNING Safety belts and seats can become hot in a vehicle that has been closed up in sunny weather they could burn a small child Check seat covers and buckles before you place a child anywhere near them NWARNING Never leave a child unattended in your vehicle Safety Seats for Children Use a safety seat that is recommended for the size and weight of the child Always follow the safety seat manufacturer s instructions when installing and using the safety seat Ford recommends the use of a child safety seat having a top tether strap Install the child safety seat in a seating position which is capable of providing a tether anchorage For more information on top tether straps see Attaching Safety Seats With Tether Straps in this chapter Your vehicle is equipped with a right front passenger air bag Air bags deploy with great force faster than the blink of an eye Front passengers especially children and small adults must n
55. bbean or the Middle East contact the nearest Ford dealership If the dealership cannot help you write to Ford Motor Company EXPORT OPERATIONS 1555 Fairlane Drive Fairlane Business Park 3 Allen Park Michigan 48101 A Telephone 313 317 4282 Fax 313 390 0804 If you are in other foreign countries contact the nearest Ford dealership If the dealership cannot help you they can direct you to the appropriate Ford affiliate office If you buy your vehicle in North America and then relocate outside of the U S or Canada register your Vehicle Identification Number and new address with Ford Motor Company Export Operations 188 Accessories Ford Accessories for Your Vehicle Ford has many fine products available from your dealer to clean your vehicle and protect its finishes For best results use the following or products of equivalent quality Ford Custom Clear Coat Polish Ford Custom Silicone Gloss Polish Ford Custom Vinyl Protectant Ford Deluxe Leather and Vinyl Cleaner Ford Extra Strength Spot and Stain Remover Ford Extra Strength Tar and Road Oil Remover Ford Extra Strength Upholstery Cleaner Ford Extra Strength Whitewall Tire Cleaner Ford Multi Purpose Cleaner Ford Premium Car Wash Concentrate Ford Triple Clean Ford Ultra Clear Spray Glass Cleaner A wide selection of accessories is available through your local authorized dealer These fine accessories have been engineered specifically to fulfill you
56. cal system checked If you replace a circuit breaker use one with the same amperage rating To remove a circuit breaker mounted in the fuse panel grip it with your finger and thumb and pull it straight out of its socket Lights and Bulb Replacement It is a good idea to check the operation of the following lights frequently E headlamps tail lamps brakelamps high mount brakelamp hazard flasher turn signals side markers license plate lamp The alignment of your headlamps should be checked if E oncoming motorists frequently signal you to turn off your vehicle s high beams when you do not have the high beams on E the headlamps do not seem to give you enough light to see clearly at night E the headlamps are not aligned so that they point slightly down and to the right 244 Servicing Your Contour Headlamp Bulb The headlamps on your vehicle use replaceable bulbs one for high beam and one for low beam on each side When the lamp burns out simply replace the bulb rather than the whole lamp Z WARNING 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 Do not remove the burned out bulb unless you can immediately replace it with a new one If a bulb is removed for an extended period of time contaminants may enter t
57. cing Your Contour Using the Right Bulbs Function Trade Number Tail lamp brakelamp turn lamp 1157 Backup lamp 1156 Front park turn lamp 2357NA Headlamp Low beam 9006 High beam 9005 Fog Lamp RO 2723 893 License plate lamp CSW High mount brakelamp Dome Map lamp Door courtesy lamp Engine compartment lamp gt AN Luggage compartment lamp Glovebox Instrument courtesy lamps High beam indicator See your dealer for replacement Radio laminados do Warning Highs GID Turn signal indicator PRADA Heater or heater A C Not available at time of printing See your dealer for replacement Light switch illumination Refer bulb replacement to a Ford authorized radio service center NA means Natural Amber Refer bulb replacement to a Ford authorized dealer 247 Emission Control System Your vehicle is equipped with a catalytic converter which enables your vehicle to comply with applicable exhaust emission requirements NWARNING Exhaust leaks may result in the entry of harmful and potentially lethal fumes into the passenger compartment Under extreme conditions excessive exhaust temperatures could damage the fuel system the interior floor covering or other vehicle components possibly causing a fire To make sure that the catalytic converter and the other emission control parts continue to work properly E Use only unleaded fuel E Avoid running out of fuel E Do not turn off the ignition whi
58. cking and adding automatic 229 fluid refill capacities 252 lubricant specifications 2 a u ee 254 Transaxle control switch o ee ee 142 Trip odometer ova 48 6 Ach Bisse me Gok Bete of A N da a L 65 Trunk using the remote entry system to open 95 Tune up specifications VECI 249 Turn signal indicator lig ts 2 2 a o 63 NE a as dt Ti hog So eta Sa Ee 83 289 Used engine oil disposal 212 V Variable interval wipers a a a a e 84 VECI Vehicle Emission Control Information decal 249 Vehicle Identification Number VIN 181 186 Vehicle loading automatic transaxles 156 calculating the load 156 manual transaxles 2 2 ee 156 Vehicle storage se konaan en 255 Ventilating your vehicle see Climate control 71 Viscosity see Engine oil 2 2 ee en 209 Visor see Sun visor 2 ee 109 W Warm engine Starting o a a a ee o 47 Warning chimes headlamps 0 2 2 2 ee ee A AE aa 60 key in ignition 2 ee en 43 safety Dell socia o eho ER OE oe ee he 56 Warning lights see Lights 2 a eee 53 Warranties basic ojo rita A ee ee he EL a 3 Ca ada aa a a 3 fadioe a hed ae ee A A A E N S 137 Warranty Information Booklet 3 Washer fluid FOSCEV OMT vis dl A Gee TB ake wot
59. d be serviced as noted in the Maintenance Schedule and Record booklet Adding engine coolant WARNING Do not put engine coolant in the container for the windshield washer fluid Z WARNING Never remove the coolant recovery cap while the engine is running or hot 1 Before you remove the cap turn the engine off and let it cool Even when the engine is cool be careful when you remove the coolant recovery cap 214 Servicing Your Contour 2 When the engine is cool wrap a thick cloth around the cap and turn it slowly counterclockwise to relieve the pressure 3 Step back while the pressure releases 4 When you are sure that all the pressure has been released use the cloth to turn and remove cap 5 Stand away from the reservoir opening Hot steam may blow out or hot engine coolant may even splash out MXWARNING Failure to follow these instructions could result in serious personal injury from hot engine coolant or steam blowout and or damage to the engine cooling system or engine To find out how much engine coolant mixture your vehicle s coolant system can hold see Refill capacities for fluids in the Index Have your dealer check the engine cooling system for leaks if you have to add a quart liter of engine coolant more than once a month Add engine coolant only to the recovery reservoir If the coolant level is low add to the reservoir a 50 50 mixture of water and the type of engine coolant
60. d clutch fluid reservoir Air filter Power Battery aistribution Engine oil Hood safety release filler cap Power steering fluid Automatic transaxle Brake and clutch reservoir fluid dipstick fluid reservoir Air filter 21842 143 TST L Power pee E distribution Engine coolant Battery box recovery reservoir Windshield Engine oil Engine oil washer fluid dipstick filler cap Hood safety release TOC ANOYUO noA HUDNARS Cleaning the Engine A clean engine is more efficient because a buildup of grease and dirt acts as an insulator keeping the engine warmer than usual E Extreme care must be used if a power washer is used to clean the engine The high pressure fluid could penetrate sealed parts and assemblies causing damage or malfunctions E In order to avoid possible cracking of the engine block or fuel injection pump do not spray a hot engine or injection pump with cold water E The alternator distributor and air intake must be covered Covering these components will help prevent water damage E Never wash or rinse the engine while it is running Water getting into the engine may cause internal damage Filling the Fuel Tank Fuel Filler Door Release If equipped On some models the fuel filler door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle To unlatch the fuel filler door find the front end of the release handle on the floor to the left of the driver s seat Push the handle down firmly unti
61. different from shipping Account address shown Number DATE P O Check or Money Order payable to Helm Inc USA funds only do not send cash CUSTOMER SIGNATURE NOTE Dealers and Companies please provide dealer or company name along with the name of the person to whom the shipment should be sent For purchases outside U S A and Canada please write to the following address for quotation Mail completed order form to HELM INC PO Box 07150 Detroit MI 48207 Please allow 6 8 weeks for delivery Prices are subject to change without notice and without incurring obligation e arau ea CUSTOMER NAME ATTENTION STREET ADDRESS NO P O BOX NUMBERS APTNO CITY STATE ZIP CODE DAYTIME AREA TELEPHONE CODE A a 193 CANADIAN ORDER TOLL FREE 1 800 387 4966 RESIDENTS NOTE For Credit Card Holder Orders Only Monday Friday 8 30 A M 6 00 P M EST USE THIS If further information is needed write to the address shown below or call 1 800 387 4966 PAGE Material cannot be returned for credit without receiving advance authorization within 14 days of delivery On returns a re stocking fee may be applied against the original order PUBLICATION 1996 CONTOUR FORM NUMBER EA g Cheques or Money Order payable to Ford Motor Company Handling Shipping Charge Individual Item of Canada Ltd Do not Order Except Service Manuals 5 00
62. dle counterclockwise 172 Roadside Emergencies 6 Remove the jack and fully tighten the lug nuts in the order shown in the following illustration As soon as possible have your dealer or a qualified service technician check the lug nuts for proper torque specifications Tighten lug nuts in order shown Front wheel hub nut Do not remove The lug nuts on the wheel 7 Place any wheel covers and ornaments in the trunk 8 Put the tire jack and wrench away Make sure the jack is securely fastened so it does not rattle when you drive 9 Unblock the wheels Removing and Replacing Styled Polycast Wheel Ornaments To remove a wheel ornament insert the tapered end of the jack handle between the ornament and wheel and pry the ornament from the wheel To install the polycast wheel center ornament you should insert one side of the ornament into the center of the wheel opening and strike the opposite side with the palm of your hand until the ornament is seated in the opening 173 Anti Theft Wheel Lug Nuts If equipped If your vehicle has this option one of the lug nuts on each wheel locks and must be unlocked with a special key If you lose the key send the registration card to the manufacturer not to the dealer to get a replacement key NOTE If you lose your lug wrench lug nut key assembly see your nearest Ford or Lincoln Mercury dealer who has access to a master set of keys DO NOT USE A POWER IMPAC
63. drive transaxle provides fully automatic operation in either D Overdrive or with the transaxle control switch depressed Driving with the shift selector in D Overdrive gives the best fuel economy for normal driving conditions For manual control start in 1 First and then shift manually 139 Putting Your Vehicle in Gear You must push in the thumb button to move the gearshift to the position you choose Z WARNING Hold the brake pedal down while you move the gearshift lever from position to position If you do not hold the brake pedal down your vehicle may move unexpectedly and injure someone To operate 1 Start the engine 2 Depress and hold the brake pedal 3 Move the gearshift lever out of P Park Your vehicle is equipped with a Brake Shift Interlock safety feature This feature prevents the gearshift from being moved from the P Park position until the brake pedal is depressed This feature is active when the ignition is in the ON position If the gearshift lever CANNOT be moved from P Park with the brake pedal depressed 1 Turn the engine off and remove the ignition key 2 With the parking brake applied and the brake pedal depressed insert a screwdriver about 2 5 cm into the square opening to the right of the gearshift at the base of the console 3 Rotate the screwdriver point rearward 4 Push and hold the thumb button and move the gearshift 5 Remove the screwdriver when the gearshif
64. during activation 148 Driving Your Contour The traction control system can be turned off manually by pushing the T C OFF button on the instrument panel to the left of the steering wheel The traction control system light will remain on as a reminder that the system is turned off Each time the vehicle is started the traction control system will automatically be on When the ignition is turned to the ON position the traction control system light comes on for approximately three 3 seconds If the light does not come on when the ignition is turned to the ON position or if it does not come on when the T C OFF button is pressed have the system serviced by your dealer or a qualified service technician as soon as possible to restore the benefits of the traction control feature You do not need to have the vehicle towed in Steering Your Vehicle Your vehicle comes with power steering Power steering uses energy from the engine to help steer your vehicle If the amount of effort needed to steer your vehicle changes at a constant vehicle speed have the power steering system checked If the power steering system breaks down or if the engine is turned off you can steer the vehicle manually but it takes more effort Never hold the steering wheel to the extreme right or left for more than five seconds if the engine is running This can damage the power steering pump Brakes Applying the Brakes Your vehicle may have four wheel
65. e 1f you are not certain that you are using the right equipment in the proper manner see your Ford or Lincoln Mercury dealer Do not use hitches that clamp onto your vehicle s bumper The bumper is not designed to bear the load 158 Driving Your Contour Using the hitch Your vehicle uses a load carrying hitch Because this type of hitch places the tongue load of a trailer on the rear wheels of your vehicle you must distribute the load in your trailer so that 10 to 15 of the total weight of the trailer is on the tongue Tie down the load so that it does not shift and change the weight on the hitch This will prevent damage to your vehicle and make your vehicle easier to handle Connecting the safety chains Always attach the trailer s safety chains to your vehicle They help protect your trailer if the hitch breaks To connect the trailer s safety chains 1 Cross the chains under the trailer tongue and attach them to your vehicle s frame or hook retainers Never attach the safety chains to your vehicles bumper The bumper is not designed to bear the weight of a trailer 2 Make sure that you leave enough slack in the chains to allow you to turn corners If you use a rental trailer follow the instructions that the rental agency gives you 159 Connecting the trailer s brakes Electric brakes and manual automatic or surge type hydraulic brakes are safe if you install them properly and adjust them accordin
66. e and handle differently from your previous vehicle Use care until you become accustomed to its various features and driving Characteristics Operate your vehicle within reasonable limits Sudden acceleration deceleration turning or combinations of these maneuvers can cause a vehicle to behave differently than anticipated Driving in Bad Weather Slippery roads On some slippery road surfaces front wheel drive may provide better acceleration than rear wheel drive However this does not mean that your vehicle can stop any faster or any better than a vehicle with rear wheel drive Exercise the same caution while driving on slippery roads with your front wheel drive vehicle as you would with a rear wheel drive vehicle E Do not quickly move the steering wheel unless necessary E Drive slower than you normally would E Give your vehicle more distance to stop 153 E Pump the brake pedal steadily and evenly to avoid locking your wheels E Consider using one of the lower gears WARNING To avoid losing control on slippery roads do not downshift into 1 First with the automatic transaxle when moving faster than 20 mph 32 km h Do not downshift into 1 First with the manual transaxle when moving faster than 10 mph 16 km h Z WARNING If your vehicle has speed control do not use it on slippery roads You could lose control of your vehicle and could injure someone If you have an automatic transaxle and your ve
67. e beginning of the first track 123 A 1 and 0 00 will appear in the display when the beginning of the disc is reached by pressing the rewind dl side of the button Using the SCAN function Press the SCAN button to enter the scan mode The CD player will begin scanning the disc stopping on each listenable track for approximately eight seconds This continues until you press the SCAN button a second time or eject the disc While in the scan mode the display flashes SCAN Special features of your CD player E Compression The compression feature will bring soft and loud passages closer together for a more consistent listening level To turn the compression on press the COMPRESS button When on the compression indicator COMP will appear in the display Press the button again to turn off E Shuffle The shuffle feature on your CD player allows you to listen to your disc selections in a different order When this feature is activated your CD player will randomly select and play tracks on the disc Press the SHUFFLE button to turn on press it again to turn off When on the shuffle indicator SHUF will appear in the display When the player is between selections the display will show a moving dash around the perimeter of the display 124 Electronic Sound Systems E Shuffle and Scan Both the shuffle and scan features can be activated simultaneou
68. e key from the ignition If your vehicle has a manual transaxle 1 Put the gearshift lever in 1 First 2 Set the parking brake fully 3 Rotate the ignition key to the LOCK position 4 Remove the key from the ignition 42 Starting Your Contour The steering wheel locks when the key is removed If the driver s door is open while the key is still in the ignition a warning chime sounds WARNING Always set the parking brake fully and make sure that the gearshift is securely latched in P Park automatic transaxle or in 1 First manual transaxle WARNING Do not leave children unreliable adults or pets alone in your vehicle They could accidentally injure themselves or others through inadvertent operation of the vehicle Further on hot sunny days temperatures in a closed vehicle could quickly become high enough to cause severe and possibly fatal injuries to people as well as animals Fuel Injected Engines When starting a fuel injected engine the most important thing to remember is to avoid pressing down on the accelerator before or during starting Only use the accelerator when you have problems getting your vehicle started See Starting Your Engine in this chapter for details about when to use the accelerator while you start your vehicle 43 Starting Your Vehicle Preparing to Start Your Vehicle Z WARNING Do not start your vehicle in a closed garage or other enclosed area Never si
69. e lumbar support pads slide the bottom of the button forward or back Folding Rear Seats If equipped The release knobs for the split rear folding seatbacks are in the trunk Pull the knob to fold down the seat To raise the rear seatback push the seatback upward until it locks in place Make sure it is firmly latched by pushing forward and back on it Z WARNING Securely latch the seatback in the upright position to prevent the seatback or objects from being thrown forward during a sudden stop or collision 105 Pull here to release the seatback Folding rear seatback release knob Cleaning the Seats Leather For routine cleaning wipe the surface with a soft damp cloth For more thorough cleaning wipe the surface with a leather and vinyl cleaner or a mild soap Fabric Remove dust and loose dirt with a whisk broom or a vacuum cleaner Remove fresh spots immediately Follow the directions that come with the cleaner NOTE Before using any cleaner test it on a small hidden area of fabric If the fabric s color or texture is adversely affected by a particular cleaner do not use it 106 Features Mirrors Side View Mirrors The standard side view mirrors are manually adjusted by using the remote knobs The knob on each door adjusts the mirror on that side of the vehicle Move the control knob in the direction you want to move the mirror Left side view mirror Move the control knob to adju
70. e the scissors type jack under the side of the vehicle and adjust the jack height with the jack handle The jack should fit in the notch in the vertical rocker panel flange which is nearest to the wheel to be changed The front and rear jacking notches on each side of the vehicle are marked by arrows in the rocker panel On sport models with skirts you must remove a portion of the skirt before placing the jack under the vehicle Squeeze the removeable portion of the skirt and pull down A tether connects it to the rocker panel Remove before placing the jack under the vehicle Sports models with skirts NWARNING To lessen the risk of personal injury do not put any part of your body under the vehicle while changing a tire Do not start the engine when your vehicle is on the jack The jack is only meant for changing the tire 171 Use appropriate notch front or rear Rear notch Jack engaged in notch The notches for the jack 2 Turn the jack handle clockwise until the wheel clears the ground Remove the wheel lug nuts 3 Replace the flat tire with the spare tire making sure that the air valve stem is facing outward 4 Reinstall the lug nuts tightening until the wheel is snug against the hub The beveled edges on the lug nuts face inward Do not fully tighten the lug nuts until you lower the vehicle If you do you could force the vehicle off the jack 5 Lower the vehicle by turning the jack han
71. e to overspeed Z WARNING Do not use the speed control in heavy traffic or on roads that are winding slippery or unpaved 87 The speed control switches on the steering wheel Setting the speed control T 2 88 Press and release the ON switch Accelerate to the desired speed above 30 mph 50 km h using the accelerator pedal Press the SET ACC switch and release it immediately to set your speed If you keep this switch depressed your speed will continue to increase Take your foot off the accelerator pedal Your vehicle will maintain the speed you set Steering Column Controls If you drive up or down a steep hill your vehicle may momentarily slow down or speed up even though the speed control is on This is normal NOTE If your vehicle is equipped with an automatic transaxle and if your speed increases above your set speed while driving in Overdrive on a downhill grade you may want to turn the Overdrive off and use Drive You may turn the Overdrive off by pressing the Transaxle Control Switch on the left side of the gearshift lever This will reduce vehicle speed if it goes above your set speed on a downhill grade For the best fuel economy during normal driving conditions leave the vehicle in Overdrive or resume as soon as possible NOTE If your vehicle is equipped with a 5 speed manual transaxle and if your speed increases above your set speed while driving in 5 Fifth gear on a dow
72. ed This light indicates that the level of the engine coolant is low inside the coolant recovery bottle and that you should add more coolant See Engine Coolant in the Index E This light comes on for a few seconds when the ignition is turned to the START position but should turn off when the engine starts If this light stays on check the level of coolant inside the recovery bottle The level may be slightly above the MIN line because the light is an early warning Traction Control System Light If equipped This light comes on when the traction control system has been disengaged It may come on or flash on and off while traction control is operating If the light stays on for more than three 3 seconds after the ignition is turned to the ON position or does not come on when the T C OFF button is pressed have the traction control system checked by a qualified technician as soon as possible TRACTION CONTROL 68 Instrument Panel Controls The instrument panel dashboard on your vehicle is divided into several different sections The illustrations on the following pages show the major parts of the instrument panel that are described in this chapter Some items shown may not be on all vehicles The main controls for the climate control system clock and radio are on the instrument panel Clean the instrument panel lens and woodtone trim with a soft cloth and a glass cleaner Do not use paper towel or an
73. ed under the warranty dispute E Cases currently in litigation 182 Customer Assistance E Vehicles not used primarily for personal family or household purposes NOTE Complaints involving vehicles on which applicable express written new vehicle warranties have expired at receipt of your application are not eligible Eligibility may differ according to state law For example see the unique brochure for California purchasers lessees How Does the Board Work The Board has four members E three consumer representatives E a Ford or Lincoln Mercury dealer Consumer candidates for Board membership are recruited and trained by an independent consulting firm Dealers are chosen because of their business leadership qualities If the involved vehicle is within 36 months and 36 000 miles of the date of delivery warranty start date you have a right to make an oral presentation before the Board by indicating your choice on the application Also oral presentations may be requested by the Board A decision is made by the Board by simple majority vote Board members review all the materials related to each complaint and based on the available information arrive at a fair and impartial decision Decisions are based on the written statements and any oral presentations made by each of the involved parties Because the Board usually meets only once a month some cases will take longer than 30 days to be reviewed The Board will make e
74. een provided in your vehicle to attach the anchor hardware if required Additional kits can be obtained at no charge from any Ford or Lincoln Mercury dealer 37 Tether anchorage hardware USA vehicles only All vehicles built for sale in the USA do not include a tether anchor hardware kit for use with child safety seats However attachment holes at each rear seating position have been provided in your vehicle to attach the tether anchor hardware If tether anchorage hardware is required for the child safety seat use only the tether anchor kit available at no charge from any Ford or Lincoln Mercury dealer Base part number 613D74 Safety Belts for Children Children who are too large for child safety seats should always wear safety belts See instructions with your child seat or contact its manufacturer to determine maximum size of child that will safely fit in the seat Z WARNING If safety belts are not properly worn and adjusted as described the risk of serious injury to the child in a collision will be much greater If the shoulder belt portion of one of the lap and shoulder belts can be positioned so that it does not cross or rest in front of the child s face or neck the child should wear the lap and shoulder belt Moving the child closer to the center of the vehicle may help provide a good shoulder belt fit 38 Safety Restraints To improve the fit of lap and shoulder belts on children who have out
75. enever they seem less effective than usual Substances such as tree sap and some hot wax treatments used by commercial car washes reduce the effectiveness of wiper blades If the blades do not wipe properly clean both the windshield and the wiper blades Use undiluted windshield washer solution or a mild detergent Rinse thoroughly with clear water Do not use fuel kerosene paint thinner or other solvents to clean your wiper blades These will damage your blades To make reaching the wiper blades easy simply turn the ignition to the ACC position and turn your wipers on Wait for them to reach a vertical position and turn the ignition to the OFF position Do not move the wipers manually Manually moving the wipers across the windshield may damage them Wiper blade replacement If the wiper blades still do not work properly after you clean them you may need to replace the wiper blade assembly or the blade element When replacing the wiper blade assembly blade refill or wiper arm always use a Motorcraft part or equivalent To replace the blades follow the instructions that come with them Passenger Compartment Air Filter Replacement In your climate control system you may 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 Maintenance Schedule and Record booklet To replace the passenger compartment air filter 1 Remove both windshield wiper arms
76. eparing to start 2 a a a 44 refill capacities 2 4 E eani dd ee a 252 service POIS 199 SALSA 45 starting after a collision 2 2 2 ee 50 storing your vehicle 256 Engine block heater 2 2 2 49 Engine coolant checking and adding 2 213 disposal us nas eG wae te ee eter BEL a ae ety ws 216 low coolant warning light 2 2 ee 67 preparing for storage oaoa a a ee 256 recovery reservoir 2 2 a e 199 214 refill capacities o a a a a 252 specifications ooa a a 254 temperature gauge o 64 278 Engine coolant temperature gauge we 64 Engine da St e i sae a Bde A e Be BS 196 Engine oil brealcin e Ol e ta de eae ee ea ha hg 4 changing oil and oil filter 212 checking and adding 2 210 dipstick Somn aag oO a ade SS lc Se doy ate BR ae ae 210 disposal doi elas a a EB ee YR a ss 212 engine oil pressure warning light 2 2 58 filter specifications 2 2 ee 253 refill capacities sos s susie a ee a den den a 252 specifications e a o a ae ae e ai a e 254 is IA agi a Bea at Be ol a A 210 WASCOSIEY iss oo Gt fe Oa gs oe a Re A ag 209 Entry system illuminated 94 Exhaust fumes c b er eiii iy B o 51 Extended Service Plan Ford 0a a a a a a a a a 4 F Flashers hazard aa o on a aa e ai 86 Flashing the
77. eplace buckle assem bly if this vehicle is in a collision or if any orange portion of this label is visible See Owner Guide Failure to replace this buckle assembly under the above conditions could result in severe personal injuries in the event of a collision AAVERTISSEMENT Remplacer l en semble de boucle de ceinture en cas de collision avec ce v hicule ou si la partie orange de cette tiquette est visible Voir le Guide du proprietaire Faute de remplac er cet ensemble de boucle des blessures graves pourraient tre encourues en cas de collision REPLACE BUCKLE REMPLACER BOUCLE A The warning label on the front seat safety belt buckle Cleaning the Safety Belts Clean the safety belts with any mild soap solution that is recommended for cleaning upholstery or carpets Do not bleach or dye the belt webbing because this may weaken it Air Bag Supplemental Restraint System SRS The driver and right front passenger air bags are Supplemental Restraint Systems SRS provided at these seating positions in addition to the lap shoulder belt and are designed to supplement the protection provided to properly belted occupants in moderate to severe frontal collisions The supplemental air bag system does not provide restraint to the lower body 16 Safety Restraints The Importance of Wearing Safety Belts Z WARNING All occupants of the vehicle including the driver should always wear their safety belts e
78. er console pg 110 Safety restraints pg 7 Seat controls pg 101 Power window controls pg 98 400q 5 1901 Power door lock pg 94 G97 Side view mirror control pg 107 lt moZz RO CO 99 jauvg quamn1su Traction control pg 148 pg 77 Side view mirror control pg 107 Drive side Rear window air bag pg 16 defroster pg 76 Clock Passenger side pg 82 air bag pg 16 Climate control system pg 71 Electronic sound Hom Speed control system pg 115 86 88 pg 86 p9 88 Instrument panel dimmer pg 80 LIT 19357 JUIUIN IJSU PAVPUVIS Warning indicator lights pg 53 Engine coolant temperature gauge pg 64 Warning indicator lights pg 53 Trip odometer pg 65 Odometer Trip odometer pg 65 reset button pg 65 Fuel gauge pg 64 Waming indicator lights pg 53 Speedometer pg 65 lt moZz XO C0O0 897 19351 Juaunsysuy mods Warning indicator lights pg 53 Speedometer Odometer pg 65 Tachometer Waming indicator pg 66 Warning indicator lights pg 53 lights pg 53 Trip Fuel gauge odometer pg 64 pg 65 Engine coolant temperature i gauge pg 64 Trip odometer reset button pg 65 697 Folding rear seat release knobs pg 105 AAA i gt z f 0 2 0 yuni Mts plisss Japy AA 4 Fuel door manual release hidden pg
79. ere carelessness can cause damage to your vehicle or personal injury to yourself your passengers or other people Please read all WARNINGS carefully Z WARNING Finding Information in This Guide 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 Introductory Information The Quick Index at the end of the book provides a page number following each item which indicates where detailed information can be found 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 Canadian Owners French Version 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 Your Maintenance Schedule and Record Booklet 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 About the Warranties Your vehicle is covered by three types of warr
80. es are described later Once a disc is inserted operation of the CD player will override that of the radio NOTE The volume bass treble balance and fader controls on the radio are also used with the CD player Refer to earlier operating instructions on these controls How to insert a disc and begin play Insert one disc label side up into the disc opening When inserted the disc automatically loads into the unit and play starts at the beginning of the first track selection When the disc reaches the end the disc player automatically returns to the beginning of the disc and resumes playing NOTE Once a disc is inserted the disc opening is secured to prevent the accidental insertion of a second disc NOTE The CD player has heat protection circuitry to protect the laser diode If the temperature of the player reaches 167 F 75 C the heat detection circuit will shut off the player and TOO HOT will scroll in the display for approximately five seconds radio will resume playing When the temperature returns to normal operating range the CD player will again be operational 122 Electronic Sound Systems How to stop and restart the CD player When a disc is loaded the unit automatically enters the play mode and the play indicator gt illuminates To stop temporarily press the PLAY STOP button or the AM FM button The stop indicator J in the display illuminates and operation returns to the radi
81. essing and releasing the bottom of the window switch To stop the window before it opens completely press the switch again The one touch feature only opens the window To close the window you must press and hold the top of the switch Rear window lockout To lock out the rear window switches with the master controls slide the lockout switch to the left To restore individual control slide the switch to the right Moon Roof If equipped You can move the moon roof back to open the glass panel or you can tilt it up to ventilate the vehicle The rocker type switch is used to open and close the moon roof You must press and hold the switch until the desired position is reached At open and closed positions the motor will automatically turn off Release the switch at this time to avoid motor damage 99 Push here to close moon roof Push here to open Map lamps The map lamps and the switch for the moon roof To open the moon roof press and hold the rear portion of the switch The glass panel will move to the open position and stop To close the moon roof press and hold the front portion of the switch The glass panel will move to the closed position and stop To tilt the moon roof into vent position when the glass panel is closed press the front portion of the switch To close from vent position press and hold the rear portion of the switch Occasionally wiping the outside guide rail covers of the moon roof w
82. ety and value and in our services our human relations our competitiveness and our profitability Employee involvement is our way of life We are a team We must treat one another with trust and respect Dealers and suppliers are our partners We must maintain mutually beneficial relationships with dealers suppliers and our other business associates 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 Things to Know About Using This Guide 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 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 As you read through your owner guide carefully read all Warnings because they tell you how toavoid endangering yourself your passengers and other people NOTES and WARNINGS NOTES give you additional information about the subject matter you are referencing WARNINGS remind you to be especially careful in those areas wh
83. ever sit on the front edge of the seat stand near the glove compartment of the instrument panel or lean over near the air bag cover when the vehicle is moving All occupants should sit with their backs against the seatback move the seat to the most rearward position if possible and use the safety belts Children weighing less than 40 lbs 18 kg always should use child or infant seats Safety Restraints WARNING When using forward facing child seats move the passenger seat as far back from the instrument panel as possible NEVER SECURE REAR FACING INFANT SEATS IN THE FRONT SEAT THE FORCE OF THE RAPIDLY INFLATING PASSENGER AIR BAG COULD PUSH THE TOP OF THE REAR FACING SEAT AGAINST THE VEHICLE SEATBACK ARMRESTS OR CONSOLE REAR FACING INFANT SEATS MUST ALWAYS BE SECURED IN THE REAR SEAT Failure to follow these instructions could result in serious injury All child restraint systems are designed to be secured in vehicle seats by lap belts or by the lap portion of a lap shoulder belt Z WARNING If you do not properly secure the safety seat the child occupying the seat may be injured during a collision or sudden stop An unsecured safety seat could also injure other passengers Z WARNING Carefully follow all of the manufacturer s instructions included with the safety seat you put in your vehicle If you do not install and use the safety seat properly the child may be injured in a sudden stop or collision When in
84. extracted from the reel and a click is heard At this time the retractor is in the automatic locking mode child restraint mode Figure 4 32 Safety Restraints 5 Allow the belt to retract Pull up on the shoulder webbing A clicking sound will be heard as the belt retracts This indicates the retractor is in the automatic locking mode Push down on the child seat while you pull up on the belt to remove any slack in the belt Figures 5 and 6 Figure 5 33 Push down on child safety seat while pulling up on the Figure 6 34 Safety Restraints 6 Before placing the child in the child seat forcibly tilt the seat from side to side and tug it forward to make sure that the seat is securely held in place Figure 7 Figure 7 35 7 Double check that the retractor is in the automatic locking mode Try to pull more belt out of the retractor If you cannot the belt is in the automatic locking mode Figure 8 Pull down on the webbing to make sure retractor is locked Figure 8 8 Check to make sure that the child seat is properly secured prior to each use If the belt is not locked repeat steps 4 through 7 To remove retractor from automatic lock mode unbuckle the belt and allow the webbing to retract fully A click will be heard as the belt retracts The belt is back in normal operating mode vehicle sensitive emergency locking mode when this click disappears 36 Safety Restraints Z WA
85. f you have an automatic transaxle put the gearshift in P Park If you have a manual transaxle put the gearshift in 1 First Set the parking brake and block the wheel that is diagonally opposite the tire that you are changing When one of the front wheels is off the ground the transaxle alone will not prevent the vehicle from moving or slipping off the jack even if the vehicle is in P automatic or 1 manual To prevent the vehicle from moving when you change one of the front tires put a block behind the wheel that is diagonally opposite to the tire Z WARNING If the vehicle slips off the jack you or someone else could be seriously injured 2 Get out the spare tire and jack Z WARNING To avoid injury never run the engine with one wheel off the ground such as when changing a tire 3 Remove the wheel cover from the wheel with the tapered end of the wheel lug wrench Insert and twist the handle then pry against the inner wheel cover flange For information about removing optional wheel center ornaments see Styled Polycast Wheel Ornaments later in this section 4 Loosen the wheel lug nuts by pulling up on the handle of the wrench one half turn counterclockwise Do not remove the wheel lug nuts until you raise the tire off the ground For information about removing anti theft lug nuts see Anti Theft Wheel Lug Nuts later in this section 170 Roadside Emergencies Removing and Replacing the Tire 1 Plac
86. f your load is evenly distributed E Drive at safe speeds 223 If you do not take these precautions your tires may fail or go flat Ford Motor Company recommends obeying posted speed limits NWARNING Driving too fast for conditions creates the possibility of loss of vehicle control Driving at very high speeds for extended periods of time may result in damage to vehicle components At least once a month check the pressure in all your vehicle s tires including the spare Use an accurate tire pressure gauge Check the tire pressure when tires are cold after the vehicle has been parked for at least one hour or has been driven less than 3 miles 5 km You can find the proper cold pressure and load limits of recommended size tires on the Tire Pressure Decal on the left front door lock facing NWARNING Improperly inflated tires can affect vehicle handling and can fail suddenly possibly resulting in loss of vehicle control Tire Rotation Because your vehicle s front and rear tires perform different jobs they often wear differently To make sure your tires wear evenly and last longer rotate them as indicated in the following diagram Do not include the spare tire as part of your rotation If you notice that the tires wear unevely have them checked 224 Servicing Your Contour 4 Tire rotation X Y Y Replacing the Tires Rotating the tires Replace any tires that show wear bands
87. flows into the vehicle Fan speed Function Temperature knob selector knob control knob FLOOR oy In e FLR DEF e a The control for the heating only system 71 To turn your heater system on select any position except OFF This will turn the fan on and allow air flow into the vehicle To turn your heater off select OFF This will turn the fan off and stop air flow from coming into the vehicle Your vehicle also has small demister openings on each front door near the window This allows a small amount of air flow to be directed onto the door glass to reduce fogging whenever the heater system is operating The temperature control knob is located at the right side of the control with a broken RED and BLUE band around the top and sides of the knob The all RED part of the band full right is the heat or warmer area The all BLUE area full left is the cool or unheated temperature area Any position selected between full right and full left will give a temperature between the two extreme temperatures The cool temperature you select will not be cooler than the outside temperature if your vehicle is not equipped with an air conditioner amp Fan speed adjustment The left knob on the control is the fan speed knob which controls the volume of air flow Rotate the 2 knob to HI to increase fan speed and increase the amount of air entering the vehicle Four fan speed positions are available and are indicated by LO
88. full console has the following features Cupholder Two cupholders if equipped with automatic oot brake Utility Compartment The features on the full console Cupholder with Full Console To raise the pop up cup holder push and release the cupholder door then unfold the holder 110 Features Storage Compartments Your vehicle may have several storage compartments E two map pockets on the panels of the front doors The back of the front seats may also have map pockets E a coin holder on the instrument panel W a small storage pocket on the outside of the front seat base Trunk To open the trunk manually use the oval key Remote Trunk Release If equipped The remote trunk release is on the floor to the left of the driver s seat O vy oe here PUSH to open trunk PULL tah The remote trunk release You can disable the remote trunk release If you depress the lever on the trunk latch that is marked in orange before closing the trunk the trunk can only be opened with the key 111 Depress to disable remote trunk release Disabling the remote trunk release Remote Fuel Filler Door Release If equipped Your vehicle has a remote control fuel filler door which cannot be opened from the outside To unlatch the fuel filler door firmly push down the front of the release handle which is on the floor to the left of the driver s seat Refer to Servicing Your Vehicle in the Index for furt
89. g the dipstick each time you put fuel in your vehicle Remember the engine must be off the oil must be warm and the vehicle must be parked on level ground Checking the engine oil level 1 Turn the engine off after it has warmed up and allow a few minutes for the engine oil to drain back into the oil pan 2 Set the parking brake fully and make sure that the gearshift is securely latched in P Park automatic transaxle or 1 First manual transaxle 3 Open the hood Protect yourself from engine heat 4 Locate the engine oil dipstick highlighted in yellow and carefully pull it out of the engine 210 Servicing Your Contour 5 Wipe the dipstick clean and put it back into position making sure it is fully seated Keep oil in this range rro N RA AR Full Do not overfill Engine oil dipstick 2 0L engine Keep oil in this range BOS SOOO s SS es ISSS 55050559 Oil level will norma normally be in this range after an oil change Engine oil dipstick 2 5L engine 6 2 0L engine Carefully pull the dipstick out again If the oil level is below the lower notch add engine oil as necessary If the oil level is beyond the upper notch engine damage and or high oil comsumption may occur and some oil must be removed from the engine 2 5L engine Carefully pull the dipstick out again If the oil level is below the MIN line add engine oil as necessary If the oil level is above the letter M in
90. g to the manufacturer s instructions Be sure that your trailer s brakes meet local and federal regulations Z WARNING Do not connect a trailer s hydraulic brake system directly to your vehicle s brake system Your vehicle may not have enough braking power and your chances of having a collision greatly increase Connecting the trailer s lights Do not connect a trailer s lighting system wiring directly to your vehicle s lighting system wiring To get the proper equipment for hooking up your trailer s lights see your local trailer dealer and your Ford dealer Be sure to follow their instructions carefully If you do not install trailer lights correctly you may cause damage to the vehicle s lighting system Driving While You Tow Be especially careful when driving while you tow a trailer Never drive faster than 45 mph 70 km h when you tow in hilly country on hot days Also anticipate stops so that you can brake gradually If your vehicle has a manual transaxle and you are towing a trailer you should select gear positions which will avoid jerking or excessive engine speed If you need to drive excessively in 1 First or 2 Second it may indicate that the trailer is too big or heavily loaded for your vehicle s drivetrain Continuous driving in these two gears while towing a trailer is not recommended 160 Driving Your Contour When you tow up or down steep hills move the manual transaxle gearshift
91. gearshift is moved out of gear your vehicle may move unexpectedly and injure someone The automatic transaxle gearshift must be in P Park to move the key to the LOCK position LOCK is the only position that allows you to remove the key The LOCK feature helps to protect your vehicle from theft If your key is stuck in the LOCK position and will not turn move your steering wheel left or right until the key turns freely 41 ACCESSORY allows some of your vehicle s electrical accessories to operate while the engine is not running For example you can use ACCESSORY to turn on the radio without starting the engine ON allows you to test your vehicle s warning lights except the brake system warning light to make sure they work before you start the engine The key returns to the ON position once the engine is started and remains in this position while the engine runs START cranks the engine Release the key once the engine starts so that you do not damage the starter The key should return to ON when you release it The START position also allows you to test the brake warning light Removing the Key From the Ignition Procedures for removing your key from the ignition vary depending on whether your vehicle has an automatic or manual transaxle If your vehicle has an automatic transaxle 1 Put the gearshift lever in P Park 2 Set the parking brake fully 3 Rotate the ignition key to the LOCK position 4 Remove th
92. gine is running have the electrical system checked as soon as possible Engine Oil Pressure Warning Light This light indicates the engine s oil pressure not the oil level However if your engine s oil level is low it could affect the oil pressure The light will come on briefly when you turn your key to the START and ON position The light should stay off when the engine is running with normal oil pressure If the light comes on while the engine is running you have lost oil pressure and continued operation will cause severe engine damage Y Waming Lights and Gauges If you lose engine oil pressure 1 2 Pull off the road as soon as safely possible Shut off the engine immediately If you do not stop the engine as soon as safely possible severe engine damage could result Check the engine s oil level following the instructions on checking and adding engine oil in this Owner Guide See Engine oil in the Index If you do not follow these instructions you or others could be injured To ensure an accurate reading your vehicle should be on level ground If the level is low add only as much oil as necessary to bring it to the full level before you start the engine again Do not overfill Do not operate the engine if the light is on regardless of the oil level Contact your nearest dealer for further service actions High Beam Light This light comes on when the headlamps are turned to high beam or when yo
93. gine running out of fuel begins to misfire In this case the Check Engine Warning Light may turn on and will then set a Diagnostic Trouble Code indicating that the engine was misfiring while the last of the fuel was being consumed After refueling the Check Engine Warning Light will turn off after the vehicle has completed three consecutive warm up cycles without a misfire condition occurring A warm up cycle consists of engine start from a cold condition engine at ambient temperature and running until the engine reaches normal operating temperature On the fourth engine start up the Check Engine Warning Light will turn off as soon as the engine begins to crank It is not necessary to have the engine serviced Under certain conditions the Check Engine Warning Light may come on if the fuel cap is not properly installed If the Check Engine Warning Light comes on and you suspect that the fuel cap is not properly installed pull off the road as soon as it is safely possible and turn off the engine Remove and replace the fuel cap making sure it is properly seated After completing the three consecutive warm up cycles and on the fourth engine start up the Check Engine Warning Light should turn off If the light does not go off after the fourth engine restart have your vehicle serviced by your dealer or a qualified technician 62 Waming Lights and Gauges Overdrive Off Indicator Automatic Transaxle Only This light tells you that t
94. grown child safety seats Ford recommends use of a belt positioning booster seat that is labelled as conforming to all Federal motor vehicle safety standards Belt positioning booster seats raise the child and provide a shorter firmer seating cushion that encourages safer seating posture and better fit of lap and shoulder belts on the child A belt positioning booster should be used if the shoulder belt rests in front of the child s face or neck or if the lap belt does not fit snugly on both thighs or if the thighs are too short to let the child sit all the way back on the seat cushion when the lower legs hang over the edge of the seat cushion You may wish to discuss the specific needs of your child with your pediatrician Z WARNING Do not use a belt positioning booster with a lap only belt Lap belts and the lap belt portion of lap and shoulder belts should always be worn snugly and below the hips touching the child s thighs WARNING To reduce the risk of serious injury in a collision children should always ride with the seatback upright 39 Starting Your Contour Ignition Understanding the Positions of the Ignition Accessory Lock The positions of the key in the ignition LOCK and ACCESSORY lock the gearshift for all vehicles with an automatic transaxle NWARNING LOCK position does not lock the gearshift on floor mounted manual transaxle gearshifts If the parking brake is not set and the
95. h is triggered you must reset the switch by hand before you can start your vehicle The switch is located on the left hand kick panel in the driver s footwell Push this button down to reset The left hand kick panel in the driver s footwell WARNING If you see or smell fuel do not reset the switch or try to start your vehicle Have all the passengers get out of the vehicle and call the local fire department or a towing service 50 Starting Your Contour If your engine cranks but does not start after a collision or substantial jolt 1 2 3 6 Turn the ignition key to the OFF position Check under the vehicle for leaking fuel If you do not see or smell fuel push the red reset button down If the button is already set you may have a different mechanical problem Turn the ignition key to the ON position for a few seconds then turn it to the OFF position Check under the vehicle again for leaking fuel If you see or smell fuel do not start your vehicle again If you do not see or smell fuel you can try to start your vehicle again Check all vehicle warning lights before driving the vehicle Guarding Against Exhaust Fumes Carbon monoxide although colorless and odorless is present in exhaust fumes Take precautions to avoid its dangerous effects Z WARNING Do not start your vehicle in a closed garage or other enclosed area Never sit in a stopped vehicle for more than a short per
96. hat kind of vehicle you have A towing manual is available from Ford Motor Company for all authorized tow truck operators Have your tow truck driver refer to this manual for the proper hook up and towing procedures for your vehicle 176 Roadside Emergencies Towing Your Vehicle Behind Another Vehicle At times you may want to tow your vehicle behind another vehicle such as a recreational vehicle a car or a truck Before you have your vehicle towed E Release the parking brake E Move the gearshift to N Neutral E Turn the ignition to the OFF position E Unlock the steering wheel Do not tow your vehicle at a speed faster than 35 mph 55 km h or for a distance greater than 50 miles 80 km unless the drive wheels are placed on dollies Do not tow your vehicle at a speed faster than 55 mph 90 km h if you have a manual transaxle Your maximum towing distance is unlimited Z WARNING Never use a tow bar that attaches to the bumper when you tow your vehicle This could damage the bumper and cause an accident 177 Customer Assistance Roadside Assistance Ford Motor Company has set up a 24 hour seven day a week hotline with trained operators that put you in touch with the help you need if you experience a problem with your vehicle This complimentary service is provided to you throughout your warranty period of 3 years or 36 000 miles 3 years or 60 000 km whichever comes first To purchase Roadside
97. he Transaxle Control Switch TCS on the gearshift lever has been pushed When the light is on the transaxle will not shift into overdrive Depressing the TCS button located below the gearshift release button on the shifter will return the vehicle to overdrive on mode The transaxle will be in the overdrive on mode when the vehicle is started even if the O D OFF mode was selected when the vehicle was last shut off 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 at the first opportunity OD OFF Turn Signal Indicator Lights The turn signal arrow will flash to indicate the direction in which you are going to be turning 63 Fuel Gauge The fuel gauge displays approximately how much fuel you have in the fuel tank For proper fuel gauge operation the ignition must be in the OFF position before you add fuel to the fuel tank The fuel gauge indicator may vary slightly while the vehicle is in motion This is the result of fuel movement within the tank An accurate reading may be obtained with the vehicle on smooth level ground Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge This gauge indicates the temperature of the engine coolant not the coolant level If the coolant is not at its proper level or mixture the gauge indication will not be accurate The pointer moves from the white mark into the NORMAL band as the engine coolant warm
98. he headlamp housing and affect its performance Removing the headlamp bulb 1 Make sure that the headlamp knob is in the OFF position 2 Lift the hood and find the bulb in the headlamp socket 3 Remove the bulb assembly by turning it clockwise and pulling it out of the headlamp socket 4 Remove the L shaped bulb by pressing the retaining clip at the base of the electrical connector and sliding the bulb out Installing the headlamp bulb 1 Without touching the glass on the bulb insert the new bulb You may want to protect the bulb by holding it with a piece of cloth or paper towel Make sure the retaining clip at the base of the electrical connector locks 2 Insert the bulb assembly in the headlamp socket Turn it counterclockwise to lock it in place 245 3 Turn the headlamps on and make sure that they work properly If the headlamp was correctly aligned before you changed the bulb you should not need to align it again High Mount Brakelamp Bulbs From the back seat remove the back of the brakelamp assembly Depress the two retaining tabs on the ends of the assembly and pull off the back Turn the burned out bulb counterclockwise and pull it out Push in the replacement bulb and turn it clockwise to lock it in the socket Replace the back of the brakelamp assembly making sure that the retaining tabs snap into place Push to remove l t back nser and turn The high mount brakelamp assembly 246 Servi
99. he risk of the door coming open in a collision Combination Lap and Shoulder Belts 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 After you get into your vehicle close the door and lock it Then adjust the seat to the position that suits you best 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 Fastening the front seat lap and shoulder belt NOTE Be sure to read and understand Important Safety Belt Information at the beginning of this chapter To adjust the lap part of the belt pull up on the shoulder belt until the lap belt fits snugly and as low as possible around your hips Push the release button on the end to unfasten the safety belt Buckle Unfastening the combination lap and shoulder belts While the belt retracts guide the tongue to its original position to prevent it from striking you or the vehicle 10 Safety Restraints Dual Locking Mode Lap Shoulder Belt Retractor The
100. he top or bottom half of the SEEK button To change frequencies quickly press and hold down either the top or bottom half of the SEEK button While you are manually tuning the display will show a blinking M Manual tuning adjusts your radio to any allowable broadcast frequency whether or not a station is present on that frequency See All About Radio Frequencies in this section E Using the SEEK function This feature on your radio allows you to automatically select listenable stations up or down the frequency band Press the top gt half of the SEEK button to select the next listenable station up the frequency band Press the bottom lt q half of the button to select the next listenable station down the frequency band By pressing and holding the button listenable stations can be passed over to reach the desired station 117 Using the SCAN TUNE button to scan radio stations Pressing the SCAN TUNE button once enters the scan mode display will indicate SCN Pushing the top gt half of the SEEK button will begin the scan mode up the frequency band stopping on each listenable station for approximately five seconds Pushing the bottom lt q half of the SEEK button will begin the scan mode down the frequency band again stopping on each listenable station for approximately five seconds To stop the scan mode on the presently sampled station press the SCAN TUN
101. her information 112 Features Floor Mats Positive retention floor mat If equipped Standard in Canada Position the floor mat in the footwell Place the mat eyelet over the pointed end of the retention post from the rear and rotate forward to install Adjust the floor mat position to allow proper operation of accelerator pedal brake pedal and clutch pedal Floor mat Must Be Positioned 1 inch 25 5mm Away From Brake Pedal And Seat track Accelerator Pedal All Around To Front of Vehicle The positive retention floor mat To remove lift the floor mat just forward of the retention post and rotate it rearward to disengage it from the retention post 113 SIIL oipvy s q Jovdmo Automatic Eject Compression Display Reverse Volume Memory preset buttons sula3s s punos 110 099 3 Compact Disc Radio The Compact Disc Radio combines the Electronic Stereo Radio with the Ford Compact Disc Player Using the Controls on Your New Radio CD Player Most of the features of this unit work for both radio and CD operation Also some of the knobs and buttons control several different functions so be sure to read all of the operating instructions carefully How to turn the radio on and off Press the POWER button to turn the radio on Press it again to turn it off How to adjust the volume Press the side of the VOL button to increase decrease the volume Bars illum
102. hicle gets stuck for example in mud or snow you may try to rock it out of the spot Shift in a steady rhythm between forward and reverse gears While in each gear press lightly on the accelerator and release Z WARNING Do not spin the wheels at over 35 mph 55 km h The tires may fail and injure a passenger or bystander By moving the vehicle backward and forward you may gain enough momentum to move out of the spot Do not rock the vehicle for more than a few minutes This may overheat the engine damage the transaxle or damage the tires If you are still stuck after a minute or two of rocking call for a tow truck 154 Driving Your Contour High water Do not drive through flooded areas unless you are sure that the water is below the bottom of the wheel rims If you must drive through high water drive slowly You may have limited traction or wet brakes so allow extra stopping distance because your vehicle will not stop as quickly as usual After you drive through the standing water apply your brakes gently several times as your vehicle moves slowly This helps to dry the brakes Driving With a Heavy Load There are limits to the amount of weight your vehicle can carry or tow The total weight of your vehicle plus the weight of the passengers and cargo should never be more than the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating GVWR Also the weight that your vehicle carries over the front axle and rear axle should ne
103. i thefts ae gnun He irpan a Bok ae ee doce E 174 standardis sedne moei a h ae a ee A 171 283 Maintenance see Servicing 195 Manual transaxle backing up reverse 2 146 A A RR RN 145 shifting gears 2 2 e o 145 Map pockets 2 a 111 Master cylinder brakes 232 Mileage calculating fuel economy 207 Mirrors side view mirrors manual 107 Moon OOF casi ok we ah a ee a 99 Motorcraft parts 2 6 2 o o 253 N National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 185 New vehicle break in 2 4 O Odometer trip odometer 2 2 a a a a a 65 OU filters ae aean a a ee ee oe d 253 Oil see Engine oil 2 en 209 Oil ViSCOSItY vox a e a a ee Bh a a we 209 On board diagnostic OBD II system 250 Overseas offices s s s r a n so none s y wuru 187 P Panic alarm feature remote entry system 96 Parking brake Operations sea Ta de da Bd as 152 warning light e s rur AA e o 57 Parts see Motorcraft Parts 253 PCV valve specifications 2 2 ee 2 253 Power door locks 2 a es 94 Power features door lock cs a as apt D Ah Sot de i Sc hae aod 94 IMITFOLS oe 43s A A a ole BP T 107 284 Power features continued MOON TOOL See fo Sak e a is 99 Seatsee iene fe Bee hd
104. ibution Box Fuses and Relays mas e box The power distribution box location 235 l D go 1 On o o The power distribution box fuses and relays Spare fuses are located in the power distribution box under the hood 236 Servicing Your Contour 80 Main power supply ae Engine cooling fan o A e ABS braking system Fuse Relay Fuse Amp Location Rating e Ignition a e Horn Have these fuses replaced by a qualified technician 237 Fuse Relay Relay Location Color Description R1 Daytime running lights Canada e High speed engine cooling fan OO R R e yelow Starter 238 Servicing Your Contour The Instrument Panel Fuses Circuit Breakers and Relays The instrument panel fuse panel is underneath the instrument panel on the left side To open it reach under the instrument panel and push the release button to the right of the fuse panel Push release button to open fuse panel The instrument panel fuse panel location 239 The instrument panel fuses 240 Servicing Your Contour Fuse Relay Fuse Amp Location Rating Description e Heated rear view mirrors 7 e Engine management system 3 Ps worse 241 Relays Outside the Fuse Boxes Relay Relay Location Color Description CT I worse OCS MCU ICE Ceos IN E Checking and Replacing Fuses 1 2
105. ic during hot weather or has been pulling a trailer the vehicle should be turned off for about 30 minutes to allow the fluid to cool before checking Do Not Drive mark MIN MAX lt DON T ADD IN THIS AREA L Fluid level at normal operating temperature 150 F to 170 F 65 C to 77 C Automatic transaxle fluid dipstick 230 Servicing Your Contour Adding Automatic Transaxle Fluid Before adding any fluid be sure that the correct type will be used Correct type is shown on the dipstick Add fluid in 1 2 pint 25L increments through the filler tube to bring the level to the correct area on the dipstick DO NOT OVERFILL If the level is above the top hole on the dipstick excess fluid should be removed by a qualified technician NOTE 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 about recycling automotive fluids Manual Transaxle Fluid The lubricant level and quality should not deteriorate under normal driving conditions However you should have the fluid level checked occasionally If lubricant is required see Lubricant Specifications in this chapter 231 Brake Fluid Under normal circumstances your vehicle should not use up brake fluid rapidly However expect the level of the brake fluid to slowly fall as you put more mileage on your vehicle and the
106. inate in the display to show the relative volume level NOTE If the volume level is set above a certain listening level when the ignition switch is turned off when the ignition switch is turned back on the volume will come back to a nominal listening level However if the radio power is turned off with the POWER button the volume will remain in the position it was set at when radio power is switched back on Selecting the AM or FM frequency band Push the AM FM button to select the desired frequency band When in the radio mode pushing the button more than once will alternate between AM FM1 and FM2 These functions are used with the station memory buttons described under How to tune radio stations 116 Electronic Sound Systems How to tune radio stations There are four ways for you to tune in a particular station You can manually locate the station using the SCAN TUNE button SEEK the station SCAN to the station or select the station by using the memory buttons which you can set to any desired frequency These four methods are described below E Using the SCAN TUNE button to manually tune You can change the frequency up or down one increment at a time FM changes in increments of 200kHz AM changes in increments of 10kHz by first pressing the SCAN TUNE button twice display shows TUNE then within approximately five seconds pressing and releasing either t
107. ing until the engine starts Allow the key to return to the ON position after the engine has started If you have difficulty in turning the key rotate the steering wheel slightly because it may be binding 45 For a cold engine 2 0L engine E At temperatures below 10 F 23 C Turn the key to ON crank the engine and depress the accelerator about 1 4 of the way down and hold that position for five 5 seconds If the engine fails to start continue to crank with the accelerator depressed about 1 4 of the way down and hold that position until the engine starts DO NOT crank for more than 30 seconds or you could damage the starter If the engine fails to start on the first try turn the key to OFF and wait two 2 minutes before trying again Allow engine to warm up for a few minutes before putting transaxle into gear At temperatures between 10 F 23 C and 10 F 12 C Turn the key to ON and crank the engine for five 5 seconds If the engine fails to start continue to crank and depress the accelerator about 1 4 of the way down and hold that position until the engine starts DO NOT crank for more than 30 seconds or you could damage the starter If the engine fails to start on the first try turn the key to OFF and wait two 2 minutes before trying again At temperatures between 10 F 12 C and 32 F 0 C If the engine does not start in fifteen 15 seconds on first try turn the key to OFF then try again
108. iod of time with the engine running Exhaust fumes are toxic See Guarding Against Exhaust Fumes in this chapter for more instructions WARNING If you smell exhaust fumes inside your vehicle have your dealer inspect your vehicle immediately Do not drive if you smell exhaust fumes 51 Have the exhaust and body ventilation systems checked whenever E your vehicle is raised for service E the sound of the exhaust system changes E your vehicle has been damaged in a collision Improve your ventilation by keeping all air inlet vents clear of snow leaves and other debris If the engine is idling while you are stopped in an open area for long periods of time open the windows at least one inch 2 5 cm Also adjust the heating or air conditioning to bring in outside air If you use the heater set the fan speed on medium or high with the function control knob turned to FLR PNL FLR or PANEL If you use the air conditioner set the fan speed on medium or high with the A C button pressed Do not use MAX A C 52 Waming Lights and Gauges In your vehicle the warning lights and gauges are grouped together on the instrument panel We call this grouping a cluster Your vehicle has one of the following clusters M Standard Cluster E Sport Cluster If you are not sure which cluster your vehicle has check the diagrams on the following pages 53 v 1935179 PAVPUVIS ay Turn signal High beam indicator Bra
109. isposal recycling 2 2 2 we 218 replacement specifications 2 2 a 253 when storing your vehicle 2 2 1 we 256 Brake fluid brake warning light 2 2 ee ee ee 57 checking and adding 2 2 232 CESCHIP HOM vs is 43rd a Ge ag OD Be a a RA 232 Specifications m ati a a a EA a i A 254 Brakelamp high mount brakelamp 246 Brakes anti lock brake system ABS warning light 66 applying the brakes 2 a a a o 149 brake warning light a a a aa ee 57 fluid checking and adding 232 fluid refill capacities 0 a a a 252 fluid specifications 2 a a ee en 254 master cylinder k soss so ar i aa a da a a 232 new brake linings a a a a a o 4 HOISE nnen a a o a 150 parking au das oa al as ee oS ae 152 traller da o e ds e ses 160 when storing your vehicle a a a a a a 257 274 Brake shift interlock 140 Break in period o en 4 Brights high beams a aoa a aa 59 84 Bulbs replacing Halgg nn sor anat o de ee ge a a 245 headlamps e ete ace e e a a E e e 245 high mount brakelamp 246 C Canada customer assistance o o ooo a a a a a 186 Canada warranty information 3 Canadian Motor Vehicle Arbitration Plan CAMVAP 187 Capacities for refilling fluids a 0a 2 aaa 252 Carbon monoxide in exhaust a a a a a 51 Car seats for child
110. ith a clean cloth will help keep the moon roof working properly 100 Guide rail covers The moon roof Z WARNING Do not let children play with the moon roof They may seriously hurt themselves Sliding Shade The moon roof has a sliding shade that you can manually open or close to block the sun when the glass panel is shut To close the sliding shade pull the shade toward the front of the vehicle The shade automatically opens when the moon roof is opened Seats Head Restraints If you use them properly head restraints will help protect your head and neck in a collision A head restraint helps protect you best if you position it behind your head and not behind your neck If your vehicle has the four way head restraint you can adjust it in four directions You can raise it two 2 inches 50 mm from its normal position or you can move it forward up to 60 until you reach the desired position 101 Move backward Normal position Lift Move forward Press down Seat back The four way head restraint Manual Seats Lift to slide seat forward Turn to recline or back the seatback Lift to tilt the seat base If equipped Manual seat adjustment WARNING Never adjust the driver s seat or seatback when the vehicle is moving 102 WARNING To reduce the risk of serious injury in a collision always drive and ride with your seatback upright and the lap belt snug and l
111. ition varies with individual driving patterns To complete this requirement in the minimum amount of time refer to the OBD II Drive Cycle defined below If the vehicle owner cannot or does not want to do the additional driving required by law a service center can perform this drive cycle as it would any other type of repair work OBD II Drive Cycle The following steps must be run in the order shown If any steps are interrupted repeat the preceding step Any safe driving mode is acceptable between steps Always drive vehicle in safe manner according to traffic conditions and obey all traffic laws The engine must be warmed up and at operating temperature before proceeding with the drive modes of the following OBD II Drive Cycle 1 Start the engine Drive or idle in neutral the vehicle for 4 minutes 2 Idle the vehicle in Drive Neutral for manual transaxle for 40 seconds 3 Accelerate the vehicle to 45 mph 70 km h at 1 4 to 1 2 throttle for 10 seconds 250 Servicing Your Contour Drive the vehicle with a steady throttle at 45 mph 70 km h for 30 seconds Idle the vehicle in Drive Neutral for manual transmissions for 40 seconds Continue to drive the vehicle in city traffic at speeds between 25 and 40 mph 40 60 km h for 15 minutes During the 15 minute drive cycle the following modes must be achieved a at least 5 stop and idle modes at 10 seconds each b acceleration from idles at 1 4 to 1 2 th
112. ity Care It s at your dealer FORD QUALITY CARE 1995 Ford Motor Company 258 Refer to this label for No Description information regarding Air bag precautions Child seat installation precautions Childproof lock operation Wheel and tire information Safety Compliance Name and date of manufacturer Certification Label GVWR GAWR Fuel Pump Shut Off Label Fuel pump shut off location In driver s s footwell Vehicle Identification Servicing or warranty information Number VIN label specific to your vehicle Gross Vehicle Weight Rating Gross Axle Weight Rating Warning label locations 261 CIC MILA s014 XI JUOLT Auxiliary hood latch pg 198 Headlamp bulbs pg 245 and Daytime Running Lights pg 79 Windshield wipers Side view mirrors pg 107 Parking lamp Fog lamp bulbs Turn signal bulbs pg 247 pg 247 97 MILA 40119IX VIH High mount brakelamp bulbs pg 246 Backup lamp bulbs pg 247 reacia pa Fuel filler door turn signal bulbs pg 202 pg 247 lt moZz RO CO VIC MIA aouvsquy Tilt steering Turn signal lever Fuse panel pg 239 Hood release pg 198 Fuel pump shut off switch pg 49 Remote fuel door release pg 202 Remote trunk release pg 111 Manual transaxle not shown pg 145 Automatic transaxle pg 139 Parking brake pg 155 E Cent
113. k your vehicle The parking brake lever is located between the front seats To set the parking brake put your foot on the brake pedal while pulling the parking brake handle fully and firmly upward To release the parking brake put your foot on the brake pedal pull the handle upward and push the button Then lower the handle to the released position while holding the button in WARNING Always set the parking brake fully and make sure that the gearshift is securely latched in P Park automatic transaxle or in 1 First manual transaxle Z WARNING To prevent personal injury do not release the parking brake while outside the vehicle WARNING If the parking brake is fully released but the Brake System light remains on have the brakes checked immediately They may not be working properly 152 Driving Your Contour The parking brake is not designed to stop a moving vehicle but you can use the parking brake to stop your vehicle in an emergency if the normal brakes fail However since the parking brake applies only the rear brakes the stopping distance will increase greatly and the handling of your vehicle will be adversely affected Always check the Brake Warning Light each time you start your engine Driving with the parking brake on will cause the brakes to wear out quickly and will reduce the fuel economy Driving Under Special Conditions Tips for Safe Driving As with any new vehicle yours may driv
114. ke system light lights light Engine oil pressure Safety belt warning light Anti lock brake Charging system Odometer system light light Check engine warning light Trip odometer Fuel gauge reset button Air bag readiness light Speedometer Engine coolant Trip odometer Overdrive off indicator temperature gauge SS 1935n 9 mods ayy Tachometer Odometer High beam light Turn signal indicator Safety belt Charging system light Check engine Traction warning light control light Air bag Low coolant readiness light light Anti lock brake Engine oil pressure system light warning light Brake system Fuel gauge Overdrive off Trip odometer indicator reset button Speedometer Engine coolant Trip odometer temperature gauge saPne5 pue syr Buren Standard Cluster The following warning lights and gauges are on the standard cluster All of the warning lights and gauges alert you to possible problems with your vehicle The following sections detail what each of these indicators means Indicator Lights and Chimes Safety Belt Warning Light and Chime This warning light and chime remind you to fasten your safety belt The following conditions will take place E Tf the driver s safety belt is not buckled when the ignition is turned to the ON position the light will turn on for 1 to 2 minutes and the chime will sound for 4 to 8 seconds E Tf the driver s safety belt is buckled while the light
115. kin eyes and clothing If the acid touches someone s skin eyes or clothing immediately flush the area with water for at least 15 minutes If someone swallows the acid have him or her drink lots of milk or water first then Milk of Magnesia a beaten egg or vegetable oil Call a doctor immediately 163 To avoid damaging your vehicle or your battery and to avoid injury to yourself follow these directions for preparing your vehicle to jump start and connecting the jumper cables in the order they are given If in doubt call for road service Preparing Your Vehicle 1 Your vehicle has a 12 volt starting system so you need to use a 12 volt jumper system You will damage your starting motor ignition system and other electrical parts if you connect them to a 24 volt power supply either two 12 volt batteries in series or a 24 volt generator set Do not disconnect the battery of the disabled vehicle You could damage the vehicle s electrical system Park the booster vehicle close to the hood of the disabled vehicle Make sure the vehicles do not touch each other Set the parking brake on both vehicles and stay clear of the engine cooling fan and other moving parts Check all battery terminals and remove any excessive corrosion before you attach the jumper cables Turn on the heater fan in both vehicles Press the DEFROST button Turn off all other switches and gauges Connecting the jumper cable
116. l it stops and the door pops open N D Push here to open PUSH fuel door PULL The fuel filler door release If the fuel filler door does not open when you push the release handle open the trunk and find the override release on the 202 Servicing Your Contour right side The override release is a handle which is marked with a fuel pump symbol Open the fuel filler door by pulling on the handle Pull handle to release fuel door Fuel filler door release manual override Filling the fuel tank The fuel door is outside the car on the passenger side near the back To fill the fuel tank 1 After opening the fuel filler door remove the cap carefully and slowly by turning it counterclockwise 1 2 to 3 4 turn If a hissing sound is heard wait until it stops then continue turning until the cap is free Z WARNING If the fuel cap is venting vapor or if you hear a hissing sound wait until it stops before completely removing the cap 2 Put the nozzle all the way inside the fuel filler pipe before pumping the fuel 203 NOTE If you spill any fuel on the body of your vehicle clean it off immediately The fuel may dull or soften the paint if you do not wash it off 3 Replace the fuel cap completely when you are finished Turn it clockwise until it is tight It will click when it is fully tightened 4 Push the fuel door closed If you lose the fuel cap replace it with an authorized
117. lan on storing your vehicle for an extended period of time 60 days or more refer to the following maintenance recommendations to ensure your vehicle stays in good operating condition General E Store all vehicles in a dry ventilated place E Protect from sunlight if possible E Tf vehicles are stored outside they require regular maintenance to protect against rust and damage Body HM Wash vehicle thoroughly to remove dirt grease oil tar or mud from exterior surfaces rear wheel housing and underside of front fenders E Periodically wash vehicles stored in exposed locations E Touch up raw or primed metal to prevent rust E Cover chrome and stainless steel parts with a thick coat of auto wax to prevent discoloration Re wax as necessary when the vehicle is washed WE Lubricate all hood door and trunk lid hinges and latches with a light grade oil E Cover interior soft trim to prevent fading E Keep all rubber parts free from oil and solvents 255 Engine E Start engine every 15 days Run at fast idle until it reaches normal operating temperature E With your foot on the brake shift through all the gears while the engine is running Fuel system E Fill fuel tank with high quality unleaded fuel until the first automatic shutoff of the fuel pump nozzle NOTE During extended periods of vehicle storage 60 days or more fuel may deteriorate due to oxidation This can damage rubber and other polymers in the
118. le your vehicle is moving especially at high speeds E Have the services listed in the Maintenance Schedule and Record booklet performed according to the specified schedule The scheduled maintenance services are required because they are considered essential to the life and performance of your vehicle and to its emissions system Ford strongly recommends the use of genuine Ford replacement parts If other than Ford or Motorcraft parts or Ford authorized remanufactured parts are used for maintenance replacements or for the service of components affecting emission control such non Ford parts should be equivalent to genuine Ford Motor Company parts in performance and durability It is the owner s responsibility to determine the equivalency of such parts Please consult your warranty booklet for complete warranty information 248 Servicing Your Contour NWARNING 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 Watch for fluid leaks strange odors smoke loss of oil pressure the charge warning light the check engine light or the temperature warning light These sometimes indicate that the emission system is not working properly Do not make any unauthorized changes to your vehicle or engine Changes that cause more unburned fuel to reach the exhaust system can increase the temperature of the engine
119. lity 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 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 226 Servicing Your Contour 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 AB C The traction grades from highest to lowest are A B and C and they 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 Warning The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on braking straightahead traction tests and does not include cornering turning traction 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 tempe
120. lm Inc at 1 800 782 4356 Ask for brochure FPS 8602 For additional important safety information on the proper use of seat belts child seats and infant seats please read the other sections of this part of the Owner Guide especially sections entitled Safety Belts for Children and Safety Seats for Children 19 How the Air Bag Supplemental Restraint System Operates The driver air bag is in the center of the steering wheel The front passenger seat air bag is located in the center of the instrument panel ledge above the glove compartment Both air bags are designed to stay out of sight until they are activated Labels Passenger air bag air bag The location of air bags and warning labels 20 Safety Restraints If a collision occurs the sensors sense the severity of the impact and activate the air bags if necessary The air bag system is designed to deploy in frontal and front angled collisions more severe than hitting a parked vehicle of similar size and weight head on at about 28 mph 45 km h Because the system senses the crash severity rather than vehicle speed some frontal collisions at speeds above 28 mph 45 km h will not inflate the air bag When the sensors activate the system the air bags inflate rapidly filling with non toxic nitrogen gas in a fraction of a second Immediately after inflation the air bags deflate by releasing the nitrogen gas through vent holes The whole process takes place in
121. lock 1 To set the hour press and hold the hour button When the desired hour appears release the button 2 To set the minutes press and hold the minute button When the desired minute appears release the button 3 To switch between a 12 hour clock and a 24 hour clock press both the hour and minute buttons at the same time Reset the time as above 82 Steering Column Controls The controls on the steering column and wheel are designed to give you easy access to the controls while you are driving The Turn Signal Lever You can use the turn signal lever on the left side of the steering column to E operate the turn signals and cornering lamps E turn the high beams on off E flash the lamps Turn Signals Push the lever away from you for high beams Pull the lever toward you to flash the lights The turn signal lever Move the lever up to signal a right turn Move it down to signal a left turn The corresponding indicator light in the instrument cluster will flash If the turn signal stays on after you turn move the lever back to the center off position For lane changes move the lever far enough to signal but not to latch The lever will return to the off position when you release it 83 High Beams and Flashing the Lamps To turn on the high beams turn the headlamp control knob to the headlamp ON position and push the turn signal lever away from you until it latches When the high beams are o
122. lt in the center of the rear seat does not adjust automatically You must adjust it to fit snugly and as low as possible around your hips Do not wear it around your waist Pull the belt across your hips and insert the tongue into the correct buckle on your seat until you hear a snap and feel it lock Make sure the buckle is securely fastened 13 If you need to lengthen the belt unfasten it and tip the belt tongue at a right angle to the belt Pull the belt tongue over your lap until it reaches the buckle If you need to shorten the belt pull on the loose end of the webbing until the belt fits snugly To unfasten the belt push the release button on the end of the buckle This allows the tongue to unlatch from the buckle Push the release button on the end to unfasten the safety belt Buckle Tongue Unfastening the lap belt in center rear seating position Safety Belt Extension Assembly For some people the safety belt may be too short even when it is fully extended You can add about eight inches 20 cm to the belt length with a safety belt extension assembly part number 611C22 Safety belt extensions are available at no cost from your dealer Use only extensions manufactured by the same supplier as the safety belt Manufacturer identification is located at the end of the webbing on the label Also use the safety belt extension only if the safety belt is too short for you when fully extended Do not use extensi
123. mbing hills depress the TCS D Drive also gives more engine braking to slow your vehicle on downgrades than D Overdrive 143 When to use 2 Second When your vehicle is in 2 Second it automatically starts off in second gear Use 2 Second to help drive up moderately steep hills or restart from a standstill on slippery roads It prevents the transaxle from frequently shifting up and down It also gives more engine braking than D Drive with Transaxle Control Switch activated when going down hills Do not go faster than 55 mph 90 km h in this gear You can upshift from 2 Second into D Overdrive at any speed When to use 1 First This position limits the transaxle to first gear It helps brake the vehicle when going down hills where 2 Second is not sufficient Do not go faster than 38 mph 60 km h in this gear You can upshift from 1 First to 2 Second or from 1 First to D Overdrive at any speed P Park Always come to a complete stop before you shift into P Park Make sure that the gearshift is securely latched in P Park This locks the transaxle and prevents the front wheels from rotating Z WARNING Always set the parking brake fully and make sure that the gearshift is securely latched in P Park NWARNING Never leave your vehicle unattended while it is running You can tell the gearshift is securely latched when the push button has popped out In this position the gear shift select
124. mitters In the event a transmitter is lost return the remaining transmitters to your dealer for reprogramming of your remote entry system This is necessary to prevent further unauthorized use of the lost transmitter Additional transmitters may be purchased from your dealer remote entry system will work with up to four transmitters Return your existing transmitters to your dealer so the remote entry system can be reprogrammed with your new and existing transmitters 97 THIS DEVICE COMPLIES WITH PART 15 OF THE FCC RULES OPERATION IS SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING TWO CONDITIONS 1 THIS DEVICE MAY NOT CAUSE HARMFUL INTERFERENCE AND 2 THIS DEVICE MUST ACCEPT ANY INTERFERENCE RECEIVED INCLUDING INTERFERENCE THAT MAY CAUSE UNDESIRED OPERATION Windows Power Windows If equipped Each door has a power control that opens and closes the window on that door The driver s door has a master control panel that operates all four windows In order to use your power window controls the ignition switch must be in the ON position Front windows Key 7 W Rear windows S RRS Rear window lockout D The master controls on the driver s door 98 Z WARNING Do not let children play with the power windows They may seriously hurt themselves Make sure occupants are clear of the window s before closing One touch down window The one touch down feature allows you to completely open the driver s window by briefly pr
125. n the high beam indicator light on the instrument cluster comes on To turn off the high beams pull the lever back to the off position To flash the headlamps pull the lever toward you for a moment and then release it The headlamps will flash whether the headlamp knob is in the on or off position Windshield Wipers and Washer To turn on the windshield wipers the ignition key must be turned to the ON or ACC position 4 Fast Shorter interval A E 4 Slow 4 Intermittent Sr we Longer interval Ve a Single wipe Using the windshield wiper The windshield wipers can be set on high low speed or interval wipe Turn the ring on the lever to set a longer or shorter pause between wiping cycles 84 Steering Column Controls Windshield Washer When the lever is pulled to activate the windshield washer the wipers operate for about three cycles after the spray stops Pull to spray the windshield Washing the windshield Do not try to clean the windshield when the washer fluid container is empty or activate the washers at any time for more than 15 seconds continuously This could damage the washer pump system Z WARNING In freezing weather the washer solution may freeze on the windshield and obscure your vision Always warm up the windshield with the defroster before you use the washer fluid If you cannot see through the windshield clearly it can increase the risk of being involved in a collision
126. n indicator lamp will glow when the fog lamps are on To turn off push the headlamp control knob in To maximize fog lamp bulb life it is recommended that the fog lamp switch be turned off after each use prior to turning off the headlamps 78 Instrument Panel Controls Daytime Running Light System Canadian vehicles only The Daytime Running Light DRL system is designed to turn the high beam headlamps on with a reduced light output and without illuminating the high beam indicator lamp in the instrument panel The DRL system operates when all of the following conditions are met E The vehicle is running E The headlamp system is in the OFF position The high beam indicator light on the instrument cluster will not be on A flashing high beam light in the instrument cluster indicates a failure in the DRL system circuit like a burnt bulb or fuse Z WARNING The Daytime Running Light DRL system will not illuminate the tail lamps and parking lamps Turn on your headlamps at dusk Failure to do so may result in a collision Cleaning the Exterior Lamps Do not use dry paper towel chemical solvents or abrasive cleaners to clean the lamps as these may cause scratches or crack the lamps 79 Lighting Up the Interior and Instrument Panel When either front door is opened the footwell lights and the door courtesy lights come on The instrument panel lights window control lights and door handle light
127. n number the date you bought your vehicle the date of repair and the mileage at the time of repair the current mileage the name of the dealer who sold you the vehicle or who serviced your vehicle a brief description of your unresolved complaint a brief summary of actions that were taken with the dealer and Ford Motor Company E the names if known of all people you contacted at the dealership E a description of the action you want done to resolve your concern Should your application NOT qualify for review an explanation will be mailed to you Reporting Safety Defects U S Only If you believe that your vehicle has a defect which could cause a crash or could cause injury or death you should immediately inform the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NHTSA in addition to notifying Ford Motor Company If NHTSA receives similar complaints it may open an investigation and if it finds that a safety defect exists in a group of vehicles it may order a recall and remedy campaign However NHTSA cannot become involved in individual problems between you your dealer or Ford Motor Company 185 To contact NHTSA you may either call the Auto Safety Hotline toll free at 1 800 424 9393 or 366 0123 in the Washington D C area or write to NHTSA U S Department of Transportation 400 Seventh Street Washington D C 20590 You can also obtain other information about motor vehicle safety from the Hotline Ford of
128. nd for adding water if needed Check your battery s electrolyte level at least every 12 months or 12 000 miles 20 000 km in temperatures above 90 F 32 C and more often in temperatures above 90 F 32 C Keep the electrolyte in each cell up to the level indicator 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 don t use hard water or 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 217 Z WARNING Batteries normally produce explosive gases which can cause personal injury Therefore do not allow flames sparks or lit tobacco to come near the battery When charging or working near a battery always cover your face and protect your eyes and also provide ventilation WARNING Batteries contain sulfuric acid which burns skin eyes and clothing If the acid touches someone s skin eyes or clothing immediately flush the area with water for at least 15 minutes If someone swallows the acid have him or her drink lots of milk or water first then Milk of Magnesia a beaten egg or vegetable oil Call a doctor immediately Z WARNING 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
129. ned from the outside if the doors are unlocked WHEN wead ECURIT ENFANTS CI DESSOUS VERROUILLEE AINSI LA PORTE NE PEUT S OUVRIR DE LINT RIEUR C f LOCKED gt VERROUILLEE The childproof locks for the rear door To set the childproof lock on each rear door open the rear door 93 Find the lever at the black label with word LOCKED in white letters Move the lever toward the inside of the door To release the childproof lock open the rear door from the outside Move the lever toward the outside of the door Power Door Locks If equipped If your vehicle has power door locks the controls to lock the doors are on the trim panel of the front door When you close the doors after you set the door locks the doors remain locked If the power mechanism fails the manual door lock will automatically override the power controls Push to unlock Push to lock The power door lock on the driver s door Using the Illuminated Entry System If equipped If your vehicle is equipped with the illuminated entry system the interior lights turn on when you lift the outside door handle on either front door These lights automatically turn off after 12 seconds or when you turn the ignition key to ON or ACC The inside lights will not 94 Features turn off if you have turned them on with the switch in the dome lamp or if the front door is open Remote Entry System If equipped If your vehicle has the rem
130. ng light system 79 dome lamps o 80 flashing the lamps a oa a a 84 fog lamps go e s eis Boe Oe Bee Be De ed 78 hazard flashers 2 2 1 ee o 86 h adlamips irimas g ad ae lt 8 Me So a a Se a Ge h 77 high beams a 2 2 raai T e ao e ER a ega Ge 84 282 Lamps continued high mount brakelamp 2 246 illuminated entry system we 94 instrument panel dimming 80 interior lamps a a e 80 replacing bulbs 2 a e 245 traera co ties ds He ate caper a Mea Serta ead a Aer ee 160 Lane change indicator see Turn signal 2 83 Tea psDelts Ies vd a a Se eat eth AS e ees 13 Lights warning and indicator airbag ina at ioe en a ee aa a a 60 anti lock brakes ABS 2 a 2 22 66 rak ta hte xs Ge AIG aie ar a ab Se ol iad 2 ia as 57 charging system 2 2 2 ee ee 58 check engine ay sen 2 6 ee ee a a a Oe E e 61 engine oil pressure 2 2 ee en 58 high beam s eeta e e e e 59 low coolant eii he oP ey ae ee oe ob Ge e 67 Ol pressure aa Pa ata ee a eae eles 58 safety belt eo do ee A ee 56 turn signal indicator 2 a we 63 83 Load limits GAWR i dica Rowe ae a Bie ed Soh aS 155 GVWR m med o She Be ee ta da eah 155 trailer towing 2 aT Ge a n AA e ADE e 157 Lubricant specifications a s a a a a 254 Luggage compartment a a a ee eee 111 Lug nuts ant
131. nhill grade you may want to shift to 4 Fourth gear to reduce vehicle speed Depressing the clutch pedal cancels speed control therefore speed control must be reset by pressing the SET ACC or RES buttons Speed control cannot reduce the vehicle speed if it goes above your set speed on a downhill grade Speed control is cancelled when Traction Control if equipped becomes active 89 Accelerating With the Speed Control Operating You can use the accelerator pedal to speed up momentarily When you take your foot off the accelerator the vehicle will return to the set speed Resetting the Speed Control To reset the speed control to a lower speed use one of the following procedures E COAST Press and hold the COAST switch Release the switch when the vehicle slows down to the desired speed E Tap the brake pedal When the vehicle attains the desired speed press the SET ACC switch and release it immediately E TAP DOWN Press and then quickly release the COAST switch Each time you tap the switch the set speed will decrease by 1 mph 1 6 km h If vehicle speed is reduced below 30 mph 50 km h by any of the above methods then you must manually accelerate to a speed over 30 mph 50 km h and reset the system To reset the speed control to a higher speed follow one of these procedures M ACC Press and hold the SET ACC switch Release the switch when the vehicle has accelerated to the desired speed
132. nlight or heat sources such as defroster and floor heating ducts Do not leave any discs in a parked car in direct sunlight where there may be a considerable rise in temperature or damage may result E After playing store the disc in its case E If a disc has already been inserted do not try to insert another disc Doing so may damage the disc player E Do not insert anything other than a disc into the disc player CAUTION The use of optical instruments with this product will increase eye hazard as the laser beam used in this compact disc player is harmful to the eyes Do not attempt to disassemble the case Refer servicing to qualified personnel only Common Operating Conditions of Your CD Player The following information is designed to help you recognize typical situations that could be mistakenly interpreted as mechanical malfunctions of the disc player E A disc is already loaded The disc is inserted with the label surface downward The disc is dusty or defective The player s internal temperature is above 167 F 75 C Allow the player to cool off before operating Different manufacturers of compact discs may produce discs with different dimensions or tolerances some of which may not be within industry standards or in accordance with the CD format Because of this a new disc that is free of dust and scratches could be defective and may not play on your Ford Compact Disc Player 126 Electronic Sound Systems
133. nocking occurs because this can damage the engine If your vehicle has problems with starting rough idle or hesitation problems when the engine is cold it may be caused by fuel with low volatility Try a different brand of fuel If the condition persists see your dealer or a qualified service technician Gasolines for clean air Fuels in certain areas of the country are required to contain oxygenates to improve air quality Common oxygenates are ethanol or grain alcohol blended at no more than 10 methanol or wood alcohol blended at no more than 5 with cosolvents and additives and MTBE or methyl tertiary butyl ether blended at no more than 15 Reformulated fuel is also required in certain areas of the U S These fuels are designed to further reduce the emissions from your vehicle 205 Generally you should not experience difficulties operating your vehicle on fuels containing oxygenates We encourage you to use these fuels Safety Information Relating to Automotive Fuels Z WARNING Automotive fuels can cause serious injury or death if misused or mishandled E Turn vehicle off when refueling E Do not smoke when refueling Fuels are extremely flammable E Do not siphon any fuel by mouth Z WARNING Gasoline or gasoline blended with methanol can cause blindness and possible death when swallowed If any fuel is swallowed call a physician or poison control center immediately E Avoid breathing vap
134. ns 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 Z WARNING Make sure that you and your passengers wear safety belts Always drive and ride with your seatback upright and the lap belt snug and low across the hips WARNING 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 WARNING Ford recommends that all safety belt assemblies and attaching hardware should be inspected by a qualified technician after any collision Safety belt assemblies not in use during a collision should also be inspected and replaced if either damage or improper operation is noted Z WARNING To reduce the risk of serious injury in a collision children should always ride with the seatback upright Safety Restraints WARNING 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 Lock the doors of your vehicle before driving to lessen t
135. nted gearshift Always push the clutch pedal all the way to the floor when you shift You should upshift according to the speeds given in the shift speed chart Backing up To shift into R Reverse 1 Completely stop your vehicle 2 Depress the clutch pedal to the floor and place the gearshift lever in the Neutral position Do not release the clutch pedal NOTE If the following step is not followed a grinding noise may occur 3 Wait a minimum of three seconds before attempting to shift into R Reverse gear 4 Push the gearshift lever completely to the right pull up the ring on the stalk of the gearshift lever and then pull rearward on the gearshift lever to engage the R Reverse gear 5 If the R Reverse gear is engaged slowly release the clutch pedal from the floor 146 Driving Your Contour Upshifting Most of the time you should upshift at the following speeds 2 0L Engine 5 Speed Transaxle Shift Speed Schedules Recommended Durin During Upshifts Acceleration Cruise Nominal Shift Nominal Shift Spee Speed g d Shift from m mph km h 2 5 2 Sooma __ 0 29 3 2 The vehicle can be shifted at lower speeds to improve fuel economy Ww N oo 2 5L Engine 5 Speed Transaxle Shift Speed Schedules Recommended During During Upshifts Acceleration Cruise Nominal Shift Nominal Shift Speed Speed Shi from ka 5 3 5 1 147 Downshifting When you
136. ntenance routines This extra effort will save you additional money and contribute to the driving efficiency of your vehicle The following procedures require only a tire gauge a rag an oil can spout and windshield washer fluid E Check the engine oil at every refueling stop WE Clean the windshield outside mirrors and headlights E Check windshield washer fluid M Check tires for excessive wear or worn edges M Check the tire pressure at least monthly Engine Oil Recommendations We recommend using Motorcraft oil or an equivalent oil meeting Ford Specification ESE M2C153 E and displaying the American Petroleum Institute CERTIFICATION MARK on the front of the container ee Look for this Y QUART 0 8464 CERTIFICATION MARK _ The API Certification Mark 209 Never use E Non Detergent oils E Oils labeled API SA SB SC SD SE SF or SG E Additional engine oil additives oil treatments or engine treatments Engine oils with an SAE 5W 30 viscosity are PREFERRED for your vehicle They provide the best engine performance fuel economy and engine protection for all climates down to 15 F 25 C Synthetic engine oils which are CERTIFIED and of the preferred viscosity may be used in your engine The engine oil and oil filter must still be changed according to the maintenance schedule Checking and Adding Engine Oil Since the proper amount of engine oil is important for safe engine operation check the oil usin
137. nuous contact with USED motor oil has caused cancer in laboratory mice Protect your skin by washing with soap and water Engine Coolant Checking the Engine Coolant NOTE Be sure to read and understand Precautions When Servicing Your Vehicle at the beginning of this chapter NWARNING 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 Add engine coolant here The engine coolant recovery reservoir 2 5L shown 2 0L similar 213 Your vehicle s coolant protects your engine from overheating in the summer and from freezing in the winter Check the level of the coolant at least once a month Simply look at the engine coolant reservoir located in the engine compartment To locate the reservoir see the diagram of your vehicle s engine under Engine Type in this chapter Check the engine coolant level in the engine coolant reservoir at least once a month using the following guidelines When your vehicle s engine is cool the coolant level in the engine coolant recovery reservoir should be at or above the MIN mark When the engine is hot the coolant level should be at the MAX mark If the level is below the indicator mark in either condition coolant may need to be added The coolant additives also protect the entire cooling system from internal passageway corrosion and these additives lubricate the water pump The coolant shoul
138. o mode To resume CD play press the PLAY STOP button once again NOTE If the ignition key is turned OFF during play and then is set to the ON or ACCESSORY position the CD player will resume playing in the mode it was in when ignition was turned off How to locate a selection on your CD player using Automatic Music Search AMS An AMS Automatic Music Search control on your CD player allows you to quickly find a particular selection on the disc Press the left Hd side of the AMS control to locate a previous selection or the right P side of the AMS control to locate a later selection How to fast forward or reverse your CD player To quickly search for a particular point in a selection press the right P button to fast forward or the left tl button to reverse While either button is pressed the disc goes forward or backward at two different speeds depending on how long the button is held down Pressing either button for more than approximately three seconds will speed up the process Release the button at the desired point found by watching the elapsed playing time in the display or listening to the sound during fast forward or reverse When you have reached the end of the disc by keeping the fast forward P side of the button pressed the display will show the end time of the last track and the sound will be muted When the fast forward P side of the button is released the player resumes play at th
139. ocated in the Maintenance Schedule and Record booklet This chapter tells you about the basic parts that you need to check and service regularly If your vehicle needs professional servicing your dealership can provide the parts and service required Check your Warranty Information Booklet to find out which parts and services are covered Also see the Customer Assistance chapter of this Owner Guide Ford Motor Company recommends that the Owner Maintenance Checks listed in the Maintenance Schedule and Record booklet be performed for the proper operation of your vehicle In addition to the conditions listed in the Owner Maintenance Checklist be alert for any unusual noise vibration or other indication that your vehicle may need service If you do notice something unusual see that your vehicle is serviced promptly 195 Use only recommended fuels lubricants fluids and service parts conforming to Ford specifications Motorcraft parts are designed and built to provide the best performance in your vehicle Using these parts for replacement is your assurance that Ford built quality stays in your vehicle NOTE 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 about recycling automotive fluids Precautions When Servicing Your Vehicle Be especially careful when inspecting or servicing your vehicle
140. oh ee 219 windshield 22 2 00 219 Weight limits GAWR GVWR 155 Wheel dollies see Towing 2 1 ee ee 175 290 Wheels anti theft lugnuts 174 A a ae a Me oe ae Se as 229 CON EES o dl e 23 Pb Oe rn a A a a ee ee ae a E 171 inspection and maintenance 223 lug AMES a iaa i e od aE E e A BE ele 2 170 LN A A A ed at So a a ER ee we A 98 power windows operating 2 2 ee 98 Windshield washer fluid and wipers checking and adding fluid 2 1 2 219 checking and replacing wiper blades 221 Operation S aan fe fe ke tec es we Be we te we 84 TOSCO ue os ave oe RE ae Bee ol A 219 specifications o os eos oa 220 variable interval wipers 2 2 ee ee 84 Wrecker towing o a e 175 291 Service Station Information 2 0 Liter 16V 4 valves per cylinder Electronic Fuel Injection EFD 4 cylinder 121 cubic inch displacement CID 24V 4 valves per cylinder Electronic Fuel Injection EFT 6 cylinder 153 cubic inch displacement CID UNLEADED FUEL ONLY Octane 87 Fuel Tank Capacity 14 5 gallons 55 0 liters Engine Oil Engine Oil Capacity 2 0 Liter 4 5 quarts 4 25 liters with filter change 2 5 Liter 5 5 quarts 5 2 liters with filter change Engine Size and Type 2 5 Liter Use only engine oil displaying the American Petr
141. oleum Institute Certification Mark SAE 5W 30 preferred Automatic Overdrive 7 5 quarts 7 1 liters 5 speed Manual 7 0 quarts 6 5 Engine Coolant Capacity 2 0 Liter liters 2 5 Liter Automatic Overdrive 9 1 quarts 8 6 liters 5 speed Manual 8 9 quarts 8 4 liters Tire Size and Pressure Tire size and pressure can be found on the tire pressure decal on the left front door facing Brake Fluid Use only brake fluid that meets Ford Specification ESA M6C25 A Power Steering Fluid Use only power eng fluid that meets Ford Specification ESW M2C33 F Automatic and Manual Use Motorcraft MERCON ATF or Transaxle Fluid equivalent Hood Release Pull handle on driver s side left hand kick panel 292
142. ommission FCC or the Canadian Radio Telecommunications Commission CRTC regulates the use of mobile communications systems such as two way radios telephones and theft alarms that are equipped with radio transmitters Any such equipment installed in your vehicle should comply with FCC or CRTC regulations and should be installed only by a qualified technician Mobile communications systems may harm the operation of your vehicle particularly if they are not properly designed for automotive use or are not properly installed For example when operated such systems may cause the engine to stumble or stall In addition such systems may themselves be damaged or their operation affected by operating your vehicle Citizens band CB transceivers garage door openers and other transmitters whose power output is 5 watts or less will not ordinarily affect your vehicle s operation Because we have no control over the installation design or manufacture of such systems Ford cannot assume responsibility for any adverse effects or damage that may result if you use this equipment 191 1996 Contour Owner Manual Order Form PUBLICATION FORM NO DESCRIPTION 1996 Contour Service Manual FCS 12106 96 1996 Powertrain Control Emission Diagnosis FCS 12139 96 1996 Car Service Spec FWD 1996 Contour Electrical amp FOS 12253 99 Vacuum Troubleshooting Manual Ford and the American Dream TES NOTE For publications prior to
143. on 2 2 16 indicator light o 60 Pera 20 passenger air bag ee m 2 o 19 proper seating aas p ena 0 17 tone generator aie s ee 24 wearing safety belts 2 a a 17 Air cleaner filter location cic qo a a ee ee 199 specifications s a aoia a E a 253 Alarm activating remote personal 96 Antenna radio see Electronic sound system 136 Antifreeze see Engine coolant 213 Anti lock brake system ABS warning light 66 Anti theft lug nuts and key a 2 2 2 ww 174 Appeals see Dispute settlement board 182 Assistance see Customer assistance 179 Audio system see Electronic sound system 115 Automatic transaxle driving WEA 139 fluid adding o 231 fluid checking o 2 229 fluid refill capacities 252 fluid specification 254 273 Axle lubricant specifications 254 refill capacities 2 ap ee en 252 B Backing Up 142 146 Basic vehicle warranty a a a 2 ee eee 3 Battery acid treating emergencies 163 218 charging system warning light 58 ASCO COB 167 how to service en 217 jumping a disabled battery 163 maintenance free 1 6 1 ee 217 proper d
144. on to change the fit of the shoulder belt across the torso 14 Safety Restraints Z WARNING Failure to follow these instructions will affect the performance of the safety belts and increase the risk of personal injury Safety Belt Maintenance Check the safety belt systems periodically to make sure that they work properly and are not damaged All safety belt assemblies including retractors buckles front seat belt buckle support assemblies slide bar if equipped child safety seat tether bracket assemblies if equipped and attaching hardware should be inspected after any collision Ford recommends that all safety belt assemblies used in vehicles involved in a collision be replaced However if the collision was minor and a qualified technician finds that the belts do not show damage and continue to operate properly they do not need to be replaced Safety belt assemblies not in use during a collision should also be inspected and replaced if either damage or improper operation is noted Safety Belt Warning Label A warning label has been placed on the buckle of each of your vehicle s front seat safety belts In a collision of sufficient severity while the safety belt is in use the safety belt buckle will pull out of the sleeve so that all or part of the orange portion of the label is visible Z WARNING Whenever the orange portion of the label is visible the safety belt must be replaced 15 A WARNING R
145. operating temperature switch off the engine The fluid level should be up to the MAX marking on the transparent reservoir If it drops to or below the MIN mark top off with the specified fluid Add power steering fluid here MAX line MIN line The power steering fluid reservoir Use only power steering fluid that meets Ford s Specification ESW M2C33 F or is an equivalent Type F Automatic Transmission Fluid with a Ford registration number an 8 digit number beginning with 2P printed on the fluid container 234 Servicing Your Contour Fuses Circuit Breakers and Relays Fuses circuit breakers and relays protect your vehicle s electrical system from overloading If electrical parts in your vehicle are not working the system may have been overloaded and blown a fuse or relay or tripped a circuit breaker Before you replace or repair any electrical parts check the appropriate circuit protector The following charts tell you which circuit protector protects each electrical part of your vehicle If a fuse blows or a circuit breaker opens a circuit all the parts of your vehicle that use the circuit will not work Once you have determined which fuses or circuit breakers to check follow the procedures under Checking and replacing fuses or Checking and replacing circuit breakers later in this chapter WARNING Always remove the key from the ignition before working on or replacing fuses The Power Distr
146. or lever cannot be moved unless the button is pushed in 144 Driving Your Contour Driving with a Manual Transaxle Using the Clutch In order to start the vehicle the clutch pedal must be fully depressed to the floor Before starting the engine make sure the vehicle is in Neutral and the parking brake is set After the engine starts allow it to idle for a few seconds Then hold your right foot on the brake pedal and release the parking brake With the clutch pedal depressed to the floor with your left foot move the gearshift into 1 First or R Reverse To move the vehicle take your right foot off the brake pedal and then slowly release the clutch pedal You may need to press down slowly on the accelerator at the same time that you release the clutch pedal Do not drive with your foot resting on the clutch pedal and do not use the clutch to hold your vehicle at a standstill while waiting on a hill These actions will seriously reduce clutch life Idling the Vehicle When the vehicle is stopped and the engine is running DO NOT rest your hand on or apply any pressure to gearshift lever when the clutch pedal is not depressed This may result in erratic engine operation Shifting the Gears The gearshift for a manual transaxle is mounted on the floor The gearshift can be in one of seven possible positions as shown 145 Neutral Reverse Lift ring to shift into reverse The positions of the floor mou
147. orage compartments center Console m so a e toat a a e 110 map pockets ooe e eies ee ee 111 Storing your vehicle 2 a a a 255 Sunroof moon TO 99 SU VISORS aoe ae A eo ee ks eB ne Sg 109 Supplemental air bag readiness light 60 Supplemental Restraint System SRS 2 2 2 16 T Tachometer ones g ia be ee e ee a ta 66 Tail lamps cleaning 2 2 ee 79 Temperature control see Climate control 71 Tether anchor installation see Child restraints 37 Tires CHANGING meg 2h aay ede gh we arse oh at ns 168 checking the pressure 2 2 2 ee 223 ClANING ie Al Pde he a aa e ecm a E 229 replace a a eB S 225 FOtAUNG say Bas A SE ee es 224 snow tires and chains 2 2 2 ee ee 228 spate tires ae ee nies ett ee ee ae ah ie eee eg 169 storing your vehicle 2 2 ee ee 257 tire grades u ka A Ee es 226 tread WEIL ie idas og chee Gah Ge a el Se ee a 226 Wear bands Sisri tah ee a oe Seg 225 Towing a trailer see Trailer towing 157 Towing your vehicle 2 ee ee eee 175 with a tow truck score a 175 288 Trailer towing a a oiea ga dedo en 157 calculating maximum trailer weight 157 safety chains a 2 ee ee a e Eh 159 UPS merer e a id e pr 160 trailer Drakes e 4 hs si oi a da e a 160 trailer lamps 160 Transaxle automatic operation 2 a 139 fluid che
148. ors while refueling Ml Tf fuel is splashed on the skin wash with soap and water W Tf fuel is splashed in the eyes remove contact lenses if worn flush with water for 15 minutes and seek medical attention Gasoline and gasoline blends may contain small amounts of carcinogens such as benzene Long term exposure to unleaded gasoline vapors has caused cancer in laboratory animals If you are taking the medication Antabuse or other forms of disulfiram for the treatment of alcoholism vapor or skin contact with a gasoline methanol blend may cause the same kind of adverse reaction as drinking an alcoholic beverage In sensitive 206 Servicing Your Contour individuals serious personal injury or sickness could result Consult a physician promptly if you experience an adverse reaction Running Out of Fuel NOTE Avoid running out of fuel because this situation may have an adverse effect on modern powertrain components You may need to crank the engine several times before the fuel system starts to pump fuel from the tank to the engine WARNING Never pour fuel in the throttle body or attempt to start the engine with the air cleaner removed Doing so could result in fire and personal injury Fuel Economy Fuel economy is an estimate of the efficiency of your vehicle and can be calculated as Miles Per Gallon MPG or Liters Per 100 Kilometers L 100K Do not calculate fuel economy during your vehicle s bre
149. ote entry system you can lock and unlock the vehicle doors and open the trunk without using a key The remote also has a personal alarm feature The buttons for the system are located on the hand held transmitter s that came with your vehicle The system will work with up to four transmitters Additional transmitters can be ordered from your dealer The remote entry features only operate with the ignition in the OFF position Remote entry transmitter Unlocking the doors and opening the trunk To unlock the driver s door press the UNLOCK button To unlock the other doors press the UNLOCK button a second time within five seconds of unlocking the driver s door To open the trunk press the TRUNK button 95 When you use the remote entry UNLOCK TRUNK or PANIC buttons the illuminated entry system turns on the interior lights for 12 seconds You can turn these lights off by turning the ignition to the ON position The interior lights will not turn off if you have turned them on manually or if a door is open NOTE The illuminated entry system will only work when the dome light switch is in the 12 position Locking the doors To lock all the doors press the LOCK button If you would like a signal that the doors are being locked press the LOCK button again within five seconds The doors will lock again the horn will beep and the low beam headlamps and tail lamps will flash Activating the remote personal alarm
150. ow 161 Shift lock system 2 2 ee en 140 Shift positions see Gearshift 2 2 2 140 145 Shoulder and lap belts see Safety restraints 9 Side mirrors adjusting 2 2 o 107 Sliding moon roof see Moon roof 2 2 1 99 Snow tires and chains 2 2 2 ee 228 Spare tire changing the tire aar ane a ee eee 168 finding the spare 2 2 ee 169 removing the spare tire 2 169 temporary spare 2 2 ee eee es 168 Spark plugs specifications 2 u a a 253 Special driving conditions 153 Specification chart lubricants 2 2 a a a 254 Speed control accelerating dais A oP pe hee Pe ee he 90 canceling a set speed 2 2 91 LESCHI SS ted de a RA A ROS Ue 90 resuming a Set speed 2 2 2 91 tap up tap down 2 a 2 en 90 turning Ol Mk ese Rs aed Rh e da Raced 91 when towing a trailer 2 eee eee 161 Speedometer m san noi a EA ENE a gee A a ao 65 Starting your vehicle preparing to start your vehicle 44 starting a cold engine 2 2 2 46 starting after a collision 2 2 2 a a 50 starting a warm engine a a eee 47 starting your vehicle if the battery is disabled 163 Steering POWer e e ae ae endog 149 Steering wheel OT e e ete Bar i A A ad et 86 AA eea AN 41 speed controls i030 4 rico a See as 88 287 St
151. ow across the hips Z WARNING Do not pile cargo higher than the seatbacks to avoid injuring people in a collision or sudden stop Manual lumbar support If equipped The handwheel on the side of the seatback inflates and deflates the lumbar support pads To inflate the pads turn the wheel counter clockwise To deflate the pads turn the wheel clockwise Turn to increase or decrease lumbar support Manual lumbar support adjustment 103 Power Seats If equipped If your vehicle has power seats you can raise or lower the whole front seat move the seat forward or backward and tilt the front or back of the seat up or down Lower seat Lower seat front rear Down Rearward Forward Raise seat Up Raise seat front rear The seat base controls on the driver s seat To move the seat forward or back slide the seat base control button forward or back To raise or lower the height of the seat base slide the button up or down To raise or lower the front of the seat base slide the front of the button up or down To raise or lower the rear of the seat base slide the back of the button up or down 104 Features Power seatback if equipped Recline seatback Raise seatback Decrease Increase lumbar support lumbar support AS ne The seatback controls on the driver s seat To tilt the seatback forward or back slide the top part of the top button forward or back To inflate or deflate th
152. pection station for trucks 2 Then weigh your vehicle with the driver passengers and luggage 3 Subtract the first reading from the second to figure the total weight of the load After determining this load you must also make sure that the total weight of your vehicle plus the load it carries is less than its GVWR Also make sure that the weight your vehicle carries over each axle is less than the GAWR for the respective axle You can find the GVWR and GAWR on the Safety Compliance Certification Label on the left front door lock facing or the door latch post pillar 156 Driving Your Contour If your vehicle exceeds the GVWR remove cargo from your vehicle accordingly If your vehicle exceeds the GAWR for either axle shift the load or remove cargo accordingly Z WARNING Improper distribution of your vehicle s load or carrying weight in excess of the amount shown on the tire decal can cause rapid tire wear or loss of vehicle control Trailer Towing Your vehicle is capable of towing a trailer of up to a maximum of 1 000 Ibs 454 kg gross trailer weight with a maximum tongue load of 100 Ibs 45 kg It should also have 25 sq ft 2 3 sq meters or less frontal area Do not drive faster than 55 mph 90 km h while towing a 1 000 Ib 454 kg trailer Your vehicle does not come from the factory fully equipped to tow No towing packages are available through Ford or Lincoln Mercury dealers Because towing a
153. peed Function Temperature knob selector knob control knob PU Y e I The control for the heating and air conditioning system Air conditioning A C Select A C to get refrigerated outside air through the instrument panel registers The A C position is used for cooling except when extremely hot or fast cooling of the vehicle is needed Then select MAX A C for fast cooling and return to A C when you are comfortable 74 Instrument Panel Controls MAX A C The MAX A C position produces cool air more rapidly to provide faster cooling of your vehicle Thhis is possible because cooler air is drawn from inside the passenger area and refrigerated again instead of using warmer outside air Using inside air will also make the fan sound louder which is normal when using MAX A C The air flow will be from the instrument panel registers Comfort tips The following tips will help you to get the most satisfaction from your climate control system E In humid weather select YY DEF before starting your engine This will help to prevent windshield fogging After a few minutes of operation you may select another function E To prevent humidity buildup inside your vehicle always drive with the climate control system turned on E Do not put objects under the front seats that interfere with the flow of air to the back seat area E Remove any snow ice or leaves from the air intake area of your heater and air conditioner system
154. r Vehicle Identification Number VIN listed on your owner card and or your vehicle ownership license Vehicle Identification Number VIN Serial Number If you still have a service or product complaint you may wish to contact the Dispute Settlement Board U S only or the Canadian Motor Vehicle Arbitration Plan CAMVAP in Canada 181 The Dispute Settlement Board U S Only The Dispute Settlement Board is a voluntary independent dispute settlement program available free to owners or lessees of qualifying Ford Motor Company vehicles The Dispute Settlement Board may not be available in all states Ford Motor Company reserves the right to change eligibility limitations modify procedures and or to discontinue this process at any time without notice and without incurring obligations What Kind of Cases Does the Board Review The Board reviews all product performance and service complaints on Ford Mercury and Lincoln Cars and Ford and Mercury Light Trucks under warranty that have not been resolved by a dealer or Ford Motor Company The Board does not review issues involving E A non Ford product A non Ford dealership A vehicle sales transaction A request for reimbursement of consequential expenses unless incidental to a service or product complaint being reviewed Items not covered by your warranty Alleged liability claims E Property damage where such damage is significant when compared to the economic loss alleg
155. r automotive needs They are custom designed to complement the style and aerodynamic appearance of your Ford built vehicle In addition each accessory is made from high quality materials and meets or exceeds Ford s rigid engineering and safety specifications That is why Ford brand accessories are warranted for up to 3 years or 36 000 miles 60 000 km whichever comes first See your dealer for complete warranty information and accessory availability 189 Safety Comfort and Convenience Safety Remote keyless entry system Vehicle security system Wheel locknuts anti theft Travel Heavy duty battery standard in Canada Comfort and convenience Cargo net Engine block heater standard in Canada Speed control Protection and appearance Carpeted floor mats Cleaners waxes and polishes Door edge guards Front end covers Front end mini mask Lubricants and oils Rear decklid spoiler Side window deflectors Step sill plates Super Seal fabric protector in U S only Super Seal undercoating in U S only Touch up paints Wheel splashguards molded 190 NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE Accessories When adding accessories equipment passengers and luggage to your vehicle do not exceed the total weight capacity of the vehicle or of the front or rear axle GVWR GAWR as shown on the Safety Compliance Certification Label Consult your dealer for specific weight information The Federal Communications C
156. r to Vehicle Emission Control Information VECI decal for spark plug and gap specifications If a spark plug is removed for examination it must be reinstalled in the same cylinder If a spark plug needs to be replaced use only spark plugs with the service part number suffix letter PP as shown on the engine decal 253 Lubricant Specifications Brake Master Ford High C6AZ 19542 AA ESA M6C25 A Cylinder Performance DOT3 Brake Fluid Constant CV Joint Grease E43Z 19590 A ESP M1C207 A Velocity Joints High Temp Door Silicone COAZ 19553 AA ESR M13P4 A Weatherstrips Lubricant Engine Coolant Ford Premium E2FZ 19549 AA ESE M97B44 A Cooling System Fluid CXC 8 B Engine Oil Motorcraft XO 5W30 QSP ESE M2C153 E Super Premium and API 5W30 Certification Mark Hinges and Multi Purpose D7AZ 19584 AA ESR M1C159 A Latches Grease Spray ESB M1C93 A Lock Cylinders Ford Penetrating ESAZ 19A501 B Lubricant Power Steering Motorcraft Type F E6AZ 19582 AA ESW M2C33 F Pump Reservoir Power Steering Fluid Transaxle Motorcraft XT 2 QDX MERCON ATF Automatic MERCON Overdrive Transaxle Motorcraft XT 2 QDX MERCON ATF 5 Speed Manual MERCON Windshield Ultra clear C9AZ 19550 AA ESR M17P5 A Washer Windshield Washer or Reservoir Concentrate C9AZ 19550 BA Canada FORD FORD FORD ITEM PART NAME PART NO SPECIFICATION 254 Servicing Your Contour Vehicle Storage Maintenance Tips If you p
157. ransaxle is not working properly for instance the transaxle may slip or shift slowly or you may notice some sign of fluid leakage the fluid level should be checked Checking the Automatic Transaxle Fluid With the vehicle on a level surface and the brake fully applied start the engine and move the gear shift selector through all of the gears allowing sufficient time for each position to engage Securely latch the gear shift selector in the P Park position Fully set the parking brake and leave the engine running Wipe off the dipstick cap and pull the dipstick out Wipe the indicator end clean Put the dipstick back into the filler tube and make sure it is fully seated Pull the dipstick out and read the fluid level 229 NOTE Your vehicle should not be driven until some fluid has been added if the fluid level is below the bottom dimple on the dipstick and the outside temperature is above 50 F 10 C Add only enough fluid to bring the level above the bottom hole If the vehicle has not been driven and the fluid level is above the bottom dimple on the dipstick do not add fluid Recheck the fluid level after your vehicle has reached normal operating temperature Normal operating temperature is reached after driving approximately 20 miles 30 km The fluid level should be within the crosshatched area on the dipstick NOTE If the vehicle has been operated for an extended period at high speeds driven in city traff
158. rature 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 Warning 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 227 Snow Tires and Chains During the winter months in some climates you may need to use snow tires and occasionally chains for your tires NWARNING Snow tires must be the same size and grade as the tires you currently have on your vehicle Use chains on the tires only in an emergency or if the law requires them where you live If you choose to use chains on your vehicle s tires be aware of the following E Tire chains may scratch or chip aluminum wheels IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT TIRE CHAINS ARE INSTALLED ON STEEL WHEELS ONLY Be sure to remove wheel covers if equipped from steel rims before using tire chains to avoid scratches or damage E Tire chains cannot be fitted with 205 60R tires E Local regulations may prohibit or restrict the use of tire chains Investigate the la
159. ren see Child safety seats 26 Cassette tape player see Electronic sound system 134 Catalytic converter aou en 248 Chains tires 228 Changing atire ss g as o 168 Charging system warning light a a 2 2 a 58 Childproof locks niyn sa Gi e ee en 93 Child safety restraints child safety belts 2 2 ee ee 38 child safety seats 2 2 2 ln 26 Child safety seats and airbags 2 2 2 ee ee o 18 26 attaching with tether straps oaoa 2 2 37 automatic locking mode retractor 2 2 26 o s ce ee SE et ae ee Wm A aT 29 in rear outboard seat 2 o 29 tether anchorage hardware 2 a a 2 we 37 Chime headlamps one 84 4 weber en Bh Ae eee we 60 key inignition m e ai 2 eaae A Ta RU a 43 safety belt r ds d E ei a ee le N 56 275 Circuit breakers checking and replacing Cleaning your vehicle CD player and discs chrome and aluminum parts o 3 02 oP do tig Wed ek Gee OM ee aed exterior lamps a a a o A tas 3 Se aha Soh Goh et Re et aes headlamps s s 2 wee Go we se ee Be a ee a instrument panel A fae ens ho ahd at de Rae Oe de a Aa ee Shs Plastic parts uva Ge a dio a ag Polishing as is nea a e do E we rear windows 2 2 2 ee rustproofing 2 6 1 en Safety Delts 5 2 oat Seu Be as ae we A e a i taal JAMS uoin Tean eh a OE Ge A ee i upholstery and interior
160. right and left speakers Push the AUDIO button repeatedly until the display reads BAL Push the right side of the VOLUME button to shift the sound to the right speakers and push the left side to shift the sound to the left speakers Adjusting speaker fader Fade control allows you to adjust the sound distribution between the front and rear speakers Push the AUDIO button repeatedly until the display reads FADE Push the right side of the VOLUME button to shift the sound to the front speakers and push the left side to shift the sound to the rear speakers NOTE Illuminated bars in the display show relative levels of bass and treble and positions of speaker balance and fader functions left to right front to rear 133 Using the Controls of Your Cassette Tape Player NOTE Radio power must be on to use the cassette tape player How to insert a tape Insert a cassette with the open edge to the right firmly into the tape door opening making sure the cassette is completely in and seated How to locate a desired track on the tape NOTE The tape track number indicated in the display does not necessarily correspond to the tape track or side number on the cassette label It is used only to indicate when the tape mechanism reverses tracks E Using the Automatic Music Search AMS Press and hold the AMS button AMS will appear in the display Then pu
161. rottle position and c choose 3 different speeds to do 1 5 minute steady state throttle drives Accelerate the vehicle up to between 45 and 60 mph 70 100 km h This should take approximately 5 minutes Drive vehicle and hold the throttle steady at the selected speed between 45 and 60 mph 70 100 km h for approximately 5 minutes Drive the vehicle for 5 minutes at varying speeds between 45 and 60 mph 70 100 km h 10 Bring the vehicle back to idle Idle in Drive for 40 seconds 11 OBD II drive cycle has been completed Vehicle can be turned off when convenient 251 Refill Capacities Motorcraft Parts and Lubricant Specifications Refill Capacities Cooling System including heater Automatic Overdrive 2 0L 2 5L 5 speed Manual SDL liters liters liters liters 7 1 8 6 6 6 8 4 2 5L Engine Oil with filter change 2 0L Engine E 4 3 liters 2 5L Engine 5 2 liters Fuel Tank 14 5 gallons 55 0 liters Radiator Cap T1OKPa Transaxle Automatic Overdrive 2 0L 8 5 liters 2 5L 9 7 liters 5 speed Manual 2 6 liters 252 Servicing Your Contour Motorcraft Parts Part Number 2 0L Engine 2 5L Engine AZFS 22PP AWSF 32F FA 1612 FA 1613 Component Spark plug Air filter Passenger compartment air filter Fuel filter Oil filter Battery PCV valve Crankcase ventilation filter FP 1 FG 800A FL 820 BXT 40R EV 152 FP 1 FG 800A FL 200 BX 96R EV 224 FA 1621 Refe
162. s 1 164 Connect one end of the first jumper cable to the positive terminal of the discharged battery You can connect either jumper cable to the positive terminal as long as you use the same cable for both positive terminals Most jumper cables have a red cable and a black cable The red cable is generally used for the positive terminals and the black for the negative ones Connect the other end of the first cable to the positive terminal of the booster battery Roadside Emergencies 3 Connect one end of the second cable to the negative terminal of the booster battery NOT to the discharged battery 4 Connect the other end of the second cable to a good metallic surface on the engine or frame of the disabled vehicle WARNING Do not connect the end of the second cable to the negative terminal of the battery to be jumped A spark may cause an explosion of the gases that surround the battery 165 Make sure vehicles do not touch Make connections in numerical order disconnect in reverse order 4 3 2 1 MMM pa gt Dalia O E Y Attach jumper cable here Booster battery Sequence for connecting jumper cables 166 Roadside Emergencies Jump Starting 1 Make sure that the jumper cables are not in the way of moving engine parts then start the booster vehicle Run the engine at a moderate speed Let the discharged battery charge for a few minute
163. s Gel ee ate Pt os Go Ma oe a lhe hed 104 WINKOW See eons a e i ee 98 Power steering dipstick ik gi red ee Rh we PR ee e E 234 driving with power steering 149 fluid checking and adding 234 fluid refill capacity a a a ee 252 fluid specifications o 1 ee 254 SELVICING soe nd ak eM AO ee ea 149 Prop rod hood 2 2 ee ee ee 198 R Radio see Electronic sound systems 115 Rear axle refill capacity o ee 252 Rear windoW io s sne s oe 6 a a Eea 98 Refill capacities for fluids 0 a a aaa 252 Remote entry system locking unlocking doors a oa a a a 95 opening the trunk aoa a a e 95 panicsalar Misini a Ai 0 ase S A E aa rg 96 replacement additional transmitters 2 00 97 replacing the batteries 2 a a a a a 96 Reporting safety defects 185 Restraints safety see Safety restraints adulta y iei tale a ht de gaa tt E AA E ai 7 Childs age angaa a aa a eg 25 heads u gnun e da as Pe a EO A 101 A A eet ee es Bc ho we BI eB we 25 Roadside assistance 2 1 ee ee ee 179 Roadside emergencies 2 2 2 ee 163 Rotating the tires a e ma diea en 224 285 Safe driving tips c e s w koa e o 153 Safety belts see Safety restraints 0 7 Safety chains when towing a trailer 159 Safety Compliance Certification Label 155 Safety defects reporting oa u a
164. s and then start the disabled vehicle It may take a couple of tries before the vehicle starts If the vehicle does not start after several attempts there may be a different problem When both vehicles are running let them idle for a few minutes to charge the discharged battery Removing jumper cables Ti Always remove the jumper cables in the reverse order Remove the negative end of the jumper cable from the metallic surface on the engine or frame of the disabled vehicle Remove the negative cable from the booster battery Remove the positive cable from the booster battery Remove the other end of the positive cable from the discharged battery After the vehicle is started let it idle for a while to let the engine relearn its idle conditions Drive it around for a while with all electrical accessories turned off to let the battery recharge You may need to use a battery charger to fully recharge the battery If you need to replace your battery see Battery in the Servicing Your Vehicle chapter 167 Changing a Tire If you get a flat tire while you are driving do not apply the brake heavily Instead gradually decrease the speed Hold the steering wheel firmly and slowly move to a safe place on the side of the road Park on a level spot turn off the ignition set the parking brake and turn on the hazard flashers The Temporary Spare Tire You may have a high pressure tempor
165. s come on whenever the headlamp switch is turned from the OFF position To dim the instrument panel lights use the thumbwheel on the instrument panel to the right of the steering wheel Turn to dim the instrument panel lights Dimming the instrument panel lights Dome Lamp Your vehicle has a dome lamp above the front seat The switch on the dome lamp turns it on and off 12 second delay The switch on the dome lamp 80 Instrument Panel Controls Dome lamp delay Your vehicle may have a dome lamp delay If you set the switch on the dome lamp to the 12 second delay position the dome lamp will turn on when either front door is opened The dome lamp will turn off after 12 seconds or when the ignition key is turned to the ON or ACC position It will not turn off if either front door is open or if you move the dome lamp switch to the ON position Your interior dome lamps and map lamps are plastic and should be cleaned with a mild detergent diluted in water Rinse them with clear water Turning On the Map Lamps If equipped Your vehicle may have a map lamp for the passenger and one for the driver Turning on the map lamps 81 Traction Control System If equipped This button turns the traction control system off and on See Driving Your Vehicle for more information gt Push here to T C OFF turn off or on The button for the traction control system Clock Hour Minute The digital c
166. s up It is acceptable for the pointer to fluctuate within the NORMAL band under normal driving conditions Under certain driving conditions such as heavy stop and go traffic or driving up hills in hot weather the pointer may indicate at the top of the NORMAL band Normal band The engine coolant temperature gauge 64 Waming Lights and Gauges If under any circumstances the pointer moves above the NORMAL band the engine coolant is overheating and continued operation may cause engine damage If your engine coolant overheats 1 Pull off the road as soon as safely possible 2 Turn off the engine 3 Let the engine cool 4 Check the coolant level following the instructions on checking and adding coolant to your engine see Engine Coolant in the Index If you do not follow these instructions you or others could be injured If the coolant continues to overheat have the coolant system serviced as soon as possible Speedometer The speedometer tells you how many miles kilometers per hour your vehicle is moving Odometer The odometer tells you the total number of miles kilometers your vehicle has been driven Trip Odometer The trip odometer tells you how many miles kilometers your vehicle has been driven since the last reset Press the reset button to return the trip odometer to zero 65 Sport Cluster The sport cluster has basically the same standard warning lights and gauges as the standard clu
167. sabled vehicle see Towing 175 Dispute Settlement Board 182 DOORS ai a is a a da is ea 93 lubricant specifications 2 2 ee 254 Driving under special conditions bad weather al ke dk Ae ee a e EA 153 Heavy load s a d a a Be A a 155 highs water ceci 8 bd de A bo a a BO See E 155 Slippery roads il a ey om ge 153 tips for safe driving a a a a ee 153 towing a trailer 2 2 157 E Electrical system circuit breakers e sos oe moens e 243 USOS LA an N e A o Ab ce e e 235 242 Leda do laws o E a do Be 235 Electronic sound system radio reception s sondou a a a 136 tuning the radio 117 131 warranty and service information 137 Electronic stereo cassette radio see Electronic sound system 130 Electronic stereo radio see Electronic sound system 130 Emergencies roadside assistance ii di Sg Ge a 179 battery acid spills 2 2 a een 163 jump starting oa e ee en 163 TOWING oak eo ae al es a e es 175 Emergency brake parking brake 152 Emission control system catalytic converter o a a a a a 248 emissions warranty 2 6 6 ee ee es 3 248 Engine check engine warning light 2 2 2 61 does not statt at ae tev Genes a A 47 fuel injected engine starting 43 45 fuel pump shut off switch a a a 2 2 ee 50 pr
168. sh the left El button to rewind to the beginning of the current selection or press the right D gt button to fast forward to the beginning of the next selection E Fast forwarding the tape Push the right gt button to fast forward the tape E Rewinding the tape Push the left lt q button to rewind the tape E How to change the side of the tape being played The alternate track other side of the tape can be selected at any time by pushing both fast wind buttons lt q and p gt at the same time How to eject the tape To stop the tape and eject the cassette press the EJECT button The radio will resume playing 134 Electronic Sound Systems Using the Dolby B noise reduction feature NOTE Noise reduction system manufactured under license from Dolby Labs Licensing Corporation Dolby and double D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation Push station memory button 3 to activate Dolby B Noise Reduction Tips on Caring for the Cassette Player and Tapes In order to keep your cassette tape player performing the way it was meant to read and follow these simple precautions E Using a Ford Cassette Cleaning Cartridge to clean the tape player head after 10 12 hours of play will help maintain the best playback sound and proper tape operation E Only cassettes that are 90 minutes long or less should be used Tapes longer than 90 minutes are thinner and subject to breakage or may jam the
169. sh your vehicle while it sits in direct sunlight E Wash your vehicle while the body is hot Polish your vehicle to remove harmful deposits and protect the finish Cleaning Chrome and Aluminum Parts Wash chrome and aluminum parts with a mild detergent Do not use steel wool abrasive cleaners fuel or strong detergents Cleaning Plastic Parts 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 Do not clean plastic parts with thinners solvents or petroleum based cleaners 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 Safety Restraints Important Safety Belt Information 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 Safety belts provide best restraint when the seatback is upright the occupant is sitting upright not slouched the lap belt is snug and low on the hips the shoulder belt is snug against the chest the knees are straight forward 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 See the following sections in this chapter for directio
170. slack in the lap belt 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 Shoulder Belt Height Adjustment Driver and right front passenger You can adjust the shoulder belt height to one of four 4 positions To adjust the belt down push the release button see figures 1 and 2 To adjust the belt up slide the adjuster up You do not have to push the release button ta Oh A Front of Driver s side shown passenger s vehicle side similar Release B pillar button Left front Shoulder belt height adjuster Figure 1 The shoulder belt height adjuster 12 Slide up Squeeze and slide down Driver s side shown passenger s side similar Figure 2 Adjusting the shoulder belt height Make sure the adjuster is firmly in one of the four positions The belt should be adjusted up or down until the belt rests on your shoulder near your neck WARNING 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 Lap Belts The lap be
171. sly In this mode the player will randomly pick a selection and play the first eight seconds This process is continued until either the SCAN button or SHUFFLE button is pressed a second time E Automatic Disc Storage If the disc is ejected from the CD player but is not removed from the disc opening within approximately 10 seconds the player will automatically reload the disc for storage unless the disc is automatically ejected due to a focus error disc inserted upside down In this case the disc will not be automatically reloaded How to eject the disc Push the EJECT button in the upper left corner of your CD player to stop play eject the disc and resume radio or tape operation of your audio system How To Take Care of and Clean Your CD Player and Discs To ensure the continued performance of your Ford Compact Disc Player carefully read the following precautions E Always handle the disc by its edge Never touch the playing surface E Before playing inspect the disc for any contamination If needed clean the disc with an approved disc cleaner such as the Discwasher Compact Disc Cleaner or the Allsop 39 Compact Disc Cleaner by wiping from the center out to the edges Do not use a circular motion to clean E Do not clean discs with solvents such as benzine thinner commercially available cleaners or antistatic spray intended for analog records 125 E Do not expose the disc to direct su
172. st the mirror The left side mirror control right side similar Dual electric remote control mirrors if equipped The control for adjusting the electric side view mirrors is on the instrument panel to the left of the steering wheel 107 Turn knob to select left or right side view mirror Tilt knob to adjust mirror Electric remote control mirror knob Turn the knob back to the middle position to keep the mirror in place The side view mirror on the right is a convex mirror This mirror gives you a wider view of the lanes on your right and behind you WARNING The side view mirror on the right makes objects appear smaller and farther away than they actually are Do not clean the housing or glass of any mirror with harsh abrasives fuel or other petroleum based cleaning products Heated mirror feature If equipped Both mirrors are heated whenever the Electric Rear Window Defroster is turned on Do not remove ice from the mirrors with a scraper or you could damage them If the outside mirror glass is frozen in place do not attempt to readjust or move the mirror glass or damage may result 108 Features Sun Visors Illuminated Visor Mirror If equipped Your vehicle may have lighted mirrors on the sun visors The mirror is lit by sliding open the mirror cover Slide the cover open to turn on the mirror lights The visor mirror 109 Console Your vehicle may have a full console The
173. stalling a child safety seat be sure to use the correct safety belt buckle for that seating position and make sure the tongue is securely fastened in the buckle 27 Z WARNING Always keep the buckle release button pointing upward and away from the child seat with the tongue between the child seat and the release button as shown in the following illustration Keep tongue between child seat and release button Do not use this buckle tongue slot on wrong side Safety belt buckle placement for child seats 28 Safety Restraints Installing Child Safety Seats in the Front Passenger Seat and Outer Rear Seating Positions Your vehicle is equipped with a dual locking mode retractor on the shoulder belt portion of the combination lap shoulder safety belt for the right front seat passenger and rear outer passengers If you choose to install a child safety seat in the front seating position move vehicle seat as far back as possible 1 Position the child seat in center of passenger seat 2 Pull down on shoulder belt then grasp shoulder belt and lap belt together Figure 1 Figure 1 29 3 While holding the shoulder and lap belt portions together route the tongue through the child seat according to the child seat manufacturer s instructions See Figure 2 Be sure that the belt webbing is not twisted Figure 2 30 4 Grasp the shoulder portion of the belt and pull downward until all of the belt is
174. ster with the following additional features Tachometer The tachometer displays the approximate engine revolutions per minute rpm or how fast the engine is running If you drive with the tachometer in the red zone you may damage the engine Anti lock Brake System Warning Light If equipped Your vehicle may have an Anti lock Brake System feature If it does check the Anti lock Brake System light each time you start the engine If it stays on longer than three 3 seconds shut off the engine and restart If it stays on that means the Anti lock Brake feature is not working and should be serviced immediately to restore the benefits of the Anti lock feature Normal braking is not affected unless the brake warning light is also lit The Anti Lock Brake System has self check capabilities As described above the system turns on the anti lock light each time you start your engine After the engine is started and the anti lock light turns off the system performs another test the first time the vehicle reaches 5 mph 8 km h between 12 and 25 mph 20 and 40 km h for vehicles equipped with the traction control system The system turns on the ABS pump motor for approximately 1 2 second At this time a mechanical noise may be heard and felt This is a normal part of the self check feature If a malfunction is found during this check the anti lock light will come on 66 Waming Lights and Gauges 5 Low Coolant Light If equipp
175. t in a stopped vehicle for more than a short period of time with the engine running Exhaust fumes are toxic See Guarding Against Exhaust Fumes in this chapter for more instructions Before you start your vehicle do the following 1 Make sure you and all your passengers buckle your safety belts See Safety Restraints in the Index for more details 2 Make sure your headlamps and other accessories are turned off and the parking brake is set 3 If you have a manual transaxle make sure that the parking brake is fully set push the clutch pedal to the floor and put the gearshift into Neutral before you turn the key Remember the starter will operate only if the clutch pedal is pushed all the way to the floor If you have an automatic transaxle make sure that the gearshift is in P Park and the parking brake is set before you turn the key 44 Starting Your Contour Before you start your vehicle you should test the warning lights on the instrument panel to make sure that they work Refer to the Warning Lights and Gauges chapter Starting Your Engine To start your engine 1 Follow the steps under Preparing to Start Your Vehicle at the beginning of this section 2 Keep your foot on the brake pedal and turn the ignition key to the ON position 3 DO NOT depress the accelerator pedal when starting your engine DO NOT use the accelerator while the vehicle is parked 4 Turn the key to the START position crank
176. t moves from the P Park position 140 Driving Your Contour console Insert screwdriver blade 2 5 cm and rotate point rearward Overriding the brake shift interlock The console mounted gearshift will lock when you turn the key to the LOCK position When the gearshift is in any position except P Park the ignition key cannot be turned to LOCK or removed from the steering column TO REMOVE THE KEY the gearshift lever must be in P Park Once the gearshift is secure in the desired position release the brake pedal and use the accelerator as necessary 141 Push the button to move the gearshift Transaxle control switch TCS Console mounted automatic transaxle shift control lever R Reverse With the gearshift in the R Reverse position the vehicle will move backward You should always come to a complete stop before shifting into or out of R Reverse N Neutral In N Neutral the wheels of the transaxle are not locked Your vehicle will roll freely even on the slightest incline unless the parking brake or brakes are on Driving Your vehicle s gearshift is console mounted on the floor The Transaxle Control Switch TCS is located on the gearshift handle The transaxle control indicator light OD OFF is located on the instrument panel You can put the gearshift lever in any of the several positions The OD OFF light is off not illuminated during normal vehicle operation
177. take these steps Watch traffic carefully so that you can anticipate when to stop Begin braking well in advance Apply the brakes gradually 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 E Use only the type of engine oil that Ford recommends See Engine oil recommendations in the Index Do not use special break in oils Introductory Information Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle 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 Take similar precautions if your vehicle is exposed to chemical industrial fallout 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 Washing and Polishing Your Vehicle Wash the outside of your vehicle including the underside with a mild detergent DO NOT E Wash your vehicle with hot water E Wa
178. tations Stereo Cassette Radio E Using the AMS function to manually tune your radio Stereo Cassette Radio You can change the frequency up or down one increment at a time by first pressing the AMS button display shows TUNE then within approximately five seconds pressing and releasing either the right B gt or left lt q side of the SEEK button To change frequencies quickly press and hold down either the right or left side of the SEEK button Manual tuning adjusts your radio to any allowable broadcast frequency whether or not a station is present on that frequency See All About Radio Frequencies in this section 131 E Using the SEEK function This feature on your radio allows you to automatically select listenable stations up or down the frequency band Press the right B gt side of the SEEK button to select the next listenable station up the frequency band Press the left lt q side of the button to select the next listenable station down the frequency band By holding the button down listenable stations can be passed over to reach the desired station E Using the SCAN function Stereo Cassette Radio Press the SCAN button to enter the scan mode The radio will begin scanning up the frequency band stopping on each listenable station for approximately a five second sampling This continues until you press the SCAN button a second time The display flashes AM
179. that Ford specifies You may add water by itself only in an emergency but you should replace it with a 50 50 mixture as soon as possible Check the engine coolant again the next few times you drive your vehicle Ford Premium Cooling System Fluid is an optimized formula that will protect all metals and rubber elastomers used in Ford engines for four years or 50 000 miles 80 000 km It is not necessary and not recommended to use supplemental coolant additives in your vehicle These additives may harm your engine cooling system Follow the recommended service interval for changing your engine coolant 215 NOTE When you change or add engine coolant it is important to maintain your engine coolant concentration between 40 11 F 24 C and 60 62 F 52 C depending on your local climate conditions Below 40 you will lose freeze protection and above 60 your engine may overheat on a warm day NOTE The use of an improper coolant may void your warranty for the engine cooling system Use only a premium nationally recognized brand name engine coolant Do not use alcohol methanol antifreeze or engine coolant mixed with alcohol or methanol antifreeze If you do not use the proper coolant the aluminum engine on your vehicle will corrode Ford Motor Company expressly authorizes the Ford Rotunda engine coolant recycling process and chemicals Use only Ford Rotunda recycled engine coolant or an equivalent recycled engine coolant
180. that is certified by the supplier to meet Ford specification ESE M97B44 A NOTE 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 about recycling automotive fluids Use Ford Premium Cooling System Fluid or an equivalent engine coolant that meets Ford Specification ESE M97B44 A 216 Servicing Your Contour Battery Your vehicle may have a Motorcraft maintenance free battery The Motorcraft maintenance free battery does not require additional water during its life of service The vents are part of the cover and cannot be removed For longer trouble free operation keep the top of the battery clean and dry Also make certain the battery cables are tightly fastened to the battery terminals If you see any corrosion on the battery cables or terminals remove the cables from the terminal and clean them both 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 Battery Replacement If your original equipment battery requires replacement under warranty it may in some cases be replaced by a Motorcraft low maintenance battery The low maintenance battery has removable vent caps for checking the electrolyte level a
181. the opposite corners Help Us Protect Our Environment Ford Motor Company strongly recommends that used lead acid batteries be returned to an authorized recycling facility for disposal 2 9 t e RECYCLE Battery recycling symbol 218 Servicing Your Contour Disconnecting the Battery Because your vehicle engine is electronically controlled by a computer some control conditions are maintained by power from the battery If you ever disconnect the battery or install a new battery you must allow the computer to relearn its idle conditions before your vehicle will drive properly To begin this process put the gearshift in P Park automatic transaxle or Neutral manual transaxle set the emergency brake turn off all the accessories and start the vehicle Bring the engine to normal operating temperature Allow the manual transaxle to idle for one minute in Neutral Allow the automatic transaxle engine to idle for one minute in N Neutral and one minute in D Drive Perform the previous procedure with the air conditioning if equipped on and off conditions permitting The relearning process will complete automatically as you drive the vehicle If you do not let the engine relearn its idle the idle quality of your vehicle may be adversely affected until the idle is relearned Your vehicle will eventually relearn its idle while you drive it but it takes much longer than if you use the previous procedure
182. the radio power is turned off with the POWER button the volume will remain in the position it was set at when radio power is switched back on Selecting the AM or FM frequency band Push the AM FM button to select the desired frequency band Pushing the button more than once will alternate between AM FM1 and FM2 These functions are used with the station memory buttons described under How to tune radio stations 130 Electronic Sound Systems How to tune radio stations Stereo Radio E Using the TUNE function You can change the frequency up or down one increment at a time by pressing and releasing either the right or left side of the TUNE button To change frequencies quickly press and hold down either the right or left side of the TUNE button Manual tuning adjusts your radio to any allowable broadcast frequency whether or not a station is present on that frequency See All About Radio Frequencies in this section E Using the SEEK function This feature on your radio allows you to automatically select listenable stations up or down the frequency band Press the right B gt side of the SEEK button to select the next listenable station up the frequency band Press the left lt q side of the button to select the next listenable station down the frequency band By holding the button down listenable stations can be passed over to reach the desired station How to tune radio s
183. tion about the program can obtain an information booklet from your dealer or contact the Provincial Administrator Canadian Motor Vehicle Arbitration Plan at the address or telephone number shown below O amp P Services 595 Bay Street Suite 300 Toronto Ontario M5G 2C2 Telephone 1 800 207 0685 This plan is not available in the province of Quebec Getting Help Outside the U S and Canada Before you export your vehicle to a foreign country contact the appropriate foreign embassy or consulate to make sure local regulations do not prevent you from registering your vehicle Officials at the embassy can also help you decide whether you should import your vehicle to that country 187 Officials at the embassy or consulate can tell you where to get unleaded fuel If you cannot get unleaded fuel or can get only fuel with an anti knock index that is lower than your vehicle needs contact a district or owner relations office before you leave the U S or Canada Use of leaded fuel in your vehicle without a proper conversion may damage the effectiveness of your emissions control system and may cause engine knocking or serious engine damage Ford Motor Company is not responsible for any damage that is caused by use of improper fuel You may also have difficulty importing your vehicle back into the U S if you use leaded fuel If your vehicle must be serviced while you are traveling or living in Central or South America the Cari
184. to a lower gear This will increase engine power on upgrades and engine braking on downgrades When you tow in steep hills move the automatic transaxle to 1 First when descending This will give more engine braking on downgrades The automatic transaxle will automatically downshift to the proper gear on upgrades If you use the speed control while you are towing on very long steep grades the speed control may shut off Servicing Your Vehicle If You Tow If you tow a trailer for a long distance your vehicle will need to be serviced more frequently than usual Refer to the Maintenance Schedule and Record booklet for additional information 161 Roadside Emergencies Jump Starting Your Vehicle Your vehicle s battery may die if you leave the lights on or any electrical equipment on after you turn the engine off If this happens you may be able to jump start from a booster battery to start your vehicle Z WARNING The gases around the battery can explode if exposed to flames sparks or lit cigarettes An explosion could result in injury or vehicle damage WARNING To protect yourself when charging a battery always shield your face and eyes Make sure that you can breathe fresh air Z WARNING 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 Z WARNING Batteries contain sulfuric acid which burns s
185. trim Washing e enaid a Sy ce ee oe DE de a WINES ssc i na Sas ts eed ah Re ae id O WIN WS ada we ey ded eee ON ee ee ee A ae a Clutch operation while driving 2 2 2s shifting the gears oa a a ee en specifications a t A os aep Cold engine starting 2 a 2 Combination lap and shoulder belts Compact disc player see Electronic sound system Compact disc radio see Electronic sound system Console description 2 2 2 Controls instrument panel o A faa Ok Sh tha Ee eee steering column 2 a a a Coolant see Engine coolant checking and adding 2 o preparing for storage 500 2 Sas a ee a e refill capacities 2 oa a ee 276 Coolant see Engine coolant continued specifications 2 2 254 temperature gauge o 64 Cooling tan ata O ihe ah we ee te 196 Crankcase emission filter 2 2 2 253 Cruise control see Speed control 88 Customer Assistance Centre Ford of Canada 186 D Dashboard see Instrument panel 69 Daytime running light system 79 Defects reporting s aoa a a en 185 Defrost rear window and side view mirrors 76 Dipstick automatic transaxle fluid 2 a a 229 engine Oil cs a eg Sos ee ae EA A AL da AS 210 power steering fluid 2 2 2 234 Di
186. two single dots and HI beside the control knob Air flow selections PANEL Use PANEL to bring outside air through the instrument panel registers You can heat the air in this position by rotating the temperature control knob into the RED area The air CANNOT be cooled below the outside temperature regardless of the temperature control knob setting 72 Instrument Panel Controls PNL FLR Select PNL FLR to get air flow to the floor and through the instrument panel registers at the same time This selection can be used to either heat or ventilate your vehicle FLOOR Air flow will be to the floor when FLOOR is selected The air cannot be cooled in the FLOOR position but can be heated by rotating the temperature control knob into the RED area FLR DEF Select FLR DEF to get air to the floor and windshield defrosters at the same time WG DEF Select GY DEF to obtain maximum air flow to the windshield Rotate the temperature control knob into the RED area for the air temperature required to defrost Rotate the knob to increase the air flow 73 Heating and Air Conditioning System Heating ventilation defrosting and defogging are accomplished in the same way as with the heating only system See Heating Only System With the heating and air conditioning system if the outside temperature is about 50 F 10 C or warmer the air will be dehumidified to remove moisture if you select FLR DEF or W DEF Fan s
187. u flash the lights If the high beam light flashes in a vehicle equipped with the Daytime Running Light DRL system Canada it indicates a failure in the DRL circuit Check the bulbs and fuses or have the DRL system checked by your dealer or a qualified service technician 59 Chime for Headlamps On This chime sounds if the drivers door is open when the parking lamps or headlamps are on The chime sounds until you close the door or turn off the lamps Air Bag Readiness Light The air bag system uses a readiness light and a tone to indicate the condition of the system The readiness light is in the instrument cluster When you turn the ignition to the ON position this light will illuminate for approximately six 6 seconds and then turn off This indicates that the system is operating normally NOTE Maintenance of the air bag system is not required A problem with the system is indicated by one or more of the following the readiness light will either flash or stay lit or it will not light or a group of five beeps will be heard WARNING If any of these things happen even intermittently have the air bag system serviced at your Ford or Lincoln Mercury dealer immediately Waming Lights and Gauges Check Engine Warning Light The Powertrain On Board Diagnostic II OBD Il system consists of the hardware and software necessary to monitor the operation of the powertrain The OBD II system is designed to check the
188. ust system which can start a fire If you consistently start your vehicle in subzero temperatures use an engine block heater if your vehicle has this option 48 Starting Your Contour Engine Block Heater If equipped Engine block heaters are strongly recommended if you live in a region where temperatures reach 10 F 23 C or below An engine block heater warms the engine coolant which improves starting warms up the engine faster and allows the heater defrost system to respond quickly To turn the heater on simply plug it into a grounded 110 volt outlet Ford recommends that you use a 110 volt circuit that is protected by a ground fault circuit interrupter Z WARNING To prevent electrical shock do not use your heater with ungrounded electrical systems or two pronged cheater adapters For best results plug the heater in at least three hours before you start your vehicle Using the heater for longer than three hours will not damage the engine so you can plug it in at night to start your vehicle the following morning 49 If the Engine Cranks but Does Not Start or Does Not Start After a Collision Fuel Pump Shut off Switch If the engine cranks but does not start or does not start after a collision the fuel pump shut off switch may have been triggered The shut off switch is a device intended to stop the fuel pump when your vehicle has been involved in a substantial jolt Once the shut off switc
189. ven when an air bag Supplemental Restraint System is provided There are four very important reasons to use safety belts even with an air bag system Use your safety belts to E help keep you in the proper position away from the air bag when it inflates M reduce the risk of harm in rollover side or rear impact collisions because an air bag is not designed to inflate in such situations M reduce the risk of harm in frontal collisions that are not severe enough to activate the supplemental air bag E reduce the risk of being thrown from your vehicle The Importance of Being Properly Seated Z WARNING If a passenger is not properly seated and restrained an inflating air bag could cause serious injury In a collision the air bag must inflate extremely fast to help provide additional protection for you In order to do this the air bag must inflate with considerable force If you are not seated in a normal riding position with your back against the seatback the air bag may not protect you properly and could possibly hurt you as it inflates 17 Z WARNING Rear facing infant seats should never be placed in the front seat In rear facing infant seats the infant s head is closer to the air bag The force of the rapidly inflating air bag could push the top of the rear facing seat against the vehicle seatback or center armrests if so equipped or center console if so equipped REAR FACING INFANT CARRIERS MUST ALWAYS
190. ver be more than the Gross Axle Weight Rating GAWR for the respective axle You can find your vehicles GVWR and GAWR on the Safety Compliance Certification Label on the left front door lock facing or on the door latch post pillar The weight limits of your vehicle s tires affect the GVWR or GAWR limitations Usage of replacement tires with higher weight limit than originals does not increase GVWR or GAWR Usage of lower capacity replacement tires may lower GVWR and GAWR limitations WARNING If the GVWR or the GAWR specified on the Safety Compliance Certification Label is exceeded your vehicle may be damaged or you may lose control and injure someone 155 Limiting Your Vehicle s Load The load that you add to your vehicle must not exceed the maximum load stated on the Safety Compliance Certification Label attached to the left front door pillar or the left front door lock facing To figure the weight of your vehicle s load add the weights of E the driver and passengers M luggage and any other items that you put in your vehicle E the tongue load of the loaded trailer the weight of any equipment that has been added to your vehicle since it was delivered to your dealer If you do not know the actual weights of these items use the following procedure to figure the weight of a load 1 Weigh your vehicle without the driver passengers and luggage You might take your vehicle to a shipping company or an ins
191. very effort to resolve each case within 40 days after it receives the customer application form 183 After your case has been reviewed the Board will mail you its decision in writing It will also provide you with a form to indicate your acceptance or rejection of an award decision The decisions of the Board are binding on the dealer and Ford but customers may have other options available to them under state or federal law The decisions of the Board however may be introduced into evidence by any party in subsequent legal proceedings that may be initiated How Do You Contact the Board Write to the Board at the following address to request a brochure application You will be sent a brochure and a one page customer application form The form should be completed and mailed to the same address Dispute Settlement Board P O Box 5120 Southfield MI 48086 5120 What is the Review Process Your application will be reviewed and if it is determined to be eligible you will receive an acknowledgment indicating the file number assigned to your application and the local Board address At the same time your dealer and Ford Motor Company representative are asked to submit statements To review your case properly the Board needs the following information E legible copies of all documents and maintenance or repair orders that relate to the case 184 Customer Assistance the year make model and vehicle identificatio
192. viced at your Ford or Lincoln Mercury dealer immediately Unless serviced the air bag supplemental restraint system may not function properly in the event of a collision WARNING Do not attempt to service repair or modify the Air Bag Supplemental Restraint System or its fuses See your Ford or Lincoln Mercury dealer Disposal of air bags or air bag equipped vehicles For disposal of air bags or air bag equipped vehicles see your local Ford or Lincoln Mercury dealer Air bags MUST be disposed of by qualified personnel 24 Safety Restraints Safety Restraints for Children In the U S and Canada you are required by law to use safety restraints for children If small children ride in your vehicle this generally includes children who are four years old or younger and who weigh 40 pounds 18 kg or less you must put them in safety seats that are made specially for children Safety belts alone do not provide maximum protection for these children Check your local and state laws for specific requirements Z WARNING 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 WARNING Passengers should not be allowed to ride in the cargo area Persons not riding in a seat with a fastened seat belt are much more likely to suffer serious injury in a collision Cargo should always be secured to prevent it from shifting and c
193. ws and regulations in your area before installing chains E Put the chains on the front tires tightly with the ends held down securely Retighten the chains after driving 1 2 mile 1 km Follow the chain manufacturer s instructions E Do not drive faster than 30 mph 50 km h or the chain manufacturer s recommended speed limit whichever is lower Avoid bumps holes and sharp turns If you can hear the chains rub or bang against your vehicle remove the chains to prevent damage to your vehicle E Tire chains may affect vehicle handling Drive carefully and avoid hard braking E Do not use chains on temporary spare tires They may damage the vehicle and the tire 228 Servicing Your Contour E Remove tire chains at the first opportunity after using them on snow and ice Do not use the chains on dry roads Cleaning the Wheels Wash the wheels with the same detergent you use to wash your vehicles body Do not use acid based wheel cleaners steel wool abrasives fuel or strong detergents These substances will damage protective coatings Use tar and road oil remover to remove grease and tar NOTE Before going to a car wash find out if the brushes are abrasive Automatic Transaxle Fluid Under normal circumstances you do not need to check the fluid level of the transaxle since your vehicle does not use up transaxle fluid Refer to the Maintenance Schedule and Record booklet for replacement intervals However if the t
194. y abrasive cleaner to clean either the lens or the woodtone trim as these may cause scratches NOTE Any cleaner or polish that increases the gloss shine of the upper part of the instrument panel should be avoided The dull finish in this area is to help protect the driver from undesirable windshield reflection 69 0Z jauvd yuawmnsjsuy Hazard flasher switch hidden Traction control Exterior lights Side view mirror control Rear window Cluster defroster Instrument Windshield panel wiper washer dimmer lever hidden Glove Audio compartment system Climate control system If equipped Instrument Panel Controls The Climate Control Systems Your vehicle has one of the following E Heating Only System Without Air Conditioning E Heating and Air Conditioning System If you are not sure which system your vehicle has see the diagrams on the following pages Heating Only System The control for your heater system is located at the center of the instrument panel below the radio The heater will operate only when the ignition key is turned to the ON position Your heater will heat and or ventilate your vehicle interior depending on the function selector knob position and temperature you select The function selector knob allows you to select heating or ventilation and determine where the air will be directed The temperature control knob setting determines the temperature of the air that

Manual - JustGiveMeTheDamnManual.com

Contents

Download Pdf Manuals

Related Search

Related Contents