Ford Aspire 1997 Owner's Manual

Table of Contents

Introduction ......................................................1

Instrumentation ................................................ 7

Electronic Sound Systems ........................... 19

Controls and Features .................................. 31

Seating and Safety Restraints .................... 57

Starting ............................................................. 93

Driving ........................................................... 105

Roadside Emergencies ................................ 121

Maintenance and Care ............................... 145

Capacities and Specifications ................... 199

Reporting Safety Defects

(U.S. Only) .................................................... 209

Customer Assistance ................................... 211

Accessories .................................................... 223

Quick Index .................................................. 233

Index ............................................................... 243

Service Station Information --

1.3L Engine ................................................... 260

Introduction

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

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quality of our products and services must be our number one priority.

You are the focus of everything we do. Our

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work must be done with you in mind, providing better products and services than our competition.

Continuous improvement is essential to our

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success. We must strive for excellence in everything we do: in our products — in their safety and value — and in our services, our human relations, our competitiveness, and our profitability.

Employee involvement is our way of life.

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We are a team. We must treat one another with trust and respect.

Dealers and suppliers are our partners. We

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must maintain mutually beneficial relationships with dealers, suppliers, and our other business associates.

Integrity is never compromised. Our conduct

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worldwide must be pursued in a manner that is socially responsible and commands respect for its integrity and for its positive contributions to society.

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 where carelessness can cause damage to your vehicle or personal injury to yourself, your passengers or other people. Please read all WARNINGS carefully.

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, Table of Contents, or the Index.

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.

Record Booklet

The Maintenance Schedule 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.

Your vehicle is covered by three types of warranties: Basic Vehicle Warranty, Extended

Warranties on certain parts, and Emissions Warranties.

Read your Warranty Information Booklet carefully to find out about your vehicle’s 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’s Guide.

Ford Extended Service Plan

More Protection for Your Vehicle

You can get more protection for your new car or light truck by purchasing a Ford Extended Service Plan (Ford ESP). Ford ESP is the only extended service program with the Ford name on it and the only service contract backed by Ford Motor Company.

Ford ESP is an optional service contract, backed and administered by Ford. It provides:

protection against repair costs after your

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Bumper to Bumper Warranty expires;

other benefits during the warranty period

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(such as: reimbursement for rentals; coverage for certain maintenance and wear items).

You may purchase Ford ESP from any participating Ford Motor Company dealer. There are several Ford ESP plans available in various time-and-mileage combinations. Each plan can be tailored to fit your own driving needs, including reimbursement benefits for towing and rental. (In Hawaii, rules vary. See your dealer for details.)

When you purchase Ford ESP, you receive peace-of-mind protection throughout the United States and Canada, provided by a network of more than 5,100 participating Ford Motor Company dealers.

NOTE: Repairs performed outside the United

States and Canada are not eligible for ESP coverage.

This information is subject to change, ask your dealer for complete details about Ford ESP coverage.

Federal Highway Administration Regulation

Regulations such as those issued by the Federal Highway Administration or issued pursuant to the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), and/or state and local laws and regulations may require additional equipment for the way you intend to use the vehicle. It is the responsibility of the registered owner to determine the applicability of such laws and regulations to your intended use for the vehicle, and to arrange for the installation of required equipment. Your Ford dealer has information about the availability of many items of equipment which may be ordered for your vehicle.

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.

Avoid sudden stops. Because your vehicle

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has new brake linings, you should 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.

Use only the type of engine oil that Ford

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recommends. See Engine oil recommendations in the Index. Do not use special “break-in” oils.

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.

Instrumentation

The warning lights and gauges alert you to possible problems with your vehicle. The following section details what each of these indicators means.

In your vehicle, the warning lights and gauges are grouped together on the instrument panel. We call this grouping a cluster. Your vehicle has a standard cluster.

The standard cluster

Safety Belt Warning Light and Chime

Safety belt light

This warning light and chime remind you to fasten your safety belt under the following conditions:

If the safety belt is not buckled when the

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ignition is turned to the ON position, the chime will turn on for four (4) to eight (8) seconds and the light will illuminate for at least 60 seconds.

If the safety belt is buckled while the light is

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on and the chime is sounding, both the light and chime will turn off.

If the safety belt is buckled before the

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ignition is turned to the ON position, neither the light nor the chime will come on.

Brake System Warning Light

Brake system and parking brake light

This light illuminates for a few seconds when you turn the ignition key to START or ON. It normally goes off shortly after the engine starts and after you release the parking brake. However, it may stay on for up to 60 seconds. If the light doesn’t illuminate after the engine is started, stays on for longer than 60 seconds, or illuminates after you have fully released the parking brake, have the hydraulic brake system checked.

To test the brake warning light, release the parking brake and turn the ignition key to the START position. The brake warning light should illuminate until the key is released.

This light will also illuminate if the parking brake does not release fully. If it does stay on after the parking brake is fully released, it means there may be a brake problem. Pull off the road and stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal is harder to push, the pedal may go closer to the floor, or it may take longer to stop the vehicle. Try the brakes again after you have stopped.

Your vehicle has a divided brake system. If one part isn’t working, the other part can still work and stop the vehicle. For good braking, you need both systems working well.

WARNING

The BRAKE light indicates that the brakes may not be working properly. Have the brakes checked immediately.

Charging System Light

This light indicates that your battery is not being charged and that you need to have the electrical system checked.

Charging system light

This light illuminates 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 illuminates when the engine is running, have the electrical system checked as soon as possible.

Engine Oil Pressure Warning Light

This light indicates low oil pressure, not low oil level. However, if the engine’s oil level is low, it could affect the oil pressure. This light illuminates every time the ignition key is turned to ON or START, but it normally turns off when the engine starts.

Engine oil pressure light

If the light stays on or illuminates while the engine is running:

1. Pull off the road as soon as safely possible.

2. Shut off the engine immediately. Continued

operation could cause severe engine damage.

3. Check the engine oil level. Make sure the car is on level ground.

4. Add oil to the full mark on the dipstick before you drive your car again. Do not overfill. Do not operate the engine when the oil light is on. For more information about adding oil, see Engine oil recommendations in the Index.

WARNING

Do not rely on the oil light to tell you when the oil is low. Have the oil checked often. It is possible for damage to occur if an engine is operated with a low oil level.

High Beam Light

This light illuminates when the headlamps are turned to high beam or when you flash the lights. If your vehicle is equipped with daytime running lights and you have your headlamps on your high beam telltale will not illuminate when you flash the lights.

High beam light

Check Engine Warning Light

This light illuminates when the electronic engine control system is not working properly. This is the computer system that controls the operating conditions of the engine.

Check engine warning light

This light illuminates briefly when you turn the ignition to the ON position, but should turn off when the engine starts. If the light does not illuminate when you turn the ignition to the ON position or if it illuminates 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 flashes briefly while you are driving, it means that the condition is no longer present.

Air Bag Readiness Light

This light illuminates for six seconds when the ignition is turned to the ON position. If the light fails to illuminate, continues to flash, remains on, or if a series of five beeps is heard, have the system serviced as soon as possible.

Air bag readiness light

Rear Window Defroster Indicator Light (If equipped)

When the rear window defroster is activated, the indicator light in the instrument cluster illuminates. After the rear window is clear, push the defroster switch to turn off the defroster. The light in the cluster goes out.

Rear window defroster indicator light

Anti-lock Brake System Warning Light (If equipped)

When the ignition switch is turned to the ON position, the anti-lock brake system warning light illuminates. When the engine is started, the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) control unit determines if all components of the system are operating correctly. The warning light could remain on up to 60 seconds.

Anti-lock brake system light

WARNING

If the anti-lock brake system warning light remains on or comes on while driving, have the braking system checked by a qualified service technician as soon as possible.

NOTE: If a fault occurs in the anti-lock

system, and the brake warning light is not lit, the anti-lock system is disabled but normal brake function remains operational.

NOTE: If your vehicle must be jump-started

because of a low battery, the Anti-Lock Brake System warning light could remain on. This is due to low battery voltage and does not indicate a malfunction in the system. Under these circumstances, you should drive your vehicle only after the battery has had time to charge and the light has gone out.

After starting the engine, check all the warning lights to make sure that they are off. If any one of them is still lit, it indicates a situation that needs your attention. When you release the parking brake, the brake warning light should go off.

Ignition Key Chime

If the driver or passenger door is open while the key is still in the ignition, a warning chime sounds.

Headlamps On Chime

This chime will sound when a door is opened while the headlamps or parking lamps are on.

Fuel Gauge

The fuel gauge displays approximately how much fuel you have in the fuel tank.

The ignition must be turned off while putting fuel in the tank in order to get a correct fuel gauge reading after the ignition is turned on.

The fuel gauge indicator may vary slightly while the vehicle is in motion. This is the result of fuel movement within the tank. You can get a more accurate reading 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 normally moves from C (cold) into the normal band as your vehicle warms up. Under most driving conditions, the pointer should stay in the normal band. If you are driving in heavy traffic or on an extended grade in hot weather, the pointer may reach to the top of the normal band.

If, under any circumstances, the pointer moves above the normal band, the engine is overheating and continued operation may cause engine damage.

If your engine 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.

5. Refer to Adding Engine Coolant in the Maintenance and Care chapter. Add as much coolant as your engine needs. If the engine continues to overheat, have the cooling system serviced.

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 records the distance of individual trips. Before each trip, set the trip odometer to zero by pushing the reset button.

Electronic Stereo Radio

Electronic Sound Systems

Electronic Stero Radio with Cassette

Cassette Radios

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 “VOL” button to increase the volume. Press the left (S) side of the button to decrease the volume.

If the volume is set above a certain level when the ignition is turned off, the volume level will reset to a “nominal” listening level when the ignition switch is turned back on.

Selecting the AM or FM frequency band

Push the “BAND” 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.

How to tune radio stations

There are four ways for you to tune in a particular station. You can manually locate a station, “SEEK” to the next station, “SCAN” for listenable stations, or select the station using the memory preset buttons, which you can set to any desired frequency.

Using the manual mode to tune your radio

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You can change the frequency up or down one increment at a time by first pressing the mode button until “MAN” appears above the frequency display. Then, press either the right (a) or left (b) side of the “SEEK” button.

Using the “SEEK” function

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The “SEEK” function allows you to automatically select listenable stations up or down the frequency band. This is the default mode of the “SEEK” button. If the radio has been changed to another mode, press the mode button until “SEEK” appears above the frequency display. Then press the right (a) side of the “SEEK” button to select the next listenable station up the frequency band. Press the left (b) side of the “SEEK” 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.

Using the “SCAN” function

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To enter scan mode, press the mode button until “SCAN” appears above the frequency display. Press the right (a) side of the “SEEK” button and 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 “MODE” button once again. Press the left (b) side of the “SEEK” button to activate the SCAN function down the frequency band.

Setting the Station Memory Preset buttons

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Your radio is equipped with 4 station memory buttons. The buttons can be used to select up to 4 preset AM stations and 8 preset FM stations (4 in FM1 and 4 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 preset 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.

Adjusting the tone balance and speaker output of your radio

Increasing or decreasing the bass response

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Push the “SELECT” button repeatedly until the display reads “BASS.” Push the right (+) side of the “VOL” button to increase bass, and push the left (S) side to decrease bass.

Increasing or decreasing treble response

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Push the “SELECT” button repeatedly until the display reads “TREB.” Push the right (+) side of the “VOL” button to increase treble, and push the left (S) side to decrease treble.

Adjusting speaker balance

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Balance control allows you to adjust the sound distribution between the right and left speakers. Push the “SELECT” button repeatedly until the display reads “BAL.” Push the right (+) side of the “VOL” button to shift the sound to the right speaker, and push the left (S) side to shift the sound to the left speaker.

Adjusting speaker fader

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Fade control allows you to adjust the sound distribution between the front and rear speakers. Push the “SELECT” button repeatedly until the display reads “FADE.” Push the right (+) side of the “VOL” button to shift the sound to the front speakers, and push the left (S) side to shift the sound to the rear speakers.

Using the Controls of Your Cassette Tape Player (If equipped)

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 or side 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.

Fast forwarding the tape

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Push the right the tape. The radio will play while the tape is in fast forward.

Rewinding the tape

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Push the left The radio will play while the tape is rewinding.

button to fast forward

button to rewind the tape.

How to change the side of the tape being

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played

The alternate track (other side) of the tape can be selected at any time by pushing both fast-wind buttons ( same time. The number in the display will alternate between 1 and 2.

How to eject the tape

To stop the tape and eject the cassette, press the “EJECT” button. The radio will resume playing.

How to remove the faceplate (Cassette radio only)

Your cassette radio is equipped with a detachable, theft-deterrent faceplate.

Removing the faceplate

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Slide the release button downward. The release button is located just above the “SEEK” button. The faceplate will spring out slightly. Grasp the faceplate and remove.

Reinstalling the faceplate

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Insert the left side of the faceplate into the radio bezel, then rotate and “click” the right side into place. If radio/cassette were on before the faceplate was removed, they will resume playing.

and

) at the

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:

Using a Ford Cassette Cleaning Cartridge or

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equivalent to clean the tape player head after 10-12 hours of play will help maintain the best playback sound and proper tape operation.

Only cassettes that are 90 minutes long or

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less should be used. Tapes longer than 90 minutes are thinner and subject to breakage or may jam the tape player mechanism.

Protect cassettes from exposure to direct

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sunlight, high humidity and extreme heat or cold. If they are exposed to extreme conditions, allow them to reach a moderate temperature before playing.

If a tape is loose inside the cassette, tighten it

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before playing by putting your finger or a pencil into one of the holes and turning the hub until the tape is tight.

Loose labels on cassette tapes can become

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lodged in the mechanism. Remove any loose label material before inserting a cassette.

Do not leave a tape in the cassette tape

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player when not in use. High heat in the vehicle can cause the cassette to warp.

Clock Operation

How to view the clock mode

Press the “CLOCK” button to alternate the frequency and time in the display. In the clock mode, pressing any radio function will automatically display the radio frequency for approximately ten seconds before changing back to the clock mode.

How to set the clock

1. Turn the radio on.

2. Press and hold in the “CLOCK” button. Press the “SEEK” button left (b) to advance the hours and right (a) to advance the minutes.

NOTE: The clock displays 12-hour time with

no AM/PM indications.

NOTE: If the vehicle’s battery is disconnected,

the clock will need to be reset.

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.

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