Mercury 1996 Cougar Service Guide

General Information

1

Table of Contents

General Maintenance Information............... 3

What Maintenance Schedule Do You

Follow? ................................................................ 5

Normal Schedule............................................... 6

Severe Duty Schedule ................................... 16

Owner Maintenance Checks........................ 30

2

Maintenance Schedule and
Record

The required Scheduled Maintenance Services
listed in this booklet are considered essential to
the proper operation, safety and performance of
your Ford Motor Company vehicle. We
recommend that you also perform the Owner
Maintenance Checks listed. These services are
matters of day-to-day care that are also
important to the proper operation of your
vehicle. The recommended lubricants, fluids and
service parts conforming to Ford Specifications
are available from your dealer.

This booklet gives you a place to record the
services that are performed on your vehicle so
that you can keep a record of when parts should
be checked or replaced. Give your Maintenance
Schedule and Record booklet to the dealer service
manager.

3

Maintenance: An investment

An investment which will pay dividends in the
form of improved reliability, durability, and
resale value.

To assure the durability of your vehicle and its
emission control systems, it is necessary that
scheduled maintenance be performed at the
designated intervals.

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.

No Cost PCV Valve Replacement

THE PCV VALVE IS A CRITICAL EMISSION
COMPONENT. YOUR DEALER WILL
REPLACE THE VALVE AT NO COST AT
60,000 MILES/96,000 KILOMETERS (EXCEPT
CANADA AND CALIFORNIA VEHICLES).

PRE-DELIVERY CHECK

Pre-Delivery Service Inspection Completed

❑

4

What Maintenance
Schedule Do You Follow?

Normal

Schedule

Follow the Normal Schedule for most normal
everyday driving conditions.

Severe Duty

Schedule

Follow the Severe Duty Schedule if your driving
habits FREQUENTLY include one or more of the
following conditions:

Towing a trailer.

❑

Operating in severe dust conditions.

❑

Extensive idling, such as police, taxi or

❑

door-to-door delivery service.
Short trips of less than 10 miles (16 km)

❑

when outside temperatures remain below 0˚F
(-18˚C).

5

Normal Schedule

NOTE: Items for Emission Control Service are
shown in this type and style.

For items marked with a number in parentheses
such as (1), see footnote at the end of this
section.

NOTE: Rear axle lube quantities must be

replaced every 100,000 miles
(160,000 km) or if the axle has been
submerged in water. Otherwise, the
lube should not be checked or changed
unless a leak is suspected or repair
required.

Regular

Maintenance

Intervals

for the Normal

Schedule

5,000 MILES (8,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

Rotate tires and adjust air pressure.

❑

6 Normal Schedule

10,000 MILES (16,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

15,000 MILES (24,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

Inspect engine cooling system, hoses, and clamps;

❑

and check coolant strength every 15,000 miles
(24,000 km) or 12 months.

Lubricate steering linkage.

❑

Rotate tires and adjust air pressure.

❑

20,000 MILES (32,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

Normal Schedule 7

25,000 MILES (40,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

Rotate tires and adjust air pressure.

❑

30,000 MILES (48,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

Replace air cleaner filter.

❑

Inspect engine cooling system, hoses, and clamps;

❑

and check coolant strength every 15,000 miles
(24,000 km) or 12 months.

Change automatic transmission fluid.

❑

Inspect exhaust heat shield(s).

❑

Lubricate steering linkage.

❑

35,000 MILES (56,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

Rotate tires and adjust air pressure.

❑

8 Normal Schedule

40,000 MILES (64,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

45,000 MILES (72,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

Inspect engine cooling system, hoses, and clamps;

❑

and check coolant strength every 15,000 miles
(24,000 km) or 12 months.

Lubricate steering linkage.

❑

Rotate tires and adjust air pressure.

❑

50,000 MILES (80,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

Change engine coolant initially at 50,000 miles

❑

(80,000 km) or 48 months. Thereafter, change
engine coolant every 30,000 miles (48,000 km) or
36 months.

Normal Schedule 9

55,000 MILES (88,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

Rotate tires and adjust air pressure.

❑

60,000 MILES (96,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

Inspect accessory drive belt(s).

❑

Replace air cleaner filter.

❑

Replace PCV valve. (2)

❑

Inspect engine cooling system, hoses, and clamps;

❑

and check coolant strength every 15,000 miles
(24,000 km) or 12 months.

Change automatic transmission fluid.

❑

Inspect exhaust heat shield(s).

❑

Inspect front and rear brakes. (1)

❑

Lubricate steering linkage.

❑

10 Normal Schedule

65,000 MILES (104,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

Rotate tires and adjust air pressure.

❑

70,000 MILES (112,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

75,000 MILES (120,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

Inspect engine cooling system, hoses, and clamps;

❑

and check coolant strength every 15,000 miles
(24,000 km) or 12 months.

Lubricate steering linkage.

❑

Rotate tires and adjust air pressure.

❑

Normal Schedule 11

80,000 MILES (128,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

Change engine coolant every 30,000 miles

❑

(48,000 km) or 36 months.

85,000 MILES (136,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

Rotate tires and adjust air pressure.

❑

12 Normal Schedule

90,000 MILES (144,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

Inspect accessory drive belt(s).

❑

Replace air cleaner filter.

❑

Inspect engine cooling system, hoses, and clamps;

❑

and check coolant strength every 15,000 miles
(24,000 km) or 12 months.

Change automatic transmission fluid.

❑

Inspect exhaust heat shield(s).

❑

Inspect front and rear brakes. (1)

❑

Lubricate steering linkage.

❑

95,000 MILES (152,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

Rotate tires and adjust air pressure.

❑

Normal Schedule 13

100,000 MILES (160,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

Replace spark plugs.

❑

Replace rear axle lubricant.

❑

105,000 MILES (168,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

Inspect engine cooling system, hoses, and clamps;

❑

and check coolant strength every 15,000 miles
(24,000 km) or 12 months.

Lubricate steering linkage.

❑

Rotate tires and adjust air pressure.

❑

110,000 MILES (176,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

Change engine coolant every 30,000 miles

❑

(48,000 km) or 36 months.

14 Normal Schedule

115,000 MILES (184,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

Rotate tires and adjust air pressure.

❑

120,000 MILES (192,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

Inspect accessory drive belt(s).

❑

Replace air cleaner filter.

❑

Replace PCV valve.

❑

Inspect engine cooling system, hoses, and clamps;

❑

and check coolant strength every 15,000 miles
(24,000 km) or 12 months.

Change automatic transmission fluid.

❑

Inspect exhaust heat shield(s).

❑

Inspect front and rear brakes. (1)

❑

Lubricate steering linkage.

❑

(1) If your driving habits include continuous stop-and-go

driving or driving in hilly areas, more frequent intervals
may be required.

(2) At 60,000 miles (96,000 km) your dealer will replace the

PCV valve at no cost except on Canada and California
vehicles.

Normal Schedule 15

Severe Duty Schedule

NOTE: Items for Emission Control Service are
shown in this type and style.

For items marked with a number in parentheses
such as (1), see footnote at the end of this
section.

NOTE: The Severe Duty Schedule provides

maintenance intervals for replacing
your air cleaner filter if you drive in
severe dust conditions. However, the
conditions you drive in may require
even more frequent air cleaner
replacement intervals than those
shown. Check with your dealer.

NOTE: Rear axle lube quantities must be

replaced every 100,000 miles
(165,000 km) or if the axle has been
submerged in water. Otherwise, the
lube should not be checked or changed
unless a leak is suspected or repair
required.

Maintenance

Intervals

for Severe

Duty Schedule

16 Severe Duty Schedule

3,000 MILES (5,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

6,000 MILES (10,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

Rotate tires and adjust air pressure.

❑

9,000 MILES (15,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

12,000 MILES (20,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

Severe Duty Schedule 17

15,000 MILES (25,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

Inspect engine cooling system, hoses, and clamps;

❑

and check coolant strength every 15,000 miles
(25,000 km) or 12 months.

Lubricate steering linkage.

❑

Rotate tires and adjust air pressure.

❑

18,000 MILES (30,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

21,000 MILES (35,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

Change automatic transmission fluid.

❑

18 Severe Duty Schedule

24,000 MILES (40,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

Rotate tires and adjust air pressure.

❑

27,000 MILES (45,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

30,000 MILES (50,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

Replace air cleaner filter.

❑

Inspect engine cooling system, hoses, and clamps;

❑

and check coolant strength every 15,000 miles
(25,000 km) or 12 months.

Inspect exhaust heat shield(s).

❑

Lubricate steering linkage.

❑

Inspect front and rear brakes. (1)

❑

Severe Duty Schedule 19

33,000 MILES (55,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

Rotate tires and adjust air pressure.

❑

36,000 MILES (60,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

39,000 MILES (65,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

42,000 MILES (70,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

Change automatic transmission fluid.

❑

Rotate tires and adjust air pressure.

❑

20 Severe Duty Schedule

45,000 MILES (75,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

Inspect engine cooling system, hoses, and clamps;

❑

and check coolant strength every 15,000 miles
(25,000 km) or 12 months.

Lubricate steering linkage.

❑

48,000 MILES (80,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

Change engine coolant initially at 48,000 miles

❑

(80,000 km) or 48 months. Thereafter, change
engine coolant every 30,000 miles (50,000 km) or
36 months.

51,000 MILES (85,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

Rotate tires and adjust air pressure.

❑

Severe Duty Schedule 21

54,000 MILES (90,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

57,000 MILES (95,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

60,000 MILES (100,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

Replace spark plugs.

❑

Inspect accessory drive belt(s).

❑

Replace air cleaner filter.

❑

Replace PCV valve. (2)

❑

Inspect engine cooling system, hoses, and clamps;

❑

and check coolant strength every 15,000 miles
(25,000 km) or 12 months.

Inspect exhaust heat shield(s).

❑

Inspect front and rear brakes. (1)

❑

Lubricate steering linkage.

❑

Rotate tires and adjust air pressure.

❑

22 Severe Duty Schedule

63,000 MILES (105,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

Change automatic transmission fluid.

❑

66,000 MILES (110,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

69,000 MILES (115,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

Rotate tires and adjust air pressure.

❑

72,000 MILES (120,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

Severe Duty Schedule 23

75,000 MILES (125,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

Inspect engine cooling system, hoses, and clamps;

❑

and check coolant strength every 15,000 miles
(25,000 km) or 12 months.

Lubricate steering linkage.

❑

78,000 MILES (130,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

Change engine coolant every 30,000 miles

❑

(50,000 km) or 36 months.

Rotate tires and adjust air pressure.

❑

81,000 MILES (135,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

24 Severe Duty Schedule

84,000 MILES (140,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

Change automatic transmission fluid.

❑

87,000 MILES (145,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

Rotate tires and adjust air pressure.

❑

90,000 MILES (150,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

Inspect accessory drive belt(s).

❑

Replace air cleaner filter.

❑

Inspect engine cooling system, hoses, and clamps;

❑

and check coolant strength every 15,000 miles
(25,000 km) or 12 months.

Inspect exhaust heat shield(s).

❑

Inspect front and rear brakes. (1)

❑

Lubricate steering linkage.

❑

Severe Duty Schedule 25

93,000 MILES (155,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

96,000 MILES (160,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

Rotate tires and adjust air pressure.

❑

99,000 MILES (165,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

100,000 MILES (165,000 Kilometers)

Replace rear axle lubricant.

❑

102,000 MILES (170,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

26 Severe Duty Schedule

105,000 MILES (175,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

Inspect engine cooling system, hoses, and clamps;

❑

and check coolant strength every 15,000 miles
(25,000 km) or 12 months.

Change automatic transmission fluid.

❑

Rotate tires and adjust air pressure.

❑

Lubricate steering linkage.

❑

108,000 MILES (180,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

Change engine coolant every 30,000 miles

❑

(50,000 km) or 36 months.

111,000 MILES (185,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

Severe Duty Schedule 27

114,000 MILES (190,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

Rotate tires and adjust air pressure.

❑

117,000 MILES (195,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

120,000 MILES (200,000 Kilometers)

Change engine oil and replace oil filter.

❑

Replace spark plugs.

❑

Inspect accessory drive belt(s).

❑

Replace air cleaner filter.

❑

Replace PCV valve.

❑

Inspect engine cooling system, hoses, and clamps;

❑

and check coolant strength every 15,000 miles
(25,000 km) or 12 months.

Inspect exhaust heat shield(s).

❑

Inspect front and rear brakes. (1)

❑

Lubricate steering linkage.

❑

28 Severe Duty Schedule

(1) If your driving habits include continuous stop-and-go

driving or driving in hilly areas, more frequent intervals
may be required.

(2) At 60,000 miles (96,000 km) your dealer will replace the

PCV valve at no cost except on Canada and California
vehicles.

Severe Duty Schedule 29

Owner Maintenance
Checks

The following lists are vehicle checks and
inspections that should be performed by the
owner or qualified service technician at the
frequencies indicated to help ensure safe,
dependable operation of your vehicle.

Any adverse conditions should be brought to the
attention of your dealer or qualified service
technician for service advice as soon as possible.

These Owner Maintenance Checks are generally
not covered by warranties and you may be
charged for labor, parts and lubricants used.

When You Stop for Fuel:

Check the engine oil level.

❑

Check coolant level in the coolant recovery

❑

reservoir.
Check the windshield washer fluid level.

❑

Look for low or under-inflated tires.

❑

While Operating Your Vehicle:

Note any changes in the sound of the exhaust

❑

or any smell of exhaust fumes in the vehicle.
Check for vibrations in the steering wheel.

❑

Notice any increased steering effort or
looseness in the steering wheel.

Notice if your vehicle constantly turns

❑

slightly or “pulls” to one side of the road.

30 Owner Maintenance Checks

When stopping, listen and check for strange

❑

sounds, pulling to one side, increased brake
pedal travel or “hard to push” brake pedal.

If any slipping or changes in the operation of

❑

your transmission occur, check the
transmission fluid level.

Check automatic transmission P (Park)

❑

function.
Check parking brake.

❑

Check for fluid leaks under your vehicle

❑

(water dripping from the air conditioning
system after use is normal).

Check warning lights and gauges.

❑

At least monthly:

Check the tire pressure — check tires when

❑

cold, not after a long drive.
Check coolant level in the coolant recovery

❑

reservoir.
Check the operation of all exterior lamps,

❑

including the brakelamps, turn signals and
hazard warning flashers.

At least twice a year:

(i.e., every Spring and Fall)

Check radiator, heater and air-conditioning

❑

hoses for leaks or damage.
Check the power steering fluid level.

❑

Check windshield washer spray and wiper

❑

operation. Clean wiper blades with clean
cloth dampened with washer fluid.

Check for worn tires and loose wheel lug

❑

nuts.

Owner Maintenance Checks 31

Check muffler, exhaust pipes, shields and

❑

clamps.
Check headlamp alignment.

❑

Check the lap-shoulder belts for wear and

❑

function.
Check air pressure in spare tire.

❑

At least once a year:

Check engine cooling system, hoses and

❑

clamps and check coolant strength.
Lubricate all hinges, checks, latches and all

❑

outside key locks.
Lubricate door rubber weatherstrips.

❑

Clean the body water drain holes.

❑

Check the air conditioning system before the

❑

warm weather season.
Check the brake fluid level.

❑

Clean the battery connections.

❑

Lubricate the transmission controls and

❑

linkage.

If any of these conditions are noted, bring them
to the attention of your dealer or qualified
service technician as soon as possible.

32 Owner Maintenance Checks