Mercury MYSTIQUE 1997 Owner Manual

Table of Contents

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

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

Audio ........................23

Controls and Features ................. 47

Seating and Safety Restraints .............. 83

Starting ...................... 117

Driving ...................... 123

Roadside Emergencies ................ 147

Maintenance and Care ................ 173

Capacities and Specifications ............. 225

Reporting Safety Defects ............... 231

Customer Assistance ................ 233

Accessories ..................... 243

Quick Index .................... 253

Index........................ 263

Service Station Information ............. 284

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 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 safety 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.

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

RWARNING

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.

Introduction

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.

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 Bumper to Bumper

Warranty expires;

■ other benefits during the warranty period (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 buy 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.

Introduction

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 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 recommends. See

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

Instrumentation

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.

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.

Instrumentation

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 sport cluster.

The sport cluster

Instrumentation

The following warning lights and gauges are on the sport 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.

Safety Belt Warning Light and Chime

This warning light and chime remind you to fasten your safety belt. The following conditions will take place:

■ If 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.

■ If the driver’s safety belt is buckled while the light is on or

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

■ If 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.

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.

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.

RWARNING

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

Instrumentation

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 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 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.

If you lose engine oil pressure:

engine as soon as safely possible, severe engine damage could result.

checking and adding engine oil in this Owner Guide. (See Engine oil in the Index.) If you do not follow these instructions, engine damage could result. To ensure an accurate reading, your vehicle should be on level ground.

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 illuminates when the headlamps are turned to high beam or when you 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.

Instrumentation

Chime for Headlamps On

This chime sounds if the driver’s 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 supplemental restraint 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 key to ON, 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.

RWARNING

If any of these things happen, even intermittently, have the air bag system serviced at your Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer immediately.

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.

Check Engine Warning Light

This light illuminates when the engine’s Emission Control System requires service. It will also illuminate when the ignition key is in the ON position and the engine is off.

Instrumentation

Overdrive Off Indicator (Automatic Transaxle Only)

This light tells you that the 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.

Turn Signal Indicator Lights

The turn signal arrow will flash to indicate the direction in which you are going to be turning.

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 warms 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.

The engine coolant temperature gauge

Instrumentation

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:

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 control to return the trip odometer to zero.

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.

Instrumentation

Low Coolant Light (If equipped)

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.

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.”

Compact Disc Radio

Electronic Sound Systems

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 (R/S) side of the “VOL” button to increase/decrease the volume. Bars illuminate 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, the volume will remain in the position it was set at when radio power was switched off.

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.

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.

■ 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 the top (a) or bottom (b) 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.)

■ 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 (a) half of the “SEEK” button to select the next listenable station up the frequency band. Press the bottom (b) 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.

■ 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 (a) 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 (b) 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/TUNE” 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).

until the sound returns. That station is now held in memory on that button.

button you want to set.

NOTE: If the vehicle’s battery is disconnected, the clock and

station memory preset buttons 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 the display will show “AUTO” each time 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

■ 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 (s)to decrease bass (less “lows”).

■ 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 (s)to decrease treble (less “highs”).

■ 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 (+) of the “VOLUME” button to shift the sound to the right speakers, and push the bottom (s) 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 (s) 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).

Ford Compact Disc Player

Electronic Sound Systems

+ 248 hidden pages