User manual FORD CONTOUR-1997

[. . . ] Service Station Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Introduction 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 s Quality comes first. For your satisfaction, the quality of our products and services must be our number one priority. s You are the focus of everything we do. [. . . ] 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. 128 Driving 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. 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 during activation. 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. 129 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. Driving with an Automatic Overdrive Transaxle Your automatic overdrive 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. Putting Your Vehicle in Gear You must push in the thumb button to move the gearshift to the position you choose. RWARNING Hold the brake pedal down while you move the gearshift lever from position to position. [. . . ] NOTE: The Federal Communications Commission (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. NOTE: 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. [. . . ]