1997 Ford Ranger Owners Manual

Warning lights (see Lights) . Warranties

basic . Canada . radio.

Warranty Information Booklet Washer fluid . Weight limits (GAWR, GVWR) . Wheel and tire matching . Wheel bearings, lubricant specifications . Wheel dollies (see Towing) . Wheels

cleaning . covers . inspection and maintenance . lug nuts . replacement

Windows

manual windows, operating . one-touch down . power windows, operating.

148

21
21
11

58
76
187
286
313
242

287
230, 233
279
230
286

84
84
84

362

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Windshield

defrosting . washing .

Windshield washer fluid and wipers

checking and replacing wiper blades . operation . reservoir . specifications . variable interval wipers .

Windshield wipers and washer . Wrecker towing .

Index

67, 70
. 76

277
. 76
263
264, 313
. 76
. 76
242

363

Service Station Information

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Table of Contents

Introduction .

Instrumentation .

Audio .

Controls and Features .

Seating and Safety Restraints .

Starting

Driving

Roadside Emergencies .

Maintainance and Care

Capacities and Specifications .

Reporting Safety Defects .

Customer Assistance

Accessories .

Quick Index

Index .

Service Station Information

. 27

. 59

101

147

155

217

249

311

315

317

327

331

343

364

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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 n Quality comes first. For your satisfaction, the quality of our

products and services must be our number one priority.

n 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.

n 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.

n Employee involvement is our way of life. We are a team.

We must treat one another with trust and respect.

n Dealers and suppliers are our partners. We must maintain mutually beneficial relationships with dealers, suppliers, and our other business associates.

n 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.

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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. 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.

R 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.

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Introduction

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 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 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.

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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: n protection against repair costs after your Bumper to Bumper

Warranty expires; and

n 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 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.

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Introduction

Special Notice NOTICE TO OWNERS OF FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES As with other vehicles of this type, failure to operate this vehicle correctly may result in loss of control or an accident. Be sure to read the Additional Special Driving Instructions for Four-Wheel Drive Vehicle Operators in this book and the special supplement included with four-wheel drive vehicles entitled 4-Wheeling. AMBULANCE PACKAGES

Do not use this vehicle as an ambulance.

R WARNING

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. n 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.

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n Wheel lug nuts must be retightened to proper torque

specifications at 500 miles/800 km of new vehicle operation. Proper torque specifications are provided in this guide. Also retighten to proper torque specifications at 500 miles/800 km after any wheel change or any other time the wheel lug nuts have been loosened.

n Use only the type of engine oil that Ford recommends. See

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

Some vehicles are equipped with a Powertrain Control Module that limits engine speeds with a cut-out mode to promote durability.

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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.

Your vehicle has one of the following instrument clusters: n A standard instrument cluster n A optional instrument cluster with tachometer

If you are not sure which cluster your vehicle has, check the diagrams on the following pages of this section.

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The Mechanical Cluster The following warning lights and gauges are on the mechanical cluster. All of the warning lights and gauges alert you to possible problems with your vehicle. Some of the lights listed are optional. The following sections detail what each of these indicators means. 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 your dealer or a qualified service technician.

This light illuminates when you turn the ignition key to START to verify that the indicator bulb is working. If the light stays on or illuminates after you have released the parking brake fully, have the hydraulic brake system serviced.

R WARNING

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

Brake warning light symbols

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Instrumentation

Anti-lock Brake Warning Light To check the ABS brake warning light, turn the ignition key to ON. The ABS brake warning light should glow momentarily. NOTE: If the ABS brake warning light does not glow

momentarily, have your vehicle’s electrical system checked immediately. If the light begins to flash in a repeatable flash sequence, check the anti-lock system continuous power fuse and brakelamps for proper operation.

Anti-lock warning light symbol

R 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.

Safety Belt Warning Light and Chime The safety belt warning light/chime reminds you to fasten your safety belt. One of the following will take place: n If the safety belt is not buckled before the key is turned to the ON position, the light comes on for one to two minutes and the chime sounds for 4 to 8 seconds.

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n If the safety belt is buckled while the light is on and the

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

n If safety belt is buckled before the key is turned to the ON

position, both the light and the chime will not turn on.

Safety belt warning light symbol Air Bag Readiness Light

This light illuminates for approximately six seconds when the ignition key is turned to the ON position to verify that the indicator bulb is working and the air bag system is operating normally.

R WARNING

A problem with the air bag 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.

R WARNING

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

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Instrumentation

Air bag readiness light symbol Passenger Air Bag OFF Light (If equipped)

The passenger air bag OFF light is located in the lower center of the instrument panel next to the passenger air bag defeat switch. This yellow indicator light illuminates whenever the passenger air bag is turned off and the ignition is on. The passenger air bag should be turned off only when a rear-facing infant seat is installed in the front passenger seat. Door Ajar Warning Light (If equipped)

If the ignition switch is in the ON position and any door or the liftgate is not completely closed, the light will illuminate.

Door ajar warning light symbol

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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.

Check engine warning light symbol Transmission Control Indicator Light (TCIL)

The TCIL tells you that the Transmission Control Switch (TCS) on the gearshift lever has been pushed. When the light illuminates, the transmission does not shift into j (Overdrive). Depressing the TCS on the shifter once more returns the vehicle to j (Overdrive). The transmission will be in j (Overdrive) when the vehicle is started even if the O/D OFF mode was selected when the vehicle was last shut off.

NOTE: If the TCIL does not come on when the TCS is

depressed or if the TCIL flashes when you are driving a malfunction has been detected. Have your vehicle serviced at the first opportunity. If this condition persists, damage could occur to the transmission.

Transmission control indicator light (if equipped)

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Instrumentation

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 symbol

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. Check Gage Light (If equipped)

This light will come on when the key is in the ON position and the: n engine coolant temperature is high n engine oil pressure is low n fuel level is near empty

This light serves as a notice that a system needs your attention and to check the engine coolant temperature gauge, the engine oil pressure gauge, and the fuel level gauge.

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Please see Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge, Engine Oil Pressure Gauge, or Fuel Gauge in this chapter for more information.

Check gage light Fuel Reset Light (If Equipped)

Your vehicle may have a fuel reset light. The fuel reset light will come on when you turn the ignition key to ON and the fuel pump shut-off switch has been triggered. Refer to Fuel pump shut-off switch in the Index to find additional information.

Fuel reset light Speed Control Light (If equipped)

The SPEED CONT light will illuminate in the instrument cluster when the speed control system is engaged. The light will turn off when the brake pedal is pressed or if the speed control is shut off.

This display does not indicate any problems with the speed control, but is simply a convenient way of knowing when speed control is activated.

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Instrumentation

Speed control light Anti-Theft Light (If equipped)

The THEFT light flashes on and off when the ignition switch is OFF and any door is opened. As soon as you lock the doors, the light illuminates steadily. Within 30 seconds of closing all the doors, the light flashes intermittently (every 2 seconds). This indicates that the anti-theft system is armed. Refer to Anti-Theft System in the Index for additional information.

Anti-theft indicator light

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Four-Wheel Drive Indicator Light (If equipped)

The 4WD light illuminates when the ignition is ON and the transfer case is placed in either the 4H (lever-operated system) or 4WD LOW (electric shift system) positions. Both the 4WD light and the 4WD LOW light will illuminate when the transfer case is in the 4L position (lever-operated system) or the 4WD LOW position (Electric shift system). Refer to Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) System in the Driving chapter for more information.

Four-wheel drive indicator light Four-Wheel Drive Low Range Indicator Light (If equipped)

The 4WD LOW light illuminates when the ignition is ON and the transfer case is placed in the 4L position (lever-operated system) or the 4WD LOW position (electric shift system). Refer to Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) System in the Driving chapter for more information.

Four-wheel drive low range indicator light

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Instrumentation

Battery Voltage Gauge (Voltmeter)

This gauge shows you the battery voltage when the ignition key is in the ON position.

If the battery is operating under cold weather conditions, the pointer may indicate in the upper range of the NORMAL band while the battery is charging. If you are running electrical accessories with the engine off or idling at a low speed, or the battery is not fully charged, the pointer may move toward the lower end of the NORMAL band.

If it stays outside the NORMAL band, have your vehicle’s electrical system checked as soon as it is safely possible.

Battery voltage gauge — mechanical cluster