1997 Ford Contour Owner's Manual - Page 117

Starting Fuel-Injected Engines When starting a fuel-injected engine, the most important thing to remember is to avoid pressing down on the accelerator before or during starting. Only use the accelerator when you have problems getting your vehicle started. See Starting Your Engine in this chapter for details about when to use the accelerator while you start your vehicle. Starting Your Vehicle Preparing to Start Your Vehicle RWARNING Do not start your vehicle in a closed garage or in other enclosed areas. Exhaust fumes can be toxic. Always open the garage door before you start the engine. Before you start your vehicle, do the following: 1. Make sure all occupants in the vehicle buckle their safety belts. See Safety Restraints in the Index for more details. 2. Make sure your headlamps and other accessories are turned off and the parking brake is set. 3. If you have a manual transaxle, make sure that the parking brake is fully set, push the clutch pedal to the floor, and put the gearshift into Neutral before you turn the key. (Remember, the starter will operate only if the clutch pedal is pushed all the way to the floor.) If you have an automatic transaxle, make sure that the gearshift is in P (Park) and the parking brake is set before you turn the key. Before you start your vehicle, you should test the warning lights on the instrument panel to make sure that they work. Refer to the Instrumentation chapter. 117