1997 Ford Contour Owner's Manual - Page 192

Maintenance and Care The power steering fluid reservoir Use only MERCON power steering fluid that meets Ford's Specification or an equivalent. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Under normal circumstances, you do not need to check the fluid level of the transaxle, since your vehicle does not use up transaxle fluid. Refer to the Maintenance Schedule booklet for replacement intervals. However, if the transaxle is not working properly - for instance, the transaxle may slip or shift slowly, or you may notice some sign of fluid leakage - the fluid level should be checked. Checking the Automatic Transaxle Fluid With the vehicle on a level surface and the brake fully applied, start the engine and move the gear shift selector through all of the gears allowing sufficient time for each position to engage. Securely latch the gear shift selector in the P (Park) position. Fully set the parking brake and leave the engine running. 195