1996 Mercury Villager Owner Guide 1st Printing - Page 323

Servicing Your Villager Cleaning the Wheels Wash the wheels with the same detergent you use to wash your vehicle's body. Do not use acid-based wheel cleaners, steel wool, abrasives, fuel, or strong detergents. These substances will damage protective coatings. Use tar and road oil remover to remove grease and tar. If you have whitewall tires that are difficult to clean with regular detergent, use whitewall tire cleaner. Follow the directions on the container and rinse the tires with plenty of clean water. NOTE: Before going to a car wash, find out if the brushes are abrasive. Battery The Motorcraft low-maintenance battery requires periodic service as detailed below. The low-maintenance battery has removable vent caps for checking the electrolyte level and for adding water, if needed. For longer, trouble-free operation, keep the top of the battery clean and dry. Also, make certain the battery cables are tightly fastened to the battery terminals. If you see any corrosion on the battery cables or terminals, remove the cables from the terminal and clean them both with a wire brush. You can neutralize the acid with a solution of baking soda and water. Reinstall the cables when you are done cleaning them, and apply a small quantity of grease to the top of each battery terminal to help prevent corrosion. Battery replacement If your original equipment battery requires replacement while under warranty, it may be replaced by a Motorcraft low-maintenance battery. The low-maintenance battery has removable vent caps for checking the electrolyte level and for adding water, if needed. 329