1998 Mercury Grand Marquis Owner Guide 1st Printing - Page 122

Maintenance and care Keep batteries out of reach of children. Batteries contain sulfuric acid. Avoid contact with skin, eyes or clothing. Shield your eyes when working near the battery to protect against possible splashing of acid solution. In case of acid contact with skin or eyes, flush immediately with water for a minimum of 15 minutes and get prompt medical attention. If acid is swallowed, call a physician immediately. Because your vehicle's engine is electronically controlled by a computer, some control conditions are maintained by power from the battery. When the battery is disconnected or a new battery is installed, the engine must relearn its idle conditions before your vehicle will drive properly. To begin this process: 1. Put the gearshift in P (Park), turn off all accessories and start the engine. 2. Let the engine idle for at least one minute. 3. The relearning process will automatically complete as you drive the vehicle. • If you do not allow the engine to relearn its idle, the idle quality of your vehicle may be adversely affected until the idle is eventually relearned. • If the battery has been disconnected or a new battery has been installed, the clock and the preset radio stations must be reset once the battery is reconnected. • Always dispose of automotive batteries in a responsible manner. Follow your community's standards for disposal. Call your local recycling center to find out more about recycling automotive batteries. WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES Check the wiper blades at least twice a year or when they seem less effective. Substances such as tree sap and some hot wax treatments used by commercial car washes reduce the effectiveness of wiper blades. Checking the wiper blades If the wiper blades do not wipe properly, clean both the windshield and wiper blades using undiluted windshield wiper solution or a mild 122