2001 Mercury Cougar Owner Guide 2nd Printing - Page 203

Maintenance and care Precautions when servicing your vehicle Be especially careful when inspecting or servicing your vehicle. Here are some general precautions for your safety: • Do not work on a hot engine. The cooling fan is automatic and may come on at any time. Always disconnect the negative terminal of the battery before working near the fan. • If you must work with the engine running, avoid wearing loose clothing or jewelry that could get caught in moving parts. Take precautions with long hair. • Do not work on a vehicle with the engine running in an enclosed space, unless you are sure you have enough ventilation. • Keep all lit cigarettes, open flames and other lit material away from the battery and all fuel related parts. If you disconnect the battery, the engine must relearn" its idle conditions before your vehicle will drive properly, as explained under Battery in this chapter.