1998 Ford Contour Owner's Manual - Page 145

Maintenance and care Checking the automatic transaxle fluid With the vehicle on a level surface and the brake fully applied, start the engine and move the gearshift lever through all of the gears. Securely latch the lever in P (Park). Set parking brake and leave the engine running. Wipe off the dipstick cap and pull the dipstick out. Wipe indicator clean. Put dipstick back into filler tube and make sure it is fully seated. Pull the dipstick out and read the fluid level. Note that your vehicle should not be driven until some fluid has been added if the fluid level is below the bottom dimple on the dipstick and the outside temperature is above 10°C (50°F). Add only enough fluid to bring the level above the bottom hole. If the vehicle has not been driven and the fluid level is above the bottom dimple on the dipstick, don't add fluid. Recheck the level after driving your vehicle approximately 30 km (20 miles) when the engine has reached normal operating temperature. The fluid level should be within the crosshatched area on the dipstick. 145