1998 Ford Windstar Owner Guide 1st Printing - Page 290

Maintenance and Care If you see any corrosion on the battery cables or terminals, remove the cables from the terminal(s) and clean 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 will be replaced with a Motorcraft service battery, identical in design technology. Like the original equipment battery, it should not require water addition during its normal life of service; however, for severe service usage or in high temperature climates, check your battery electrolyte level, at least every 24 months or 24,000 miles (40 000 km). Do not overfill the battery cell. If the electrolyte level in your battery gets low, you can add plain tap water to the battery, as long as you do not use hard water (water with a high mineral or alkali content). If possible, however, try to only fill the battery cell with distilled water. If the battery needs water often, have the charging system checked. Help Us Protect Our Environment Ford Motor Company strongly recommends that used lead-acid batteries be returned to an authorized recycling facility for disposal. 291