1996 Mercury Mystique Owner's Manual - Page 215

Servicing Your Mystique RWARNING Applying too much pressure on the ends when lifting a battery could cause acid to spill. Lift the battery with a carrier or with your hands on the opposite corners. Help Us Protect Our Environment Ford Motor Company strongly recommends that used lead-acid batteries be returned to an authorized recycling facility for disposal. Battery recycling symbol Disconnecting the Battery Because your vehicle engine is electronically controlled by a computer, some control conditions are maintained by power from the battery. If you ever disconnect the battery or install a new battery, you must allow the computer to "relearn" its idle conditions before your vehicle will drive properly. To begin this process, put the gearshift in P (Park) (automatic transaxle) or Neutral (manual transaxle), set the emergency brake, turn off all the accessories, and start the vehicle. Bring the engine to normal operating temperature. Allow the manual transaxle to idle for one minute in Neutral. Allow the automatic transaxle engine to idle for one minute in N (Neutral) and one minute in D (Drive). Perform the previous procedure with the air conditioning (if equipped) on and off (conditions permitting). The relearning process will complete automatically as you drive the vehicle. 219