1997 Ford Taurus Owner Guide 1st Printing - Page 132

Maintenance and care 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. Servicing your battery The low-maintenance battery has removable vent caps for checking electrolyte level and adding water. Check electrolyte level every 24 months or 40,000 km (24,000 miles) in an average temperature of 32°C (90°F). Keep the electrolyte level in each cell up to the level indicator. Do not overfill. If the level gets low, refill the battery with distilled water. If necessary, distilled water may be substituted with tap water that is not hard or has a high mineral or alkali content. If the battery needs water quite often, have the charging system checked for a possible malfunction. 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 you vehicle will drive properly. To begin this process: 1. Put the gearshift in P (Park), turn off all accessories and start the vehicle. 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. 133