Mercury 1996 Cougar Manual page 249

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
Because your vehicle's 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 let the
engine do this, put the gearshift in P (Park), turn
off all the accessories, and start the vehicle. Let
the engine idle for at least one minute. (Engine
must be warm in order to "learn.") Also, allow
approximately 10 miles (16 km) of stop and go
traffic for your vehicle's engine to completely
"relearn" its idle.
NOTE: If your vehicle is equipped with a 4.6L
engine you will need to perform
additional steps after the battery has
been disconnected, jump started or
replaced. See Readiness for
Inspection/Maintenance Testing in
Servicing Your Vehicle chapter.
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