Ford Mercury Villager 1997 Owner's Manual page 298

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 cells.
NOTE: If your battery has a cover/shield, make sure it is
re-installed after the battery is replaced.
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 cells 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.
Battery recycling symbol
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