warning light LINCOLN CONTINENTAL 1996 Customer Assistance Guide

Driving in Bad Weather
Slippery roads
On some slippery road surfaces, front-wheel drive
may provide better acceleration than rear-wheel
drive. However, this does not mean that your
vehicle can stop any faster or any better than a
vehicle with rear-wheel drive. Exercise the same
caution while driving on slippery roads with your
front-wheel drive vehicle as you would with a rear-
wheel drive vehicle. Do not quickly move the steering wheel unless
necessary. Drive slower than you normally would. Give your vehicle more distance to stop./!\ WARNINGTo avoid skidding and losing control onslippery roads, do not downshift into First(1) when you are moving faster than 20mph (32 km/h)./!\ WARNINGIf your vehicle has speed control, do notuse it on slippery roads. You could losecontrol of your vehicle and could injuresomeone.If your vehicle gets stuck (for example, in mud
or snow), you may try to "rock" it out of the
spot. Shift, in a steady rhythm, between
forward and reverse gears. While in each gear,
press lightly on the accelerator and release.
191

To connect the trailer's safety chains:
1. Cross the chains under the trailer tongue and
attach them to your vehicle's frame or hook
retainers. Never attach the safety chains to your
vehicle's bumper. The bumper is not designed to
bear the weight of a trailer.
2. Make sure that you leave enough slack in the
chains to allow you to turn corners.
If you use a rental trailer, follow the instructions that
the rental agency gives you.
Connecting the trailer's brakes
Electric brakes and manual, automatic, or surge-type
hydraulic brakes are safe if you install them properly
and adjust them according to the manufacturer's
instructions. Be sure that your trailer's brakes meet
local and federal regulations.
Separate trailer brakes of adequate size should be
used for trailers weighing over 1.000 lbs. (454 kg)
loaded weight./!\ WARNINGDo not connect a trailer's hydraulicbrake system directly to your vehicle'sbrake system. Your vehicle may nothave enough braking power and yourchances of having a collision greatlyincrease.Connecting the trailer's lights
Do not connect a trailer's fighting system
wiring directly to your vehicle's fighting
system wiring. To get the proper equipment
for hooking up your trailer's lights, see your
local trailer dealer and your Ford dealer. Be
sure to follow their instructions carefully.
If you do not install trailer lights correctly, you
may cause damage to the vehicle's hghting
system.
197

Roadside EmergenciesJump-Starting Your Vehicle
Your vehicle's battery may die if you leave the lights
on or any electrical equipment on after you turn the
engine off. If this happens, you may be able to
jump-start from a booster battery to start your
vehicle./! WARNINGThe gases around the battery can explode ifexposed to flames, sparks, or lit cigarettes.An explosion could result in injury or vehicledamage./! WARNINGTo protect yourself when charging a battery,always shield your face and eyes. Make surethat you can breathe fresh air./! WARNINGApplying too much pressure on the ends whenlifting a battery could cause acid to spill. Liftthe battery with a carrier or with your handson the opposite comers.199

3.Block the wheels. This will prevent your
vehicle from moving unexpectedly.
Working with the engine on:
1. Set the parking brake fully and make sure that
the gearshift is securely latched in P (Park).
2.Block the wheels. This will prevent your
vehicle from moving unexpectedly./! WARNINGDo not start your engine with the aircleaner removed and do not remove it whilethe engine is running./! WARNINGThe cooling fan is automatic and may comeon at any time. Always disconnect thenegative terminal of the battery beforeworking near the fan.234If the battery is disconnected' the computer must
releam its idle control. See Battery in the Index.
NOTE: The engine compartment light may be
switched on or off at the light assembly. The light
assembly is located on the hood on the driver's side.
To turn the light on, pull the switch toward you; to
turn it off, push it away from you. The switch may
remain in the on position at all times, as the light will
turn off when the hood is closed.
Opening the Hood
1. Inside the vehicle, pull the hood release handle
located under the bottom left comer of the
instrument panel.

/!\ WARNINGIf you do not use the proper fuel cap, thepressure in the fuel tank can damage the fuelsystem or cause it to work improperly in acollision.NOTE: If you replace your fuel cap with an
aftermarket fuel filler cap, the customer warranty
may be void for any damage to the fuel tank and/or
fuel system.
Choosing the Right Fuel
Use only PREMIUM UNLEADED FUEL in your
vehicle. Using leaded fuel is prohibited by federal
law. Your warranty may not apply if your vehicle is
damaged because you used the wrong fuel.
Octane recommendations
The 4.6L engine is designed to operate on
premium fuel with an octane rating of 91 or
higher. Regular fuel with an octane rating of 87
240may be used if necessary. For optimum
performance, premium fuel is recommended.Typical octane rating label
In some parts of the country, "premium" grade fuels
are sold with octane ratings of less than 91,
especially in high altitude areas. It is recommended
that you use only those "premium" fuels with an
octane rating of 91 or higher.
Do not be concerned if your vehicle sometimes
knocks lightly when you drive up a hill or when you
accelerate. However, see your dealer or a qualified
service technician if persistent, heavy knocking
occurs because this can damage the engine.

/! WARNINGAlways replace a fuse with one that has thespecified amperage rating. Using a fuse witha higher amperage rating can cause severewire damage and could start a fire.5.Align the edge of the cover with the edge of
the fuse panel and push the cover up until it
latches.
Even after you replace a fuse, it will continue to
blow if you do not find what caused the overload.
If the fuse continues to blow, have your electrical
system checked.
Lights and Bulb Replacement
It is a good idea to check the operation of the
following lights ftequently: headlamps high-mount brakelamp tail lamps brakelamps hazard flasher turn signals side markers license plate lamp
The alignment of your headlamps should be
checked if: oncoming motorists frequently signal you to
turn off your vehicle's high beams when you do
not have the high beams on the headlamps do not seem to give you enough
light to see clearly at night
277

the headlamp beams are pointed substantially
away from a position slightly down and to the
right
Headlamp Bulb
The headlamps on your vehicle use replaceable
bulbs. When the lamp bums out, simply replace
the bulb, rather than the whole lamp./!\ WARNINGHandle a halogen headlamp bulb carefullyand keep out of children's reach. Grasp thebulb only by its plastic base and do nottouch the glass. The oil from your handcould cause the bulb to break the next timethe headlamps are operated.278Removing the headlamp bulb
Do not remove the burned-out bulb unless you can
immediately replace it with a new one. If a bulb is
removed for an extended period of time,
contaminants may enter the headlamp housing and
affect its performance.
Rear face of bulb socket Reflector Flat side of plastic base bulb retaining ringParts of a headlamp
Electrical connector Lock Unlock

Bulb specifications
FunctionTrade numberExterior illuminationBackup lamp3156Cornering lamp3156Headlamp9007High-mount brakelamp912License plate lamp168Luggage compartment lamp912Side marker - front lamp916NA*Side marker - rear lamp194Turn signal and park lamp - front3457NA*Turn signal, stoplamp and tail lamp
- rear3157Redundant turn - rear3157Decklid reflector168Instrument panel lightsElectronic automatic temperature
control***Air bag readiness light37Anti-lock warning lamp37And-theft warning lamp37Ash receptacle1445Ash ttay - rear doors37Clock***FunctionTradenumberInstrument panel lights (continued)Cluster illumination***Cluster control button37Compact disc player**Glove compartment194Headlamp switch nomenclature37Message center control buttons***“PRN@D I" bulb (floor console)194Rear window defrost switchnomenclature37Radio**Warning lights (cluster)37Interior courtesy lampsCigar lighter (door mounted)1893Door mounted lamp (front and rear)214-2Illuminated visor mirror (passenger)74Overhead console-reading lamps (without
moon roof)211-2Passenger assist handle (rear seat)211-2Under instrument panel906*NA means Natural Amber.
**Refer bulb replacement to a Ford -authorized radio service
center.
***Refer bulb replacement to a Ford or Lincoln-Mercury
dealer.
283

Ford strongly recommends the use of genuine Ford
replacement parts. If other than Ford or
Motorcraft parts or Ford authorized
remanufactured parts are used for maintenance
replacements or for the service of components
affecting emission control, such non-Ford parts
should be equivalent to genuine Ford Motor
Company parts in performance and durability. It is
the owner's responsibility to determine the
equivalency of such parts. Please consult your
warranty booklet for complete warranty
information./!\ WARNINGDo not park, idle, or drive your vehicle in drygrass or other dry ground cover. Theemission system heats up the enginecompartment and exhaust system, which canstart a fire.Watch for fluid leaks, strange odors, smoke, loss
of oil pressure, the charge warning light, the checkengine light, or the temperature warning light. These
sometimes indicate that the emission system is not
working properly.
Do not make any unauthorized changes to your
vehicle or engine. Changes that cause more unburned
fuel to reach the exhaust system can increase the
temperature of the engine or exhaust system.
By law, anyone who manufactures, repairs, services,
sells, leases, trades vehicles, or supervises a fleet of
vehicles is not permitted to intentionally remove an
emission control device or prevent it from working.
In some of the United States and in Canada, vehicle
owners may be liable if their emission control device
is removed or is prevented from working.
Do not drive your vehicle if it does not operate
properly. See your dealer if the engine runs on for
more than five seconds after you shut it off or if it
misfires, surges, stalls, or backfires.
285

Brake warning indicator Engine oil pressure light Traction control active light Charging system warning light Fuel gauge ANTI
THEFT active light Service engine soon warning light Engine coolant temperature gauge Safety belt light Turn signal indicator lights High beam light
Air bag readiness light Speedometer Tachometer Anti-theft active light Anti-lock brake warning indicator Message center Odometer304