brake light LINCOLN CONTINENTAL 1996 Customer Assistance Guide

OFF allows you to shut off the engine and all
accessories without locking the steering wheel, or the
gearshift lever.
ON allows You to test your vehicle's warning lights
(except the brake system warning light) to make sure
they work before you start the engine. The key returns
to the ON position once the engine is started and
remains in this position while the
engine runs.
START cranks the engine. Release the key once the
engine starts so that you do not damage the starter. The
key should return to ON when You release it. The
START position also allows You to test the Brake
Warning Light.
42Removing the Key From the Ignition
1.Put the gearshift in P (Park)-
2.Set the parking brake fully.
3.Turn the ignition key to LOCK.
4.Remove the key.
If the key is stuck in the LOCK position, move the
steering wheel left or right until the key turns freely.
If the driver's door is open while the key is still in the
ignition, a warning chime sounds./! WARNINGAlways set the parking brake fully andmake sure that the gearshift is securelylatched in P (Park).

3.Make sure that the gearshift is in P (Park) and the
parking brake is set before you turn the key.
Before you start your vehicle, you should test the
warning lights on the instrument panel to make sure that
they work. Refer to the Warning Lights and Gauges
chapter.
Starting Your Engine
To start your engine:
1.Follow the steps under Preparing to Start Your
Vehicle at the beginning of this section.
2.Turn the ignition key to the ON position.
3. DO NOT depress the accelerator pedal when
starting your engine. DO NOT use the accelerator
while the vehicle is parked.
444. Turn the key to the START position (cranking)
until the engine starts. Allow the key to return to
the ON position after the engine has started.
If you have difficulty in turning the key, rotate the
steering wheel slightly because it may be binding.
For a cold engine: At temperatures 10° °F (-12° °C) and below: If the
engine does not start in fifteen (15) seconds on the
first try, turn the key to OFF, wait approximately
ten (10) seconds so you do not flood the engine,
then try again. At temperatures above 10° °F (-12° °C): If the
engine does not start in five (5) seconds on the
first try, turn the key to OFF, wait approximately
ten (10) seconds so you do not flood the engine,
then try again.

The following warning lights and gauges are on
the instrument cluster. AD of the warning
lights and gauges alert you to possible
problems with your vehicle.
Indicator Lights and Chimes
Safety Belt Warning Light and Chime
This warning light and chime remind you to
fasten your safety belt. The following
conditions will take place: If the safety belt is not buckled when the
ignition is turned to the ON position, the
chime will turn on for four (4) to eight (8)
seconds and the light will come on for one
to two minutes. If the safety belt is buckled while the light is
on and the chime is sounding, both the light
and chime will turn off.
52 If the safety belt is buckled before the
ignition is turned to the ON position,
neither the light nor the chime will come
on.Brake System Waming Light
The warning light for the brakes can show two
things - that the parking brake is not fully
released, or that the brake fluid level is low in
the master cylinder reservoir. If the fluid level
is low, the brake system should be checked by
your dealer or a qualified service technician.

This light comes on when the parking brake is
set, or if it is not set, it comes on briefly when
you turn the ignition to the START position. It
normally goes off shortly after the engine starts
and you release the parking brake. If the light
stays on after you have fully released the
parking brake, have the hydraulic brake system
serviced by your dealer or a qualified service
technician./!\WARNINGThe BRAKE light indicates that the brakesmay not be working properly. Have thebrakes checked immediately.Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
This light comes on for a few seconds when you
turn the ignition key to the START position. It
should go off shortly after the engine starts. If it
stays on longer than five (5) seconds, it indicates
that your anti-lock brake system may not be
working properly. Normal braking is not affected
unless the BRAKE system warning light also
remains on for longer than six (6) seconds. You
should have your vehicle serviced immediately by
your dealer or qualified service technician to restore
the benefits of the anti-lock feature. See Anti-lock
brakes in the Index for more information.
53

Traction ControlÒ Ò Active Light (If
equipped)
This light comes on when the Traction
ContronÒ system begins applying and releasing
the brakes and adjusting the engine
characteristics to limit a wheelspin condition.
It will be lit for a minimum of six seconds or
for the duration of the Traction ControlÒ
event.T/CACTIVECharging System Light
This light indicates that your battery is not being
charged and that you need to have the electrical
system begins applying and releasing the brakes
and system checked.55

The button that controls the rear window
defroster and heated outside rearview mirrors
Clear away any snow that is on the rear window
and outside rearview mirrors before using the
defroster. With the engine running, push the
defroster button.
After approximately 10 minutes, the defroster
will turn off. If the window or mirrors are still
not clear, turn the defroster on again.The defroster will turn off when the ignition key is
turned to the OFF or START position.
The heating elements are bonded to the inside of
the rear window. Do not use sharp objects to
scrape the inside of the rear window or use
abrasive cleaners to clean it. Doing so could
damage the heating elements.
The Interior and Exterior Lights
Daytime Running Light System
(Canadian vehicles only)
The Daytime Running Light (DRL) system turns
the high beam headlamps on, with a reduced light
output, when:
œ The headlamp system is in the OFF position,
and
œ The vehicle is running, and
œ The vehicle has a fully released parking brake.
81

NOTE: If your speed increases above your set
speed while driving in (Overdrive) on a
downhill grade, you may want to shift to D
(Drive) to reduce vehicle speed. The speed
control cannot reduce the vehicle speed if it goes
above your set speed on a downhill grade. For
the best fuel economy during normal driving
conditions, leave the shift select in (Overdrive), or resume as soon as practical./! WARNINGDo not use the speed control in heavytraffic or on roads that are winding,slippery, or unpaved.Accelerating With the Speed Control
Operating
You can use the accelerator pedal to speed up
momentarily. When you take your foot off the
accelerator, the vehicle will return to the set
speed.Resetting the Speed Control
To reset the speed control to a lower speed, use
one of the following procedures: COAST - Press and hold the COAST switch.
Release the switch when the vehicle slows down
to the desired speed. Lightly tap the brake pedal. When the vehicle
attains the desired speed, press the SET
ACCEL switch and release it immediately. TAP-DOWN - Press and release the COAST
switch momentarily for each m.p.h. (1.6 km/h)
reduction in speed desired.
If vehicle speed is reduced below 30 mph (50
km/h) by any of the above methods, then you must
manually accelerate to a speed over 30 mph (50
km/h) and reset the system.
97

To reset the speed control to a higher speed,
follow one of these procedures: ACCEL - Press and hold the SET ACCEL
switch. Release the switch when the vehicle
has accelerated to the desired speed. Depress the accelerator pedal. When the
vehicle attains the desired speed, press the
SET ACCEL switch and release it
immediately. TAP-UP - Press and release the SET ACCEL
switch momentarily for each m.p.h. (1.6 km/h)
increase in speed desired.
To Cancel Speed Control
Speed control can be cancelled at any time by
pressing the brake pedal slightly. After
cancelling, you can return to the speed you set by
pressing the RES switch, or set a new speed by
pressing the SET ACCEL or COAST switches.
98To Turn Speed Control Off
Press the OFF switch.
Speed control is also turned OFF each time the
vehicle ignition is shut off.
Cancelling and Resuming a Set Speed
If you press the brake pedal, speed control is
suspended. You can return to the set speed by
pressing the RES switch, as long as you did not
press the OFF switch. You must be driving at least
30 mph (48 km/h).
Your vehicle will gradually return to the previously
set speed and then maintain it.

In general, this system improves your vehicle's
stability and acceleration performance when road
conditions warrant. Traction ControlÔ is fully
effective at all vehicle speeds.
If the Traction ControlÔ system is cycled
excessively, the brake portion of the system will shut
down to prevent the front brakes from overheating.
A limited Traction ControlÔ function using engine
torque will still control wheels from spinning. A
cooling down period is required to prevent damage
to the brakes. This time period varies and depends
on brake usage during the cooling down period.
Anti-Lock braking is not affected and will function
normally during the cool down period.
After the cool down period, the full Traction
ControlÔ' function is restored.Steering Your Vehicle
Your vehicle comes with power steering.
Power steering uses energy from the engine to
help steer your vehicle.
If the amount of effort needed to steer your
vehicle changes, check your steering effort
selection in the Message Center. If this is not
the problem, have the power steering system
checked. If the power steering system breaks
down (or if the engine is turned off), you can
steer the vehicle manually but it takes more
effort.
The steering system in your vehicle is speed
sensitive. This means that the steering effort is
light for parking and heavier for highway
driving. However, if you have to swerve
around an object or another vehicle, your
steering will have full power assist.
185

Brakes
Applying the Brakes
Your vehicle has anti-lock disc brakes on all four
wheels. They adjust automatically as the brake pads
wear down.
When you press down hard on the brake pedal, the
wheels will not lock and slide. The Anti-lock Brake
System (ABS) automatically starts releasing and
reapplying the front brakes independently and the
rear brakes together whenever your wheels start to
lock. When this happens, you will feel the brake
pedal pulsate. This is an indication that the ABS
system is working correctly and is normal.
Each time you turn the ignition key to the ON
position, the anti-lock brake system will function
through one test cycle. When this happens, the ANTI-
LOCK light will come on for up to five seconds and a
clunk may be felt in the pedal. If the light stays on
longer than five seconds, shut off theengine and restart. If it remains on, it means the
anti-lock brake system is disabled and should be
serviced immediately to restore the benefits of
the anti-lock feature. Normal braking is not
affected unless the brake warning light is also lit.
The And-lock Brake System has self-check
capabilities. As described above, the system
turns on the ANTI-LOCK light each time you
start your engine. After the engine is started
and the ANTI-LOCK light turns off, the system
performs another test the first time the vehicle
reaches 14 m.p.h. (22 km/h). The system turns
on the ABS pump motor for approximately 1/2
second. At this time, a mechanical noise may
be heard. This is a normal part of the self-
check feature. If a malfunction is found during
this check the ANTI-LOCK light will come on.
Do not drive with your foot resting on the
brake pedal; you will wear out the linings and
increase your vehicle's stopping distance.
Brake rotor damage may also eventually occur.
187