LINCOLN CONTINENTAL 1997 Owner's Manual

17
OdometerThe odometer tells you the total number of miles
(kilometers) your vehicle has been driven.
If the odometer displays the word Error, please
contact your dealer for service.SpeedometerThe speedometer tells you how many miles
(kilometers) per hour your vehicle is moving.TachometerThe tachometer displays the approximate engine
revolutions per minute (rpm), or how fast the
engine is running.
You can drive your vehicle at most rpm points on
the tachometer but you must stay out of the red
zone.
If you drive with the tachometer in the red zone,
you may damage the engine.
Engine Coolant Temperature GaugeThis gauge indicates the temperature of the engine
coolant, not the coolant level. If the coolant is not
at its proper level or mixture, the gauge indication
will not be accurate.
The pointer moves from the C (cold) mark into the
NORMAL band as the engine coolant warms up. It
is acceptable for the pointer to fluctuate within the
NORMAL band under normal driving conditions.
Under certain driving conditions such as, heavy stop
and go traffic, or driving up hills in hot weather,
the pointer may indicate at the top of the NORMAL
band.
If, under any circumstances, the pointer moves
above the NORMAL band, the engine is overheating
and continued operation may cause engine damage.
If your engine overheats:
1. Pull off the road as soon as it is safely possible.
2. Turn off the engine.
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183. Let the engine cool.DO NOT REMOVE
COOLANT SYSTEM FILL CAP UNTIL THE
ENGINE IS COOL.
4. Check the coolant level following the
instructions on checking and adding coolant to
your engine, seeEngine Coolantin the Index.
If you do not follow these instructions, you or
others could be injured.
If the coolant continues to overheat, have the
coolant system serviced as soon as possible.Fuel GaugeThe fuel gauge displays approximately how much
fuel you have in the fuel tank. The ignition switch
must be in the OFF position while filling the tank
with at least three gallons (11 liters) for the fuel
gauge to indicate the new level. If the ignition is
left ON or less than 3 gallons (11 liters) of fuel are
added the fuel gauge will not immediately indicate
the new fuel level. The gauge will gradually correct
itself to indicate the true fuel level.
The Electronic Message Center
(M/C)The Electronic Message Center only works when
the ignition is in the ON position.
Each time the M/C is powered the display goes
through a self test by displaying the PLEASE
FASTEN SEATBELT message. This self test is used
to stabilize the systems before reporting the status
to you.
The message center tells you about the condition of
your vehicle by two methods:q
operator selectable features
q
continuous warning reporting of monitored
systems
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19
You can select different features for the M/C to
display by using the message center control buttons
located to the right of the instrument cluster. You
will hear a tone when you press one of these
buttons. However, if the M/C detects a warning
from any of the monitored systems, then the M/C
will display the appropriate warning message.Operator Selectable Features
Cluster Control Buttons and Message Center
Control Buttons
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20These features are controlled by the message center
(M/C) control buttons located to the right of the
instrument cluster.System CheckPressing the SYSTEM CHECK button causes the
M/C to cycle through a status of each of the
systems being monitored. For each of the monitored
systems, the M/C will indicate either an OK
message or a warning message for three seconds.
The sequence of the system check report is as
follows:q
Washer Fluid Level
q
Ride Control
q
Oil Level
q
Engine Coolant Level
q
Voltage Level
q
Engine Temperature
q
Doors Closed (Driver and Right Side)
q
Trunk Closed
q
Exterior Lamps (Head, Front Turn, Brake and
Tail)
q
Distance to Empty
q
Fuel Level
q
Traction Control (if equipped)
System WarningsSystem warnings alert you to possible problems or
malfunctions in your vehicle's operating systems.
There are up to 18 warning messages which can be
displayed by the M/C to show the status of the
monitored systems. The M/C will display the last
selected feature if there are no more warning
messages. This allows you to use the full
functionality of the M/C after you acknowledge the
warning by pressing the RESET button and clearing
the warning message.
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Warning messages that have been reset are divided
into two categories. They will reappear on the
display ten minutes from the reset or they will not
reappear until an ignition OFF-ON cycle has been
completed. This reappearing of warning messages is
a reminder that these warning conditions still exist
within the vehicle.E/MA press of this button allows you to change the
M/C and the Electronic Climate control unit from
English to Metric Units. When you press this button
all displays change from English to Metric or Metric
to English units. The displays remain in the units
you have chosen until you change them again even
after you turn off the vehicle and start it again.TRIPPressing this button will display the first of two trip
odometers. Pressing it again will display the second
Trip Odometer. Pressing RESET will clear ony that
Trip odometer which is displayed.
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22DTE/ECONPressing this button a first time will display
approximately how many miles you can drive before
you run out of fuel, or in other words the Distance
To Empty (DTE). To ensure accuracy, turn the
ignition OFF when you fill the tank.
Pressing this button a second time will allow you to
display your Average Fuel Economy in miles/gallon
or liters/100 kilometers. Your M/C computes this
figure using the distance traveled and rate of fuel
used information. If you want to reset this feature,
press the RESET button while the Average Fuel
Economy feature is displayed.
NOTE:DTE (Distance to Empty) is calculated using
a ªRunning Average Fuel Economyº initialized by
the factory. This value is not the same as the
Average Fuel Economy Display. The Running
Average Economy is based on more than 500 miles
(800 km) of driving history. Also the factory default
for Running Average Economy is reinitialized if the
battery is disconnected.If the FUEL LEVEL ERROR message is displayed
this means that there is a problem with the fuel
indication system and you should contact your
dealer for service as soon as possible.
RESETA press of the RESET button will allow you to reset
the current feature displayed. Warnings, Average
Fuel Economy, and Trip odometers are the only
features which respond to the RESET button.
Distance to Empty (DTE), RIDE/STEER and MENU
are unaffected by pressing the RESET switch.DISPLAYPressing this button will cause the message center
display to turn off. Pressing it again will cause the
display to come on again. Warnings override an off
display and must be reset in order for the display to
be off again.
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RIDE/STEERPressing this button once will allow you to adjust
your RIDE CONTROL settings, between NORMAL,
PLUSH and FIRM. The settings are changed by
pressing the SELECT button while RIDE CONTROL
is displayed.
Pressing the RIDE/STEER button a second time will
allow you to adjust the STEERING EFFORT settings
between NORMAL, LOW, and HIGH. The settings
are changed by pressing the SELECT button while
STEERING EFFORT is displayed.
NOTE:The combination of FIRM RIDE CONTROL
and LOW STEERING EFFORT is undesirable and
cannot be selected.
MENUPressing this button will allow you to change
various convenience settings throughout the vehicle.
The settings for each feature are changed by
pressing the SELECT button.
Pressing the MENU button once will allow you to
enable or disable the EXPRESS WINDOW feature.
This feature allows one tap down operation on the
driver's window using the window switch on the
driver's door armrest.
Pressing MENU again will allow you to enable or
disable the AUTO DOOR LOCK feature. This
feature automatically locks all doors when the driver
shifts out of PARK, all doors are closed, the driver's
seat is occupied, and the vehicle is traveling over
three mph (5 km/h).
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24Pressing MENU again will allow you to enable or
disable the HORN CHIRP feature. When HORN
CHIRP is ON the horn will briefly sound when the
Remote Entry Key Fob LOCK button is pressed.
This verifies the doors have been locked and the
ANTI-THEFT system has been armed (if equipped).
Pressing MENU again will allow you to enable or
disable the SEAT ACCESS feature. When ON, the
driver's seat will move back 2 inches (5 cm) or to
end of seat travel when the vehicle is turned off
and the ignition key is removed. Upon the driver
entering the vehicle and closing the door, the seat
will move forward to its previous position.Pressing MENU again will allow you to enable or
disable the REVERSE MIRRORS feature. When ON,
the outside rearview mirrors tilt down when the
gearshift is placed in R (Reverse). This provides for
an improved view of the side of the vehicle and
curb area when backing up. When you shift out of
REVERSE the mirrors return to their previous
positions.
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Electronic Sound SystemsLuxury Audio System (Analog)
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26Luxury Audio System (Digital)
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