check engine LINCOLN MARK VIII 1997 Owners Manual

11
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning LightThis 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. SeeAnti-lock brakesin the
Index for more information.
Engine Oil Pressure Warning LightThis light indicates the engine's oil pressure, not the
oil level. However, if your engine's oil level is low,
it could affect the oil pressure. The light will come
on briefly when you turn your key to the START
and ON position. The light should stay off when
the engine is running with normal oil pressure. If
the light comes on while the engine is running, you
have lost oil pressure and continued operation will
cause severe engine damage.
If you lose engine oil pressure:
1. Pull off the road as soon as safely possible.
2. Shut off the engine immediately or severe
engine damage could result.
3. Check the engine's oil level, following the
instructions on checking and adding engine oil,
seeEngine Oilin the Index. If you do not
follow these instructions, you or others could
be injured. To assure an accurate reading, your
car should be on level ground.
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13
Cruise Control Indicator LightThis light comes on when the speed control system
is actively maintaining the set speed. It will go off
when the brakes are used or if the speed control is
turned off.
Charging System LightThis light indicates that your battery is not being
charged and that you need to have the electrical
system checked.This light illuminates every time you turn the
ignition to the ON or START position (engine off).
The light should go off when the engine starts and
the alternator begins to charge.
If the light stays on or illuminates when the engine
is running, have the electrical system checked as
soon as possible.
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18The 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.3. 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.
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28
OTo START the Elapsed Time count when it
is stopped without resetting the counter,
briefly press the reset control for less than 2
seconds.
OTo reset the elapsed time counter, hold the
reset control down until the count reads
00:00:00 (about 2 seconds).
CompassPressing the COMPASS control will display one of
the following eight compass displays: North,
Northeast, East, Southeast, South, Southwest, West
and Northwest.
For additional information on the compass operation
and for instructions to adjust the compass, see
Electronic Compassin this chapter.System CheckA press of the SYSTEM CHECK control causes the
M/C to cycle through a status of each of the
systems being monitored. For each of the monitoredsystems, the M/C will indicate either an OK
message or a warning message for two seconds. The
sequence of the system check report is as follows:
q
Engine Oil Life Status
q
Engine Oil Life Left
q
Engine Oil Level
q
Voltage Level
q
Engine Coolant Temperature
q
Engine Coolant Level
q
Washer Fluid Level
q
Doors Closed (Driver and Rightside)
q
Trunk Closed
q
Exterior Lamps (Head, Front Turn, Brake and
Tail)
q
Air Ride System
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29
q
Traction Control (If equipped)
q
Fuel Level
At normal conclusion of the system check sequence,
the M/C will display the last displayed feature
before pressing the SYSTEM CHECK control or the
warnings that are active.
For two of the systems reported in the system
check (Engine Oil Life Left and Fuel Level), there
are two messages to describe the status of the
system. For Engine Oil Life Left, the first message
will indicate the oil change status (OK, SOON,
REQUIRED) and the second message will indicate
the oil life remaining as a percentage. If the second
message is ªOIL TEMP SENSOR OPEN or SHORTº,
this means that there is a problem with the oil
temperature sensor system and you should contact
your dealer for service as soon as possible. For Fuel
Level, the first message will indicate the fuel level
status (OK or LOW) and the second message will
indicate the range (distance to empty).
Message center operation during system
checkThe M/C controls will operate as follows during
the System Check sequence:
1. A press of the SYSTEM CHECK control will
advance the cycle to the next system message
without waiting the two seconds.
2. A press of the RESET control anytime during
this sequence will cause the SYSTEM CHECK
cycle to conclude immediately and the last
displayed feature before pressing SYSTEM
CHECK will be displayed.
3. A press of the FUEL RANGE, FUEL
ECONOMY, TRIP ODO, DRIVER SETTINGS,
VEHICLE SETTINGS, DATE/TIME, or
COMPASS control will conclude the SYSTEM
CHECK cycle and the requested feature will be
displayed.
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33
DRIVER'S DOOR AJARÐ This warning message
is displayed when the driver's door is not
completely closed and the ignition switch is either
ON or in ACC mode.
RIGHT DOOR AJARÐ This warning message is
displayed when the right (passenger side) door is
not completely closed and the ignition switch is
either ON or in ACC mode.
CHECK ENGINE TEMPÐ This warning message
is displayed when the engine coolant is overheating.
Stop the vehicle as soon as safely possible, turn off
the engine and let it cool. Check the coolant and
level, and add coolant as required following the
instructions in theMaintenance and Carechapter.
If you do not follow these instructions, you or
others could be injured. If this warning stays on or
continues to come on, contact your dealer for
service as soon as safely possible.LOW OIL LEVELÐ This warning message is
displayed when your engine oil level is low. If this
warning message is displayed, check the level of the
engine oil.
To check your oil:
1. Park your vehicle on level ground, turn off the
engine and wait at least 5 minutes for the oil
to drain back into the oil pan.
2. Use the dipstick to check the oil. If the level is
low, add oil, but do not overfill.
If you are parked on a steep incline, the LOW OIL
LEVEL warning may come on when you start your
vehicle, even though the oil is at the correct level.
The oil level is monitored while the engine is off,
so that the oil can drain into the oil pan to be
measured. Some after-market devices such as
remote starters, if improperly installed, can cause
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34the engine to start without alerting the oil
monitoring system. This may also cause the LOW
OIL LEVEL warning to come on when you start
your vehicle, even though the oil is at the correct
level.
For further information about adding oil, seeEngine
oilin the index.
CHECK CHARGING SYSTEMÐ This warning
message is displayed when the electrical system is
not maintaining a proper voltage. If you are running
electrical accessories when the engine is idling at a
low speed, turn off as many of the electrical loads
as soon as safely possible. If this warning stays on
or comes on when the engine is operating at
normal speeds, have the electrical system checked
as soon as safely possible.
LOW FUEL LEVELÐ This warning message is
displayed when you have approximately 50 miles
(80 km) or less left before you run out of fuel.LOW ENGINE COOLANTÐ This warning
message is displayed when the engine coolant level
is low. Stop the vehicle as soon as safely possible,
turn off the engine and let it cool. Check the
coolant and level, and add coolant as required
following the instructions in theMaintenance and
Carechapter. If you do not follow these
instructions, you or others could be injured.
ENGINE TEMP DATA ERRÐ This warning
message is displayed when the engine coolant
temperature information is missing or invalid. Check
the instrument cluster temperature gauge to assure
the engine is not overheating. If it is, stop the
vehicle as soon as safely possible, turn off the
engine and let it cool. Check the coolant and level
following the instructions in theMaintenance and
Carechapter. If you do not follow these
instructions, you or others could be injured. Contact
your dealer for service as soon as safely possible to
correct the engine temperature data error.
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CHECK TRANS-MISSIONÐ This warning
message is displayed when the transmission is not
operating properly. If this warning stays on or
comes on, contact your dealer for transmission
service as soon as safely possible.
TRANS-MISSION OVERHEATÐ This warning
message is displayed when the transmission is
overheating. This warning may appear when towing
heavy loads, or driving in a low gear at high speed
for an extended period of time. Stop the vehicle as
soon as safely possible, turn off the engine and let it
cool. Check the transmission fluid and level
following the instructions in theMaintenance and
Carechapter. If this warning stays on or continues
to come on, contact your dealer for transmission
service as soon as safely possible.CHECK BRAKE LAMPSÐ This warning message
is displayed when you turn on the brake lamps and
at least one of them is burned out. Check the
lamps as soon as safely possible, and have the
burned out lamp replaced following the instructions
in theMaintenance and Carechapter. Note the
center high mounted stop lamp is not monitored.
CHECK HEADLAMPSÐ This warning message is
displayed when you turn on the headlamps and at
least one of them is burned out. Check the lamps
as soon as safely possible, and have the burned out
lamp replaced following the instructions in the
Maintenance and Carechapter. Note the high
beam lamps are not monitored.
CHECK TAIL LAMPSÐ This warning message is
displayed when you turn on the tail lamps and at
least one of them is burned out. Check the lamps
as soon as safely possible, and have the burned out
lamp replaced following the instructions in the
Maintenance and Carechapter.
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37
AIR RIDE SWITCH OFFÐ This warning message
is displayed when the AIR SUSPENSION SERVICE
SWITCH is in the OFF position. The air suspension
service switch is located in the vehicle trunk in the
jack stowage area on the left side. For more
information refer to theAir Suspensionsection in
theDrivingchapter.
CHECK AIR RIDE SYSTEMÐ This warning
message is displayed when the Air Suspension
System is not operating properly. If this warning
message is displayed while driving, pull off the road
as soon as safely possible. If the vehicle is loaded
beyond the recommended maximum payload, the
ªCHECK AIR RIDE SYSTEMº message may be
displayed. This is a normal condition if the vehicle
is overloaded. To correct this condition, remove or
redistribute the payload per the recommended
maximum requirements. Turn the ignition switch
from ON to OFF to ON again. If the warning
message reappears, turn the Air Suspension Service
Switch (located in the vehicle trunk in the jackstowage area on the left side) OFF and contact your
dealer for service as soon as safely possible. For
further information refer to theAir Suspension
section in theDrivingchapter.
CHANGE OIL SOON/OIL CHANGE
REQUIREDÐ This warning message is displayed
when the engine oil life remaining is 5% or less.
When Oil Life Left is between 5% and 0%, the
ªCHANGE OIL SOONº message will be displayed.
When Oil Life Left reaches 0%, the ªOIL CHANGE
REQUIREDº message will be displayed.
An oil change is required whenever indicated by
the Message Center. USE ONLY RECOMMENDED
ENGINE OILS (seeEngine Oilin the Index).
The Message Center will tell you the percent of oil
left during System Check. This percentage is based
on your driving history and the time since your last
oil change. In order to ensure accurate oil life left
indications, you should only perform the following
OIL CHANGE RESET Procedure after you have the
oil changed.
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45
Check Engine Warning LightThis light illuminates when the engine's Emission
Control System requires service. It will also
illuminate when the ignition key is in the ON
position and the engine is off.
Air Bag Readiness LightThe air bag system uses a readiness light and a tone
to indicate the condition of the system. The
readiness light is in the instrument cluster. When
you turn the ignition key to the ON position, this
light will light up for six (6) seconds and then turn
off. This indicates that the system is operating
normally. NOTE: Regularly scheduled maintenance
of the air bag system is not required.
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