LINCOLN TOWN CAR 1997 Owner's Manual
Page 21 of 305
16If you lose engine oil pressure:
1. Pull off the road as soon as safely possible.
2. Shut off the engine immediately. If you do not
stop the engine as soon as safely possible,
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.
4. If the level is low, add only as much oil as
necessary before you start the engine again. Do
not overfill. Do not operate the engine if the
light is on, regardless of the oil level. Contact
your nearest dealer for further service actions.
For more information about adding oil, seeAdding
engine oilin theMaintenance and Carechapter of
this guide.
Turn Signal Indicator LightsWhen you push the turn signal lever up before
making a right turn, the right side arrow on the
instrument panel flashes.
When you push the turn signal lever down before
making a left turn, the left side arrow on the
instrument panel flashes.
Usually, the turn signals turn off automatically after
you turn your vehicle. If the turn signal continues
to flash after you have made the turn, push the
lever back to the OFF position.
File:03fnist.ex
Update:Mon Jun 17 13:46:47 1996
Page 22 of 305
17
If one or both of your turn indicators do not flash
or stay on continuously, have them serviced as soon
as possible. In the meantime, be sure to use the
accepted hand signals.Speed 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.
This light does not indicate any problems but is
only a convenience to tell when the speed control
is active.Fuel GaugeThe ignition switch must be in the OFF position
before adding fuel to the tank for proper gauge
operation.
A problem is indicated if the fuel gauge bar graph
displays only the top two bars and the bottom two
bars and the digital ªFUEL REMAINº or ªDIST TO
EMPTYº display ªCOº or ªCSº. If this happens,
contact your dealer for service as soon as possible.
File:03fnist.ex
Update:Mon Jun 17 13:46:47 1996
Page 23 of 305
18The fuel gauge symbols indicate the remaining fuel:
ªFº means full, ª1/2º means half-full and ªEº
means empty.
Low fuel alertWhen the fuel level drops to approximately 1/8 of
a tank, a flashing fuel pump symbol is displayed.
If you want to calculate fuel economy, use the
message center buttons instead of the fuel gauge bar
graph indicator. It is likely to give you a much
more accurate figure.
NOTE:At least 2.5 gallons (9.5 liters) of fuel must
be added for the fuel gauge to immediately show
the next level of fuel. If less than 2.5 gallons (9.5
liters) of fuel is added, the gauge will reach the
new level slowly.
File:03fnist.ex
Update:Mon Jun 17 13:46:47 1996
Page 24 of 305
19
Compass Display (If Equipped)The Compass can display direction indicated by N,
S, E, W, NE, NW, SE and SW. The sensor for the
compass display is located on the back side of the
rear view mirror. The Compass can be set to one of
15 geographic zones.
To set the ZONE, first locate the compass module
on the center rear view mirror post. Press and hold
the reset button located on top of the compass
module until the display in the message center
changes to show the current zone setting (1-15).
Release the reset button and press it agian
repeatedly until the current zone is displayed (see
zone map). After 10 seconds the display will return
to normal. Your zone will then be updated.The Compass is continually self-calibrating and
should not require calibration, however a
manual-calibrating mode can be initiated.
NOTE:Compass calibration requires that the
vehicle be driven 2-3 mph (3-5 km/h) in at least
two 360 degree circles. A safe location free of
vehicle and pedestrian traffic will be required. To
manually calibrate the compass, locate the reset
button on the top side of the compass module.
Press and hold the reset button until the Compass
display indicates ªCIRCLE SLOWLYº. Once the
button has been released, slowly drive the vehicle
in circles until the ªCIRCLE SLOWLYº indicator
disappears. This may require several complete
circles.
File:03fnist.ex
Update:Mon Jun 17 13:46:47 1996
Page 25 of 305
20Zone map
Factors Affecting Compass AccuracyThe compass reading can be affected when you
drive near a number of things Ð such as large
buildings, bridges, power lines, and powerful
antennas.
Your compass can also be affected by magnetic or
metallic objects placed in or on the compass sensor
(the sensor is loacated on the inside rearview mirror
bracket). If the compass is giving inaccurate
readings, perform the calibration procedure.SpeedometerThe speedometer tells you how many miles
(kilometers) per hour your vehicle is moving. It
indicates the speed up to 120 mph or up to
199 km/h.
You can press the E/M (English/Metric) button
located just below the message center display to
show the speed you are going in either miles per
hour or kilometers per hour.
File:03fnist.ex
Update:Mon Jun 17 13:46:47 1996
Page 26 of 305
21
OdometerThe odometer tells you the total number of miles or
kilometers your vehicle has been driven. If the
cluster is replaced, and the accumulated mileage on
the odometer is unknown, the replacement cluster
will have the circled ªSº illuminated with zero
miles on the odometer. If the actual vehicle mileage
can be verified, then an authorized service center
can program the actual mileage into the odometer
of the replacement cluster. The actual mileage (if
known) or an estimated mileage (if unknown) is
shown on a label affixed on the door pillar.
Press the E/M (English/Metric) button located just
below the message center display to show miles or
kilometers.
If the odometer displays the word ªERRORº contact
your dealer for service.
The Electronic Message CenterAlong with information the warning lights and
gauges provide, the electronic message center lets
you:q
see problems such as Door Ajar, Air Suspension,
Trunk Ajar, Washer Fluid
q
see how many miles/kilometers you can drive
with the fuel remaining in your tank
q
see how many gallons/liters of fuel are
remaining
q
monitor your average fuel economy
q
monitor your instantaneous fuel economy
q
monitor your average speed
q
check the distance you have travelled during a
trip on either Trip A or Trip B
q
check the distance remaining from a set value
during a trip
File:03fnist.ex
Update:Mon Jun 17 13:46:47 1996
Page 27 of 305
22All of the message center functions are controlled
by the three switches located just below the radio
controls in the center of the instrument panel.q
E/MÐ Changes the electronic instrument
cluster and the electronic temperature control
display to read in either English or Metric units.
q
ResetÐ Sets the selected function to zero (if
resettable).
q
SelectÐ Selects the function. This is a dual
action switch, the right side advances function
to the right, the left side advances function to
the left.
File:03fnist.ex
Update:Mon Jun 17 13:46:47 1996
Page 28 of 305
23
How to use the message centerTo reset any function:
1. Push either the right or left side of the SELECT
button to choose the function you would like
to set.
2. Push the RESET button and the selected
message center function will be reset to zero.
(The only functions which can be reset to zero
are: AVG ECON, TRIP A or TRIP B, and AVG
SPEED.)
What the message center functions can
show youDIST TO EMPTY Ð Distance to Empty
(DTE)
File:03fnist.ex
Update:Mon Jun 17 13:46:47 1996
Page 29 of 305
24This function estimates how many miles or
kilometers you can drive with the fuel remaining in
your tank under standard driving conditions.
Remember to turn off the ignition when filling up
with fuel. Otherwise, the display will not show the
addition of fuel for a few miles.
When you have approximately 50 miles (80 km)
left before you run out of fuel, the DTE function
will flash for five (5) seconds and sound a tone for
one (1) second. The message center will remain in
the DTE function until you push the select button
to change it. This low fuel warning also happens at
25 miles (40 km), and 10 miles (16 km).Displayed DTE will not be equal to AVG ECON
multiplied by the FUEL REMAIN value. This is
because DTE is calculated using a method that
takes into consideration the fuel economy of the
last 500 miles (800 Km) driven.
NOTE:When refueling, at least 2.5 gallons (9.5
litres) of fuel must be added for fuel gauge to
immediately show the next level of fuel.
File:03fnist.ex
Update:Mon Jun 17 13:46:47 1996
Page 30 of 305
25
If ªCOº or ªCSº 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.FUEL REMAIN Ð Fuel Remaining
This function shows you how many gallons (liters)
of fuel you have left in the fuel tank.
If your fuel level is above 20 gallons (75.7 liters),
the letter ªFº (full) will appear on the display. But
if your fuel level has dropped to below 1 gallon (4
liters), the letter ªEº (empty) will appear in the
display.
Because of factors like rounding of numbers and
fuel movement in the tank, your fuel gauge and the
service station fuel pump readings may disagree
slightly.
A problem is indicated if the fuel gauge bar graph
displays only the top two and bottom two bars and
the message center display for Distance To Empty
or Fuel Remaining functions display the letters
ªCOº or ªCSº. If this happens, contact your dealer
for service as soon as possible.
File:03fnist.ex
Update:Mon Jun 17 13:46:47 1996