traction control Mercury Mountaineer 2005 Owner's Manuals

Tires, Wheels and Loading 151
Tire Information 153
Tire Inflation 155
Changing tires 159
Lug Nut Torque 167
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) 177
Vehicle loading 182
Trailer towing 189
Recreational towing 194
Driving 195
Starting 195
Brakes 198
Traction control/AdvanceTrac 201
Transmission operation 205
Roadside Emergencies 219
Getting roadside assistance 219
Hazard flasher switch 220
Fuel pump shut-off switch 220
Fuses and relays 221
Jump starting 231
Wrecker towing 237
Customer Assistance 238
Reporting safety defects (U.S. only) 246
Cleaning 247
Table of Contents
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2005 Mountaineer(mnt)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)

A driver’s first responsibility is the safe operation of the vehicle.
The most important thing you can do to prevent a crash is to
avoid distractions and pay attention to the road. Wait until it is safe to
operate Mobile Communications Equipment.
Rear center console features (if equipped)
The rear center console incorporates the following features:
•Utility compartment
•Cupholders
•Flip forward armrest to provide a
flat load floor
OVERHEAD CONSOLE (IF EQUIPPED)
The appearance of your vehicle’s overhead console will vary according to
your option package.
2005 Mountaineer(mnt)
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USA(fus)
Driver Controls
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Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate of
the tire when tested under controlled conditions on a specified
government test course. For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one
and one-half (1 1/2) times as well on the government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative performance of tires depends upon the actual
conditions of their use, however, and may depart significantly from the
norm due to variations in driving habits, service practices, and
differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction AA A B C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest are AA, A, B, and C. The
grades represent the tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on specified government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.
The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on
straight-ahead braking traction tests, and does not include
acceleration, cornering, hydroplaning or peak traction characteristics.
Temperature A B C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B and C, representing the
tire’s resistance to the generation of heat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the material of the tire
to degenerate and reduce tire life, and excessive temperature can lead to
sudden tire failure. The grade C corresponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by
law.
The temperature grade for this tire is established for a tire that
is properly inflated and not overloaded. Excessive speed,
underinflation, or excessive loading, either separately or in
combination, can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.
TIRES
Tires are designed to give many thousands of miles of service, but they
must be maintained in order to get the maximum benefit from them.
2005 Mountaineer(mnt)
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Tires, Wheels and Loading
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8.U.S. DOT Tire Identification Number (TIN):This begins with the
letters “DOT” and indicates that the tire meets all federal standards. The
next two numbers or letters are the plant code designating where it was
manufactured, the next two are the tire size code and the last four
numbers represent the week and year the tire was built. For example,
the numbers 317 mean the 31st week of 1997. After 2000 the numbers
go to four digits. For example, 2501 means the 25th week of 2001. The
numbers in between are identification codes used for traceability. This
information is used to contact customers if a tire defect requires a recall.
9.M+S or M/S:Mud and Snow, or
AT:All Terrain, or
AS:All Season.
10.Tire Ply Composition and Material Used:Indicates the number of
plies or the number of layers of rubber-coated fabric in the tire tread and
sidewall. Tire manufacturers also must indicate the ply materials in the
tire and the sidewall, which include steel, nylon, polyester, and others.
11.Maximum Load:Indicates the maximum load in kilograms and
pounds that can be carried by the tire. Refer to the Safety Compliance
Certification Label, which is located on the B-Pillar or the edge of the
driver’s door, for the correct tire pressure for your vehicle.
12.Treadwear, Traction and Temperature Grades
•Treadwear:The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the
wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled conditions on a
specified government test course. For example, a tire graded 150
would wear one and one-half (1
12) times as well on the government
course as a tire graded 100.
•Traction:The traction grades, from highest to lowest are AA, A, B,
and C. The grades represent the tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement
as measured under controlled conditions on specified government test
surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance.
•Temperature:The temperature grades are A (the highest), B and C,
representing the tire’s resistance to the generation of heat and its
ability to dissipate heat when tested under controlled conditions on a
specified indoor laboratory test wheel.
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Tires, Wheels and Loading
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tires are flat, repair as necessary. If all tires appear to be inflated,
carefully drive the vehicle to the nearest location where air can be added
to the tires. Turn the ignition to the “off” position. Inflate all the tires to
the recommended cold pressure.
The Tire Pressure Monitoring System complies with part 15 of the FCC
rules and with RS-210 of Industry Canada. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful
interference, and (2) This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired operation.
The Tire Pressure Monitoring System is NOT a substitute for
manually checking tire pressure. The tire pressure should be
checked periodically (at least monthly) using a tire gauge, see
Inspecting and inflating your tiresin this chapter. Failure to
properly maintain your tire pressure could increase the risk of tire
failure, loss of control, vehicle rollover and personal injury.
USING SNOW TIRES AND TRACTION DEVICES
Snow tires must be the same size and grade as the tires you
currently have on your vehicle.
The tires on your vehicle have all-weather treads to provide traction in
rain and snow. However, in some climates, using snow tires or traction
devices may be necessary. Ford offers tire cables as a Ford approved
accessory and recommends use of these or SAE class “S” tire cables. See
your dealer or qualified service technician for more information on tire
cables for your vehicle.
Follow these guidelines when using snow tires and traction devices:
•Cables or chains should only be used on the rear wheels.
•Install cables or chains securely, verifying that the cables or chains do
not touch any wiring, brake lines or fuel lines.
•Drive cautiously. If you hear the cables or chains rub or bang against
the vehicle, stop and retighten them. If this does not work, remove the
cables or chains to prevent vehicle damage.
•Avoid overloading your vehicle.
•Remove the cables or chains when they are no longer needed.
•Do not use cables or chains on dry roads.
•Do not exceed 30 mph (48 km/h) with tire cables or chains on your
vehicle.
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Tires, Wheels and Loading
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Consult your dealer for information on other Ford approved methods of
traction control.
VEHICLE LOADING – WITH AND WITHOUT A TRAILER
This section will guide you in the proper loading of your vehicle and/or
trailer, to keep your loaded vehicle weight within its design rating
capability, with or without a trailer. Properly loading your vehicle will
provide maximum return of vehicle design performance. Before loading
your vehicle, familiarize yourself with the following terms for determining
your vehicle’s weight ratings, with or without a trailer, from the vehicle’s
Safety Compliance Certification Label:
Base Curb Weight– is the weight of the vehicle including a full tank of
fuel and all standard equipment. It does not include passengers, cargo, or
optional equipment.
Vehicle Curb Weight– is the weight of your new vehicle when you
picked it up from your dealer plus any aftermarket equipment.
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Pull the release lever to release the
brake. Driving with the parking
brake on will cause the brakes to
wear out quickly and reduce fuel
economy.
ADVANCETRACWITH ROLL STABILITY CONTROL (RSC)
STABILITY ENHANCEMENT SYSTEM (IF EQUIPPED)
The AdvanceTrac
system provides a stability enhancement feature as
well as a traction enhancement feature. It helps your vehicle maintain
traction, when driving on slippery and/or hilly road surfaces, by detecting
and controlling wheel spin. Excessive wheel spin is controlled by
momentarily reducing engine power and rapidly applying the anti-lock
brakes. The system is a driver aid which makes your vehicle easier to
handle primarily on snow and ice-covered roads.
If your vehicle should become stuck in deep snow or mud, try switching
the AdvanceTrac
system off by pressing the AdvanceTrac
button. This
will allow your tires to “dig” for traction.
If the AdvanceTrac
system is activated excessively in a short period of
time, the brake portion of the system will shut down to allow the brakes
to cool down. A limited AdvanceTrac
function using only engine power
reduction will still help control the wheels from over-spinning. When the
brakes have cooled down, the system will again function normally.
Anti-lock braking is not affected by this condition and will function
normally during the cool-down period.
AdvanceTrac
enhances your vehicle’s stability during maneuvers that
require all available tire traction, like in wet/snowy/icy road conditions
and/or when performing emergency maneuvers. In an emergency
lane-change, the driver will experience better overall vehicle traction,
and have better control of the vehicle.
The AdvanceTrac
system helps the driver maintain steering control if
the vehicle begins to slide excessively left or right or spin out.
AdvanceTrac
will attempt to correct the sliding motion by applying
brake force at individual tires and, if necessary, by reducing engine
power.
2005 Mountaineer(mnt)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Driving
201

Driving conditions which may activate AdvanceTrac
include:
•Taking a turn too fast.
•Maneuvering quickly to avoid an accident, pedestrian or obstacle.
•Hitting a patch of ice.
•Changing lanes on a snow-rutted road.
•Entering a snow-free road from a snow-covered side street, or vice
versa.
•Entering a paved road from a gravel road, or vice versa.
•Driving on slick surfaces.
•Cornering while towing a heavily loaded trailer (refer toTrailer
towingin theTires, Wheels and Loadingchapter.)
Roll Stability Control System (if equipped)
The Roll Stability Control system works in conjunction with the
AdvanceTrac
system to further enhance the vehicle’s overall stability
during aggressive maneuvers. The system helps maintain roll stability of
the vehicle during aggressive maneuvers by applying brake force to one
or more wheels.
Driving conditions that may activate Roll Stability Control include:
•Emergency lane-change
•Taking a turn too fast
•Quick maneuvering to avoid an accident, pedestrian or obstacle
The AdvanceTrac
/Roll Stability Control system automatically turns on
when the engine is started. However, the system does not function when
the vehicle is traveling in R (Reverse). In R (Reverse), ABS and the
traction enhancement feature will continue to function.
The AdvanceTrac
/Roll Stability
Control button allows the driver to
control the availability of the
AdvanceTrac
/Roll Stability Control
system. AdvanceTrac
/Roll Stability
Control system status is indicated by a warning indicator light with a
“sliding car” icon in the instrument cluster that will flash when the
system is active and an indicator light in the control button that will
illuminate when the system is turned off. In vehicles with a message
center, the message “ADVANCETRAC OFF” will be displayed.
If a failure is detected in the AdvanceTrac
/Roll Stability Control system,
the warning indicator light in the instrument cluster will stay on. If the
2005 Mountaineer(mnt)
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Driving
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warning indicator light in the instrument cluster remains on while the
engine is running, have the system serviced immediately.
Pressing the control once will disable the AdvanceTrac
stability
enhancement/Roll Stability Control and the engine power reduction
portion of the traction enhancement feature; the brake portion of the
traction enhancement feature will still function normally. Pressing and
holding the control for more than five seconds will disable the
AdvanceTrac
stability enhancement/Roll Stability Control and traction
enhancement feature. If the vehicle is stuck in snow or mud or when
driving in deep sand, switching off the AdvanceTrac
system may be
beneficial so the wheels are allowed to spin. If your vehicle seems to lose
engine power while driving in deep sand or very deep snow, switching off
the AdvanceTrac
stability enhancement feature will restore full engine
power and will enhance momentum through the obstacle.
Some drivers may notice a slight movement of the brake pedal when the
AdvanceTrac
performs a system self-check. During AdvanceTrac
/Roll
Stability Control operation you may experience the following:
•A rumble or grinding noise
•A slight deceleration of the vehicle
•The AdvanceTrac
indicator light will flash
•If your foot is on the brake pedal, you will feel a vibration in the
pedal.
•If the driving condition is severe and your foot is not on the brake, the
brake pedal will move to apply higher brake forces. You may also hear
a whoosh of air from under the instrument panel during this severe
condition.
All these conditions are normal during AdvanceTrac
/Roll Stability
Control operation.
Do not alter or modify your vehicle’s suspension or steering; the
resulting changes to the vehicle’s handling can adversely affect
the AdvanceTrac
/Roll Stability Control system.
Note:Pressing the AdvanceTrac
button will disable AdvanceTrac
and
Roll Stability Control.
Aggressive driving in any road conditions can cause you to lose
control of your vehicle increasing the risk of severe personal
injury or property damage. The occurrence of a AdvanceTrac
/Roll
Stability Control event is an indication that at least some of the tires
have exceeded their ability to grip the road; this may lead to an
increased risk of loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover, personal injury
and death. If you experience a severe road event, SLOW DOWN.
2005 Mountaineer(mnt)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Driving
203

D (Drive) with Overdrive
The normal driving position for the
best fuel economy. Transmission
operates in gears one through five.
D (Drive) without Overdrive
Overdrive can be deactivated by
pressing the transmission control
switch on the end of the gearshift
lever.
•This position allows for all forward gears except overdrive.
•O/D OFF lamp is illuminated.
•Provides engine braking.
•Use when driving conditions cause excessive shifting from O/D to
other gears. Examples: city traffic, hilly terrain, heavy loads, trailer
towing and when engine braking is required.
•To return to O/D (overdrive mode), press the transmission control
switch. The O/D OFF lamp will not be illuminated.
•O/D (Overdrive) is automatically returned each time the key is turned
off.
3 (Third)
Transmission operates in third gear only.
Used for improved traction on slippery roads. Selecting 3 (Third)
provides engine braking.
2 (Second)
Use 2 (Second) to start-up on slippery roads or to provide additional
engine braking on downgrades.
1 (First)
•Provides maximum engine braking.
•Allows upshifts by moving gearshift lever.
•Will not downshift into 1 (First) at high speeds; allows for 1 (First)
when vehicle reaches slower speeds.
O/D
OFF
2005 Mountaineer(mnt)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Driving
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