engine overheat Mercury Villager 1998 Owner's Manuals

Under any circumstances, if the pointer moves past the upper
limit of the NORMAL band, the engine is overheating and engine
damage may occur.
If your engine overheats:
1. Pull off the road as soon as it is safely possible.
2. Turn off the engine. If you do not stop the engine as soon as
safely possible, severe engine damage could result.
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.
5. Refer toAdding Engine Coolantin theMaintenance and Care
chapter. Add as much coolant as your engine needs. If the engine
continues to overheat, have the cooling system serviced.
Speedometer
The speedometer tells you how many miles (kilometers) per hour
your vehicle is moving.
Engine coolant temperature gauge
Instrumentation
19

The electronic cluster has all of the same warning lights as the
mechanical cluster, however, some of the gauges will be electronic
instead of analog. In addition, the electronic cluster has a fuel
computer which displays fuel economy, distance to empty and
outside air temperature.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge
This gauge shows you the temperature of the engine coolant and
is identified by a thermometer symbol. The letter H means
that the coolant is hot, C means that it is cold, and NORMAL
means that the coolant is within the normal operating range.
The indicator bar on the graph will move into the normal operating
range as the engine warms up. When you are in heavy traffic
or stop-and-go driving in hot weather, the gauge may read at the
very top of the NORMAL range. This is acceptable.
However, if the indicator bar on the graph moves into the H
(hot) position, the engine is overheating and may be damaged. If
this happens, you should stop your vehicle as soon as safely
possible. Turn off the engine and let it cool. Check the coolant level
to be sure that it is at the proper level. If your vehicle needs
more coolant, seeEngine coolantin the Index and read the section
regardingadding coolant.
Instrumentation
23

Ventilating your vehicle with outside air
In mild weather, you can ventilate your vehicle with outside air.
If the outside temperature is less than 70É F (21É C), you can
add cool air to your vehicle without using air conditioning. You
will get better fuel economy this way.
The procedure for ventilating your vehicle with the standard
heating system or with the air conditioning system is the same.
Refer to the previous section for instructions on how to ventilate
with outside air.
Improving fuel economy
Whenever you turn on the air conditioning, your vehicle uses
more fuel because the air conditioning compressor is running. To
get better fuel economy while cooling your vehicle, do not use
the air conditioner on mild days. Instead, set the air intake selector
button in the outside air position and turn the temperature
control knob to the COOL position.
Operating tips
When stopped in traffic for long periods of time in hot weather,
place the automatic transaxle gearshift selector lever in P
(Park) or in N (Neutral) to increase the engine idle speed. This
aids in engine cooling and air conditioner efficiency. If the engine
overheats, choose the outside air position and turn off the A/C
to stop the compressor for a short time.
When your vehicle's engine is operated at full throttle, the air
conditioner compressor will automatically be turned off to allow
maximum engine power. This may occur during passing or
when climbing steep grades. The compressor will return to normal
operation within a few seconds after full throttle is no longer
needed.
Controls and Features
65

Trailer Towing Tips
Before starting on a trip, practice turning, stopping and backing
in an area away from heavy traffic. Get to know the ªfeelº of
the vehicle/trailer combination.
Practice backing up. Back up very slowly, with someone outside
at the rear of your trailer to guide you. Place your hand at
the bottom of the steering wheel and move it in the direction you
want the rear of the trailer to swing. Slight movement of the
steering wheel results in a much larger movement of the rear of
the trailer.
When turning, drive slightly beyond the normal turning point so
the trailer wheels will clear curbs or other obstructions.
Allow more room for stopping with a trailer attached. Trailer
brakes should be applied first, whether manually or automatically
controlled, when approaching a stop.
For an easy-to-operate vehicle/trailer combination, the trailer
tongue load should be approximately 10-15% of the loaded trailer
weight.
Make a thorough check of your equipment before starting out on
the road. After you have traveled about 50 miles (80 km), stop
in a protected area and double-check your hitch and electrical
connections. Also check trailer wheel lug nuts for tightness.
When stopped in traffic for long periods of time in hot weather,
place the gearshift selector lever in Park (P) to increase the
engine idle speed. This aids in engine cooling and air conditioner
efficiency. If the engine overheats, press the air intake selector
button to select the fresh air position to stop the air conditioner
compressor. Increase the engine speed for a short time.
Vehicles with trailers should not be parked on a grade. However,
if you must park on a grade, place wheel chocks under the
trailer's wheels as follows:
Driving
237

Use specially formulated windshield washer fluid rather than
plain water, because specially formulated washer fluids contain
additives that dissolve road grime. For safety reasons,
washer fluids containing an appropriate antifreeze such as
methanol should be used in freezing weather (temperatures below
32É F [0É C]). State or local regulations on Volatile Organic
Compounds (VOCs) may restrict use of the most common
antifreeze, methanol. Washer fluids containing non-methanol
antifreeze agents should be used only if they provide cold weather
protection without damaging the vehicle's paint finish, wiper
blades, and windshield washer system.
Engine Coolant
Checking the Engine Coolant
NOTE: Be sure to read and understandPrecautions When
Servicing Your Vehicleat the beginning of this chapter.
Your vehicle's engine coolant protects the engine from overheating
in the summer and from freezing in the winter. Check the level
of the engine coolant at least once a month, but preferably each time
you stop for fuel. Simply check the coolant reservoir, located in
the engine compartment. The coolant should stay between the MIN
and MAX marks. It will be closer to MAX when the engine is
warm and closer to MIN when the engine is cold. To locate the
coolant reservoir, see the diagram of your vehicle's engine
underEngine Compartmentin theCapacities and Specifications
chapter.
Maintenance and Care
285