tires LINCOLN AVIATOR 2004 Owners Manual

Seating and Safety Restraints 153
Seating 153
Safety restraints 165
Air bags 174
Child restraints 181
Driving 193
Starting 193
Brakes 196
Traction control/AdvanceTrac 199
Transmission operation 204
Vehicle loading 221
Trailer towing 225
Recreational towing 230
Roadside Emergencies 231
Getting roadside assistance 231
Hazard flasher switch 232
Fuel pump shut-off switch 232
Fuses and relays 233
Changing tires 243
Jump starting 251
Wrecker towing 256
Customer Assistance 257
Reporting safety defects (U.S. only) 265
Cleaning 266
Table of Contents
2

Engine coolant temperature:
Illuminates when the engine coolant
temperature is high. Stop the
vehicle as soon as safely possible, switch off the engine and let it cool.
Refer toEngine coolantin theMaintenance and Specifications
chapter.
Never remove the coolant recovery cap while the engine is
running or hot.
Low tire warning:Illuminates
when the low tire warning system is
enabled. If the light remains on
while driving, the tire pressure
should be checked, refer toLow
tire warningin theMaintenance and Specificationschapter. If this
light fails to illuminate when ignition is turned to ON, continues to flash
or remains on, have the system serviced immediately.
Warning Light display Customer Action
Warning light remains on²Check your tire pressure and
ensure your tires are properly
inflated.
²If your tires are inflated to the
manufacturers recommended air
pressure and the light remains on,
please have the system inspected
immediately by your servicing
dealership.
Warning light flashing (flashes
for 20 seconds either at start
up or while driving)²Your spare tire is in use. Repair the
road wheel to restore system function.
²If your tires are inflated to the
recommended air pressure, and your
spare tire is not in use, please have
the system inspected immediately by
your servicing dealership.
Instrument Cluster
12

AWD LOCK OFF and AWD AUTO ON (vehicles equipped with
AdvanceTracyonly).Displayed when the AWD system is completely
cooled down from being overheated.
DOOR AJAR LIFTGATE AJAR.Displayed when a door or liftgate is
not completely closed.
CHECK ENGINE TEMPERATURE.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 coolant level. Refer
toEngine coolantin theMaintenance and specificationschapter. If
the warning stays on or continues to come on, contact your dealer as
soon as safely possible.
REDUCED ENGINE POWER.Displayed when the engine is
overheating. Stop the vehicle as soon as safely possible, turn off the
engine. If the warning stays on or continues to come on, contact your
dealer as soon as safely possible.
STOP ENGINE SAFELY.Displayed when the engine is overheating.
Stop the vehicle as soon as safely possible, turn off the engine. If the
warning stays on or continues to come on, contact your dealer as soon as
safely possible.
AWD DISABLED LOCKED (vehicles equipped with AdvanceTracy
only).Displayed when the AWD system begins to overheat placing itself
in the autolock mode. If the warning stays on or continues to come on,
contact your dealer as soon as safely possible.
WARNING-TIRE VERY LOW.Displayed when one or more tires have
very low pressure. When this warning message is displayed, a warning
chime will sound reminding you to stop the vehicle as soon as safely
possible and check your tires for proper pressure, leaks and damage.
Refer toServicing your tiresin theMaintenance and specifications
chapter.
CHECK TIRE PRESSURE.Displayed when any of the tire pressures
are low. Refer toChecking the tire pressurein theMaintenance and
specificationschapter.
TIRE PRESSURE SYSTEM FAULT.Displayed when a tire pressure
monitoring system is malfunctioning. If the warning stays on or continues
to come on, have the system checked by your dealer.
TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR FAULT.Displayed when a tire pressure
sensor is malfunctioning. If the warning stays on or continues to come
on, have the system checked by your dealer.
LOW FUEL LEVEL.Displayed as an early reminder of a low fuel
condition.
Driver Controls
128

If your vehicle should become stuck in deep snow or mud, try switching
the AdvanceTracysystem off by pressing the AdvanceTracybutton.
This will allow your tires to ªdigº for traction. Pressing the control once
will disable the AdvanceTracystability enhancement 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 AdvanceTracystability enhancement and traction enhancement
feature. If the AdvanceTracysystem is activated excessively for an
extended period of time, the brake portion of the system will shut down
to allow the brakes to cool down.
A limited AdvanceTracyfunction 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.
AdvanceTracyenhances 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 AdvanceTracysystem helps the driver maintain steering control if
the vehicle begins to slide excessively left or right or spin out.
AdvanceTracywill attempt to correct the sliding motion by applying
brake force at individual tires and, if necessary, by reducing engine
power.
Driving conditions which may activate AdvanceTracyinclude:
²Taking a turn too fast
²Maneuvering quickly to avoid an accident, pedestrian or obstacle
²Hitting a patch of ice
²Changing lanes on a snow-rutted road
²Entering a snow-free road from a snow-covered side street, or vice
versa
²Entering a paved road from a gravel road, or vice versa
²Hitting a curb while turning
²Driving on slick surfaces
²Cornering while towing a heavily loaded trailer (refer toTrailer
Towingin this chapter)
Driving
200

Some drivers may notice a slight movement of the brake pedal when the
AdvanceTracyperforms a system self-check. During AdvanceTracy/Roll
Stabilty Control operation you may experience the following:
²A rumble or grinding noise
²A slight deceleration of the vehicle
²The AdvanceTracyindicator light will flash
²If your foot is on the brake pedal, you will feel a vibration in the
pedal.
²If 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 AdvanceTracy/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 AdvanceTracy/Roll Stability Control system. Also, do not
install a stereo loudspeaker near the rear console or either rear
seat. The speaker vibrations can adversely affect the
AdvanceTracy/Roll Stability Control sensors located in this area.
Note:Pressing the AdvanceTracybutton will disable AdvanceTracyand
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 AdvanceTracy/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.
STEERING
To prevent damage to the power steering system, never hold the steering
wheel at its furthest turning points (until it stops) for more than a few
seconds when the engine is running.
It is also important to maintain a proper power steering fluid level in the
power steering fluid reservoir:
²Do not operate the vehicle with a low power steering pump fluid level
(below the MIN mark on the reservoir).
Driving
202

²Some noise is normal during operation. If the noise is excessive, check
for low power steering pump fluid level before seeking service by your
dealer.
²Heavy or uneven steering efforts may be caused by low power steering
pump fluid level. Check for low power steering pump fluid level before
seeking service by your dealer.
²Do not fill the power steering pump reservoir above the MAX mark on
the reservoir, as this may result in leaks from the reservoir.
If the power steering system breaks down (or if the engine is turned
off), you can steer the vehicle manually, but it takes more effort.
If the steering wanders or pulls, check for:
²an improperly inflated tire
²uneven tire wear
²loose or worn suspension components
²loose or worn steering components
²improper steering alignment
Speed sensitive steering
Your vehicle is equipped with speed sensitive, variable assist power
steering (VAPS). At low speeds, steering assist will adjust to reduce
efforts and improve low speed maneuverability and at high speeds, the
assist will adjust to improve steering feel.
If the amount of effort required to steer your vehicle changes while
driving at a constant vehicle speed, have the power steering system
checked by your dealer or a qualified service technician.
PREPARING TO DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE
Utility vehicles have a significantly higher rollover rate than
other types of vehicles.
In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is significantly more likely
to die than a person wearing a seat belt.
Your vehicle has special design and equipment features to make it
capable of performing in a wide variety of circumstances. These special
design features, such as larger tires and increased ground clearance, give
the vehicle a higher center of gravity than a passenger car.
Driving
203

ALL WHEEL DRIVE (AWD) SYSTEM (IF EQUIPPED)
Your vehicle may be equipped with an All Wheel Drive (AWD) transfer
case. With the AWD option, power is supplied to all four wheels
automatically with no need to shift between two-wheel drive and
four-wheel drive. If your vehicle is equipped with the AdvanceTracy
stability enhancement feature, you can change AWD modes, if desired,
by selecting AWD options through the message center.
For the lubricant specification and refill capacity of the AWD transfer
case refer toMaintenance and specificationschapter.
If your vehicle is equipped with AWD, a spare tire of a different
diameter than the road tires should never be used. Such a tire
could make the vehicle difficult to control as well as result in damage
to driveline components.
Utility and four-wheel drive vehicles arenotdesigned for cornering
at speeds as high as passenger cars any more than low-slung sports
cars are designed to perform satisfactorily under off-road conditions.
Avoid sharp turns or abrupt maneuvers in these vehicles.
The following sections,Normal operation,Autolock operationand
Disabling AWD, apply only to vehicles which allow the driver to change
AWD modes through the message center.
Normal operation (vehicles equipped with AdvanceTracYonly)
During normal operation:
²the AWD system is in AWD AUTO mode (AWD LOCKED will
illuminate in the message center for four seconds when you first start
your vehicle). The AWD LOCKED indicator in the instrument cluster
will also come on.
²AWD AUTO mode can be overridden by pressing SETUP in the
message center. When you first press SETUP, AWD will be
displayed, then if you press RESET within four seconds of pressing
SETUP, AWD will be displayed. AWD provides
power to all four wheels constantly which allows you to operate your
vehicle in severe winter or off-road conditions such as deep snow, ice
or shallow sand. It is not recommended that you use AWD
on dry pavement.
²AWD can be cancelled by pressing RESET in the message
center. (The AWD LOCKED display in the message center will then
turn off and the display will return to AWD for four seconds
when the shift is complete.)
Driving
211

²It often may be less risky to strike small objects, such as highway
reflectors, with minor damage to your vehicle rather than attempt a
sudden return to the pavement which could cause the vehicle to slide
sideways out of control or rollover. Remember, your safety and the
safety of others should be your primary concern.
Vehicles with a higher center of gravity such as utility and
four-wheel drive vehicles handle differently than vehicles with a
lower center of gravity. Utility and four-wheel drive vehicles arenot
designed for cornering at speeds as high as passenger cars any more
than low-slung sports cars are designed to perform satisfactorily under
off-road conditions. Avoid sharp turns, excessive speed and abrupt
maneuvers in these vehicles. Failure to drive cautiously could result in
an increased risk of loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover, personal
injury and death.
If your vehicle gets stuck
If your vehicle gets stuck in mud or snow it may be rocked out by
shifting between forward and reverse gears, stopping between shifts, in a
steady pattern. Press lightly on the accelerator in each gear.
Do not rock the vehicle if the engine is not at normal operating
temperature or damage to the transmission may occur.
Do not rock the vehicle for more than a few minutes or damage
to the transmission and tires may occur or the engine may
overheat.
Always set the parking brake fully and make sure the gearshift is
latched in P (Park). Turn the ignition to the LOCK position and
remove the key whenever you leave your vehicle.
If the parking brake is fully released, but the brake warning lamp
remains illuminated, the brakes may not be working properly.
See your dealer or a qualified service technician.
Do not spin the wheels at over 56 km/h (35 mph). The tires may
fail and injure a passenger or bystander.
Driving
214

Emergency maneuvers
²In an unavoidable emergency situation where a sudden sharp turn
must be made, remember to avoid ªover-drivingº your vehicle (i.e.,
turn the steering wheel only as rapidly and as far as required to avoid
the emergency). Excessive steering will result in less vehicle control,
not more. Additionally, smooth variations of the accelerator and/or
brake pedal pressure should be utilized if changes in vehicle speed are
called for. Avoid abrupt steering, acceleration or braking which could
result in an increased risk of loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover
and/or personal injury. Use all available road surface to return the
vehicle to a safe direction of travel.
²In the event of an emergency stop, avoid skidding the tires and do not
attempt any sharp steering wheel movements.
Vehicles with a higher center of gravity such as utility and
four-wheel drive vehicles handle differently than vehicles with a
lower center of gravity. Utility and four-wheel drive vehicles arenot
designed for cornering at speeds as high as passenger cars any more
than low-slung sports cars are designed to perform satisfactorily under
off-road conditions. Avoid sharp turns, excessive speed and abrupt
maneuvers in these vehicles. Failure to drive cautiously could result in
an increased risk of loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover, personal
injury and death.
²If the vehicle goes from one type of surface to another (i.e., from
concrete to gravel) there will be a change in the way the vehicle
responds to a maneuver (steering, acceleration or braking). Again,
avoid these abrupt inputs.
AWD Systems (if equipped)
AWD uses all four wheels to power
the vehicle. This increases traction,
enabling you to drive over terrain
and road conditions that a
conventional two-wheel drive vehicle
cannot.
Driving
215

Sand
When driving over sand, try to keep all four wheels on the most solid
area of the trail. Avoid reducing the tire pressures but shift to a lower
gear and drive steadily through the terrain. Apply the accelerator slowly
and avoid spinning the wheels.
If you must reduce the tire pressure for whatever reason in sand, make
sure you re-inflate the tires as soon as possible.
Note:If your vehicle is equipped with the tire pressure monitoring
system, the system indicator light may illuminate depending on how
much air is released from your tires and/or how long you drive the
vehicle under these conditions.
Avoid excessive speed because vehicle momentum can work against you
and cause the vehicle to become stuck to the point that assistance may
be required from another vehicle. Remember, you may be able to back
out the way you came if you proceed with caution.
Mud and water
If you must drive through high
water, drive slowly. Traction or
brake capability may be limited.
When driving through water,
determine the depth; avoid water
higher than the bottom of the hubs
(if possible) and proceed slowly. If
the ignition system gets wet, the
vehicle may stall.
Once through water, always try the brakes. Wet brakes do not stop the
vehicle as effectively as dry brakes. Drying can be improved by moving
your vehicle slowly while applying light pressure on the brake pedal.
Be cautious of sudden changes in vehicle speed or direction when you
are driving in mud. Even AWD vehicles can lose traction in slick mud. As
when you are driving over sand, apply the accelerator slowly and avoid
spinning your wheels. If the vehicle does slide, steer in the direction of
the slide until you regain control of the vehicle.
If the transmission, transfer case or front axle are submerged in water,
their fluids should be checked and changed, if necessary.
Driving
216