service LINCOLN CONTINENTAL 1996 Customer Assistance Guide

1996
CONTINENTAL
Your satisfaction is our #1 goal. If you have
questions or concerns with your vehicle, we suggest
you follow these steps:
I .Contact your Sales Representative or Service
Advisor at your selling/servicing dealership.
2.If the inquiry or concern remains unresolved,
contact the Sales Manager or Service Manager
at the dealership.
3.If the inquiry or concern cannot be resolved at
the dealership level, please contact the Ford
Customer Assistance Center.In the United States:Ford Motor CompanyLincoln Customer Assistance Center300 Renaissance CenterP.O. Box 43360Detroit, MI 482431-800-521-4140TDD for the hearing impaired: 1-800-232-5952
In Canada:The Lincoln CentreFord Motor Company of Canada, LimitedP.O. Box 1580, Station BMississauga, Ontario L4Y 4G31-800-387-9333
Outside the U.S. or Canada:FORD MOTOR COMPANY EXPORT OPERATIONS1555 Fairlane DriveFairlane Business Park #3Allen Park, Michigan 481 01Telephone (313) 594-4857Fax (313) 390-0804

Introductory InformationFord's Commitment to You
At Ford Motor Company, excellence is the
continuous commitment to achieve the best result
possible. It is dedication to learning what you want,
determination to develop the right concept, and
execution of that concept with care, precision, and
attention to detail. In short, excellence means being
the standard by which others are judged.
Our Guiding Principles Quality comes first. For your satisfaction, the
quality of our products and services must be our
number one priority. You are the focus of everything we do. Our
work must be done with you in mind, providing
better products and services than our
competition. Continuous improvement is essential to our
success. We must strive for excellence in
everything we do: in our products - in their safety
and value - and in our services, our human relations,
our competitiveness, and our profitability. Employee involvement is our way of life. We are
a team. We must treat one another with trust and
respect. Dealers and suppliers are our partners. We must
maintain mutually beneficial relationships with
dealers, suppliers, and our other business
associates. Integrity is never compromised. Our conduct
worldwide must be pursued in a manner that is
socially responsible and commands respect for its
integrity and for its positive contributions to
society

1

The Quick Index at the end of the book provides a
page number following each item which indicates
where detailed information can be found.
To use the Index, turn to the back of the book and
search in the alphabetical listing for the word that
best describes the information you need. If the word
you chose is not listed, think of other related words
and look them up. We have designed the Index so
that you can find information under a technical
term.
Canadian Owners - French Version
French Owner Guides can be obtained from your
dealer or by writing to Ford Motor Company of
Canada, Limited, Service Publications, P.O. Box
1580, Station B, Mississauga, Ontario L4Y 4G3.The Lincoln Commitment
The Lincoln Commitment is more than the prestige of owning
a superior luxury automobile, it is a comprehensive owner
benefits package that is designed to provide you with services
to support your every driving need.
The following is a brief explanation of the Lincoln
Commitment benefits. We encourage you to learn about
these benefits and take full advantage of them. Detailed
information on all of these benefits will be sent to you
approximately 25 days after you have taken delivery of your
vehicle.
Service Loaner
Should your Lincoln require overnight warranty service, your
dealership will provide you with a service loaner car, when
available, or a rental allowance of up to $30 a day for up to
five days.
3

Roadside Service Assistance
Lincoln owners receive complimentary 24-hour
emergency roadside service assistance for a period of
four years for towing, jump-starting, lock-out service,
gas delivery, a tire change or other roadside services.
Call the hotline at 1-800-521-4140 any time of day or
night for emergency roadside assistance.
Emergency Travel Expense
Reimbursement
Covers expenses such as meals, lodging and car
rental if your automobile is disabled more than 100
miles (160 km) from home.
Destination Assistance (U.S. only)
In the event of a collision or mechanical breakdown,
Lincoln helps get you to your immediate destination
with a reimbursement allowance for emergency
transportation service such as taxicabs, rental cars,
shuttles, etc.
4Trip Planning Service
Plan your journeys with custom-computerized,
travel-related information including maps and trip
routings. To order customer-designed travel packets,
call 1-800-521-4140.
Membership in QuestÒ Ò International
(U.S. only)
You will automatically receive a complimentary
membership in Quest International which entities
you to travel-related discounts on meals and rooms
at more than 2,100 hotels in the United States,
Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.
The Lincoln Warranty
For specifics on what is covered, see your Warranty
Information Booklet.

Lincoln Customer Assistance Center
If you have questions regarding your Lincoln or the
Lincoln Commitment, call our Customer Assistance
Center:
United States 1-800-521-4140
Canada 1-800-387-9333
You may call the Customer Assistance Center,
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in all time
zones.
Owner Identification Card
Personalized with your name and vehicle
identification number as well as the hotline number
to call for customer service or roadside assistance
service.Your Maintenance Schedule and
Record Booklet
The Maintenance Schedule and Record booklet lists
the services that are most important for keeping
your vehicle in good condition. A record log is also
provided to help you keep track of all services
performed.
About the Warranties
Your vehicle is covered by three types of warranties:
Basic Vehicle Warranty, Extended Warranties
on certain parts, and Emissions Warranties.
Read your Warranty Information Booklet carefully to
find out about your vehicle's warranties and your
basic rights and responsibilities.
If you lose your Warranty Information Booklet, you
can get a new one free of charge. Contact any Ford
or Lincoln-Mercury dealer, or refer to the addresses
and phone numbers on the first page of this owner
guide.
5

Buying a Ford Extended Service Plan
If you bought your vehicle in the U.S., you can buy
a Ford Extended Service Plan for your vehicle. This
optional contract provides service protection for a
longer period of time than the basic warranty that
comes with your vehicle.
You do not have to buy this option when you buy
your vehicle. However, your option to purchase the
Ford Extended Service Plan runs out after 18
months or 18,000 miles. See your dealer for more
details about the Ford Extended Service Plan.
If you purchased a Canadian vehicle and did not
take advantage of the Ford Extended Service Plan at
the time of purchase, you may still be eligible. See
your dealer for the details.
6Breaking Your Vehicle In
Your new vehicle goes through an adjustment or
break-in period during the first 1,000 miles
(1,600 km) that you drive it. During the break-in
period, you need to pay careful attention to how
you drive your vehicle. Avoid sudden stops. Because your vehicle has
new brake linings, you should take these steps:
-Watch traffic carefully so that you can
anticipate when to stop.
-Begin braking well in advance.
-Apply the brakes gradually.
The break-in period for new brake linings lasts
for I 00 miles (I 60 km) of city driving or 1,000
miles (1,600 km) of highway driving.

If any of these things happen, have the air bag
system serviced at your Ford or Lincoln-
Mercury dealer immediately. Unless serviced,
the air bag supplemental restraint system may
not function properly in the event of a collision./!\ WARNINGDo not attempt to service, repair, or modifythe Air Bag Supplemental Restraint Systemor its fuses. See your Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer.Disposal of air bags or air bag equipped
vehicles
For disposal of air bags or air bag equipped
vehicles, see your local Ford or Lincoln-Mercury
dealer. Air bags MUST be disposed of by qualified
personnel.Safety Restraints for Children
In the U.S. and Canada, you are required by
law to use safety restraints for children. If
small children ride in your vehicle - this
generally includes children who are four years
old or younger and who weigh 40 pounds (18
kg) or less - you must put them in safety seats
that are made specially for children. Safety
belts alone do not provide maximum protection
for these children. Check your local and state
laws for specific requirements./!\ WARNINGNever let a passenger hold a child on his orher lap while the vehicle is moving. Thepassenger cannot protect the child frominjury in a collision.25

The left side of the trunk/! WARNINGIf you see or smell fuel, do not reset theswitch or try to start your vehicle. Haveall the passengers get out of the vehicleand call the local fire department or atowing service.48If your engine cranks but does not start after a
collision or substantial jolt:
1 . Turn the ignition key to the OFF position.
2.Check under the vehicle for leaking fuel.
3.if you do not see or smell fuel, push the red
reset button down. If the button is already
set, you may have a different mechanical
problem.
4.Turn the ignition key to the ON position for
a few seconds, then turn it to the OFF
position.
5.Check under the vehicle again for leaking
fuel. If you see or smell fuel, do not start
your vehicle again. If you do not see or
smell fuel, you can try to start your vehicle
again.
6. Check all vehicle warning lights before
driving the vehicle.

Have the exhaust and body ventilation systems
checked whenever: your vehicle is raised for service the sound of the exhaust system changes your vehicle has been damaged in a collision
Improve your ventilation by keeping all air inlet
vents clear of snow, leaves, and other debris.
50If the engine is idling while you are stopped in an
open area for long periods of time, open the
windows at least one inch (2 . 5 cm). Also,
adjust the heating or air conditioning to bring in
outside air.
If you use the Electronic Automatic Climate
Control, set the fan speed selector dial to a
medium or high blower speed with the VENT or
PNL-FLR function buttons pressed.

The following warning lights and gauges are on
the instrument cluster. AD of the warning
lights and gauges alert you to possible
problems with your vehicle.
Indicator Lights and Chimes
Safety Belt Warning Light and Chime
This warning light and chime remind you to
fasten your safety belt. The following
conditions will take place: If the safety belt is not buckled when the
ignition is turned to the ON position, the
chime will turn on for four (4) to eight (8)
seconds and the light will come on for one
to two minutes. If the safety belt is buckled while the light is
on and the chime is sounding, both the light
and chime will turn off.
52 If the safety belt is buckled before the
ignition is turned to the ON position,
neither the light nor the chime will come
on.Brake System Waming Light
The warning light for the brakes can show two
things - that the parking brake is not fully
released, or that the brake fluid level is low in
the master cylinder reservoir. If the fluid level
is low, the brake system should be checked by
your dealer or a qualified service technician.