warning light LINCOLN CONTINENTAL 1997 Owners Manual

10The following warning lights and gauges are on the
instrument cluster. All of the warning lights and
gauges alert you to possible problems with your
vehicle.Indicator Lights and ChimesSafety Belt Warning Light and ChimeThis warning light and chime remind you to fasten
your safety belt. The following conditions will take
place:q
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.
q
If the safety belt is buckled while the light is on
and the chime is sounding, both the light and
chime will turn off.
q
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 Warning LightThe warning light for the brakes can show two
things Ð 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.
File:03fnisc.ex
Update:Mon Jun 17 14:14:40 1996

12Engine Oil Pressure Warning LightThis light indicates the engine's oil pressure, not the
oil level. However, if your engine's oil level is low,
it could affect the oil pressure. The light will come
on briefly when you turn your key to the START
and ON position. The light should stay off when
the engine is running with normal oil pressure. If
the light comes on while the engine is running, you
have lost oil pressure and continued operation will
cause severe engine damage.If you lose engine oil pressure:
1. Pull off the road as soon as safely possible.
2. Shut off the engine immediately or 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.
File:03fnisc.ex
Update:Mon Jun 17 14:14:40 1996

14This light illuminates every time you turn the
ignition to the ON or START position (engine off).
The light should go off when the engine starts and
the alternator begins to charge.
If the light stays on or illuminates when the engine
is running, have the electrical system checked as
soon as possible.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.
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.Service Engine Soon Warning LightThis light illuminates when the engine's Emission
Control System requires service. It will also
illuminate when the ignition key is in the ON
position and the engine is off.
File:03fnisc.ex
Update:Mon Jun 17 14:14:40 1996

16If the light fails to illuminate, continues to flash,
remains on, or you hear a beeping sound, have the
system serviced at your Ford or Lincoln-Mercury
dealer immediately.Anti-Theft Alarm Light (If equipped)This light flashes on and off when the ignition is
turned to the OFF position and any door is opened.
As soon as you lock the doors, the light glows
steadily. Within 30 seconds of closing all the doors,
the light goes out. This indicates that the alarm
system is armed.
SeeAnti-Theft Systemin theControls and Features
chapter for more information.The Instrument ClusterIn addition to warning lights, the instrument cluster
has a message center/odometer, a speedometer,
tachometer, fuel and coolant temperature gauges.
File:03fnisc.ex
Update:Mon Jun 17 14:14:40 1996

65
Turn SignalsMove the lever up to signal a right turn. Move it
down to signal a left turn. The corresponding
indicator light in the instrument cluster will flash.
If the turn signal stays on after you turn, move the
lever back to the center (off) position. A warning
chime will sound after approximately one-half mile
(one kilometer) of driving if you do not return the
lever to off.
For lane changes, move the lever far enough to
signal but not to latch. The lever will return to the
off position when you release it.
NOTE:The flash rate of the turn signal will speed
up considerably if the Lighting Control Module
detects a left or right turn lamp bulb (front or rear)
is burned out.
High BeamsTo turn on the high beams, turn the headlamp
control switch to the headlamp ON position (or
activate the autolamp feature) and push the turn
signal lever away from you until it latches. When
the high beams are ON, the high beam indicator
light on the instrument cluster comes on.
To turn off the high beams, pull the lever toward
you until it latches. The high beam indicator light
turns off.Flashing the LightsTo flash the headlamps, pull the lever toward you
for a moment and then release it. The headlamps
will flash whether the headlamp knob is in the on
or off position.
File:05fncfc.ex
Update:Fri Sep 6 14:53:57 1996

74Overhead Console WarningsIf your Continental is equipped with the Pressure
Alert System, a warning will appear in the overhead
console when the pressure in one of your vehicle's
tires drops below acceptable levels or if the system
has malfunctioned.
SeeSecuriTiresin theMaintenance and Care
chapter for more information.Lincoln RESCU System
(If equipped)Lincoln RESCU runs a self-test when you start your
vehicle. During this test, the Lincoln RESCU
warning light, located in the overhead console, will
briefly illuminate. If a problem is detected during
the self-check, the light will remain lit and the
message ªRESCU FAILUREº will be displayed on
the vehicle's message center for several seconds.
If the warning light fails to briefly illuminate when
you start your vehicle or if it remains lit, have your
Lincoln RESCU System checked by an authorized
Lincoln/Mercury dealer as soon as possible. Your
system may be inoperative.
File:05fncfc.ex
Update:Fri Sep 6 14:53:57 1996

76q
The vehicle's cellular handset is locked-out, the
phone is automatically placed in ªhand freeº
mode and voice communication is established
with the operator through the ªhands freeº
microphone.
q
Typically, voice communication with an operator
is established within one minute after an
assistance button is pressed.
q
The operator verbally obtains details of your
situation and, if necessary, ties your vehicle into
a three-way phone call with the United States
Auto Club or local 911 or other emergency
services to dispatch the appropriate assistance to
your location.
q
Once the situation has been appropriately
handled, the operator will terminate the call,
the system warning light will stop flashing and
the system will be reset. In most situations,
ONLY the response center can terminate an
assistance request.
General DescriptionLincoln's Remote Emergency Satellite Cellular Unit
(RESCU) is designed to expedite roadside or
emergency assistance to distressed motorists who
are uncertain of their location and/or are uncertain
of who to contact for assistance.
The Lincoln RESCU System utilizes Global
Positioning System (GPS) technology and the
nation's cellular phone network to track vehicle
location and, at the touch of a button, put you in
voice contact with the Lincoln Security Response
Center.
Two buttons in the overhead console will activate
the system. A tow truck icon for roadside assistance
and an ambulance icon for emergency assistance
identify the buttons.
File:05fncfc.ex
Update:Fri Sep 6 14:53:57 1996

79
When this button is pressed, the Lincoln Security
Response Center relays details of your situation and
your location to local 911 or other emergency
services via a three-way phone call. The response
center/emergency services will:q
dispatch the appropriate emergency help to your
location
q
when appropriate, stay in direct phone contact
with you until emergency help arrives
q
notify pre-designated family contacts or friends
of the emergency situation, if requested, or if no
response is received from the vehicle.
NOTE:If you are certain of your location, a direct
phone call to 911 or other emergency services may
provide a faster response.
Activation and DeactivationWhen either of the two Lincoln RESCU buttons is
pressed, a warning light, located in the overhead
console, will begin to flash and status messages willbe displayed on the vehicle's message center,
confirming an assistance request has been made.
The warning light will continue to flash throughout
the activation.
The RESCU Warning light
The system can be activated whenever your ignition
key is in the RUN/START position and for two
minutes after your vehicle is turned off. Once a
RESCU button has been pressed, DO NOT
ATTEMPT TO CRANK THE ENGINE as this may
cancel the activation. In most situations, the
assistance request canONLYbe terminated and the
system reset when a special tone is sent to the
File:05fncfc.ex
Update:Fri Sep 6 14:53:57 1996

1663. Make sure that the gearshift is in P (Park) and
the parking brake is set before you turn the
key.
Before you start your vehicle, you should test the
warning lights on the instrument panel to make
sure that they work. Refer to theInstrumentation
chapter.Starting Your EngineTo start your engine:
1. Follow the steps underPreparing to Start Your
Vehicleat the beginning of this section.
2. Turn the ignition key to the ON position.
3. DO NOT depress the accelerator pedal when
starting your engine. DO NOT use the
accelerator while the vehicle is parked.4. Turn the key to the START position (cranking)
until the engine starts. Allow the key to return
to the ON position after the engine has started.
If you have difficulty in turning the key, rotate
the steering wheel slightly because it may be
binding.
For a cold engine:
q
At temperatures10ÊF(-12ÊC) andbelow:If
the engine does not start infifteen (15)
secondson the first try, turn the key to OFF,
wait approximately ten (10) seconds so you do
not flood the engine, then try again.
q
At temperaturesabove10ÊF(-12ÊC):If the
engine does not start infive (5) secondson
the first try, turn the key to OFF, wait
approximately ten (10) seconds so you do not
flood the engine, then try again.
File:08fntoc.ex
Update:Mon Jun 17 14:19:30 1996

171
DrivingBrakesApplying the BrakesYour vehicle has anti-lock disc brakes on all four
wheels. They adjust automatically as the brake pads
wear down.
When you press down hard on the brake pedal, the
wheels will not lock and slide. The Anti-lock Brake
System (ABS) automatically starts releasing and
reapplying the front brakes independently and the
rear brakes together whenever your wheels start to
lock. When this happens, you will feel the brake
pedal pulsate. This is an indication that the ABS is
working correctly and is normal.
Each time you turn the ignition key to the ON
position, the anti-lock brake system will function
through one test cycle. When this happens, the
ANTI-LOCK light will come on for up to fiveseconds and a clunk may be felt in the pedal. If the
light stays on longer than five seconds, shut off the
engine and restart. If it remains on, it means the
anti-lock brake system is disabled and should be
serviced immediately to restore the benefits of the
anti-lock feature. Normal braking is not affected
unless the brake warning light is also lit.
The Anti-lock Brake System has self-check
capabilities. As described above, the system turns on
the ANTI-LOCK light each time you start your
engine. After the engine is started and the
ANTI-LOCK light turns off, the system performs
another test the first time the vehicle reaches 14
m.p.h. (22 km/h). The system turns on the ABS
pump motor for approximately 1/2 second. At this
time, a mechanical noise may be heard. This is a
normal part of the self-check feature. If a
malfunction is found during this check the
ANTI-LOCK light will come on.
File:09fngfc.ex
Update:Fri Sep 6 08:48:49 1996