tow LINCOLN MARK VIII 1998 Owners Manual

ICONS
Indicates a warning. Read the
following section onWarningsfor a
full explanation.
Indicates vehicle information related
to recycling and other
environmental concerns will follow.
Correct vehicle usage and the
authorized disposal of waste
cleaning and lubrication materials
are significant steps towards
protecting the environment.
WARNINGS
Warnings provide information which may reduce the risk of personal
injury and prevent possible damage to others, your vehicle and its
equipment.
BREAKING-IN YOUR VEHICLE
There are no particular breaking-in rules for your vehicle. During the
first 1 600 km (1 000 miles) of driving, vary speeds frequently. This is
necessary to give the moving parts a chance to break in.
If possible, you should avoid full use of the brakes for the first 1 600 km
(1 000 miles).
INFORMATION ABOUT THIS GUIDE
The information found in this guide was in effect at the time of printing.
Ford may change the contents without notice and without incurring
obligation.
Introduction
2

engine is started, one of the engine's emission control systems may be
malfunctioning. The light may illuminate without a driveability concern
being noted. The vehicle will usually be drivable and will not require
towing.
What you should do if the check engine light illuminates
Light turns on solid:
This means that the OBD II system has detected a malfunction. Have
your vehicle serviced at your first opportunity.
Temporary malfunctions may also cause yourcheck enginelight to
illuminate. Examples follow:
²The vehicle has run out of fuel. (The engine may misfire or run
poorly.)
²Poor fuel quality or water in the fuel.
²The fuel cap may not have been securely tightened.
These temporary malfunctions can be corrected by filling the fuel tank
with good quality fuel and/or properly tightening the gas cap. After three
drive cycles without these or any other temporary malfunctions present,
thecheck enginelight should turn off.Novehicle service is required.
Light is blinking:
Engine misfire is occurring which could damage your catalytic converter.
You should drive in a moderate fashion (avoid heavy acceleration and
deceleration) and have your vehicle serviced at the first available
opportunity.
Under engine misfire conditions, excessive exhaust temperatures
could damage the catalytic converter, the fuel system, interior
floor coverings or other vehicle components, possibly causing a fire.
Air bag readiness
Briefly illuminates when the ignition
is turned on. If the light fails to
illuminate, continues to flash or
remains on, have the system
serviced immediately.
Instrumentation
10

TRANSMISSION OVERHEAT. Indicates the transmission is
overheating. This warning may appear when towing heavy loads or when
driving in a low gear at a high speed for an extended period of time.
Stop the vehicle as soon as safely possible, turn off the engine and let it
cool. Check the transmission fluid and level. Refer toTransmission
fluidin theMaintenance and carechapter. If the warning stays on or
continues to come on, contact your dealer for transmission service as
soon as safely possible.
CHECK BRAKE LAMPS. Displayed when the brake lamps are
activated and at least one is burned out. Check the lamps as soon as
safely possible and have the burned out lamp replaced. The center
high-mount brakelamp is not monitored.
CHECK HEADLAMPS. Displayed when the headlamps are activated
and at least one is burned out. Check the lamps as soon as safely
possible and have the burned out lamp replaced. Refer toReplacing
headlamp bulbsin theMaintenance and carechapter. The high beam
lamps are not monitored.
CHECK TAIL LAMPS. Displayed when the tail lamps are activated and
at least one is burned out. Check the lamps as soon as safely possible
and have the burned out lamp replaced.
CHECK FRT TURN LAMPS. Displayed when the turn signals are
activated and at least one is burned out. Check the lamps as soon as
safely possible and have the burned out lamp replaced.
LOW WASHER FLUID. Indicates there is less than one quarter of
washer fluid left in the reservoir. Check the washer fluid level. Refer to
Windshield washer fluidin theMaintenance and carechapter.
TRUNK AJAR. Displayed when the trunk is not completely closed and
the ignition switch is in ON or ACC.
CHECK TRACTION CONTROL. Displayed when the Traction
Controlysystem is not operating properly. If this message is displayed
on the message centerandthe green T/C OFF light isnotilluminated,
the Traction Controlysystem will be partially operable. If this warning
stays on, contact your dealer for service as soon as possible. For further
information, refer toTraction controlyin theDrivingchapter.
AIR RIDE SWITCH OFF. Displayed when the air suspension switch is
in the OFF position.
Instrumentation
29

Flash to pass
Pull toward you to activate and
release to deactivate.
PANEL DIMMER CONTROL
Use to adjust the brightness of the
instrument panel.
²Rotate up to brighten.
²Rotate down to dim.
²Rotate fully up to turn on interior
lights.
AUTOLAMP CONTROL
The autolamp system provides light
sensitive automatic on-off control of
the exterior lights normally
controlled by the headlamp control.
The autolamp system also keeps the
lights on for a preselected period of
time after the ignition switch is
turned to OFF.
²To turn autolamps on, rotate the
control counterclockwise. The
INT
TIME HI
LO
INT
OFF
MIST
OFFAUTO LAMP
DELAY
P
Controls and features
33

POWER TILT/TELESCOPE STEERING COLUMN
Never adjust the steering wheel when the vehicle is moving.
The steering column can be
adjusted manually by moving the
four-way rocker adjustment control
located on the multi-function
control below the turn signal/wiper
control stalk. The control will adjust
the column as long as held or until
the column reaches the end of
travel.
The telescope function is adjusted
by moving the control towards the
driver to telescope out and moving
the control toward the instrument
panel to telescope in.
The tilt function is adjusted by
moving the control up to tilt up and
moving the control down to tilt down.
The steering column positions are automatically saved and can be
recalled along with the vehicle personality features when a memory
position is selected through the keypad, keyless entry transmitter or
memory switch on the driver's door.
During autoglide operation the column will move to the full in and up
position. The column will return when autoglide is completed.
During easy exit (if activated through the Message Center) operation the
column will move to the full in and up position. When the key is inserted
into the ignition switch the column will return to the previous setting.
When you remove the key the column will move away.
If the steering column adjustment control is pressed during memory
recall it will cancel the automatic operation and the column will respond
to manual adjustment of the control.
The manual adjustment of the steering column is adjustable with the
ignition switch on or off.
Controls and features
42

²Pressing 7/8 and 9/0 on the
keyless entry pad at the same
time to lock the doors (doors
opened or closed).
²Opening a door and pressing the
power door lock control to lock
the doors.
If a door is open, the system is prearmed and is waiting for the door to
close. The anti-theft indicator on the instrument panel will be lit
continuously when the system is prearmed.
Once the doors are closed, the system will arm in 30 seconds.
Disarming the system
You can disarm the system by any of the following actions:
²Unlock the doors by using your
remote entry transmitter.
²Unlock the doors by using your
keyless entry keypad.
²Unlock the doors with a key. Turn
the key full travel (toward the
front of the vehicle) to make sure
the alarm disarms.
²Turn ignition to ACC or ON.
123
45678
90
123
45678
90
Controls and features
64

5. To put the retractor in the
automatic locking mode, grasp the
shoulder portion of the belt and pull
downward until all of the belt is
extracted and a click is heard.
6. Allow the belt to retract. The belt will click as it retracts to indicate it
is in the automatic locking mode.
7. Pull the lap belt portion across
the child seat toward the buckle and
pull up on the shoulder belt while
pushing down with your knee on the
child seat.
8. Allow the safety belt to retract to
remove any slack in the belt.
9. Before placing the child in the
seat, forcibly tilt the seat forward
and back to make sure the seat is
securely held in place.
Seating and safety restraints
85

AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM
The air suspension system is designed to improve ride, handling and
general vehicle performance during:
²certain road conditions
²steering maneuvers
²braking
²accelerations
This system maintains the vehicle height at a constant level by
automatically adding air or releasing air from the air springs to offset
changes in vehicle loads.
The air suspension shut-off switch is
located in the trunk. If this switch is
in the OFF position, the automatic
leveling system will not operate.
On vehicles equipped with
Air Suspension, turn OFF
the Air Suspension switch prior to
jacking, hoisting or towing your
vehicle.
Normal vehicle operation does not
require any action by the driver.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OPERATION
Brake-shift interlock
This vehicle is equipped with a brake-shift interlock feature that prevents
the gearshift from being moved from P (Park) unless the brake pedal is
pressed.
If you cannot move the gearshift out of P (Park) with the brake pedal
depressed:
OFF
Driving
97

D (Overdrive) can be deactivated by
pressing the transmission control
switch on the side of the gearshift
lever. The Message Center O/D OFF
indicator will illuminate.
D (Drive)± Activate by pressing the transmission control switch on the
side of the gearshift lever. The transmission operates in gears one
through three. D (Drive) provides more engine braking than
(Overdrive) and is useful whenever driving conditions (i.e., city
traffic, hilly terrain, etc.) cause the transmission to excessively shift
between
(Overdrive) and D (Drive). Also deactivate(Overdrive)
when:
²driving with a heavy load
²towing a trailer up or down steep hills
²additional engine braking is desired.
To return to
(Overdrive) mode, press the transmission control switch.
The Message Center O/D OFF indicator will no longer be illuminated.
Every time the vehicle is shut off and restarted, you must press the
transmission control switch to cancel overdrive operation if driving in
overdrive is not desired.
O/ D
OFF
Driving
101

VEHICLE LOADING
Before loading a vehicle, familiarize yourself with the following terms:
²Base Curb Weight: Weight of the vehicle including any standard
equipment, fluids, lubricants, etc. It does not include passengers or
aftermarket equipment.
²Payload: Combined maximum allowable weight of cargo, passengers
and optional equipment. The payload equals the gross vehicle weight
rating minus base curb weight.
²GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight): Base curb weight plus payload
weight. The GVW is not a limit or a specification.
²GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating): Maximum total weight of
the base vehicle, passengers, optional equipment and cargo. The
GVWR is specific to each vehicle and is listed on the Safety
Compliance Label on the driver's door pillar.
²GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating): Carrying capacity for each axle
system. The GAWR is specific to each vehicle and is listed on the
Safety Compliance Label on the driver's door pillar.
²GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating): Maximum combined
weight of towing vehicle (including passengers and cargo) and the
trailer. The GCWR indicates the maximum loaded weight that the
vehicle is allowed to tow.
²Maximum Trailer Weight Rating: Maximum weight of a trailer the
vehicle is permitted to tow. The maximum trailer weight rating is
determined by subtracting the vehicle curb weight for each
engine/transmission combination, any required option weight for trailer
towing and the weight of the driver from the GCWR for the towing
vehicle.
²Maximum Trailer Weight: maximum weight of a trailer the loaded
vehicle (including passengers and cargo) is permitted to tow. It is
determined by subtracting the weight of the loaded trailer towing
vehicle from the GCWR for the towing vehicle.
²Trailer Weight Range: Specified weight range that the trailer must
fall within that ranges from zero to the maximum trailer weight rating.
Remember to figure in the tongue load of your loaded trailer when
figuring the total weight.
Driving
103