How do Mercury Grand Marquis 2003 s User Guide

3. Press and hold the MODE control
until VAR appears in the display,
then release. The display should
show the current zone number.
4. Press the MODE control until the
desired zone number appears. The
display will flash and then return to
normal operation. The zone is now
updated.
Compass calibration adjustment
Perform this adjustment in an open
area free from steel structures and
high voltage lines:
1. Press and hold the MODE control
until CAL appears in the display
(approximately eight seconds) and
release.
2. Drive the vehicle slowly (less
than 5 km/h [3 mph]) in circles until
CAL indicator turns off in about 2–3 complete circles.
3. The compass is now calibrated.
OVERHEAD CONSOLE WITH MOON ROOF (IF EQUIPPED)
The appearance of your vehicle’s overhead console will vary according to
your option package. Some of the features in the overhead console
include Compass, Homelink, and Moon Roof controls.
Compass mode
The compass reading may be affected when you drive near large
buildings, bridges, power lines and powerful broadcast antenna. Magnetic
or metallic objects placed in, on or near the vehicle may also affect
compass accuracy.
1. Turn ignition to the ON position.
2. Start the engine.
2003 Grand Marquis(grn)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Driver Controls
66

ELECTRONIC MESSAGE CENTER (IF EQUIPPED)
The electronic message center only
works when the ignition is in the
ON position.
The message center allows you to:
•see problems such as door ajar,
air suspension, trunk ajar, washer
fluid low
•see how many kilometers/miles
you can drive before running out
of fuel
•see when overdrive has been deactivated
•monitor the average fuel economy
•check the distance traveled during a trip on either Trip A or Trip B
•monitor the average speed
Selectable features
Reset
Press this control to reset the
selected message center function to
zero. The only functions which can
be reset are:
•AVG ECON
•TRIP A or TRIP B
•AVG SPEED
E/M
Press this control to switch the
electronic instrument cluster display
and the message center display from
metric to English units.
CHECK
TRUNK AJAR LTR/100 kmAIR SUSPENSION
OVERDRIVE OFFDOOR
AJAR
LOW
WASHER
FLUID
DISTANCE
TO EMPTY
TRIP
AAVG FUEL
ECONOMY
TRIP
BAVG
SPEED
km
MILES
/GAL
RESET E/M SELECT
RESET E/M SELECT
2003 Grand Marquis(grn)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Driver Controls
86

Select
Each press of the SELECT control
will select a different function.
•Press the right side of the control
to advance the function to the
right.
•Press the left side of the control
to advance the function to the
left.
To reset any function:
1. Push either the right or left side of the SELECT control to choose the
desired function.
2. Press the RESET control and the
selected message center function
will be reset to zero.
Message center functions
DISTANCE TO EMPTY (DTE)
This function estimates
approximately how far you can drive
with the fuel remaining in your tank
under normal driving conditions.
Remember to turn the ignition OFF
when refueling to allow this feature to correctly detect the added fuel.
The DTE function will flash for 5 seconds and sound a tone for 1 second
when you have approximately:
•80 km (50 miles) left before you run out of fuel
•40 km (25 miles)
•16 km (10 miles)
RESET E/M SELECT
RESET E/M SELECT
DISTANCE
TO EMPTY
TRIP
AAVG FUEL
ECONOMY
TRIP
BAVG
SPEED
2003 Grand Marquis(grn)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Driver Controls
87

TRIP A and TRIP B
These two functions allow you to
see how far you have traveled since
you last reset. Trip A and Trip B are
completely independent and must
be reset individually.
To reset either trip feature to zero,
press the RESET control while the
appropriate trip distance feature
(TRIP A or TRIP B) is displayed.
AVG SPEED (average speed)
Select this function to display your
average speed in miles per hour or
kilometers per hour.
Your vehicle must be moving to
calculate your average speed. When your vehicle is not moving, the
average speed is displayed at 0 kilometers (0 miles) per hour.
OVERDRIVE CONTROL
Activating overdrive
(Overdrive) is the normal drive position for the best fuel economy.
The overdrive function allows automatic upshifts and downshifts through
all available gears.
Deactivating overdrive
If your vehicle is equipped with a
column-shift transmission, press the
Transmission Control Switch (TCS)
located on the end of the gearshift
lever.
TRIP
ATRIP
BAVG
SPEED DISTANCE
TO EMPTYAVG FUEL
ECONOMY
TRIP
ATRIP
BAVG
SPEED DISTANCE
TO EMPTYAVG FUEL
ECONOMY
RESET E/M SELECT
TRIP
ATRIP
BAVG
SPEED DISTANCE
TO EMPTYAVG FUEL
ECONOMY
O
/
D
O
F
F
2003 Grand Marquis(grn)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Driver Controls
89

If your vehicle is equipped with a
floor-shift transmission, overdrive
can be deactivated by pressing the
Transmission Control Switch (TCS)
on the gearshift handle.
The O/D OFF indicator light will
illuminate on the instrument cluster.
The transmission will operate in all
gears except overdrive.
To return to normal overdrive mode,
press the Transmission Control Switch again. The O/D OFF will no longer
be illuminated.
When you shut off and re-start your vehicle, the transmission will
automatically return to normal
(Overdrive) mode.
For additional information about the gearshift lever and the transmission
control switch operation refer to theAutomatic Transmission
Operationsection of theDrivingchapter.
INTERIOR TRUNK CONTROL
The remote trunk release control is
located on the driver’s door trim
panel and can be operated at any
time.
You can render the switch
inoperable by locking the button
with your master key.
CELL PHONE USE
The use of Mobile Communications Equipment has become increasingly
important in the conduct of business and personal affairs. However,
drivers must not compromise their own or others’ safety when using
such equipment. Mobile Communications can enhance personal safety
and security when appropriately used, particularly in emergency
situations. Safety must be paramount when using mobile communications
equipment to avoid negating these benefits.
Mobile Communication Equipment includes, but is not limited to cellular
phones, pagers, portable email devices, in vehicle communications
systems, telematics devices and portable two-way radios.
2003 Grand Marquis(grn)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Driver Controls
90

Your vehicle’s Personal Safety System consists of the following items:
•Driver and passenger dual-stage air bag supplemental restraints
•Driver and front passenger side air bags (if equipped)
•Front safety belts with pretensioners, energy management retractors,
and safety belt usage sensors
•Driver’s seat position sensor
•Passenger occupant classification sensor
•Front crash severity sensor
•Restraints Control Module (RCM) with impact and safing sensors
•Restraint system warning light and back-up tone
•The electrical wiring for the air bags, crash sensor(s), safety belt
pretensioners, front safety belt usage sensors, driver seat position
sensor, passenger occupant classification sensor, and indicator lights
How does the personal safety system work?
The Personal safety system can adapt the deployment strategy of your
vehicle’s safety devices according to crash severity and occupant
conditions. A collection of crash and occupant sensors provides
information to the Restraints control module (RCM). During a crash, the
RCM activates the safety belt pretensioners and/or either one or both
stages of the dual-stage air bag supplemental restraints based on crash
severity and occupant conditions.
The fact that the pretensioners or air bags did not activate for both front
seat occupants in a collision does not mean that something is wrong with
the system. Rather, it means the Personal safety system determined the
accident conditions (crash severity, belt usage, etc.) were not
appropriate to activate these safety devices. Front air bags and
pretensioners are designed to activate only in frontal and near-frontal
collisions, not rollovers, side-impacts, or rear-impacts unless the collision
causes sufficient longitudinal deceleration.
Driver and passenger dual-stage air bag supplemental restraints
The dual-stage air bags offer the capability to tailor the level of air bag
inflation energy. A lower, less forceful energy level is provided for more
common, moderate-severity impacts. A higher energy level is used for
the most severe impacts. Refer toAir bag supplemental restraints
section in this chapter.
Front crash severity sensor
The front crash severity sensor enhances the ability to detect the
severity of an impact. Positioned up front, it provides valuable
2003 Grand Marquis(grn)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
110

movement. For example, if the driver brakes suddenly or turns a corner
sharply, or the vehicle receives an impact of approximately 8 km/h
(5 mph) or more, the combination safety belts will lock to help reduce
forward movement of the driver and passengers.
Webbing extraction sensitive mode
The webbing extraction sensitive mode stops the belt webbing from
retracting if it is pulled out too quickly.
Automatic locking mode
In this mode, the shoulder belt is pre-locked. The belt will still retract to
remove any slack in the shoulder belt.
The automatic locking mode is not available on the driver safety belt.
When to use the automatic locking mode
•Any timea child safety seat is installed in a passenger front outboard
or any rear seating position. Children 12 years old and under should
be properly restrained in the rear seat whenever possible. Refer to
Safety Restraints for ChildrenorSafety Seats for Childrenlater in
this chapter.
How to use the automatic locking mode
•Buckle the combination lap and
shoulder belt.
2003 Grand Marquis(grn)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
115

•Grasp the shoulder portion and
pull downward until the entire
belt is pulled out.
•Allow the belt to retract. As the belt retracts, you will hear a clicking
sound. This indicates the safety belt is now in the automatic locking
mode.
How to disengage the automatic locking mode
Ford Motor Company recommends that all passenger safety belt
assemblies and attaching hardware should be inspected by a
qualified technician after any collision to verify that theautomatic
locking retractorfeature for child seats is still working properly. Safety
belt assemblies should be inspected according to the procedures in the
Workshop Manual and replaced if either damage or improper operation
is noted. Failure to replace the belt and retractor assembly could
increase the risk of injury in a collision.
Unbuckle the combination lap/shoulder belt and allow it to retract
completely to disengage the automatic locking mode and activate the
vehicle sensitive (emergency) locking mode.
2003 Grand Marquis(grn)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
116

•This will enable the BeltMinder feature for that seating position if it is
currently disabled. As confirmation, the restraint system warning light
will flash 4 times per second for 3 seconds, followed by 3 seconds with
the light off, then followed by the restraint system warning light
flashing 4 times per second for 3 seconds again.
Safety belt extension assembly
If the safety belt is too short when fully extended, there is a 20 cm (8
inch) safety belt extension assembly that can be added (part number
611C22). This assembly can be obtained from your dealer at no cost.
Use only extensions manufactured by the same supplier as the safety
belt. Manufacturer identification is located at the end of the webbing on
the label. Also, use the safety belt extension only if the safety belt is too
short for you when fully extended.
Do not use extensions to change the fit of the shoulder belt
across the torso.
Safety belt maintenance
Inspect the safety belt systems periodically to make sure they work
properly and are not damaged. Inspect the safety belts to make sure
there are no nicks, tears or cuts. Replace if necessary. All safety belt
assemblies, including retractors, buckles, front seat belt buckle
assemblies, buckle support assemblies (slide bar-if equipped), shoulder
belt height adjusters (if equipped), shoulder belt guide on seatback (if
equipped), child safety seat LATCH and tether anchors, and attaching
hardware, should be inspected after a collision. Ford Motor Company
recommends that all safety belt assemblies used in vehicles involved in a
collision be replaced. However, if the collision was minor and a qualified
technician finds that the belts do not show damage and continue to
operate properly, they do not need to be replaced. Safety belt assemblies
not in use during a collision should also be inspected and replaced if
either damage or improper operation is noted.
Failure to inspect and if necessary replace the safety belt
assembly under the above conditions could result in severe
personal injuries in the event of a collision.
Refer toInteriorin theCleaningchapter.
2003 Grand Marquis(grn)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
123

Children and air bags
Children must always be properly
restrained. Accident statistics
suggest that children are safer when
properly restrained in the rear
seating positions than in the front
seating position. Failure to follow
these instructions may increase the
risk of injury in a collision.
Air bags can kill or injure a
child in a child seat.
NEVERplace a rear-facing child
seat in front of an active air bag. If
you must use a forward-facing
child seat in the front seat, move
the seat all the way back.
How does the air bag supplemental restraint system work?
The air bag SRS is designed to
activate when the vehicle sustains
longitudinal deceleration sufficient
to cause the sensors to close an
electrical circuit that initiates air
bag inflation.
The fact that the air bags did not
inflate in a collision does not mean
that something is wrong with the
system. Rather, it means the forces
were not of the type sufficient to
cause activation. Driver and passenger airbags are designed to inflate in
frontal and near-frontal collisions, not rollover, side-impact, or
rear-impacts unless the collision causes sufficient longitudinal
deceleration.
2003 Grand Marquis(grn)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
126