transmission Mercury Mercury Cougar 2002 Owner's Manual

Locks and Security 70
Keys 70
Locks 70
Anti-theft system 71
Seating and Safety Restraints 79
Seating 79
Safety restraints 83
Air bags 94
Child restraints 102
Driving 112
Starting 112
Brakes 116
Traction control/AdvanceTrac 119
Transmission operation 120
Vehicle loading 129
Trailer towing 130
Roadside Emergencies 134
Getting roadside assistance 134
Hazard flasher switch 135
Fuel pump shut-off switch 135
Fuses and relays 136
Changing tires 142
Jump starting 145
Wrecker towing 151
Table of Contents
2

Traction ControlYactive
Illuminates when the Traction
Controlysystem is active. It will be
lit for a minimum of four seconds or
for the duration of the Traction
Controlyevent.
For more information, refer to theDrivingchapter.
Low fuel
Illuminates when the fuel level in
the fuel tank is at, or near, empty
(refer toFuel gaugein this chapter
for more information). When
refueling, after the light comes on,
the amount of fuel that is added will
be less than the advertised capacity
since there is fuel still in the tank.
O/D off (if equipped)
Illuminates when the overdrive
function has been turned OFF using
the Transmission Control Switch
(TCS) on end of gearshift. If the
light does not come on or the light
flashes steadily, have your vehicle serviced as soon as possible, as
damage to the transmission could occur.
Speed control (if equipped)
Illuminates when the speed control
is activated.
Turn signal
Illuminates when the turn signals or
the hazard lights are turned on. If
the lights stay on continuously or
flash faster, check for a burned-out bulb.
Instrument Cluster
13

Reasons given... Consider...
ªI have an air bagº Air bags offer greater protection when
used with safety belts. Frontal airbags
are not designed to inflate in rear and
side crashes or rollovers.
ªI'd rather be thrown clearº Not a good idea.Peoplewho are
ejected are 40 times more likely
to DIE.Safety belts help prevent
ejection, WE CAN'T ªPICK OUR
CRASHº.
Do not sit on top of a buckled safety belt to avoid the Belt
Minder chime. Sitting on the safety belt will increase the risk of
injury in an accident. To disable (one-time) or deactivate the Belt
Minder feature please follow the directions stated below.
One time disable
Any time the safety belt is buckled and then unbuckled during an
ignition ON cycle, BeltMinder will be disabled for that ignition cycle only.
Deactivating/activating the BeltMinder feature
Read steps1-9thoroughly before proceeding with the
deactivation/activation programming procedure.
The BeltMinder feature can be deactivated/activated by performing the
following procedure:
Before following the procedure, make sure that:
²The parking brake is set.
²The gearshift is in P (Park) (automatic transmission) or the neutral
position (manual transmission).
²The ignition switch is in the OFF position.
²All vehicle doors are closed.
²The driver's safety belt is unbuckled.
²The parklamps/headlamps are in OFF position (If vehicle is equipped
with Autolamps, this will not affect the procedure).
To reduce the risk of injury, do not deactivate/activate the Belt
Minder feature while driving the vehicle.
Seating and Safety Restraints
91

The Traction Controlyon/off
switch, located in the center of the
instrument panel illuminates when
the system is OFF. The Traction
Controlysystem will revert to the
ON position every time the ignition
is turned OFF and ON.
If you should become stuck in snow
or ice or on a very slippery road surface, try switching the Traction
Controlysystem off. This may allow excess wheel spin to ªdigº the
vehicle out and enable a successful ªrockingº maneuver.
If a system fault is detected the OFF indicator lamp on the traction
control switch will be illuminated and your vehicle should be serviced.
STEERING
Your vehicle is equipped with power steering. Power steering uses energy
from the engine to decrease the driver's effort in steering the vehicle.
To prevent damage to the power steering pump:
²Never hold the steering wheel to the extreme right or the extreme left
for more than a few seconds when the engine is running.
²Do not operate the vehicle with the power steering pump fluid level
below the MIN mark on 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, the condition could be caused by any of
the following:
²Underinflated tire(s) on any wheel(s)
²Uneven vehicle loading
²High crown in center of road
²High crosswinds
²Wheels out of alignment
²Loose or worn suspension components
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OPERATION (IF EQUIPPED)
Brake-shift interlock
If you cannot move the gearshift lever out of P (Park) with the brake
pedal depressed:
Driving
120

1 (First)
Use 1 (Low) to provide maximum
engine braking on steep
downgrades. Upshifts can be made
by shifting to 2 (Second) or to
(Overdrive). Selecting 1 (Low) at
higher speeds causes the transaxle
to shift to a lower gear, and will
shift to 1 (Low) after vehicle
decelerates to the proper speed.
Forced Downshifts
To gain acceleration in(Overdrive) or Drive (O/D OFF) when
passing another vehicle, push the accelerator to the floor. The transaxle
will downshift to the appropriate gear: third, second or first gear.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION OPERATION (IF EQUIPPED)
Using the clutch
Vehicles equipped with a manual
transaxle have a starter interrupt
interlock that prevents cranking of
the engine unless the clutch pedal is
depressed.
Driving
125

3. Push the gearshift lever
completely to the right, pull up the
ring on the stalk of the gearshift
lever, and then pull rearward on the
gearshift lever to engage the R
(Reverse) gear.
4. When the R (Reverse) gear is engaged, slowly release the clutch pedal
from the floor.
DRIVING THROUGH WATER
Do not drive quickly through standing water, especially if the depth is
unknown. Traction or brake capability may be limited and if the ignition
system gets wet, your engine may stall. Water may also enter your
engine's air intake and severely damage your engine.
If driving through deep or standing water is unavoidable, proceed very
slowly. Never drive through water that is higher than the bottom of the
hubs (for trucks) or the bottom of the wheel rims (for cars).
Once through the 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.
Driving through deep water where the transmission vent tube is
submerged may allow water into the transmission and cause
internal transmission damage. Have the fluid checked and, if
water is found, replace the fluid.
Driving
128

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 occupants or
aftermarket equipment.
²Payload:Combined maximum allowable weight of cargo, occupants
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 permissible total
weight of the base vehicle, occupants, optional equipment and cargo.
The GVWR is specific to each vehicle and is listed on the Safety
Certification 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 Certification Label on the driver's door pillar.
²GCW (Gross Combined Weight):The combined weight of the
towing vehicle (including occupants and cargo) and the loaded trailer.
²GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating):Maximum permissible
combined weight of towing vehicle (including occupants and cargo)
and the loaded trailer
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 occupants 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
129

Driving while you tow
When towing a trailer:
²Turn off the speed control. The speed control may shut off
automatically when you are towing on long, steep grades.
²Consult your local motor vehicle speed regulations for towing a trailer.
²To eliminate excessive shifting, use a lower gear. This will also assist
in transaxle cooling.
²Anticipate stops and brake gradually.
²Do not exceed the GCWR rating or transaxle damage may occur.
Servicing after towing
If you tow a trailer for long distances, your vehicle will require more
frequent service intervals. Refer to your scheduled maintenance guide for
more information.
Trailer towing tips
²Practice turning, stopping and backing up before starting on a trip to
get the feel of the vehicle trailer combination. When turning, make
wider turns so the trailer wheels will clear curbs and other obstacles.
²Allow more distance for stopping with a trailer attached.
²If you are driving down a long or steep hill, shift to a lower gear. Do
not apply the brakes continuously, as they may overheat and become
less effective.
²The trailer tongue weight should be 10±15% of the loaded trailer
weight.
²After you have traveled 80 km (50 miles), thoroughly check your
hitch, electrical connections and trailer wheel lug nuts.
²To aid in engine/transmission cooling and A/C efficiency during hot
weather while stopped in traffic, place the gearshift lever in P (Park).
²Vehicles with trailers should not be parked on a grade. If you must
park on a grade, place wheel chocks under the trailer's wheels.
Driving
132

RECREATIONAL TOWING
Follow these guidelines for your specific powertrain combination to tow
your vehicle with all four wheels on the ground (such as behind a
recreational vehicle).
These guidelines are designed to ensure that your transmission is not
damaged due to insufficient lubrication.
All Front Wheel Drive (FWD) vehicles:
An example of recreational towing is towing your vehicle behind a
motorhome. The following recreational towing guidelines are designed to
ensure that your transmission is not damaged. It is not recommended to
tow front wheel drive vehicles with the front drive wheels on the ground.
It is recommended to tow your vehicle with the drive wheels on a dolly
or two wheel car hauling trailer.
In case of a roadside emergency with a disabled vehicle (without access
to wheel dollies, car hauling trailer or flatbed transport vehicle) your
vehicle can be flat towed (all wheels on the ground) under the following
conditions:
²Place the transmission in N (Neutral).
²Maximum speed is 56 km/h (35 mph).
²Maximum distance is 80 km (50 miles).
Driving
133

4. Insert the tapered end of the jack
handle beneath the hub cover (if
equipped) and push in. Twist off to
remove the cover. Loosen each
wheel lug nut one-half turn
counterclockwise but do not remove
them until the wheel is raised off
the ground.
5. Place the jack under vehicle in
location indicated by arrows (closest
to the tire requiring changing), then
jack up the vehicle until the tire is
clear of the ground.
6. Remove the lug nuts with the lug wrench.
7. Replace the flat tire with the spare tire, making sure the valve stem is
facing outward. Reinstall the lug nuts until the wheel is snug against the
hub. Do not fully tighten the lug nuts until the wheel has been lowered.
8. Lower the wheel by turning the jack handle counterclockwise.
9. Remove the jack and fully tighten the lug nuts in the order shown.
10. Put flat tire, jack and lug wrench away. Make sure the jack is
fastened so it does not rattle when you drive. Unblock the wheels.
JUMP STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
The gases around the battery can explode if exposed to flames,
sparks, or lit cigarettes. An explosion could result in injury or
vehicle damage.
Batteries contain sulfuric acid which can burn skin, eyes and
clothing, if contacted.
Do not attempt to push-start your vehicle. Automatic
transmissions do not have push-start capability; also, the
catalytic converter may become damaged.
Roadside Emergencies
145