Mercury Mountaineer 1997 Four Wheeling Supplement

Introduction 2
Notice to 4X2 utility vehicle owners 3
4WD and AWD systems 3
4WD Or AWD operation on the road 6
Driving off-road with 4WD or AWD 9
Trailer towing 14
Tires, replacement requirements 15
Maintenance and modifications 17
Hauling cargo and vehicle handling 18
Index 20
Table of contents
1

INTRODUCTION
Welcome to Ford Motor Company's
world of four-wheel driving! Your
new 4WD or AWD vehicle opens
up a completely different and
challenging world of travel unlike
what you have ever experienced
with a conventional two-wheel
drive vehicle. Now, you'll be able to
travel places where roads don't.
You'll be able to travel when
weather conditions have made
roads impassible for two-wheel
drive vehicles. Most importantly,
you'll be able to travel with the
safety, comfort and dependability
of a Ford-built vehicle.
The steering and handling
characteristics of vehicles may vary
and you must learn and
understand the capabilities and
limitations of your 4WD or AWD
through experience. Take it slow
and easy until you get to know and
understand your vehicle and have
confidence in your ability to drive
it.
Your 4WD or AWD vehicle,
particularly when loaded, may
handle differently than an ordinary
passenger car. This is because your
vehicle has special design and
equipment feature for off-road
operation.
Familiarize yourself with this
vehicle's operating characteristics.
Study the ªOwner's Guideº and this
supplement for specific information
and instructions for safe driving
under various conditions.
Introduction
2

All occupants should always wear
the safety belts provided and
children/infants should use
appropriate restraints to minimize
the risk of injury or ejection.
Driving at speeds safe for road
conditions and the use of safety
belts are the best means of
avoiding the possibility of accident
and serious injury.
Ford Motor Company reserves
the right at any time to change
information provided herein,
including specifications, design
or testing procedures without
incurring obligation.
NOTICE TO 4X2 UTILITY
VEHICLE OWNERS
Although this supplement is
primarily directed to 4WD or AWD
vehicle operators, these principles
of safe driving also apply to
operators of two-wheel drive utility
vehicles. Even though you did not
select a 4WD or AWD option for
your vehicle, many of its operating
characteristics are similar to those
of 4WD or AWD vehicles. For this
reason, Ford urges you to read and
understand the contents of this
supplement.
4WD AND AWD SYSTEMS
Your AWD or 4WD (when you
select the 4WD mode), uses all
four wheels to power itself. This
increases traction, enabling you to
Notice to 4x2 utility vehicle owners
3

drive over terrain and road
conditions that a conventional
two-wheel drive vehicle can't.
Power is supplied to all four
wheels through a transfer case. On
4WD vehicles the transfer case
allows you to select 4WD when
necessary. Information on transfer
case operation, shifting procedures
and maintenance can be found in
your ªOwner's Guide.º You should
become thoroughly familiar with
this information before you operate
your vehicle.
Normal characteristics
²On some 4WD models, the initial
shift from two-wheel drive to
4x4 while the vehicle is moving
can cause some momentary
clunk and ratcheting sounds.
This is the front drivetrain
coming up to speed and the
automatic locking hubs engaging
and is not cause for concern.
²On some 4WD models, if the
vehicle is stopped while in 4WD
and the vehicle direction is
reversed from the previous
direction, the automatic locking
hubs will momentarily disengage
and re-engage. The automatic
locking hubs may click as they
automatically engage in the new
direction.
4WD and AWD systems
4

How your vehicle differs from
other vehicles
4WD and AWD vehicles can differ
from some other vehicles in a few
noticeable ways. Your 4WD or
AWD may be:
²Higher Ð to allow it to travel
over rough terrain without
getting hung up or damaging
underbody components, and to
accommodate 4WD components.
²Shorter Ð to give it the
capability to approach inclines
and drive over the crest of a hill
without getting hung up or
damaging underbody
components. A shorter
wheelbase may make your
vehicle quicker to respond to
steering inputs than a vehicle
with a longer wheelbase.
²Narrower Ð to provide greater
maneuverability in tight spaces,
particularly in off-road use.
These differences that make your
4WD or AWD so versatile also
make it handle differently than an
ordinary passenger car.
4WD and AWD systems
5

4WD OR AWD OPERATION ON
THE ROAD
Basic operating principles
²Do not use 4WD on dry, hard
surfaced roads (except models
equipped with Auto 4WD or
AWD). This may damage the
drivelines and axles.
²Drive slower in strong
crosswinds which can affect the
normal steering characteristics
of your vehicle.
²Be extremely careful when
driving on pavement made
slippery by loose sand, water,
gravel, snow or ice.
If your vehicle goes off the
edge of the pavement
²If your vehicle goes off the edge
of the pavement, slow down, but
avoid severe brake application,
Ease the vehicle back onto the
pavement only after reducing
your speed. Do not turn the
steering wheel too sharply while
returning to the road surface.
²It may be safer to stay on the
apron or shoulder of the road
and slow down gradually before
returning to the pavement. You
may loose control if you do not
slow down or if you turn the
steering wheel too sharply or
abruptly.
²It often may be less risky to
strike small inanimate objects,
such as highway reflectors, with
minor damage to your vehicle
4WD or AWD operation on the road
6

rather than attempt a sudden
return to the pavement which
could cause the vehicle to slide
sideways out of control or
rollover. Remember, your safety
and the safety of others should
be your primary concern.
Emergency maneuvers
²In an unavoidable emergency
situation where a sudden sharp
turn must be made, remember
to avoid ªover-drivingº your
vehicle, i.e., turn the steering
wheel only as rapidly and as far
as required to avoid the
emergency. Excessive steering
will result in less vehicle control,
not more. Additionally, smooth
variations of the accelerator
and/or brake pedal pressure
should be utilized if changes in
vehicle speed are called for.
Avoid abrupt steering,
acceleration or braking. Use all
available road surface to return
the vehicle to a safe direction of
travel.
²In the event of an emergency
stop, avoid skidding the tires
and do not attempt any sharp
steering wheel movements.
²If the vehicle goes from one
type of surface to another (i.e.,
from concrete to gravel) there
will be a change in the way the
vehicle responds to a maneuver
(steering, acceleration or
barking). Again, avoid these
abrupt inputs.
4WD or AWD operation on the road
7

Snow and ice
Your 4WD or AWD vehicle will
have advantages over two-wheel
drive vehicles in snow and on ice
by providing increased driving
traction. However, if you suddenly
change speed or direction you may
lose control. 4WD and AWD
vehicles can slide on slippery roads
just like any other vehicle. Should
you start to slide while driving on
snowy or icy roads, turn the
steering wheel in the direction of
the slide until you regain control.
Avoid sudden braking as well.
Although a 4WD or AWD vehicle
may accelerate better than a
two-wheel drive vehicle in snow
and ice, it won't stop any faster,
because as in other vehicles,
braking occurs at all four wheels.
Do not become overconfident as to
road conditions.
Make sure you allow sufficient
distance between you and other
vehicles for stopping. In
emergency stopping situations,
avoid locking of the wheels. Use a
ªsqueezeº technique, push on the
brake pedal with a steadily
increasing force which allows the
wheels to brake yet continue to
roll so that you may steer in the
direction you want to travel. If you
lock the wheels, release the brake
pedal and repeat the squeeze
technique. If your vehicle has
anti-lock brakes, apply the brake
steadily. Do not ªpumpº the
brakes. See your ªOwner's Guideº
for additional information on the
4WD or AWD operation on the road
8

operation of the anti-lock brake
system.
Parking
Before leaving the driver's seat,
you should make sure that the
gearshift is engaged in P (Park)
with an automatic transmission or
either 1 (First) or R (Reverse)
with a manual transmission. Set
the parking brake fully, shut off
the ignition and remove the key.
On some 4WD vehicles, when the
transfer case is in the N (Neutral)
position, the engine and
transmission are disconnected
from the rest of the driveline.
Therefore, the vehicle is free to
roll even if the automatic
transmission is in P (Park) or the
manual transmission is in gear. Do
not leave the vehicle unattended
with the transfer case in N
(Neutral) position. Always set the
parking brake fully and turn off the
ignition when leaving the vehicle.
DRIVING OFF-ROAD WITH 4WD
OR AWD
When using 4WD or AWD,
maintain steering wheel control at
all times, especially in rough
terrain. Since sudden changes in
terrain can result in abrupt
steering wheel motion, make sure
you grip the steering wheel from
the outside. Do not grip the
spokes.
Driving off-road with 4WD or AWD
9

Drive cautiously to avoid vehicle
damage from concealed objects
such as rocks and stumps. You
should either know the terrain or
examine maps of the area before
driving. Map out your route before
driving in the area. To maintain
steering and braking control of
your vehicle, you must have all
four wheels on the ground and
they must be rolling, not sliding or
spinning.
Sand
When driving over sand, try to
keep all four wheels on the most
solid area of the trail. Avoid
reducing the tire pressure. Instead,
shift to a lower gear and drive
steadily through the terrain. Apply
the accelerator slowly and avoid
spinning the wheels.
If you must reduce the tire
pressure for whatever reason in
sand, make sure you re-inflate the
tires as soon as possible.
Avoid excessive speed because
vehicle momentum can work
against you and cause the vehicle
to become stuck to the point that
assistance may be required from
another vehicle. Remember, you
may be able to back out the way
you came if you proceed with
caution.
Mud
Be cautious of sudden changes in
vehicle speed or direction when
you are driving in mud. Even 4WD
Driving off-road with 4WD or AWD
10