maintenance 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

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

Inspect the tire side walls for cuts,
bruises and other damage. If
internal damage to the tire is
suspected, have the tire
demounted and inspected in case
it needs to be repaired or replaced.
MAINTENANCE AND
MODIFICATIONS
The suspension and steering
systems on your vehicle have been
designed and tested to provide
both reasonably safe, predictable
performance whether loaded or
empty and durable load carrying
capability. For this reason, Ford
strongly recommends that you do
not make modifications such as
adding or removing parts (such as
lift kits or stabilizer bars) or by
using replacement parts not
equivalent to the original factory
equipment.
Any modifications to a vehicle that
raise the center of gravity can
make it more likely the vehicle will
roll over as a result of a loss of
control. Ford recommends that
caution be used with any vehicle
equipped with a high load or
device (such as ladder racks or
pickup box cover).
Failure to maintain your vehicle
properly may void the warranty,
increase your repair cost, reduce
vehicle performance and
operational capabilities and
adversely affect driver and
passenger safety. Frequent
inspection of vehicle chassis
Maintenance and modifications
17

components is recommended if the
vehicle is subjected to heavy
off-road usage. Refer to the
ªOwner's Guideº and ªService
Guideº for proper maintenance
instructions and schedules.
HAULING CARGO AND
VEHICLE HANDLING
When using your vehicle to haul
cargo, make sure it is properly
loaded to help ensure safe
handling. Cargo should be evenly
distributed over the floor of the
cargo area, with the heaviest cargo
on the bottom and ahead of the
rear axle.
If you must haul cargo on the roof
of the vehicle, use extra caution
when driving. Cargo placed on the
roof will tend to make your vehicle
top heavy, causing it to lean more
on corners and creating a greater
possibility of vehicle roll over
should you lose control of the
vehicle.
Hauling cargo and vehicle handling
18

All-Wheel Drive System, The .......3
AWD Vehicle Operation ................6
Cargo, Hauling and Vehicle
Handling ......................................18
Differences in Four-Wheel
Drive ..............................................5
Driving Off-Road with 4WD .........9
Driving Off-Road with AWD .........9
Emergency Maneuvers .................7
Four-by-Four Operation ...............6
Four-Wheel Drive System, The ...3
Hauling Cargo and Vehicle
Handling ......................................18
Hills, Driving on ..........................12
If Your Vehicle Goes Off the
Edge of the Pavement ..................6
Introduction ..................................2Lift Kits ........................................15
Maintenance and Modifications .17
Mud, Driving in ...........................10
Off-Road Driving ...........................9
Operating Your AWD Vehicle
on the Road ...................................6
Operating Your Four-by-Four
on the Road ...................................6
Parking ...........................................9
Sand, Driving in ..........................10
Snow, Deep, Driving in ...............12
Snow/Ice, Driving in .....................8
Tires, Replacement
Requirements ..............................15
Trailer Towing .............................14
Water, Driving in .........................12
Index
20