traction control Mercury Mountaineer 1997 Four Wheeling Supplement

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
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and AWD vehicles can lose traction
in slick mud. As when you are
driving over sand, apply the
accelerator slowly and avoid
spinning your wheels. If the vehicle
does slide, steer in the direction of
the slide until you regain control of
the vehicle.
After driving through mud, clean
off residue stuck to rotating
driveshafts and tires. Excess mud
stuck on tires and rotating
driveshafts causes an imbalance
that could damage vehicle
components.
ªTread Lightlyº is an educational
program designed to increase
public awareness of land-use
regulations and responsibilities in
our nations wilderness areas. Ford
joins the U.S. Forest Service and
the Bureau of Land Management in
encouraging you to help preserve
our national forest and other
public and private lands by
ªtreading lightly.º
Driving off-road with 4WD or AWD
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diagonally up or down a hill or
steep incline, you should always
try to drive straight up or straight
down.Avoid driving crosswise
or turning on steep slopes or
hills. A danger lies in losing
traction, slipping sideways and
possibly rolling over. Whenever
driving on a hill, determine
beforehand the route you will use.
Do not drive over the crest of a hill
without seeing what conditions are
on the other side. Do not drive in
reverse over a hill without the aid
of an observer.
When climbing a steep slope or
hill, start in a lower gear rather
than downshifting to a lower gear
from a higher gear once the ascent
has started. This reduces strain on
the engine and the possibility of
stalling.
If you do stall out, Do not try to
turnaround because you might roll
over. It is better to back down to a
safe location.
Apply just enough power to the
wheels to climb the hill. Too much
power will cause the tires to slip,
spin or lose traction, resulting in
loss of vehicle control.
Driving off-road with 4WD or AWD
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