warning Mercury Mountaineer 1997 Owner's Manuals

The following icons appear in this
Owner's Guide:
indicates a warning. Read the
following section onWarningsfor
a full explanation of warnings.
indicates that vehicle
information related to recycling
and other environmental concerns
will follow.
Warnings
Warnings remind you to be
especially careful in those areas
where carelessness can cause
damage to your vehicle or personal
injury to yourself, your passengers
or other people. Please read all
Warnings carefully.
Notice to owners of utility-type
vehicles
As with other vehicles of this type,
failure to operate this vehicle
correctly may result in loss of
control or an accident. Be sure to
readSpecial driving instructions
for AWD vehicleslater in this
Owner's Guide and the special
supplement included with AWD
and 4x4 vehicles entitled
Four-Wheeling.
Four-Wheelingpresents safe
driving practices to owners of AWD
and 4x4 utility vehicles. Your AWD
vehicle handles differently than an
ordinary passenger car and has
some special safety considerations.
This is because your AWD vehicle
has several design and equipment
Introduction
2

L
0P RND21
UNLEADED
FUEL ONLY
RPM x 1000
12345
6
H
C
F
E
RSM
SET
ACCEL
COAST OFFOFF
SRS
- +
H
H
L L
ON
020
1030405060
70
80
90
110
120000000
oooo
km/h MPH
100

20406080100
120
140
160
180
O/D
ON/OFF
Engine coolant
temperature
gauge (pg. 7 )
Tachometer
(pg. 6) Warning lights
(pg. 8)Speed
control
(pg. 23)
Speedometer
(pg. 6)
Engine oil
pressure
gauge
(pg. 7)Gearshift
(includes
overdrive
button)
(pg. 26)
Charging
system gauge
(pg. 7) Driver air bag
(pg. 78)
Turn signal and
wiper/washer
control (pg. 24)
Tilt steering
wheel lever
(pg. 27) Instrument
panel dimmer
switch (pg. 14) Headlamp
control
(pg. 13)Hazard
flasher
control
(not
shown)
(pg. 27) Fuel gauge
(pg. 7)
Instrumentation
4

Instrument cluster warning and
indicator lights
DOOR
AJARilluminates when the ignition
key is turned to the ON or START
position and a door or liftgate is
opened.
CHECK
GAGEilluminates when the ignition is
turned to ON and the engine
temperature is high, the oil
pressure is low, or the fuel level is
near empty.
illuminates when there is a
problem with the generator or
charging system.
FUEL
RESETilluminates when the ignition
key is turned to ON and the fuel
pump shutoff switch has been
triggered. Refer toFuel pump
shutoff switchinRoadside
emergenciesfor more information.
illuminates when the air bag
system requires servicing.
0
20
1030405060
70
80
90
110
200000000
oooo
100

20406080100
120
140
160
180
0ABS
- +
P RND21
UNLEADED
FUEL ONLY
RPM x 1000
12345
6
- +
H
H
L L
4WD
LOW 4X4
H
C
F
E
!P
DOOR
AJAR
CHECK
GAGEFUEL
RESET
BRAKEMPH km/h
DOOR
AJAR
CHECK
GAGE
FUEL
RESET
Instrumentation
8

How to test the instrument
cluster lights
Turn the ignition key to ON
without starting the engine. The
warning and indicator lights shown
above will illuminate for a brief
time. If any of these lights do not
illuminate, have your vehicle
serviced.
Warning chimes
Safety belt warning chime
Refer to theSeating and safety
restraintschapter for information
on the safety belt warning chime.
Supplemental restraint system
(SRS) warning chime
Refer to theSeating and safety
restraintschapter for information
on the SRS warning chime.
Key±in±ignition warning chime
A warning chime sounds when the
key is left in the ignition in the
OFF, LOCK, or ACCESSORY
position and the driver's door is
opened.
0ABS
- +
P RND21
UNLEADED
FUEL ONLY
RPM x 1000
12345
6
- +
H
H
L L
CHECK
ENGINE
H
C
F
E
!PBRAKE
CHECK
GAGE
0
20
1030405060
70
80
90
110
120000000
oooo
100

20406080100
120
140
160
180
MPH km/h
Instrumentation
11

Headlamps on warning chime
A warning chime sounds when the
headlamps are on (and key is not
in the ignition), the ignition is off,
and a door is opened.
Instrumentation
12

STEERING COLUMN
CONTROLS
Positions of the ignition
ACCESSORYallows electrical
accessories such as radio and
wipers/washer to operate while the
engine is not running.
LOCKlocks the steering wheel
and gearshift lever.
OFFshuts off the ignition and
accessories and allows the
gearshift lever and steering wheel
to move.
ONtests the warning lights. The
key remains here when engine is
running.
STARTcranks the engine. The key
returns toONwhen released.
00P RND21
UNLEADED
FUEL ONLY
RPM x 100012345
6H
C
F
E
RSM
SET
ACC
COAST OFF ON
SRS
- +
H
H
L L020
1030405060
70
80
90
110
120000000oooo
km/h100
20406080100
120
140
160
180
ON
START
LOCK
ACCESSORYOFF
Controls and features
22

SAFETY BELT WARNING AND
INDICATOR CHIME
The
warning light illuminates
in the instrument cluster and a
chime sounds to remind the
occupants to fasten their safety
belts.
Conditions of operation
If... Then...
The safety belt is not buckled
before the ignition key is turned
to ON...The safety belt indicator light
illuminates for one to two minutes
and the warning chime sounds for
4-8 seconds.
The safety belt is buckled while
the indicator light is illuminated
and the warning chime is
sounding...The safety belt indicator light and
the warning chime turn off.
The safety belt is buckled before
the ignition key is turned to ON...Both the safety belt warning light
and chime remain off.
SAFETY BELT MAINTENANCE
Check the safety belt systems
periodically to make sure that they
work properly and are not
damaged. Check the safety belts to
make sure there are no nicks,
wear, or cuts. If your vehicle has
been involved in an accident, have
all the safety belts and child seat
anchoring brackets (if equipped)
examined by a qualified technician.
Seating and safety restraints
69

bags, and the air bags deflate. You
may notice smoke and smell the
escaping gas after the air bags
deflate. This is normal.
You and your passenger must wear
your safety belts in order for the
air bag system to operate
effectively.
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND
CHIME
When you turn the ignition key to
the ON position, the
warning
light in the instrument cluster
illuminates for approximately six
seconds to indicate the air bag
system is functional.
If you hear a group of five beeps,
or if the
warning light does
not illuminate, stays lit, or flashes,
the air bag system requires
immediate service. Have the
vehicle serviced at your dealer.
CHILD RESTRAINT
PRECAUTIONS
You are required by law to use
safety restraints in the United
States and Canada. If small
children ride in your vehicle
(generally children who are four
years of age or younger and who
weigh 18 kg [40 lb or less]), you
must put them in safety seats
made especially for children.
Check your local and state laws for
specific requirements regarding the
safety of your children.
Seating and safety restraints
74

Never let a passenger hold
a child on his or her lap
while the vehicle is moving. The
passenger cannot protect the
child from injury in a collision.
Always follow the instructions and
warnings that come with any infant
or child restraint you might use.
If possible, place children in the
rear seat of your vehicle. Accident
statistics suggest children are safer
when properly restrained in rear
seating positions than in the front
seating positions.
CHILDREN AND SAFETY BELTS
Children who are too large for
child safety seats (as specified by
the manufacturer of your child
safety seat) should always wear
their safety belts.
Follow all the important safety
restraint and air bag precautions
that apply to adult passengers in
your vehicle.
If the shoulder belt portion of a
combination lap and shoulder belt
can be positioned so it does not
cross or rest in front of the child's
face or neck, the child should wear
the lap and shoulder belt. Moving
the child closer to the center of
the vehicle may help to provide a
good shoulder belt fit.
If the shoulder belt cannot be
properly positioned:
²Move the child to a seat with a
lap belt only.
Seating and safety restraints
75

ABS warning light
TheABSlight in the instrument
cluster illuminates and remains
illuminated if an ABS fault is
detected. Have your vehicle
serviced as soon as possible.
Normal braking operation is still
effective unless the
light is
also illuminated.
Parking brake
The parking brake should be used
whenever the vehicle is parked.
Push pedal downward to set the
parking brake.
The
light in the instrument
cluster illuminates and remains
illuminated (when the ignition is
turned to ON) until the parking
brake is released.
Always set the parking
brake fully and make sure
that the gearshift is securely
latched in P (Park).
The parking brake is not designed
to stop a moving vehicle. However,
if the normal brakes fail, the
parking brake can be used to stop
your vehicle in an emergency.
Since the parking brake applies
only the rear brakes, the vehicle's
stopping distance will increase
greatly and the handling of your
vehicle will be adversely affected.
Driving
97