warning Mercury Mountaineer 1998 s User Guide

there is sufficient space, will
enable you to avoid obstacles
and bring the vehicle to a
controlled stop.
²We recommend that you
familiarize yourself with this
braking technique. However,
avoid taking any unnecessary
risks.
Parking brake
Apply the parking brake whenever
the vehicle is parked. To set the
parking brake, press the parking
brake pedal down until the pedal
stops.
The BRAKE warning lamp in the
instrument cluster illuminates and
remains illuminated (when the
ignition is turned 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) (automatic
transmission) or in 1 (First)
(manual transmission).
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
!
BRAKE
Driving
102

²Do not turn off the ignition
while your vehicle is moving,
especially at high speeds.
²Have the services listed in your
ªService Guideº performed
according to the specified
schedule.
The Scheduled Maintenance
Services listed in the ªService
Guideº are required because they
are considered essential to the life
and performance of your vehicle
and to its emissions system.
If other than Ford, Motorcraft or
Ford authorized parts are used for
maintenance replacements or for
service of components affecting
emission control such non-Ford
parts should be equivalent to
genuine Ford Motor Company
parts in performance and
durability.
Do not park, idle, or drive
your vehicle in dry grass
or other dry ground cover. The
emission system heats up the
engine compartment and exhaust
system, which can start a fire.
Watch for fluid leaks, strange
odors, smoke, loss of oil pressure,
the charging system warning light,
the ªCheck Engineº light or the
temperature warning light. These
events could indicate that the
emission control system is not
working properly.
Maintenance and care
188

If you smell exhaust fumes
of any kind inside your
vehicle, have the dealer inspect
and fix your vehicle immediately.
Do not drive if you smell exhaust
fumes. These fumes are harmful
and could kill you.
Do not make any unauthorized
changes to your vehicle or engine.
By law, vehicle owners and anyone
who manufactures, repairs,
services, sells, leases, trades
vehicles, or supervises a fleet of
vehicles are not permitted to
intentionally remove an emission
control device or prevent it from
working. Information about your
vehicle's emission system is on the
Vehicle Emission Control
Information Decal located on or
near the engine. This decal
identifies engine displacement and
gives some tune up specifications.
Please consult your ªWarranty
Guideº for complete emission
warranty information.
Readiness for
inspection/maintenance (I/M)
testing
In some localities, it may be a legal
requirement to pass an I/M test of
the on-board diagnostic (OBD-II)
system. If your ªcheck
engine/service engine soonº light is
on, reference the applicable light
description in theWarning Lights
and Chimessection of your
owners guide. Your vehicle may
Maintenance and care
189

Air bag supplemental restraint
system ..........................................73
and child safety seats ..............75
description ................................74
disposal ......................................78
indicator light ...........................77
passenger air bag .....................76
Air conditioning
manual heating and air
conditioning system .......18,21,23
Air suspension
description ..............................103
All wheel drive (AWD) .............118
Ambulance packages ....................3
Anti-lock brake system (ABS)..101
Anti-theft system ........................55
Autolamp system (see
Headlamps) .................................38
Automatic dimming mirror ...37,38
Battery .......................................173
voltage gauge ............................14
Brake fluid
checking and adding ..............162
Brakes ........................................100
anti-lock ...................................100
anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light ...........................101
fluid, checking and adding ....162
Brake-shift interlock .................104
Break-in period .............................2
Bulbs, replacing ........................190
headlamps ...............................191
specifications ..........................193
Cargo cover ............................44,45
Changing a tire .........................144
Child safety seats ........................81
built-in child seat ......86,87,91,92
Childproof locks ..........................41
Chime
headlamps on ............................12
Cleaning your vehicle ...............196
built-in child seat ...................201engine compartment ..............197
fabric ........................................200
instrument panel ....................200
plastic parts ............................199
safety belts ..............................201
tail lamps .................................200
washing ....................................196
waxing .....................................196
wheels ......................................199
windows ..................................203
woodtone trim ........................203
Compass, electronic ....................35
calibration .................................37
set zone adjustment .................36
Control trac 4WD system .........111
Controls .......................................42
Defrost
rear window ..............................24
Driving under special
conditions ...........................115,120
high water ........................115,120
slippery roads ....116,117,121,122
Emission control system ..........187
Engine ........................................209
service points ...................156,157
Engine block heater ...................97
Engine coolant
checking and adding ..............164
disposal ....................................166
refill capacities ........................167
Engine oil ...........................158,161
changing oil and oil filter .......161
checking and adding .......158,160
Exhaust fumes ............................98
Floor mats ...................................43
Foglamps .....................................16
Four-Wheel Drive vehicles
control trac ........................25,111
special driving
instructions ......................113,114
Fuel
calculating fuel economy .......187
Index
213

improving fuel economy ........134
octane rating ...........................185
quality ......................................186
safety information relating to
automotive fuels .....................183
Fuel gauge ...................................15
Fuel pump shut-off switch .......135
Fuse panels
instrument panel ....................138
power distribution box ...........141
Fuses ...................................136,137
Gauges, Mechanical ....................12
engine coolant temperature
gauge .........................................13
Hazard flashers .........................135
Head restraints ......................62,65
Headlamps ...................................16
daytime running lights .............16
flashing ......................................17
high beam .................................17
Heating ........................................18
High beams
indicator light .............................9
Hood
release lever ............................156
Instrument panel
lighting up panel and interior..17
Jump-starting your
vehicle .................................149,151
attaching cables ......................150
disconnecting cables ..............151
Keyless entry system
autolock .....................................50
keypad .......................................52
locking and unlocking doors ....54
programming entry code ....53,54
Keys
key in ignition chime ...............12
Liftgate ........................................43
Lights, warning and indicator
air bag ..........................................8
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ..............9anti-theft ...................................10
brake ............................................9
charging system ........................10
check engine ............................6,7
cruise indicator .........................11
door ajar ....................................10
fuel reset .....................................8
overdrive off ..............................11
safety belt ...................................8
turn signal indicator ...................9
Load limits
trailer towing ..........................125
Lubricant specifications ...........207
Luggage rack .............................133
Mirrors
cleaning ...................................203
side view mirrors (power) .......41
Moon roof ....................................34
Motorcraft parts ........................204
Odometer .....................................13
Off road driving, 4-wheel
drive ....................................114,119
Overhead console
compass/temperature display ..33
storage compartment ...............33
Panic alarm feature, remote
entry system ................................47
Parking brake ............................102
Power door locks ........................40
Power steering
fluid, checking and adding ....167
Radio (see Electronic sound
systems) ......................................25
Rear window
washer .......................................32
Recreational towing, all wheels
on the ground ...........................133
Refill capacities for fluids ........204
Relays ........................................136
Remote entry system .................46
illuminated entry ......................49
locking/unlocking doors ......46,47
Index
214

replacement/additional
transmitters ...............................49
replacing the batteries .............48
Reporting safety defects ..........212
Safety restraints
automatic locking mode
(retractor) ............................69,70
extension assembly ..................71
for children ...............................78
lap and shoulder belts .............68
maintenance ..............................72
proper use .................................66
warning light and
chime ...............................11,71,72
Safety seats for children
attaching with tether straps ....85
automatic locking mode
(retractor) .................................82
tether anchorage hardware .....85
Seats ............................................62
adjusting the seat, manual .......62
adjusting the seat, power ........63
folding rear seats ......................65
lumbar support .........................64
rear seat access ........................65
Servicing your vehicle ..............154
precautions when servicing ...154
Snowplowing .................................3
Special notice
utility-type vehicles ....................3
Specification chart, lubricants .207
Speed control ..............................26
canceling a set speed ...............29
indicator light ...........................30
resuming a set speed ...............30
tap up/tap down .......................28
turning off .................................26
Speedometer ...............................12
Starting your vehicle ........94,95,97
Storage compartments
overhead storage
compartment .............................33Tachometer
mechanical cluster ...................14
Tilt steering wheel ......................31
Tires ....................................176,179
checking the pressure ............179
replacing ..................................181
rotating ....................................179
snow tires and chains ............182
treadwear ................................177
Traction-lok rear axle ........123,172
Trailer towing ............................127
tips ...........................................132
Transfer case
fluid checking .........................172
Transmission .............................169
automatic
operation .........................104,105,
106,107,108,109,110
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................169
Trip odometer .............................14
Turn signal
lever ...........................................25
Vehicle dimensions ...................209
Vehicle headlamp aiming
device (VHAD) .........................194
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................211
Vehicle loading ..........................123
Ventilating your vehicle .............99
Warning chimes .............................6
Windows
power windows, operating .......39
Windshield washer fluid and
wipers
checking and adding fluid .....163
checking and replacing wiper
blades ......................................175
operation ...................................32
Wrecker towing .........................152
Index
215