load capacity Mercury Mountaineer 2003 Owner's Manuals

VEHICLE LOADING
Before loading a vehicle, familiarize yourself with the following terms:
•Base Curb Weight:Weight of the vehicle including any standard
equipment, fluids, lubricants, etc. It does not include occupants or
aftermarket equipment.
•Payload:Combined maximum allowable weight of cargo, occupants
and optional equipment. The payload equals the gross vehicle weight
rating minus base curb weight.
•GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight):Base curb weight plus payload
weight.
•GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating):Maximum allowable total
weight of the base vehicle, occupants, optional equipment and cargo.
The GVWR is specific to each vehicle and is listed on the Safety
Certification Label on the driver’s door pillar.
•GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating):Carrying capacity for each axle
system. The GAWR is specific to each vehicle and is listed on the
Safety Certification Label on the driver’s door pillar.
•GCW (Gross Combined Weight):The combined weight of the
towing vehicle (including occupants and cargo) and the loaded trailer.
•GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating):Maximum allowable
combined weight of towing vehicle (including occupants and cargo)
and the loaded trailer.
•Maximum Trailer Weight Rating:Maximum weight of a trailer the
vehicle is permitted to tow. The maximum trailer weight rating is
determined by subtracting the vehicle curb weight for each
engine/transmission combination, any required option weight for trailer
towing and the weight of the driver from the GCWR for the towing
vehicle.
•Maximum Trailer Weight:Maximum weight of a trailer the loaded
vehicle (including occupants and cargo) is permitted to tow. It is
determined by subtracting the weight of the loaded trailer towing
vehicle from the GCWR for the towing vehicle.
•Trailer Weight Range:Specified range of trailer weight from zero to
the maximum trailer weight rating.
Remember to figure in the tongue load of your loaded trailer when
figuring the total weight.
The Safety Certification Label, located on the driver’s door pillar, lists
vehicle weight rating limitations. Before adding any additional equipment,
refer to these limitations.
Driving
156

Coolant refill capacity
To find out how much fluid your vehicle’s cooling system can hold, refer
toRefill capacitiesin this chapter.
Fill your engine coolant reservoir as outlined inAdding engine coolant
in this chapter.
Severe climates
If you drive in extremely cold climates (less than–36°C[–34°F]), it
may be necessary to increase the coolant concentration above 50%.
Refer to the chart on the coolant container to ensure the coolant
concentration in your vehicle will provide adequate freeze protection.
Never increase the engine coolant concentration above 60%
(protection to–60°F). At a level over 60%, your engine could overheat
and become damaged.
If you drive in extremely hot climates, it is still necessary to maintain the
coolant concentration at 50/50 coolant and water.Do not allow the
coolant concentration to fall below 40% coolant.At a concentration
less than 40%, the corrosion protection to your engine and cooling
components may be compromised and permanent damage may result.
What you should know about fail-safe cooling (4.6L V8 engine only)
If the engine coolant supply is depleted, this feature allows the vehicle to
be driven temporarily before incremental component damage is incurred.
The“fail-safe”distance depends on ambient temperatures, vehicle load
and terrain.
How fail-safe cooling works
If the engine begins to overheat:
•The engine coolant temperature
gauge will move to the red (hot)
area.
•The
and thesymbol
will illuminate.
•The“Service Engine Soon”
indicator light will illuminate.
If the engine reaches a preset over-temperature condition, the engine
will automatically switch to alternating cylinder operation. Each disabled
cylinder acts as an air pump and cools the engine.
Maintenance and Specifications
223

Filling the tank
The advertised fuel capacity of the fuel tank on your vehicle is equal to
the rated refill capacity of the fuel tank as listed in theRefill capacities
section of this chapter.
The advertised capacity is the amount of the indicated capacity and the
empty reserve combined. Indicated capacity is the difference in the
amount of fuel in a full tank and a tank when the fuel gauge indicates
empty. Empty reserve is the small amount of fuel remaining in the fuel
tank after the fuel gauge indicates empty.
The amount of usable fuel in the empty reserve varies and should
not be relied upon to increase driving range. When refueling your
vehicle after the fuel gauge indicates empty, you might not be
able to refuel the full amount of the advertised capacity of the
fuel tank due to the empty reserve still present in the tank.
For consistent results when filling the fuel tank:
•Turn the engine/ignition switch to the off position prior to refueling,
an error in the reading will result if the engine is left running.
•Use the same filling rate setting (low—medium—high) each time
the tank is filled.
•Allow no more than 2 automatic click-offs when filling.
•Always use fuel with the recommended octane rating.
•Use a known quality gasoline, preferably a national brand.
•Use the same side of the same pump and have the vehicle facing the
same direction each time you fill up.
•Have the vehicle loading and distribution the same every time.
Your results will be most accurate if your filling method is consistent.
Filling the tank for FFV equipped vehicles
Your vehicle will operate on both unleaded gasoline with an octane rating
of 87, or E-85 fuel, or any mixture of these two. For best results it is
recommended that you do not add less than 5 gallons of fuel when
refueling. Observing this precaution will avoid possible hard starting
and/or deterioration in drivability during warm up.
Calculating fuel economy
1. Fill the fuel tank completely and record the initial odometer reading
(in kilometers or miles).
2. Each time you fill the tank, record the amount of fuel added (in liters
or gallons).
Maintenance and Specifications
231

Replacing tires
Replace the tires when the wear
band is visible. Due to exposure to
the elements and exhaust you
should replace the spare tire when
you replace the other tires.
Never mix radial bias-belted
tires, or bias-type tires. Use
only the tire sizes that are listed
on the Certification Label. Make
sure that all tires are the same
size, speed rating, and load
carrying capacity. Use only the tire
combinations recommended on
the label. If you do not follow
these precautions, your vehicle
handling may be effected which
can lead to loss of vehicle control,
vehicle rollover and/or personal
injury.
Make sure that all replacement tires are of the same size, type,
load-carrying capacity and tread design as originally offered by
Ford.
Do not replace your tires with“high performance”tires or larger
size tires.
Failure to follow these precautions, your vehicle handling may be
adversely effected which can lead to loss of vehicle control,
vehicle rollover and/or personal injury.
Tires that are larger or smaller than your vehicle’s original tires may
affect the accuracy of your speedometer.
Maintenance and Specifications
241

Engine oil ..................................212
checking and adding ..............212
dipstick ....................................212
filter, specifications ........215, 243
recommendations ...................215
refill capacities ........................244
specifications ..................246, 248
Exhaust fumes ..........................145
F
Fail safe cooling ........................223
Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV) ....225
Floor mats ...................................79
Fluid capacities .........................244
Foglamps .....................................37
Four-Wheel Drive vehicles
preparing to drive your
vehicle .....................................148
Fuel ............................................225
calculating fuel
economy ............................70, 230
cap ...........................................229
capacity ...................................244
choosing the right fuel ...........227
comparisons with EPA fuel
economy estimates .................233
detergent in fuel .....................229
filling your vehicle with
fuel ...........................225, 229, 231
filter, specifications ........230, 243
fuel pump shut-off switch .....165
improving fuel economy ........230
octane rating ...........228, 248–249
quality ......................................228
running out of fuel .................229
safety information relating to
automotive fuels .....................225
Fuel - flex fuel vehicle
(FFV) .........................225, 227–228Fuses ..................................166–167
G
Garage door opener ..............52, 62
Gas cap (see Fuel cap) ............229
Gas mileage
(see Fuel economy) .................230
Gauges .........................................14
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight
Rating) .......................................156
calculating ...............................157
definition .................................156
driving with a heavy load ......156
location ....................................156
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating) .......................................156
calculating .......................156–157
definition .................................156
driving with a heavy load ......156
location ....................................156
H
Hazard flashers .........................164
Head restraints ...........................97
Headlamps
aiming ........................................39
bulb specifications ....................41
daytime running lights .............37
flash to pass ..............................38
high beam .................................38
Heating
heating and air conditioning
system .................................31–32
HomeLink universal
transceiver (see Garage door
opener) ..................................62, 65
Hood ..........................................207
Index
258