ECU Mercury Sable 1999 Owner's Manuals

Temporary malfunctions may cause yourService
Engine Soonlight to illuminate. Examples are:
1. The vehicle has run out of fuel. (The engine may
misfire or run poorly.)
2. Poor fuel quality or water in the fuel.
3. The fuel cap may not have been properly installed
and securely tightened.
These temporary malfunctions can be corrected by
filling the fuel tank with good quality fuel and/or
properly installing and securely tightening the gas
cap. After three driving cycles without these or any
other temporary malfunctions present, theService
Engine Soonlight should turn off. (A driving cycle
consists of a cold engine startup followed by mixed
city/highway driving.) No additional vehicle service is
required.
If theService Engine Soonlight remains on, have
your vehicle serviced at the first available
opportunity.
Light is blinking:
Engine misfire is occurring which could damage your
catalytic converter. You should drive in a moderate
fashion (avoid heavy acceleration and deceleration)
and have your vehicle serviced at the first available
opportunity.
Under engine misfire conditions, excessive
exhaust temperatures could damage the
catalytic converter, the fuel system, interior floor
coverings or other vehicle components, possibly
causing a fire.
Low fuel
Illuminates as an early
reminder of a low fuel
condition indicated on
the fuel gauge. The
light comes on when there is approximately 1/16th
Instrumentation
8

of a tank indicated on the fuel gauge (refer toFuel
gaugein this chapter for more information). The
ignition must be in the ON position for this lamp to
illuminate. The lamp will also illuminate for several
seconds after the ignition is turned to the ON
position regardless of the fuel level.
Low coolant (if equipped)
This lamp will
illuminate when the
engine coolant inside
the reservoir is low.
This lamp will come on
when the ignition is first turned on, but then should
turn off. If the lamp stays on, you should check the
coolant level inside the reservoir. For instructions on
adding coolant, seeEngine coolantin the
Maintenance and carechapter.
Anti-theft system (if equipped)
Refer toPerimeter
alarm system (if
equipped)and
SecuriLockypassive
anti-theft systemin theControls and features
chapter.
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) (If equipped)
Momentarily illuminates
when the ignition is
turned on and the
engine is off. If the
light does not illuminate momentarily at start up,
remains on or continues to flash, the ABS needs to
be serviced. With the ABS light on, the anti-lock
brake system is disabled and normal braking is still
effective unless the brake warning light also remains
illuminated with parking brake released.
LOW
COOLANT
THEFT
ABS
Instrumentation
9

CARGO AREA FEATURES
Storage compartment
Your vehicle comes
equipped with a
storage compartment
in the floor of the
cargo area. An
additional
compartment is in the
rear trim panel on the
right. Always put the
load you are carrying as far forward as possible.
Cargo net (if equipped)
The cargo net secures lightweight objects in the
cargo area. Attach the net to the anchors provided.
Do not put more than 22 kg (50 lbs.) in the net.
This net is not designed to restrain objects during a
collision.
Controls and features
54

2. Wrap the vinyl
around the roller tube
twice. Tuck the edges
of the vinyl inside the
end cap with each
wrap.
3. Fold the edges of
the vinyl towards the
center, making sure that the edges clear the end cap
slots. Use tape or a rubber band to hold the vinyl to
the left side of the tube.
4. Push in the right
end cap (marked RH)
about
1¤4of the total
length to disengage the
clutch and hold the
end cap in while
turning the roller tube
toward you 14 times.
5. Let go of the right end cap. The clutch will now
engage and stop the shade from losing its spring
tension.
6. Unfold the vinyl and place it into the end cap
slots.
7. Insert the shade into the side mounting brackets
and check to make sure that it operates properly.
The cover may cause injury in a sudden stop
or accident if it is not securely installed.
REMOTE ENTRY SYSTEM (IF EQUIPPED)
The remote entry system allows you to lock or
unlock all vehicle doors and liftgate without a key.
The remote entry features only operate with the
ignition in the OFF position.
Controls and features
56

3. Turn the ignition key from RUN/ACC to OFF.
4. Press the power door UNLOCK control three
times.
5. Turn the ignition key from OFF to RUN/ACC. A
horn chirp indicates the enable/disable feature is
entered.
6. Press the power door UNLOCK control one time.
7. Press the power door LOCK control to toggle the
Autolock/Relock state. You will receive a horn chirp
followed by either a long honk, autolock/relock is
enabled, or no honk, autolock/relock is disabled.
8. Turn ignition to OFF.
If autolock/relock has been changed, the horn will
chirp to confirm procedure is complete.
SECURILOCKYPASSIVE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM
The SecuriLockypassive anti-theft system provides
an advanced level of vehicle theft protection. Your
vehicle's engine can only be started with the two
special SecuriLockyelectronically coded keys
provided with your vehicle. Each time you start your
vehicle, the SecuriLockykey is read by the
SecuriLockypassive anti-theft system. If the
SecuriLockykey identification code matches the
code stored in the SecuriLockyanti-theft system,
the vehicle's engine is allowed to start. If the
SecuriLockykey identification code does not match
the code stored in the system or if a SecuriLocky
key is not detected (vehicle theft situation), the
vehicle's engine will not operate.
The SecuriLockypassive anti-theft system is not
compatible with aftermarket remote start systems.
Use of these systems may result in vehicle starting
problems and a loss of security protection. Large
metallic objects or devices such as the Mobil
Speedpassyon the same key ring as your
SecuriLockykey may cause vehicle starting
problems. These objects and devices cannot damage
the SecuriLockykey, but can cause a momentary
Controls and features
66

problem if they are too close to the key when
starting the engine. If a problem occurs, turn
ignition off and restart the engine with all other
objects on the key ring held away from the
SecuriLockyignition key.
Spare SecuriLockykeys can be purchased from
your dealership and programmed to your
SecuriLockypassive anti-theft system. Refer to
Programming spare SecuriLockykeysfor more
information.
If one or both of your SecuriLockykeys are lost or
stolen and you want to ensure the lost or stolen key
will not operate your vehicle, bring your vehicle and
all available SecuriLockykeys to your dealership for
reinitialization.
Theft indicator
The theft indicator on the instrument cluster will
operate as follows:
²When the ignition is OFF, the theft indicator will
flash briefly every 2 seconds to indicate the
SecuriLockysystem is protecting your vehicle.
²When the ignition is turned to RUN or START, the
theft indicator will light for 3 seconds and then go
out. If the theft indicator stays on for an extended
period of time or flashes rapidly, have the system
serviced by your dealership or a qualified
technician.
Programming spare SecuriLockYkeys
Spare SecuriLockykeys can be purchased from
your dealership and programmed to your
SecuriLockypassive anti-theft system (up to a total
of 8 keys). Your dealership can program your new
SecuriLockykey(s) to your vehicle or you can do it
yourself using the following simple procedure. To
program a new SecuriLockykey yourself, you will
need two previously programmed SecuriLockykeys
(keys that already operate your vehicle's engine). If
two previously programmed SecuriLockykeys are
Controls and features
67

not available (one or both of your original keys were
lost or stolen), you must bring your vehicle to your
dealership to have the spare SecuriLockykey(s)
programmed.
Procedure to program spare SecuriLockYkeys
to your vehicle
New SecuriLockykeys must have the correct
mechanical key cut for your vehicle.
Conventional (non-SecuriLocky) keyscannotbe
programmed to your vehicle.
You will need to have two previously programmed
SecuriLockykeys and the new unprogrammed
SecuriLockykey readily accessible for the
procedure. Please read and understand the entire
procedure before you begin.
1. Insert the first previously programmed
SecuriLockykey into the ignition and turn the
ignition from OFF to RUN (maintain ignition in RUN
for at least one second).
2. Turn ignition to OFF and remove the first
SecuriLockykey from the ignition.
3. Within five seconds of turning the ignition to OFF,
insert the second previously programmed
SecuriLockykey into the ignition and turn the
ignition from OFF to RUN (maintain ignition in RUN
for at least one second but no more than 5 seconds).
4. Turn the ignition to OFF and remove the second
SecuriLockykey from the ignition.
5. Within 10 seconds of turning the ignition to OFF,
insert the unprogrammed SecuriLockykey (new
key/valet key) into the ignition and turn the ignition
from OFF to RUN (maintain ignition in RUN for at
least one second). This step will program your new
SecuriLockykey.
6. To program additional SecuriLockykey(s), repeat
this procedure from step 1.
Controls and features
68

If the programming procedure was successful, the
new SecuriLockykey(s) will start the vehicle's
engine. The theft indicator (located on the
instrument cluster) will light for three seconds and
then go out.
If the programming procedure was not successful,
the new SecuriLockykey(s) will not operate the
vehicle's engine. The theft indicator will flash on and
off. Wait at least one minute and then repeat the
procedure from step 1. If failure repeats, bring your
vehicle to your dealership to have the spare
SecuriLockykey(s) programmed.
Controls and features
69

Each seating position in your vehicle has a
specific safety belt assembly which is made
up of one buckle and one tongue that are designed
to be used as a pair. 1) Use the shoulder belt on
the outside shoulder only. Never wear the shoulder
belt under the arm. 2) Never swing the safety belt
around your neck over the inside shoulder. 3)
Never use a single belt for more than one person.
Combination lap and shoulder belts
1. Insert the belt
tongue into the proper
buckle (the buckle
closest to the direction
the tongue is coming
from) until you hear a
snap and feel it latch.
Make sure the tongue
is securely fastened in
the buckle.
2. To unfasten, push
the release button and
remove the tongue
from the buckle.
The front and rear outboard safety restraints in the
vehicle are combination lap and shoulder belts. The
front and rear seat passenger outboard safety belts
have two types of locking modes described below:
Vehicle sensitive mode
The vehicle sensitive mode is the normal retractor
mode, allowing free shoulder belt length adjustment
to your movements and locking in response to
vehicle movement. For example, if the driver brakes
Seating and safety restraints
75

To attach the shoulder
belt to the lap belt, pull
the shoulder belt out
from the retractor in
the seatback and insert
into the lap belt
connecting pin into the
wide end of the key
slot on the shoulder
belt. Pull the
connecting pin into the
narrow end of the key
slot until you hear a
snap and feel it latch.
Make sure the shoulder
belt is securely
fastened to the lap belt
by pulling up on the shoulder belt.
Lap belts
Adjusting the lap belt
The lap belt does not adjust automatically.
The lap belts should fit snugly and as low as
possible around the hips, not around the
waist.
Insert the tongue into
the correct buckle (the
buckle closest to the
direction the tongue is
coming from). To
lengthen the belt, turn
the tongue at a right
angle to the belt and
pull across your lap
until it reaches the
buckle. To tighten the
belt, pull the loose end of the belt through the
tongue until it fits snugly across the hips.
Seating and safety restraints
79