Mercury Villager 1998 Owner's Manuals

Vehicle/Trailer Loads
Your vehicle may tow a Class I trailer up to 2,000 lbs. (907 kg)
provided the Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) is less than the GVWR
shown on the Safety Compliance Certification Label. With the
optional trailer tow package, your vehicle can tow a trailer up to
3,500 lbs. (1,588 kg).
Trailer Towing (may require trailer tow option package)
Towing a trailer puts an additional load on your vehicle's
engine, transaxle, axle, brakes, tires and suspension. Always use
the proper equipment for the type of trailer you tow.
mStay within the load limits when you tow.
mCarefully and thoroughly prepare your vehicle for towing,
making sure to use and install the proper equipment. See
Preparing to Towin this section.
mUse extra caution when driving your vehicle while you tow.
SeeDriving While You Towin this section.
mService your vehicle more frequently if you tow a trailer. See
Servicing Your Vehicle if You Towin this section.
Do not tow a trailer until your vehicle has been driven at least
500 miles (800 km).
Vehicle Loading Information
Your vehicle's load capacity is designated by weight, not volume,
so you cannot necessarily use all the available space.
Maximum safe vehicle weights as well as tire sizes, wheel sizes
and inflation pressures are specified for your vehicle at the
assembly plant on the Safety Compliance Certification Label. The
certification label is located on the pillar in the driver's door
opening.
Driving
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Each additional item of equipment affects how much cargo a
vehicle can carry. If a vehicle is overloaded, performance will suffer
and service concerns may arise.
The following is a typical example of a Safety Compliance
Certification Label and an explanation of how this information
should be used:
NOTE: The vehicle must not be loaded to both the front and rear
GAWR because the GVWR will be exceeded. The
GAWR of the front and rear axles exceed the GVWR
when added together.
There are no numbers on the sample Safety Compliance
Certification Label shown. Refer to the actual numbers on your
vehicle's Safety Compliance Certification Label.
Understanding Loading Information
There are five terms that are used to describe a vehicle's ability
to carry a load:
mBase Curb Weight
The Safety Compliance Certification Label
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mPayload
mGVW (Gross Vehicle Weight)
mGVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating)
mGAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating)
mGCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating)
Base Curb Weight
The base curb weight is the weight of the vehicle including fuel,
coolants, lubricants, emergency tools and spare wheel and
tire. It also includes any equipment that is standard. It does not
include passengers, cargo or optional equipment installed by
factory, dealer, aftermarket supplier or customer.
Payload
Maximum payload is the combined, maximum allowable weight
of cargo, occupants and optional equipment that the vehicle is
designed to carry. It is the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating minus the
base curb weight.
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)
The Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) is the total weight of the
passengers, cargo and all equipment.
It is important to remember that GVW is not a limit or a
specification, but actual weight. If a customer loads the vehicle
and weighs it, that's the GVW at that moment. If the customer adds
on more cargo and weighs it again, the GVW will increase.
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
To avoid overloading your vehicle, never exceed the specified
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating for your Villager. The GVWR is the
maximumallowableweight of the vehicle when fully loaded
including passengers, cargo and all equipment.
Driving
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Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR)
Your Safety Compliance Certification Label not only gives the
GVWR, it also gives the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) which
is the maximum weight allowed on each axle system.
The rating is based on the carrying capacity of the weakest axle
and suspension component as well as other factors. This is
why it is so important to observe vehicle loading ratings.
Overloading a vehicle places severe stress on components and can
lead to shortened vehicle life or vehicle damage.
The weakest link in the suspension system defines the GAWR,
and may be the tires. Tires are rated to carry a specific maximum
load at a specific tire pressure.
When passenger car tires are installed on light trucks and
multipurpose passenger vehicles, they are rated at a 10% lower
load carrying capacity due to the differences in vehicle usages.
With the tires inflated to the specified pressure, the total weight of
your vehicle must not exceed the GVWR and GAWR specified
on the Safety Compliance Certification Label. This includes full fuel
tank(s), vehicle equipment, and occupants, as well as the cargo
load.
Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR)
The GCWR is the maximum allowable weight of the towing
vehicle and the loaded trailer (including all cargo and passengers).
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Calculating the Payload for Your Vehicle
To know how much weight your vehicle can carry:
1. Obtain the GVWR and GAWR from your Safety Compliance
Certification Label.
2. Fill the fuel tank.
3. Weigh your vehicle without cargo.
4. Subtract vehicle actual weight from the GVWR to find out
how much more weight your vehicle can carry.
5. Weigh the vehicle again once it is loaded to make sure that the
GVWR and front and rear GAWR's are not exceeded.
Safety Compliance Certification Label location
Driving
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Load Calculation Ð Trailers
The trailer towing table shows the maximum allowable trailer
weight and maximum GCWR for vehicles with and without the
trailer towing package.
For a particular vehicle, the allowable trailer weight may be
lower depending upon the vehicle's actual gross vehicle weight.
(GVW is the weight of the vehicle including passengers,
equipment, cargo.)
You must determine the appropriate trailer weight for your
vehicle at its particular GVW while adhering to GVWR, GAWR,
GCWR and maximum trailer weight ratings.
mFill the fuel tank.
mLoad the vehicle as it would be loaded when towing a trailer
(including cargo, trailer hitch, etc.).
mWeigh the vehicle to determine its GVW. Do not exceed
GVWR and GAWR.
mObtain the appropriate GCWR from the trailer towing table.
mSubtract the loaded vehicle weight (GVW) from the GCWR. This
is the maximum trailer weight your vehicle can pull given its
particular GVW.
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Trailer towing table
If your vehicle exceeds the GVWR, remove cargo from your vehicle
accordingly. If your vehicle exceeds either GAWR, shift the
load or remove cargo accordingly.
To determine actual GCW, weigh the total vehicle and trailer and
also weigh the trailer separately to verify its weight.
Trailers
Towing a trailer safely means having the proper weight on the
tongue (usually 10-15% of the trailer weight).
WARNING
Do not exceed the GVWR or the GAWR specified on the
Safety Compliance Certification Label.
WARNING
Towing trailers beyond the maximum recommended gross
trailer weight exceeds the limit of the vehicle and could
result in engine damage, transaxle damage, structural
damage, loss of control, and personal injury.
Driving
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Preparing to Tow
For your safety and for the good of your vehicle, use the right
equipment for the type of trailer you tow. Also, make sure that all
towing equipment is properly installed on your vehicle. If you
are not certain that you are using the right equipment in the proper
manner, see your dealer or a reliable trailer dealer.
Hitches
For towing trailers up to 2,000 lb. (907 kg), use a good
weight-carrying hitch and hitch ball which uniformly distributes
the trailer tongue load through the underbody structure.
For towing trailers up to 3,500 lb. (1,587 kg), use a frame-mounted
weight distributing hitch for trailers over 2,000 lb. (907 kg).
Do not use single clamp bumper hitches or hitches that attach to
the axle.
Whenever a trailer hitch and hardware are removed, make sure
all mounting holes in the underbody are properly sealed to prevent
exhaust fumes from entering the vehicle.
Safety chains
Always use safety chains between your vehicle and trailer. Cross
chains under the trailer tongue and allow slack for turning
corners. Connect safety chains to the vehicle frame or hook
retainers.Never attach chains to the bumper.
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Trailer Brakes
Separate trailer brakes are required on most trailers weighing
over 1,500 lbs. (680 kg).
WARNING
Do not connect a trailer's hydraulic brake system directly
to your vehicle's brake system. Your vehicle may not
have enough braking power and your chances of having a
collision greatly increase.
Trailer Lamps
Make sure your trailer lamps conform to federal and local
regulations.
Class I Trailer Tow electrical wiring provides two circuits (right
hand and left hand) to operate trailer stop/turn tail lamps. Each
stop/turn circuit will operate one combination stop/turn light
bulb (# 1157, 3157, 2357, or 3357) on the trailer. Never add more than
one trailer light bulb to one circuit.
WARNING
Always replace a fuse with one that has the specified
amperage rating. Using a fuse with a higher amperage rating
can cause severe wire damage and could start a fire.
Driving
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Trailer Tow Module (If equipped)
The trailer tow module on your vehicle (if equipped) allows
turn/stop lamp control on a trailer being towed by your vehicle.
The trailer tow package includes:
mtrailer tow module which is protected by the vehicle stop
lamp fuse
mone SAE J1239 specified connector
mone extension harness within the rear bumper
mheavy duty battery
mfull size spare
If you need further assistance in wiring a trailer to your vehicle,
contact your Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer.
Driving While You Tow
Be especially careful when driving while you tow a trailer. Never
drive faster than 45 mph (70 km/h) when you tow in hilly
country on hot days. Also, anticipate stops so that you can brake
gradually.
If you use the speed control while you are towing on very long,
steep grades, the speed control may shut off automatically.
This is caused by the decrease of vehicle speed 5 mph (8 km/h)
lower than set speed.
When descending a steep grade with a trailer, operate in Drive
rather than Overdrive. If additional braking is needed, shift into 2
(Second) or 1 (First) gear.
Servicing Your Vehicle If You Tow
If you tow a trailer for a long distance, your vehicle will need to
be serviced more frequently than usual. See theMaintenance
Schedulebooklet in the Owner's portfolio.
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