engine Mercury Villager 1998 Owner's Manuals

This information is subject to change. Ask your dealer for
complete details about Ford ESP coverage.
Break-In Period for Your Villager
Your new vehicle will go through an adjustment or break-in
period during the first 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of driving. During
the break-in period, you need to pay careful attention to how
you drive your vehicle.
mChange your speed often as you drive.Do not drive at one
speed for a long time.
mUse only the type of engine oil that Ford recommends.See
Engine oilin the Index. Do not use special ªbreak-inº oils.
mAvoid sudden stops.Because your vehicle has new brake
linings, you should take these steps:
Ð Watch traffic carefully so that you can anticipate when to
stop.
Ð Begin braking well in advance.
Ð Apply the brakes gradually.
The break-in period for new brake linings lasts for 100 miles (160
km) of city driving or 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of highway
driving.
Things to Know About Using This Guide
Congratulations on the purchase of your new vehicle. This guide
has information about the equipment and the options for your
new vehicle. You may not have bought all of the options available
to you. If you do not know which information applies to your
vehicle, talk to your dealer.
Introduction
5

Indicator Lights and Chimes
Brake System Warning Light
The warning light for the brakes can show two things Ð that the
parking brake is not fully released, or that the brake fluid
level is low in the master cylinder reservoir. If the fluid level is
low, the brake system should be checked by your dealer or a
qualified service technician.
The BRAKE light normally illuminates when you turn the ignition
key to the ON position to verify that the indicator bulb is
working. If the light stays on or comes on when the engine is
running and after you have released the parking brake fully, have
the hydraulic brake system serviced.
WARNING
The BRAKE light indicates that the brakes may not be
working properly. Have the brakes checked immediately.
Brake system and parking brake light
Instrumentation
9

A problem with the system is indicated by one or more of the
following: the readiness light will either flash or stay lit, or it will
not light.
WARNING
If any of these things happen, even intermittently, have
the air bag system serviced at your Ford or Lincoln-Mercury
dealer immediately.
Service Engine Soon Warning Light
Your vehicle is equipped with a computer that monitors the
engine's emission control system. This system is commonly known
as the On Board Diagnostics System (OBD II). This OBD II
system protects the environment by ensuring that your vehicle
continues to meet government emission standards. The OBD II
system also assists the service technician in properly servicing
your vehicle.
TheService Engine Soonindicator light illuminates when the
ignition is first turned to the ON position to check the bulb. If it
comes on after the engine is started, one of the engine's
emission control systems may be malfunctioning. The light may
illuminate without a driveability concern being noted. The
vehicle will usually be driveable and will not require towing.
Supplemental air bag readiness light
12

What you should do if the Service Engine Soon light illuminates
Light turns on solid:
This means that the OBD II system has detected a malfunction.
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 filler cap may not have been securely tightened.
These temporary malfunctions can be corrected by filling the fuel
tank with good quality fuel and/or properly tightening the
fuel filler 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.
Service Engine Soon warning light
Instrumentation
13

WARNING
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.
Charging System Light
This light indicates that your battery is not being charged and
that you need to have the electrical system checked.
This light illuminates every time you turn your ignition key to the
ON or START position. The light should go off when the
engine starts and the alternator begins to charge.
If the light stays on or illuminates when the engine is running,
have the electrical system checked as soon as possible.
Engine Oil Pressure Warning Light
The oil pressure light is represented by an oil can symbol. It
indicates the engine's oil pressure, not oil level. However, if your
engine's oil level is low, it could affect the oil pressure. The oil
pressure light will flash if the oil pressure drops below the normal
operating level. When you turn the key to the ON position, the
light will illuminate.
Charging system light
14

The light should turn off after a few seconds. If the light stays on or
illuminates when the engine is running, your vehicle has lost oil
pressure and continued operation will cause severe engine damage.
If your vehicle loses engine oil pressure:
1. Pull off the road as soon as safely possible.
2. Turn off the engine. If you do not stop the engine as soon as
safely possible, severe engine damage could result.
3. Check the oil level following the instructions on checking and
adding engine oil in this owner guide. (SeeEngine oilin the
index.) Make sure your vehicle is on level ground.
4.
If the level is low, add as much oil as necessary before you drive
your vehicle again. Do not drive your vehicle if the oil pressure
light is on, even if the oil level is correct. For more information about
adding oil, seeEngine oil, checkingin the Index.
Door Ajar Warning Light
If the ignition switch is in the ON position and any door or the
liftgate is not completely closed, the light will illuminate.
Oil pressure light
Door ajar warning light
Instrumentation
15

``Headlamps On'' Alert Chime
This chime will sound if you open the door while the headlamps
or parking lamps are on.
Gauges
Fuel Gauge
The fuel gauge displays approximately how much fuel you have
in the fuel tank. The fuel gauge indicator may vary slightly
while the vehicle is in motion. This is the result of fuel movement
within the tank. An accurate reading may be obtained when
the vehicle is on smooth, level ground.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge
This gauge is accompanied by a thermometer symbol. It indicates
the temperature of the engine coolant when the ignition is in
the ON position.
As the engine warms up, the pointer will move to the NORMAL
band. When you are driving in heavy traffic or experiencing
stop-and-go conditions in hot weather, the pointer may move to
the very top of the normal band.
Fuel gauge
18

Under any circumstances, if the pointer moves past the upper
limit of the NORMAL band, the engine is overheating and engine
damage may occur.
If your engine overheats:
1. Pull off the road as soon as it is safely possible.
2. Turn off the engine. If you do not stop the engine as soon as
safely possible, severe engine damage could result.
3. Let the engine cool.DO NOT REMOVE COOLANT SYSTEM
FILL CAP UNTIL THE ENGINE IS COOL.
4. Check the coolant level following the instructions on checking
and adding coolant to your engine, seeEngine coolantin the
Index. If you do not follow these instructions, you or others
could be injured.
5. Refer toAdding Engine Coolantin theMaintenance and Care
chapter. Add as much coolant as your engine needs. If the engine
continues to overheat, have the cooling system serviced.
Speedometer
The speedometer tells you how many miles (kilometers) per hour
your vehicle is moving.
Engine coolant temperature gauge
Instrumentation
19

Tachometer
The tachometer tells you how fast the engine is running by
indicating approximate engine revolutions per minute.
Driving with the pointer in the red zone may cause engine
damage.
Instrumentation
21

The electronic cluster has all of the same warning lights as the
mechanical cluster, however, some of the gauges will be electronic
instead of analog. In addition, the electronic cluster has a fuel
computer which displays fuel economy, distance to empty and
outside air temperature.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge
This gauge shows you the temperature of the engine coolant and
is identified by a thermometer symbol. The letter H means
that the coolant is hot, C means that it is cold, and NORMAL
means that the coolant is within the normal operating range.
The indicator bar on the graph will move into the normal operating
range as the engine warms up. When you are in heavy traffic
or stop-and-go driving in hot weather, the gauge may read at the
very top of the NORMAL range. This is acceptable.
However, if the indicator bar on the graph moves into the H
(hot) position, the engine is overheating and may be damaged. If
this happens, you should stop your vehicle as soon as safely
possible. Turn off the engine and let it cool. Check the coolant level
to be sure that it is at the proper level. If your vehicle needs
more coolant, seeEngine coolantin the Index and read the section
regardingadding coolant.
Instrumentation
23