ignition Mercury Villager 1998 Owner's Manuals

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

Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light (If Equipped)
To check the anti-lock brake warning light, turn the ignition key
to the ON position. The ABS warning light should glow
momentarily.
NOTE: If it does not glow at all or stays on for a long time,
have your vehicle's electrical system checked
immediately.
WARNING
If the anti-lock brake system warning light remains on or
comes on while driving, have the braking system
checked by a qualified service technician as soon as
possible.
NOTE: If a fault occurs in the anti-lock system, and the brake
warning light is not lit, the anti-lock system is disabled
but normal brake function remains operational.
Anti-lock brake system warning light
10

Safety Belt Warning Light and Chime
This warning light and chime remind you to fasten your safety
belt.
mIf the safety belt is not buckled when the ignition is turned to
the ON position, the chime will sound for four (4) to eight (8)
seconds and the light will remain on until the safety belt is
fastened.
mIf the safety belt is buckled while the light is on and the chime
is sounding, both the light and chime will turn off.
mIf the safety belt is buckled before the ignition is turned to the
ON position, the chime does not sound, and the warning light
will not illuminate.
Air Bag Readiness Light
The supplemental air bag system uses a readiness light to
indicate the condition of the system. If the system is functioning
properly, the light will illuminate for about six (6) seconds
when the ignition switch is turned to the ON position.
If there is a problem with the system, the readiness light may fail
to illuminate, continue to flash, or remain on. If any of these
conditions occur, have the system serviced as soon as possible.
Unless the system is serviced, the supplemental air bag system may
not function properly in the event of a collision.
Safety belt warning light
Instrumentation
11

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

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

Cruise Indicator Light
The CRUISE indicator light will illuminate when the speed
control system is activated.
Overdrive Off Indicator Light
This light illuminates when the OVERDRIVE OFF/ON button on
the gearshift selector lever has been pushed. When the light is
on, the transmission does not shift into overdrive. Depressing the
button on the shifter once more allows the vehicle to shift into
overdrive mode. This light also briefly illuminates when the key is
turned to the ON position.
If the light flashes for about 8 seconds when the ignition is turned
to ON, it means the transaxle control module received an
improper signal the last time the vehicle was operated. It may be
necessary to have your dealer check the transaxle.
Cruise indicator light
Overdrive off indicator light
16

``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

To display the average fuel economy:
1. Press the SELECT button until the menu displays AVG
ECONOMY.
2. You will probably display the average fuel economy for each
tank of fuel or for each trip you take. Each time you want to
recalculate the average fuel economy, you need to press the
RESET button. The average fuel economy must be displayed
to reset the fuel computer.
The best time to reset the AVG ECONOMY is when you fill
the fuel tank or at the beginning of a trip.
TO EMPTY
The Distance to Empty function tells you approximately how
many miles or kilometers you can drive until you run out of fuel.
To see the Distance to Empty, press the SELECT button until
the menu displays TO EMPTY. The fuel computer displays
approximate distance to empty until you select another function.
To ensure accuracy, turn the ignition to the OFF position
when you fill the fuel tank.
28

Radio Controls
How to turn the radio on and off
Press the ªVOL-PUSH ONº knob or the ªAM/FMº button to
turn on the radio. Press the ªVOL-PUSH ONº knob again to turn
it off.
How to adjust the volume
Turn the ªVOL-PUSH ONº knob to increase/decrease volume.
Bars illuminate in the display to show the relative volume level.
NOTE: If the volume level is set above a certain listening
level when the ignition switch is turned off, when the
ignition switch is turned back ON, the volume will
come back to a ªnominalº listening level. However, if
the radio power is turned off, the volume will remain in
the position it was set at when radio power is
switched back on.
Selecting the AM or FM frequency band
Push the ªAM/FMº button to select the desired frequency band.
When in the radio mode, pushing the button more than once
will alternate between AM, FM1 and FM2. These functions are used
with the station memory buttons described underHow to tune
radio stations.
How to tune radio stations
There are four ways for you to tune in to a particular station on
the radio. You can manually locate the station by using the
ªTUNEº function, ªSEEKº to the station, ªSCANº to the station
or select the station by using the memory buttons, which you
can set to any desired frequency.
mUsing the ªTUNEº button to select the tune function
Electronic Sound Systems
33