Mercury 1999 Mountaineer User manual

Before driving
Introduction 2
Instrumentation 4
Controls and features 19
Seating and safety restraints 113
Starting and driving
Starting 136
Driving 140
Roadside emergencies 166
Servicing
Maintenance and care 187
Capacities and specifications 228
Customer assistance 236
Reporting safety defects 248
Index 249
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including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval
system or translation in whole or part is not permitted without written
authorization from Ford Motor Company.
Copyright r1998 Ford Motor Company
Contents
1

ICONS
Indicates a safety alert. Read the
following section on Warnings.
Indicates vehicle information related
to recycling and other
environmental concerns will follow.
Correct vehicle usage and the
authorized disposal of waste
cleaning and lubrication materials are significant steps towards
protecting the environment.
Indicates a message regarding child
safety restraints. Refer to Seating
and safety restraints for more
information.
Indicates that this Owner Guide
contains information on this subject.
Please refer to the Index to locate
the appropriate section which will
provide you more information.
WARNINGS
Warnings provide information which may reduce the risk of personal
injury and prevent possible damage to others, your vehicle and its
equipment.
BREAKING-IN YOUR VEHICLE
There are no particular breaking-in rules for your vehicle. During the
first 1 600 km (1 000 miles) of driving, vary speeds frequently. This is
necessary to give the moving parts a chance to break in.
Introduction
2

INFORMATION ABOUT THIS GUIDE
The information found in this guide was in effect at the time of printing.
Ford may change the contents without notice and without incurring
obligation.
SPECIAL NOTICES
Notice to owners of utility type vehicles
Before you drive your vehicle, please read this Owner’s Guide carefully.
Your vehicle is not a passenger car. As with other vehicles of this type,
failure to operate this vehicle correctly may result in loss of control or an
accident.
Be sure to read Driving off road in the Driving chapter as well as the
“Four Wheeling” supplement included with 4WD and utility type vehicles.
Using your vehicle as a snowplow
Do not use this vehicle for snowplowing.
Using your vehicle as an ambulance
Do not use this vehicle as an ambulance.
Your vehicle is not equipped with the Ford Ambulance Preparation
package.
Introduction
3

km/h
RPM x 1000
0
1
2
3
456
H
C
F
E
OFF
0
20
10
30
40
50 60 70
80
90
110
200
000000
oooo
100
20
40
60
80 100 120
140
160
180
UNLEADED
FUEL ONLY
H
H
L
RSM
SET
ACC
COAST
OFF
ON
SRS
Headlamp
control
(pg. 20)
Instrument panel
dimmer switch
(pg. 21)
Tilt steering wheel lever
(pg. 85)
Turn signal and
wiper/washer control
(pg. 85)
Driver side air bag
(pg. 125)
Instrument cluster
(pg. 6)
Speed control
(pg. 81)
Instrumentation
4

OFF
REW
1
FF
2
SIDE 1-2
3
FM 1
VOL – PUSH ON
AM
FM BASS TREB BAL FADE
AUTO
SET
CLK
SEEK
TUNE
DISCS
SCAN
4
DOLBY SYSTEM
EJ TAPE CD
COMP
5
SHUFFLE
6
PUSH
OD
ON/OFF
OFF ON
R. WIPE
• A/C
• MAX
A/C
Rear window
defroster control
(pg. 31)
Rear
window/washer
control
(pg. 86)
Fog lamp control
(pg. 20)
Electronic sound system
(pg. 34)
Climate controls
(pg. 87)
Gearshift (includes
overdrive button)
(pg. 149)
Instrumentation
5

WARNING LIGHTS AND CHIMES
Check engine
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.
The Check Engine indicator 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 drivable and will not require
towing.
What you should do if the check engine light illuminates
Light turns on solid:
This means that the OBD II system has detected a malfunction.
Temporary malfunctions may cause your Check Engine light 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.
C
0
1
2
3
456
RPMx1000
ABS
!
BRAKE
CHECK
ENGINE
FUEL
RESET
E
F
HH
H
PRN D 2 1 THEFT
SPEED
CONT
4WD
HIGH
4WD
LOW
O/D
OFF
L
L
10 MPH
20
50
60 70
30
40
80
90
km/h
0 0 0
101
00
1
20
1
0 0 0 0 0 0
40
60
80 100
120
140
160
180
20
DOOR
AJAR
CHECK
GAGE
CHECK
SUSP
CHECK
ENGINE
Instrumentation
6

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, the Check Engine light 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 the Check Engine light 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.
Fuel reset
Illuminates when the ignition is
turned to the ON position and the
fuel pump shut-off switch has been
triggered. For more information,
refer to Fuel pump shut-off switch
in the Roadside emergencies chapter.
Air bag readiness
Momentarily illuminates when the
ignition is turned ON. If the light
fails to illuminate, continues to flash
or remains on, have the system
serviced immediately.
FUEL
RESET
Instrumentation
7

Safety belt
Momentarily illuminates when the
ignition is turned to the ON position
to remind you to fasten your safety
belts. For more information, refer to
the Seating and safety restraints
chapter.
Brake system warning
Momentarily illuminates when the
ignition is turned to the ON position
and the engine is off. If the brake
warning lamp does not illuminate at
this time, seek service immediately.
Also illuminates when the parking brake is engaged. Illumination after
releasing the parking brake indicates low brake fluid level and the brake
system should be inspected immediately.
Anti-lock brake system (ABS)
Momentarily illuminates when the
ignition is turned to the ON position
and the engine is off. If the light
remains on, continues to flash or
fails to illuminate, have the system
serviced immediately. 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.
Turn signal
Illuminates when the left or right
turn signal or the hazard lights are
turned on. If one or both of the
indicators stay on continuously or
flash faster, check for a burned-out
turn signal bulb. Refer to Exterior bulbs in the Maintenance and care
chapter.
!
BRAKE
ABS
Instrumentation
8

High beams
Illuminates when the high beam
headlamps are turned on.
Anti-theft system (if equipped)
Refer to SecuriLockypassive
anti-theft system in the Controls
and features chapter.
Charging system
Illuminates when the ignition is
turned to the ON position and the
engine is off. The light also
illuminates when the battery is not
charging properly, requiring
electrical system service.
Check gage
Illuminates when the engine coolant
temperature is high, the engine oil
pressure is low or the fuel gauge is
at or near empty. 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. Refer to Engine coolant temperature gauge, Engine oil
pressure gauge or Fuel gauge in this chapter for more information.
Four wheel drive low (if equipped)
This light momentarily illuminates
when the ignition is turned to ON.
Illuminates when four-wheel drive
low is engaged. If the light continues
to flash have the system serviced.
THEFT
CHECK
GAGE
4WD
LOW
Instrumentation
9

Four wheel drive high (if equipped)
This light momentarily illuminates
when the ignition is turned to ON.
Illuminates when four-wheel drive
high is engaged. If the light
continues to flash have the system
serviced.
Door ajar
Illuminates when the ignition is in
the ON or START position and any
door is open.
O/D off
Illuminates when the ignition is
turned to the ON position and
transmission control switch has
been pushed. When the light is on,
the transmission does not shift into
overdrive. If the light does not come on when the transmission control
switch is depressed or if the light flashes when you are driving, have
your vehicle serviced.
Check air suspension (if equipped)
Illuminates momentarily when the
ignition is turned to the ON position
and the engine is OFF. The light
also illuminates when the air
suspension system requires
servicing.
For information, refer to Air suspension system in the Driving chapter.
Speed control
This light comes on when either the
SET/ACCEL or RESUME controls
are pressed. It turns off when the
speed control OFF control is
4WD
HIGH
DOOR
AJAR
O/D
OFF
CHECK
SUSP
SPEED
CONT
Instrumentation
10