Mercury Tracer 1997 User manual

BEFORE DRIVING
Introduction 2
Instrumentation 4
Controls and Features 15
Seating and Safety restraints 53
STARTING AND DRIVING
Starting 85
Driving 93
Roadside Emergencies 107
SERVICING
Maintenance and Care 124
Capacities and Specifications 179
Reporting Safety Defects 186
Index 187
Contents
1

ICONS
The following icons appear in this
Owner Guide:
indicates a warning. Read the
following section on Warnings for
a full explanation of warnings.
indicates that vehicle
information related to recycling
and other environmental concerns
will follow.
Warnings
Warnings remind you to be
especially careful in those areas
where carelessness can cause
damage to your vehicle or personal
injury to yourself, your passengers,
or others. Please read all warnings
carefully.
Breaking-in your vehicle
Your new vehicle goes through an
adjustment or breaking-in period
during the first 1,600 km (1,000
miles) of driving. During this
period:
•change your vehicle’s speed
often as you drive. Do not drive
at one speed for a long time.
•use only the type of engine oil
Ford recommends. Do not use
special “break-in” oils.
•avoid sudden stops. The
break-in period for brake linings
lasts for 1,600 km (1,000 miles)
of highway driving or 160 km
(100 miles) of city driving.
Introduction
2

Information about this guide
This guide describes equipment
and gives specifications for
equipment that was in effect when
this guide was approved for
printing. Ford may discontinue
models or change specifications or
design without any notice and
without incurring obligation.
Introduction
3

MIRRORS
0000
000000
20
30
40
50 60 70 80
90
100
110
20
40
60
80
100 12 0
160
180
140
200
FUEL FILL
C H
E F
1
/
22
1
3
RPM x 1000
RSM
SET
ACC
CST
OFF
ON
RL
OFF
2
INT
1
OFF
MIST
Exterior lamps and
turn signal lever
(pg. 26 and
pg. 9)
Foglamp switch
(if equipped)
(pg. 27)
Fuel gauge
(pg. 13)
Engine coolant
temperature gauge
(pg. 13) Speedometer
(pg. 13)
Tachometer (if
equipped)
(pg. 14)
Warning lights
(pg. 6)
Wiper/washer
lever (pg. 30)
Rear wiper/washer
(if equipped) (pg.
30)
Speed control
(if equipped)
(pg. 27)
Power mirrors
control (if
equipped)
(pg. 16)
Instrument panel
dimmer switch
(pg. 15)
Instrumentation
4

* if equipped with air conditioning
HI
LO OFF
A/C
MAX
A/C
TUNE
SEEK SCAN
EJ REW FF
H
M
BAL
BASS TREB
FADE
TAPE
AM
FM
–+
1
SIDE 1-2 23456
VOL
PUSH ON
R.DEF
Vents (pg. 18) Refer to Audio Guide
(electronic stereo radio with
cassette shown; others
available) (pg. 17)
Rear window
defroster (if
equipped) (pg. 24)
Climate controls
(pg. 17)
Instrumentation
5

INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS
Instrument cluster lights
Base cluster lights
Sport cluster lights
Base cluster lights
0000
00000
0
MPH
km/h
10
20
30
40
50 60
7
20
40
60
80
100
1
FUEL FILL
E F
1
/
2
SERVICE
ENGINE
SOON ABS
P!
BRAKE
0000
000000
MPH
km/h
10
20
30
40
50 60 7
0
20
40
60
80
100 1
2
FUEL FILL
C H
E F
1
/
2
SERVICE
ENGINE
SOON
LOW
FUEL ABS
P
BRAKE
0000
000000
MPH
km/h
10
20
30
40
50 60 70 80
90
100
120
110
20
40
60
80
100 120
160
180
140
200
FUEL FILL
C H
E F
1
/
2
CHECK
COOLANT
SERVICE
ENGINE
SOON
LOW
FUEL THEFT
ABS
!P
BRAKE
C H
Instrumentation
6

Sport cluster lights
Low fuel
Illuminates when the fuel tank is
almost empty (approximately 8
liters [2 gallons] remain). The
lights will also briefly illuminate
when the ignition key is turned to
ON and the engine is off.
Service engine soon
Illuminates when the engine’s
emissions control system requires
service. The light will also
illuminate, and will remain
illuminated, when the ignition key
is turned to ON and the engine is
off.
Air bag readiness
Illuminates when the air bag
system requires servicing. The
light will also briefly illuminate
when the ignition key is turned to
ON.
0000
000000
MPH
km/h
10
20
30
40
50 60 70 80
90
100
120
110
20
40
60
80
100 120
160
180
140
200
FUEL FILL
C H
E F
1
/
22
1
345
6
7
8
RPM x 1000
SERVICE
ENGINE
SOON
LOW
FUEL THEFT
ABS
!P
BRAKE
CHECK
COOLANT
LOW
FUEL
SERVICE
ENGINE
SOON
Instrumentation
7

Safety belt
The safety warning light/chime is a
reminder to fasten your safety belt.
One of the following will take
place:
•If the lap/shoulder belt is not
buckled before the key is turned
to the ON position, the will
illuminate for approximately one
minute or until the safety belt is
buckled.
•If the lap/shoulder belt is
buckled while is illuminated
and the chime is sounding, both
will turn off.
•If the lap/shoulder belt is
buckled before the key is turned
to the ON position, neither light
or chime will activate.
Upshift (if equipped)
Illuminates when it is best to shift
to the next highest manual
transaxle gear for the maximum
fuel economy.
Brake
Illuminates when the parking brake
is activated and the ignition is
keyed to ON or the brake fluid
level is low. In addition, with the
parking brake off, the light will
illuminate when the engine is
cranked.
!P
BRAKE
Instrumentation
8

Anti-lock brake system (ABS)
Illuminates when the ABS needs
service. The light will also briefly
illuminate when the ignition key is
turned to ON and the engine is off.
Turn signal
Illuminates when the left hand or
right hand turn signal or the
hazard lamps are illuminated.
High beams
Illuminates when the headlamp
high beams are on.
Anti-theft (if equipped)
Illuminates when the anti-theft
system is arming and flashes when
the anti-theft system is armed.
Charging
Illuminates when there is a
problem with the alternator or
charging system and the electrical
system requires service. The light
will also briefly illuminate when
the ignition key is turned to ON
and the engine is off.
Oil pressure
Illuminates when the oil pressure
is low, not the low oil level.
However, if your engine’s oil level
is low, it could affect the oil
pressure. Stop the vehicle and
check the oil level as soon as
possible. Do not drive the vehicle if
the light remains on. The light will
also briefly illuminate when the
ignition key is turned to ON and
the engine is off.
ABS
THEFT
Instrumentation
9

Engine coolant
Illuminates when there is low
coolant level or a problem with the
engine coolant system. Stop the
vehicle and check the engine
coolant level as soon as possible.
The light will also briefly illuminate
when the ignition key is turned to
ON and the engine is off. For more
information on engine coolant,
refer to Checking and adding
engine coolant in the
Maintenance and care chapter.
Liftgate ajar (if equipped)
Illuminates when the ignition is in
the ON position and the liftgate is
open.
Many of the lights illuminate
briefly when you start the vehicle.
For more information on warning
light illumination, refer to
Preparing to start the vehicle in
the Starting chapter.
Warning chimes
Safety belt warning chime
For information on the safety belt
warning chime, refer to the
Seating and safety restraints
chapter.
Supplemental restraint system
(SRS) warning chime
For information on the SRS
warning chime, refer to the
Seating and safety restraints
chapter.
CHECK
COOLANT
Instrumentation
10