1996 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL fuel

Driving Your ContinentalYour vehicle has an automatic overdrive
transaxle. You may be familiar with the term
"transmission." We use transaxle because it is a
more accurate term for vehicles that have front-
wheel drive.
Driving with an Automatic
Overdrive Transaxle
Your automatic overdrive transaxle provides
fully automatic operation in either (Overdrive) or D (Drive). Driving with the shift
selector in (Overdrive) gives the best fuel
economy for normal driving conditions. For
manual control, start in 1 (First) and then shift
manually.
Your vehicle is equipped with an Electronic
Powertrain Control Module that limits engine
and/or vehicle speeds with a cut-out mode to
promote durability.Putting Your Vehicle in Gear
Your vehicle's gearshift can be on the column
or on the console./! WARNINGHold the brake pedal down while youmove the gearshift lever from position toposition. If you do not hold the brakepedal down, your vehicle may moveunexpectedly and injure someone.179

Driving
When to use (Overdrive) (Overdrive) is the usual driving position for an
automatic overdrive transaxle. It works the same
way D (Drive) works, automatically upshifting or
downshifting as the vehicle speeds or slows.
However, (Overdrive) also shifts into a fourth gear
- an overdrive gear - when your vehicle cruises at a
consistent speed for any length of time. This fourth
gear will increase your fuel economy when you travel
at cruising speeds.(Overdrive) may not be appropriate for certain
terrain. If the transaxle shifts back and forth between
third and fourth gears while you are driving on hilly
roads or if your vehicle requires additional power for
climbing hills, shift to D (Drive).When to use D (Drive)
D (Drive) eliminates the excessive shifting
between third and fourth gears that your
vehicle sometimes does when you are traveling
through hilly terrain in Overdrive. It also
gives more engine braking to ml slow your
vehicle on downgrades than Overdrive.
When to use 1 (First)
Use I (First) when added engine braking is
desired when descending steep hills.
The automatic transaxle will shift to the proper
gear to ascend any grade without any need to
shift to I (First).
P (Park)
Always come to a complete stop before you
shift into P (Park). Make sure that the
gearshift is securely latched in P (Park). This
locks the transaxle and prevents the front
wheels from rotating.
183

You have an automatic release for the parking brake.
The parking brake should automatically unlock when
you move the gearshift to any forward gear while the
engine is running. However, the automatic release
does not work when the gearshift is in reverse,
neutral or park.
To manually release the parking brake, pull the
BRAKE RELEASE handle located on the lower left
comer of the instrument panel. The Brake Warning
Light will illuminate if the parking brake is not fully
released when the engine is running.
The parking brake is not designed to stop a moving
vehicle, but you can use the parking brake to stop
your vehicle in an emergency if the normal brakes
fail. However, since the parking brake applies only
the rear brakes, the stopping distance will increase
greatly and the handling of your vehicle will be
adversely affected.
190Always check the Brake Warning light each
time you start your engine. Driving with the
parking brake on will cause the brakes to wear
out quickly and will reduce the fuel economy.
Driving Under Special Conditions
Tips for Safe Driving
As with any new vehicle, yours may drive and
handle differently from your previous vehicle.
Use care until you become accustomed to its
various features and driving characteristics.
Operate your vehicle within reasonable limits.
Sudden acceleration, deceleration, turning, or
combinations of these maneuvers can cause a
vehicle to behave differently than anticipated.

Lug nut key Anti-theft lug nutThe anti-theftft lug nut and key
Removing the anti-theft lug nut
Insert the key over the locking lug nut. Make sure
that you hold the key square to the lug nut. If you
hold the key on an angle, you may damage the key
and the lug nut.
Place the lug nut wrench over the lug nut key and
apply pressure on the key with the wrench. Turn the
wrench in a counterclockwise direction to remove
the lug nut.
210Replacing the anti-theft lug nut
Insert the key over the locking lug nut. Place the lug
nut wrench over the lug nut key and, while applying
pressure on the key, install the lug nut.
If the Engine Cranks But Does Not
Start or Does Not Start After a
Collision
The Fuel Pump Shut-off Switch
If the engine cranks but does not start or if you have
had a collision, the fuel pump shut-off switch may
have been triggered. The shut-off switch is a device
that stops the fuel pump when your vehicle has been
involved in a substantial jolt.
For information on how to check and reset the fuel
pump shut-off switch, see Fuel pump shut-off switch
in the Index.

Getting Help Outside the U.S. and
Canada
Before you export your vehicle to a foreign country,
contact the appropriate foreign embassy or consulate
to make sure local regulations do not prevent you
from registering your vehicle. Officials at the
embassy can also help you decide whether you
should import your vehicle to that country.
Officials at the embassy or consulate can tell you
where to get unleaded fuel. If you cannot get
unleaded fuel or can get only fuel with an anti-knock
index that is lower than your vehicle needs, contact
a district or owner relations office before you leave
the U.S. or Canada.
Use of leaded fuel in your vehicle without a proper
conversion may damage the effectiveness of your
emissions control system and may cause engine
knocking or serious engine damage. Ford Motor
Company is not responsible for any damage that is
caused by use of improper fuel.You may also have difficulty importing your vehicle
back into the U.S. if you use leaded fuel.
If your vehicle must be serviced while you are
traveling or living in Central or South America, the
Caribbean, or the Middle East, contact the nearest
Ford dealership. If the dealership cannot help you,
write to:Ford Motor CompanyExport Operations1555 Fairlane BusinessPark #3Allen Park, MI 481 olU.S.A.Phone: 313-317-4282Fax: 313-390-0804221

Use only recommended fuels, lubricants, fluids,
and service parts conforming to Ford
specifications. Motorcraft parts are designed and
built to provide the best performance in your
vehicle. Using these parts for replacement is your
assurance that Ford-buflt quality stays in your
vehicle.
NOTE: Always dispose of used automotive fluids
in a responsible manner. Follow your community's
standards for disposing of these types of fluids.
Call your local recycling center to find out about
recycling automotive fluids.
Accident Damage
Should your vehicle suffer accident damage
requiring new sheet metal or plastic replacement
parts, be sure your repair shop uses only genuine
Ford replacement parts.
While imitation body parts may appear similar to
genuine Ford parts on the surface, differences in
232quality become obvious when both are subjected to
standard Ford quality tests.
Ford tests indicate that you should be concerned with
the quality of the fit and finish, corrosion resistance
and structural integrity of these imitation replacement
parts, and how their use will affect your warranty.
How Can You Protect Yourself?.
Before any repair work begins, tell your adjuster that
you want your vehicle repaired using only genuine
Ford body parts. If the adjuster refuses, contact your
insurance agent for help. If your agent and your
insurance company refuse to repair your vehicle with
original factory parts, you should contact your state
insurance commissioner, the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration or a local consumer protection
agency.
In Canada, contact provincial insurance
commissioners, Transport Canada or local consumer
protection groups.

Precautions When Servicing Your
Vehicle
Be especially careful when inspecting or servicing
your vehicle. Here are some general precautions
for your safety: Do not work on a hot engine. The engine
cooling fan may come on unexpectedly. Always
turn the engine off and let it cool./!\ WARNINGThe cooling fan is automatic and may comeon at any time. Always disconnect thenegative terminal of the battery beforeworking near the fan. If you must work with the engine running,
avoid wearing loose clothing or jewelry that
could get caught in moving parts. Take
appropriate precautions with long hair. Do not work on a vehicle in an enclosed space
with the engine running, unless you are sure you
have enough ventilation. Never get under a vehicle while it is supported by a
jack only. If you must work under a vehicle, use
safety stands. Keep all lit cigarettes and other smoking materials
away from the battery and all fuel-related parts.
If you disconnect the battery, the engine must
“relearn" its idle conditions before your vehicle will
drive properly. To find out how the engine does this,
see Battery in this chapter.
Working with the engine off.
1. Set the parking brake fully and make sure that the
gearshift is securely latched in P (Park).
2.Remove the key from the ignition after you turn
the engine off.
233

Filling the Fuel Tank
The fuel filler door cannot be opened from outside
the vehicle. To unlatch the fuel door, push on the
fuel door button located on the driver side door
trim.
The fuel door is on the exterior of passenger side,
near the back of the vehicle. The words FUEL
FILL and an arrow on the instrument cluster remind
you that the fuel door is on that side.
238 Manual override fuel filler door
The fuel door release button
If the fuel door does not open when you push the
release button, open the trunk and find the override
release on the right side. The override release is a
handle which says FUEL FILLER DOOR RELEASE
MANUAL OVERRIDE. Open the fuel door by
pulling on the handle.