1996 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL steering

Memory Profile System
The Personality Memory Feature customizes your
Continental for up to two (2) drivers. The
following features are automatically recalled when
unlocking the doors using the remote entry
transmitter, keyless entry keypad, or by pressing
the Memory 1 or Memory 2 switches on the
driver's door: All driver's seat positions except power lumbar
and head restraint. Both left and right outside mirror settings. Radio station presets including the last selected
station and band and 0 preset preferences on
FMI, FM2, and AM. Instrument panel dimming setting. Autolamp delay time-out setting. Ride/Steering menu setting. Feature Menu settingsThe Ride/Steering menu is located in the
Message Center. The RIDE display allows you
to adjust the suspension feel to FIRM,
NORMAL, or PLUSH.
Pressing the Ride/Steering menu switch again
brings the STEERING display. This allows you
to adjust steering effort to LOW, NORMAL, or
HIGH.
For more information on ride/steering options,
see Road Calibrated Suspension later in this
chapter.
Personality Memory also allows you to
customize settings from the Feature menu
located in the Message Center. The Feature
menu contains five (5) features that you can
enable or disable. The features are listed in the
order they appear in the Feature menu. EXPRESS WINDOW - for one tap down
operation of the driver's window.
119

Road Calibrated Suspension
Your Continental is equipped with a ride control
system that is designed to read disturbances in the
road surface every six inches at 60 mph (100 km/h)
to provide you with optimal driving response.
Ride control allows you to chose both a ride feel
and steering effort that best flts your personal
driving style. These options may be selected by
using the RIDE/STEER Message Center button.Pressing this button once will allow you to adjust
your RIDE CONTROL settings, between
NORMAL, PLUSH and FIRM. The settings are
changed by pressing the SELECT button while
RIDE CONTROL is displayed.
Pressing the RIDE/STEER button a second time
will allow you to adjust the STEERING
EFFORT settings between NORMAL, LOW,
and HIGH. The settings are changed by pressing
the SELECT button while STEERING EFFORT
is displayed.
123

Steering
SuspensionHighNormalLowFirmStiff steeringStiff suspensionTrue sports carWinding roadsOptimum steering effortStiff suspensionSports car ride with luxury sedan steering feelNon-optimum positionNot allowedCannot reach this stateNormalStiff steeringIdeal rideContemporary ride with precise steerIdeal steering and suspensionBest balance of vehicle chassis systems'Set it and forget it" modeEasy steeringIdeal rideTraditional luxury steer and contemporary ridePlushStiff steeringSoft suspensionLuxury ride with sport steeringIdeal steeringSoft suspensionBroken pavement city trafficEasy steeringSoft suspensionWhat a Lincoln used to be (and can still be!!!)124

NOTE: The combination of FIRM RIDE
CONTROL and LOW STEERING EFFORT is
undesirable and cannot be selected.
Mirrors
Automatic Dimming Inside Rearview
Mirror (If equipped)
Some vehicles are equipped with an inside rearview
mirror and an outside driver's side mirror which have
an Auto-Dimming function. These electronic
day/night mirrors will change from the normal state
to the non-glare state when bright lights (glare)
reach the mirrors. These mirrors function at night,
and have a limited function at dusk or dawn. From
the non-glare state, the mirrors will return to the
normal state after a short delay. The delay starts
when glare goes away. The delay prevents
excessive changing of the mirrors as traffic moves
behind and around the vehicle, or on rolling hills and
curves.The automatic dimming inside rearview
mirror (optional)
The sensitivity level of the mirrors can be adjusted
by moving the switch on the inside rearview mirror
between the OFF and MAX positions. MAX is the
most sensitive setting and bright headlamps far
away will cause the mirrors to automatically darken,
At the setting nearest OFF, bright headlamps will
have to be closer to darken the mirrors. The outside
125

At zero pressure, the Securitires will provide you
with a minimum driving capability of approximately
20 miles (30 kms). How you drive and the actual
amount of air pressure left in your tires will
determine exactly how many miles can be driven.
To extend the mileage and help prevent damage to
low or deflated tires, you should: not exceed 55 mph (90 km/h) and drive at a
reduced rate of speed, if possible avoid excessive hard steering and braking
maneuvers, if possible stop periodically to allow the tires to cool down/! WARNINGIf your vehicle is driven with a low tire, thetire itself may become very hot. Allow thetire and wheel to cool before attempting tochange it.142Pressure Alert System
Each of your Securitires is monitored by a low
tire pressure sensor. A warning will appear in
the overhead console when the pressure in one
of your tires drops below acceptable levels or if
the system has malfunctioned.
Low Tire Pressure Warning Light Overhead
consoleLow Tire Pressure Warning in the overhead
console

/!\ WARNINGAlways set the parking brake fully and makesure that the gearshift is securely latched in P(Park). Never leave your vehicle unattendedwhile it is running.You can tell a column-mounted gearshift is securely
latched in P (Park) if the lever is adjacent to the P
(Park) and you cannot move it without pulling it
toward you and rotating it downward.
You can tell a console-mounted gearshift is securely
latched in P (Park) if the lever is adjacent to the P
(Park) and you cannot move it without pushing in the
thumb button.
The gearshift will lock when you turn the key to the
LOCK position. When the gearshift is in any
position except P (Park), the ignition key cannot be
turned to the LOCK position or removed from the
steering column. To remove the key, the gearshift
lever must be in P (Park).
184Traction ControlÔ Ô (If equipped)
Your vehicle may be equipped with the
optional Traction ControlÔ, system. This
system helps prevent wheel spin in order to
improve tire traction and is an especially useful
feature when you drive in hilly areas or on
slippery, icy or snowy roads.
When the Traction Control system is
controlling wheelspin, an electric motor sound
may be heard from the engine compartment and
engine acceleration may seem slower. This is
normal.
Traction ControlÔ works automatically by
rapidly applying and releasing the brakes and
reducing engine torque to prevent one or both
of the front drive wheels from spinning during
acceleration.
During the Traction ControlÔ function, which
most often occurs during low speed
acceleration on slippery surfaces, a noise may
be heard coming from the engine compartment.
This is normal and may last for a few seconds
during the acceleration of the vehicle.

In general, this system improves your vehicle's
stability and acceleration performance when road
conditions warrant. Traction ControlÔ is fully
effective at all vehicle speeds.
If the Traction ControlÔ system is cycled
excessively, the brake portion of the system will shut
down to prevent the front brakes from overheating.
A limited Traction ControlÔ function using engine
torque will still control wheels from spinning. A
cooling down period is required to prevent damage
to the brakes. This time period varies and depends
on brake usage during the cooling down period.
Anti-Lock braking is not affected and will function
normally during the cool down period.
After the cool down period, the full Traction
ControlÔ' function is restored.Steering Your Vehicle
Your vehicle comes with power steering.
Power steering uses energy from the engine to
help steer your vehicle.
If the amount of effort needed to steer your
vehicle changes, check your steering effort
selection in the Message Center. If this is not
the problem, have the power steering system
checked. If the power steering system breaks
down (or if the engine is turned off), you can
steer the vehicle manually but it takes more
effort.
The steering system in your vehicle is speed
sensitive. This means that the steering effort is
light for parking and heavier for highway
driving. However, if you have to swerve
around an object or another vehicle, your
steering will have full power assist.
185

Never hold the steering wheel to the extreme right or
left for more than five seconds if the engine is running.
This can damage the power steering pump.
Air Suspension Adaptive Ride
Control System
Your vehicle has an air suspension system with
automatic load leveling and automatic ride control.
This system keeps your vehicle at a constant level by
adding air or releasing air from the springs. Ride and
handling is enhanced by firming shock absorber
performance during certain road conditions, steering
maneuvers, braking, and accelerations and is
returned to the driver selected ride calibration when
driver or road surface induced motion changes are
completed.
A shutoff switch is located behind an access panel in
the left side of the trunk. If this switch is in the OFF
position, the air suspension system will remain at a
constant state, not adjusting for varying loads or
driving conditions.
186Normal vehicle operation does not require any
action by the driver.
For a more complete listing of the various
driving and steering options available, see Road
Calibrated Suspension in the Features chapter.Air suspension switchThe air suspension switch