1996 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL light

To connect the trailer's safety chains:
1. Cross the chains under the trailer tongue and
attach them to your vehicle's frame or hook
retainers. Never attach the safety chains to your
vehicle's bumper. The bumper is not designed to
bear the weight of a trailer.
2. Make sure that you leave enough slack in the
chains to allow you to turn corners.
If you use a rental trailer, follow the instructions that
the rental agency gives you.
Connecting the trailer's brakes
Electric brakes and manual, automatic, or surge-type
hydraulic brakes are safe if you install them properly
and adjust them according to the manufacturer's
instructions. Be sure that your trailer's brakes meet
local and federal regulations.
Separate trailer brakes of adequate size should be
used for trailers weighing over 1.000 lbs. (454 kg)
loaded weight./!\ WARNINGDo not connect a trailer's hydraulicbrake system directly to your vehicle'sbrake system. Your vehicle may nothave enough braking power and yourchances of having a collision greatlyincrease.Connecting the trailer's lights
Do not connect a trailer's fighting system
wiring directly to your vehicle's fighting
system wiring. To get the proper equipment
for hooking up your trailer's lights, see your
local trailer dealer and your Ford dealer. Be
sure to follow their instructions carefully.
If you do not install trailer lights correctly, you
may cause damage to the vehicle's hghting
system.
197

Driving While You Tow
Be especially careful when driving while you tow a
trailer. Never drive faster than 45 mph (70 km/h)
when you tow in hilly country on hot days. Also,
anticipate stops so that you can brake gradually.
Towing a trailer increases the load on the engine and
transaxle, particularly in hilly country and with
heavier trailers. Under these conditions you may
experience an excessive amount of shifting between
Overdrive and Third gears. Moving the shift selector
to D (Overdrive Lockout) will keep this from
happening and will provide better engine braking.
When driving in less hilly country or with a lighter
trailer load. you may move the gearshift selector
lever to (Overdrive) without experiencing
excessive shifting.
198When driving down steep hills, you should put
the gearshift selector lever in the I (First)
position to shift the transaxle into second gear.
This will provide additional engine braking.
The automatic transaxle will automatically
downshift to the proper gear for driving up a
grade.
If you use the speed control while you are
towing on very long, steep grades, the speed
control may shut off.
Servicing your vehicle if you tow
If you tow a trailer for a long distance, your
vehicle will need to be serviced more frequently
than usual. See the Maintenance Schedule and
Record booklet.

Roadside EmergenciesJump-Starting Your Vehicle
Your vehicle's battery may die if you leave the lights
on or any electrical equipment on after you turn the
engine off. If this happens, you may be able to
jump-start from a booster battery to start your
vehicle./! WARNINGThe gases around the battery can explode ifexposed to flames, sparks, or lit cigarettes.An explosion could result in injury or vehicledamage./! WARNINGTo protect yourself when charging a battery,always shield your face and eyes. Make surethat you can breathe fresh air./! WARNINGApplying too much pressure on the ends whenlifting a battery could cause acid to spill. Liftthe battery with a carrier or with your handson the opposite comers.199

What Kind of Cases Does the Board
Review?
The Board reviews all product performance and
service complaints on Ford, Mercury and Lincoln
Cars and Ford and Mercury Light Trucks under
warranty that have not been resolved by a dealer or
Ford Motor Company.
The Board does not review issues involving: A non-Ford product A non-Ford dealership A vehicle sales transaction A request for reimbursement of consequential
expenses unless incidental to a service or
product complaint being reviewed Items not covered by your warranty Alleged liability claims Property damage where such damage is significant
when compared to the economic loss alleged under
the warranty dispute Cases currently in litigation Vehicles not used primarily for personal, family, or
household purposes
NOTE: Complaints involving vehicles on which
applicable express written new vehicle warranties
have expired at receipt of your application are not
eligible. Eligibility may differ according to state law.
For example, see the unique brochure for California
purchasers/lessees.

Servicing Your ContinentalService Made Easy
Ford has two goals for servicing your vehicle.
1. When we can, we design parts that do not
need to be serviced.
2. We want to make servicing your vehicle as
easy as possible. To help you: We highlight do-it-yourself items in yellow in
the engine compartment so that you can find them
easily. When possible, we design - such as the
headlamp bulbs-- that can be replaced without
tools. We give you a Maintenance Schedule that
makes tracking routine service for your vehicle
easy. The maintenance schedule is located in
the Maintenance Schedule and Record booklet.This chapter tells you about the basic parts that you
need to check and service regularly.
If your vehicle needs professional servicing, your
dealership can provide the parts and service required.
Check your Warranty Information Booklet to find out
which parts and services are covered. Also see the
Customer Assistance chapter of this Owner Guide.
Ford Motor Company recommends that the Owner
Maintenance Checks listed in the Maintenance
Schedule and Record booklet be performed for the
proper operation of your vehicle. In addition to the
conditions listed in the Owner Maintenance Checklist,
be alert for any unusual noise, vibration, or other
indication that your vehicle may need service. If you
do notice something unusual, see that your vehicle is
serviced promptly.
231

3.Block the wheels. This will prevent your
vehicle from moving unexpectedly.
Working with the engine on:
1. Set the parking brake fully and make sure that
the gearshift is securely latched in P (Park).
2.Block the wheels. This will prevent your
vehicle from moving unexpectedly./! WARNINGDo not start your engine with the aircleaner removed and do not remove it whilethe engine is running./! WARNINGThe cooling fan is automatic and may comeon at any time. Always disconnect thenegative terminal of the battery beforeworking near the fan.234If the battery is disconnected' the computer must
releam its idle control. See Battery in the Index.
NOTE: The engine compartment light may be
switched on or off at the light assembly. The light
assembly is located on the hood on the driver's side.
To turn the light on, pull the switch toward you; to
turn it off, push it away from you. The switch may
remain in the on position at all times, as the light will
turn off when the hood is closed.
Opening the Hood
1. Inside the vehicle, pull the hood release handle
located under the bottom left comer of the
instrument panel.

/!\ WARNINGIf you do not use the proper fuel cap, thepressure in the fuel tank can damage the fuelsystem or cause it to work improperly in acollision.NOTE: If you replace your fuel cap with an
aftermarket fuel filler cap, the customer warranty
may be void for any damage to the fuel tank and/or
fuel system.
Choosing the Right Fuel
Use only PREMIUM UNLEADED FUEL in your
vehicle. Using leaded fuel is prohibited by federal
law. Your warranty may not apply if your vehicle is
damaged because you used the wrong fuel.
Octane recommendations
The 4.6L engine is designed to operate on
premium fuel with an octane rating of 91 or
higher. Regular fuel with an octane rating of 87
240may be used if necessary. For optimum
performance, premium fuel is recommended.Typical octane rating label
In some parts of the country, "premium" grade fuels
are sold with octane ratings of less than 91,
especially in high altitude areas. It is recommended
that you use only those "premium" fuels with an
octane rating of 91 or higher.
Do not be concerned if your vehicle sometimes
knocks lightly when you drive up a hill or when you
accelerate. However, see your dealer or a qualified
service technician if persistent, heavy knocking
occurs because this can damage the engine.

Using speed control in hilly terrain Extended use of the A/C, defroster, rear window
defroster and other accessories Underinflated tires Heavy loads Aftermarket add-ons such as bike, ski or luggage
racks, bug deflectors, etc.
Self-Service Pointers
If you choose to do your own fueling, you should
also perform a few simple maintenance routines.
This extra effort will save you additional money and
contribute to the driving efficiency of your vehicle.
The following procedures require only a tire gauge,
a rag, an oil can spout and windshield washer fluid.Check the engine oil at every refueling stopClean the windshield, outside mirrors and
headlights
244 Check windshield washer fluid Check tires for excessive wear or worn edges Check the tire pressure at least monthly
Engine Oil Recommendations
We recommend using Motorcraft oil or an equivalent
oil meeting Ford Specification ESE-M2C153-E and
displaying the American Petroleum Institute
CERTIFICATION MARK on the front of the
container.