1996 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL reset

For a warm engine: Do not hold the key in the START position for more
than five (5) seconds at a time. If the engine does
not start within five (5) seconds on the first try, turn
the key to the OFF position. Wait a few seconds
after the starter stops, then try again.
Whenever you start your vehicle, release the key as soon
as the engine starts. Excessive cranking could damage
the starter or flood the engine.
After you start the engine, let it idle for a few seconds.
Keep your foot on the brake pedal and put the
gearshift lever in gear. Release the parking brake.
Slowly release the brake pedal and drive away in the
normal manner.
NOTE:Your vehicle is equipped with an automatic
transaxle that has an interlock that prevents you from
shifting out of P (Park) unless your foot is on the brake
pedal.If the engine does not start after two
attempts:
1. Turn the ignition key to the OFF position
2. Press the accelerator all the way to the floor
and hold it.
3. Turn the ignition key to the START position,
4. Release the ignition key when the engine
starts
5. Release the accelerator gradually as the
engine speeds up. Then drive away in the
normal manner.
If the engine still does not start, the fuel pump
shut-off may have been triggered. For directions
on how to reset the switch see Fuel Pump Shut-
Off Switch later in this chapter.
45

/! WARNINGTo prevent electrical shock, do not use yourheater with ungrounded electrical systemsor two-pronged (cheater) adapters.For best results, plug the heater in at least three
hours before you start your vehicle. Using the
heater for longer than three hours will not damage
the engine, so you can plug it in at night to start
your vehicle the following morning.If the Engine Cranks but Does
Not Start After a Collision
Fuel Pump Shut-off Switch
If the engine cranks but does not start or does
not start after a collision, the fuel pump shut-off
switch may have been triggered. The shut-off
switch is a device intended to stop the fuel pump
when your vehicle has been involved in a
substantial jolt.
Once the shut-off switch is triggered, you must
reset the switch by hand before you can start
your vehicle. The switch is on the left side of the
trunk.
47

The left side of the trunk/! WARNINGIf you see or smell fuel, do not reset theswitch or try to start your vehicle. Haveall the passengers get out of the vehicleand call the local fire department or atowing service.48If your engine cranks but does not start after a
collision or substantial jolt:
1 . Turn the ignition key to the OFF position.
2.Check under the vehicle for leaking fuel.
3.if you do not see or smell fuel, push the red
reset button down. If the button is already
set, you may have a different mechanical
problem.
4.Turn the ignition key to the ON position for
a few seconds, then turn it to the OFF
position.
5.Check under the vehicle again for leaking
fuel. If you see or smell fuel, do not start
your vehicle again. If you do not see or
smell fuel, you can try to start your vehicle
again.
6. Check all vehicle warning lights before
driving the vehicle.

Doors Closed Trunk Closed Trunk Closed Exterior Lamps Distance to Empty Fuel Level TractionControl (if equipped)
System Warnings
System warnings alert you to possible
problems or malfunctions in your vehicle's
operating systems. There are up to 18 warning
messages which can be displayed by the M/C
to show the status of the monitored systems.
The M/C will display the last selected feature if
there are no more warning messages. This
allows you to use the full functionality of the
M/C after you acknowledge the warning by
pressing the RESET button and clearing the
warning message.
62WARNINGACT10NDoor AjarDriver's Door AjarCheck Engine TempCheck Charging SystemLow Fuel LevelWarning returns after 10 minutesLow Engine CoolantLow Oil LevelLow Tire Pressure(if equipped)Headlamp OutBrake Lamp OutCheck Traction Control(if equipped)Check Ride ControlTrunk AjarWarning reappears after key is turnedCheck Steering Assistfrom OFF to ONLow Washer FluidAir Leveling DisabledTail lamp OutFront Turn Lamp Out

Warning messages that have been reset are
divided into two categories. They will
reappear on the display ten minutes from the
reset or they will not reappear until an ignition
OFF-ON cycle has been completed. This
reappearing of warning messages is a reminder
that these warning conditions still exist within
the vehicle.
EIM
A press of this button allows you to change the
M/C and the Electronic Climate control unit
from English to Metric Units. When you press
this button all displays change from English to
Metric or Metric to English units. The
displays remain in the units you have chosen
until you change them again even after you
turn off the vehicle and start it again.
TRIP
Pressing this button will display the first of two
trip odometers. Pressing it again will display
the second Trip Odometer. Pressing RESET
will clear only that Trip odometer which is
displayed.DTE/ECON
Pressing this button a first time will display
approximately how many miles you can drive before
you run out of fuel, or in other words the Distance
To Empty (DTE). To ensure accuracy, turn the
ignition OFF when you fill the tank.
Pressing this button a second time will allow you to
display your Average Fuel Economy in miles/gallon
or Uters/100 kilometers. Your WC computes this
figure using the distance traveled and rate of fuel
used information. If you want to reset this feature,
press the RESET button while the Average Fuel
Economy feature is displayed.
NOTE: DTE (Distance to Empty) is calculated
using a "Running Average Fuel Economy" initialized
by the factory. This value is not the same as the
Average Fuel Economy Display. The Running
Average Economy is based on more than 500 miles
(800 km) of driving history. Also the factory default
for Running Average Economy is reinitialized if the
battery is disconnected.
63

If the FUEL LEVEL ERROR message is
displayed this means that there is a problem
with the fuel indication system and you should
contact your dealer for service as soon as
possible.
RESET
A press of the RESET button will allow you to
reset the current feature displayed. Warnings,
Average Fuel Economy, and Trip odometers
are the only features which respond to the
RESET button. Distance to Empty (DTE),
RIDE/STEER and MENU are unaffected by
pressing the RESET switch.
DISPLAY
Pressing this button will cause the message
center display to turn off. Pressing it again will
cause the display to come on again. Warnings
override an off display and must be reset in
order for the display to be off again.
64RIDE/STEER
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.
NOTE: The combination of FIRM RIDE
CONTROL and LOW STEERING EFFORT is
undesirable and cannot be selected.
MENU
Pressing this button will allow You to change
various convenience settings throughout the
vehicle. The settings for each feature are
changed by pressing the SELECT button-

NOTE: If your speed increases above your set
speed while driving in (Overdrive) on a
downhill grade, you may want to shift to D
(Drive) to reduce vehicle speed. The speed
control cannot reduce the vehicle speed if it goes
above your set speed on a downhill grade. For
the best fuel economy during normal driving
conditions, leave the shift select in (Overdrive), or resume as soon as practical./! WARNINGDo not use the speed control in heavytraffic or on roads that are winding,slippery, or unpaved.Accelerating With the Speed Control
Operating
You can use the accelerator pedal to speed up
momentarily. When you take your foot off the
accelerator, the vehicle will return to the set
speed.Resetting the Speed Control
To reset the speed control to a lower speed, use
one of the following procedures: COAST - Press and hold the COAST switch.
Release the switch when the vehicle slows down
to the desired speed. Lightly tap the brake pedal. When the vehicle
attains the desired speed, press the SET
ACCEL switch and release it immediately. TAP-DOWN - Press and release the COAST
switch momentarily for each m.p.h. (1.6 km/h)
reduction in speed desired.
If vehicle speed is reduced below 30 mph (50
km/h) by any of the above methods, then you must
manually accelerate to a speed over 30 mph (50
km/h) and reset the system.
97

To reset the speed control to a higher speed,
follow one of these procedures: ACCEL - Press and hold the SET ACCEL
switch. Release the switch when the vehicle
has accelerated to the desired speed. Depress the accelerator pedal. When the
vehicle attains the desired speed, press the
SET ACCEL switch and release it
immediately. TAP-UP - Press and release the SET ACCEL
switch momentarily for each m.p.h. (1.6 km/h)
increase in speed desired.
To Cancel Speed Control
Speed control can be cancelled at any time by
pressing the brake pedal slightly. After
cancelling, you can return to the speed you set by
pressing the RES switch, or set a new speed by
pressing the SET ACCEL or COAST switches.
98To Turn Speed Control Off
Press the OFF switch.
Speed control is also turned OFF each time the
vehicle ignition is shut off.
Cancelling and Resuming a Set Speed
If you press the brake pedal, speed control is
suspended. You can return to the set speed by
pressing the RES switch, as long as you did not
press the OFF switch. You must be driving at least
30 mph (48 km/h).
Your vehicle will gradually return to the previously
set speed and then maintain it.