1996 Mercury Mercury Cougar engine

79 [IP14600( BC )03/95]
Warm button
[IP14700( BC )07/93]
This button is used to RAISE the temperature
setting. Press the button once to raise the
displayed temperature one degree. Holding the
button in will continuously increase the
temperature setting in one degree increments
until you either release it or85ÊF (29ÊC) is
reached.
[IP14800( BC )03/94]
If the button is pressed after85ÊF (29ÊC) is
reached, only90ÊF (32ÊC)will be displayed and
the system will provide continuous maximum
heating.
[IP14900( BC )03/95]
System Operation
[IP15000( BC )05/95]
To heat the inside of your vehicle, turn the
SELECT knob to FLOOR and turn the FAN
knob to AUTO. The fan will remain off until the
engine reaches operating temperature or until
3-1/2 minutes have elapsed. As the interior of
your vehicle warms up, the discharge air
temperature and the fan speed will be
automatically and gradually changed to maintain
the set temperature. If you prefer a fixed fan
speed, turn the fan speed switch to the desired
setting.
% [IP15100( BC )05/95]
To defrost the windshield and side windows,
turn the SELECT knob to DefrostV, turn the
FAN knob to HI and set the temperature as
necessary to clear the windshield.
[IP15200( BC )07/93]
To direct either cooled or heated air to the panel
registers and the floor at the same time, turn the
SELECT knob to PANEL & FLOOR, push the
COOL or WARM button for the desired
temperature and set the FAN speed as desired.
File:rcipc.ex
Update:Mon Jun 12 16:49:31 1995

80 [IP15300( BC )05/95]To cool your car quickly in warm weather, turn
the SELECT knob to MAX A/C and turn the
FAN knob to AUTO. As the vehicle interior
cools down, the discharge air temperature and
fan speed will automatically and gradually be
changed to maintain the set temperature with
airflow from the instrument panel registers.
[IP15400( BC )07/93]
If the interior of your vehicle is very warm,
drive for the first few minutes with the windows
open. This will force the hot, stale air out and
allow the air conditioning to work faster.
% [IP15500( BC )05/95]
To cool your vehicle with outside air, turn the
SELECT knob to A/C and turn the FAN knob to
AUTO or to a fixed speed setting as you desire.
Cooling your vehicle in this manner provides a
quieter system operation, but it will not cool as
efficiently and is not as fuel efficient as MAX
A/C which uses recirculated air.
[IP15600( BC )05/95]
To ventilate your vehicle with outside air, turn
the SELECT knob to PANEL and the FAN knob
to AUTO. The fan will remain off until the
engine is warm enough to provide heat.
However, if the interior temperature is above the
set temperature, the fan will turn on
immediately. Temperature may be set as desired
and FAN speed can be selected.
[IP15700( BC )07/93]
A/C compressor override
[IP15800( BC )03/94]
The A/C compressor can be disengaged for
more economical driving. This can be done by
turning the SELECT knob to PANEL. The A/C
compressor is automatically engaged by the
control in MAX A/C, NORM A/C, FLOOR &
DEF, and DEFROST positions if the outside
temperature is above45ÊF (7ÊC).
File:rcipc.ex
Update:Mon Jun 12 16:49:31 1995

81
% [IP31700(MBC )05/95]
Rear Window Defroster
(If equipped)
(Standard in Canada)
*
[IP32000( ALL)12/91]
The defroster for the rear window clears frost,
fog, or thin ice from both the inside and outside
of the rear window.
[IP32600( BC )01/89]
The button for the rear window defroster is
located on the lower right side of the instrument
panel, just left of the climate control panel.
[IP32700( BC )06/93]
one third page art:0010190-B
The button that controls the rear window defroster
[IP33000( ALL)12/94]
Clear away any snow that is on the rear
window before using the defroster. With the
engine running, push the defrost button.
[IP33100( ALL)12/94]
After approximately 10 minutes, the defroster
will turn off. If the window is still not clear,
turn the defroster on again.
[IP33200( ALL)12/94]
The defroster will turn off when the ignition key
is turned to the OFF position.
*
[IP33300( ALL)02/95]
The heating elements are bonded to the inside of
the rear window. Do not use sharp objects to
scrape the inside of the rear window or use
abrasive cleaners to clean it. Doing so could
damage the heating elements.
File:rcipc.ex
Update:Mon Jun 12 16:49:31 1995

97
%*
[SC08600( ALL)03/91]
Speed Control (If equipped)
*
[SC08800( ALL)03/95]
If your vehicle has speed control, you can
automatically maintain a constant speed at or
above 30 mph (50 km/h).
*
[SC08900( ALL)05/95]
Use of radio transmitting equipment that is not
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) or
in Canada the Canadian Radio and
Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)
approved may cause the speed control to
malfunction. Therefore, use only properly
installed FCC (CRTC in Canada) approved radio
transmitting equipment in your vehicle.
[SC09150( BCGV)12/94]
NOTE: When driving in hilly terrain, at high
elevations, or when pulling a trailer, it
may be desirable to drive with the
transmission in the Overdrive off
mode. This can be done by depressing
the Transmission Control Switch on
the transmission gear selection lever.
Driving in this mode prevents the
transmission from shifting excessively
when ascending grades, and helps
maintain speed when going down
steep hills.
*
[SC09200( ALL)03/95]
NOTE: Do not shift to N (Neutral) when using
the speed control. This will cause the
engine to overspeed.
[SC09250( ALL)12/94]
When driving uphill, especially with a heavy
load, significant speed drops may occur. If the
speed drops more than 10 mph (16 km/h) the
automatic speed control will, by design, be
suspended. Some vehicles may require
temporary resumption of manual speed control
while ascending steep grades in order to
maintain the selected speed.
File:rcscc.ex
Update:Mon Jun 12 16:48:54 1995

165
Driving Your Cougar
%*
[DR00500( ALL)03/93]
Driving with an Automatic
Overdrive Transmission
[DR00510(MBC )05/94]
The gearshift lever is floor mounted.
*
[DR00700( BCGV)01/95]
The automatic overdrive transmission operates
very much like a regular automatic transmission,
except it offers the extra overdrive feature.
%*
[DR00800( ALL)01/95]
Putting Your Vehicle in Gear
*
[DR00950( ALL)01/93]
RWARNING
Hold the brake pedal down while you
move the gearshift lever from position to
position. If you do not hold the brake
pedal down, your vehicle may move
unexpectedly and injure someone.
[DR00965(MBC )03/95]
To move the shifter out of P (Park), the ignition
key must be turned to either the OFF or the ON
position and the thumb button must be pushed
in. This vehicle is also equipped with the brake
shift interlock safety feature which prevents
shifting the transmission out of the P (Park)
position without the brake pedal being
depressed if the key is in the ON position.
*
[DR00975( ALL)03/95]
To operate:
*
[DR00980( ALL)01/95]
1. Start the engine.
*
[DR00985( ALL)01/95]
2. Depress and hold the brake pedal.
*
[DR00990( ALL)01/95]
3. Move the gearshift lever out of P (Park).
File:rcdrc.ex
Update:Mon Jun 12 16:47:03 1995

166 %
*
[DR00995( ALL)04/95]
Your vehicle is equipped with a Brake Shift
Interlock safety feature. This feature prevents the
gearshift from being moved from the P (Park)
position until the brake pedal is depressed. This
feature is active when the ignition is in the ON
position. If the gearshift lever CANNOT be
moved from P (Park) with the brake pedal
depressed:
*
[DR01000( ALL)01/95]
1. Turn the engine off and remove the ignition
key.
*
[DR01005( ALL)01/95]
2. Apply parking brake.
*
[DR01010( ALL)01/95]
3. Reinsert the ignition key and turn clockwise
to the first position (OFF).
*
[DR01020( ALL)01/95]
4. Depress the brake pedal, move the gearshift
lever to N (Neutral) and start the engine.
*
[DR01025( ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE UNTIL
YOU VERIFY THAT THE BRAKELAMPS
ARE WORKING.
[DR01027( ALL)05/95]
If you need to shift out of P (Park) by using the
alternate procedure described above, it is
possible that a fuse has blown and that your
brakelamps may also not be functional. Please
refer to the chapter titledServicing Your Cougar
in this Owner Guide for instructions on checking
and replacing fuses.
[DR01030(MBC )05/94]
The console-mounted gearshift will lock in
P (Park) 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 LOCK or removed from the steering
column. TO REMOVE THE KEY, the gearshift
lever must be in P (Park).
File:rcdrc.ex
Update:Mon Jun 12 16:47:03 1995

169 [DR02500(MBC )05/95]
When to use D (Overdrive) Ð with
transmission control switch activated (O/D
OFF light illuminated)
*
[DR02600(MBC )01/95]
Overdrive may not be appropriate for certain
terrain. If the transmission shifts back and forth
between Third and Fourth gears while you are
driving on hilly roads or if your vehicle does
not have adequate power for climbing hills,
depress the TCS.
*
[DR02605( BCGV)01/95]
You can depress the TCS at any speed.
*
[DR02610( ALL)01/95]
When to use 2 (Second)
*
[DR02620( ALL)01/95]
Use 2 (Second) for start-up on slippery roads or
to give you more engine braking to slow your
vehicle on downgrades.
*
[DR02700( ALL)01/95]
When to use 1 (Low)
*
[DR02800( ALL)03/95]
Use 1 (Low) when driving down steep grades. It
gives more engine braking to slow your vehicle
than 2 (Second) on the downgrades. You can
upshift from 1 (Low) to 2 (Second) or from
1 (Low) to Overdrive at any speed.
*
[DR03000( ALL)01/95]
P (Park)
*
[DR03100( ALL)01/95]
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
transmission and prevents the rear wheels from
rotating.
File:rcdrc.ex
Update:Mon Jun 12 16:47:03 1995

170
*
[DR03200( ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
Always set the parking brake fully and
make sure that the gearshift is securely
latched in P (Park).
*
[DR03225( ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
Never leave your vehicle unattended
while it is running.
*
[DR03400(MBC )01/95]
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.
% [DR09720( ALL)03/95]Traction-Lok Axle (If equipped)
[DR09730( ALL)12/91]
This axle provides added traction on slippery
surfaces, particularly when one wheel is on a
poor traction surface. Under normal conditions
the Traction-Lok axle functions as a standard
rear axle.
*
[DR09740( ALL)03/93]
Extended use of other than matching size tires
on a Traction-Lok rear axle could result in a
permanent reduction in effectiveness. This loss of
effectiveness does not affect normal driving and
should not be noticeable to the driver.
*
[DR09750( ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
To avoid injury, never run the engine
with one wheel off the ground, such as
when changing a tire.
File:rcdrc.ex
Update:Mon Jun 12 16:47:03 1995