1997 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL Owners Manual

4About the WarrantiesYour vehicle is covered by three types of warranties:
Basic Vehicle Warranty,Extended Warranties
on certain parts, andEmissions Warranties.
Read yourWarranty Information Bookletcarefully to
find out about your vehicle's warranties and your
basic rights and responsibilities.
If you lose yourWarranty Information Booklet,you
can get a new one free of charge. Contact any Ford
or Lincoln-Mercury dealer, or refer to the addresses
and phone numbers on the first page of this
Owner's Guide.More Protection for Your VehicleYou can get more protection for your new car or
light truck by purchasing a Ford Extended Service
Plan (Ford ESP). Ford ESP is the only extended
service program with the Ford name on it and the
only service contract backed by Ford Motor
Company.Ford ESP is an optional service contract, backed and
administered by Ford. It provides:
q
protection against repair costs after your Bumper
to Bumper Warranty expires;
and
q
other benefits during the warranty period (such
as: reimbursement for rentals; coverage for
certain maintenance and wear items).
You may purchase Ford ESP from any participating
Ford Motor Company dealer. There are several Ford
ESP plans available in various time-and-mileage
combinations. Each plan can be tailored to fit your
own driving needs, including reimbursement
benefits for towing and rental. (In Hawaii, rules
vary. See your dealer for details.)
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When you buy Ford ESP, you receive peace-of-mind
protection throughout the United States and
Canada, provided by a network of more than 5,100
participating Ford Motor Company dealers.
NOTE:Repairs performed outside the United States
and Canada are not eligible for ESP coverage.
This information is subject to change. Ask your
dealer for complete details about Ford ESP coverage.Breaking Your Vehicle InYour new vehicle goes through an adjustment or
break-in period during the first 1,000 miles
(1,600 km) that you drive it. During the break-in
period, you need to pay careful attention to how
you drive your vehicle.q
Avoid sudden stops.Because your vehicle has
new brake linings, you should take these steps:
Ð Watch traffic carefully so that you can
anticipate when to stop.Ð Begin braking well in advance.
Ð Apply the brakes gradually.
The break-in period for new brake linings
lasts for 100 miles (160 km) of city driving
or 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of highway
driving.
q
Use only the type of engine oil that Ford
recommends.SeeEngine oil recommendations
in the Index. Do not use special ªbreak-inº oils.
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InstrumentationThe instrument panel (dashboard) on your vehicle is
divided into several different sections. The
illustrations on the following pages show the major
parts of the instrument panel that are described in
this chapter. Some items shown may not be on all
vehicles.
The main controls for the climate control system,
clock, and radio are on the instrument panel.If you have radio transmitting equipment in your
vehicle, be aware that it can interfere with your
vehicle's electrical system and may cause the
instrumentation and/or convenience products to
have temporary, abnormal operation.
NOTE:Any cleaner or polish that increases the
gloss (shine) of the upper part of the instrument
panel should be avoided. The dull finish in this area
is to help protect the driver from undesirable
windshield reflection.
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8Instrument panel
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Instrument cluster
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10The following warning lights and gauges are on the
instrument cluster. All of the warning lights and
gauges alert you to possible problems with your
vehicle.Indicator Lights and ChimesSafety Belt Warning Light and ChimeThis warning light and chime remind you to fasten
your safety belt. The following conditions will take
place:q
If the safety belt is not buckled when the
ignition is turned to the ON position, the chime
will turn on for four (4) to eight (8) seconds
and the light will come on for one to two
minutes.
q
If the safety belt is buckled while the light is on
and the chime is sounding, both the light and
chime will turn off.
q
If the safety belt is buckled before the ignition
is turned to the ON position, neither the light
nor the chime will come on.
Brake System Warning LightThe warning light for the brakes can show two
things Ð that the parking brake is not fully
released, or that the brake fluid level is low in the
master cylinder reservoir. If the fluid level is low,
the brake system should be checked by your dealer
or a qualified service technician.
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Thisligh tcome son whe nthe parkin gbrak eis set,
WARNING
Th eBRAK Eligh tindicate stha tthe

12Engine Oil Pressure Warning LightThis light indicates the engine's oil pressure, not the
oil level. However, if your engine's oil level is low,
it could affect the oil pressure. The light will come
on briefly when you turn your key to the START
and ON position. The light should stay off when
the engine is running with normal oil pressure. If
the light comes on while the engine is running, you
have lost oil pressure and continued operation will
cause severe engine damage.If you lose engine oil pressure:
1. Pull off the road as soon as safely possible.
2. Shut off the engine immediately or severe
engine damage could result.
3. Check the engine's oil level, following the
instructions on checking and adding engine oil,
seeEngine Oilin the Index. If you do not
follow these instructions, you or others could
be injured. To assure an accurate reading, your
car should be on level ground.
4. If the level is low, add only as much oil as
necessary before you start the engine again. Do
not overfill. Do not operate the engine if the
light is on, regardless of the oil level. Contact
your nearest dealer for further service actions.
For more information about adding oil, seeAdding
engine oilin theMaintenance and Carechapter.
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