1997 Mercury Mountaineer service

ABS warning light
TheABSlight in the instrument
cluster illuminates and remains
illuminated if an ABS fault is
detected. Have your vehicle
serviced as soon as possible.
Normal braking operation is still
effective unless the
light is
also illuminated.
Parking brake
The parking brake should be used
whenever the vehicle is parked.
Push pedal downward to set the
parking brake.
The
light in the instrument
cluster illuminates and remains
illuminated (when the ignition is
turned to ON) until the parking
brake is released.
Always set the parking
brake fully and make sure
that the gearshift is securely
latched in P (Park).
The parking brake is not designed
to stop a moving vehicle. However,
if the normal brakes fail, the
parking brake can be used to stop
your vehicle in an emergency.
Since the parking brake applies
only the rear brakes, the vehicle's
stopping distance will increase
greatly and the handling of your
vehicle will be adversely affected.
Driving
97

that could damage drive
components.
If the transmission and transfer
case are submerged in water, their
fluids should be checked and
changed, if necessary.
All rear axle lubricants must be
replaced every 160,000 km
(100,000 miles) or if the axle has
been submerged in water.
Otherwise, check the lubrication of
the rear axle according to the
intervals in theService Guide.
Driving on hill or slope terrain
When driving on a hill, avoid
driving crosswise or turning on
steep slopes. You could lose
traction and slip sideways. Drive
straight up, straight down or avoid
the hill completely. Know the
conditions on the other side of a
hill before driving over the crest.
When climbing a steep hill, start in
a lower gear rather than
downshifting to a lower gear from
a higher gear once the ascent has
started. This reduces strain on the
engine and the possibility of
stalling.
When descending a steep hill avoid
sudden braking. Rapid pumping of
the brake pedal will help slow the
vehicle and still maintain steering
control.
When speed control is on and you
are driving uphill, your vehicle
speed may drop considerably,
especially if you are carrying a
Driving
105

Servicing while towing
If you tow a trailer for long
distances, your vehicle will require
more frequent service intervals.
Refer to theService Guidefor
more information.
Trailer towing
²Practice turning, stopping and
backing in an area before
starting on a trip to get the feel
of the vehicle/trailer
combination. When turning,
drive slightly beyond the normal
turning point so the trailer
wheels will clear curbs and
other obstacles.
²Allow more room for stopping
with a trailer attached.
²The trailer tongue weight should
be 10-15% of the loaded trailer
weight for a Class I or II rear
bumper hitch.
²After you have travelled about
80 km (50 miles), thoroughly
check your hitch, electrical
connections and trailer wheel
lug nuts.
²When stopped in traffic for long
periods of time in hot weather,
place the gearshift in P (Park)
to increase idle speed. This aids
engine cooling and air
conditioner efficiency.
²Vehicles with trailers should not
be parked on a grade. If you
must park on a grade, place
wheel chocks under the trailer's
wheels.
Driving
115

HAZARD SWITCH
Use the hazard flashers to warn
traffic of vehicle problems.
Press button down to activate
hazard flashers.
Press button again to deactivate
hazard flashers.
FUEL PUMP SHUTOFF SWITCH
The fuel pump shutoff switch stops
the fuel pump when the vehicle
has been involved in a collision or
major jolt. If the vehicle does not
start, it is possible that the fuel
pump shutoff switch needs to be
reset.
If you see or smell fuel, do
not reset the switch or try
to start your vehicle. Have all the
passengers get out of the vehicle
and call the local fire department
or a towing service.
0P RND21
UNLEADED
FUEL ONLY
RPM x 100012345
6H
C
F
E
RSM
SET
ACC
COAST OFF ON
SRS
- +H
H
L L020
1030405060
70
80
90
110
120000000oooo
km/h100
20406080100
120
140
160
180
Roadside emergencies
118

vegetable oil. Call a doctor
immediately.
To avoid damage or injury,
follow these directions in
the order they are given. If in
doubt, call for road service.
Before jump starting a vehicle:
²Make sure the booster battery
vehicle has a 12-volt starting
system (a 24-volt power supply
will cause vehicle damage).
²Park the vehicles close to each
other, but do not allow the
vehicles to touch each other.
²Check to make sure neither
battery is disconnected.
²Remove any excessive corrosion
from the battery terminals.
²Turn on the heater fan in each
vehicle to prevent damage from
voltage surges.
To jump start the vehicle, connect
the jumper cables in the following
order:
1. Disabled battery positive
terminal.
2. Booster battery positive
terminal.
3. Booster battery negative
terminal.
4. Disabled vehicle engine.
+ –
4
2
3
1
+ –
Roadside emergencies
133

SERVICE RECOMMENDATIONS
Whenever possible, Ford has
designed parts that do not require
servicing. However, when servicing
is required, Ford's goal is to make
servicing your vehicle as easy as
possible. To help you:
²We highlight do-it-yourself items
in the engine compartment for
easy location.
²Often, parts (such as the
headlamp bulbs) may be
replaced without tools.
²We provide you with aService
Guidethat makes tracking
routine service of your vehicle
easy.
If your vehicle requires
professional servicing, your
dealership can provide the
necessary parts and service. Check
theWarranty Guideto find out
which parts and services are
covered. Use only recommended
fuels, lubricants, fluids, and service
parts conforming to Ford
specifications. Motorcraft parts are
designed and built to provide the
best performance in your vehicle.
Precautions for servicing your
vehicle
Be particularly careful when
inspecting or servicing your
vehicle. Here are some general
precautions for your safety:
²Do not work on a hot engine.
The engine cooling fan may
Maintenance and care
136

CHECKING AND ADDING
ENGINE OIL
Use WSS-M2C153-F motor oil
CERTIFIED FOR GASOLINE
ENGINES by the American
Petroleum Institute.
Engine oils with an SAE 5W±30
viscosity and displaying the
American Petroleum Institute
certification mark are preferred for
your vehicle. They provide the best
engine performance, fuel economy
and engine protection for all
climates down to ±25ÉC (±15ÉF).
Do not use:
²ªnon-detergentº oils
²oils labeled API SA, SB, SC, SD,
SE, SF, or SG
²additional engine oil additives,
oil treatments or engine
treatments
Additional engine oil additives, oil
treatments, or engine treatments
are never needed and could, under
certain conditions, lead to engine
damage which is not covered by
your Ford warranty.
Synthetic engine oils which are
CERTIFIED and of the preferred
viscosity may be used in your
engine. The engine oil and oil filter
must still be changed according to
theService Guide.
Maintenance and care
140

Checking the engine oil
Check the engine oil every time
you fuel your vehicle.
Check the engine oil level more
frequently if the vehicle is carrying
a heavy load, towing a trailer,
idling for extended periods (like
police, taxi, or shuttle service
vehicles), or driven at high speeds
for extended periods of time.
To check engine oil:
1. Once the engine is warm, turn
the engine off. Make sure the
vehicle is parked on level ground.
2. Depress the parking brake.
Place the gearshift in P (Park).
3. Open the hood. Protect yourself
from engine heat.
4. Remove the engine oil dipstick
and wipe clean. Reinsert the
dipstick fully, then remove it again.
The oil level should be between
the MIN and MAX lines. If the oil
level lies between the MIN and
MAX lines, there is no need to
add.
5. If the oil level is below the MIN
line, add engine oil as necessary
and recheck the oil level. If the oil
level is above the letter ``M'' in
``MAX,'' engine damage and/or high
oil consumption may occur and
some oil must be removed from
the engine.
MAX MIN
Maintenance and care
141