1997 Mercury Mountaineer warning

Never let a passenger hold
a child on his or her lap
while the vehicle is moving. The
passenger cannot protect the
child from injury in a collision.
Always follow the instructions and
warnings that come with any infant
or child restraint you might use.
If possible, place children in the
rear seat of your vehicle. Accident
statistics suggest children are safer
when properly restrained in rear
seating positions than in the front
seating positions.
CHILDREN AND SAFETY BELTS
Children who are too large for
child safety seats (as specified by
the manufacturer of your child
safety seat) should always wear
their safety belts.
Follow all the important safety
restraint and air bag precautions
that apply to adult passengers in
your vehicle.
If the shoulder belt portion of a
combination lap and shoulder belt
can be positioned so it does not
cross or rest in front of the child's
face or neck, the child should wear
the lap and shoulder belt. Moving
the child closer to the center of
the vehicle may help to provide a
good shoulder belt fit.
If the shoulder belt cannot be
properly positioned:
²Move the child to a seat with a
lap belt only.
Seating and safety restraints
75

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

Pull release handle towards you to
release parking brake.
If the parking brake is fully
released, but the
warning light remains on,
have the brakes checked
immediately. They may not be
working properly.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
OPERATION (4R70W)
Hold the brake pedal down
while you move the
gearshift from position to
position. If you do not hold the
brake pedal down, your vehicle
may move unexpectedly and
injure someone.
Driving
98

Trailer lamps
Trailer lamps are required on most
towed vehicles. Make sure your
trailer lamps conform to Federal
and local regulations. See your
dealer or trailer rental agency for
the proper instructions and
equipment for hooking up trailer
lamps.
Do not hook the trailer
lamps directly into the
vehicle's lighting system wiring.
If the trailer lamps are not
installed properly, the warning
lights in the instrument cluster
may not work properly.
Driving while you tow
Do not drive faster than 88km/h
(55 mph) while towing a trailer. Do
not drive faster than 72 km/h (45
mph) while towing in hilly country
or on hot days.
Speed control may shut off if you
are towing on very long, steep
grades.
When towing a trailer:
²Use D (3rd gear) rather than
D(Overdrive) while towing up
or down steep hills. This will
eliminate excessive downshifting
and upshifting for optimum fuel
economy and transmission
cooling.
²Anticipate stops and brake
gradually.
Driving
114

Number Fuse Amperage
RatingCircuits Protected
7 7.5 amp Illumination switches
8 10 amp Right headlamp, fog
lamp system
9 10 amp Autolamps
10 7.5 amp Rear blower, speed
control, GEM system,
brake interlock,
overhead console
11 7.5 amp Warning lamps
12 10 amp Liftgate wiper/washer,
front washer
13 15 amp Brake on/off switch
14 10 amp Anti-lock system
15 7.5 amp Air bag system,
instrument cluster
16 30 amp Wiper run relay
17 15 amp Cigar lighter
18 15 amp A/C system
19 25 amp Ignition coil, PCM
system
20 7.5 amp Radio, power antenna,
GEM system,
anti-theft
21 15 amp Turn/hazard flasher
22 10 amp Turn signals
23 10 amp Rear wiper system
24 10 amp Anti-theft relay
25 7.5 amp Instrument cluster,
GEM system
Roadside emergencies
122

Air bag supplemental restraint
system ............71,74,75,76,77,82,87
and child safety
seats .......................74,76,77,82,87
description ................................73
indicator light ...........................74
Air cleaner filter
replacing ..................................156
All Wheel Drive .........................102
Anti-theft system ........................56
arming the system ....................56
disarming a triggered system ..57
disarming an untriggered
system .......................................57
Audio system (see Electronic
sound system) .............................16
Autolamp system (see
Headlamps) .................................33
Automatic transmission ..............98
fluid, adding ............................149
Battery .......................................153
battery saver .............................58
how to service ........................153
Brake fluid
checking and adding ..............142
Brakelamp
bulb replacement ....................174
Brakes ..........................................97
adjustment ................................96
anti-lock .....................................96
anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light .............................97
parking ......................................97
Break-in period .............................3
Bulbs, replacing
specifications ..........................179
Cargo area shade ...................46,47
Cargo cover ............................46,47
Childproof locks ..........................39
Chime ...........................................11
headlamps on ............................12
key-in-ignition ...........................11safety belt ............................11,69
Cleaning your vehicle
built-in child seat ...................184
engine compartment ..............183
exterior ....................................182
instrument panel ....................182
plastic parts ............................182
safety belts ..............................184
washing ....................................181
wheels ......................................182
wiper blades ............................183
Climate control
system ...........................17,18,19,21
air conditioning .........................21
heating .......................................21
Compass, electronic
calibration .................................30
set zone adjustment .................30
Compass/temperature display ...29
Console, description ...................42
Controls
instrument panel ......................13
steering column ........................22
Daytime running light system ...14
Defects, reporting .....................192
Defrost
rear window ..............................15
Driving under special
conditions
towing a trailer .......................114
Electronic sound system ............16
Emission control system ..........168
Engine .................................139,189
Engine block heater ...................93
Engine coolant
checking and adding ..............145
checking hoses .......................148
Engine coolant temperature
gauge ..............................................7
Engine oil
checking and adding .......140,142
Exhaust fumes ............................94
Index
193

Flat tire ......................................131
Fluid refill capacities ................185
Foglamps ..............................16,177
Fuel
calculating fuel economy .......167
choosing the right fuel ...........166
improving fuel economy ........116
safety information relating to
automotive fuels .....................164
Fuel gauge .....................................7
Fuel pump shut-off switch ..16,118
Fuse panels ...............................120
power distribution box ...........124
Fuses ..........................................119
charts .......................................120
checking and replacing ..........121
Gauges, Mechanical
battery voltage gauge .................7
engine coolant temperature
gauge ...........................................7
engine oil pressure gauge ..........7
fuel gauge ....................................7
odometer .....................................7
speedometer ...............................6
tachometer ..................................6
trip odometer ..............................7
Hazard flashers .............27,118,175
Headlamps ...................................13
autolamp system ..................13,33
daytime running lights .............14
warning chime ..........................12
Hitch ..........................................112
Hood ..........................................138
Ignition
positions of the ignition ...........22
Inspection/maintenance (I/M)
testing ........................................170
Instrument
cluster .........6,7,8,9,11,12,13,14,15,
16,17,18,19,21
Instrument panel ........................13
location of components ...........4,5Jump-starting your vehicle ......132
Keyless entry system .......49,50,52
autolock .....................................51
locking and unlocking doors ....50
programming entry code .........49
Lamps ........................................172
bulb replacement
specifications chart ................179
headlamps ........................173,180
high-mount brakelamp ...........174
illuminated entry system .........41
map lamps ...............................177
replacing bulbs .......................172
tail lamps .................................174
License plate lamps ..................176
Liftgate ........................................39
Lights, warning and indicator .8,11
air bag ..........................................8
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ..............9
anti-theft ...................................10
brake ............................................9
charging system ..........................8
check engine .............................10
check gauges ..............................8
door ajar ......................................8
fuel reset .....................................8
high beam ...................................9
overdrive off ..............................10
safety belt ...................................9
speed control ..............................9
turn signal indicator .................10
Load limits .................................107
Lubricant specifications ...........187
Luggage rack .............................116
Moon roof ....................................33
Motorcraft parts ........................185
Odometer .......................................7
Overdrive .....................................26
Overhead console ........28,29,30,33
compass/temperature display ..29
map lamps ..........................31,177
storage compartment ...............31
Index
194

Parts (see Motorcraft Parts) ...185
Power door locks ........................38
Power steering
fluid, checking and adding ....148
Rear climate control system ......45
Refill capacities for fluids ........185
Relays .................................127,128
Remote entry system
arming and disarming the
anti-theft system .................52,54
locking/unlocking doors ...........53
panic alarm ...............................53
replacement/additional
transmitters ...............................55
replacing the batteries .............54
Repairing paint chips ...............181
Reporting safety defects ..........192
Safety chains, when towing a
trailer .........................................113
Safety defects, reporting ..........192
Safety restraints ..........................63
adjusting the safety belts .........67
automatic locking mode
(retractor) .................................66
center rear lap belt ..................68
cleaning the safety belts ..........71
extension assembly ..................71
lap and shoulder belts .............64
maintenance ..............................69
proper use .................................64
replacement ..............................70
warning light and chime ..........69
Seats
adjusting the seat, manual .......59
adjusting the seats, power .......60
folding rear seats ......................62
head restraints ..........................62
Servicing your vehicle ..............136
precautions when
servicing ...........................136,138
servicing when you tow .........115
Shift-lock system ......................101Spare tire .....................................48
Speed control ..............................23
Speedometer .................................6
Starting your vehicle .............89,91
preparing to start your
vehicle ..................................89,91
starting a warm engine ............92
Steering wheel
tilting .........................................27
Tachometer ...................................6
Tail lamps
bulb replacement ....................174
Tilt steering wheel ......................27
Tire types ..................................163
Tires
changing ..................................128
checking the pressure ............160
replacing ...........................162,163
rotating .............................161,162
snow tires and chains ............163
treadwear ................................159
Towing your vehicle .................135
Trailer towing ..............110,113,114
calculating maximum trailer
weight ......................................111
tips ...........................................115
trailer brakes ...........................113
trailer lamps ............................114
Transfer case
fluid checking .........................152
Trip odometer ...............................7
Turn signal .........................174,176
Vehicle dimensions ...................190
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................191
Ventilating your vehicle (see
Climate control) ..........................21
Washer fluid ..............................144
rear window reservoir ............145
Windows
power windows,
operating .........................35,36,37
Index
195