1997 Mercury Mountaineer steering

L
0P RND21
UNLEADED
FUEL ONLY
RPM x 1000
12345
6
H
C
F
E
RSM
SET
ACCEL
COAST OFFOFF
SRS
- +
H
H
L L
ON
020
1030405060
70
80
90
110
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km/h MPH
100

20406080100
120
140
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180
O/D
ON/OFF
Engine coolant
temperature
gauge (pg. 7 )
Tachometer
(pg. 6) Warning lights
(pg. 8)Speed
control
(pg. 23)
Speedometer
(pg. 6)
Engine oil
pressure
gauge
(pg. 7)Gearshift
(includes
overdrive
button)
(pg. 26)
Charging
system gauge
(pg. 7) Driver air bag
(pg. 78)
Turn signal and
wiper/washer
control (pg. 24)
Tilt steering
wheel lever
(pg. 27) Instrument
panel dimmer
switch (pg. 14) Headlamp
control
(pg. 13)Hazard
flasher
control
(not
shown)
(pg. 27) Fuel gauge
(pg. 7)
Instrumentation
4

STEERING COLUMN
CONTROLS
Positions of the ignition
ACCESSORYallows electrical
accessories such as radio and
wipers/washer to operate while the
engine is not running.
LOCKlocks the steering wheel
and gearshift lever.
OFFshuts off the ignition and
accessories and allows the
gearshift lever and steering wheel
to move.
ONtests the warning lights. The
key remains here when engine is
running.
STARTcranks the engine. The key
returns toONwhen released.
00P RND21
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FUEL ONLY
RPM x 100012345
6H
C
F
E
RSM
SET
ACC
COAST OFF ON
SRS
- +
H
H
L L020
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km/h100
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ON
START
LOCK
ACCESSORYOFF
Controls and features
22

Hazard flasher
Push the hazard flasher button.
The button will pop out and the
lamps will begin to flash.
To stop the flashers, push the
flasher button again.
Tilt steering
Never adjust the steering
column while the vehicle is
moving.
Pull the tilt steering lever towards
you and move the wheel to the
desired position.
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
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
Controls and features
27

passenger in the event of a
collision.
All occupants of the
vehicle, including the
driver, should always wear their
safety belts, even when an air
bag supplemental restraint
system is provided.
Do not place objects or
mount equipment on or
near the air bag cover on the
steering wheel or in front seat
areas that may come into contact
with a deploying air bag. Failure
to follow this instruction may
increase the risk of personal
injury in the event of a collision.
Do not attempt to service,
repair, or modify the air
bag supplemental restraint
system or its fuses. See your
Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer.
Rear-facing child seats or
infant carriers should
never be placed in the front seat.
Air bags and air bag equipped
vehicles should be disposed of only
by your dealer.
Seating and safety restraints
72

AIR BAG DESCRIPTION
The air bag system activates in
collisions more severe than hitting
a parked vehicle of similar size and
weight head-on at about 45km/h
(28 mph).
The air bag system consists of two
parts:
²The driver air bag in the middle
of the steering wheel and the
passenger air bag near the glove
compartment.
²The electrical system, made up
of impact sensors, a diagnostic
module, and a backup power
supply.
The diagnostic module monitors its
own internal circuits and the
supplemental air bag electrical
system readiness (including the
impact sensors), the system wiring,
the air bag system readiness light,
the air bag back up power, and the
air bag ignitors.
The air bags inflate within a
fraction of a second after air bag
sensors detect a severe frontal
collision. Gas generators within the
air bags fill the air bags with a
non-toxic, non-flammable gas.
After the vehicle occupants have
contacted the air bags, the gas
empties through holes in the air
EOFF0020406080100
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6H
CEF
RSM
SET
ACC
COAST OFF ONOFFSRSHI LOOFF*A/C*MAX
A/CREW
1FF
2SIDE 1-2
3FM 1STVOL – PUSH ON
AM
FMBASS TREBBAL FADE
AUTO
SET CLKSEEKTUNE
DISCSSCAN4DOLBY SYSTEMEJTAPE CDCOMP
5SHUFFLE
6PUSH
Seating and safety restraints
73

features to make them capable of
performing in a wide variety of
off-road applications. Specific
design characteristics give them
higher centers of gravity than
ordinary passenger cars.
Utility and four-wheel
drive vehicles are NOT
designed for cornering at speeds
as high as passenger cars any
more than low-slung sports cars
are designed to perform
satisfactorily under off-road
conditions. Avoid sharp turns or
abrupt maneuvers in these
vehicles.
DRIVING OFF ROAD WITH ALL-
WHEEL DRIVE (AWD)
Your vehicle is specially equipped
for driving on sand, snow, mud,
and rough terrain and has
operating characteristics that are
somewhat different from
conventional vehicles, both on and
off road. The following information
will help you learn to properly use
AWD.
When using AWD, maintain
steering wheel control at all times,
especially in rough terrain. Since
sudden changes in terrain can
result in abrupt steering wheel
motion, make sure you grip the
steering wheel from the outside.
Do not grip the spokes.
Drive cautiously to avoid vehicle
damage from concealed objects
such as rocks and stumps. You
Driving
103

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

Working with the engine on
1. Set the parking brake and make
sure that the gearshift is securely
latched in P (Park).
2. Do not work on a vehicle in an
enclosed space with the engine
running.
3. Block the wheels to prevent the
vehicle from moving unexpectedly.
4. If work must be done with the
engine running, avoid wearing
loose clothing or jewelry that could
get caught in moving parts. Take
appropriate precautions with long
hair.
Opening the hood
1. Inside the vehicle, pull the hood
release handle located under the
steering column.
2. While applying downward
pressure on the hood, push the
hood latch handle located behind
the grille near the center front of
the vehicle to the left.
3. Lift the hood.
After closing the hood, try to lift it
to be sure that it is closed
securely.
Lubricate the hood latch every six
months to ensure proper
operation.
0020406080100
120
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200P RND21
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MPH km/h
UNLEADED
FUEL ONLY
RPM x 100012345
6H
C
F
E
RSM
SET
ACC
COAST OFF ON
SRS
- +H
H
L L
Maintenance and care
138