1998 LINCOLN MARK VIII Owners Manual

In the event of a multiple warning situation, the message center will
cycle the display to show all warnings by displaying each one for
4 seconds.
The message center will display the
last selected feature if there are no
more warning messages. This allows
you to use the full functionality of
the message center after you
acknowledge the warning by
pressing the RESET control and
clearing the warning message.
Warning messages that have been
reset are divided into two
categories:
²They will reappear on the display
ten minutes from the reset.
²They will not reappear until an ignition OFF-ON cycle has been
completed.
This acts as a reminder that these warning conditions still exist within
the vehicle. All warning messages will reappear after an entire SYSTEM
CHECK sequence has been completed.
RESET
N
S W
E DATE
TIMESYSTEM
CHECK
Instrumentation
26

Driver's door ajar Warning cannot be reset
Right door ajar
Check engine temp Warning returns after 10 minutes
Low oil level
Check charging system
Low fuel level
Low engine coolant
Engine temp data err
Check transmission
Transmission overheat
Check brake lamps Warning returns after the ignition
key is turned from OFF to ON or
system check sequence is
completed Check headlamps
Check taillamps
Check front turn lamps
Low washer fluid
Trunk ajar
Check traction control
Air ride switch off
Check air ride system
Oil change required
Change oil soon
Gear display data err
DRIVER'S DOOR AJAR. Displayed when the driver's door is not
completely closed and the ignition switch is either ON or in ACC mode.
RIGHT DOOR AJAR. Displayed when the passenger side door is not
completely closed and the ignition switch either ON or in ACC mode.
CHECK ENGINE TEMP. Displayed when the engine coolant is
overheating. Stop the vehicle as soon as safely possible, turn off the
engine and let it cool. Check the coolant and coolant level. Refer to
Engine coolantin theMaintenance and carechapter. If the warning
stays on or continues to come on, contact your dealer as soon as safely
possible.
Instrumentation
27

LOW OIL LEVEL. Displayed when the engine oil level is low. If this
warning message is displayed, check the level of the engine oil.
If you are parked on a steep incline, the LOW OIL LEVEL message may
come on when you start your vehicle, even though the oil is at the
correct level. The oil level is monitored while the engine is off so that the
oil can drain into the oil pan to be measured. Some aftermarket devices
such as remote starters, if improperly installed, can cause the engine to
start without alerting the oil monitoring system. This may also cause the
warning to appear when the vehicle is started, even though the oil level
is correct. Refer toEngine oilin theMaintenance and carechapter for
information about adding engine oil.
CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM. Displayed when the electrical system is
not maintaining proper voltage. If you are operating electrical accessories
when the engine is idling at a low speed, turn off as many of the
electrical loads as soon as possible. If the warning stays on or comes on
when the engine is operating at normal speeds, have the electrical
system checked as soon as safely possible.
LOW FUEL LEVEL. Displayed when you have approximately 80 km (50
miles) or less left before you run out of fuel.
LOW ENGINE COOLANT. Displayed when the engine coolant level is
low. Stop the vehicle as soon as safely possible, turn off the engine and
let it cool. Check the coolant and level. Refer toEngine coolantin the
Maintenance and carechapter.
ENGINE TEMP DATA ERR. Displayed when the engine coolant
temperature information is missing or invalid. Check the instrument
cluster temperature gauge. If the gauge indicates overheating, stop the
vehicle as soon as safely possible, turn off the engine and let it cool.
Check the coolant and level. Refer toEngine coolantin the
Maintenance and carechapter. Contact your dealer for service as soon
as safely possible to correct the engine temperature data error.
CHECK TRANSMISSION. Indicates the transmission is not operating
properly. If this warning stays on, contact your dealer as soon as safely
possible.
Instrumentation
28

TRANSMISSION OVERHEAT. Indicates the transmission is
overheating. This warning may appear when towing heavy loads or when
driving in a low gear at a high speed for an extended period of time.
Stop the vehicle as soon as safely possible, turn off the engine and let it
cool. Check the transmission fluid and level. Refer toTransmission
fluidin theMaintenance and carechapter. If the warning stays on or
continues to come on, contact your dealer for transmission service as
soon as safely possible.
CHECK BRAKE LAMPS. Displayed when the brake lamps are
activated and at least one is burned out. Check the lamps as soon as
safely possible and have the burned out lamp replaced. The center
high-mount brakelamp is not monitored.
CHECK HEADLAMPS. Displayed when the headlamps are activated
and at least one is burned out. Check the lamps as soon as safely
possible and have the burned out lamp replaced. Refer toReplacing
headlamp bulbsin theMaintenance and carechapter. The high beam
lamps are not monitored.
CHECK TAIL LAMPS. Displayed when the tail lamps are activated and
at least one is burned out. Check the lamps as soon as safely possible
and have the burned out lamp replaced.
CHECK FRT TURN LAMPS. Displayed when the turn signals are
activated and at least one is burned out. Check the lamps as soon as
safely possible and have the burned out lamp replaced.
LOW WASHER FLUID. Indicates there is less than one quarter of
washer fluid left in the reservoir. Check the washer fluid level. Refer to
Windshield washer fluidin theMaintenance and carechapter.
TRUNK AJAR. Displayed when the trunk is not completely closed and
the ignition switch is in ON or ACC.
CHECK TRACTION CONTROL. Displayed when the Traction
Controlysystem is not operating properly. If this message is displayed
on the message centerandthe green T/C OFF light isnotilluminated,
the Traction Controlysystem will be partially operable. If this warning
stays on, contact your dealer for service as soon as possible. For further
information, refer toTraction controlyin theDrivingchapter.
AIR RIDE SWITCH OFF. Displayed when the air suspension switch is
in the OFF position.
Instrumentation
29

CHECK AIR RIDE SYSTEM. Displayed when the air suspension
system is not operating properly. If this message is displayed while
driving, pull off the road as soon as safely possible. The message may
also be displayed if the vehicle is loaded beyond the recommended
maximum payload. This is a normal condition if the vehicle is overloaded.
To correct this condition:
1. Remove or redistribute the payload per the recommended maximum
requirements.
2. Turn the ignition switch from ON to OFF to ON again.
If the message reappears:
1. Turn the air suspension switch (located in the trunk) OFF.
2. Contact your dealer for service as soon as safely possible.
For more information, refer toAir suspensionin theDrivingchapter.
CHANGE OIL SOON/OIL CHANGE REQUIRED. Displayed when the
engine oil life remaining is 5 percent or less. When oil life left is between
5% and 0%, the CHANGE OIL SOON message will be displayed. When oil
life left reaches 0%, the OIL CHANGE REQUIRED message will be
displayed.
An oil change is required whenever indicated by the message center.
USE ONLY RECOMMENDED ENGINE OILS.
To reset the oil monitoring system to 100% (or your personalized oil
reset percentage) after each oil change:
1. Press the VEHICLE SETTINGS
control until the OIL CHANGE
RESET display appears.
VEHICLE
SETTINGDRIVER
SETTINGTRIP
ODO RANGE
FUELECONOMY
Instrumentation
30

2. Press the RESET switch and hold
it down for five seconds while the
display counts down to trigger an oil
change reset.
3. After a successful reset, the
message center will display OIL
LIFE RESET TO 100% (if you have
established a personalized oil reset
percentage, the display will instead
show that percentage).
To ensure accurate oil life
indicators, perform this reset
procedure only after an oil change.
GEAR DISPLAY DATA ERR. Displayed when the data used to provide
the redundant gear selection display on the instrument cluster is missing
or invalid. In this case, the instrument cluster redundant gear selection
display is turned off. The driver should use the mechanical position
indication on the center console gear selector as temporary indication. If
this warning stays on, contact your dealer as soon as safely possible.
Function/status error messages
A function/status error message may be displayed by the message center
instead of a warning or requested function if the information is not
currently available because of:
²improper operation of sensor systems
²the vehicle network communication between electronic modules
Error messages have two formats:
²DATA ERROR or DATA ERR. These messages indicate improper
operation of the vehicle network communication between electronics
modules. Contact your dealer as soon as safely possible if these
messages occur on a regular basis.
²SENSOR OPEN or SENSOR SHORT. These messages indicate
improper operation of vehicle sensor systems or vehicle
wiring/connectors between the sensors and the message center.
Contact your dealer as soon as safely possible if these messages occur
on a regular basis.
RESET
N
S W
E DATE
TIMESYSTEM
CHECK
Instrumentation
31

HEADLAMP CONTROL
Rotate the headlamp control
clockwise to the first position to
turn on the parking lamps only.
Rotate to the second position to also
turn on the headlamps.
Daytime running lamps (DRL) (if equipped)
Turns the highbeam headlamps on with a reduced output. To activate:
²the engine must be running
²the headlamp control is in the OFF or Parking lamps position.
The Daytime Running Light (DRL) system will not illuminate the
tail lamps and parking lamps. Turn on your headlamps at dusk.
Failure to do so may result in a collision.
High beams
Pull back until lever latches to
activate.
OFFAUTO LAMP
DELAY
P
INT
TIME HI
LO
INT
OFF
MIST
Controls and features
32

Flash to pass
Pull toward you to activate and
release to deactivate.
PANEL DIMMER CONTROL
Use to adjust the brightness of the
instrument panel.
²Rotate up to brighten.
²Rotate down to dim.
²Rotate fully up to turn on interior
lights.
AUTOLAMP CONTROL
The autolamp system provides light
sensitive automatic on-off control of
the exterior lights normally
controlled by the headlamp control.
The autolamp system also keeps the
lights on for a preselected period of
time after the ignition switch is
turned to OFF.
²To turn autolamps on, rotate the
control counterclockwise. The
INT
TIME HI
LO
INT
OFF
MIST
OFFAUTO LAMP
DELAY
P
Controls and features
33