1998 LINCOLN TOWN CAR coolant

Engine oil pressure
Illuminates when the oil pressure
falls below the normal range. Stop
the vehicle as soon as safely
possible and switch off the engine
immediately. Check the oil level
and add oil if needed. Refer to
Engine oilin theMaintenance
and Carechapter.
This lamp also illuminates when
the ignition is turned to ON and
the engine is off.
Engine coolant temperature
Illuminates when the engine
coolant temperature is high. Stop
the vehicle as soon as safely
possible, switch off the engine and
let it cool.
Never remove the coolant
recovery cap while the
engine is running or hot.
Refer toEngine coolantin the
Maintenance and carechapter. If
light stays on or continues to turn
on after the vehicle warms up,
have your vehicle serviced.
This light also illuminates briefly
when the ignition key is turned to
ON.
Check Trac (if equipped)
Momentarily illuminates when the
ignition is turned on and the
engine is off. If the light stays on,
the Traction Controlysystem
needs to be serviced.
CHECK
TRAC
Instrumentation
10

Speedometer
Indicates the current vehicle
speed.
Engine coolant temperature
gauge
Indicates the temperature of the
engine coolant. At normal
operating temperature, the needle
remains within the normal area
(the area between the ªHº and
ªCº). If it travels past the ªH,º the
engine is overheating. Stop the
vehicle as soon as safely possible,
switch off the ignition and let the
engine cool. Refer toEngine
coolantin theMaintenance and
carechapter.
Never remove the coolant
recovery cap while the
engine is running or hot.
This gauge indicates the
temperature of the engine coolant,
not the coolant level. If the coolant
is not at its proper level or
mixture, the gauge indication will
not be accurate.
10
2030405060
70
80
90
100
120206080
40100
120
160 140
180
MPHkm/h
110
H
Instrumentation
15

Make sure the corresponding lights
illuminate briefly. If a light fails to
illuminate, have the vehicle
serviced.
²If the driver's safety belt is
fastened, the light (
) will not
illuminate.
STARTING THE ENGINE
1. Turn the key to 5 (START)
without pressing the accelerator
pedal and release as soon as the
engine starts. The key will return
to 4 (ON).
2. If the engine does not start
within five seconds, wait ten
seconds and try again.
3. If the engine does not start in
two attempts or if the temperature
is below -12ÉC (10ÉF), depress the
accelerator and start the engine
while holding the accelerator
down. Release the accelerator
when the engine starts.
4. After idling for a few seconds,
apply the brake and release the
parking brake.
Using the engine block heater
(if equipped)
An engine block heater warms the
engine coolant, which improves
starting, warms up the engine
faster and allows the
3
2
1
5
4
Starting
93

portion of the system will shut
down to prevent the rear brakes
from overheating. A limited
Traction Controlyfunction using
only engine torque reduction will
still control wheels from
over-spinning. When the rear
brakes have cooled down, the
system will again function
normally. Anti-lock braking is not
affected by this condition and will
function normally during the cool
down period.
If the engine coolant temperature
is below þ23ÉC (þ10ÉF) the engine
torque reduction portion of the
Traction Controlysystem isNOT
active. The system will operate
normally when the engine coolant
warms up.
Traction control switch
The traction control switch is
located on the left side of the
glove compartment. The traction
control system defaults to ON
when the ignition key is turned
from OFF to RUN.
The traction control must be
turned off if you are using a
mini-spare tire in a rear wheel
position.
STEERING
Your vehicle is equipped with
power steering. Power steering
uses energy from the engine to
help steer the vehicle.
Never hold the steering wheel to
the extreme right or the extreme
Driving
101

IDENTIFYING COMPONENTS IN
THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT
4.6L 2V engine
1. Transmission fluid dipstick
2. Brake fluid reservoir
3. Engine oil fill cap
4. Engine oil dipstick
5. Power steering fluid reservoir
6. Windshield washer fluid
reservoir
7. Air filter assembly
8. Battery
9. Engine coolant reservoir
61234
9578
Maintenance and care
134

Brake fluid is toxic.
If you use a brake fluid
that is not DOT 3, you will
cause permanent damage to your
brakes.
Do not let the reservoir for
the master cylinder run
dry. This may cause the brakes
to fail.
CHECKING AND ADDING
WASHER FLUID
Check the washer fluid whenever
you stop for fuel.
If the level is low, add enough fluid
to fill the reservoir. In very cold
weather, do not fill the reservoir all
the way.
Do not put engine coolant
in the container for the
windshield washer fluid.
Maintenance and care
139

ENGINE COOLANT
Check the level of the coolant in
the reservoir at least once a
month. Be sure to read and
understandPrecautions when
servicing your vehiclein this
chapter.
If the engine coolant has not been
checked for a long period of time,
the engine coolant reservoir may
eventually empty. If this occurs,
add engine coolant to the coolant
reservoir. For more information on
engine coolant maintenance, refer
toAdding engine coolantin this
chapter.
Automotive fluids are not
interchangeable; do not use engine
coolant, antifreeze or windshield
washer fluid outside of its specified
function and vehicle location.
Adding engine coolant
Do not put engine coolant
in the container for the
windshield washer fluid.
If sprayed on the windshield,
engine coolant could make it
difficult to see through the
windshield.
When the engine is cool, add a
50/50 mixture of engine coolant
and water to the engine coolant
Maintenance and care
140

recovery reservoir-DO NOT ADD
DIRECTLY TO THE RADIATOR.
Add straight water only in an
emergency, but you should replace
it with a 50/50 mixture of coolant
and distilled water as soon as
possible.
Check the coolant level in the
coolant recovery reservoir the next
few times you drive the vehicle. If
necessary, add enough of a 50/50
mixture of coolant and water to
bring the liquid level to the fill line
on the reservoir.
Never remove the coolant
recovery cap while the
engine is running or hot.
If you must remove the coolant
recovery cap, follow these steps to
avoid personal injury:
1. Before you remove the cap, turn
the engine off and let it cool.
2. When the engine is cool, wrap a
thick cloth around the cap. Slowly
turn cap counterclockwise until
pressure begins to release.
3. Step back while the pressure
releases.
4. When you are sure that all the
pressure has been released, use
the cloth to turn it
counterclockwise and remove the
cap.
Use Ford Premium Cooling System
Fluid E2FZ-19549±AA (in Canada,
Motorcraft CXC-8±B) or an
equivalent premium engine coolant
Maintenance and care
141