1998 Mercury Grand Marquis maintenance

Before driving
Introduction 2
Instrumentation 3
Controls and features 23
Seating and safety restraints 57
Starting and driving
Starting 77
Driving 82
Roadside emergencies 94
Servicing
Maintenance and care 107
Capacities and specifications 142
Reporting safety defects 148
Index 149
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Copyright
r1997 Ford Motor Company
Contents
1

Turn signal
Illuminates when the left or right
turn signal or the hazard lights are
turned on. If one or both of the
indicators stay on continuously or
flash faster, check for a burned-out
turn signal bulb. Refer toExterior bulbsin theMaintenance and care
chapter.
High beams
Illuminates when the high beam
headlamps are turned on.
Charging system
Illuminates when the ignition is
turned to the ON position and the
engine is off. The light also
illuminates when the battery is not
charging properly, requiring
electrical system service.
Engine oil pressure (if equipped)
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 toEngine oilin theMaintenance and Care
chapter.
This lamp also illuminates when the ignition is turned to ON and the
engine is off.
Instrumentation
9

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 theMaintenance 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.
Air suspension (if equipped)
This light tells you if the air
suspension needs repair or if the air
suspension switch is OFF. For
information on the air suspension
system, refer to theDriving
chapter.
O/D off
Illuminates when the transmission
control switch has been pushed.
When the light is on, the
transmission does not shift into
overdrive. If the light does not come
on when the transmission control switch is depressed or if the light
flashes when you are driving, have your vehicle serviced.
AIR
SUSP
O/D
OFF
Instrumentation
10

Trip odometer
Registers the kilometers (miles) of
individual journeys. To reset,
depress the control.
Refer to electronic message center for Trip A and Trip B features on the
optional instrument cluster.
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 enters the red section, the engine is
overheating. Stop the vehicle as soon as safely possible, switch off the
ignition and let it cool. Refer toEngine coolantin theMaintenance
and carechapter.
Never remove the coolant recovery cap while the engine is
running or hot.
²Standard instrument cluster
0000
2030405060 70
80
90
100
110
120
10
20 406080100120
140
160
180MPHkm/h
000000
TEMPH
C
Instrumentation
15

²Optional instrument cluster
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.
Battery voltage gauge (if equipped)
This gauge shows the battery
voltage when the ignition is in the
ON position. If the pointer moves
and stays outside the normal
operating range (as indicated), have
the vehicle's electrical system
checked as soon as possible.
Engine oil pressure gauge (if equipped)
This shows the engine oil pressure
in the system. Sufficient pressure
exists as long as the needle remains
in the normal range (the area
between the ªHº and ªLº).
If the gauge indicates low pressure,
stop the vehicle as soon as safely
possible and switch off the engine
immediately. Check the oil level.
Add oil if needed (refer to
Checking and adding engine oilin theMaintenance and care
N
O
R
M
H
C
VOLTSH
L
OILH
L
Instrumentation
16

Conditions of operation
If... Then...
The driver's safety belt is not
buckled before the ignition
switch is turned to the ON
position...The safety belt warning light
illuminates for one to two minutes and
the warning chime sounds for four to
eight seconds.
The driver's safety belt is
buckled while the indicator
light is illuminated and the
warning chime is sounding...The safety belt warning light and
warning chime turn off.
The driver's safety belt is
buckled before the ignition
switch is turned to the ON
position...The safety belt warning light and
indicator chime remain off.
Safety belt maintenance
Check the safety belt systems periodically to make sure they work
properly and are not damaged. Check the safety belts to make sure there
are no nicks, wears or cuts. All safety belt assemblies, including
retractors, buckles, front seat belt buckle assemblies (slide bar)(if
equipped), shoulder belt height adjusters (if equipped), child safety seat
tether bracket assemblies (if equipped), and attaching hardware, should
be inspected after a collision. Ford recommends that all safety belt
assemblies used in vehicles involved in a collision be replaced. However,
if the collision was minor and a qualified technician finds that the belts
do not show damage and continue to operate properly, they do not need
to be replaced. Safety belt assemblies not in use during a collision should
also be inspected and replaced if either damage or improper operation is
noted.
Failure to replace the safety belt assembly under the above
conditions could result in severe personal injuries in the event of
a collision.
Refer toCleaning and maintaining the safety beltsin the
Maintenance and caresection.
Seating and safety restraints
66

injuries or internal injuries, particularly to occupants who are not
properly restrained or are otherwise out of position at the time of air bag
deployment. Thus, it is extremely important that occupants be properly
restrained as far away from the air bag module as possible while
maintaining vehicle control.
Several air bag system components get hot after inflation. Do not
touch them after inflation.
If the air bag is inflated,the air bag will not function again
and must be replaced immediately. If the air bag is not
replaced, the unrepaired area will increase the risk of injury in a
collision.
The SRS consists of:
²driver and passenger air bag modules (which include the inflators and
air bags),
²one or more impact and safing sensors,
²a readiness light and tone
²and the electrical wiring which connects the components.
The diagnostic module monitors its own internal circuits and the
supplemental air bag electrical system warning (including the impact
sensors), the system wiring, the air bag system readiness light, the air
bag back up power and the air bag ignitors.
Determining if the system is operational
The SRS uses a readiness light in the instrument cluster or a tone to
indicate the condition of the system. Refer to theAir bag readiness
section in theInstrumentationchapter. Routine maintenance of the air
bag is not required.
A difficulty with the system is indicated by one or more of the following:
²The readiness light will either
flash or stay lit.
²The readiness light will not
illuminate immediately after
ignition is turned on.
AIR
BAG
Seating and safety restraints
70

BRAKES
Your brakes are self-adjusting. Refer to the ªService Guideº for scheduled
maintenance.
Occasional brake noise is normal and often does not indicate a
performance concern with the vehicle's brake system. In normal
operation, automotive brake systems may emit occasional or intermittent
squeal or groan noises when the brakes are applied. Such noises are
usually heard during the first few brake applications in the morning;
however, they may be heard at any time while braking and can be
aggravated by environmental conditions such as cold, heat, moisture,
road dust, salt or mud. If a ªmetal-to-metal,º ªcontinuous grindingº or
ªcontinuous squealº sound is present while braking, the brake linings
may be worn-out and should be inspected by a qualified service
technician.
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) (if equipped)
On vehicles equipped with an anti-lock braking system (ABS), a noise
from the hydraulic pump motor and pulsation in the pedal may be
observed during ABS braking events. Pedal pulsation coupled with noise
while braking under panic conditions or on loose gravel, bumps, wet or
snowy roads is normal and indicates proper functioning of the vehicle's
anti-lock brake system. If the vehicle has continuous vibration or shudder
in the steering wheel while braking, the vehicle should be inspected by a
qualified service technician.
The ABS operates by detecting the
onset of wheel lockup during brake
applications and compensating for
this tendency. The wheels are
prevented from locking even when
the brakes are firmly applied. The
accompanying illustration depicts
the advantage of an ABS equipped
vehicle (on bottom) to a non-ABS
equipped vehicle (on top) during
hard braking with loss of front braking traction.
Driving
82