1998 Mercury Mountaineer brake

TRAILER TOWING
Trailer towing with your vehicle
may require the use of a trailer
tow option package.
Trailer towing puts additional loads
on your vehicle's engine,
transmission, axle, brakes, tires,
and suspension. For your safety
and to maximize vehicle
performance, be sure to use the
proper equipment while towing.
Follow these guidelines to ensure
safe towing procedure:
²Stay within your vehicle's load
limits.
²Thoroughly prepare your vehicle
for towing. Refer toPreparing
to towin this chapter.
²Use extra caution when driving
while trailer towing. Refer to
Driving while you towin this
chapter.
²Service your vehicle more
frequently if you tow a trailer.
Refer to the severe duty
schedule in the ªService Guideº.
²Do not tow a trailer until your
vehicle has been driven at least
800 km (500 miles).
²Refer to the instructions
included with towing accessories
for the proper installation and
adjustment specifications.
Do not exceed the maximum loads
listed on the Safety Compliance
Certification label. For load
specification terms found on the
label, refer toVehicle loadingin
Driving
127

to 15% of the total weight of the
trailer is on the tongue.
Use a frame-mounted weight
distributing hitch for trailers
over 907 kg (2 000 lb).
Safety chains
Always connect the trailer's safety
chains to the vehicle. To connect
the trailer's safety chains, cross the
chains under the trailer tongue and
allow slack for turning corners.
If you use a rental trailer, follow
the instructions that the rental
agency gives to you.
Trailer brakes
Electric brakes and manual,
automatic or surge-type brakes are
safe if installed properly and
adjusted to the manufacturer's
specifications. The trailer brakes
must meet local and Federal
regulations.
Do not connect a trailer's
hydraulic brake system
directly to your vehicle's brake
system. Your vehicle may not
have enough braking power and
your chances of having a
collision greatly increase.
Trailer lamps
Trailer lamps are required on most
towed vehicles. Make sure your
trailer lamps conform to local and
Federal regulations. See your
dealer or trailer rental agency for
proper instructions and equipment
Driving
130

for hooking up trailer lamps.
Using a step bumper
The rear bumper is equipped with
an integral hitch and requires only
a ball with a 19 mm (3/4 inch)
shank diameter. The bumper has a
1 590 kg (3 500 lb.) trailer weight
and 159 kg (350 lb.) tongue weight
capability.
Use a frame-mounted weight
distributing hitch for trailers over
1 590 kg (3 500 lb).
Driving while you tow
Do not drive faster than 88 km/h
(55 mph) when towing a trailer.
Speed control may shut off if you
are towing on long, steep grades.
When towing a trailer:
²Use D (Drive) or a lower gear
when 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.
Servicing after towing
If you tow a trailer for long
distances, your vehicle will require
more frequent service intervals.
Refer to the Severe Duty Schedule
in your ªService Guideº for more
information.
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131

The fuses are coded as follows.
Fuse/Relay
LocationFuse Amp
RatingDescription
1 7.5A Power Mirror Switch
2 7.5A Blower Motor Relay, PAD Module,
Air Bag Diagnostic Monitor
3 7.5A Trailer Tow Connector
4 10A Left Headlamp
5 10A Data Link Connector (DLC)
6 7.5A Air Bag Diagnostic Monitor,
Blower Motor Relay, Passive
Deactivation (PAD) Module
7 7.5A Trailer Tow Connector
8 10A Right Headlamp, Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL) Module, Foglamp
Relay
9 7.5A Stop Lamp Switch
10 7.5A Speed Control/Amplifier Assembly,
Brake Pressure Switch, Generic
electronic Module (GEM), Shift
Lock Actuator, Blend Door
Actuator, Main Light Switch,
RABS Resistor, A/C - Heater
Assembly, Flasher
11 7.5A Instrument Cluster, Main Light
Switch, RABS Resistor
12 10A Power Window Relay, Washer
Pump Relay
13 20A Stop Lamp Switch, Brake
Pressure Switch
14 20A Rear Anti-Lock Brake System
(RABS) Module
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139

Fuse/Relay
LocationFuse Amp
RatingDescription
14 10A 4 Wheel Anti-Lock Brake System
(4WABS) Module, 4WABS Main
Relay
15 7.5A Instrument Cluster
16 30A Windshield Wiper Motor, Wiper
Hi-Lo Relay, Wiper Run/Park
Relay
17 7.5A Cigar Lighter
18 15A Drivers Unlock Relay, All unlock
Relay, All Lock Relay
19 25A PCM Power Diode
20 7.5A RAP Module, Generic Electronic
Module (GEM), Radio
21 15A Flasher (Hazard)
22 20A Auxiliary Power Socket
23 15A Turn Signals
24 - Not Used
25 7.5A Generic Electronic Module
(GEM), Instrument Cluster
26 10A Battery Saver Relay, Electronic
Shift Relay, Interior Lamp Relay,
Power Window Relay, Electronic
Shift Control Module,
Transmission Control
27 15A Switch, DRL, Backup Lamps
Switch, DTR Sensor, Instrument
Illumination Dimming Module,
Dome/Map Lamp, GEM, Electric
Shift, Interior Lights, Glove Box
Lamp and Switch
28 7.5A Generic Electronic Module
(GEM), Radio
29 15A Radio
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140

Always replace the cover
to the Power Distribution
Box before reconnecting the
battery or refilling fluid
reservoirs.
The high-current fuses are coded
as follows.
Fuse/Relay
LocationFuse Amp
RatingDescription
1 50A** I/P Fuse Panel
2 40A** Blower Motor Relay
3 50A** 4 Wheel Anti-Lock Brake System
(4WABS) Module
4 20A** Mainlight Switch, Instrument
Cluster
5 50A** Ignition Switch, Starter Relay
6 20A** Transfer Case Relay
5432110 9 8 7 612 11 10 9
876 5
432 1
14 15 13
BLOWER
MOTOR
RELAYSTARTER
RELAY
FOG LAMP
RELAY WASH PUMP
RELAYHORN RELAY FUEL PUMP
RELAY PCM
POWER
RELAY WIPER PARK
RELAY
WIPER HI/LO
RELAYA/C RELAY
321
Roadside emergencies
142

Fuse/Relay
LocationFuse Amp
RatingDescription
PCM Power
RelayÐ PCM Power Relay
Fuel Pump Relay Ð Fuel Pump Relay
Horn Relay Ð Horn Relay
Washer Pump
RelayÐ Washer Pump Relay
Fog Lamp Relay Ð Fog Lamp Relay
Starter Relay Ð Starter Relay
Blower Motor
RelayÐ Blower Motor Relay
1 Resistor Fuse [7ca]
2 Diode Anti-Lock Brakes Indicator
3 Diode Electronic Engine Controls
* Mini Fuses ** Maxi Fuses
15.0L Engines Only
CHANGING THE TIRES
If you get a flat tire while driving,
do not apply the brake heavily.
Instead, gradually decrease your
speed. Hold the steering wheel
firmly and slowly move to a safe
place on the side of the road.
Spare tire information
Your vehicle is equipped with a
spare tire that may be used as a
spare or a regular tire. The spare
tire is not equipped with wheel
trim. The wheel trim from the
original wheel/tire may be used on
the spare.
If your vehicle is equipped with
4WD or AWD, a spare tire of a
different size than the road
tires should not be used. Such
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2. Slide the wheel under the
vehicle and install the retainer
through the wheel center.
3. Turn the jack handle clockwise
until the tire is raised to its
original position underneath the
vehicle. The jack handle ratchets
when the tire is raised to the
stowed position. It will not allow
you to overtighten.
Tire change procedure
On vehicles equipped with
Air Suspension, turn OFF
the Air Suspension switch prior
to jacking, hoisting or towing
your vehicle.
Refer to the instruction sheet for
detailed tire change instructions.
1. Park on a level surface, activate
hazard flashers and set the parking
brake.
2. Place gearshift lever in P (Park).
When one of the rear wheels is off
the ground, the transmission alone
will not prevent the vehicle from
moving or slipping off the jack,
even if the transmission is in P
(Park).
3. Block the diagonally opposite
wheel.
4. Use the tip of the lug wrench to
remove any wheel trim.
Roadside emergencies
146