1998 Mercury Mountaineer belt

have your vehicle serviced at the
first available opportunity.
Under engine misfire
conditions, excessive
exhaust temperatures could
damage the catalytic converter,
the fuel system, interior floor
coverings or other vehicle
components, possibly causing a
fire.
Fuel reset
Illuminates when the ignition key
is turned to the ON position and
the fuel pump shut-off switch has
been triggered. For more
information, refer toFuel pump
shut-off switchin theRoadside
emergencieschapter.
Air bag readiness
Momentarily illuminates when the
ignition is turned ON. If the light
fails to illuminate, continues to
flash or remains on, have the
system serviced immediately.
Safety belt
Momentarily illuminates when the
ignition is turned ON to remind
you to fasten your safety belts. For
more information, refer to the
Seating and safety restraints
chapter.
FUEL
RESET
Instrumentation
8

O/D off (if equipped)
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.
Speed control
This light comes on when either
the SET/ACCEL or RESUME
controls are pressed. It turns off
when the speed control OFF
control is pressed, the brake is
applied or the ignition is turned to
the OFF position.
Safety belt warning chime
Chimes to remind you to fasten
your safety belts.
For information on the safety belt
warning chime, refer to the
Seating and safety restraints
chapter.
Supplemental restraint system
(SRS) warning chime
For information on the SRS
warning chime, refer to the
Seating and safety restraints
chapter.
O/D
OFF
SPEED
CONT
Instrumentation
11

SEATING
Head restraints
Push or pull the head rests to the
desired position.
Front seats
Never adjust the driver's
seat or seatback when the
vehicle is moving.
Do not pile cargo higher
than the seatbacks to
avoid injuring people in a
collision or sudden stop.
Always drive and ride with
your seatback upright and
the lap belt snug and low across
the hips.
Seating and safety restraints
62

Lift handle to move seat forward
or backward.
Pull lever up to adjust seatback.
Adjusting the front power seat
(if equipped)
Never adjust the driver's
seat or seatback when the
vehicle is moving.
Do not pile cargo higher
than the seatbacks to
avoid injuring people in a
collision or sudden stop.
Always drive and ride with
your seatback upright and
the lap belt snug and low across
the hips.
Seating and safety restraints
63

To return the seat to the upright
position:
²Press downward on the upper
corner of the seatback and hold.
²Pull the release handle upward
to unlatch the seat.
²Rotate the seatback upward
until the seatback latches in the
upright position. The seatback
will click when it is locked into
position.
SAFETY RESTRAINTS
Safety restraints precautions
Always drive and ride with
your seatback upright and
the lap belt snug and low across
the hips.
To prevent the risk of
injury, make sure children
sit where they can be properly
restrained.
PUSH
PUSH
Seating and safety restraints
66

Never let a passenger hold
a child on his or her lap
while the vehicle is moving. The
passenger cannot protect the
child from injury in a collision.
All occupants of the
vehicle, including the
driver, should always wear their
safety belts.
It is extremely dangerous
to ride in a cargo area,
inside or outside of a vehicle. In
a collision, people riding in these
areas are more likely to be
seriously injured or killed. Do not
allow people to ride in any area
of your vehicle that is not
equipped with seats and safety
belts. Be sure everyone in your
vehicle is in a seat and using a
safety belt properly.
Each seating position in
your vehicle has a specific
safety belt assembly which is
made up of one buckle and one
tongue that are designed to be
used as a pair. 1) Use the
shoulder belt on the outside
shoulder only. Never wear the
shoulder belt under the arm. 2)
Never swing it around your neck
over the inside shoulder. 3)
Never use a single belt for more
than one person.
Seating and safety restraints
67

Combination lap and shoulder
belts
1. To fasten, insert the tongue into
the slot in the buckle.
2. To unfasten, push the red
release button and remove the
tongue from the buckle.
The front and rear outboard safety
restraints in the vehicle are
combination lap and shoulder
belts. The front and rear seat
passenger outboard safety belts
have two types of locking modes
described below:
Vehicle sensitive mode
The vehicle sensitive mode is the
normal retractor mode, allowing
free shoulder belt length
adjustment to your movements and
locking in response to vehicle
movement. For example, if the
driver brakes suddenly or turns a
corner sharply, or the vehicle
Seating and safety restraints
68

receives an impact of 8 km/h
(5 mph) or more, the combination
safety belts will lock to help
reduce forward movement of the
driver and passengers.
Automatic locking mode
In this mode, the shoulder belt is
automatically pre-locked. The belt
will still retract to remove any
slack in the shoulder belt.
The automatic locking mode is not
available on the driver safety belt.
When to use the automatic
locking mode
²When a tight lap/shoulder fit is
desired.
²Anytimea child safety seat is
installed in the vehicle. Refer to
Safety Restraints for Children
orSafety Seats for Children
later in this chapter.
How to use the automatic
locking mode
²Buckle the combination lap and
shoulder belt.
Seating and safety restraints
69