1998 Mercury Sable Owner's Manuals

²To turn autolamps off, rotate the control down
until it clicks.
REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER
Clears the rear window of thin ice and fog. To
operate:
1. Turn the ignition to the ON position.
2. Press and release
the control once to
turn on. The light will
be lit while the rear
window defroster is on.
3. Press and release the control again to turn off.
The defroster will automatically turn off after fifteen
minutes.
CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM
Manual heating and air conditioning system
(if equipped)
Fan speed control
Controls the volume of air circulated in the vehicle.
R-DEF
R-DEFLO
HIOFF
A/C
MAX
A/CVENT
LO
HI
Controls and features
17

Temperature control knob
Controls the temperature of the airflow inside the
vehicle.
Mode selector control
Controls the direction
of the airflow to the
inside of the vehicle.
The air conditioning
compressor will operate in all modes except VENT
and
. However, the air conditioning will only
function if the outside temperature is about 10ÉC
(50ÉF) or above.
Since the air conditioner removes considerable
moisture from the air during operation, it is normal
if clear water drips on the ground under the air
conditioner drain while the system is working and
even after you have stopped the vehicle.
Under normal conditions, your vehicle's climate
control system should be left in any position other
than MAX A/C or OFF when the vehicle is parked.
This allows the vehicle to ªbreatheº through the
outside air inlet duct.
²MAX A/C-Uses recirculated air to cool the vehicle.
MAX A/C is noisier than A/C but more economical
and will cool the inside of the vehicle faster.
Airflow will be from the instrument panel
registers. This mode can also be used to prevent
undesirable odors from entering the vehicle.
²A/C-Uses outside air to cool the vehicle. It is
quieter than MAX A/C but not as economical.
Airflow will be from the instrument panel
registers.
²VENT-Distributes outside air through the
instrument panel registers. However, the air will
OFF
A/C
MAX
A/CVENT
Controls and features
18

not be cooled below the outside temperature
because the air conditioning does not operate in
this mode.
²OFF-Outside air is shut out and the fan will not
operate. For short periods of time only, use this
mode to prevent undesirable odors from entering
the vehicle.
²
(Panel and floor)-Distributes outside air
through the instrument panel registers and the
floor ducts. Heating and air conditioning
capabilities are provided in this mode. For added
customer comfort, when the temperature control
knob is anywhere in between the full hot and full
cold positions, the air distributed through the
floor ducts will be slightly warmer than the air
sent to the instrument panel registers.
²
(Floor)-Allows for maximum heating by
distributing outside air through the floor ducts.
However, the air will not be cooled below the
outside temperature because the air conditioning
does not operate in this mode.
²
(Floor and defrost)-Distributes outside air
through the windshield defroster ducts and the
floor ducts. Heating and air conditioning
capabilities are provided in this mode. For added
customer comfort, when the temperature control
knob is anywhere in between the full hot and full
cold positions, the air distributed through the
floor ducts will be slightly warmer than the air
sent to the instrument panel registers. If the
temperature is about 10ÉC (50ÉF) or higher, the
air conditioner will automatically dehumidify the
air to prevent fogging.
²
-Distributes outside air through the
windshield defroster ducts. It can be used to clear
ice or fog from the windshield. If the temperature
is about 10ÉC (50ÉF) or higher, the air conditioner
will automatically dehumidify the air to prevent
fogging.
Controls and features
19

Operating tips
²In humid weather, selectbefore driving. This
will prevent your windshield from fogging. After a
few minutes, select any desired position.
²To prevent humidity buildup inside the vehicle,
don't drive with the climate control system in the
OFF position.
²Don't put objects under the front seat that will
interfere with the airflow to the back seats.
²Remove any snow,
ice or leaves from
the air intake area
(at the bottom of
the windshield under
the hood).
²If the air conditioner works well in MAX A/C, but
not in A/C, this may indicate that the cabin air
filter (if equipped) needs to be replaced.
²If your vehicle has been parked with the windows
closed during hot weather, the air conditioner will
do a much faster job of cooling if you drive for
two or three minutes with the windows open. This
will force most of the hot, stale air out of the
vehicle. Then operate your air conditioner as you
would normally.
²When placing objects on top of your instrument
panel, be careful to not place them over the
defroster outlets. These objects can block airflow
and reduce your ability to see through your
windshield. Also, avoid placing small objects on
top of your instrument panel. These objects can
fall down into the defroster outlets and block
airflow and possibly damage your climate control
system.
Controls and features
20

Electronic Automatic Temperature Control
(EATC) system (if equipped)
The EATC system will maintain a selected
temperature and automatically control airflow. You
can override automatic operation with any of the
override controls or the fan speed control.
Turning the EATC on
Press AUTO, any of the override controls or the fan
speed control. The EATC will only operate when the
ignition is in the ON position.
Turning the EATC off
Press OFF. The
Outside Temperature
function will continue
to operate until the
ignition is turned off.
TEMP
—+OFFAUTO
TEMPOUT
SIDEA/C MAXF-DEF
R-DEF
AUTO
VENT
F—+
TEMP
—+OFFAUTO
TEMPOUT
SIDEA/C MAXF-DEF
R-DEF
AUTO
VENT
F—+
OFFAUTO
TEMPOUT
SIDE
A/C MAX
VENT
Controls and features
21

Automatic operation
Press AUTO and select the desired temperature.
The selected temperature and the word AUTO will
appear in the display window. The EATC system will
either heat or cool to achieve the selected
temperature. The system will automatically
determine fan speed, airflow location and if fresh
outside air or recirculated air is required. Fan speed
remains automatic unless the fan speed control is
pressed.
When in AUTO and weather conditions require heat,
air will be sent to the floor. However, if the engine is
not warm enough to provide heat, the fan will be at
a low speed and the air will be directed to the
windshield. In 3ó minutes or less, the fan speed will
start to increase and the airflow location will change
to the floor area.
If unusual conditions exist (i.e.-window fogging,
etc.), the manual override controls allow you to
select airflow locations and the fan control allows
you to adjust fan speed as necessary.
Temperature selection
The display window
indicates the selected
temperature, function
(AUTO or one of the
override controls) and
manual control of fan
speed (
)if
automatic fan speed is not desired.
To control the
temperature, select any
temperature between
18ÉC (65ÉF) and 29ÉC
(85ÉF) by pressing the
temperature control.
FAUTO
FAN• • •
TEMP
—+
F-DEF
R-DEF
—+
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22

For continuous maximum cooling, push the
temperature control until 16ÉC (60ÉF) is shown in
the display window. The EATC will continue
maximum cooling (disregarding the displayed
temperature) until a warmer temperature is selected
by pressing the temperature control.
For continuous maximum heating, push the
temperature control until 32ÉC (90ÉF) is shown in
the display window. The EATC will continue
maximum heating (disregarding the displayed
temperature) until a cooler temperature is selected
by pressing the temperature control.
Temperature conversion
Press MAX A/C and F-DEFat the same time
(until the display changes) to switch between
Fahrenheit and Celsius.
Fan speed ()
When AUTO is
pressed, fan speed is
adjusted automatically
for existing conditions.
You can override fan
speed at any time. To
control fan speed
manually, press the fan
control to cancel automatic fan speed operation.
Press the control up for higher fan speed or down
for lower fan speed.
TEMP
—+OFFAUTO
TEMPOUT
SIDEA/C MAXF-DEF
R-DEF
VENT
—+AUTOC
TEMP
—+
F-DEF
R-DEF
—+
Controls and features
23

The display will show
and a bar graph to
indicate manual fan
operation and relative
speed.
To return to automatic fan operation, press AUTO.
Manual override controls
The override controls are located at the bottom of
the EATC and allow you to determine where airflow
is directed. To return to full automatic control, press
AUTO.
The air conditioning compressor will operate in all
modes except
and VENT. It will also operate
only when required when AUTO has been selected.
However, the air conditioning will only function if
the outside temperature is about 10ÉC (50ÉF) or
above.
Since the air conditioner removes considerable
moisture from the air during operation, it is normal
if clear water drips on the ground under the air
conditioner drain while the system is working and
even after you have stopped the vehicle.
Under normal conditions, your vehicle's climate
control system should be left in any position other
than MAX A/C or OFF when the vehicle is parked.
This allows the vehicle to ªbreatheº through the
outside air inlet duct.
FAUTO
FAN• • •
TEMP
—+OFFAUTO
TEMPOUT
SIDEA/C MAXF-DEF
R-DEF
VENT
—+AUTOF
Controls and features
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