1998 Mercury Villager tire pressure

Driving Through Water
Do not drive quickly through standing water, especially if the
depth is unknown. Traction or brake capability may be limited and
if the ignition system gets wet, your engine may stall. Water
may also enter your engine's air intake and cause severe damage
to your engine.
If driving through deep or standing water is unavoidable,
proceed very slowly. Never drive through water that is higher
than the bottom of wheel rims.
Once through the water, always try the brakes. Wet brakes do not
stop the vehicle as effectively as dry brakes. Drying can be
improved by moving your vehicle slowly while applying light
pressure on the brake pedal.
Driving With a Heavy Load
The Safety Compliance Certification Label, located on the driver's
door pillar, provides important information regarding the
weight limits your vehicle can safely carry or tow. The total
weight of your vehicle, including the weight of the passengers
and cargo, should never be more than the Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating (GVWR). Also, the weight that your vehicle carries on
the front axle and rear axle should never be more than the Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) for the respective axle.
The load capacities of your vehicle's tires affect the GVWR or
GAWR limitations. Using replacement tires with a higher weight
limit than the originals does not increase GVWR or GAWR.
Using lower capacity replacement tires may lower GVWR and
GAWR limitations.
WARNING
Do not exceed the GVWR or the GAWR specified on the
Safety Compliance Certification Label.
226

Vehicle/Trailer Loads
Your vehicle may tow a Class I trailer up to 2,000 lbs. (907 kg)
provided the Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) is less than the GVWR
shown on the Safety Compliance Certification Label. With the
optional trailer tow package, your vehicle can tow a trailer up to
3,500 lbs. (1,588 kg).
Trailer Towing (may require trailer tow option package)
Towing a trailer puts an additional load on your vehicle's
engine, transaxle, axle, brakes, tires and suspension. Always use
the proper equipment for the type of trailer you tow.
mStay within the load limits when you tow.
mCarefully and thoroughly prepare your vehicle for towing,
making sure to use and install the proper equipment. See
Preparing to Towin this section.
mUse extra caution when driving your vehicle while you tow.
SeeDriving While You Towin this section.
mService your vehicle more frequently if you tow a trailer. See
Servicing Your Vehicle if You Towin this section.
Do not tow a trailer until your vehicle has been driven at least
500 miles (800 km).
Vehicle Loading Information
Your vehicle's load capacity is designated by weight, not volume,
so you cannot necessarily use all the available space.
Maximum safe vehicle weights as well as tire sizes, wheel sizes
and inflation pressures are specified for your vehicle at the
assembly plant on the Safety Compliance Certification Label. The
certification label is located on the pillar in the driver's door
opening.
Driving
227

Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR)
Your Safety Compliance Certification Label not only gives the
GVWR, it also gives the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) which
is the maximum weight allowed on each axle system.
The rating is based on the carrying capacity of the weakest axle
and suspension component as well as other factors. This is
why it is so important to observe vehicle loading ratings.
Overloading a vehicle places severe stress on components and can
lead to shortened vehicle life or vehicle damage.
The weakest link in the suspension system defines the GAWR,
and may be the tires. Tires are rated to carry a specific maximum
load at a specific tire pressure.
When passenger car tires are installed on light trucks and
multipurpose passenger vehicles, they are rated at a 10% lower
load carrying capacity due to the differences in vehicle usages.
With the tires inflated to the specified pressure, the total weight of
your vehicle must not exceed the GVWR and GAWR specified
on the Safety Compliance Certification Label. This includes full fuel
tank(s), vehicle equipment, and occupants, as well as the cargo
load.
Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR)
The GCWR is the maximum allowable weight of the towing
vehicle and the loaded trailer (including all cargo and passengers).
230

Tires
Look at your tires each time you fill your fuel tank. If one tire
looks lower than the others, check the pressure in all of them.
Always follow these precautions:
mUse an accurate tire pressure gauge.
mStay within the recommended load limits. SeeDriving with a
heavy loadin the Index.
mMake sure the weight of your load is evenly distributed.
mAdjust tire pressure to recommended specifications found on
the Tire Pressure Decal, located in the glove compartment.
If you do not take these precautions, your tires may fail or go
flat.
WARNING
Always obey posted speed limits. If you drive too fast for
road conditions, you could lose control of your vehicle.
Under some circumstances, driving at very high speeds for
extended periods of time may damage vehicle
components, creating a risk of component failure and a
potential loss of vehicle control. Any time you lose control
of your vehicle, it may result in injury.
At least once a month, check the pressure in all your vehicle's
tires, including the spare. Use an accurate tire pressure gauge.
Check the tire pressure when tires are cold, after the vehicle
has been parked for at least one hour or has been driven less than
3 miles (5 km). You can find the proper cold tire pressure on
the Tire Pressure Decal, located in the glove compartment.
Maintenance and Care
299

After each rotation, adjust individual tire pressure as specified
on the Tire Pressure Decal. Tighten wheel lug nuts to the required
torque specification and retighten again after 500 miles (800
km).
If your vehicle has the optional full-size spare tire, you may
rotate the spare tire into the rotation pattern.
WARNING
If you use the temporary spare tire continuously or do not
follow these precautions, the tire could fail, causing
you to lose control of the vehicle.
If your vehicle has aluminum wheels, you may remove the full-
size spare tire from the wheel and remount it on an
aluminum wheel to rotate the spare tire into your vehicle's
rotation pattern.
Replacing the Tires
Replace tires that show wear bands. When your tire shows a
wear band, it has only 1/16 of an inch (1.59 mm) of tread left.
Rotating the tires
Maintenance and Care
301

Because your vehicle's tires may wear unevenly, you may need
to replace them before a wear band appears across the entire tread.
Your wheels and tires are match-mounted for improved ride.
Before you begin to repair a tire, mark the wheel and tire so that
they are properly aligned when remounted. This will ensure
that the tires will continue to give you the same ride level.
WARNING
When replacing full size tires, never mix radial,
bias-belted, or bias-type tires. Use only the tire sizes that
are listed on the tire pressure decal. Make sure that all
tires are the same size, speed rating, and load-carrying
capacity. Use only the tire combinations recommended
on the decal. If you do not follow these precautions, your
vehicle may not drive properly and safely.
WARNING
Make sure that all replacement tires are of the same size,
type, load-carrying capacity, and tread design (e.g. ªAll
Terrainº, etc.), as originally offered by Ford.
A worn-out tire
302

Cooling system
mProtect your vehicle against freezing temperatures.
Battery
mCheck and recharge the battery as necessary.
mKeep connections clean and covered with a light coat of
grease.
Brakes
mMake sure the brakes and parking brake are fully released.
Tires
mMaintain recommended air pressure.
Miscellaneous
mMake sure all linkages, cables, levers and clevis pins under
the vehicle are covered with grease to prevent rust.
mLubricate working parts to prevent corrosion.
Maintenance and Care
335

preparing for storage...................335
proper solution......................292
recovery reservoir..................285, 341
specifications.......................339
temperature gauge...................18,23
Engine coolant temperature gauge............18,23
description......................18,23
mechanical......................18,23
Engine coolant temperature guage:electronic.......18,23
Engine fan.........................276
Engine knocking......................309
Engine oil.........................279
changing oil and oil filter................281
check oil warning light..................14
checking and adding...................281
dipstick.........................281
disposal.........................292
engine oil pressure warning light.............14
filter, specifications....................337
low oil warning light...................14
ªbreak-inº oils.......................5
specifications.......................279
synthetic oil.......................279
viscosity.........................279
Engine:idle speed control..................209
Exhaust fumes.......................212
F
Fan
engine fan, avoiding injury................276
Federal Communications Commission............51
Flashers, hazard.....................77,241
Flat tire...........................254
Ford Dispute Settlement Board...............348
Index
379