1998 Mercury Villager Owner's Manuals

To activate the rear washer, press the RR WASH switch. For a
constant spray, hold the switch for a few seconds. For less washer
fluid, press the switch once and release it. When you activate
the washer, the wiper will cycle twice and then stop.
Do not activate the washer for longer than 15 seconds continuously.
This could damage the washer pump system.
Hazard Flasher Switch
The hazard flasher switch is located on the instrument panel to
the right of the steering column. For more information, refer to the
Roadside Emergencieschapter.
Interior and Exterior Lights
To turn on the headlamps, parking lamps, marker lamps, tail
lamps, license plate lamps and instrument panel lamps, use the
headlamp control, to the left of the instrument cluster.
1. Turn the headlamp control to the first position to turn on the
parking lamps, tail lamps, license plate lamps, marker lamps
and instrument panel lamps.
2. Turn the headlamp control to the second position to turn on
the headlamps in addition to the parking lamps, tail lamps,
license plate lamps, marker lamps and instrument panel lamps.
Controls and Features
77

A chime will sound if any of the exterior lamps are on when the
driver door is opened.
Daytime Running Light (DRL) System (Canadian
vehicles only)
The Daytime Running Light (DRL) system turns the high beam
headlamps on, with a reduced light output, when:
mthe engine is running
mthe vehicle has a fully released parking brake
mthe headlamp system is in the OFF or first (parking lamps)
position
NOTE: You may notice that the lights flicker when the engine
is turned on or off. This is a normal condition.
The headlamp knob
78

WARNING
The Daytime Running Light (DRL) system will not
illuminate the tail lamps and parking lamps. Turn on your
headlamps at dusk. Failure to do so may result in a
collision.
Lighting Up the Instrument Panel
The instrument panel lights can be turned on by turning the
headlamp control knob to either the first or second position. You
can brighten or dim the instrument panel lights with the DIM
switch. The DIM switch is located near the headlamp controls.
Pushing and holding the right side of the switch will continue to
brighten the lights until the maximum brightness is reached.
Release the switch to maintain the desired brightness. To dim the
instrument panel lights, push the left side of the switch.
Autolamp On/Off Delay System (If equipped)
The autolamp sets the headlamps to turn on and off automatically.
You can use the autolamp to:
mturn on the headlamps automatically at night
mturn off the headlamps automatically during daylight
The instrument panel brightness control
Controls and Features
79

mkeep the headlamps on for approximately three minutes after
you turn the key to OFF
To set the autolamp:
1. Make sure the headlamp control knob is in the OFF position.
If the knob for the headlamps is on, the autolamp system is
canceled.
2. Turn the ignition key to start your vehicle.
3. Use the autolamp thumbwheel to activate the autolamp
feature. It is located to the left of the instrument cluster. The
white mark indicates the approximate center of the
thumbwheel.
4. Move the thumbwheel all the way to the right. The
autolamp will automatically turn the lamps on and off.
Autolamp thumbwheel location
80

NOTE: Be sure that you do not put anything on top of the
photodiode located in the top right side of the
instrument panel speaker grille. The photodiode controls
the autolamp; if it is covered, the photodiode reacts
as if it is nighttime, and the headlamps will be
illuminated.
To turn the autolamp off, move the thumbwheel all the way to the
left.
You can set the autolamp so the headlamps stay on for
approximately three minutes after you turn off your ignition. The
farther the thumbwheel is moved to the right, the longer the
headlamps stay on.
Autolamp photodiode location
Controls and Features
81

Interior Lamps
The front dome lamp is located overhead between the driver and
front passenger seats. However, if your vehicle is equipped
with a power sunroof, the dome lamp is located behind the driver's
seat.
The rear dome lamp is located overhead near the rear seating
positions.
Either dome lamp will stay illuminated if the switch is pushed
to the ON position. The dome lamps will stay off if the switch is
pushed to the OFF position. When the switch is positioned to
the door/middle position, the dome lamps will come on when
either of the front doors or the sliding door is opened. The
front dome lamp, footwell lamps, and the sliding door step lamp
have a time delay feature and will gradually dim within about
15 seconds.
The rear dome lamp also illuminates when the liftgate is opened
and goes off when it is closed. However, the rear dome lamp
will not remain lit in the ON position unless the ignition switch
is in the ON position. This feature is intended to help avoid
a run-down battery which can occur when a light is left on
unintentionally.
The dome lamp switch positions
82

If the vehicle doors are not fully closed and the interior lamps
remain illuminated, they will eventually turn off automatically to
prevent the battery from becoming discharged. Lamps that
illuminate when the front doors and the sliding door are open
will turn off after approximately 30 minutes. Lamps that are
illuminated when the liftgate is open will turn off after
approximately 60 minutes.
Illuminated Entry System (If equipped)
If your vehicle is equipped with this option, the interior courtesy
lamps (footwell, stepwell, and dome lamps) will light when
either of the front doors or the sliding door is open. If you have
the optional Keyless Entry System the lamps will also light
whenever the remote keyless entry transmitter button is pressed.
There are stepwell lamps located near the sliding door
entrance and one on each front door. The footwell lamps are
located below the instrument panel near the driver 's and front
passenger 's feet. When the liftgate is opened, the optional liftgate
lamp, rear dome lamp and sliding door stepwell lamp will
illuminate.
The lamps that have the delay feature will automatically dim
until they turn completely off approximately 15 seconds after the
doors are closed. When the key is placed in the ignition and
turned to the ON position, the lamps will turn off.
Controls and Features
83

Overhead Map Lamps (If equipped)
The power sunroof overhead console also contains the overhead
map lamps.
You can turn the map lamps on and off by pressing the
switches next to the lamps.
Radio
For information about the radio in your vehicle, refer to the
Electronic Sound Systemschapter.
Clock Controls on Electronic Radios
The electronic radios have a built-in clock. For complete
operating instructions, refer to theElectronic Sound Systems
chapter.
Radio Antenna
The fixed radio antenna is mounted on the front fender on the
passenger side of the vehicle.
The overhead map lamps
84