1998 Mercury Villager Owner's Manuals

What you should do if the Service Engine Soon light illuminates
Light turns on solid:
This means that the OBD II system has detected a malfunction.
Temporary malfunctions may cause yourService Engine Soonlight to
illuminate. Examples are:
1. The vehicle has run out of fuel. (The engine may misfire or
run poorly.)
2. Poor fuel quality or water in the fuel.
3. The fuel filler cap may not have been securely tightened.
These temporary malfunctions can be corrected by filling the fuel
tank with good quality fuel and/or properly tightening the
fuel filler cap. After three driving cycles without these or any other
temporary malfunctions present, theService Engine Soonlight
should turn off. (A driving cycle consists of a cold engine startup
followed by mixed city/highway driving.) No additional
vehicle service is required.
If theService Engine Soonlight remains on, have your vehicle
serviced at the first available opportunity.
Light is blinking:
Engine misfire is occurring which could damage your catalytic
converter. You should drive in a moderate fashion (avoid heavy
acceleration and deceleration) and have your vehicle serviced
at the first available opportunity.
Service Engine Soon warning light
Instrumentation
13

WARNING
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.
Charging System Light
This light indicates that your battery is not being charged and
that you need to have the electrical system checked.
This light illuminates every time you turn your ignition key to the
ON or START position. The light should go off when the
engine starts and the alternator begins to charge.
If the light stays on or illuminates when the engine is running,
have the electrical system checked as soon as possible.
Engine Oil Pressure Warning Light
The oil pressure light is represented by an oil can symbol. It
indicates the engine's oil pressure, not oil level. However, if your
engine's oil level is low, it could affect the oil pressure. The oil
pressure light will flash if the oil pressure drops below the normal
operating level. When you turn the key to the ON position, the
light will illuminate.
Charging system light
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The light should turn off after a few seconds. If the light stays on or
illuminates when the engine is running, your vehicle has lost oil
pressure and continued operation will cause severe engine damage.
If your vehicle loses engine oil pressure:
1. Pull off the road as soon as safely possible.
2. Turn off the engine. If you do not stop the engine as soon as
safely possible, severe engine damage could result.
3. Check the oil level following the instructions on checking and
adding engine oil in this owner guide. (SeeEngine oilin the
index.) Make sure your vehicle is on level ground.
4.
If the level is low, add as much oil as necessary before you drive
your vehicle again. Do not drive your vehicle if the oil pressure
light is on, even if the oil level is correct. For more information about
adding oil, seeEngine oil, checkingin the Index.
Door Ajar Warning Light
If the ignition switch is in the ON position and any door or the
liftgate is not completely closed, the light will illuminate.
Oil pressure light
Door ajar warning light
Instrumentation
15

Cruise Indicator Light
The CRUISE indicator light will illuminate when the speed
control system is activated.
Overdrive Off Indicator Light
This light illuminates when the OVERDRIVE OFF/ON button on
the gearshift selector lever has been pushed. When the light is
on, the transmission does not shift into overdrive. Depressing the
button on the shifter once more allows the vehicle to shift into
overdrive mode. This light also briefly illuminates when the key is
turned to the ON position.
If the light flashes for about 8 seconds when the ignition is turned
to ON, it means the transaxle control module received an
improper signal the last time the vehicle was operated. It may be
necessary to have your dealer check the transaxle.
Cruise indicator light
Overdrive off indicator light
16

Low Fuel Light
The low fuel light illuminates when the fuel sensor indicates
approximately 1/8 of a tank. It will remain illuminated until the
tank is filled with enough fuel to pass the 1/8 full level.
Low Washer Fluid Light
The low washer fluid light will remain illuminated when the
washer fluid sensor indicates that the washer fluid level is low.
High Beam Light
This light illuminates when the headlamps are turned to high
beam or when you flash the lights. If your vehicle is equipped with
Daytime Running Lights and you have your headlamps on,
your high beam light will not illuminate when you flash the lights.
Low fuel light
Low washer fluid light
High beam light
Instrumentation
17

``Headlamps On'' Alert Chime
This chime will sound if you open the door while the headlamps
or parking lamps are on.
Gauges
Fuel Gauge
The fuel gauge displays approximately how much fuel you have
in the fuel tank. The fuel gauge indicator may vary slightly
while the vehicle is in motion. This is the result of fuel movement
within the tank. An accurate reading may be obtained when
the vehicle is on smooth, level ground.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge
This gauge is accompanied by a thermometer symbol. It indicates
the temperature of the engine coolant when the ignition is in
the ON position.
As the engine warms up, the pointer will move to the NORMAL
band. When you are driving in heavy traffic or experiencing
stop-and-go conditions in hot weather, the pointer may move to
the very top of the normal band.
Fuel gauge
18

Under any circumstances, if the pointer moves past the upper
limit of the NORMAL band, the engine is overheating and engine
damage may occur.
If your engine overheats:
1. Pull off the road as soon as it is safely possible.
2. Turn off the engine. If you do not stop the engine as soon as
safely possible, severe engine damage could result.
3. Let the engine cool.DO NOT REMOVE COOLANT SYSTEM
FILL CAP UNTIL THE ENGINE IS COOL.
4. Check the coolant level following the instructions on checking
and adding coolant to your engine, seeEngine coolantin the
Index. If you do not follow these instructions, you or others
could be injured.
5. Refer toAdding Engine Coolantin theMaintenance and Care
chapter. Add as much coolant as your engine needs. If the engine
continues to overheat, have the cooling system serviced.
Speedometer
The speedometer tells you how many miles (kilometers) per hour
your vehicle is moving.
Engine coolant temperature gauge
Instrumentation
19

Odometer
The odometer records the total distance the vehicle has been
driven.
Trip Odometer
The trip odometer records the distance of individual trips. Before
each trip, set the trip odometer to zero by pushing the reset
control.
Speedometer, odometer and trip odometer
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