1998 Mercury Villager instrument panel

The defroster will turn off when the ignition key is turned to the
OFF or START position.
Never use sharp instruments or abrasive window cleaners to
clean the inside of your rear window. If you do, you may damage
the wires that are bonded to the inside of the rear window, and
cause damage to the rear window defogger.
Rear Wiper and Washer
The controls for the rear wiper and washer can also be found on
the instrument panel to the right of the instrument cluster.
The rear wiper and washer controls operate with the ignition in
the ACC and ON positions.
To turn on the rear wiper, press the RR WIPER switch. The
wiper will operate until it is turned off. The wiper will complete
one cycle every 10 to 15 seconds. To turn off the rear wiper,
press the RR WIPER switch a second time.
Rear wiper and washer switch locations
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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
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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
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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

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

Coin Tray
The slide-out coin tray is located in the instrument panel for your
convenience. It is located below the radio controls.
Coin tray
Controls and Features
85

Turn Signal Lever
You can use the turn signal lever on the left side of the steering
column to:
moperate the turn signals.
mturn the headlamps to high beam.
mflash the headlamps.
mturn the windshield wipers and washer on/off.
Turn Signals
Move the lever up to signal a right turn. Move it down to signal
a left turn. The corresponding indicator light in the
instrument cluster will flash.
If the turn signal stays on after you turn, move the lever back
to the center (off) position.
For lane changes, move the lever far enough to signal but not to
latch. The lever will return to the off position when you
release it.
If the turn indicator light in the instrument panel does not
illuminate or remains on (does not flash) when you signal a turn,
the turn signaling system needs service. Have this condition
corrected as soon as possible, and use the accepted hand signals
until the turn signal system is repaired.
The turn signal lever
Controls and Features
87

Cornering Lights
Your vehicle is equipped with special cornering lights designed
to provide additional illumination toward the direction you are
turning. The corresponding light comes on when a turn is
signaled. The headlamp control must be on in order to activate
the cornering lights.
High Beams and Flashing the Lamps
To turn on the high beams, turn the headlamps on and push the
turn signal lever away from you until it latches. When the
high beams are on, the high beam indicator light on the instrument
panel is illuminated.
To return to the low beam setting, pull the turn signal lever
toward you until it latches back into the neutral position. The high
beam indicator light turns off.
To flash the headlamps, pull the turn signal lever toward you
for a moment and then release it. The high beam headlamps will
flash whether the headlamps are on or off.
High beam and flash-to-pass operation
88