1998 Mercury Villager warning

Trailer Brakes
Separate trailer brakes are required on most trailers weighing
over 1,500 lbs. (680 kg).
WARNING
Do not connect a trailer's hydraulic brake system directly
to your vehicle's brake system. Your vehicle may not
have enough braking power and your chances of having a
collision greatly increase.
Trailer Lamps
Make sure your trailer lamps conform to federal and local
regulations.
Class I Trailer Tow electrical wiring provides two circuits (right
hand and left hand) to operate trailer stop/turn tail lamps. Each
stop/turn circuit will operate one combination stop/turn light
bulb (# 1157, 3157, 2357, or 3357) on the trailer. Never add more than
one trailer light bulb to one circuit.
WARNING
Always replace a fuse with one that has the specified
amperage rating. Using a fuse with a higher amperage rating
can cause severe wire damage and could start a fire.
Driving
235

Four Season Roof Rack (If equipped)
Always load your luggage as far back as it will safely go on the
four season roof rack. Do not load more than 100 lb. (45 kg).
Be careful that your vehicle does not exceed the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR) or its Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR
front and rear). The GVWR and GAWR are located on the
Safety Compliance Certification Label (located on the driver's
door pillar).
The front and rear cross-bars can be adjusted forward and
backward. Place your luggage between the bars, adjust the bars,
and secure the luggage with rope to the bars. There are also
adjustable loops on the side bars for the rope attachment.
WARNING
Be sure that items on the roof rack are securely fastened.
The four season roof rack
Driving
239

4. Use the fuse puller tool to remove the blown fuse and replace
the fuse with one that has the right amperage rating (see the
fuse panel cover for amperage ratings).
WARNING
Always replace a fuse with one that has the specified
amperage rating. Using a fuse with a higher amperage rating
can cause severe wire damage and could start a fire.
5. Put the fuse panel cover back on.
Even after you replace a fuse, it may continue to blow if you do
not find what caused the overload. If the fuse continues to
blow, have your electrical system checked.
The following chart indicates the colors and amperage ratings of
standard fuses.
sv0051-b
Roadside Emergencies
249

Changing a Flat Tire
If you get a flat tire while you are driving, do not apply the
brake heavily. Instead, gradually decrease the speed. Hold the
steering wheel firmly and slowly move to a safe place on the side
of the road. Park on a level spot, turn off the ignition, set the
parking brake, and turn on the hazard flashers.
The Temporary Spare Tire
Your vehicle has a temporary spare tire (unless you ordered the
optional full-size spare tire). This spare tire is smaller than a
regular tire and is designed for emergency use only. Use it only
when you get a flat tire and replace it as soon as you can. This spare
tire is marked with the words TEMPORARY USE ONLY so
that you can easily identify it.
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, possibly injuring yourself
or others.
When you drive with the temporary spare tire, DO NOT:
mexceed 50 mph (80 km/h) under any circumstances
mload your vehicle so that it is heavier than the maximum
vehicle load rating listed on the tire decal
mtow a trailer
muse tire chains
mtry to repair the temporary spare tire or remove it from its
wheel
muse the wheel for any other type of vehicle
254

Stowing the spare tire
1. To raise the tire to the stowed position, lay the tire on the
ground with the inboard side facing up. Install the retainer
through the wheel center and slide the tire under the
vehicle. Fit the hex-shaped end of the lug wrench over the hex
nut in the floor of the cargo area. Turn the lug wrench
clockwise until the tire is raised to its original position
underneath the vehicle.
NOTE: The lug wrench ratchets when the tire is raised to the
stowed position. It will not allow you to over-tighten.
2. Check for proper seating against the underbody supports and
retighten if necessary.
WARNING
Make sure the spare tire and jacking equipment are
stowed and secured in the proper storage location.
Preparing to Change the Tire
You should only raise your vehicle with a jack properly placed at
the front or rear jacking points.
1. Make sure that your vehicle will not move or roll and that the
tires and jack are on a level, solid surface. Put the gearshift
lever in P (Park). Set the parking brake and block the wheel Ð
in both directions Ð that is diagonally opposite the tire that
you are changing.
WARNING
When one of the front wheels is off the ground, the
transaxle alone will not prevent the vehicle from moving
or slipping off the jack, even if the vehicle is in P
(Park).
258

WARNING
To prevent the vehicle from moving when you change a
tire, be sure the parking brake is set, then block (in both
directions) the wheel that is diagonally opposite (other
side and end of the vehicle) to the tire being changed.
WARNING
If the vehicle slips off the jack, you or someone else could
be seriously injured.
2. Remove the spare tire and jack. See previous section for
instructions on spare tire removal. The jack is located in the rear
storage compartment in the right door panel of the cargo
area. You will have to unfasten the jack before removing it as
shown in the illustration. The jack handle is in the tool kit
located behind the jack.
NOTE: All occupants should be out of the vehicle while it is
on the jack.
Roadside Emergencies
259

WARNING
Do not jack on the running board.
WARNING
To avoid injury, never run the engine with one wheel off
the ground, such as when changing a tire.
WARNING
To lessen the risk of personal injury, do not put any part
of your body under the vehicle while changing a tire.
Do not start the engine when your vehicle is on the jack.
The jack is only meant for changing the tire.
Placing the jack
Roadside Emergencies
263

WARNING
Never raise your vehicle by using a bumper jack. The
bumper could be damaged or the jack could slip and you
could be injured.
6. Insert the jack handle into the jack, and then slide the tapered
end of the jack handle through one of the slots in the lug nut
wrench. All of these tools are needed to jack up a vehicle.
NOTE: If Ford Accessory Running Boards have been installed,
use the jack adapters supplied with the running boards
as described on the inside of the jack storage area
cover.
The jack and handle assembly
264