1999 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL service

Quick summary
²To utilize your vehicle's RESCU system, your cellular phone must be
activated and plugged into the vehicle interface.
²Information or emergency assistance can be requested whenever your
key is in the RUN/START position and for six minutes after the vehicle
is turned off.
²An assistance request is initiated by pressing either the Information or
Emergency control located in the overhead console.
²When a control is pressed, a warning lamp located in the overhead
console will begin to flash and status messages will display on the
vehicle's message center (messages can only be displayed when the
key is in the RUN/START position).
²The vehicle's cellular phone automatically places a call to a 24 hour
emergency response center.
²When contact is made, the vehicle sends an electronic data message
to the response center's computer. This data message includes latitude
and longitude coordinates obtained from the vehicle's positioning
system and customer identification information.
²Once the data transmission is complete, the call is forwarded to a
response center operator who confirms your location using a
computerized map.
²The vehicle's cellular handset is locked-out, the phone is automatically
placed in the ªhands-freeº mode and voice communication is
established with the operator through the ªhands-freeº microphone.
²Typically, voice communication with an operator is established within
one minute after an assistance control is pressed.
²The operator verbally obtains details of your situation and, if
necessary, ties your vehicle into a three-way phone call with the
United States Auto Club or local 911 or other emergency services to
dispatch the appropriate assistance to your location.
²Once the situation has been appropriately handled, the operator will
terminate the call, the system warning light will stop flashing and the
system will be reset. In most situations, only the response center can
terminate an assistance request.
Controls and features
56

General description
Lincoln's Remote Emergency Satellite Cellular Unit (RESCU) is designed
to expedite roadside, emergency or information assistance to distressed
motorists who are uncertain of their location and/or are uncertain of who
to contact for assistance.
The Lincoln RESCU system utilizes Global Positioning System (GPS)
technology and the nation's cellular phone network to track vehicle
location and, at the touch of a control, put you in voice contact with the
Lincoln Security Response Center.
Two controls in the overhead console will activate the system:
An Information icon is provided for
customer information, such as
points of interest near your current
location, route assistance and other
services as they become available.
An Emergency icon is provided for
emergency assistance.
When you select a control, the vehicle's cellular phone will automatically
place a call to the response center's central computer. Once contact is
made, an electronic data message will be transmitted. This data message
will include:
²Type of alarm (Information, emergency or air bag acitvation)
²Customer Identification Number (CID)
²Latitude and longitude coordinates
²Last recorded speed and direction of the vehicle
²Time tag identifying when last position was taken
²Call-back phone number
After the transmission is complete, the call is forwarded to an operator
who will verify the details of the request and confirm the vehicle's
location using a computerized map.
INFO
i
S.O.S.
Controls and features
57

Information icon
The Information icon is provided for
customer information, such as
points of interest near your current
location, route assistance and other
services as they become available.
There may be charges incurred for certain services.
Emergency (S.O.S) icon (emergency assistance)
The Emergency (S.O.S) control
should be selected if emergency
assistance is required. This feature
should be used:
²if you have been involved in an
accident.
²to report a crime or fire.
²when medical attention is required.
²to receive assistance in an emergency situation.
When this control is pressed, the Lincoln Security Response Center
relays details of your situation and your location to the appropriate
authorities via three-way phone call. While the appropriate authorities
dispatch help to your location, the response center will:
²dispatch the emergency help to your location.
²when appropriate, stay in direct phone contact with you until
emergency help arrives.
²notify pre-designated family contacts or friends of the emergency
situation, if requested, or if no response is received from the vehicle.
If you are certain of your location, a direct phone call to 911 or other
emergency services may provide a faster response.
If roadside assistance is required, the Lincoln Security Response Center
will contact the Lincoln Commitment Roadside Assistance provider via
three±way phone call.
INFO
i
S.O.S.
Controls and features
58

Lincoln RESCU system limitations
²
Inoperative if cellular phone inactive or inoperative
Lincoln RESCU utilizes your vehicle's cellular phone and will not operate
if cellular service has not been activated or if the phone is inoperative.
²
Inoperative if battery discharged or disconnected
Lincoln RESCU is powered by the vehicle's battery and will not operate if
the battery is discharged or disconnected.
²
Inoperative if cellular phone is not installed in the vehicle
interface
Lincoln RESCU utilizes your vehicle's cellular phone and will not operate
if cellular phone is not installed in the vehicle interface.
²
Potentially inoperative if vehicle involved in accident
If the vehicle is involved in an accident, some components can be
damaged, rendering your RESCU System inoperative.
²
Positioning capability degraded if satellite signals obstructed
Vehicle positioning is accomplished by receiving and interpreting signals
transmitted by satellites. If the signals are obstructed positioning
capability could be degraded or lost. This situation will be most prevalent
in urban areas populated with tall buildings. tunnels, underpasses,
parking garages, trees and similar structures could also adversely affect
positioning performance. Under these conditions, the system will operate
but the response center could have difficulty identifying your current
location. (The last valid position obtained before the obstruction is
retained, however, and will be sent.) The operator may depend on you to
provide verbal information regarding vehicle location.
²
Positioning capability temporarily degraded after battery
reconnect
When your vehicle is started, the Lincoln RESCU GPS receiver begins
the process of determining vehicle location. The receiver will search the
sky and attempt to acquire signals from all visible satellites. A real-time
clock and an almanac containing detailed information about satellite
constellation are stored in the on-board computer's memory and are used
to expedite the search. If the vehicle's battery is disconnected, the clock
memory is erased and time and date are lost. Once the battery is
reconnected, it could take approximately 15 minutes to reacquire the
clock and for positioning capability to be restored. During this time, the
Controls and features
62

system will operate but the response center will not be able to identify
your location. In this situation, the operator will depend on you to
provide verbal information regarding vehicle location.
²
Inoperative if cellular signal marginal or unavailable
Since the Lincoln RESCU System utilizes the vehicle's cellular phone, it
can only be operated in geographical areas with cellular coverage.
Although approximately 90 percent of the U.S. population lives and
works in cellular coverage areas, there are various rural or mountainous
areas where coverage is marginal or does not exist. If an activation
occurs in this situation, the messages ªNO CELLULAR SIGNALº and
ªWAITING TO ACQUIREº will alternately be displayed on the message
center. If after several attempts cellular service can not be acquired, the
message ªUNABLE TO PLACE CALLº will be displayed, the assistance
request will be terminated and the phone will return to its normal
operating mode.
²
Inoperative if cellular system is busy
In a particular area, the local cellular system can only handle a limited
number of cellular calls at one time. Once volume has reached the
maximum limit, additional callers are denied access. If an activation
occurs in this situation, the messages ªCELLULAR SYSTEM BUSYº and
ªPLEASE WAITº will alternately be displayed on the message center. If
after several attempts a cellular channel cannot be acquired, the message
ªUNABLE TO PLACE CALLº will be displayed, the assistance request
will be terminated and the phone will return to its normal operating
mode.
²
Incompatible with cellular PIN feature
Some cellular carriers offer custom phone numbers that are assigned a
personal identification number (PIN). In this situation, the user is
required to enter the PIN with any phone calls made over the network.
The PIN feature is not compatible with the Lincoln RESCU System. At
the time your phone is activated, ask your carrier to assign you a phone
number that does not require a personal identification number. If you
have difficulty obtaining a non-PIN number, contact you dealer or call
the Ford Cellular System Clearinghouse at 1±800±367±3357 for
assistance.
Controls and features
63

²Incompatible or performance limited with certain cellular
providers features
Some cellular carriers offer customers various optional features with
their cellular services. Several of these features are not compatible or
could potentially limit the performance of your Lincoln RESCU System.
No outgoing calls, hotline and NPA restrictions are incompatible cellular
features and must be avoided. Operation is possible with no incoming
calls, call forwarding, busy/no answer transfer and call waiting, but these
features could impact overall system performance. Because carriers are
regularly making new features available to customers, this list may not be
complete. Contact you dealer for assistance if you are unsure if a
particular cellular feature is compatible with your Lincoln RESCU
System.
²
Potential limitations if activated outside home cellular region
At the time you receive your vehicle (or shortly after), you will need to
select a cellular carrier and activate your phone. If desired, carrier
selection can be arranged through your dealer. This carrier is usually
local to your region and will handle call processing and billing services
for your cellular telephone. In order to use your phone when traveling
outside your home cellular region, the services of the carriers local to the
new area will be required. If your home carrier does not have an
agreement with the new local carrier, your phone calls could be
forwarded to an operator and you may be required to provide a credit
card number before your call is processed. If an activation occurs in this
situation, the initial call will be terminated and a second call which
bypasses the response center's computer will be placed.
Unlike during the first call attempt, your cellular handset will not be
locked during the second call, so you will have the option of terminating
the assistance request at any time by pushing either PWR or END on the
cellular phone. If the second call is not terminated, it will be forwarded
to a local cellular carrier operator. In this situation, you can provide the
operator with the number you are dialing (Lincoln Security Response
Center at 1±800±334±1327) and your credit card number or ask to be
connected to the local 911 or other emergency services.
Registration requirement
In order to recieve effective service, it is highly recommended that you
to register with the Lincoln Security Response Center shortly after
receiving your vehicle. The registration process is simple and can be
accomplished by calling the Lincoln Security Response Center at
Controls and features
64

1±800±334±1327. Alternatively, the registration process can be completed
on-line during an acquaintance period activation. (See ªAcquaintance
activationsº later in this section for details.) The information requested
will aid in servicing you more efficiently during an assistance request.
Optional password selection/false activations
At the time of your registration, you will be given the option of
establishing a user password. All aspects of your service will be identical
regardless of your password decision except the way false emergency
activations are handled. If established, the password will be requested by
the operator to confirm an emergency activation was initiated in error. If
no password or an incorrect password is given, the response center's
operator will seemingly terminate the call but actually stays on the line
and sends police to the last calculated vehicle location (this could be
very useful in duress situations). It is very important that you remember
your password to prevent false dispatches. Similarly, it is also important
to provide the password to any other individuals who will be driving the
vehicle or who may have need to activate the system.
If you decide not to establish a password, simply indicate to the operator
that the emergency assistance request was initiated in error and the call
will be terminated.
In either case, if an activation (roadside or emergency) occurs and the
operator cannot establish voice communication, police assistance will be
dispatched to the vehicle.
Information regarding changing or retrieving lost passwords can be
obtained by contacting the Lincoln Security Response Center at
1±800±334±1327.
Acquaintance activations
It is required that you initiate an acquaintance activation shortly after
receiving your vehicle and having your phone activated. An acquaintance
activation is initiated by pressing either the roadside or emergency
control. When voice communication is established with the Lincoln
Security Response Center, indicate that you are a new user and the
operator will follow special acquaintance period support procedures
which are intended to familiarize you with your Lincoln RESCU System.
As described previously, the acquaintance call can also be used to
complete the registration for new customers.
Controls and features
65

Service charges
For four years, beginning with your vehicle's warranty period, you will be
entitled to unlimited emergency and roadside assistance activations
without facing service charges. (These activations should be made only
when emergency or roadside assistance is required.) You will be
responsible, however, for any charges imposed by your cellular phone
carrier for the 1±800 phone call to the Lincoln Security Response Center.
After your initial service period expires, you will be required to pay a
monitoring fee if you elect to continue emergency and roadside
assistance. Your dealer can provide you with specific information
regarding post-initial service period fees.
Relinquishing your vehicle
At the time you relinquish your vehicle, it is important that you contact
the Lincoln Security Response Center at 1±800±334±1327 and cancel
your security service. Personal information provided to the response
center at the time of your registration will be removed from the vehicle's
file.
MOON ROOF (IF EQUIPPED)
To open the moon roof:
²Press and hold the control
forward to raise the moon roof to
the vent position (when the glass
panel is closed).
²Press the control rearward to
fully open the moon roof.
To close the moon roof:
²Press the control forward.
²To close from the vent position,
press and hold the control
rearward.
Controls and features
66