1999 Mercury Sable Owner's Manuals

AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE OPERATION
Brake-shift interlock
This vehicle is equipped with a brake-shift interlock
feature that prevents the gearshift from being moved
from P (Park) unless the brake pedal is depressed.
If you cannot move the gearshift out of P (Park)
with the brake pedal depressed:
1. Apply the parking brake, turn ignition key to
LOCK, then remove the key.
2. Insert the key and turn it to OFF. Apply the brake
pedal and shift to N (Neutral).
3. Start the vehicle.
If it is necessary to use the above procedure to
move the gearshift, it is possible that a fuse has
blown or the vehicle's brakelamps are not operating
properly. Refer toFuses and relaysin theRoadside
emergencieschapter.
Do not drive your vehicle until you verify
that the brakelamps are working.
If your vehicle gets stuck in mud or snow it may be
rocked out by shifting from forward and reverse
gears, stopping between shifts, in a steady pattern.
Press lightly on the accelerator in each gear.
Do not rock the vehicle for more than a few
minutes. The transmission and tires may be
damaged or the engine may overheat.
Always set the parking brake fully and make
sure the gearshift is latched in P (Park).
Turn off the ignition whenever you leave your
vehicle.
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If the parking brake is fully released, but the
brake warning lamp remains illuminated, the
brakes may not be working properly. See your
dealer or a qualified service technician.
Driving with an automatic overdrive transaxle
Your automatic
overdrive transaxle
provides fully
automatic operation in
either
(Overdrive)
or D (Drive). Driving
with the shift selector
in
(Overdrive) gives
the best fuel economy
for normal driving conditions. For manual control
start in 1 (First) and then shift manually.
If your vehicle is
equipped with a
console mounted
gearshift, you must
press the thumb button
on the side of the
gearshift to move the
gearshift from P
(Park).
To put your vehicle in gear, start the engine, depress
the brake pedal, then move gearshift out of P
(Park).
Hold the brake pedal down while you move
the gearshift lever from P (Park) to another
position. If you do not hold the brake pedal down,
your vehicle may move unexpectedly and injure
someone.
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Understanding gearshift positions
P (Park)
Always come to a
complete stop before
shifting into P (Park).
Make sure the gearshift
is securely latched in P
(Park). This locks the
transaxle and prevent
the front wheels from
rotating.
Always set the
parking brake
fully and make sure
the gearshift is
securely latched in P
(Park).
Never leave your vehicle unattended while it
is running.
R (Reverse)
With the gearshift in R
(Reverse), the vehicle
will move backward.
You should always
come to a complete
stop before shifting
into and out of R
(Reverse).
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N (Neutral)
With the gearshift in
the N (Neutral)
position, the vehicle
can be started and is
free to roll. Hold the
brake pedal down while
in this position.
(Overdrive)
The(Overdrive)
position is the normal
driving position for an
automatic overdrive
transaxle. It works the
same way as D (Drive)
but shifts to a fourth
gear Ð an overdrive
gear Ð when your
vehicle cruises at a
constant speed for any
length of time. This
fourth gear will
increase your fuel economy when you travel at
cruising speeds.
Overdrive may not be appropriate for certain
terrains. If the transaxle shifts back and forth
between third and fourth gears while you are driving
hilly roads or if your vehicle requires additional
power for climbing hills, shift into D (Drive).
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When to use D (Drive)
The D (Drive) position
eliminates the needless
shifting back and forth
between third and
fourth gears that your
vehicle may do when
driving on hilly terrain.
It also gives more
engine braking than
overdrive to slow your
vehicle on downgrades.
1 (First)
Use 1 (First) for when
added engine braking is
desired when
descending steep hills.
The automatic
transaxle will shift to
the proper gear to
ascend any grade
without any need to
shift to 1 (First).
Do not go faster than 61 km/h (38 mph) when in
this gear. You can upshift from 1 (First) to overdrive
at any time.
When parking, do not use the gearshift in
place of the parking brake. Always set the
parking brake fully and make sure that the
gearshift is securely latched in Park (P). Turn off
the ignition whenever you leave your vehicle.
Never leave your vehicle unattended while it is
running. If you do not take these precautions, your
vehicle may move unexpectedly and injure
someone.
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VEHICLE LOADING
Before loading a vehicle, familiarize yourself with the
following terms:
²Base Curb Weight: Weight of the vehicle
including any standard equipment, fluids,
lubricants, etc. It does not include passengers or
aftermarket equipment.
²Payload: Combined maximum allowable weight
of cargo, passengers and optional equipment. The
payload equals the gross vehicle weight rating
minus base curb weight.
²GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight): Base curb
weight plus payload weight. The GVW is not a
limit or a specification.
²GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating):
Maximum total weight of the base vehicle,
passengers, optional equipment and cargo. The
GVWR is specific to each vehicle and is listed on the
Safety Compliance Label on the driver's door pillar.
²GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating): Carrying
capacity for each axle system. The GAWR is
specific to each vehicle and is listed on the Safety
Compliance Label on the driver's door pillar.
²GCW (Gross Combined Weight): The
combined weight of the towing vehicle (including
passengers and cargo) and the trailer.
²GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating):
Maximum combined weight of towing vehicle
(including passengers and cargo) and the trailer.
The GCWR indicates the maximum loaded weight
that the vehicle is designed to tow.
²Maximum Trailer Weight Rating: Maximum
weight of a trailer the vehicle is permitted to tow.
The maximum trailer weight rating is determined
by subtracting the vehicle curb weight for each
engine/transmission combination, any required
option weight for trailer towing and the weight of
the driver from the GCWR for the towing vehicle.
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²Maximum Trailer Weight: maximum weight of
a trailer the loaded vehicle (including passengers
and cargo) is permitted to tow. It is determined
by subtracting the weight of the loaded trailer
towing vehicle from the GCWR for the towing
vehicle.
²Trailer Weight Range: Specified weight range
that the trailer must fall within that ranges from
zero to the maximum trailer weight rating.
Remember to figure in the tongue load of your
loaded trailer when figuring the total weight.
Do not exceed the GVWR or the GAWR
specified on the Safety Compliance
Certification Label.
Do not use replacement tires with lower load
carrying capacities than the originals because they
may lower the vehicle's GVWR and GAWR
limitations. Replacement tires with a higher limit
than the originals do not increase the GVWR and
GAWR limitations.
The Certification Label, found on the inside pillar of
the driver's door, lists several important vehicle
weight rating limitations. Before adding any
additional equipment, refer to these limitations. If
you are adding weight to the front of your vehicle,
(potentially including weight added to the cab), the
weight added should not exceed the Front Axle
Reserve Capacity (FARC). Additional frontal weight
may be added to the front axle reserve capacity
provided you limit your payload in other ways (i.e.
restrict the number of passengers or amount of
cargo carried).
You may add equipment throughout your vehicle if
the total weight added is equal to or less than the
Total Axle Reserve Capacity (TARC) weight. You
should NEVER exceed the Total Axle Reserve
Capacity.
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Always ensure that the weight of passengers, cargo
and equipment being carried is within the weight
limitations that have been established for your
vehicle including both Gross Vehicle Weight and
Front and Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating limits.
Under no circumstance should these limitations be
exceeded. Exceeding any vehicle weight rating
limitation could result in serious damage to the
vehicle and/or personal injury.
DRIVING THROUGH WATER
Do not drive quickly through standing water,
especially if the depth is unknown. Traction or brake
capability may be limited and if the ignition system
gets wet, your engine may stall. Water may also
enter your engine's air intake and severely damage
your engine.
If driving through deep or standing water is
unavoidable, proceed very slowly. Never drive
through water that is higher than the bottom of the
hubs.
Once through the water, always try the brakes. Wet
brakes do not stop the vehicle as effectively as dry
brakes. Drying can be improved by moving your
vehicle slowly while applying light pressure on the
brake pedal.
Driving through deep water where the
transmission is submerged may allow water
into the transmission and cause internal
transmission damage.
TRAILER TOWING
Your vehicle is classified as a light duty towing
vehicle. The amount of weight you can safely tow
depends on the type of engine you have in your
vehicle. Your vehicle does not come from the factory
fully equipped to tow. No towing packages are
available through Ford or Mercury/Lincoln dealers.
Do not tow a trailer until your vehicle has been
driven at least 800 km (500 miles). If towing with a
station wagon, inflate the rear tires to 35 psi.
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