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Pull the release lever
to release the brake.
Driving with the
parking brake on will
cause the brakes to
wear out quickly and
reduce fuel economy.
STEERING
Your vehicle is equipped with power steering. Power
steering uses energy from the engine to help steer
the vehicle.
To prevent damage to the power steering pump:
²Never hold the steering wheel to the extreme
right or the extreme left for more than a few
seconds when the engine is running.
²Do not operate the vehicle with a low power
steering pump fluid level.
If the power steering system breaks down (or if the
engine is turned off), you can steer the vehicle
manually, but it takes more effort.
If the steering wanders or pulls, the condition could
be caused by any of the following:
²underinflated tire(s) on any wheel(s)
²high crown in center of road
²high crosswinds
²wheels out of alignment
²loose or worn components in steering linkage
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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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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.
PRNDD1
PRNDD1
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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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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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Towing a trailer places an additional load on your
vehicle's engine, transaxle, brakes, tires and
suspension. Inspect these components carefully after
towing.
The amount of weight that you can tow depends on
the type of engine in your vehicle. See the following
charts:
3.0L 2-Valve Vulcan Engine
Model Passenger
Load-#/kg
(lbs.)Luggage
Load-kg
(lbs.)Max Trailer
Wt.-kg (lbs.)
Sedan 5/340 (750) 0 365 (800)
4/270 (600) 70 (150) 365 (800)
2/135 (300) 70 (150) 500 (1 100)
2/135 (300) 0 565 (1 250)
Wagon 4/270 (600) 0 365 (800)
2/135 (300) 70 (150) 430 (950)
2/135 (300) 0 500 (1 100)
The above chart is based on the specified vehicle at
a maximum GCW (Vehicle weight + Trailer weight)
equal to 2 245 kg (4 950 lbs.).
3.0L 4-Valve Duratec Engine
Model Passenger
Load-#/kg
(lbs.)Luggage
Load-kg
(lbs.)Max Trailer
Wt.-kg (lbs.)
Sedan 5/340 (750) 0 590 (1 300)
2/135 (300) 70 (150) 725 (1 600)
2/135 (300) 0 795 (1 750)
Wagon 5/340 (750) 70 (150) 455 (1 000)
2/135 (300) 70 (150) 660 (1450)
2/135 (300) 0 725 (1 600)
The above chart is based on the specified vehicle at
a maximum GCW (Vehicle weight + Trailer weight)
equal to 2 470 kg (5 450 lbs.).
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Do not exceed the GVWR or the GAWR
specified on the Safety Compliance
Certification Label.
Towing trailers beyond the maximum
recommended gross trailer weight exceeds
the limit of the vehicle and could result in engine
damage, transaxle damage, structural damage, loss
of control, and personal injury.
Preparing to tow
Use the proper equipment for towing a trailer, and
make sure it is properly attached to your vehicle.
See your dealer or a reliable trailer dealer if you
require assistance.
Hitches
Do not use hitches that clamp onto the vehicle
bumper. Use a load carrying hitch. You must
distribute the load in your trailer so that 10% of the
total weight of the trailer is on the tongue.
Safety chains
Always connect the trailer's safety chains to the
vehicle. To connect the trailer's safety chains, cross
the chains under the trailer tongue and allow slack
for turning corners.
If you use a rental trailer, follow the instructions that
the rental agency gives to you.
Do not attach safety chains to the bumper.
Trailer brakes
Electric brakes and manual, automatic or surge-type
brakes are safe if installed properly and adjusted to
the manufacturer's specifications. The trailer brakes
must meet local and Federal regulations.
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