1999 Mercury Villager spare tire

The optional Trailer Tow Prep Package is recommended for towing of
any trailer since it provides a heavy duty battery, conventional size spare
tire and wiring.
Trailer towing puts additional loads on your vehicle's engine,
transmission, axle, brakes, tires, and suspension. For your safety and to
maximize vehicle performance, be sure to use the proper equipment
while towing.
Follow these guidelines to ensure safe towing procedure:
²Stay within your vehicle's load limits. If exceeded, cargo should be
removed from the trailer and/or the vehicle until all weights are within
specified limits.
²Thoroughly prepare your vehicle for towing. Refer toPreparing to
towin this chapter.
²Use extra caution when driving while trailer towing. Refer toDriving
while you towin this chapter.
²Service your vehicle more frequently if you tow a trailer. Refer to the
severe duty schedule in the Scheduled Maintenance Guide.
²Do not tow a trailer until your vehicle has been driven at least 800 km
(500 miles).
²Refer to the instructions included with towing accessories for the
proper installation and adjustment specifications.
Trailer Tow Prep Package (if equipped)
The trailer tow prep package on your vehicle (if equipped) includes:
²Heavy duty battery
²Conventional size spare tire
²Trailer tow module and jumper harness
Using the jumper harness (if equipped)
²Remove the connector cap from the vehicle harness located behind
the rear bumper. Store the connector cap in the glove box for
reinstallation.
²Connect the tow harness to the vehicle harness located behind the
rear bumper.
²Connect the tow harness connector (SAE J1239) to your trailer.
²Confirm the proper vehicle and trailer stop/turn lamp operation.
Driving
167

Temporary spare tire information
Your vehicle may have a temporary or conventional size spare tire. The
temporary spare tire for your vehicle is labeled as such. It is smaller than
a regular tire and is designed for emergency use only. Replace this tire
with a full-size tire as soon as possible.
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 driving with the temporary spare tiredo not:
²exceed 80 km/h (50 mph) under any circumstances
²load the vehicle beyond maximum vehicle load rating listed on the
Safety Compliance Label
²tow a trailer
²use tire chains
²drive through an automatic car wash, because of the vehicle's reduced
ground clearance
²try to repair the temporary spare tire or remove it from its wheel
²use the wheel for any other type of vehicle
Location of the spare tire and tools
The spare tire and tools for your vehicle are stowed in the following
locations:
Item Location
Spare tire Under the vehicle, just forward of
the rear bumper
Jack assembly Under the third row bench seat in
the tool bag
Removing the jack and tools
1. Lift the 3rd row seat cushion.
2. Remove the jack assembly from the bag under the seat.
Roadside emergencies
180

Removing the spare tire
1. Open the liftgate, locate the U-shaped slits in the carpet, and flip up
the piece of carpet to expose the hex nut.
2. Insert the lug nut wrench on the
hex nut in cargo floor.
3. Turn the wrench
counterclockwise until tire is
lowered to the ground and the cable
is slightly slack.
4. Remove the retainer from the
spare tire. It may be necessary to
lift one end of the tire to disengage
the retainer.
Roadside emergencies
181

Stowing the spare
1. Lay the tire on the ground with the interior side facing up.
2. Install the retainer through the
wheel center and slide the wheel
under the vehicle.
3. Turn the wrench clockwise until
the tire is raised to its original
position underneath the vehicle. The
hex nut ratchets when the tire is
raised to the stowed position. It will
not allow you to overtighten.
4. Check seating position of tire for
looseness against the underbody
supports and retighten if necessary.
Ensure the position of the
tire is not too far forward to
avoid contact with the axle.
Tire change procedure
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).
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.
If the vehicle slips off the jack, you or someone else could be
seriously injured.
All occupants should be out of the vehicle while it is on the jack.
Roadside emergencies
182

1. Park on a level surface, activate
hazard flashers and set parking
brake.
2. Place gearshift lever in P (Park),
turn engine OFF, and block the
diagonally opposite wheel.
3. Remove the spare tire and jack
assembly.
4. Remove the center ornament or
wheel cover from the wheel with the tapered end of the jack handle that
came with your vehicle. Insert and twist the handle, then pry against the
wheel.
5. Loosen each wheel lug nut
one-half turn counterclockwise but
do not remove them until the wheel
is raised off the ground.FUSES
Roadside emergencies
183

Jacking notches are located
approximately six inches rearward
of the front wheels and twelve
inches foward of the rear wheels.
6. Locate the jack notch closest to
the tire you are changing, then
place the jack on the frame rail
directly behind the notch.
7. Turn the jack handle clockwise
until the wheel is completely off the
ground.
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.
8. Remove the lug nuts with the lug wrench.
9. Replace the flat tire with the spare tire, making sure the valve stem is
facing outward. Reinstall lug nuts until the wheel is snug against the hub.
Do not fully tighten the lug nuts until the wheel has been lowered.
10. Lower the wheel by turning the jack handle counterclockwise.
11. Remove the jack and fully
tighten the lug nuts in the order
shown.
12. Install wheel cover or center
ornament on wheel.
13. Put jack assembly away in the
proper location.
Store flat tire under the vehicle.
Refer toStowing the spare tirein
this chapter.
1
4 3
2 5
Roadside emergencies
184

INFORMATION ABOUT TIRE QUALITY GRADES
New vehicles are fitted with tires
that have their Tire Quality Grade
(described below) molded into the
tire's sidewall. These Tire Quality
Grades are determined by standards
that the United States Department
of Transportation has set.
Tire Quality Grades apply to new
pneumatic tires for use on
passenger cars. They do not apply
to deep tread, winter-type snow
tires, space-saver or temporary use spare tires, tires with nominal rim
diameters of 10 to 12 inches or limited production tires as defined in
Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations Part 575.104(c)(2).
U.S. Department of Transportation-Tire quality grades:The U.S.
Department of Transportation requires Ford to give you the following
information about tire grades exactly as the government has written it.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate of
the tire when tested under controlled conditions on a specified
government test course. For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one
and one-half (1 1/2) times as well on the government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative performance of tires depends upon the actual
conditions of their use, however, and may depart significantly from the
norm due to variations in driving habits, service practices, and
differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction AA A B C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest are AA, A, B, and C. Those
grades represent the tire's ability to stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on specified government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.
The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on
straight-ahead braking traction tests, and does not include
acceleration, cornering, hydroplaning or peak traction characteristics.
Maintenance and care
212

Soft luggage cover
Speed control
Towing mirrors
Trailer hitch
Trailer hitch bars and balls
Trailer hitch wiring adaptor
Protection and appearance equipment
Air bag anti-theft locks
Bed mat/bedliner tailgate covers
Bed mats
Bedliners
Car/truck covers
Cargo liners, interior
Carpet floor mats
Cleaners, waxes and polishes
Flat splash guards
Front end covers (full and mini)
Hood deflectors
Locking gas cap
Lubricants and oils
Molded splash guards
Molded vinyl floor mats
Rallye bars
Rear air deflectors
Rear decklid spoilers
Side window air deflectors
Spare tire lock
Step bumpers
Step/sill plates
Tailgate covers
Customer assistance
251