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Turning the passenger air bag off
1.Insert the ignition key, turn the
switch to OFF position and hold in
OFF position while removing the key.
2. When the ignition is turned to the
ON position the OFF light
illuminates briefly, momentarily
shuts off and then turns back on.
This indicates that the passenger air
bag is deactivated.
If the light fails to illuminate when the passenger air bag switch
is in the OFF position and the ignition switch is in ON, have the
passenger air bag switch serviced at your Ford or Lincoln-Mercury
dealer immediately.
In order to avoid inadvertent activation of the switch, always
remove the ignition key from the passenger air bag ON/OFF switch.
PASSENGER AIRBAG
ON
OFF OFF
Seating and safety restraints
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Turning the passenger air bag back on
The passenger air bag remains OFF until you turn it back ON.
1. Insert the ignition key and turn
the switch to ON.
2. The OFF light will briefly
illuminate when the ignition is
turned to ON. This indicates that
the passenger air bag is operational.
If the light is illuminated when the passenger air bag switch is in
the ON position and the ignition switch is in ON, have the
passenger air bag switch serviced at your Ford or Lincoln-Mercury
dealer immediately.
The passenger side air bag should always be ON (the air bag OFF light
shouldnotbe illuminated) unless the passenger is a person who meets
the requirements stated either in Category 1, 2 or 3 of the
NHTSA/Transport Canada deactivation criteria which follows.
The safety belts for the driver and right front passenger seating
positions have been specifically designed to function together
with the air bags in certain types of crashes. When you turn OFF your
air bag, you not only lose the protection of the air bag, you also may
reduce the effectiveness of your safety belt system, which was
designed to work with the air bag. If you are not a person who meets
the requirements stated in the NHTSA/Transport Canada deactivation
criteria turning OFF the air bag can increase the risk of serious injury
or death in a collision.
PASSENGER AIRBAG
ON
OFF OFF
Seating and safety restraints
119
Page 135 of 280
3. Turn the key to 4 (ON) without
turning the key to 5 (START).
If there is difficulty in turning the
key, firmly rotate the steering wheel
left and right until the key turns
freely. This condition may occur
when:
²front wheels are turned
²front wheel is against the curb
²steering wheel is turned when getting in or out of the vehicle
Make sure the corresponding lights illuminate briefly. If a light fails to
illuminate, have the vehicle serviced.
²If the driver's safety belt is fastened, the
light may not illuminate.
1
2
34
5
0
E
L
L
H H
F
CH
DPRND2
DOOR
AJAR
SELECT
RESET
4X4
LOW
RANGE THEFT
FUEL DOOR
20406080
00
20
40
60
BRAKE
MPHkm/hSERVICE
ENGINE
SOONLOW
FUEL
CRUISE
D
L
H
L
H
E
F
C
H
BRAKEPRND2CRUISE DOOR
AJAR
SELECT/RESET
4X4
LOW
RANGE THEFT
FUEL DOOR SERVICE
ENGINE
SOONLOW
FUEL
0MPHRPMX1000km/h
20406080
00
20
40
60
Starting
135
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STARTING THE ENGINE
1. Turn the key to 5 (START)
without pressing the accelerator
pedal and release as soon as the
engine starts. The key will return to
4 (ON).
2. If the temperature is above ±12ÉC
(10ÉF) and the engine does not
start within five seconds on the first
try, turn the key to OFF, wait 10
seconds and try again.
3. If the temperature is below -12É C (10É F) and the engine does not
start in 15 seconds on the first try, turn the key OFF and wait 10
seconds and try again. If the engine does not start in two attempts, press
the accelerator pedal all the way to floor and hold. Turn the key to
START position.
4. When the engine starts, release the key, then release the accelerator
pedal gradually as the engine speeds up.
5. After idling for a few seconds, apply the brake and release the parking
brake.
Using the engine block heater (if equipped)
An engine block heater warms the engine coolant, which improves
starting, warms up the engine faster and allows the heater-defroster
system to respond quickly. Use of an engine block heater is strongly
recommended if you live in a region where temperatures reach -23ÉC
(-10ÉF) or below.
For best results, plug the heater in at least three hours before starting
the vehicle. Using the heater for longer than three hours will not harm
the engine, so the heater can be plugged in the night before starting the
vehicle.
To prevent electrical shock, do not use your heater with
ungrounded electrical systems or two-pronged (cheater)
adapters.
3
2
1
5
4
Starting
136
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Use extra caution while becoming familiar with your vehicle. Know the
capabilities and limitations of both you as a driver and your vehicle.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OPERATION (IF EQUIPPED)
Brake-shift interlock
This vehicle is equipped with a brake-shift interlock feature that prevents
the gearshift lever from being moved from P (Park) when the ignition is
in the ON position unless brake pedal is depressed.
If you cannot move the gearshift lever out of P (Park) with ignition in
the ON position and 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 lever,
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 if the engine is not at normal operating
temperature or damage to the transmission may occur.
Do not rock the vehicle for more than a few minutes or damage
to the transmission and tires may occur 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.
Driving
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Parking your vehicle
1. Disengage the clutch, apply brake
and shift into Neutral.
2. Set parking brake.
3. Shift into 1 (First).
4. Turn the ignition key to position
3 (OFF).
1
24R3D
3
2
1
5
4
Driving
151
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Removing key from ignition
²Turn the ignition key to position 2.
²Push the release lever forward
and rotate the key towards you
and remove.
FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE (4WD) OPERATION (IF EQUIPPED)
For important information regarding safe operation of this type
of vehicle, seePreparing to drive your vehiclein this chapter.
When Four±wheel drive (4WD) is engaged, power is supplied to all four
wheels through a transfer case. 4WD power can be selected when
additional driving power is desired.
If equipped with the Electronic Shift 4WD System, and the
instrument panel control is moved to 4WD Low while the vehicle
is moving, the system will not engage and no damage will occur to
the 4WD system. Before 4WD Low can be engaged, the vehicle
must be brought to a complete stop with the brake pedal
depressed and the transmission placed in neutral (or the clutch
pedal depressed on manual transmissions).
4WD operation is not recommended on dry pavement. Doing so could
result in difficult disengagement of the transfer case, increased tire wear
and decreased fuel economy.
Driving
153
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4WD system indicator lights
The 4WD system indicator lights illuminate only under the following
conditions. If these lights illuminate when driving in 2WD, contact your
Ford dealer as soon as possible.
²4X4Ðmomentarily illuminates
after the engine is started.
Illuminates when 4H (4WD High)
is engaged.
²LOW RANGEÐmomentarily
illuminates with the key in the
ON position and after the engine
is started. Illuminates when 4L
(4WD Low) is engaged.
Using lever-operated 4WD system (if equipped)
2H (2WD High)± Power to rear axle only.
4H (4WD High)± Power to front and rear axles.
N (Neutral)± No power to either axle.
4L (4WD Low)± Power to front and rear axles at reduced speed.
Shifting from 2H (2WD high) to 4H (4WD high)
Move the transfer case lever to 4H
(4WD High) at a stop or any
forward speed up to 88 km/h
(55 mph).
²At temperatures below 0ÉC
(32ÉF), shifts from 2H (2WD
High) to 4H (4WD High) should
not be performed above 72 km/h
(45 mph).
Do not shift into 4H (4WD High) with the rear wheels slipping.
4x4
LOW
RANGE
2H
4H
4L N
Driving
154