2000 LINCOLN TOWN CAR ignition

If... Then...
The driver's safety belt is not
buckled before the vehicle has
reached at least 5 km/h (3 mph)
and 1-2 minutes have elapsed
since the ignition switch has been
turned to ON...The Belt Minder feature is
activated - the safety belt warning
light illuminates and the warning
chime sounds for 6 seconds every
30 seconds, repeating for
approximately 5 minutes or until
safety belt is buckled.
The driver's safety belt is buckled
while the safety belt indicator light
is illuminated and the safety belt
warning chime is sounding...The Belt Minder feature will not
activate.
The driver's safety belt is buckled
before the ignition switch is turned
to the ON position...The Belt Minder feature will not
activate.
The purpose of the Belt Minder is to remind occasional wearers to wear
safety belts all of the time.
The following are reasons most often given for not wearing safety belts:
(All statistics based on U.S. data)
Reasons given... Consider...
9Crashes are rare
events936 700 crashes occur every day.The more
we drive, the more we are exposed to9rare9
events, even for good drivers.1 in 4 of us will
be seriously injured in a crash during our
lifetime.
9I'm not going far93of4fatal crashes occur within25miles of
home.
9Belts are
uncomfortable9Ford designs its safety belts to enhance
comfort. If you are uncomfortable - try different
positions for the safety belt upper anchorage
and seatback which should be as upright as
possible; this can improve comfort.
9I was in a hurry9Prime time for an accident.Belt Minder
reminds us to take a few seconds to buckle up.
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Reasons given... Consider...
9Seat belts don't
work9Safety belts,when used properly,reduce risk
of deathto front seat occupants by45% in
cars,and by60% in light trucks.
9Traffic is light9Nearly 1 of 2 deaths occur in single-vehicle
crashes,many when no other vehicles are
around.
9Belts wrinkle my
clothes9Possibly, but a serious crash can do much more
than wrinkle your clothes, particularly if you are
unbelted.
9The people I'm with
don't wear belts9Set the example, teen deaths occur 4 times
more often in vehicles with TWO or MORE
people. Children and younger brothers/sisters
imitate behavior they see.
9I have an air bag9Air bags offer greater protection when used
with safety belts. Frontal airbags are not
designed to inflate in rear and side crashes or
rollovers.
9I'd rather be thrown
clear9Not a good idea,peoplewho areejected are
40 times more likely to DIE.Safety belts
help prevent ejection, WE CAN'T9PICK OUR
CRASH9.
Do not sit on top of a buckled safety belt to avoid the Belt
Minder chime. Sitting on the safety belt will increase risk of
injury in an accident. To disable (one time) or deactivate the Belt
Minder feature please follow the directions stated below.
One time disable
Anytime the safety belt is buckled and then unbuckled during an ignition
ON cycle, Belt Minder will be disabled for that ignition cycle only.
Deactivating/activating the belt minder feature
Read steps1-9thoroughly before proceeding with the
deactivation/activation programming procedure.
The Belt Minder feature can be deactivated/activated by performing the
following procedure:
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Before following the procedure, make sure that:
²the parking brake is set
²the gearshift is in P (Park) (automatic transmission).
²the ignition switch is in the OFF position
²all vehicle doors are closed
²the driver's safety belt is unbuckled
²the parklamps/headlamps are in OFF position (If vehicle is equipped
with Autolamps, this will not affect the procedure.)
To reduce the risk of injury, do not deactivate/activate the Belt
Minder feature while driving the vehicle.
1. Turn the ignition switch to the RUN (or ON) position. (DO NOT
START THE ENGINE)
2. Wait until the safety belt warning light turns off. (Approximately 1±2
minutes)
²Steps 3±5 must be completed within 60 seconds or the procedure will
have to be repeated.
3. Buckle then unbuckle the safety belt three times, ending with the
safety belt unbuckled. This can be done before or during Belt Minder
warning activation.
4. Turn on the parklamps/headlamps, turn off the parklamps/headlamps.
5. Buckle then unbuckle the safety belt three times, ending with the
safety belt unbuckled.
²After step 5 the safety belt warning light will be turned on for three
seconds.
6. Within seven seconds of the safety belt warning light turning off,
buckle then unbuckle the safety belt.
²This will disable Belt Minder if it is currently enabled, or enable Belt
Minder if it is currently disabled.
7. Confirmation of disabling Belt Minder is provided by flashing the
safety belt warning light four times per second for three seconds.
8.
Confirmation of enabling Belt Minder is provided by flashing the safety
belt warning light four times per second for three seconds, followed by three
seconds with the safety belt warning light off, then followed by flashing the
safety belt warning light four times per second for three seconds again.
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Several air bag system components get hot after inflation. Do not
touch them after inflation.
If the air bag is inflated,the air bag will not function again
and must be replaced immediately.If the air bag is not
replaced, the unrepaired area will increase the risk of injury in a
collision.
The SRS consists of:
²driver and passenger air bag modules (which include the inflators and
air bags).
²side air bags (if equipped). Refer toSide air bag systemlater in this
chapter.
²one or more impact and safing sensors.
²a readiness light and tone.
²diagnostic module.
²and the electrical wiring which connects the components.
The diagnostic module monitors its own internal circuits and the
supplemental air bag electrical system warning (including the impact
sensors), the system wiring, the air bag system readiness light, the air
bag back up power and the air bag ignitors.
Determining if the system is operational
The SRS uses a readiness light in the instrument cluster or a tone to
indicate the condition of the system. Refer to theAir bag readiness
section in theInstrumentationchapter. Routine maintenance of the air
bag is not required.
A difficulty with the system is indicated by one or more of the following:
²The readiness light will either
flash or stay lit.
²The readiness light will not
illuminate immediately after
ignition is turned on.
²A series of five beeps will be heard. The tone pattern will repeat
periodically until the problem and light are repaired.
AIR
BAG
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Several air bag system
components get hot after
inflation. Do not touch them after
inflation.
If the side air bag has
deployed,the air bag will
not function again. The side
air bag system (including the
seat) must be inspected and
serviced by a qualified
technician in accordance with
the vehicle service manual.If
the air bag is not replaced, the
unrepaired area will increase the
risk of injury in a collision.
Determining if the system is operational
The SRS uses a readiness light in the instrument cluster or a tone to
indicate the condition of the system. Refer to theAir bag readiness
section in theInstrumentationchapter. Routine maintenance of the air
bag is not required.
A difficulty with the system is indicated by one or more of the following:
²The readiness light (same light as for front air bag system) will either
flash or stay lit.
²The readiness light will not illuminate immediately after ignition is
turned on.
²A series of five beeps will be heard. The tone pattern will repeat
periodically until the problem and light are repaired.
If any of these things happen, even intermittently, have the SRS serviced
at your dealership or by a qualified technician immediately. Unless
serviced, the system may not function properly in the event of a
collision.
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105

PREPARING TO START YOUR VEHICLE
Engine starting is controlled by the ignition system. This system meets
all Canadian Interference-Causing Equipment standard requirements
regulating the impulse electrical field strength of radio noise.
When starting a fuel-injected engine, avoid pressing the accelerator
before or during starting. Only use the accelerator when you have
difficulty starting the engine. For more information on starting the
vehicle, refer toStarting the enginein this chapter.
Extended idling at high engine speeds can produce very high
temperatures in the engine and exhaust system, creating the risk
of fire or other damage.
Do not park, idle, or drive your vehicle in dry grass or other dry
ground cover. The emission system heats up the engine
compartment and exhaust system, which can start a fire.
Do not start your vehicle in a closed garage or in other enclosed
areas. Exhaust fumes can be toxic. Always open the garage door
before you start the engine. SeeGuarding against exhaust fumesin
this chapter for more instructions.
If you smell exhaust fumes inside your vehicle, have your dealer
inspect your vehicle immediately. Do not drive if you smell
exhaust fumes.
Important safety precautions
A computer system controls the engine's idle revolutions per minute
(RPM). When the engine starts, the idle RPM runs faster to warm the
engine. If the engine idle speed does not slow down automatically, have
the vehicle checked. Do not allow the vehicle to idle for more than 10
minutes at the higher engine RPM.
Before starting the vehicle:
1. Make sure all vehicle occupants have buckled their safety belts. For
more information on safety belts and their proper usage, refer to the
Seating and safety restraintschapter.
Starting
114

ABS warning lampABS
TheABSwarning lamp in the instrument cluster momentarily illuminates
when the ignition is turned to the ON position. If the light does not
illuminate momentarily at start up, remains on or continues to flash, the
ABS needs to be serviced.
With the ABS light on, the anti-lock
brake system is disabled and normal
braking is still effective unless the
brake warning light also remains
illuminated with parking brake
released. (If your brake warning lamp illuminates, have your vehicle
serviced immediately.)
Using ABS
²In an emergency or when maximum efficiency from the ABS is
required, apply continuous force on the brake. The ABS will be
activated immediately, thus allowing you to retain full steering control
of your vehicle and, providing there is sufficient space, will enable you
to avoid obstacles and bring the vehicle to a controlled stop.
²The Anti-Lock system does not decrease the time necessary to apply
the brakes or always reduce stopping distance. Always leave enough
room between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you to stop.
²We recommend that you familiarize yourself with this braking
technique. However, avoid taking any unnecessary risks.
Parking brake with auto-release
Apply the parking brake whenever
the vehicle is parked.
To set the parking brake:
1. Move the gearshift to P (Park).
2. Push pedal downward.
!
BRAKE
HOOD
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119

The BRAKE warning lamp in the
instrument cluster illuminates and
remains illuminated (when the
ignition is turned ON) until the
parking brake is fully released.
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.
The parking brake is not recommended to stop a moving vehicle.
However, if the normal brakes fail, the parking brake can be used to stop
your vehicle in an emergency. Since the parking brake applies only the
rear brakes, the vehicle's stopping distance will increase greatly and the
handling of your vehicle will be adversely affected.
Your vehicle has an automatic parking brake release. To release the
parking brake:
1. Turn the ignition to the ON position.
2. Press the brake pedal.
3. Move the gearshift from the P (Park) position to one of the forward
gears (the parking brake will not release automatically when you shift
into reverse). The brake pedal must remain pressed while the gearshift is
moved.
If the parking brake fails to release
after completing this procedure, use
the manual parking brake release
lever.
Pull the lever to manually release
the parking brake.
TRACTION CONTROLY
For Traction Controlywarning lights refer toWarning Lightsin the
instrumentation chapter.
Your vehicle may be equipped with the optional Traction Controly
system. This system helps you maintain the stability and steerability of
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BRAKE
HOOD
Driving
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