2000 Mercury Mountaineer weight

Driving while you tow
When towing a trailer:
²Ensure that you turn off your speed control. The speed control may
shut off automatically when you are towing on long, steep grades.
²Consult your local motor vehicle speed regulations for towing a trailer.
²Use a lower gear when towing up or down steep hills. This will
eliminate excessive downshifting and upshifting for optimum fuel
economy and transmission cooling.
²Anticipate stops and brake gradually.
Exceeding the GCWR rating may cause internal transmission
damage and void your warranty coverage.
Servicing after towing
If you tow a trailer for long distances, your vehicle will require more
frequent service intervals. Refer to your Scheduled Maintenance guide
for more information.
Trailer towing tips
²Practice turning, stopping and backing up in an area before starting on
a trip to get the feel of the vehicle trailer combination. When turning,
make wider turns so the trailer wheels will clear curbs and other
obstacles.
²Allow more distance for stopping with a trailer attached.
²The trailer tongue weight should be 10% of the loaded trailer weight.
²After you have traveled 80 km (50 miles), thoroughly check your
hitch, electrical connections and trailer wheel lug nuts.
²When stopped in traffic for long periods of time in hot weather, place
the gearshift in P (Park) and increase idle speed. This aids engine
cooling and air conditioner efficiency.
²Vehicles with trailers should not be parked on a grade. If you must
park on a grade, place wheel chocks under the trailer's wheels.
Launching or retrieving a boat
When backing down a ramp during boat launching or retrieval,
²Do not allow the static water level to rise above the bottom edge of
the rear bumper and
Driving
169

Conditions
²Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a trailer may reduce fuel economy
at any speed.
²Carrying unnecessary weight may reduce fuel economy (approximately
0.4 km/L [1 mpg] is lost for every 180 kg [400 lb] of weight carried).
²Adding certain accessories to your vehicle (for example bug
deflectors, rollbars/light bars, running boards, ski/luggage racks) may
reduce fuel economy.
²Using fuel blended with alcohol may lower fuel economy.
²Fuel economy may decrease with lower temperatures during the first
12±16 km (8±10 miles) of driving.
²Driving on flat terrain offers improved fuel economy as compared to
driving on hilly terrain.
²Transmissions give their best fuel economy when operated in the top
cruise gear and with steady pressure on the gas pedal.
²Four-wheel-drive operation (if equipped) is less fuel efficient than
two-wheel-drive operation.
²Close windows for high speed driving.
EPA window sticker
Every new vehicle should have the EPA window sticker. Contact your
dealer if the window sticker is not supplied with your vehicle. The EPA
window sticker should be your guide for the fuel economy comparisons
with other vehicles.
It is important to note the box in the lower left corner of the window
sticker. These numbers represent the Range of L/100 km (MPG)
expected on the vehicle under optimum conditions. Your fuel economy
may vary depending upon the method of operation and conditions.
EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM
Your vehicle is equipped with various emission control components and a
catalytic converter which will enable your vehicle to comply with
applicable exhaust emission standards. To make sure that the catalytic
converter and other emission control components continue to work
properly:
²Use only the specified fuel listed.
²Avoid running out of fuel.
Maintenance and care
224

Door edge guards
Front end covers (full and sport)
Hood deflectors
Locking gas cap
Lubricants and oils
Molded splash guards
Molded vinyl floor mats
Rear air deflectors
Side window air deflectors
Touch-up paint
Universal floor mats
For maximum vehicle performance, keep the following information in
mind when adding accessories or equipment to your vehicle:
²When adding accessories, equipment, passengers and luggage to your
vehicle, do not exceed the total weight capacity of the vehicle or of
the front or rear axle (GVWR or GAWR as indicated on the Safety
compliance certification label). Consult your dealer for specific weight
information.
²The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Canadian Radio
Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) regulate the use of mobile
communications systems - such as two-way radios, telephones and
theft alarms - that are equipped with radio transmitters. Any such
equipment installed in your vehicle should comply with FCC or CRTC
regulations and should be installed only by a qualified service
technician.
²Mobile communications systems may harm the operation of your
vehicle, particularly if they are not properly designed for automotive
use or are not properly installed. When operated, such systems may
cause the engine to stumble or stall. In addition, such systems may be
damaged or their performance may be affected by operating your
vehicle. (Citizens band [CB] transceivers, garage door openers and
other transmitters with outputs of five watts or less will not ordinarily
affect your vehicle's operation.)
²Ford cannot assume responsibility for any adverse effects or damage
that may result from the use of such equipment.
Customer assistance
255

Foglamps .....................................21
Four-Wheel
Drive vehicles ..................11,12,154
control trac ........................33,154
description .......................155,156
driving off road ................157,160
electronic shift ..........................33
preparing to
drive your vehicle ...................147
Fuel ............................................217
calculating fuel economy ..18,221
cap ...........................................220
capacity ...................................237
choosing the right fuel ...........219
comparisons with EPA fuel
economy estimates .................224
detergent in fuel .....................220
filling your vehicle
with fuel ....................217,220,221
filter, specifications .........221,237
fuel pump shut-off switch .....172
gauge .........................................16
improving fuel economy ........221
octane rating ....................219,242
quality ......................................219
running out of fuel .................220
safety information relating to
automotive fuels .....................217
Fuses ...................................174,175
Garage door opener ...............84,88
Gas cap (see Fuel cap) ............220
Gas mileage
(see Fuel economy) .................221
Gauges .........................................14
battery voltage gauge ...............16
engine coolant
temperature gauge ...................14
engine oil pressure gauge ........16
fuel gauge ..................................16
odometer ...................................15
speedometer .............................14
tachometer ................................15trip odometer ............................15
GAWR
(Gross Axle Weight Rating) .....162
calculating ...............................165
definition .................................162
driving with a heavy load ......162
location ....................................162
GVWR (Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating) .............162
calculating ........................162,165
definition .................................162
driving with a heavy load ......162
location ....................................162
Hazard flashers .........................172
Head restraints .........................112
Headlamps ...................................21
aiming ......................................231
autolamp system .......................93
bulb specifications ..................230
daytime running lights .............21
flash to pass ..............................22
high beam ............................11,21
replacing bulbs .......................227
turning on and off ....................21
warning chime ..........................13
Heating ........................................22
heating and air
conditioning system .................22
HomeLink universal
transceiver (see
Garage door opener) ...88,89,90,91
Hood ..........................................193
Ignition .......................................242
positions of the ignition ...........76
Infant seats
(see Safety seats) .....................135
Inspection/maintenance
(I/M) testing ..............................225
Instrument panel
cleaning ...................................235
cluster ...................................8,235
Index
260