Page 125 of 248
Driving
125
O/D
OFFTRACTION
CONTROL
• D (Drive)
D (Drive) provides more engine
braking than overdrive and is
useful when driving through hilly
terrain or if your vehicle requires
additional power for climbing hills.
Activate by pressing the transaxle
control switch (TCS) located on
the gearshift handle. The O/D OFF
indicator light will illuminate in the
instrument cluster. Transaxle
operates in gears one through
three.
To return to overdrive mode, press
the transaxle control switch.The
O/D OFF indicator light will
extinguish.
When starting your vehicle, the
transaxle will automatically return
to normal overdrive mode when the
D (Drive) gearshift position is
selected.
22MDren 24.6.99 15:26 Uhr Seite 125
Page 166 of 248
Maintenance and care
166Opening the hood
• Pull the handle (1) located
under the instrument panel.
000123000010 20 3040506070
80
90
10 0
110
120
13 0MPH20 406055
80120 10 0
14 0
160
18 0
200EF12
03x 1000
4
5
6
7
8
CHECK
ENGINE TRACTION
CONTROLO/D
OFF
MIRRORS
1
TRACTION
TROLCH
• Release the safety catch by
reaching under the hood (2)
(adjacent to the Mercury emblem)
and pushing it to the left.
2
3
• Raise the hood and
support it with the strut (3) in the
yellow colored retainer, ensuring it
is secure.
To close, replace the support strut
in its retaining clip, lower the hood
and allow it to drop into the catch
for the last 20 – 30 cm
(8 – 12 inches).
Always check to ensure that the
hood lock is fully engaged.
31MMCen 24.6.99 15:30 Uhr Seite 166
Page 189 of 248

Maintenance and care
189 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.
31MMCen 24.6.99 15:31 Uhr Seite 189
Page 221 of 248

Maintenance and care
221 Cleaning the interior fabric
Remove dust and loose dirt with a
whisk broom or a vacuum cleaner.
Remove fresh spots immediately.
Follow the directions that come
with the cleaner.
Cleaning the instrument panel
OFF LO PNL/FLR
PANEL
A/CFLOOR
DEF FLR
DEF
MAX
A/C HI/
POWER AUDIO AM/FM
SCAN
SEEK 31245ANSSIDE 1-2EJECTVOLUME
000123000010 20 3040506070
80
90
10 0
110
120
13 0MPH20 406055
80120 10 0
14 0
160
18 0
200EF12
03x 1000
4
5
6
7
8
CHECK
ENGINE TRACTION
CONTROLO/D
OFF
MIRRORS
CLOCK
H C
Clean the instrument panel with a
damp cloth, then dry with a dry
cloth.
Any cleaner or polish that
increases the gloss of the upper
portion of the instrument panel
should be avoided. The dull finish
in this area is to help protect the
driver from undesirable windshield
reflection.
Cleaning leather seats
(if equipped)
For routine cleaning, wipe the
surface with a soft, damp cloth. For
more thorough cleaning, wipe the
surface with a leather and vinyl
cleaner or a mild soap.
Ford recommends using the
Deluxe Leather Care Kit
F8AZ-196253-AA, which is
available from your Ford dealer.
This mild cleaner and special pad
cleans the leather and maintains its
natural beauty. Follow the
instructions on the cleaner label.
Regular cleaning of your leather
upholstery helps maintain its
resiliency and color.
31MMCen 24.6.99 15:31 Uhr Seite 221
Page 238 of 248
Customer assistance
238Travel equipment
Console
Console armrest
Daytime running lights
Factory luggage rack
Factory luggage rack adapters
Fog lights
Framed luggage covers
Heavy-duty battery
Neutral towing transfer case kit
(Explorer 4.0L only)
Off road lights
Pickup box rails
Removable luggage rack
Removable luggage rack adapters
Retractable bed hooks and loops
Running boards
Snow traction cables
Soft luggage cover
Speed control
Towing mirrors
Trailer hitch
Trailer hitch bars and balls
Trailer hitch wiring adaptor Vehicle Security
Remote keyless entry
Styled wheel protector locks
Vehicle security systems
Comfort and convenience
Air conditioner
Air filtration systems
Cargo nets
Cargo organizers
Cargo shades
Cargo trays
Dash trim
Engine block heaters
Gear shift knob
Luggage presenter (Continental
only)
Manual sliding rear window
Tire step
33MCAen 24.6.99 15:40 Uhr Seite 238