2000 Mercury Sable Owner's Manuals

Cleaning compact discs
Inspect all discs for contamination before playing. If necessary, clean
discs only with an approved CD cleaner and wipe from the center out to
the edge. Do not use circular motion.
CD and CD changer care
²Handle discs by their edges only. Never touch the playing surface.
²Do not expose discs to direct sunlight or heat sources for extended
periods of time.
²Do not insert more than one disc into each slot of the CD changer
magazine.
Cleaning cassette player (if equipped)
Clean the tape player head with a cassette cleaning cartridge after 10 to
12 hours of play in order to maintain the best sound and operation.
Cassette and cassette player care
²Use only cassettes that are 90 minutes long or less.
²Do not expose tapes to direct sunlight, high humidity, extreme heat or
extreme cold. Allow tapes that may have been exposed to extreme
temperatures to reach a moderate temperature before playing.
²Tighten very loose tapes by inserting a finger or pencil into the hole
and turning the hub.
²Remove loose labels before inserting tapes.
²Do not leave tapes in the cassette player for a long time when not
being played.
Radio frequency information
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Canadian Radio
and Telecommunications Commission(CRTC) establish the frequencies
AM and FM stations may use for their broadcasts. Allowable frequencies
are:
AM 530, 540±1600, 1610 kHz
FM 87.7, 87.9±107.7, 107.9 MHz
Not all frequencies are used in a given area.
Controls and features
41

Radio reception factors
Three factors can affect radio reception:
²Distance/strength.The further an FM signal travels, the weaker it is.
The listenable range of the average FM station is approximately 40 km
(24 miles). This range can be affected by ªsignal modulation.º Signal
modulation is a process radio stations use to increase their
strength/volume relative to other stations.
²Terrain.Hills, mountains and tall buildings between your vehicle's
antenna and the radio station signal can cause FM reception problems.
Static can be caused on AM stations by power lines, electric fences,
traffic lights and thunderstorms. Moving away from an interfering
structure (out of its ªshadowº) returns your reception to normal.
²Station overload.Weak signals are sometimes captured by stronger
signals when you pass a broadcast tower. A stronger signal may
temporarily overtake a weaker signal and play while the weak station
frequency is displayed.
The audio system automatically switches to single channel reception if it
will improve the reception of a station normally received in stereo.
Audio system warranties and service
Refer to the ªWarranty Guideº for audio system warranty information.
If service is necessary, see your dealer or a qualified technician.
POWER ADJUSTABLE FOOT PEDALS (IF EQUIPPED)
Press and hold the rocker control
(located on the side of the driver's
seat) to adjust accelerator and
brake pedal.
²press the rear side of the control
to adjust the pedals toward you
²press the front side of the control to adjust the pedals away from you
The adjustment allows for approximately 76mm (3 inches) of maximum
travel.
Never adjust the accelerator and brake pedal with feet on pedals
or while the vehicle is moving.
PEDALS
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42

TRACTION CONTROLY(IF EQUIPPED)
This control can be used to turn the
Traction Controlyon or off. Refer
to theTraction Controlysection of
theDrivingchapter for more
information.
POSITIONS OF THE IGNITION
1. ACCESSORY, allows the electrical
accessories such as the radio to
operate while the engine is not
running.
2. LOCK, locks the steering wheel,
automatic transmission gearshift
lever and allows key removal.
3. OFF, shuts off the engine without
locking the steering wheel.
4. ON, all electrical circuits
operational. Warning lights illuminated with engine off. Key position
when driving.
5. START, cranks the engine. Release the key as soon as the engine
starts.
SPEED CONTROL (IF EQUIPPED)
To turn speed control on
²Press ON.
Vehicle speed cannot be controlled
until the vehicle is traveling at or
above 48 km/h (30 mph).
Do not use the speed control in heavy traffic or on roads that
are winding, slippery, or unpaved.
T/C O
F
F
1
23
4
5
OFF
ON
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43

Do not shift the gearshift lever into N (Neutral) with the speed
control on.
To turn speed control off
²Press OFF or
²Turn off the vehicle ignition.
Once speed control is switched off, the previously programmed set speed
will be erased.
To set a speed
²Press SET+. For speed control to
operate, the speed control must
be ON and the vehicle speed
must be greater than 48 km/h
(30 mph).
If you drive up or down a steep hill, your vehicle speed may vary
momentarily slower or faster than the set speed. This is normal.
Speed control cannot reduce the vehicle speed if it increases above the
set speed on a downhill. If your vehicle speed is faster than the set
speed while driving on a downhill, you may want to shift to the next
lower gear or apply the brakes to reduce your vehicle speed.
If your vehicle slows down more than 16 km/h (10 mph) below your set
speed on an uphill, your speed control will disengage. This is normal.
Pressing RES/RSM/RESUME will re-engage it.
Do not use the speed control in heavy traffic or on roads that
are winding, slippery, or unpaved.
OFF
ON
SET+RES
CST
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44

To set a higher set speed
²Press and hold SET +. Release
the control when the desired
vehicle speed is reached or
²Press and release SET +. Each
press will increase the set speed
by 1.6 km/h (1 mph) or
²Accelerate with your accelerator pedal. When the desired vehicle
speed is reached, press and release SET +.
You can accelerate with the accelerator pedal at any time during speed
control usage. Releasing the accelerator pedal will return your vehicle to
the previously programmed set speed.
To set a lower set speed
²Press and hold CST þ. Release
the control when the desired
speed is reached or
²Press and release CST þ. Each
press will decrease the set speed
by 1.6 km/h (1 mph) or
²Depress the brake pedal. When
the desired vehicle speed is
reached, press SET +.
To disengage speed control
²Depress the brake pedal.
Disengaging the speed control will
not erase the previously
programmed set speed.
SET+RES
CST
SET+RES
CST
SET+RES
CST
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45

Pressing OFF will erase the
previously programmed set speed.
To return to a previously set speed
²Press RES/RSM/RESUME. For
RES/RSM/RESUME to operate,
the vehicle speed must be faster
than 48 km/h (30 mph).
Indicator light
This light comes on when either the
SET ACC/SET ACCEL or RES/RSM/
RESUME controls are pressed. It
turns off when the speed control OFF control is pressed, the brake is
applied or the ignition is turned to the OFF position.
TURN SIGNAL CONTROL
²Push down to activate the left
turn signal.
²Push up to activate the right turn
signal.
WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER CONTROLS
Rotate the windshield wiper control
to the desired interval, low or high
speed position.
The bars of varying length are for
intermittent wipers. When in this
position rotate the control upward
for fast intervals and downward for
slow intervals.
OFF
ON
SET+RES
CST
CRUISE
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46

Push the control on the end of the
stalk to activate washer. Push and
hold for a longer wash cycle. The
washer will automatically shut off
after ten seconds of continuous use.
Mist Function
To operate the Mist function of the
windshield wipers, push and release
the windshield washer control
quickly. The wipers will cycle one or
two times.
Rear window wiper and washer (wagon only)
The rear wiper control is located
under the headlamp controls Press
the wiper control to activate the
rear wiper. Press again to turn off
the wiper.
Press the washer control to activate
the rear washer. The wiper will
come on when the washer control is
pressed, if it is not already on.
HAZARD FLASHER
For information on the hazard flasher control, refer toHazard flasherin
theRoadside emergencieschapter.
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47

TILT STEERING
Pull the tilt steering control toward
you to move the steering wheel up
or down. Hold the control while
adjusting the wheel to the desired
position, then release the control.
Never adjust the steering wheel when the vehicle is moving.
DOME LAMPS AND MAP LAMPS
The front dome lamp is located overhead between the driver and
passenger seats. If the vehicle is equipped with a moon roof, the dome
lamp is located behind the moon roof.
The dome lamp will stay on if the
control is moved to the passenger
side position. When the control is in
the middle position, the lamp will
only come on when a door is
opened. If the control is moved to
the driver's side position, the lamp
will not come on at all.
With the control in the middle position, the dome lamp will illuminate
whenever a front door is opened. If either front door has been opened
from the outside, the lamp will remain on for 25 seconds after the door
is shut. If any other door has been opened from the inside, the lamp will
shut off immediately after the door is closed.
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