2001 Mercury Mountaineer change wheel

Trailer towing tips
²Practice turning, stopping and backing up 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 no more than 10±15% 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) (automatic transmissions) or N (Neutral)
(manual transmissions). 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
²Do not allow waves to break higher than 15 cm (6 inches) above the
bottom edge of the rear bumper.
Exceeding these limits may allow water to enter critical vehicle
components, adversely affecting driveability, emissions, reliability and
causing internal transmission damage.
Replace the rear axle lubricant anytime the axle has been submerged in
water. Rear axle lubricant quantities are not to be checked or changed
unless a leak is suspected or repair required.
Disconnect the wiring to the trailer before backing the trailer into the
water. Reconnect the wiring to the trailer after the trailer is removed
from the water.
Recreational towing (all wheels on the ground)
Do not tow your vehicle with all wheels on the ground as vehicle damage
may occur.
Driving
174

Stowing the spare tire
1. Lay the tire on the ground with the valve stem facing up.
2. Slide the wheel under the vehicle
and install the retainer through the
wheel center.
3. Turn the jack handle clockwise
until the tire is raised to its original
position underneath the vehicle. The
jack handle ratchets when the tire is
raised to the stowed position. It will
not allow you to overtighten.
Tire change procedure
To prevent the vehicle from moving when you change a tire, be
sure the parking brake is set, then block (in both directions) the
wheel that is diagonally opposite (other side and end of the vehicle) to
the tire being changed.
If the vehicle slips off the jack, you or someone else could be
seriously injured.
Refer to the instruction sheet for detailed tire change instructions.
1. Park on a level surface, activate
hazard flashers and set the parking
brake.
2. Place gearshift lever in P (Park)
and turn engine OFF.
When one of the rear
wheels is off the ground,
the transmission alone will not
prevent the vehicle from moving
or slipping off the jack, even if the
transmission is in P (Park).
Roadside emergencies
187

Driving style Ð good driving and fuel economy habits
Give consideration to the lists that follow and you may be able to change
a number of variables and improve your fuel economy.
Habits
²Smooth, moderate operation can yield up to 10% savings in fuel.
²Steady speeds without stopping will usually give the best fuel
economy.
²Idling for long periods of time (greater than one minute) may waste
fuel.
²Anticipate stopping; slowing down may eliminate the need to stop.
²Sudden or hard accelerations may reduce fuel economy.
²Slow down gradually.
²Driving at reasonable speeds (traveling at 88 km/h [55 mph] uses 15%
less fuel than traveling at 105 km/h [65 mph]).
²Revving the engine before turning it off may reduce fuel economy.
²Using the air conditioner or defroster may reduce fuel economy.
²You may want to turn off the speed control in hilly terrain if
unnecessary shifting between third and fourth gear occurs.
Unnecessary shifting of this type could result in reduced fuel
economy.
²Warming up a vehicle on cold mornings is not required and may
reduce fuel economy.
²Resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving may reduce fuel
economy.
²Combine errands and minimize stop-and-go driving.
Maintenance
²Keep tires properly inflated and use only recommended size.
²Operating a vehicle with the wheels out of alignment will reduce fuel
economy.
²Use recommended engine oil. Refer toLubricant Specifications.
²Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance items. Follow the
recommended maintenance schedule and owner maintenance checks
found in your vehicle scheduled maintenance guide.
Maintenance and care
231

A
Air bag supplemental restraint
system ........................127±128, 132
and child safety seats ............129
description ......................128, 132
disposal ....................................135
driver air bag ..................130, 133
indicator light ...........10, 131, 134
operation .........................130, 133
passenger air bag ...........130, 133
side air bag ..............................132
Air cleaner filter .......................246
Air conditioning ..........................22
automatic temperature
control system ..........................26
rear seat controls .....................31
Air suspension ...........................151
description ..............................151
warning light .............................12
All Wheel Drive (AWD),
driving off road .........................164
Ambulance packages ....................3
Antifreeze (see Engine
coolant) .....................................207
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ......................148±149
Anti-theft system
warning light .............................11
Armrests ....................................100
Audio system (see Radio) .........36
Automatic transmission
driving an automatic
overdrive .........................154, 156
fluid, adding ............................213
fluid, checking ........................213
fluid, refill capacities ..............247fluid, specification ..................251
Auxiliary power point .................99
Axle
lubricant specifications ..249, 251
refill capacities ........................247
traction lok ..............................167
B
Battery .......................................217
acid, treating emergencies .....217
charging system warning
light ............................................11
jumping a disabled battery ....190
maintenance-free ....................217
replacement, specifications ...246
servicing ..................................217
voltage gauge ............................16
Belt minder ...............................123
Brakes ........................................148
anti-lock ...........................148±149
anti-lock brake system
(ABS) warning light .........10, 149
brake warning light ..................10
fluid, checking and adding ....205
fluid, refill capacities ..............247
fluid, specifications .........249, 251
lubricant specifications ..249, 251
parking ....................................150
shift interlock ..........................153
Break-in period .............................3
C
Capacities for refilling fluids ....247
Cargo area shade ......................101
Cargo cover ...............................101
CD changer .................................73
Index
268