2001 Mercury Sable towing capacity

When parking, do not use the gearshift in place of the parking
brake. Always set the parking brake fully and make sure that the
gearshift is securely latched in Park (P). Turn off the ignition
whenever you leave your vehicle. Never leave your vehicle unattended
while it is running. If you do not take these precautions, your vehicle
may move unexpectedly and injure someone.
VEHICLE LOADING
Before loading a vehicle, familiarize yourself with the following terms:
²Base Curb Weight:Weight of the vehicle including any standard
equipment, fluids, lubricants, etc. It does not include passengers or
aftermarket equipment.
²Payload:Combined maximum allowable weight of cargo, passengers
and optional equipment. The payload equals the gross vehicle weight
rating minus base curb weight.
²GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight):Base curb weight plus payload
weight. The GVW is not a limit or a specification.
²GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating):Maximum total weight of
the base vehicle, passengers, optional equipment and cargo. The
GVWR is specific to each vehicle and is listed on the Safety
Certification Label on the driver's door pillar.
²GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating):Carrying capacity for each axle
system. The GAWR is specific to each vehicle and is listed on the
Safety Certification Label on the driver's door pillar.
²GCW (Gross Combined Weight):The combined weight of the
towing vehicle (including passengers and cargo) and the trailer.
²GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating):Maximum combined
weight of towing vehicle (including passengers and cargo) and the
trailer. The GCWR indicates the maximum loaded weight that the
vehicle is designed to tow.
²Maximum Trailer Weight Rating:Maximum weight of a trailer the
vehicle is permitted to tow. The maximum trailer weight rating is
determined by subtracting the vehicle curb weight for each
engine/transmission combination, any required option weight for trailer
towing and the weight of the driver from the GCWR for the towing
vehicle.
Driving
128

²Maximum Trailer Weight:Maximum weight of a trailer the loaded
vehicle (including passengers and cargo) is permitted to tow. It is
determined by subtracting the weight of the loaded trailer towing
vehicle from the GCWR for the towing vehicle.
²Trailer Weight Range:Specified weight range that the trailer must
fall within that ranges from zero to the maximum trailer weight rating.
Remember to figure in the tongue load of your loaded trailer when
figuring the total weight.
Do not exceed the GVWR or the GAWR specified on the
certification label.
Do not use replacement tires with lower load carrying capacities than the
originals because they may lower the vehicle's GVWR and GAWR
limitations. Replacement tires with a higher limit than the originals do
not increase the GVWR and GAWR limitations.
The Safety Certification Label, found on the driver's door pillar, lists
several important vehicle weight rating limitations. Before adding any
additional equipment, refer to these limitations. If you are adding weight
to the front of your vehicle, (potentially including weight added to the
cab), the weight added should not exceed the front axle reserve capacity
(FARC). Additional frontal weight may be added to the front axle reserve
capacity provided you limit your payload in other ways (i.e. restrict the
number of passengers or amount of cargo carried).
Always ensure that the weight of passengers, cargo and equipment being
carried is within the weight limitations that have been established for
your vehicle including both gross vehicle weight and Front and rear
gross axle weight rating limits. Under no circumstance should these
limitations be exceeded. Exceeding any vehicle weight rating limitation
could result in serious damage to the vehicle and/or personal injury.
DRIVING THROUGH WATER
Do not drive quickly through standing water, especially if the depth is
unknown. Traction or brake capability may be limited and if the ignition
system gets wet, your engine may stall. Water may also enter your
engine's air intake and severely damage your engine.
If driving through deep or standing water is unavoidable, proceed very
slowly. Never drive through water that is higher than the bottom of the
hubs (for trucks) or the bottom of the wheel rims (for cars).
Driving
129

GAWR ......................................128
GVWR ......................................128
trailer towing ..........................128
Locks
autolock .....................................71
childproof ..................................57
Lubricant specifications ...212±213
Lumbar support, seats ...............79
M
Mirrors .........................................54
cleaning ...................................206
heated ........................................58
side view mirrors (power) .......58
Moon roof ....................................54
Motorcraft parts ................186, 210
O
Octane rating ............................185
Odometer .....................................15
Oil (see Engine oil) ..................157
Overdrive ...................................124
P
Panic alarm feature, remote
entry system ................................65
Parking brake ............................120
Parts (see Motorcraft parts) ....210
Pedals (see Power
adjustable foot pedals) ...............46
Power adjustable foot pedals .....46
Power distribution box
(see Fuses) ...............................141Power door locks ........................57
Power steering ..........................122
fluid, checking and adding ....167
fluid, refill capacity ................211
fluid, specifications .........212±213
R
Radio ............................................29
Relays ................................138, 143
Remote entry system ...........63, 65
illuminated entry ......................65
locking/unlocking doors ...........64
opening the trunk .....................64
panic alarm ...............................65
replacement/additional
transmitters ...............................65
replacing the batteries .............66
Roof rack ...................................134
S
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ............13, 81, 83±87, 89
Safety defects, reporting ..........230
Safety restraints ..............81, 83±90
belt minder ...............................92
cleaning the safety belts ..95, 209
extension assembly ..................91
for adults .............................84±87
for children .....................103±104
lap belt ......................................89
warning light
and chime ........................9, 13, 92
Safety seats for children ..........105
Seat belts
(see Safety restraints) ...............81
Seats ............................................77
Index
235