2002 Mercury Mountaineer sensor

Usually, when something affects the compass readings, the compass will
correct itself after a few days of operating your vehicle in normal
conditions. If the compass still appears to be inaccurate, a manual
calibration may be necessary. Refer toCompass calibration
adjustment.
Most geographic areas (zones) have a magnetic north compass point that
varies slightly from the northerly direction on maps. This variation is four
degrees between adjacent zones and will become noticeable as the
vehicle crosses multiple zones. A correct zone setting will eliminate this
error. Refer toCompass zone adjustment.
Compass zone adjustment
1. Determine which magnetic zone
you are in for your geographic
location by referring to the zone
map.
2. Turn ignition to the ON position.
3. Locate compass sensor mounted
at base of mirror.
4. Insert a paperclip into the small
hole on the bottom of the compass
sensor or press the button on the
top of the compass module until
ZONE appears in the instrument cluster display.
5. Release pressure on the paperclip or button and then slowly press it
down again.
6. Continue to press until ZONE
appears in the instrument cluster
display, then release. The display
should show the current zone
number.
7. Press until the desired zone
number appears. The display will flash and then return to normal
operation. The zone is now updated.
1 2 3
4
5
6 7 8 9 101112 13 14 15
Instrumentation
18

Compasscalibrationadjustment
Perform this adjustment in an open area free from steel structures and
high voltage lines:
For optimum calibration, turn off all electrical accessories (heater/air
conditioning, wipers, etc.) and make sure all vehicle doors are shut.
1. Start the vehicle.
2. Locate compass sensor mounted at base of mirror.
3. Insert a paperclip into the small
hole on the bottom of the compass
sensor or press the button on the
top of the compass module until
ZONE appears in the instrument
cluster display. Continue to hold
down until ZONE disappears and CAL is displayed (approximately eight
seconds) and release.
4. Drive the vehicle slowly (less than 5 km/h [3 mph]) in circles until
CAL indicator turns off (4–5 complete circles).
5. The compass is now calibrated.
MESSAGE CENTER (IF EQUIPPED)
With the ignition in the ON position,
the message center, located on your
instrument cluster, displays
important vehicle information
through a constant monitor of
vehicle systems.You may select
display features on the message center for a display of status preceded
by a brief indicator chime. The system will also notify you of potential
vehicle problems with a display of system warnings followed by a long
indicator chime.
Instrumentation
19

Warning messages that have been reset are divided into three categories:
•They will reappear on the display every minute from the reset.
•They will reappear on the display ten minutes from the reset.
•They will not reappear until an ignition OFF-ON cycle has been
completed.
This acts as a reminder that these warning conditions still exist within
the vehicle.
Warning display Status
Warning-tire very low (if equipped) Warning returns every
minute
Check engine temperature Warning returns after 10
minutes
Transmission overheated
Check transmission
Low fuel level
Check fuel cap
Check charging system
Low brake fluid level
Low oil pressure
Check tire pressure (if equipped) Warning returns after the
ignition key is turned from
OFF to ON. Check spare tire pressure (if equipped)
Tire pressure system fault (if equipped)
Tire pressure sensor fault (if equipped)
Check AdvanceTrac(if equipped)
Advtrac off t/c on (if equipped)
Low washer fluid level
Door ajar
Change oil soon
Oil change required
CHECK ENGINE TEMPERATURE.Displayed when the engine
coolant is overheating. Stop the vehicle as soon as safely possible, turn
off the engine and let it cool. Check the coolant and coolant level. Refer
toEngine coolantin theMaintenance and carechapter. If the warning
stays on or continues to come on, contact your dealer as soon as
possible.
Instrumentation
26

TIRE PRESSURE SYSTEM FAULT (if equipped).Displayed when
the Tire pressure monitoring system is malfunctioning. If the warning
stays on or continues to come on, have the system checked by your
dealer.
TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR FAULT (if equipped).Displayed when a
Tire pressure sensor is malfunctioning. If the warning stays on or
continues to come on, have the system checked by your dealer.
LOW WASHER FLUID LEVEL.Indicates the washer fluid reservoir is
less than one quarter full. Check the washer fluid level. Refer to
Windshield washer fluidin theMaintenance and carechapter.
CHECK ADVANCETRAC(if equipped).Displayed when the
AdvanceTracsystem is not operating properly. If this message is
displayed on the message center the AdvanceTracsystem will be
partially operable. If this warning stays on while the engine is running,
contact your dealer for service as soon as possible. For further
information, refer toAdvanceTracstability enhancement systemin
theDrivingchapter.
ADVTRAC OFF T/C ON.Displayed on 4x4 vehicles only when 4x4 Low
Range is selected. In this mode, the stability enhancement portion of the
AdvanceTracis disabled, but the traction enhancement feature remains
enabled. For further information, refer toAdvanceTracstability
enhancement systemin theDrivingchapter.
DOOR AJAR.
Displayed when a door or liftgate is not completely closed.
CHANGE OIL SOON/OIL CHANGE REQUIRED.Displayed when the
engine oil life remaining is 5 percent or less. When oil life left is between
5% and 0%, the CHANGE OIL SOON message will be displayed. When oil
life left reaches 0%, the OIL CHANGE REQUIRED message will be
displayed.
An oil change is required whenever indicated by the message center.
USE ONLY RECOMMENDED ENGINE OILS.
To reset the oil monitoring system to 100% after each oil change
[approximately 8,000 km (5,000 miles) or 180 days] perform the
following:
1. Press the SETUP control to
access the System Check function.
Instrumentation
28

TIRE PRESSURE SYSTEM OFF (if equipped).Displayed when the
tire pressure monitoring system is turned off. Only your dealer can turn
the system on or off. It is recommended that the tire pressure
monitoring system is always turned ON.
DATA ERR.These messages indicate improper operation of the vehicle
network communication between electronic modules.
•Fuel computer
•Oil life
•Charging system
•Door sensor
•Washer fluid
•Brake fluid
•Compass
•Outside temperature
•Engine sensor
Contact your dealer as soon as possible if these messages occur on a
regular basis.
Instrumentation
30

The RSS detects obstacles within
approximately 1.8 meters (5.9 ft.) of
the rear bumper with a decreased
coverage area at the outer corners
of the bumper, (refer to the figures
for approximate zone coverage
areas). As you move closer to the
obstacle, the rate of the tone
increases. When the distance to the
obstacle is less than 25.0 cm (10
in.), the tone will sound
continuously. If the system detects a
stationary or receding object further
than 25.0 cm (10 in.) from the side
of the vehicle, the tone will sound
for only three seconds. Once the
system detects an object
approaching, the tone will sound
again.
The RSS is automatically enabled
when the gear selector is placed in
R (Reverse) and the ignition is ON.
The RSS control allows the driver to
disable the RSS only when the
ignition is ON, and the gear selector
is in R (Reverse).
The OFF indicator remains
illuminated when the system is
disabled. The system defaults to ON every time R (Reverse) is selected.
Press the control to disable or enable the system.
The indicator will remain illuminated to indicate a failure of the RSS.
Always keep the sensors (located on the rear bumper/fascia) free
from snow, ice and large accumulations of dirt (do not clean the
sensors with sharp objects). These elements may cause the
system to operate inaccurately.
If the vehicle sustains damage to the rear bumper/fascia, leaving
it misaligned or bent, the sensing zone may be altered causing
inaccurate measurement of obstacles or false alarms.
Controls and features
35

SAFETY RESTRAINTS
Personal Safety System
The Personal Safety System provides an improved overall level of frontal
crash protection to front seat occupants and is designed to help further
reduce the risk of air bag-related injuries. The system is able to analyze
different occupant conditions and crash severity before activating the
appropriate safety devices to help better protect a range of occupants in
a variety of frontal crash situations.
Your vehicle’s Personal Safety System consists of:
•Driver and passenger dual-stage air bag supplemental restraints.
•Front safety belts with pretensioners, energy management retractors,
and safety belt usage sensors.
•Driver’s seat position sensor.
•Front crash severity sensor.
•Restraints Control Module (RCM) with impact and safing sensors.
•Restraint system warning light and back-up tone.
•The electrical wiring for the air bags, crash sensor(s), safety belt
pretensioners, front safety belt usage sensors, driver seat position
sensor, and indicator lights.
How does the personal safety system work?
The Personal Safety System can adapt the deployment strategy of your
vehicle’s safety devices according to crash severity and occupant
conditions. A collection of crash and occupant sensors provides
information to the Restraints Control Module (RCM). During a crash, the
RCM activates the safety belt pretensioners and/or either one or both
stages of the dual-stage air bag supplemental restraints based on crash
severity and occupant conditions.
The fact that the pretensioners or air bags did not activate for both front
seat occupants in a collision does not mean that something is wrong with
the system. Rather, it means the Personal Safety System determined the
accident conditions (crash severity, belt usage, etc.) were not
appropriate to activate these safety devices. Front air bags are designed
to activate only in frontal and near-frontal collisions, not rollovers,
side-impacts, or rear-impacts unless the collision causes sufficient
longitudinal deceleration.
Driver and passenger dual-stage air bag supplemental restraints
The dual-stage air bags offer the capability to tailor the level of air bag
inflation energy. A lower, less forceful energy level is provided for more
Seating and safety restraints
133

common, moderate-severity impacts. A higher energy level is used for
the most severe impacts. Refer toAir bag Supplemental Restraints
section in this chapter.
Front crash severity sensor
The front crash severity sensor enhances the ability to detect the
severity of an impact. Positioned up front, it provides valuable
information early in the crash event on the severity of the impact. This
allows your Personal Safety System to distinguish between different
levels of crash severity and modify the deployment strategy of the
dual-stage air bags and safety belt pretensioners.
Driver’s seat position sensor
The driver’s seat position sensor allows your Personal Safety System to
tailor the deployment level of the driver dual-stage air bag based on seat
position. The system is designed to help protect smaller drivers sitting
close to the driver air bag by providing a lower air bag output level.
Front safety belt usage sensors
The front safety belt usage sensors detect whether or not the driver and
front outboard passenger safety belts are fastened. This information
allows your Personal Safety System to tailor the air bag deployment and
safety belt pretensioner activation depending upon safety belt usage.
Refer toSafety Beltsection in this chapter.
Front safety belt pretensioners
The safety belt pretensioners are designed to tighten the safety belts
firmly against the occupant’s body during a collision. This maximizes the
effectiveness of the safety belts and helps properly position the occupant
relative to the air bag to improve protection. The safety belt
pretensioners can be either activated alone or, if the collision is of
sufficient severity, together with the air bags.
Front safety belt energy management retractors
The front safety belt energy management retractors allow webbing to be
pulled out of the retractor in a gradual and controlled manner in
response to the occupant’s forward momentum. This helps reduce the
risk of force-related injuries to the occupant’s chest by limiting the load
on the occupant. Refer toSafety Beltsection in this chapter.
Determining if the Personal Safety System is operational
The Personal Safety System uses a warning light in the instrument
cluster or a back-up tone to indicate the condition of the system. Refer
Seating and safety restraints
134