2003 Mercury Mountaineer towing

•Resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving may reduce fuel
economy.
•Combine errands and minimize stop-and-go driving.
Maintenance
•Keep tires properly inflated and use only recommended size.
•Operating a vehicle with the wheels out of alignment will reduce fuel
economy.
•Use recommended engine oil. Refer toLubricant specificationsin
this chapter.
•Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance items. Follow the
recommended maintenance schedule and owner maintenance checks
found in your vehicle scheduled maintenance guide.
Conditions
•Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a trailer may reduce fuel economy
at any speed.
•Carrying unnecessary weight may reduce fuel economy (approximately
0.4 km/L [1 mpg] is lost for every 180 kg [400 lb] of weight carried).
•Adding certain accessories to your vehicle (for example bug
deflectors, rollbars/light bars, running boards, ski/luggage racks) may
reduce fuel economy.
•Fuel economy may decrease with lower temperatures during the first
12–16 km (8–10 miles) of driving.
•Driving on flat terrain offers improved fuel economy as compared to
driving on hilly terrain.
•Transmissions give their best fuel economy when operated in the top
cruise gear and with steady pressure on the gas pedal.
•Four-wheel-drive operation (if equipped) is less fuel efficient than
two-wheel-drive operation.
•Close windows for high speed driving.
Flex fuel (E-85) cruising range
Because E-85 fuel contains less energy per gallon than gasoline, you will
experience an increase in fuel consumption. You can expect your Miles
Per Gallon (MPG) and your driving range to decrease by about 30%
compared to gasoline operation.
EPA window sticker
Every new vehicle should have the EPA window sticker. Contact your
dealer if the window sticker is not supplied with your vehicle. The EPA
window sticker should be your guide for the fuel economy comparisons
with other vehicles.
Maintenance and Specifications
233

I
Ignition .......................142, 248–249
Infant seats
(see Safety seats) .....................131
Inspection/maintenance (I/M)
testing ........................................235
Instrument panel
cleaning ...................................203
cluster ........................................10
J
Jack ....................................176, 178
positioning .......................176, 180
storage .............................176–178
Jump-starting your vehicle ......183
K
Keyless entry system .................89
Keys
positions of the ignition .........142
L
Lamps
bulb replacement
specifications chart ..................41
daytime running light ...............37
fog lamps ...................................37
high beams ................................38
instrument panel, dimming .....38
interior lamps ...........................40
Liftgate ..................................79, 85
Lights, warning and indicator ....10
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ..........146
Limited-slip axle .......................155Load limits .................................156
GAWR ......................................156
GVWR ......................................156
trailer towing ..........................156
Loading instructions .................157
Locks
childproof ..................................84
doors ..........................................83
Lubricant specifications ...246, 248
Lumbar support, seats .............101
M
Manual transmission
lubricant specifications ..........248
Message center ...........................68
english/metric button ...............73
system check button ................72
warning messages .....................74
Mirrors .........................................53
automatic dimming rearview
mirror ........................................52
fold away ...................................56
heated ........................................55
side view mirrors (power) .......55
Moon roof ....................................61
Motorcraft parts ................230, 243
O
Octane rating ............................228
Oil (see Engine oil) ..................212
P
Parking brake ............................146
Parts (see Motorcraft parts) ....243
Index
259

spare tire .................176–177, 179
tire grades ...............................240
treadwear ................................239
Towing .......................................158
recreational towing .................162
trailer towing ..........................158
wrecker ....................................189
Transfer case
fluid checking .........................238
Transmission .............................148
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................237
fluid, refill capacities ..............244
lubricant specifications ..246, 248
Trunk ...........................................85
Turn signal ..................................40
V
Vehicle dimensions ...................249Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................251
Vehicle loading ..........................156
Ventilating your vehicle ...........145
W
Warning lights (see Lights) .......10
Washer fluid ..............................211
Water, Driving through .............155
Windows
power .........................................54
rear wiper/washer .....................49
Windshield washer fluid and
wipers ..........................................48
checking and adding fluid .....211
liftgate reservoir .....................211
replacing wiper blades .............49
Wrecker towing .........................189
Index
261