2006 Mercury Mountaineer warning lights

•Make sure the parking brake is
set.
•Make sure the gearshift is in P
(Park).
•Turn the key to 3 (ON) without
turning the key to 4 (START).
Some warning lights will briefly illuminate. SeeWarning lights and
chimesin theInstrument Clusterchapter for more information
regarding the warning lights.
Starting the engine
1. Turn the key to 3 (ON) without
turning the key to 4 (START). If
there is difficulty in turning the key,
rotate the steering wheel until the
key turns freely. This condition may
occur when:
•the front wheels are turned
•a front wheel is against the curb
2. Turn the key to 4 (START), then
release the key as soon as the
engine starts. Excessive cranking could damage the starter.
2006 Mountaineer(mnt)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Driving
218

AdvanceTracwith RSC button and icon functionality
The AdvanceTracwith RSC system automatically turns on each time
the engine is started, even if it was turned off when the engine was last
shut down. The “sliding car” icon which is located with the warning
lights in the instrument cluster will illuminate during bulb check at initial
start-up and then go off. This tells you that the system is normal and
active. All functions of the AdvanceTracwith RSC (RSC, ESC, Engine
Traction Control, and Brake Traction Control) will be activated at start
up. When the system is left active, the “sliding car” icon will flash only
when any of the components of the system are affecting the vehicles
performance, otherwise the light will remain off. Consequently, the
“sliding car” icon will not be illuminated during most of your normal
driving.
The AdvanceTracwith RSC button,
located on the center stack of the
instrument panel, allows the driver
to control certain features of the
AdvanceTracwith RSC system
below 25 mph (40 km/h). If the
vehicle is below 25 mph (40 km/h), momentarily pressing the
AdvanceTracwith RSC button will disable RSC, ESC and Engine
Traction Control and steadily illuminate the “sliding car” icon. Pressing
and holding the AdvanceTracwith RSC button for more than five
seconds will further disable the brake portion of the Traction Control
feature and the “sliding car” icon will flash momentarily and then
illuminate steady.
If the vehicle is above 25 mph (40 km/h), momentarily pressing the
AdvanceTracwith RSC button will steadily illuminate the “sliding car”
icon, however, the AdvanceTracwith RSC system will remain enabled
until the vehicle speed drops below 25 mph. If the vehicle speed
decreases below 25 mph (40 km/h), the system will become deactivated,
but if the vehicle speed subsequently increases to above 25 mph (40
km/h), the system will again become active. In general, the system will
be active at all times the vehicle speed is above 25 mph (40 km/h).
In R (Reverse), ABS and the Traction Control feature will continue to
function, however ESC and RSC are disabled.
All these conditions are normal during AdvanceTracwith RSC
operation. Refer to the following table.
2006 Mountaineer(mnt)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Driving
224

•Theindicator may come on. For more information on the “check
engine” or the “service engine soon” indicator, refer toWarning lights
and chimesin theInstrument Clusterchapter.
ESSENTIALS OF GOOD FUEL ECONOMY
Measuring techniques
Your best source of information about actual fuel economy is you, the
driver. You must gather information as accurately and consistently as
possible. Fuel expense, frequency of fill-ups or fuel gauge readings are
NOT accurate as a measure of fuel economy. We do not recommend
taking fuel economy measurements during the first 1,000 miles (1,600
km) of driving (engine break-in period). You will get a more accurate
measurement after 2,000 miles-3,000 miles (3,000 km–5,000 km).
Filling the tank
The advertised fuel capacity of the fuel tank on your vehicle is equal to
the rated refill capacity of the fuel tank as listed in theRefill capacities
section of this chapter.
The advertised capacity is the amount of the indicated capacity and the
empty reserve combined. Indicated capacity is the difference in the
amount of fuel in a full tank and a tank when the fuel gauge indicates
empty. Empty reserve is the small amount of fuel remaining in the fuel
tank after the fuel gauge indicates empty.
The amount of usable fuel in the empty reserve varies and should
not be relied upon to increase driving range. When refueling your
vehicle after the fuel gauge indicates empty, you might not be
able to refuel the full amount of the advertised capacity of the
fuel tank due to the empty reserve still present in the tank.
For consistent results when filling the fuel tank:
•Turn the engine/ignition switch to the off position prior to refueling,
an error in the reading will result if the engine is left running.
•Use the same filling rate setting (low — medium — high) each time
the tank is filled.
•Allow no more than two automatic click-offs when filling.
•Always use fuel with the recommended octane rating.
•Use a known quality gasoline, preferably a national brand.
•Use the same side of the same pump and have the vehicle facing the
same direction each time you fill up.
2006 Mountaineer(mnt)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
311

Readiness for Inspection/Maintenance (I/M) testing
In some localities, it may be a legal requirement to pass an I/M test of
the on-board diagnostics system. If the
indicator is on, refer to the
description in theWarning lights and chimessection of the
Instrument Clusterchapter. Your vehicle may not pass the I/M test with
the
indicator on.
If the vehicle’s powertrain system or its battery has just been serviced,
the on-board diagnostics system is reset to a “not ready for I/M test”
condition. To ready the on-board diagnostics system for I/M testing, a
minimum of 30 minutes of city and highway driving is necessary as
described below:
•First, at least 10 minutes of driving on an expressway or highway.
•Next, at least 20 minutes driving in stop-and-go, city-type traffic with
at least four idle periods.
Allow the vehicle to sit for at least eight hours without starting the
engine. Then, start the engine and complete the above driving cycle. The
engine must warm up to its normal operating temperature. Once started,
do not turn off the engine until the above driving cycle is complete.
POWER STEERING FLUID
Check the power steering fluid. Refer to thescheduled maintenance
guidefor the service interval schedules. If adding fluid is necessary, use
only MERCONAT F.
1. Start the engine and let it run
until it reaches normal operating
temperature (the engine coolant
temperature gauge indicator will be
near the center of the normal area
between H and C).
2. While the engine idles, turn the
steering wheel left and right several
times.
3. Turn the engine off.
4. Check the fluid level in the reservoir.
5. The fluid level should be between the MIN and MAX lines. Do not add
fluid if the level is in this range.
6. If the fluid is low, add fluid in small amounts, continuously checking
the level until it reaches the correct operating range. Be sure to put the
cap back on the reservoir.
2006 Mountaineer(mnt)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
316

Illuminated visor mirror .............60
Infant seats
(see Safety seats) .....................170
Inspection/maintenance (I/M)
testing ........................................316
Instrument panel
cleaning ...................................285
cluster ........................................12
J
Jack ....................................256, 260
positioning .......................256, 262
storage .....................256, 259–260
Jump-starting your vehicle ......266
K
Keyless entry system ...............116
autolock ...........................118–119
keypad .....................................116
locking and unlocking doors ..117
programming entry code .......116
Keys ...........................................122
positions of the ignition .........217
L
Lamps
bulb replacement
specifications chart ............52–53
daytime running light ...............49
fog lamps ...................................48
interior lamps ...........................52
replacing bulbs .........................56
Liftgate ......................................106
remote release ........................112
Lights, warning and indicator ....12
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ..........220
Load limits .................................202Loading instructions .................209
Locks
autolock ...........................118–119
childproof ................................110
doors ........................................108
Lubricant specifications ...323, 326
Lug nuts ....................................266
Luggage rack .............................107
Lumbar support, seats .....126, 129
M
Manual transmission
lubricant specifications ..........326
Message center ...............77, 88–89
english/metric button .........81, 94
system check button ..........80, 93
warning messages .............85, 100
Mirrors .........................................66
automatic dimming rearview
mirror ........................................66
fold away ...................................67
heated ........................................67
side view mirrors (power) .......66
Moon roof ....................................72
Motorcraft parts ........287, 306, 319
N
Navigation system .......................40
O
Octane rating ............................310
Oil (see Engine oil) ..................293
P
Parking brake ............................220
Parts (see Motorcraft parts) ....319
2006 Mountaineer(mnt)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Index
335

Speed control ..............................67
Starting your vehicle ........217–218
jump starting ..........................266
Steering wheel
controls ......................................70
tilting .........................................60
T
Tilt steering wheel ......................60
Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS)
Roadside Emergencies ...........256
Tires, Wheels and Loading ....196
Warning Displays ........12, 85, 100
Tires ...........................182–183, 256
alignment ................................194
care ..........................................191
changing ..........................256, 262
checking the pressure ............186
inflating ...................................184
label .........................................191
replacing ..........................193, 262
rotating ....................................195
safety practices .......................194
sidewall information ...............186
snow tires and chains ............202
spare tire .................257, 259, 261
terminology .............................183
tire grades ...............................183
treadwear ........................182, 192
Towing .......................................209
recreational towing .................216
trailer towing ..........................209
wrecker ....................................272Transfer case
fluid checking .........................318
Transmission .............................227
brake-shift interlock (BSI) ....227
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................317
fluid, refill capacities ..............321
lubricant specifications ..323, 326
Turn signal ..................................51
V
Vehicle dimensions ...................326
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................328
Vehicle loading ..........................202
Ventilating your vehicle ...........219
W
Warning lights (see Lights) .......12
Washer fluid ..............................292
Water, Driving through .............244
Windows ....................................112
power .........................................64
rear wiper/washer .....................60
Windshield washer fluid and
wipers ..........................................59
checking and adding fluid .....292
liftgate reservoir .....................292
replacing wiper blades ...........293
Wrecker towing .........................272
2006 Mountaineer(mnt)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Index
337