2008 Mercury Mariner spare

Removing the spare tire or spare tire and tether (if equipped)
1. Insert the lug wrench through the
access hole in the rear bumper.
2. Turn the handle counterclockwise
and lower the spare tire until it can
be slid rearward and the cable is
slack.
3. Slide the retainer through the
center of the wheel.
If equipped with a tether,
perform the following additional
steps:
4. Lift the spare tire on end to
access tether attachment (1).
5. Use the lug wrench to remove the
lug nut from the spare tire tether.
2008 Mariner(mrn)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Roadside Emergencies
222

6. If not replacing the spare or flat
tire to the underbody storage area,
raise winch up into the installed
position.
7. Use the attached fastener strap
(2) to tie the tether end to the
winch actuator shaft (if equipped).
Tire change procedure
When one of the front wheels is off the ground, the transmission
alone will not prevent the vehicle from moving or slipping off the
jack, even if the vehicle is in P (Park).
To help 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.
Do not attempt to change a tire on the side of the vehicle close
to moving traffic. Pull far enough off the road to avoid the
danger of being hit when operating the jack or changing the wheel.
2008 Mariner(mrn)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Roadside Emergencies
223

4. Remove the lug nuts with the lug nut wrench.
5. Replace the flat tire with the spare tire, making sure the valve stem is
facing outward. Reinstall lug nuts until the wheel is snug against the hub.
Do not fully tighten the lug nuts until the wheel has been lowered.
6. Lower the wheel by turning the jack handle counterclockwise.
7. Remove the jack and fully tighten
the lug nuts in the order shown.
Refer toWheel lug nut torque
specificationslater in this chapter
for the proper lug nut torque
specification.
Stowing the jack and tools
•Make sure the jack is fully
lowered.
•Reclip the tools onto the jack
making sure that the tools are
fully contained by the clips as
shown.
•Reinstall the jack in the pocket
with the left side first, then snap
the right side down.
•Ensure that the hold-strap
contains the jack and tools before snapping the buckle.
•Ensure that the jack and tools are oriented as illustrated.
Stowing the flat/spare tire
Note:Failure to follow spare tire stowage instructions may result in
failure of cable or loss of spare tire.
If you are stowing a tire that requires reattaching it to the
vehicle with a tether, perform these steps first, then proceed with
the steps following.
1
4 3
2 5
2008 Mariner(mrn)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Roadside Emergencies
226

1. Place tire on end with valve stem
facing rearward, away from vehicle.
2. Place tether into bolt holes in
wheel and attach lug nut using lug
wrench.
3. Lay the tire on the ground with the valve stem facing down. If your
vehicle is equipped with aluminum wheels, remove the wheel ornament.
4. Slide the wheel partially under the vehicle and install the retainer
through the center of the wheel.
5. Turn the jack handle clockwise until the tire is raised to its original
position underneath the vehicle. The effort to turn the jack handle
increases significantly as the tire contacts the frame. The spare tire
carrier will ratchet when the tire is in the fully stowed position. The
spare tire carrier has a built-in ratchet feature that will not allow you to
overtighten. If the spare tire carrier ratchets with very little effort, take
the vehicle to your authorized dealer for assistance at your earliest
convenience.If your vehicle is equipped with a trailer hitch, guide
the tire with one hand; keep the rear of the tire tilted down until
the tire clears the bumper.
6. Check that the tire lies flat against the frame assembly. Push against
the tire to make sure it is tightly seated under the vehicle. Loosen and
retighten, if necessary. Failure to properly stow the spare tire may result
in failure of the winch cable and loss of the spare tire.(Make sure that
the tire does not contact the bumper.)
7. Repeat this tightness check procedure (every six months, per
scheduled maintenance information),when servicing the spare tire
pressure or at any time that the spare tire is disturbed through service of
other components.
2008 Mariner(mrn)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Roadside Emergencies
227

changing ..........................221, 223
checking the pressure ............152
inflating ...................................150
label .........................................162
replacing ..................................154
rotating ....................................156
safety practices .......................155
sidewall information ...............158
snow tires and chains ............168
spare tire .........................219, 221
terminology .............................149
tire grades ...............................149
treadwear ........................148, 153
Towing .......................................175
recreational towing .................179
trailer towing ..........................175
wrecker ....................................234
Transmission .............................194
brake-shift interlock (BSI) ....194
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................281
fluid, refill capacities ..............286
lubricant specifications ..........286
Turn signal ..................................45V
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................289
Vehicle loading ..........................169
Ventilating your vehicle ...........184
W
Warning lights (see Lights) .......12
Washer fluid ..............................256
Water, Driving through .............207
Windows
power .........................................57
rear wiper/washer .....................53
Windshield washer fluid and
wipers ..........................................52
checking and adding fluid .....256
liftgate reservoir .....................256
replacing wiper blades ...257–258
Wrecker towing .........................234
2008 Mariner(mrn)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Index
298