2008 Mercury Mountaineer child seat

4. Clip the tether strap to the
anchor.
If the tether strap is clipped incorrectly, the child safety seat
may not be retained properly in the event of a collision.
5. Install the child safety seat tightly using the LATCH anchors or safety
belts. Follow the instructions in this chapter.
6. Tighten the child safety seat tether strap according to the
manufacturer’s instructions.
If the safety seat is not anchored properly, the risk of a child
being injured in a collision greatly increases.
Attaching safety seats with LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for
Children) attachments for child seat anchors
Some child safety seats have two rigid or webbing mounted attachments
that connect to two anchors at certain seating positions in your vehicle.
This type of child seat eliminates the need to use safety belts to attach
the child seat. For forward-facing child seats, the tether strap must also
be attached to the proper tether anchor. SeeAttaching child safety
seats with tether strapsin this chapter.
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Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
207

Your vehicle has LATCH anchors for child seat installation at the
following seating positions. In addition, six passenger and seven
passenger LATCH anchor positions are marked with the child seat
symbol.
•5 passenger vehicle
•6 passenger vehicle
•7 passenger vehicle
Never attach two LATCH child safety seats to the same anchor.
In a crash, one anchor may not be strong enough to hold two
child safety seat attachments and may break, causing serious injury or
death.
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Seating and Safety Restraints
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The lower anchors for child seat
installation are located at the rear
section of the second row seat
between the cushion and seat back.
The LATCH anchors are below the
locator symbols on the seat back on
6 and 7 passenger vehicles. The 5
passenger vehicle does not require
the symbol, however, the anchor
itself is located in the same area.
The anchors on the 2nd row outboard seats are provided only to install
child seats at the outboard seats. DO NOT install a child seat at the
center 2nd row seat using LATCH attachments (rigid or mounted on belt
webbing) mounted to the inboard lower anchors at the outboard seats. If
you install a child seat at the center 2nd row position, use the vehicle
belt and the top tether anchor.
Follow the child seat manufacturer’s instructions to properly install a
child seat with LATCH attachments. Plastic LATCH guides can be
obtained from an authorized dealer. They snap onto the LATCH lower
anchors in the seat to help attach a child seat with rigid attachments.
The guides hold the seat trim away to expose the anchor and make it
easier to attach some child seats.
Attach LATCH lower attachments of the child seat only to the
anchors shown.
2008 Mountaineer(mnt)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
209

If you install a child seat with rigid LATCH attachments, do not tighten
the tether strap enough to lift the child seat off the vehicle seat cushion
when the child is seated in it. Keep the tether strap just snug without
lifting the front of the child seat. Keeping the child seat just touching the
vehicle seat gives the best protection in a severe crash.
Each time you use the safety seat, check that the seat is properly
attached to the lower anchors and tether anchor. Try to move the child
seat from side to side. Also try to tug the seat forward. Check to see if
the anchors hold the seat in place.
If the safety seat is not anchored properly, the risk of a child
being injured in a crash greatly increases.
2008 Mountaineer(mnt)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
210

NOTICE TO UTILITY VEHICLE AND TRUCK OWNERS
Utility vehicles and trucks handle
differently than passenger cars in
the various driving conditions that
are encountered on streets,
highways and off-road. Utility
vehicles and trucks are not designed
for cornering at speeds as high as
passenger cars any more than
low-slung sports cars are designed
to perform satisfactorily under
off-road conditions.
Utility vehicles have a significantly higher rollover rate than
other types of vehicles. To reduce the risk of serious injury or
death from a rollover or other crash you must:
•Avoid sharp turns and abrupt maneuvers;
•Drive at safe speeds for the conditions;
•Keep tires properly inflated;
•Never overload or improperly load your vehicle; and
•Make sure every passenger is properly restrained.
In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is significantly more likely
to die than a person wearing a seat belt. All occupants must
wear seat belts and children/infants must use appropriate restraints to
minimize the risk of injury or ejection.
Study yourOwner’s Guideand any supplements for specific information
about equipment features, instructions for safe driving and additional
precautions to reduce the risk of an accident or serious injury.
VEHICLE CHARACTERISTICS
4WD and AWD Systems (if equipped)
A vehicle equipped with AWD or 4WD (when selected) has the ability to
use all four wheels to power itself. This increases traction which may
enable you to safely drive over terrain and road conditions that a
conventional two-wheel drive vehicle cannot.
2008 Mountaineer(mnt)
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USA(fus)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
211

A
Accessory delay ........................102
AdvanceTrac ..............................255
Air cleaner filter ...............356–358
Air conditioning ..........................79
Airbag supplemental restraint
system ................181–182, 190, 192
and child safety seats ............183
description ..............182, 190, 192
disposal ....................................195
driver airbag ............184, 191, 193
indicator light .................190, 195
operation .................184, 191, 193
passenger airbag .....184, 191, 193
side airbag ...............................190
All Wheel Drive (AWD),
driving off road .........................270
Ambulance packages ....................8
Antifreeze
(see Engine coolant) ................336
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ..............................253
Anti-theft system ......................148
Audio system
(see Radio) ......................20, 24, 32
Automatic transmission
driving an automatic
overdrive .........................262, 265
fluid, adding ............................354
fluid, checking ........................354
fluid, refill capacities ..............359
fluid, specification ..................359
Auxiliary input jack (Line in) ....40
Auxiliary power point ...............100
Axle
lubricant specifications ..........359refill capacities ........................359
B
Battery .......................................334
acid, treating emergencies .....334
jumping a disabled battery ....300
maintenance-free ....................334
replacement, specifications ...358
servicing ..................................334
Belt-Minder
.............................176
Booster seats .............................197
Brakes ........................................252
anti-lock ...................................253
anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light ...........................253
fluid, checking and adding ....354
fluid, refill capacities ..............359
fluid, specifications .................359
lubricant specifications ..........359
parking ....................................254
shift interlock ..........................260
C
Calculating load ........................239
Capacities for refilling fluids ....359
Cargo cover ...............................132
Cargo management system ......132
Cell phone use ..............................8
Changing a tire .........................290
Child safety restraints ..............196
child safety belts ....................196
Child safety seats ......................201
attaching with tether straps ..205
in front seat ............................202
in rear seat ..............................202
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Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
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Index
368

Child safety seats - booster
seats ...........................................197
Cleaning your vehicle
engine compartment ..............317
instrument panel ....................319
interior .....................................320
plastic parts ............................318
washing ....................................315
waxing .....................................316
wheels ......................................316
wiper blades ............................318
Climate control (see Air
conditioning or Heating) ............79
Clock adjust
6-CD in dash .............................34
AM/FM/CD .................................26
Compass, electronic
set zone adjustment ...............124
Console ................................99–100
overhead ....................................98
rear ..........................................100
Controls
power seat ...............................154
steering column ......................107
Coolant
checking and adding ..............336
refill capacities ................340, 359
specifications ..........................359
Cruise control
(see Speed control) ..................105
Customer Assistance ................278
Ford Extended Service
Plan ..........................................311
Getting assistance outside
the U.S. and Canada ..............312
Getting roadside assistance ...278
Getting the service you
need .........................................307Ordering additional owner’s
literature .................................313
Utilizing the Mediation/
Arbitration Program................311
D
Daytime running lamps
(see Lamps) ................................86
Defrost
rear window ..............................83
Dipstick
automatic transmission
fluid ..........................................354
engine oil .................................329
Driveline universal joint and
slip yoke ....................................356
Driving under special
conditions ..................268, 272, 275
sand .........................................274
snow and ice ...........................276
through water .................274, 277
Dual automatic temperature
control (DATC) ...........................79
DVD system .................................49
E
Electronic message center .......115
Emergencies, roadside
jump-starting ..........................300
Emergency Flashers .................280
Emission control system ..........351
Engine ........................................363
cleaning ...................................317
coolant .....................................336
fail-safe cooling .......................341
idle speed control ...................334
lubrication specifications .......359
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Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
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Index
369

How to get going ........................20
I
Ignition ...............................247, 363
Illuminated visor mirror .............97
Infant seats (see Safety seats)...201
Inspection/maintenance (I/M)
testing ........................................353
Instrument panel
cleaning ...................................319
cluster ........................................12
J
Jack ....................................290, 293
positioning .......................290, 295
storage .............................290, 293
Jump-starting your vehicle ......300
K
Keyless entry system ...............146
autolock ...........................135, 137
keypad .....................................147
locking and unlocking doors ..148
programming entry code .......147
Keys ...........................................149
positions of the ignition .........247
L
Lamps
bulb replacement
specifications chart ..................90
daytime running light ...............86
fog lamps ...................................85
headlamps .................................85
interior lamps ...........................89
replacing bulbs .........................93
Liftgate ......................................133remote release ........................142
Lights, warning and indicator ....12
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ..........253
Load limits .................................233
Loading instructions .................239
Locks
autolock ...........................135, 137
childproof ................................140
doors ........................................135
Lubricant specifications ...........359
Lug nuts ....................................299
Luggage rack .............................134
Lumbar support, seats .....154, 156
M
Manual transmission
lubricant specifications ..........359
Message center .........................115
english/metric button .............120
system check button ..............119
warning messages ...................126
Mirrors ...............................102–103
automatic dimming rearview
mirror ......................................102
fold away .................................104
heated ......................................104
side view mirrors (power) .....103
Moon roof ..................................110
Motorcraft parts ........321, 342, 358
N
Navigation system .......................76
O
Octane rating ............................346
Oil (see Engine oil) ..................329
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Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Index
371