2009 Mercury Mariner brakes

Avoid excessive speed because vehicle momentum can work against you
and cause the vehicle to become stuck to the point that assistance may
be required from another vehicle. Remember, you may be able to back
out the way you came if you proceed with caution.
Mud and water
If you must drive through high
water, drive slowly. Traction or
brake capability may be limited.
When driving through water,
determine the depth; avoid water
higher than the bottom of the hubs
(if possible) and proceed slowly. If
the ignition system gets wet, the
vehicle may stall.
Once through water, always try the brakes. Wet brakes do not stop the
vehicle as effectively as dry brakes. Drying can be improved by moving
your vehicle slowly while applying light pressure on the brake pedal.
Be cautious of sudden changes in vehicle speed or direction when you
are driving in mud. Even 4WD vehicles can lose traction in slick mud. As
when you are driving over sand, apply the accelerator slowly and avoid
spinning your wheels. If the vehicle does slide, steer in the direction of
the slide until you regain control of the vehicle.
If the transmission, transfer case or front axle are submerged in water,
their fluids should be checked and changed, if necessary.
Driving through deep water may damage the transmission.
If the front or rear axle is submerged in water, the axle lubricant should
be replaced.
After driving through mud, clean off residue stuck to rotating driveshafts
and tires. Excess mud stuck on tires and rotating driveshafts causes an
imbalance that could damage drive components.
“Tread Lightly” is an educational
program designed to increase public
awareness of land-use regulations
and responsibilities in our nations
wilderness areas. Ford Motor
Company joins the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land
Management in encouraging you to help preserve our national forest and
other public and private lands by “treading lightly.”
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Driving
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Driving on hilly or sloping terrain
Although natural obstacles may make it necessary to travel diagonally up
or down a hill or steep incline, you should always try to drive straight up
or straight down.Avoid driving crosswise or turning on steep
slopes or hills.A danger lies in losing traction, slipping sideways and
possibly rolling over. Whenever driving on a hill, determine beforehand
the route you will use. Do not drive over the crest of a hill without
seeing what conditions are on the other side. Do not drive in reverse
over a hill without the aid of an observer.
When climbing a steep slope or hill,
start in a lower gear rather than
downshifting to a lower gear from a
higher gear once the ascent has
started. This reduces strain on the
engine and the possibility of stalling.
If you do stall out, Do not try to
turnaround because you might roll
over. It is better to back down to a
safe location.
Apply just enough power to the wheels to climb the hill. Too much
power will cause the tires to slip, spin or lose traction, resulting in loss of
vehicle control.
Descend a hill in the same gear you
would use to climb up the hill to
avoid excessive brake application
and brake overheating. Do not
descend in neutral; instead,
disengage overdrive or manually
shift to a lower gear. When
descending a steep hill, avoid
sudden hard braking as you could
lose control. When you brake hard,
the front wheels can’t turn and if
they aren’t turning, you won’t be
able to steer. The front wheels have to be turning in order to steer the
vehicle. Rapid pumping of the brake pedal will help you slow the vehicle
and still maintain steering control.
Since your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, apply the brakes steadily. Do not
“pump” the brakes.
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Driving on snow and ice
4WD vehicles have advantages over 2WD vehicles in snow and ice but
can skid like any other vehicle.
Should you start to slide while driving on snowy or icy roads, turn the
steering wheel in the direction of the slide until you regain control.
Avoid sudden applications of power and quick changes of direction on
snow and ice. Apply the accelerator slowly and steadily when starting
from a full stop.
Avoid sudden braking as well. Although a 4WD vehicle may accelerate
better than a two-wheel drive vehicle in snow and ice, it won’t stop any
faster, because as in other vehicles, braking occurs at all four wheels. Do
not become overconfident as to road conditions.
Make sure you allow sufficient distance between you and other vehicles
for stopping. Drive slower than usual and consider using one of the lower
gears. In emergency stopping situations, avoid locking of the wheels. Use
a “squeeze” technique, push on the brake pedal with a steadily increasing
force which allows the wheels to brake yet continue to roll so that you
may steer in the direction you want to travel. If you lock the wheels,
release the brake pedal and repeat the squeeze technique. Since your
vehicle is equipped with a Four Wheel Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS),
apply the brake steadily. Do not “pump” the brakes. Refer to theBrakes
section of this chapter for additional information on the operation of the
anti-lock brake system.
4WD vehicles should be driven with traction devices as referred to in
Using snow tires and traction devicesin theTires, Wheels and
Loadingchapter.
Maintenance and Modifications
The suspension and steering systems on your vehicle have been designed
and tested to provide predictable performance whether loaded or empty
and durable load carrying capability. For this reason, Ford Motor
Company strongly recommends that you do not make modifications such
as adding or removing parts (such as lift kits or stabilizer bars) or by
using replacement parts not equivalent to the original factory equipment.
Any modifications to a vehicle that raise the center of gravity can make
it more likely the vehicle will roll over as a result of a loss of control.
Ford Motor Company recommends that caution be used with any vehicle
equipped with a high load or device (such as ladder racks or pickup box
cover).
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Failure to maintain your vehicle properly may void the warranty, increase
your repair cost, reduce vehicle performance and operational capabilities
and adversely affect driver and passenger safety. Frequent inspection of
vehicle chassis components is recommended if the vehicle is subjected to
heavy off-road usage.
DRIVING THROUGH WATER
If driving through deep or standing
water is unavoidable, proceed very
slowly especially when the depth is
not known. Never drive through
water that is higher than the bottom
of the wheel rims (for cars) or the
bottom of the hubs (for trucks).
When driving through water, traction or brake capability may be limited.
Also, water may enter your engine’s air intake and severely damage your
engine or your vehicle may stall.Driving through deep water where
the transmission vent tube is submerged may allow water into the
transmission and cause internal transmission damage.
Once through the water, always dry the brakes by moving your
vehicle slowly while applying light pressure on the brake pedal.
Wet brakes do not stop the vehicle as quickly as dry brakes.
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BRAKE FLUID
The fluid level will drop slowly as
the brakes wear, and will rise when
the brake components are replaced.
Fluid levels between the “MIN” and
“MAX” lines are within the normal
operating range; there is no need to
add fluid. If the fluid levels are
outside of the normal operating
range the performance of the
system could be compromised; seek
service from your authorized dealer
immediately.
TRANSMISSION FLUID
Checking automatic transmission fluid
Refer to yourscheduled maintenance informationfor scheduled
intervals for fluid checks and changes. Your transmission does not
consume fluid. However, the fluid level should be checked if the
transmission is not working properly, i.e., if the transmission slips or
shifts slowly or if you notice some sign of fluid leakage.
Automatic transmission fluid expands when warmed. To obtain an
accurate fluid check, drive the vehicle until it is warmed up
(approximately 20 miles [30 km]). If your vehicle has been
operated for an extended period at high speeds, in city traffic
during hot weather or pulling a trailer, the vehicle should be
turned off for about 30 minutes to allow fluid to cool before
checking.
1. Drive the vehicle 20 miles (30 km) or until it reaches normal operating
temperature.
2. Park the vehicle on a level surface and engage the parking brake.
3. With the parking brake engaged and your foot on the brake pedal,
start the engine and move the gearshift lever through all of the gear
ranges. Allow sufficient time for each gear to engage.
4. Latch the gearshift lever in P (Park) and leave the engine running.
5. Remove the dipstick, wiping it clean with a clean, dry, lint-free rag. If
necessary, refer toIdentifying components in the engine compartment
in this chapter for the location of the dipstick.
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Maintenance and Specifications
295

A
Accessory delay ..........................62
AdvanceTrac ..............................201
Air cleaner filter ...............297, 299
Air conditioning
automatic temperature
control system ..........................39
manual heating and air
conditioning system .................36
Airbag supplemental restraint
system ................125–126, 134, 137
and child safety seats ............127
description ..............126, 134, 137
disposal ....................................140
driver airbag ............128, 135, 138
indicator light .........134, 136, 139
operation .................128, 135, 138
passenger airbag .....128, 135, 138
side airbag ...............................134
All Wheel Drive (AWD),
driving off road .........................214
Ambient mood/lighting ...............48
Ambulance packages ....................8
AM/FM .........................................18
Antifreeze
(see Engine coolant) ................277
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ..............................199
Anti-theft system ........................97
Audio system (see Radio) .........18
Automatic transmission
driving an automatic
overdrive .................................210
fluid, refill capacities ..............300
fluid, specification ..................300Auxiliary input jack
(Line in) ......................................26
Auxiliary power point .................60
Axle
lubricant specifications ..........300
refill capacities ........................300
B
Battery .......................................275
acid, treating emergencies .....275
jumping a disabled battery ....242
maintenance-free ....................275
replacement, specifications ...299
servicing ..................................275
Belt-Minder.............................121
Booster seats .............................153
Brakes ................................198–199
anti-lock ...................................199
anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light ...........................199
fluid, checking and adding ....295
fluid, refill capacities ..............300
fluid, specifications .................300
lubricant specifications ..........300
parking ....................................200
shift interlock ..........................208
Bulbs ............................................49
C
Capacities for refilling fluids ....300
Cargo area shade ........................79
Cargo management system ........80
CD ................................................18
Cell phone use ..............................8
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Index
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J
Jump-starting your vehicle ......242
K
Keyless entry system
autolock ...............................86, 88
keypad .......................................96
locking and unlocking doors ....97
programming entry code .........96
Keys .......................................84, 98
positions of the ignition .........193
L
Lamps
bulb replacement
specifications chart ..................50
fog lamps ...................................44
headlamps .................................43
headlamps, flash to pass ..........45
instrument panel, dimming .....45
interior lamps ...............47–48, 50
replacing bulbs .........................51
LATCH anchors .........................148
Liftgate ..................................79, 92
Lights, warning and indicator ....12
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ..........199
Load limits .................................180
Loading instructions .................186
Locks
autolock ...............................86, 88
childproof ..................................90
doors ..........................................86
Lubricant specifications ...........300
Lug nuts ....................................241
Luggage rack ...............................81
Lumbar support, seats .....104–105M
Message center ...........................71
english/metric button ...............74
system check button ................73
warning messages .....................76
Mirrors .........................................63
automatic dimming rearview
mirror ........................................63
fold away ...................................64
heated ........................................64
side view mirrors (power) .......63
Moon roof ....................................69
Motorcraft parts ................263, 299
N
Navigation system .......................35
O
Octane rating ............................286
Oil (see Engine oil) ..................271
Overdrive ...................................209
P
Parking brake ............................200
Parts (see Motorcraft parts) ....299
Passenger Occupant
Classification Sensor .................113
Power distribution box
(see Fuses) ...............................227
Power door locks ........................86
Power mirrors .............................63
Power point .................................60
Power steering ..........................207
fluid, refill capacity ................300
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Owners Guide, 2nd Printing
USA(fus)
Index
310