2010 Mercury Mariner brakes

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.”
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
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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.
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.
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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.
WARNING:If you are driving in slippery conditions that require
tire chains or cables, then it is critical that you drive cautiously.
Keep speeds down, allow for longer stopping distances and avoid
aggressive steering to reduce the chances of a loss of vehicle control
which can lead to serious injury or death. If the rear end of the vehicle
slides while cornering, steer in the direction of the slide until you
regain control of the vehicle.
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).
Failure to maintain your vehicle properly may void the warranty, increase
your repair cost, reduce vehicle performance and operational capabilities
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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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indicate that the vehicle is not ready for I/M testing. To determine if the
vehicle is ready for I/M testing, turn the ignition key to the on position
for 15 seconds without cranking the engine. If the service engine
soon
indicator blinks eight times, it means that the vehicle is not
ready for I/M testing; if the service engine soon
indicator stays on
solid, it means that the vehicle is ready for I/M testing.
The OBD-II system is designed to check the emission control system
during normal driving. A complete check may take several days. If the
vehicle is not ready for I/M testing, the following driving cycle consisting
of mixed city and highway driving may be performed:
15 minutes of steady driving on an expressway/highway followed by
20 minutes of stop-and-go driving with at least four 30-second 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. If
the vehicle is still not ready for I/M testing, the above driving cycle will
have to be repeated.
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.
Maintenance and Specifications
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A
Accessory delay ..........................72
Active Park Assist .....................230
AdvanceTrac ..............................216
Air cleaner filter ...............321–322
Air conditioning
automatic temperature
control system ..........................48
manual heating and air
conditioning system .................45
Airbag supplemental restraint
system ........................137, 146, 149
and child safety seats ............139
description ..............137, 146, 149
disposal ....................................152
driver airbag ............139, 147, 150
indicator light .........146, 148, 151
operation .................139, 147, 150
passenger airbag .....139, 147, 150
side airbag ...............................146
All Wheel Drive (AWD),
driving off road .........................236
Ambient mood/lighting ...............58
Ambulance packages ....................7
AM/FM .........................................27
Antifreeze (see Engine
coolant) .....................................298
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ......................213–214
Anti-theft system ......................107
Audio system (see Radio) .........27
Automatic transmission
driving an automatic
overdrive .................................224
fluid, refill capacities ..............323
fluid, specification ..................323Auxiliary input jack (Line in) ....35
Auxiliary power point .................70
Axle
lubricant specifications ..........323
refill capacities ........................323
B
Battery .......................................296
acid, treating emergencies .....296
jumping a disabled battery ....265
maintenance-free ....................296
replacement, specifications ...322
servicing ..................................296
Belt-Minder
.............................132
Blind Spot Spotter Mirror ........235
Booster seats .............................166
Brakes ........................................213
anti-lock ...........................213–214
anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light ...........................214
fluid, checking and adding ....317
fluid, refill capacities ..............323
fluid, specifications .................323
lubricant specifications ..........323
parking ....................................214
shift interlock ..........................222
Bulbs ............................................58
C
Capacities for refilling fluids ....323
Car2U
Home Automation
System .........................................80
Cargo area shade ........................87
Cargo management system ........88
CD ................................................27
Cell phone use ..............................8
Index
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Infant seats
(see Safety seats) .....................157
Inspection/maintenance (I/M)
testing ........................................316
Instrument panel
cleaning ...................................283
cluster ........................................12
lighting up panel and
interior .......................................54
J
Jump-starting your vehicle ......265
K
Keyless entry system
autolock ...............................97, 99
keypad .....................................105
locking and unlocking doors ..106
programming entry code .......105
Keys .....................................91, 108
positions of the ignition .........207
L
Lamps
bulb replacement
specifications chart ..................59
daytime running light ...............54
fog lamps ...................................53
headlamps .................................52
headlamps, flash to pass ..........54
instrument panel, dimming .....54
interior lamps ...............56–57, 59
replacing bulbs .........................60
LATCH anchors .........................161
Liftgate ................................86, 103
Lights, warning and indicator ....12
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ..........214
Load limits .................................194Loading instructions .................200
Locks
autolock ...............................97, 99
childproof ................................101
doors ..........................................97
Lubricant specifications ...........323
Lug nuts ....................................263
Luggage rack ...............................88
Lumbar support, seats .....114–115
M
Message center ...........................18
english/metric button ...............22
system check button ................22
warning messages .....................22
Mirrors ...................................72–73
automatic dimming rearview
mirror ........................................72
fold away ...................................73
heated ........................................74
side view mirrors (power) .......73
Moon roof ....................................79
Motorcraft
parts ..............285, 322
MyKey ..........................................92
N
Navigation system .......................44
O
Octane rating ............................308
Oil (see Engine oil) ..................292
Overdrive ...................................224
P
Parental MyKey programming ...92
Index
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