User manual MERCURY MOUNTAINEER 1999

[. . . ] Table of contents Introduction Notice to 4X2 utility vehicle owners 4WD and AWD systems 4WD Or AWD operation on the road Driving off-road with 4WD or AWD Trailer towing Tires, replacement requirements Maintenance and modifications Hauling cargo and vehicle handling Index 2 3 3 6 9 14 15 17 18 20 1 Introduction INTRODUCTION Welcome to Ford Motor Company's world of four-wheel driving!Your new 4WD or AWD vehicle opens up a completely different and challenging world of travel unlike what you have ever experienced with a conventional two-wheel drive vehicle. Now, you'll be able to travel places where roads don't. You'll be able to travel when weather conditions have made roads impassible for two-wheel drive vehicles. [. . . ] 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. If your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, apply the brake steadily. See your "Owner's Guide" for additional information on the 8 Driving off-road with 4WD or AWD operation of the anti-lock brake system. Parking Before leaving the driver's seat, you should make sure that the gearshift is engaged in P (Park) with an automatic transmission or either 1 (First) or R (Reverse) with a manual transmission. Set the parking brake fully, shut off the ignition and remove the key. On some 4WD vehicles, when the transfer case is in the N (Neutral) position, the engine and transmission are disconnected from the rest of the driveline. Therefore, the vehicle is free to roll even if the automatic transmission is in P (Park) or the manual transmission is in gear. Do not leave the vehicle unattended with the transfer case in N (Neutral) position. Always set the parking brake fully and turn off the ignition when leaving the vehicle. DRIVING OFF-ROAD WITH 4WD OR AWD When using 4WD or AWD, maintain steering wheel control at all times, especially in rough terrain. Since sudden changes in terrain can result in abrupt steering wheel motion, make sure you grip the steering wheel from the outside. Do not grip the spokes. 9 Driving off-road with 4WD or AWD Drive cautiously to avoid vehicle damage from concealed objects such as rocks and stumps. You should either know the terrain or examine maps of the area before driving. Map out your route before driving in the area. To maintain steering and braking control of your vehicle, you must have all four wheels on the ground and they must be rolling, not sliding or spinning. Sand When driving over sand, try to keep all four wheels on the most solid area of the trail. Instead, shift to a lower gear and drive steadily through the terrain. Apply the accelerator slowly and avoid spinning the wheels. If you must reduce the tire pressure for whatever reason in sand, make sure you re-inflate the tires as soon as possible. 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. [. . . ] Tires can be damaged during off-road use. For your safety, tires that are damaged should not be used for highway driving because they are more likely to blow out or fail. You should carefully observe the recommended tire inflation pressure found on the safety compliance certification label attached to the left front door lock facing or door latch post pillar. Failure to follow tire pressure recommendations can adversely affect the way your vehicle handles. [. . . ]