User manual MERCURY SABLE 1998

[. . . ] Contents Before driving Introduction Instrumentation Controls and features Seating and safety restraints Starting and driving Starting Driving Roadside emergencies Servicing Maintenance and care Capacities and specifications Reporting safety defects Index 127 173 181 182 84 89 108 2 4 15 54 All rights reserved. Reproduction by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system or translation in whole or part is not permitted without written authorization from Ford Motor Company. Copyright 1998 Ford Motor Company 1 Introduction ICONS Indicates a safety alert. Read the following section on Warnings . [. . . ] The parking brake is not designed to stop a moving vehicle. However, if the normal brakes fail, the parking brake can be used to stop your vehicle in an emergency. Since the parking brake applies only the rear brakes, the vehicle's stopping distance will increase greatly and the handling of your vehicle will be adversely affected. 91 Driving Pull the release lever to release the brake. Driving with the parking brake on will cause the brakes to wear out quickly and reduce fuel economy. STEERING Your vehicle is equipped with power steering. Power steering uses energy from the engine to help steer the vehicle. To prevent damage to the power steering pump: · Never hold the steering wheel to the extreme right or the extreme left for more than a few seconds when the engine is running. · Do not operate the vehicle with a low power steering pump fluid level. If the power steering system breaks down (or if the engine is turned off), you can steer the vehicle manually, but it takes more effort. If the steering wanders or pulls, the condition could be caused by any of the following: · underinflated tire(s) on any wheel(s) · high crown in center of road · high crosswinds · wheels out of alignment · loose or worn components in steering linkage 92 Driving AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE OPERATION Brake-shift interlock This vehicle is equipped with a brake-shift interlock feature that prevents the gearshift from being moved from P (Park) unless the brake pedal is pressed. If you cannot move the gearshift out of P (Park) with the brake pedal depressed: 1. Apply the parking brake, turn ignition key to LOCK, then remove the key. Apply the brake pedal and shift to N (Neutral). If it is necessary to use the above procedure to move the gearshift, it is possible that a fuse has blown and the vehicle's brakelamps may not be operating properly. Refer to Fuses and relays in the Roadside emergencies chapter. Do not drive your vehicle until you verify that the brakelamps are working. If your vehicle gets stuck in mud or snow it may be rocked out by shifting from forward and reverse gears, stopping between shifts, in a steady pattern. Press lightly on the accelerator in each gear. Do not rock the vehicle for more than a few minutes, because it could damage the vehicle. Always set the parking brake fully and make sure the gearshift is latched in P (Park). Turn off the ignition whenever you leave your vehicle. 93 Driving Driving with an automatic overdrive transaxle (column or console gearshift without O/D off switch) Your automatic overdrive transaxle provides fully automatic operation in (Overdrive) either or D (Drive). Driving with the shift selector in gives the best fuel economy for normal driving conditions. For manual control start in 1 (First) and then shift manually. [. . . ] 151 snow tires an d chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126 Transaxle fluid, refill capacities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140 fluid, checking and adding (automatic) . . . . 14 Trunk remote releas e lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [. . . ]