Mercury Tracer (1998 year). Instruction — part 2

Fan speed control

Controls the volume of air
circulated in the vehicle.

Temperature control knob

Controls the temperature of the
airflow inside the vehicle. On
heater-only systems, the air cannot
be cooled below the outside
temperature.

Mode selector control

Controls the direction of the
airflow to the inside of the vehicle.

•

(Vent)-Distributes outside

air through the instrument panel
registers.

• OFF-Outside air is shut out and

the fan will not operate.

•

(Panel and

floor)-Distributes outside air
through the instrument panel
registers and the floor ducts.

•

(Floor)-Allows for maximum

heating. Distributes outside air
through the floor ducts.

•

(Floor and

defrost)-Distributes outside air
through the floor ducts and the
windshield defroster ducts.

•

-Distributes outside air

through the windshield defroster

HI

LO

OFF

Controls and features

17

ducts. It can be used to clear ice
or fog from the windshield.

Operating tips

• In humid weather, select

before driving. This will

help to prevent your windshield
from fogging. After a few
minutes, select any desired
position.

• To prevent humidity buildup

inside the vehicle, don’t drive
with the climate control system
in the OFF position.

• Don’t put objects under the

front seat that will interfere with
the airflow to the back seats.

• Remove any snow, ice or leaves

from the air intake area (at the
bottom of the windshield under
the hood).

• When placing objects on top of

your instrument panel, be
careful to not place them over
the defroster outlets. These
objects can block airflow and
reduce your ability to see
through your windshield. Also,
avoid placing small objects on
top of your instrument panel.
These objects can fall down into
the defroster outlets and block
airflow and possibly damage
your climate control system.

Controls and features

18

Instruction heating and air
conditioning system
(if equipped)

Fan speed control

Controls the volume of air
circulated in the vehicle.

Temperature control knob

Controls the temperature of the
airflow inside the vehicle.

Mode selector control

Controls the direction of the
airflow to the inside of the vehicle.

The air conditioning compressor
will operate in all modes except

and

. However, the air

conditioning will only function if
the outside temperature is about
10°C (50°F) or above.

Since the air conditioner removes
considerable moisture from the air
during operation, it is normal if
clear water drips on the ground
under the air conditioner drain
while the system is working and

HI

LO

OFF

A/C

MAX

A/C

HI

LO

OFF

A/C

MAX

A/C

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19

even after you have stopped the
vehicle.

Under normal conditions, your
vehicle’s climate control system
should be left in any position other
than MAX A/C or OFF when the
vehicle is parked. This allows the
vehicle to “breathe” through the
outside air inlet duct.
• MAX A/C-Uses recirculated air

to cool the vehicle. MAX A/C is
noisier than A/C but more
economical and will cool the
inside of the vehicle faster.
Airflow will be from the
instrument panel registers. This
mode can also be used to
prevent undesirable odors from
entering the vehicle.

• A/C-Uses outside air to cool the

vehicle. It is quieter than MAX
A/C but not as economical.
Airflow will be from the
instrument panel registers.

•

(Vent)-Distributes outside

air through the instrument panel
registers. However, the air will
not be cooled below the outside
temperature because the air
conditioning does not operate in
this mode.

• OFF-Outside air is shut out and

the fan will not operate. For
short periods of time only, use
this mode to prevent
undesirable odors from entering
the vehicle.

•

(Panel and floor)-

Distributes outside air through

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20

the instrument panel registers
and the floor ducts. Heating and
air conditioning capabilities are
provided in this mode. For
added customer comfort, when
the temperature control knob is
anywhere in between the full
hot and full cold positions, the
air distributed through the floor
ducts will be slightly warmer
than the air sent to the
instrument panel registers.

•

(Floor)-Allows for maximum

heating by distributing outside
air through the floor ducts.
However, the air will not be
cooled below the outside
temperature because the air
conditioning does not operate in
this mode.

•

(Floor and defrost)-

Distributes outside air through
the windshield defroster ducts
and the floor ducts. Heating and
air conditioning capabilities are
provided in this mode. For
added customer comfort, when
the temperature control knob is
anywhere in between the full
hot and full cold positions, the
air distributed through the floor
ducts will be slightly warmer
than the air sent to the
instrument panel registers. If
the temperature is about 10°C
(50°F) or higher, the air
conditioner will automatically
dehumidify the air to prevent
fogging.

Controls and features

21

•

-Distributes outside air

through the windshield defroster
ducts. It can be used to clear ice
or fog from the windshield. If
the temperature is about 10°C
(50°F) or higher, the air
conditioner will automatically
dehumidify the air to prevent
fogging.

Operating tips

• In humid weather, select

before driving. This will

prevent your windshield from
fogging. After a few minutes,
select any desired position.

• To prevent humidity buildup

inside the vehicle, don’t drive
with the climate control system
in the OFF position.

• Don’t put objects under the

front seat that will interfere with
the airflow to the back seats.

• Remove any snow, ice or leaves

from the air intake area (at the
bottom of the windshield under
the hood).

• If your vehicle has been parked

with the windows closed during
hot weather, the air conditioner
will do a much faster job of
cooling if you drive for two or
three minutes with the windows
open. This will force most of the
hot, stale air out of the vehicle.

Controls and features

22

Then operate your air
conditioner as you would
normally.

• When placing objects on top of

your instrument panel, be
careful to not place them over
the defroster outlets. These
objects can block airflow and
reduce your ability to see
through your windshield. Also,
avoid placing small objects on
top of your instrument panel.
These objects can fall down into
the defroster outlets and block
airflow and possibly damage
your climate control system.

REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER

Clears the rear window of thin ice
and fog. To operate:

1. Turn the ignition to the ON
position.

2. Press and release the control
once to turn on. The light will be
lit while the rear window defroster
is on.

3. Press and release the control
again to turn off.

The defroster will automatically
turn off after fifteen minutes.

R.DEF

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23

POSITIONS OF THE IGNITION

1. LOCK, locks the steering wheel,
gearshift lever (automatic
transaxle only) and allows key
removal. On vehicles with a
instruction transaxle push the key in
while turning to lock.

2. ACCESSORY, allows the
electrical accessories such as the
radio to operate while the engine
is not running.

3. ON, all electrical circuits
operational. Warning lights
illuminated. Key position when
driving.

4. START, cranks the engine.
Release the key as soon as the
engine starts.

HEADLAMP CONTROL

Rotate the headlamp control
clockwise to the first position to
turn on the parking lamps only.
Rotate to the second position to
also turn on the headlamps.

Daytime running lamps (DRL)
(if equipped)

Turns the highbeam headlamps on
with a reduced output. To activate:
• the engine must be running
• the gearshift must not be in P

(Park)

• the headlamp control is in the

OFF or Parking lamps position.

LO

C

K

A

C

C

ON

S

TA

R

T

0

I

II

III

4

3

2

1

OFF

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24

The Daytime Running
Light (DRL) system will

not illuminate the tail lamps and
parking lamps. Turn on your
headlamps at dusk. Failure to do
so may result in a collision.

High beams

Push forward to activate.

Flash to pass

Pull toward you to activate and
release to deactivate.

TURN SIGNAL CONTROL

• Push down to activate the left

turn signal.

• Push up to activate the right

turn signal.

OFF

OFF

OFF

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25

FOGLAMPS (IF EQUIPPED)

Rotate forward to activate.

SPEED CONTROL
(IF EQUIPPED)

To turn speed control on

• Press ON.
Vehicle speed cannot be controlled
until the vehicle is traveling at or
above 48 km/h (30 mph).

Do not use the speed
control in heavy traffic or

on roads that are winding,
slippery, or unpaved.

Do not shift the gearshift
lever into N (Neutral) with

the speed control on.

OFF

OFF

ON

OFF

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26

To turn speed control off

• Press OFF or
• Turn off the vehicle ignition.

Once speed control is switched off,
the previously programmed set
speed will be erased.

To set a speed

• Press SET ACC/SET ACCEL.

For speed control to operate,
the speed control must be ON
and the vehicle speed must be
greater than 48 km/h (30 mph).

If you drive up or down a steep
hill, your vehicle speed may vary
momentarily slower or faster than
the set speed. This is normal.

Speed control cannot reduce the
vehicle speed if it increases above
the set speed on a downhill. If
your vehicle speed is faster than
the set speed while driving on a
downhill, you may want to shift to
the next lower gear or apply the
brakes to reduce your vehicle
speed.

ON

OFF

RSM

CST

SET

ACC

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27

If your vehicle slows down more
than 16 km/h (10 mph) below your
set speed on an uphill, your speed
control will disengage. This is
normal. Pressing
RES/RSM/RESUME will re-engage
it.

Do not use the speed
control in heavy traffic or

on roads that are winding,
slippery, or unpaved.

To set a higher set speed

• Press and hold SET ACC/SET

ACCEL. Release the control
when the desired vehicle speed
is reached or

• Press and release SET ACC/SET

ACCEL. Each press will increase
the set speed by 1.6 km/h
(1 mph) or

• Accelerate with your accelerator

pedal, then press and release
SET ACC/SET ACCEL.

You can accelerate with the
accelerator pedal at any time
during speed control usage.
Releasing the accelerator pedal will
return your vehicle to the
previously programmed set speed.

RSM

CST

SET

ACC

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28

To set a lower set speed

• Press and hold CST/COAST.

Release the control when the
desired speed is reached or

• Press and release CST/COAST.

Each press will decrease the set
speed by 1.6 km/h (1 mph) or

• Depress the brake pedal. When

the desired vehicle speed is
reached, press SET ACC/SET
ACCEL.

RSM

CST

SET

ACC

RSM

CST

SET

ACC

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29

To disengage speed control

• Depress the brake pedal or

• Depress the clutch pedal (if

equipped)

Disengaging the speed control will
not erase the previously
programmed set speed.

Pressing OFF will erase the
previously programmed set speed.

ON

OFF

Controls and features

30

To return to a previously set
speed

• Press RES/RSM/RESUME. For

RES/RSM/RESUME to operate,
the vehicle speed must be faster
than 48 km/h (30 mph).

TILT STEERING (IF EQUIPPED)

Pull the tilt steering control down
to move the steering wheel up or
down. Hold the control while
adjusting the wheel to the desired
position, then push the control
back up to lock the steering wheel
in position.

Never adjust the steering
wheel when the vehicle is

moving.

HAZARD FLASHER

For information on the hazard
flasher control, refer to Hazard
lights control in the Roadside
emergencies chapter.

RSM

CST

SET

ACC

Controls and features

31

WINDSHIELD WIPER AND
WASHER

• For intermittent wiping, move

the control down one position
and rotate the wiper switch to
the desired position.

• For low speed wiping, move the

control down two positions.

• For high speed wiping, move the

control down three positions.

• For mist wiping, move the

control up one position.

• To spray the washer fluid, pull

the wiper control toward you.

MIST

OFF

INT

1

2

F

S

PULL

INT

MIST

OFF

INT

1

2

F

S

PULL

INT

MIST

OFF

INT

1

2

F

S

PULL

INT

Controls and features

32