Mercury Tracer (1998 year). Instruction — part 1

Before driving

Introduction

2

Instrumentation

3

Controls and features

15

Seating and safety restraints

45

Starting and driving

Starting

77

Driving

85

Roadside emergencies

103

Servicing

Maintenance and care

118

Capacities and specifications

171

Reporting safety defects

177

Index

178

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

r 1997 Ford Motor Company

Elemental Chlorine Free

Contents

1

ICONS

Indicates a warning. Read the
following section on Warnings for
a full explanation.

Indicates vehicle information
related to recycling and other
environmental concerns will follow.

Correct vehicle usage and the
authorized disposal of waste
cleaning and lubrication materials
are significant steps towards
protecting the environment.

WARNINGS

Warnings provide information
which may reduce the risk of
personal injury and prevent
possible damage to others, your
vehicle and its equipment.

BREAKING-IN YOUR VEHICLE

There are no particular breaking-in
rules for your vehicle. During the
first 1 600 km (1 000 miles) of
driving, vary speeds frequently.
This is necessary to give the
moving parts a chance to break in.

If possible, you should avoid full
use of the brakes for the first
1 600 km (1 000 miles).

INFORMATION ABOUT THIS
GUIDE

The information found in this
guide was in effect at the time of
printing. Ford may change the
contents without notice and
without incurring obligation.

Introduction

2

Instrumentation

3

THEFT

LOW
FUEL

50

60

70

FUEL

FILL

E

F

C

H

1

2

/

RPMx1000

1

2

3

4 5

6

7
8

30

40

80

90

100

60

80

100

120

140

160

0 0 0 1 1 3

MIRROR

L

Power side view

mirrors

(pg. 15)

Instrument cluster

(pg. 6)

Headlamp/turn

signal control

(pg. 24)

Foglamp control *

(pg. 26)

Driver side air

bag

(pg. 57)

Speed control

(pg. 26)

Instrument panel

dimmer switch

(pg. 15)

Instrumentation

4

OFF

R.DEF

A/C

MAX

A/C

HI

LO

TUNE

DISCS

SEEK

TRACK

SCAN

AM

FM

1

SIDE 1-2

2

3

4

5

6

COMP

SHUF

EJ

REW

FF

PREMIUM SOUND

TAPE

CD

H

M

+

BAL

FADE

BASS

TREB

DOLBY B NR

VOL

PUSH ON

MIST

OFF

F

IN

Electronic sound

system; refer to

Audio Guide

(pg. 16)

Passenger side air

bag

(pg. 57)

Climate controls

(pg. 16)

Windshield

wiper/washer control

(pg. 32)

Instrumentation

5

WARNING LIGHTS AND CHIMES

Base instrument cluster

Sport instrument cluster

Low fuel

Illuminates when the fuel tank has
approximately eight liters (two
gallons) remaining. The lamp will
also illuminate when the ignition
key is turned to ON and the engine
is off.

Service engine soon

Your vehicle is equipped with a
computer that monitors the
engine’s emission control system.
This system is commonly known as
the On Board Diagnostics System

!

THEFT

CHECK

COOLANT

SERVICE

ENGINE

SOON

P

BRAKE

ABS

+

–

MPH

20

50

60

70

FUEL FILL

E

F

C

H

1

2

/

30

40

80

90

100

110

120

10

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

km/h

0

0

0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0

LOW
FUEL

!

THEFT

CHECK

COOLANT

SERVICE

ENGINE

SOON

P

BRAKE

ABS

+

–

MPH

20

50

60

70

FUEL FILL

E

F

1

2

/

30

40

80

90

100

110

120

10

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

km/h

0

0

0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0

C

H

RPMx1000

1

2

3

4 5

6

7

8

LOW
FUEL

LOW

FUEL

SERVICE

ENGINE

SOON

Instrumentation

6

(OBD II). This OBD II system
protects the environment by
ensuring that your vehicle
continues to meet government
emission standards. The OBD II
system also assists the service
technician in properly servicing
your vehicle.

The Service Engine Soon
indicator light illuminates when the
ignition is first turned to the ON
position to check the bulb. If it
comes on after the engine is
started, one of the engine’s
emission control systems may be
malfunctioning. The light may
illuminate without a driveability
concern being noted. The vehicle
will usually be drivable and will not
require towing.

What you should do if the
Service Engine Soon light
illuminates

Light turns on solid:

This means that the OBD II system
has detected a malfunction.

Temporary malfunctions may cause
your Service Engine Soon light to
illuminate. Examples are:

1. The vehicle has run out of fuel.
(The engine may misfire or run
poorly.)

2. Poor fuel quality or water in the
fuel.

3. The fuel cap may not have been
properly installed and securely
tightened.

Instrumentation

7

These temporary malfunctions can
be corrected by filling the fuel tank
with good quality fuel and/or
properly installing and securely
tightening the gas cap. After three
driving cycles without these or any
other temporary malfunctions
present, the Service Engine Soon
light should turn off. (A driving
cycle consists of a cold engine
startup followed by mixed
city/highway driving.) No
additional vehicle service is
required.

If the Service Engine Soon light
remains on, have your vehicle
serviced at the first available
opportunity.

Light is blinking:

Engine misfire is occurring which
could damage your catalytic
converter. You should drive in a
moderate fashion (avoid heavy
acceleration and deceleration) and
have your vehicle serviced at the
first available opportunity.

Under engine misfire
conditions, excessive

exhaust temperatures could
damage the catalytic converter,
the fuel system, interior floor
coverings or other vehicle
components, possibly causing a
fire.

Instrumentation

8

Air bag readiness

Momentarily illuminates when the
ignition is turned ON. If the light
fails to illuminate, continues to
flash or remains on, have the
system serviced immediately.

Safety belt

Momentarily illuminates when the
ignition is turned ON to remind
you to fasten your safety belts. For
more information, refer to the
Seating and safety restraints
chapter.

Brake system warning

Momentarily illuminates when the
ignition is turned ON and the
engine is off. Also illuminates when
the parking brake is engaged.
Illumination after releasing the
parking brake indicates low brake
fluid level.

Anti-lock brake system (ABS)
(If equipped)

Momentarily illuminates when the
ignition is turned on and the
engine is off. If the light remains
on or continues to flash, the ABS
needs to be serviced.

Turn signal

Illuminates when the left or right
turn signal or the hazard lights are
turned on. If one or both of the
indicators stay on continuously or
flash faster, check for a burned-out
turn signal bulb. Refer to Exterior

P

!

BRAKE

ABS

Instrumentation

9

bulbs in the Maintenance and
care chapter.

High beams

Illuminates when the high beam
headlamps are turned on.

Anti-theft system (if equipped)

Refer to Anti-theft system in the
Controls and features chapter.

Charging system

Momentarily illuminates when the
ignition is turned ON and the
engine is off. The light also
illuminates when the battery is not
charging properly, requiring
electrical system service.

Engine oil pressure

Illuminates when the oil pressure
falls below the normal range.
Switch off the engine immediately.
Check the oil level and add oil if
needed. Refer to Engine oil in the
Maintenance and Care chapter.

This lamp also illuminates when
the ignition is turned to ON and
the engine is off.

Check coolant

Illuminates when the coolant level
in the coolant reservoir is low and
more needs to be added. This lamp

THEFT

CHECK

COOLANT

Instrumentation

10

will also illuminate when the
ignition is turned to ON and the
engine is off. For more information
on adding engine coolant, refer to
Engine coolant in the
Maintenance and care chapter.

Liftgate ajar (if equipped)

Illuminates when the ignition is in
the ON position and the liftgate is
open.

Safety belt warning chime

Chimes to remind you to fasten
your safety belts.

For information on the safety belt
warning chime, refer to the
Seating and safety restraints
chapter.

Supplemental restraint system
(SRS) warning chime

For information on the SRS
warning chime, refer to the
Seating and safety restraints
chapter.

Key-in-ignition warning chime

Sounds when the key is left in the
ignition in the OFF/LOCK or ACC
position and either front door is
opened.

Headlamps on warning chime

Sounds when the headlamps or
parking lamps are on, the ignition
is off (and the key is not in the
ignition) and either front door is
opened.

Instrumentation

11

GAUGES

Base instrument cluster gauges

Sport instrument cluster gauges

Fuel gauge

Displays approximately how much
fuel is in the fuel tank (when the
key is in the ON position). The
fuel gauge may vary slightly when
the vehicle is in motion. The
ignition should be in the OFF
position while the vehicle is being
refueled. When the gauge first
indicates empty, there is a small
amount of reserve fuel in the tank.

!

THEFT

CHECK

COOLANT

SERVICE

ENGINE

SOON

P

BRAKE

ABS

+

–

MPH

20

50

60

70

FUEL FILL

E

F

C

H

1

2

/

30

40

80

90

100

110

120

10

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

km/h

0

0

0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0

!

THEFT

CHECK

COOLANT

SERVICE

ENGINE

SOON

P

BRAKE

ABS

+

–

MPH

20

50

60

70

FUEL FILL

E

F

1

2

/

30

40

80

90

100

110

120

10

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

km/h

0

0

0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0

C

H

RPMx1000

1

2

3

4 5

6

7

8

LOW
FUEL

FUEL

FILL

E

F

1

2

/

Instrumentation

12

When refueling the vehicle from
empty indication, the amount of
fuel that can be added will be less
than the advertised capacity due to
the reserve fuel.

Engine coolant temperature
gauge

Indicates the temperature of the
engine coolant. At normal
operating temperature, the needle
remains within the normal area
(the area between the “H” and
“C”). If it enters the red section,
the engine is overheating. Stop the
vehicle, switch off the ignition and
let the engine cool. Refer to
Engine coolant in the
Maintenance and care chapter.

Never remove the coolant
recovery cap while the

engine is running or hot.

This gauge indicates the
temperature of the engine coolant,
not the coolant level. If the coolant
is not at its proper level or
mixture, the gauge indication will
not be accurate.

Speedometer

Indicates the current vehicle
speed.

C

H

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

110

120

10

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

MPH

km/h

0

0

0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0

Instrumentation

13

Odometer

Registers the total kilometers
(miles) of the vehicle.

Trip odometer

Registers the kilometers (miles) of
individual journeys. To reset,
depress the control.

Tachometer (if equipped)

Indicates the engine speed in
revolutions per minute.

Driving with your tachometer
pointer in the red zone may
damage the engine.

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

110

120

10

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

MPH

km/h

0

0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0

0 0 0 0

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

110

120

10

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

MPH

km/h

0 0 0 0 0 0

THEFT

RPMx1000

1

2

3

4 5

6

7

8

Instrumentation

14

PANEL DIMMER CONTROL

Use to adjust the brightness of the
instrument panel.
• Rotate left to brighten.
• Rotate right to dim.

POWER SIDE VIEW MIRRORS

To adjust your mirrors:

1. Select L to adjust the left mirror
or R to adjust the right mirror.

2. Move the control in the
direction you wish to tilt the
mirror.

3. Return to the center position to
lock mirrors in place.

The ignition key must be in ACC
or ON to adjust the power side
view mirrors.

MIRRORS

L R

MIRRORS

L R

Controls and features

15

To adjust your mirrors:

1. Select L to adjust the left mirror
or R to adjust the right mirror.

2. Move the control in the
direction you wish to tilt the
mirror.

3. Return to the center position to
lock mirrors in place.

AUDIO SYSTEM

Refer to the “Audio Guide” for
instructions on how to operate the
audio system.

CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM

Heater only system
(if equipped)

MIRRORS

L R

MIRRORS

L R

OFF

HI

LO

Controls and features

16