1996 Mercury Tracer Owner's Manual
1996 Mercury Tracer Manual
1996 Mercury Tracer manual content summary:
- 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 1
- 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 2
- 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 3
Panel Controls ...107 Steering Column Controls ...131 Features ...143 Electronic Sound Systems ...167 Driving Your Tracer ...193 Roadside Emergencies ...213 Customer Assistance ...229 Reporting Safety Defects ...237 Accessories ...241 Servicing Your Tracer ...249 Quick Index ...323 Index ...337 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 4
Introductory Information Ford's Commitment to You At Ford Motor Company, excellence is the continuous commitment standard by which others are judged. Our Guiding Principles u Quality comes first. For your satisfaction, the quality of our products and services must be our number one priority. work - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 5
not know which information applies to your vehicle, talk to your dealer. This guide describes equipment and gives specifications for equipment that was in effect when this guide was approved for printing. Ford may discontinue models or change specifications or design without any notice and without - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 6
Guides can be obtained from your dealer or by writing to Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited, Service Publications, P.O. Box services performed. About the Warranties Your vehicle is covered by three types of warranties: Basic Vehicle Warranty, Extended Warranties on certain parts, and Emissions - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 7
Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer, or refer to the addresses and phone numbers on the first page of this owner guide. Your vehicle is equipped with an Electronic Powertrain Control Module that limits engine and/or vehicle speeds with a cut-out mode to promote durability. Buying a Ford Extended Service - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 8
well in advance. - Apply the brakes gradually. The break-in period for new brake linings lasts for 100 miles (160 km) of city driving or 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of highway driving. u Use only the type of engine oil that Ford recommends. See Engine oil recommendations in the Index. Do not use - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 9
bring their vehicle in for inspection by a Ford representative. Polish your vehicle to remove harmful Do not use steel wool, abrasive cleaners, fuel, or strong detergents. Cleaning Plastic Parts Some plastic parts with thinners, solvents or petroleum-based cleaners. If you have your vehicle - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 10
directions on how to properly use these safety belts. Also see Safety Restraints for Children in this chapter for special instructions about using safety belts for children. RWARNING Make sure that you and your passengers wear safety belts. Always drive and ride with your seatback upright and the - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 11
assembly which is made up of one buckle and one tongue that are designed to be used as a pair. Failure to follow these precautions could increase the risk and/or severity of injury in a collision. RWARNING Never drive or ride with a twisted or jammed safety belt. If you cannot untwist or unjam the - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 12
slide under the safety belt and be seriously injured in a collision. RWARNING Never let a passenger hold a child on his or her lap while the vehicle is moving. The passenger cannot protect the child from injury in a collision. RWARNING Lock the doors of your vehicle before driving to lessen the risk - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 13
Motorized Shoulder Belt Passive Restraint System The front seat shoulder belts automatically adjust and together with the manual lap belt, help to provide added restraint in the event of a collision. While you drive, the shoulder belt adjusts to your movement. However, if you brake hard, turn hard, - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 14
To operate the motorized shoulder belt: 1. Get into your vehicle and close the door. Check to be sure the shoulder belt is latched to the emergency release buckle. If it is not latched, pull the shoulder belt from the retractor and buckle it to the emergency release buckle. Note the twist in the - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 15
The shoulder belt in the locked position The shoulder belt in the locked position 12 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 16
front seat shoulder belts latched to the emergency release buckles, refer to the section titled What To Do If Your Shoulder Belt Does Not Engage Properly before driving the vehicle. Use the shoulder belt is in any position and the door is opened, the shoulder belt will move forward to the A-pillar - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 17
RWARNING To reduce the risk of serious injury in a collision, always drive and ride with your seatback upright and the lap belt snug and low across the hips. Important For Your Safety Before driving your vehicle, read the label on the back of the sun visor or on the headliner above the driver's - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 18
located on the manual override access panel. What To Do If Your Shoulder Belt Does Not Engage Properly If your shoulder belt does not move all the way across to the locked position on the B-pillar, follow these steps: 1. 2. Make sure the ignition switch is in the LOCK position. Make sure your door - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 19
move across you, turn the ignition switch to the LOCK position and then release the shoulder belt from the buckle. Remove the access cap located in the lower portion of the trim panel, rearward of the front door opening. Pull the electrical wiring harness out through the access hole and disconnect - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 20
Moving the shoulder belt manually - 4-door model 17 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 21
put the shoulder belt in position, have the system serviced by a qualified technician as soon as possible. Manual Front Lap Belts (U.S. vehicles equipped with motorized passive restraint) You should always wear the lap belt in addition to the shoulder belt. RWARNING The lap belts should fit snugly - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 22
. Refer to the section Front Passenger Lap Belt Retractor (U.S. vehicles equipped with motorized passive restraint) or Front Passenger Lap/Shoulder Belt Retractor (Canadian 2-door vehicles only) in this chapter for complete information on vehicle sensitive and automatic locking modes. Buckling the - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 23
The lap belt fastened The lap and shoulder belts in place 20 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 24
motorized passive restraint) Your vehicle is equipped with a dual locking mode retractor for the front seat passenger, and the lap belt has the following label: Seat belt mode, the lap belt retractor will allow the occupant freedom of movement, locking tight only on hard braking, hard cornering or - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 25
is heard. At this time, the lap belt retractor is in the automatic locking mode (child restraint mode). A clicking sound will contnue to be heard as the belt is allowed to retract. Pull down on the belt to remove slack in the belt. 3. 4. NOTE: When the lap belt is unbuckled and allowed to retract - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 26
locks up in a collision, it may stay locked. To unlock the belt, press the emergency release button on the shoulder belt buckle. This allows the tongue to unlatch from the buckle. If the shoulder belt is unlatched and partially retracted, a warning light in the instrument panel lights up and remains - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 27
as soon as possible. If the fuel pump shut-off switch is not the cause for the shoulder belt not moving, have the system serviced by a qualified technician as soon as possible. RWARNING If the shoulder belt is released from the emergency release buckle, store the tongue end away from the seat - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 28
tongue, and the rear outboard seat safety belts will have the following label: Rear seat belt label Before you fasten a combination lap and shoulder belt having a cinch tongue, you may have to lengthen the lap belt portion of it. To lengthen the lap belt, pull some webbing out of the retractor - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 29
. To fasten a rear outboard belt, pull the combination lap and shoulder belt from the retractor so that the shoulder belt portion of the safety belt crosses your shoulder and chest. Be sure the belt is not twisted. If the belt is twisted, remove the twist. (For instructions on how to remove a twist - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 30
and as low as possible around your hips. The rear lap and shoulder belt fastened RWARNING Front and rear seat occupants, including pregnant women, should wear safety belts for optimum protection in an accident. RWARNING Use the shoulder belt on the outside shoulder only. Never wear the shoulder - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 31
of the vehicle may be hidden by the rear edge of the seat cushion. Pull them out so they will be accessible. To unfasten the belt 1. Push the release button on the buckle. This allows the tongue to unlatch from the buckle. Unfastening the safety - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 32
Unfastening the outboard rear lap/shoulder belt 2. While the belt retracts, guide the tongue to its original position to prevent it from striking you or the vehicle. Instructions for securing child safety seats with rear manual lap and shoulder safety belts with cinch tongues are provided later - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 33
Procedure to Correct a Twisted Safety Belt at the "D" Ring (if so equipped) Front and/or Rear Outboard Seating Positions NOTE: The restraint system shown in the following figures may be different than the restraint system in your vehicle. However, use these figures and this procedure to correct a - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 34
1. Grasp the belt webbing at the "D" ring. See Figure 2. 2. 3. Rotate and fold the belt webbing over itself as required to remove the twist. Feed the folded portion of the belt through the "D" ring. 31 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 35
4. When completed, the safety belt should look like Figure 3. 32 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 36
Procedure to Correct a Rotated Tongue on the Safety Belt (Front and/or rear outboard seating positions) NOTE: The restraint system shown in the following figures may be different than the restraint system in your vehicle. However, use these figures and this procedure to correct a rotated tongue on - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 37
you to form a loop through the upper (narrow and longer) slot in the tongue. See Figure 5. 2. Working within the upper slot, rotate and fold the belt webbing over itself as required to remove the twist. Pull the excess belt webbing back through the upper slot in the tongue. 3. 34 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 38
4. Repeat the above steps to complete the removal of the twist at the lower (wider and shorter) slot in the tongue. See Figure 6. 5. When completed, the safety belt should look like Figure 3. 35 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 39
your hips, as low as possible. If you need to lengthen the belt, unfasten it and repeat the procedure above. If you need to shorten the belt, pull on the loose end of the webbing. To unfasten the belt, push the release button on the end of the buckle. This allows the tongue to - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 40
, front seat belt buckle support assemblies (slide bar) (if equipped), child safety seat tether bracket assemblies (if equipped), and attaching hardware, should be inspected after any collision. Ford recommends that all safety belt assemblies used in vehicles involved in a collision be replaced - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 41
for cleaning upholstery or carpets. Do not bleach or dye the belt webbing because this may weaken it. Air Bag Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) The driver and right front passenger air bag are Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS), provided at these seating positions in addition to the lap - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 42
could cause serious injury. RWARNING Rear-facing infant seats should never be placed in the front seat. In rear-facing infant seats, the infant's head is closer to the air bag. The force of the rapidly inflating air bag could push the top of the rear-facing seat against the vehicle seatback or - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 43
in the rear seat. RWARNING Do not place objects or mount equipment on or near the air bag cover on the steering wheel or in front seat areas that may come in contact with a deploying air bag. Failure to follow this instruction may increase the risk of personal injury in the event of a collision. 40 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 44
the supplemental air bag electrical system readiness, including crash sensors, the system wiring, the air bag readiness light, air bag backup power, and the supplemental air bag ignitors. The driver air bag is in the center of the steering wheel. The front passenger seat air bag is located in the - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 45
mph (45 km/h) will not inflate the air bag. When the sensors activate the system, the air bags inflate rapidly, filling with non-toxic nitrogen gas in a fraction of a second. Immediately after inflation, the air bags deflate by releasing the nitrogen gas through vent holes. The whole process takes - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 46
NOT FUNCTION AGAIN AND MUST BE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY. If the air bag is not replaced, the unrepaired area will increase the risk of injury in a collision. To ensure that the air bag system will operate as intended in a crash, the system is equipped with a diagnostic module, which controls a readiness - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 47
attempt to service, repair, or modify the Air Bag Supplemental Restraint System or its fuses. See your Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer. Disposal of air bags or air bag equipped vehicles For disposal of air bags or air bag equipped vehicles, see your local Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer. Air bags MUST - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 48
Service and information labels are attached to the sun visor, on the headliner above the driver's sun visor (Canadian vehicles), and near the radiator support in the engine in safety seats that are made specially for children. Safety belts alone do not provide maximum protection for these children. - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 49
not equipped with seats and safety belts. RWARNING Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and using a safety belt properly. RWARNING It is extremely positions than in the front seating positions. RWARNING Carefully follow all of the manufacturer's instructions included with the safety - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 50
a safety seat that is recommended for the size and weight of the child. Always follow the safety seat manufacturer's instructions when installing and using the safety seat. Ford recommends the use of a child safety seat having a top tether strap. Install the child safety seat in a seating position - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 51
the rapidly inflating passenger air bag could push the top of the rear-facing seat against the vehicle seatback, armrests or console. Rear-facing infant seats must always be secured in the rear seat. All child restraint systems are designed to be secured in vehicle seats by lap belts or by the lap - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 52
between the child seat and the release button as shown in the following illustration. Failure to follow these instructions could result in accidental unbuckling of the safety belt if the child safety seat hits the release button. Release of the safety belt could result in serious injuries. 49 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 53
Seat (U.S. vehicles and Canadian 4-door sedan, 4-door hatchback and wagon vehicles) Your vehicle is equipped with a dual locking mode retractor on the front lap belt (U.S. vehicles) or the lap belt portion of the front lap/shoulder belt (Canadian vehicles). The lap belt will have the following label - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 54
The automatic locking mode must be used when installing a child seat in the front passenger seat. If you choose to install a forward-facing child safety seat in a front seat with a dual locking mode retractor: 1. 2. Move the front passenger seat as far back as possible. Position the child seat in - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 55
3. Follow the child seat manufacturer's instructions. Route the lap or lap/shoulder belt through the child seat and insert the belt tongue into the buckle until you hear and feel the latch engage. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions for belt routing. Routing the lap or lap/shoulder - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 56
4. Grasp the lap portion of the belt below the child seat label. Pull upward until all of the belt is extracted and a click is heard. At this time, the lap belt retractor is in the automatic locking mode (child seat restraint mode). Setting the automatic locking mode 53 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 57
5. Allow the belt to retract. A clicking sound will be heard as the belt retracts. This indicates the retractor is in the automatic locking mode. Push down on the child seat while you pull down on the belt to remove any slack in the belt. Removing slack from the belt 54 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 58
use. If the lap belt is not locked, repeat steps 4 through 7. 8. NOTE: When the safety belt is unbuckled and allowed to retract completely, the retractor will switch to the vehicle sensitive (emergency) locking mode. See the detailed instructions under Front Passenger Lap Belt Retractor in this - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 59
below the tongue and pull as much of the belt out of the retractor as possible. Hold the belt out. See Figure 1. Pulling out belt webbing NOTE: The belt webbing below the tongue is the lap belt portion of the combination lap and shoulder belt, and the belt webbing above the tongue is the shoulder - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 60
1. Release the tongue, but do not let go of the lap belt webbing. While holding the lap belt webbing belt as possible. Then, let go of the lap belt webbing. Route the tongue and webbing through the child seat according to the child seat manufacturer's instructions. See Figure 2. Be sure that the belt - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 61
5. Insert the belt tongue into the proper buckle for the seating position until you hear a snap and feel it latch. Make sure the tongue is securely fastened to the buckle. Let go of the belt webbing. See Figure 3. Buckling the belt 58 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 62
6. Push down on the child seat and, at the buckle, pull up on the shoulder belt to tighten the lap belt portion of the combination lap and shoulder belt. See Figure 4. Tightening lap portion of belt 59 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 63
lap and shoulder safety seat in the vehicle, grasp and pull on portion of the combination belt that secures the child vehicle. See Figure 5. Tightening shoulder portion of belt 8. Forcibly tilt the child seat from side to side and tug the seat forward to ensure that the seat is held securely - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 64
Checking that the seat is secure Checking that the seat is secure 61 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 65
the tongue up the webbing. Place the child safety seat in the center seating position. Route the tongue and webbing through the child seat according to the child seat manufacturer's instructions. Insert the belt tongue into the proper buckle for the center seating position until you hear a snap and - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 66
out of the rear seat retractor to switch the retractor to automatic locking mode. Let the retractor wind up the slack from the lap/shoulder belt. Install the child safety seat in the front seat. Refer to the previous section on Installing Safety Seats. Hook the tether strap hook around the webbing - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 67
obtained at no charge from any Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer. Tether anchorage hardware (U.S. vehicles only) Vehicles built for sale in the USA do not include no charge from any Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer. Be sure to follow the child safety seat manufacturer's instructions. RWARNING Tighten the - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 68
Tether anchorage hardware The 2-door hatchback, 4-door hatchback, and wagon models have tether anchors at the locations shown. Tether attachment locations in the 4-door model 65 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 69
or coin to snap the covers off the anchor in a rearward and upward direction. Remove the covers completely. NOTE: On the 4-door sedan model, holes have to be cut through the package tray (at the locations shown) to attach the tether anchors. The package tray trim panel has visible markings at these - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 70
20 pounds (9 kilograms), always use a rear facing infant or convertible seat because a child of that size is not sufficiently developed to withstand crash forces in a front facing position. Follow the specific manufacturer's instructions for weight and height restrictions. Children must be properly - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 71
. See Figure 2. Figure 2: Latch release buttons Built-In Child Seat Belt Retractors The belts on the built-in child seat are equipped with a dual locking mode retractor. The child seat belts can be used with the retractor in either the emergency locking mode or the automatic locking mode. In the - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 72
Safety belts and seats can become hot in a vehicle that has been closed up in sunny weather; they could burn a small child. Check seat covers and buckles before you place a child anywhere near them. RWARNING Failure to follow all of the instructions on the use of this child restraint system can - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 73
before using the seat. RWARNING Never use the Built-In Child Seat as a booster cushion with the adult safety belts. A child using the adult belts could slide forward and out from under the safety belts. 1. Slide hand under the flap and pull down the top portion of the child seat. See Figure 3. NOTE - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 74
Figure 4. Figure 4: Location of cushion retention clip and warning/instruction labels 3. Lower the child seat cushion. If the child seat cannot be opened, return to the dealer for repair. Read the information and warnings on the top half of the child seat flap and shoulder belt. Refer to Figure - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 75
Figure 5: Unfolding built-in child seat 5. Fold the top half of the child seat under the child seat cushion to provide an elevated seating surface as shown in Figure 5. If the chest clip is connected, squeeze the top and the bottom of the right half of the chest clip and pull to separate both - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 76
placement on the child NOTE: Read the following steps carefully to become familiar with the indicator windows located on the crotch safety belt buckle and the chest clip. When either of the tongues or the chest clip is unbuckled, the color red appears in the window. When the - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 77
into the single opening of the crotch safety belt buckle as shown in Figure 6, then insert the right tongue as shown in Figure 7. The indicator window on each tongue latch in the buckle, do not use the child seat. See your dealer for repairs. Figure 7: Fastening the crotch safety belt buckle 74 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 78
hold the child's shoulders and adjust it to comfortably hold the shoulder belts in place on the child's chest. The color green must show in indicator when fastened. The purpose of this clip is to position the shoulder belts correctly on the child's shoulders. The clip can be easily pulled apart and - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 79
Figure 9: Chest clip indicator window 76 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 80
in motion. Older children who do not fall asleep in the child seat may be secured with the retractor in the emergency locking mode. The belts will lock automatically during a collison or hard braking. 77 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 81
bottom of the chest clip and pull the halves apart to open the chest clip. Refer back to Figure 8. Press the release button on the crotch safety belt buckle. Slide the shoulder belts off the child's shoulders and remove the child. Refer back to Figure 6. 2. 3. To stow the built-in child seat: When - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 82
in use during a collision should also be inspected and replaced if either damage or improper operation is noted. Built-in child seat maintenance Regularly inspect the lap and shoulder belts system of your child seat. See your Ford dealer if the shoulder belt webbing is frayed, or if the buckle and - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 83
cleaners as they may weaken the webbing or damage the plastic parts. For your convenience, the liner is removable and can be machine-washed and air-dried. See Figure 12. Figure 12: Removing the washable liner 80 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 84
LOCK position does not lock the gearshift on floor-mounted manual transaxle gearshifts. If the parking brake is not set and the gearshift is moved out of gear, your vehicle may move unexpectedly and injure someone. The automatic transaxle console-mounted gearshift will lock only when you turn - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 85
start the engine. (The brake system warning light will remain lit if the parking brake is set or if there is a problem with the brake system.) The key returns to the ON position once the engine is started and remains in this position while the engine runs. START cranks the engine. Release the key - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 86
in the LOCK position, move the steering wheel left or right until the key turns freely. RWARNING Always set the parking brake fully and make sure that the gearshift is securely latched in P (Park) (automatic transaxle) or in 1 (First) (manual transaxle). RWARNING Do not leave children, unreliable - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 87
more instructions. Before you start your vehicle, do the following: 1. Make sure all occupants in the vehicle buckle their safety belts. See Safety Restraints in the Index for more details. Make sure the headlamps and other accessories are turned off when starting. If you have an automatic transaxle - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 88
brake. To move the gearshift lever, you must also depress the thumb button. If you have a manual transaxle, make sure that the parking brake is engine starts. Allow the key to return to the ON position after the engine has started. If you have difficulty in turning the key, rotate the steering wheel - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 89
. Whenever you start your vehicle, release the key as soon as the engine starts. Excessive cranking could damage the starter. After starting, allow the engine to idle for a few seconds before driving away. NOTE: If your vehicle is equipped with an automatic transaxle, your vehicle has an interlock - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 90
to reset the switch see Fuel Pump Shut-Off Switch later in this chapter. A computer system controls the engine's idle RPM. When you start your vehicle, the engine's idling RPM normally runs higher than when warm. The engine idle control system should only be serviced by a qualified technician. If - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 91
RWARNING Do not park, idle, or drive your vehicle in dry grass or other dry ground cover. The emission system heats up the engine compartment and exhaust system, which can start a fire. Using the Engine Block Heater (If equipped) Engine block heaters are strongly recommended if you live in a region - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 92
Fuel Pump Shut-off Switch If the engine cranks but does not start or does not start after a collision, the fuel pump shut-off switch may have been triggered. The shut-off switch is a device intended to stop the fuel pump your vehicle. The fuel pump shut-off switch is located behind the right rear - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 93
and call the local fire department or a towing service. If your engine cranks but does not start after a collision or substantial jolt: 1. 2. 3. Turn the key in the ignition to LOCK. Check under the vehicle for leaking fuel. If you do not see or smell fuel, push the red reset button down. If the - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 94
vehicle, have your dealer inspect your vehicle immediately. Do not drive if you smell exhaust fumes. Have the exhaust and body ventilation systems checked whenever: u your vehicle is raised for service u the sound of the exhaust system changes u your vehicle has been damaged in a collision Improve - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 95
Warning Lights and Gauges The following warning lights and gauges are on the sport cluster. All of the warning lights and gauges alert you to possible problems with your vehicle. The following sections detail what each of these indicators means. 93 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 96
The sport cluster 94 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 97
latched to the emergency release buckle. If the warning light remains illuminated with both front seat shoulder belts latched to the emergency release buckles, refer to the section titled What to Do If Your Shoulder Belt Does Not Engage Properly before driving the vehicle. The safety belt light 95 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 98
off shortly after the engine starts and you release the parking brake. If the light stays on or comes on after you have released the parking brake fully, have the hydraulic brake system serviced. The brake system and parking brake light RWARNING The BRAKE light indicates that the brakes may not be - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 99
possible. The charging system light Upshift Indicator Light (If equipped) This light comes on to indicate when you should shift your manual transaxle to the next higher gear. This light will help you get better fuel economy by lighting when you should shift. (If you have a 1.8L engine you will not - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 100
open when the parking lamps or headlamps are on. The chime sounds until you close the door, turn off the lamps or turn the ignition to the ON position. Air Bag Readiness Light A problem with the system is indicated by one or more of the following: the readiness light will either flash or stay - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 101
Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer immediately. This light illuminates for approximately six seconds when the ignition is turned to the ON position. If the light fails to illuminate, continues to flash, or remains on, have the system serviced as soon as possible. Air bag readiness light Check Engine - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 102
you are driving, it means that a malfunction occurred and the condition corrected itself. An example of a condition which corrects itself occurs when an engine running out of fuel begins to misfire. In this case, the Check Engine Warning Light may turn on and will then set a Diagnostic Trouble Code - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 103
and replace the fuel cap, making sure it is properly seated. After completing three (3) consecutive warm up cycles and on the fourth engine start up, the Check Engine Warning light should turn off. If the light does not go off after the fourth engine restart, have your vehicle serviced by your - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 104
. If it does, check the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) light each time you start the engine. If it stays on longer than six seconds, shut off the engine and restart. If it stays on, that means the Anti-lock Brake feature isn't working and should be serviced immediately to restore the benefits of the - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 105
pump motor for approximately 1/2 second. At this time, a mechanical noise may be heard. This is a normal part of the self-check feature. If a malfunction is found during this check the anti-lock light will come on. The anti-lock brake system light Engine Oil Pressure Warning Light This light - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 106
drive your vehicle again. Do not overfill. Do not operate the engine when the oil pressure light is on, even if the oil level is correct. For more information about adding oil, see Adding engine oil in the Index. 4. Fuel Gauge The fuel gauge displays approximately how much fuel is in the fuel tank - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 107
should stay in the normal band. If you are driving in heavy traffic or uphill in hot weather, the pointer may reach to the top of the normal band. Under any circumstances, if the pointer moves past the upper limit of the normal band, the engine is overheating and may result in - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 108
and adding coolant to your engine. (See Engine coolant in the Index.) If you do not follow these instructions, you or others could be injured. Add as much coolant as your engine needs. If the engine continues to overheat, have the coolant system serviced. 5. Tachometer The tachometer tells you - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 109
the instrument panel that are described in this chapter. Some items shown may not be on all vehicles. The main controls for the climate control system, lamps, clock, and radio are on the instrument panel. 107 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 110
Instrument panel - typical equipment shown 108 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 111
knob) turns on the air conditioning system, if equipped. The fan must be on for the air conditioning compressor to operate. The indicator light, to the left of the fan speed knob, will glow when the A/C system is on. The temperature control lever may be adjusted from cool air in the blue range to - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 112
A/C system provides maximum cooling, dehumidifying and better fueling efficiency when the function selector lever is set to the MAX A/C position. The function selector lever controls how the air is circulated. u RECIRC position (heating system only) or MAX A/C (heating and air conditioning system - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 113
left in the blue (cool) range. drive for a few minutes with the windows down. This forces most of the hot, stale air out of the vehicle and helps the air conditioning (if equipped) to cool the vehicle faster. selector lever to PANEL and select the desired temperature and fan speed. u If the inside - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 114
Defrosting/Defogging Tips Setting the climate controls for cold weather defrosting 112 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 115
warm weather defogging u Under normal conditions, when the vehicle is parked, the climate control system should be left with the function selector lever in any position other than RECIRC (heating) or MAX A/C (heating and air conditioning system). This allows the vehicle to "breathe" through the - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 116
can heat the inside of your vehicle, defrost the windshield, or use the outside air vents by using the climate controls on the center of the instrument panel. The levers that control the standard heating system Turning on the heat To heat the inside of your vehicle 1. Move the function selector - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 117
the floor ducts and the defroster outlets. When V (Defrost) is selected, air is directed out of the defroster outlets. 2. Move the temperature control lever to the red (warm) area or to the desired temperature. Set the fan at the desired speed. 3. To defrost the windshield and the side windows - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 118
mild days, you may want to ventilate your vehicle with outside air. To open the vents: 1. 2. Move the function selector lever to PANEL. Move the temperature control lever to the blue (cool) area or to the desired temperature. Set the fan at the desired speed. 3. Bi-level operation: 1. 2. Move the - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 119
control between red (warm) and blue (cool) for comfort. u Do not drive with the air inlet selector lever in the "recirculate" position (MAX A/C on heating and air conditioning systems or RECIRC on heating only systems). Driving with the climate control system in this mode may cause severe window - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 120
. This allows the vehicle to "breathe" through the air vents. u To prevent fogging of the windshield in cool and humid weather, set the function selector lever to the defrost position before starting the engine. Heating and Air Conditioning System (If equipped) You can heat the inside of your - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 121
lever to the red (warm) area or to the desired temperature. Set the fan speed at 4. To defrost the windshield and side windows: 1. Move the function (defrost) symbol. When the defrost symbol is selected, most of the air is directed to the windshield and a small amount is directed toward the - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 122
selector lever is in the MAX A/C position, cooled interior air is recirculated through the system. This position is more economical than continually cooling outside air. 4. Set the fan at the desired speed. If the inside of your vehicle is very warm, drive for a few minutes with the windows down - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 123
temperature control lever to the blue (cool) area. Set the fan at the desired speed. To ventilate your vehicle with outside air In mild weather, use the outside, cooler air to ventilate the vehicle. You will get better fuel economy by not using the air conditioning. To ventilate your vehicle using - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 124
will occur when the temperature control lever is in the center range (between the red [warm] and blue [cool] positions). This feature is especially useful on cool yet sunny days, when the vehicle is warmed by the sun yet you desire warmer air at your feet. 4. Set the fan at the desired speed. 122 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 125
that controls the rear window defroster To defrost the rear window: 1. 2. 3. 4. Clear any snow from the rear window. Get in your vehicle and start the engine. Press the rear window defrost button. The ON indicator will illuminate. When the rear window is clear, push the button again to turn off the - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 126
lamps, twist the knob at the end of the turn signal lever located to the left of the steering wheel. To turn on the parking lamps, side marker lamps, instrument panel lamps from you until it latches, and release. For more information about how the high beam headlamps work, see Steering column controls - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 127
vehicle has a fully released parking brake. The high beam indicator light on the instrument cluster will not be on. RWARNING The Daytime Running Light (DRL) system will not illuminate the instrument panel dimmer thumbwheel located on the instrument panel to the left of the turn signal lever. 125 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 128
Interior Lamps Your vehicle has an interior lamp for your convenience. You can set it to automatically turn on whenever a door is open, or you can set it to stay on or off. The courtesy lamps on the overhead lamp dome Dome/Map/Reading Lamps (If - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 129
illuminates whenever you apply the brakes. On sedans, the high-mount brakelamp is mounted at the base of the rear window. On wagons, the high-mount brakelamp is mounted on the liftgate at the base of the rear window. On the Tracer LTS, the high-mount brakelamp is located between the spoiler and the - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 130
Rear Window Wiper and Washer (Available on wagons only) To use the rear window wiper, push the right side of the rear window wiper and washer switch. Push the left side of the switch to turn the rear window wiper off. To wash the rear window, push in the button marked WASH. Windshield washer fluid - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 131
clocks. For complete operating instructions, refer to the Electronic Sound Systems chapter in this Owner Guide. Radio For information about the radio in your vehicle, refer to the Electronic Sound Systems chapter in this Owner Guide. Radio Antenna Your vehicle's radio antenna is mounted on the top - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 132
Cleaning the Instrument Panel Lens Clean the instrument panel lens with a soft cloth and a glass cleaner, such as Ford Ultra-Clear Spray Glass Cleaner, or equivalent. Do not use paper towel or an abrasive cleaner to clean the lens as these may cause scratches. 130 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 133
controls on the steering column and wheel are designed to give you easy access to the controls while you are driving. The Turn Signal Lever You can on (doesn't flash) when you signal a turn, the turn signaling system is malfunctioning. Have this condition corrected as soon as possible, but make - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 134
High Beams and Flashing the Lamps High beams and flashing the lamps Windshield Wipers and Washer To turn on the windhsield wipers, the ignition key must be turned to the ON or ACC position. Windshield wipers and washer To set the interval wipers, rotate the knob at the end of the turn signal - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 135
constant spray, keep the knob pushed in. After you release the knob, the wipers operate for two or three more than 15 seconds continuously. This could damage the washer pump system. RWARNING In freezing weather, warm up the windshield with or replacing your windshield wiper blades, see Windshield washer fluid - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 136
approaching or passing your vehicle. The flashers work whether your vehicle is running or not. The flashers work for up to two hours when the battery is fully charged and in good condition without draining the battery excessively. If the flashers run for longer than two hours or if the - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 137
Horn To sound the horn, push the pad in the center of the steering wheel. Check the horn regularly to be sure it operates properly. The horn located on the steering wheel 135 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 138
lose control of the vehicle and injure someone. The lever to tilt the steering column To change the position of the steering wheel, push the release lever under the steering column away from you. Tip the steering wheel to the desired position. Pull the lever back into place to lock the steering - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 139
Speed Control (If equipped) If your vehicle has speed control, you can automatically maintain a constant speed at or above 30 mph (50 km/h). Use of radio transmitting equipment in Canada) approved radio transmitting equipment in your vehicle. The speed control switches on the steering wheel 137 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 140
set the speed control NOTE: If your vehicle is equipped with an automatic transaxle, and if your speed increases above your set speed while driving in k (Overdrive) on a downhill grade, you may want to shift to D (Drive). This will reduce vehicle speed. Speed control cannot reduce the vehicle speed - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 141
. This will cause the engine to overspeed. When driving uphill, especially with a heavy load, significant speed drops may occur. If the speed drops more than 8 to 14 mph (13-23 km/h) the automatic speed control will cancel. You may need to control your speed manually while driving up steep grades in - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 142
To turn off the speed control or to reset speed: The speed control is turned off each time you turn off the vehicle. 140 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 143
To cancel speed control and then resume a set speed NOTE: Use of radio transmitting equipment that is not Federal Communications Commission (FCC) or in Canada the Canadian Radio Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) approved may cause the speed control to malfunction. Therefore, use only properly - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 144
Features Your vehicle has a variety of features designed for your comfort, convenience and safety. Read this chapter to find out about standard and optional features. Doors The outside and inside of doors (driver's side shown) 143 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 145
with the power door locks, the doors remain locked. If the power mechanism ever fails, the manual door locks will override the power locks. NOTE: Vehicles equipped with power locks have a safety feature which allows you to unlock one or both front doors from either door lock key cylinder. Locking - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 146
when the lock knobs are raised. The child lock lever To set the childproof lock on each rear door, open the rear door. Find the lever with the word LOCKED in green letters. Move the lever down. To release the childproof lock, open the rear door from the outside. Move the lever up. 145 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 147
Windows Operating the Windows Manually To manually open and close the side windows, turn the hand crank. The inside of the door 146 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 148
Using the Power Windows (If equipped) To use your power windows, the ignition switch must be in the ON position. RWARNING Do not let children play with the power windows. They may seriously hurt themselves. 147 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 149
position is reached. At the fully closed position, the motor automatically turns off. The moon roof controls To open the To close the moon roof, press and hold the front portion of the switch marked SLIDE. To move the wiping the outside guide rail covers of the moon roof with a clean cloth - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 150
sliding it rearward. Find the manual override handle in the owner portfolio in the glove compartment and fit it into the hex nut in the overhead moon roof control panel. Turn the handle counterclockwise to close the moon roof. 2. 3. Have your moon roof serviced by a qualified technician as soon - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 151
Restraints If you use them properly, head restraints are intended to help protect your head and neck in a collision. You can adjust the front seat head restraints for your comfort and protection. The rear seat head rests do not adjust. The adjusting head restraint A head restraint helps protect - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 152
You can move the front seats forward or backward or tilt the backs of the seats forward or backward. 151 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 153
To move the seat forward or backward: 152 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 154
To recline the seatback: 153 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 155
To gain access to the rear seat on the driver or passenger side (2-door version only). The seatback will return to its set reclined position when pushed back. RWARNING Rear seat passengers should not lean on the front seatback while the vehicle is in motion. A seatback which is folded forward even - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 156
folding rear seat. The rear seatback can be folded down to provide additional cargo space. NOTE: When folding down the rear seatback, the safety belt tongue should be disengaged. To lower the rear seatback: To raise the seatback, lift the seatback rearward until it latches. Make sure the seatback - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 157
do not remove the floor carpet in the cargo area. Emission controls cause high exhaust temperatures under the floor. NOTE: When returning the folding seats to the upright position, remember to return the shoulder belts to - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 158
toward you for the night position and away from you for the day position. The rearview mirror Side View Mirrors The standard side mirror is manually adjusted by using the remote lever. The side view mirror 157 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 159
Electric Remote Control Mirrors (If equipped) If your vehicle has dual electric remote control mirrors, you can control both side view mirrors with one switch. The ignition key must be in the ACC or ON position to operate the electric remote control mirror switch. The electric remote control mirror - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 160
objects appear smaller and farther away than they actually are. Do not clean the plastic housing of any rearview mirror with fuel or other petroleum-based cleaning products. Cupholder and Tray (If equipped) Your vehicle may have a removable cupholder and storage tray for your convenience. If you - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 161
for the Trunk or Hatchback (If equipped) Your vehicle may have a remote control release that allows you to open the trunk or hatchback from inside your vehicle. To release the trunk or hatchback, pull up on the release lever located on the floor between the driver's seat and the door. The remote - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 162
you can use to hide any cargo you have in the rear storage area. To install the shade: The location of the mounting brackets 1. Position the shade in the mounting brackets located behind the rear seat on each rear trim panel. Connect the tethered safety clips as in the previous illustration. The - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 163
3. Hook the sides of the outstretched shade to notch in the rear trim panels near the liftgate opening. RWARNING The cover may cause injury in a sudden stop or accident if it is left lying loose in the vehicle or if it is not securely installed. Therefore, the cover should either be securely - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 164
To rewind the shade: 1. Remove the shade from its side mounting brackets and take it out of your vehicle. To remove it from your vehicle, detach the tethered mounting screws from the trim panels and push one end of the tension rod toward the opposite side of the vehicle until the shade can be - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 165
Figure 1 Figure 2 8. Let go of the right end cap. The clutch should now engage and stop the shade from losing its spring tension. Unfold the vinyl and place it into the end cap slots. 9. 10. With the vinyl fully wound around the roller tube, insert the shade into the side mounting brackets. - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 166
120 pounds (54 kg) or it may cause the vehicle to exceed the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) or its gross axle weight rating (GAWR front and rear), which are shown on the Safety Compliance Certification Label. 165 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 167
Electronic Sound Systems Compact Disc Radio 167 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 168
Ford Compact Disc Player. Using the Controls on Your New Radio/CD Player Most of the features of this unit work for both radio and CD operation. Also, some of the knobs and buttons control several different functions, so be sure to read all of the operating instructions alternate between AM, FM1 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 169
You can manually locate the station Manual tuning adjusts your radio to any allowable broadcast frequency, whether or not a station is present on that frequency. (See All About Radio Frequencies in this section.) u Using the "SEEK" function This feature on your radio allows you to automatically - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 170
u Using the "SCAN/TUNE" button to scan radio stations Pressing the "SCAN/TUNE" button once enters the scan mode (display will indicate "SCN"). Pushing the top a half of the "SEEK" button will begin the scan mode up the frequency band, stopping on each listenable station for approximately five - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 171
losing your existing memory presets, which is especially handy while traveling. Your radio will automatically set your memory buttons to the strong local stations so you don't have to continually manually tune to existing stations. Activate Auto Memory Store by pushing the "AUTO PRESET" button - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 172
deactivate the Auto Memory Store mode and return to the manually-set memory button stations (or those stations set using allows you to adjust the sound distribution between the right and left speakers. Push the "AUDIO" button repeatedly until the display reads "BAL." Push the "+" side of the "VOL" - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 173
the front and rear speakers. Push the "AUDIO" button repeatedly until the display reads "FADE." Push the "+" side of the "VOL" button to shift the sound to the front speakers ten seconds and then change back to clock. When in the CD mode, push the "CLOCK" button to change the display from elapsed time mode - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 174
New Compact Disc Player Your new Ford Compact Disc Player is capable of playing 12 cm or 8 cm discs, without an adapter. The Player operates when the read and follow all of the care and cleaning instructions under How To Take Care of and Clean Your CD Player and Discs.) NOTE: If after you insert a - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 175
the CD player will again be operational. How to stop and restart the CD player When a disc is loaded, the unit automatically enters the CD play, press the "PLAY/STOP" button once again. NOTE: If the ignition key is turned OFF during play and then is set to the ON or ACCESSORY position, the CD player - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 176
three seconds will speed up the process.) Release the button at the desired point (found by watching the elapsed playing time in the display or by listening to the sound during fast forward or reverse). When you have reached the beginning of track 1, the CD player will begin playing. When you have - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 177
indicator ("C") will appear in the display. Press the button again to turn off. u Automatic Disc Storage If the disc is ejected from the CD player but is not removed from the disc opening within approximately 10 seconds, the player will automatically reload the disc for storage, unless the disc is - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 178
How To Take Care of and Clean Your CD Player and Discs To ensure the continued performance of your Ford Compact Disc Player, carefully read the following precautions: u Always handle the disc by its edge. Never touch the playing surface. u Before playing, inspect the disc for any contamination. - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 179
dusty or defective. u The player's internal temperature is above 140˚F (60˚C). Allow the player to cool off before operating. u Different scratches could be defective and may not play on your Ford Compact Disc Player. If play does not begin after the CD button is pushed: u The radio is not on. - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 180
Electronic Stereo Radio 180 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 181
Electronic Stereo Radio with Cassette 181 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 182
select the desired frequency band. Pushing the button more than once will alternate between AM, FM1 and FM2. These functions are used with the station for you to tune in to a particular station. You can manually locate the station by using Automatic Music Search ("AMS"), "SEEK" the station, "SCAN" to - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 183
" button. u Using the "AMS" function to manually tune your radio (Stereo Cassette Radio) You can change TUNE") then within approximately five seconds pressing and releasing either the right a or left b side feature on your radio allows you to automatically select listenable stations up or down the - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 184
held in memory on that button. Follow the two steps above for each station memory preset button you want to set. 3. NOTE: If the vehicle's battery is disconnected, the clock and station memory preset buttons will need to be reset. 184 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 185
side to shift the sound to the left speakers. u Adjusting speaker fader Fade control allows you to adjust the sound distribution between the front and rear speakers. Push the "AUDIO" button repeatedly until the display reads "FADE." Push the "+" side of the "VOLUME" button to shift the sound to the - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 186
Player How to insert a tape Insert a cassette (with the open edge to the right) firmly into the tape door opening, making sure the cassette is completely in and "seated." How to locate Automatic Music Search ("AMS") function with cassette tape player tape being played The alternate track (other side) - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 187
will resume playing. Using the Dolby B noise reduction feature NOTE: Noise reduction system manufactured under license from Dolby Labs Licensing " button to alternate the frequency and time in the display. In the clock mode, pressing any radio function will automatically display the radio - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 188
used. Tapes longer than 90 minutes are thinner and subject to breakage or may jam the tape player mechanism. sunlight, high humidity and extreme heat or cold. If they are exposed to extreme conditions it u Do not leave a tape in the cassette tape u Using a Ford Cassette Cleaning Cartridge to 188 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 189
pick up noise and distortion. Cancellation effects are most prominent in metropolitan areas, but also can become quite severe in hilly terrain and depressed roadways. To minimize these conditions, a stereo/mono blend circuit has been incorporated into this system. This feature automatically switches - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 190
present (common in metropolitan areas) several stations may overload the receiver, resulting in considerable station changing, mixing and distortion. Automatic gain control circuitry for both AM and FM bands has been incorporated into this system to reduce strong signal capture and overload. 190 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 191
107.9 MHz in 0.2 MHz steps. Not all frequencies will be assigned to a given area. This radio will tune to each of these frequencies using manual tune and no fine tuning is necessary as radio stations may not use other frequencies. Some FM radio stations advertise a "rounded-off" frequency which is - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 192
of this limited warranty. At Ford Electronics, we stand behind our audio systems with a comprehensive service and repair program. If anything should go wrong with your Ford audio system, return to your dealer for service. There is a nationwide network of qualified Ford authorized repair centers to - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 193
term "transmission." We use transaxle because it is a more accurate term for vehicles that have front-wheel drive. Your vehicle will have one of the following types of transaxles: u an automatic overdrive transaxle, or u a manual transaxle. Your vehicle is equipped with an Electronic Engine Control - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 194
button to move the gearshift to the position you choose. Once the gearshift is secure in the desired position, release the brake pedal and use the accelerator as necessary. The automatic console-mounted gearshift lever To move the gearshift out of P (Park), the ignition must be turned to the ON - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 195
. To shift the transaxle out of the P (Park) position, the ignition must be in the ON position, the battery must be supplying electrical power, and your foot must be pressing on the brake pedal. In the unlikely event that you cannot move the selector lever from the P (Park) position with the - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 196
using the alternate procedure described above, it is possible that a fuse has blown and that your brakelamps may also not be functional. Please refer to the chapter titled Servicing Your Tracer in this Owner Guide for instructions on checking and replacing fuses. RWARNING DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 197
Use L (Low) when more power is needed to drive up steep hills. It also gives more engine braking than Drive when driving on hilly roads. Do not go faster than 38 locks the transaxle and prevents the front wheels from rotating. RWARNING Always set the parking brake fully and make sure the gearshift - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 198
unexpectedly and injure someone. Driving with a Manual Transaxle Using the Clutch In order to start the vehicle, the clutch pedal must be fully depressed to the floor. Before starting the engine, make sure the vehicle is in Neutral and the parking brake is set. Do not drive with your foot resting - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 199
R (Reverse): 1. 2. Completely stop your vehicle. Depress the clutch pedal to the floor and place the gearshift lever in the Neutral position. Do not release the clutch pedal. Push the gearshift lever completely to the right and then pull rearward on the gearshift lever to engage the Reverse gear. If - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 200
get better fuel economy by shifting to the next higher gear. The vehicle will not be harmed if the transaxle is not shifted when the light comes on, but the vehicle will use more fuel. The shift indicator light can be ignored when you are downshifting, on steep hills, using the engine to "brake" the - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 201
the vehicle manually but it takes more effort. Never hold the steering wheel to the extreme right or left for more than five seconds if the engine is running. This can damage the power steering pump. Brakes Applying the Brakes Your vehicle has power-assisted brakes that adjust automatically as the - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 202
with the optional anti-lock brake system. Whenever your wheels start to lock (which could result in a skid) the anti-lock brake system prevents the lock-up by automatically releasing and re-applying the brakes. The brake pedal will pulsate as a result of the automatic releasing and re-applying of - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 203
time you start your engine. After the engine is started and the anti-lock light turns off, the system performs another test the first time the vehicle reaches 7 mph (11 km/h). The system turns on the ABS pump motor for approximately 1/2 second. At this time, a mechanical noise may be heard. This - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 204
your vehicle. The parking brake lever (automatic transaxle shown) The parking brake lever is located between the front seats. To set the parking brake, put your foot on the brake pedal while pulling the parking brake handle fully and firmly upward. To release the parking brake, put your foot on - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 205
Warning Light each time you start your engine. Driving with the parking brake on will cause the brakes to wear out quickly and will reduce the fuel economy. RWARNING If the parking brake is fully released, but the Brake System light remains on, have the brakes checked immediately. They may not be - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 206
cause the front wheels to spin, perhaps resulting in reduced steering control. braking can cause wheels to lock and 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. brake - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 207
with your front-wheel drive vehicle as you would with a rear-wheel drive vehicle. Drive cautiously on wet or snowy roads: u Do not quickly move the steering wheel unless necessary. u Drive slower than you normally would. u Give your vehicle more distance to stop. u Pump the brake pedal steadily - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 208
If you have an automatic transaxle and your vehicle and release. RWARNING Do not spin the wheels at drive through flooded areas unless you are sure that the water is below the bottom of the wheel rims. If you must drive through high water, drive slowly. You may have limited traction or wet brakes - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 209
respective axle. You can find your vehicle's GVWR and GAWR on the Safety Compliance Certification Label on the left front door lock facing or on the door latch post pillar. Usage of replacement tires with a higher weight limit than originals does not increase GVWR or GAWR. Usage of lower capacity - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 210
vehicle, such as a Recreational Vehicle (RV), is not recommended unless a front wheel dolly is used. Do not tow your automatic transaxle with the front wheels on the ground or transaxle damage may occur. Towing a manual transaxle vehicle behind another vehicle, such as a Recreational Vehicle (RV - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 211
you add to your vehicle must not exceed the maximum load stated on the tire information decal attached to the face of the right rear door pillar. To figure the weight of your vehicle's load, add the weights of: u the driver and passengers u luggage and any other items that you put - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 212
After determining this load, you must also make sure that the total weight of your vehicle, plus the load it carries, is less than its GVWR. Also, make sure that the weight your vehicle carries over each axle is less than the GAWR for the respective axle. If your vehicle exceeds the GVWR, remove - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 213
die if you leave the lights or any electrical equipment on after you turn the engine off. If this happens, you may be able to jump-start from a booster battery to start your vehicle. RWARNING The gases around the battery can explode if exposed to flames, sparks, or lit cigarettes. An explosion could - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 214
the parking brake on both vehicles and stay clear of the engine cooling fan and other moving parts. Check all battery terminals and remove any excessive corrosion before you attach the jumper cables. Turn on the heater fan in both vehicles. Turning on the fan helps protect the electrical system from - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 215
the first jumper cable to the positive (+) terminal of the discharged battery. (You can connect either jumper cable to the positive (+) of the booster battery. Connect one end of the second cable to the negative ( ) terminal of the booster battery - NOT to the discharged battery. Connect the other - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 216
RWARNING Do not connect the end of the second cable to the negative ( ) terminal of the battery to be jumped. A spark may cause an explosion of the gases that surround the battery. The battery with jumper cables (1.8L engine) 216 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 217
The battery with jumper cables (1.9L engine) 217 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 218
to let the engine "relearn" its idle conditions. Drive it around for a while with all electrical accessories turned off to let the battery recharge. You may need to use a battery charger to fully recharge the battery. If you need to replace your battery, see Battery in the Servicing Your Vehicle - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 219
get a flat tire while you are driving, do not apply the brake heavily. Instead, gradually decrease the speed. Hold the steering wheel firmly and slowly move to a safe place on the side of the road. Park on a level spot, turn off the ignition, set the parking brake, and turn on the hazard flashers - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 220
spare tire is stored under the carpet and board in the luggage compartment. You will find additional instructions for the spare tire on the wheel decal (located on the spare tire). The jack is stored on the right side of the trunk under the floor panel. Lift up the floor panel for - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 221
move or roll. If you have an automatic transaxle, put the gearshift in P (Park). If you have a manual transaxle, put the gearshift in 1 (First). Set the parking brake and block the wheel that is diagonally opposite the tire that you are changing. When one of the front wheels is off the ground, the - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 222
Removing and Replacing the Tire 1. Place the scissors-type jack under the side of the body under the vehicle while changing a tire. Do not start the engine when your vehicle is on the jack. The jack is only meant for changing the tire. The location for the jack (left rear trim panel shown) 222 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 223
Installation of an English thread nut on a metric stud (or vice-versa) will not properly secure the wheel to the hub. Damaged studs may result in wheel separation and possible injury. 3. 4. Replace the flat tire with the spare tire. (TEMP. USE ONLY label facing outward.) Reinstall the lug nuts - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 224
jack and fully tighten the lug nuts in the order shown in the following illustration. The lug nuts on the wheel 7. Replace any wheel covers, ornaments, or hub caps that your vehicle has. Line up the air valve stem with the hole indicated by the valve stem emblem embossed on the inside of the - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 225
one of the lug nuts on each wheel must be unlocked with a special key. The key and registration card are located in the tool bag with the lug wrench. If you lose the key, send the registration card to the manufacturer (not to the dealer) to get a replacement - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 226
pump shut-off switch, see Fuel pump shut-off switch in the Index. Towing Your Vehicle DO NOT TOW WITH SLINGBELT EQUIPMENT. Ford Motor Company has not developed or approved a T-hook or slingbelt towing procedure. It is recommended that your vehicle be towed with wheel lift or flatbed equipment. 226 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 227
Towing your vehicle Towing your vehicle on a flatbed truck 227 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 228
to complement the style and aerodynamic appearance of your Ford-built vehicle. In addition, each accessory is made from high quality materials and meets or exceeds Ford's rigid engineering and safety specifications. That is why Ford brand accessories are warranted for up to 3 years or 36,000 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 229
Safety, Comfort, and Convenience 242 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 230
NOTE: When adding accessories, equipment, passengers, and luggage to your vehicle, do not exceed the total weight capacity of the vehicle or of the front or rear axle (GVWR, GAWR as shown on the Safety Compliance Certification Label). Consult your dealer for specific weight information. NOTE: The - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 231
installed. For example, when operated, such systems may cause the engine to stumble or stall. In addition, such systems may themselves be damaged or their operation affected by operating your vehicle. (Citizens band [CB] transceivers, garage door openers, and other transmitters whose power output - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 232
246 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 233
247 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 234
248 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 235
vehicle as easy as possible. To help you: the engine compartment so that you can find them easily. the headlamp bulbs - that can be replaced without tools. makes tracking routine service for your vehicle easy. The maintenance schedule is located in the Maintenance Schedule and Record booklet. u We - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 236
Be especially careful when inspecting or servicing your vehicle. Here are some general precautions for your safety: u Do not work on a hot engine. The engine RWARNING cooling fan may come on unexpectedly. Always turn the engine off and let it cool. The cooling fan is automatic and may come on at - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 237
smoking If you disconnect the battery, the engine must "relearn" its idle conditions before your vehicle will drive properly. To find out how the engine does this, see Starting your vehicle's fuel-injected engine in the Index. Working with the engine off: 1. Set the parking brake fully and make sure - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 238
on: 1. Set the parking brake fully and make sure the gearshift is securely latched in P (Park) (automatic transaxle) or Neutral (manual transaxle). Block the wheels. This will prevent your vehicle from moving unexpectedly. RWARNING Do not start your engine with the air cleaner removed and do not - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 239
The hood release handle, auxiliary latch, and the hood prop rod. 253 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 240
Your vehicle has one of these types of engines: u a 1.9L SFI engine u a 1.8L DOHC MFI engine The following pages show diagrams of each engine type and where to find items that you should regularly service. The items most frequently checked or serviced by the owner will be highlighted in yellow - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 241
The 1.9L Engine 255 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 242
the Engine A clean engine is more efficient because a buildup of grease and dirt acts as an insulator, keeping the engine warmer than normal. u Extreme care must be used if a power washer is used to clean the engine. The high pressure fluid could penetrate sealed parts and assemblies causing - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 243
. u The alternator, distributor and air intake must u Never wash or rinse the engine while it is Filling the Fuel Tank The fuel filler door can be opened by pulling on the finger hold located on the rear edge of the fuel filler door. For your convenience, a fuel filler door location indicator is - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 244
cap to be sealed without overtightening. Push the fuel door closed. 5. If you lose the fuel cap, replace it with an authorized Motorcraft or equivalent part. RWARNING If you do not use the proper fuel cap, the pressure in the fuel tank can damage the fuel system or cause it to work improperly in - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 245
you drive up a hill or when you accelerate. However, if a fuel with the recommended rating knocks heavily under all driving conditions or knocks lightly driving at cruising speed on level roads, see your dealer or a qualified service technician. Persistent, heavy knocking can damage the engine. 259 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 246
problems when the engine is cold, it may be caused by fuel with low volatility. Try a different brand of fuel. If the condition persists, see your dealer or a qualified service technician. Using a high-quality fuel makes your vehicle more responsive and maintains its good fuel economy and emissions - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 247
certain areas of the U.S. These fuels are designed to further reduce emissions from your vehicle. Generally, you should not experience difficulties operating your vehicle on reformulated gasoline or on fuels containing oxygenates. We encourage you to use these fuels. Safety Information Relating to - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 248
to crank the engine several times before the fuel system starts to pump fuel from the tank to the engine. RWARNING Never pour fuel in the throttle body or attempt to start the engine with the air cleaner removed. Doing so could result in fire and personal injury. Fuel Economy Fuel economy is an - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 249
number of variables which can reduce efficiency. You can improve fuel economy by understanding these variables and minimizing their effect. The following decrease fuel economy: u Lack of regular, scheduled maintenance u Excessive speed u Rapid acceleration u Driving with your foot on the brake 263 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 250
, rear window defroster and other accessories u Underinflated tires u Heavy loads u Aftermarket add-ons such as bike, ski or luggage racks, bug deflectors, etc. Engine Oil Recommendations We recommend using Motorcraft oil or an equivalent oil meeting Ford Specification ESE-M2C153-E and displaying - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 251
back into the oil pan. Set the parking brake fully and make sure that the gearshift is securely latched in P (Park) (automatic transaxle) or 1 (First) (manual transaxle). Open the hood. Protect yourself from engine heat. Locate the engine oil dipstick (highlighted in yellow) and carefully pull it - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 252
Engine oil dipstick (1.9L engine) Engine oil dipstick (1.8L engine) 6. Carefully pull the dipstick out again. If the oil level is below the "Add 1 qt." or "L" line, add engine oil as necessary. If the engine oil is beyond the letter "F" or the "FULL" line, engine damage or high oil consumption - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 253
understand Precautions When Servicing Your Vehicle at the beginning of this chapter. RWARNING The cooling fan is automatic and may come on at any time. Always disconnect the negative terminal of the battery before working near the fan. Check the engine coolant level in the engine coolant recovery - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 254
coolant has not been checked for a long period of time the engine coolant reservoir may eventually empty. If the engine coolant reservoir empties, check the engine coolant level in the radiator. Read the following instructions before removing the radiator cap. If it is necessary to fill the radiator - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 255
Failure to follow these instructions could result in serious personal injury from hot engine coolant or steam blowout and/or damage to the engine cooling system or engine. 1. Before you remove the radiator cap, turn the engine off and let it cool. Even when the engine is cool, be careful when you - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 256
engine cooling system. Use only a premium, nationally recognized brand name engine coolant. Do not use alcohol, methanol antifreeze or engine coolant mixed with alcohol or methanol antifreeze. If you do not use the proper coolant, the aluminum engine on your vehicle will corrode. Ford Motor Company - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 257
Premium Cooling System Fluid E2FZ-19549-AA (in Canada, Motorcraft CXC-8-B) or an equivalent engine coolant that meets Ford Specification ESE-M97B44-A. Leave the engine coolant in all year. Make sure that the coolant will not freeze at the temperature level in which you drive during winter months - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 258
Fluid The windshield washer reservoir is located in the engine compartment. RWARNING Do not put windshield washer fluid in the container for the engine coolant. Use specially formulated windshield washer without damaging the vehicle's paint finish, wiper blades, and windshield washer system. 272 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 259
located on the passenger side of the storage compartment. You must remove the access cover to find the washer reservoir cap. The reservoir must be filled slowly to allow air mild detergent. Rinse thoroughly with clear water. Do not use fuel, kerosene, paint thinner, or other solvents to clean your - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 260
ON position and turn the wipers on. Wait for them to reach a vertical position and turn the ignition to OFF. Do not move the wipers manually. Manually moving the wipers across the windshield may damage them. 274 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 261
do not work properly after you clean them, you may need to replace the wiper blade assembly or the blade element. When replacing the wiper blade assembly, blade refill, or wiper arm always use a Motorcraft part or . Ensure that you install the correct size wiper blade in the correct location. 275 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 262
To replace the wiper blades: 1. 2. Pull the wiper arm away from the windshield and lock into the service position. Turn the blade at an angle from the wiper arm. Push the lock pin with wiper blade to the wiper arm and press it into place until you hear it click. 3. Replacing the wiper blades 276 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 263
Look at your tires each time you fill your fuel tank. If one tire looks lower than the others, precautions, your tires may fail or go flat. RWARNING Driving too fast for conditions creates the possibility of loss of vehicle control. Driving at very high speeds for extended periods of time may - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 264
in loss of vehicle control. Tire Rotation Because your vehicle's front and rear tires perform different jobs, they often wear differently. To tires wear evenly and last longer, rotate them as indicated in the following diagram. Do not include the spare tire as part of your rotation. For tire - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 265
Some spots wear more heavily than others. RWARNING When replacing full size tires, never mix radial, bias-belted, or bias-type tires. Use only the tire not drive properly and safely. If you have the standard Tracer, the correct tire size for your vehicle is P175/70R13. If you have the Tracer LTS - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 266
See an authorized tire dealer for proper servicing procedures. Wheels and tires must be properly removed, matched in Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations Part 575.104(c)(2). U.S. Department of Transportation - Tire quality grades: The U.S. Department of Transportation requires Ford to give you - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 267
to variations in driving habits, service practices and : The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on braking (straightahead) traction tests and does not include cornering Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher levels of performance on the laboratory test wheel - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 268
or chip aluminum wheels. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT TIRE CHAINS ARE INSTALLED ON STEEL WHEELS ONLY. Be sure to remove wheel covers (if on the front tires tightly with the ends held down securely. Retighten the chains after driving 1/2 mile (0.8 km). Follow the chain manufacturer's instructions. 282 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 269
Do not use acid-based wheel cleaners, steel wool, abrasives, fuel, or strong detergents. These substances will damage protective coatings. Use tar and road oil remover to remove grease and tar. NOTE: Before going to a car wash, find out if the brushes are abrasive. Battery If the original equipment - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 270
quite often, have the charging system checked for a possible malfunction. If you disconnect the battery, the engine must "relearn" its idle conditions before your vehicle will drive properly. To find out how the engine does this, see Starting your vehicle's fuel-injected engine in the Index. If the - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 271
all the accessories, and start the vehicle. Let the engine idle for at least one minute. The relearning process will complete automatically as you drive the vehicle. If you do not let the engine relearn its idle, the idle quality of your vehicle may be adversely affected until the idle is relearned. - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 272
Automatic Transaxle Fluid It is preferable to check the transaxle fluid level at normal operating temperature after approximately 20 miles (32 km) of driving. With the vehicle on a level surface and the brake pedal fully applied, start the engine temperature marks on the dipstick. When the vehicle - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 273
Low mark on the room temperature scale. Adding Automatic Transaxle Fluid Before adding any fluid, be sure that level to the correct area on the dipstick. If an overfill occurs, excess fluid should be Manual Transaxle Fluid The lubricant level and quality should not deteriorate under normal driving - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 274
Under normal circumstances, your vehicle should not use up brake fluid rapidly. However, expect the level of the brake fluid to slowly fall as you put more mileage on your vehicle and the brake pads wear. You should check the brake fluid at every scheduled engine oil change, but be sure to check it - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 275
and remove the filler cap from the reservoir. Fill the reservoir to the MAX line with Ford High Performance DOT 3 Brake Fluid C6AZ-19542-AA or DOT 3 equivalent fluid meeting Ford specification ESA-M6C25-A. RWARNING If you use a brake fluid that is not DOT 3, you will cause permanent damage to your - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 276
the engine idles, turn the steering wheel back and forth several times. Make sure that the cap assembly is installed at this time. Turn the engine off only power steering fluid that meets Ford Specification ESW-M2C33-F, such as Motorcraft Type "F" Automatic Transmission and Power Steering Fluid. 290 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 277
system may have been overloaded and blown a fuse. If a fuse blows, all the parts of your vehicle that use the fuse will not work. Your vehicle has two fuse panels. The interior fuse panel is below the instrument panel in front of the driver's door. The main panel is under the hood behind the battery - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 278
The instrument panel fuse panel Fuse panel under instrument panel Inside of the instrument fuse panel cover 292 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 279
The instrument panel fuses and circuit breakers 293 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 280
294 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 281
295 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 282
The engine compartment fuse panel Engine compartment fuse panel (1.8 liter) Engine compartment fuse panel (1.9 liter) 296 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 283
The engine compartment fuse panel charts 297 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 284
298 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 285
299 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 286
provided. RWARNING Always replace a fuse with one that has the specified amperage rating. Using a fuse with a higher amperage rating can cause severe wire damage and could start a fire. To find a fuse's amperage rating, check the number on the fuse or check the color. Color coding for fuses 300 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 287
the overload. If the fuse continues to blow, have your electrical system checked. Circuit Breakers Circuit breakers open when a circuit overload exceeds their rated current (amperage). The manual reset-type used for the blower motor can be reset by pushing the red button located on top of the - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 288
Lights and Bulb Replacement It is a good idea to check the operation of the following lights frequently: u headlamps u high-mount brakelamp u tail lamps u brakelamps u hazard flasher u turn signals u side - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 289
replaceable bulbs. When the lamp burns out, simply replace the bulb, rather than the whole lamp. RWARNING Handle a halogen headlamp bulb carefully and keep out of children's reach. Grasp the bulb only by its plastic base and find the bulb in the headlamp socket. Location of the headlamp bulb 303 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 290
socket. Lock the ring into the socket by rotating it clockwise until you feel a "stop." Push the electrical connector into the rear of the plastic base until it snaps, locking it into position. Turn the headlamps on and make sure that they work properly. If the headlamp was correctly aligned before - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 291
the three mounting clips and pry each clip out. Remove the high-mount brakelamp cover. Remove the socket that contains the burned-out bulb and replace the bulb. Installing the brakelamp bulb 1. 2. Push the bulb socket into the lamp assembly. Secure the cover with the mounting clips. 305 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 292
on a luggage compartment with spoiler Location of the high-mount brakelamp on spoiler 1. 2. 3. 4. Remove the two retaining screws and the lens. Detach the socket from the housing and remove the bulb. Replace the bulb and ease the socket back into the housing. Replace the lens and secure with the - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 293
the rear window Location of the high-mount brakelamp in rear window 1. 2. 3. 4. Remove the two fastener clips and the brakelamp assembly cover. Detach the socket from the housing and remove the bulb. Replace the bulb and ease the socket back into the housing. Replace the brake assembly cover and - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 294
Bulb Specifications 308 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 295
the passenger compartment. Under extreme conditions excessive exhaust temperatures could damage the fuel system, the interior floor covering, or other vehicle components, possibly causing a fire. To make sure that the catalytic converter and the other emission control parts continue to work properly - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 296
Ford Motor Company parts in performance and durability. Please consult your warranty information booklet for complete warranty information. RWARNING Do not park, idle, or drive your vehicle in dry grass or other dry ground cover. The emission system heats up the engine compartment and exhaust system - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 297
cause more unburned fuel to reach the exhaust system can increase the temperature of the engine or exhaust system. By law, anyone who manufactures, repairs, services, sells, leases, trades vehicles, or supervises a fleet of vehicles is not permitted to intentionally remove an emission control device - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 298
the On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) II system. If the vehicle's powertrain system or its battery has just been serviced, the OBD II system is reset driving required by law, a service center can perform this drive cycle as it would any other type of repair work. OBD II Drive Cycle (1.9L Engine only - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 299
3. Start the engine. Drive the vehicle or idle in neutral for 4 minutes. Idle the vehicle in D (drive) (neutral for manual transaxles) for 40 seconds. Accelerate the vehicle to 35 mph (55 km/h) (manual transaxles upshift from 1st to 3rd gear) at 1/2 to 3/4 throttle for 10 seconds. Drive the vehicle - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 300
at varying speeds between 45 and 60 mph (72-97 km/h). 9. 10. Bring the vehicle back to idle. Idle in drive for 40 seconds. 11. OBD II drive cycle has been completed. Vehicle can be turned off when convenient. Refill Capacities, Motorcraft Parts, and Lubricant Specifications Refill Capacities 314 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 301
Motorcraft Parts 315 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 302
original 1.9L engine spark plug is removed for examination, it must be reinstalled in the same cylinder. Spark plugs in cylinders 1 and 3 have a EG suffix. Spark plugs in cylinders 2 and 4 have a E suffix. If a spark plug needs to be replaced, use only spark plugs with the service part number suffix - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 303
Lubricant Specifications 317 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 304
318 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 305
, oil, tar or mud from exterior surfaces, rear wheel housing and underside of front fenders. locations. rust. u Periodically wash vehicles stored in exposed latches with a light grade oil. u Lubricate all hood, door and trunk lid hinges u Cover interior soft trim to prevent fading. u Keep all - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 306
fast idle the gears while the engine is running. until it reaches normal operating temperature. u With your foot on the brake, shift through all Fuel system u Fill fuel tank with high-quality unleaded fuel until the first automatic shutoff of the fuel pump nozzle. NOTE: During extended periods of - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 307
u Make sure brakes and parking brake are fully released. Tires u Maintain recommended air pressure. Miscellaneous u Make sure all linkages, cables, levers and clevis pins under vehicle are covered with grease to prevent rust. days to lubricate working parts - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 308
322 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 309
323 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 310
Front Exterior View - Sedan 324 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 311
Front Exterior View - Wagon 325 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 312
Rear Exterior View - Sedan 326 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 313
Rear Exterior View - Wagon 327 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 314
Entrance View 328 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 315
Driver's Door 329 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 316
Instrument Panel 330 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 317
Instrument Cluster 331 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 318
Trunk 332 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 319
Liftgate 333 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 320
Engine Compartment - 1.8L 334 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 321
Engine Compartment - 1.9L 335 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 322
...operation ...passenger air bag ...proper seating ...service and information labels ...tone generator ...wearing safety belts ...Air cleaner filter location ...specifications ...Antenna, radio (see Electronic sound system) ...129, Antifreeze (see Engine coolant) ...Anti-lock brake system (ABS - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 323
adjustment ...anti-lock ...anti-lock brake system (ABS) warning light...applying the brakes ...fluid, checking and adding . . fluid, refill capacities ...fluid, specifications ...front disc...new brake linings ...noise...parking ...servicing ...338 Index ...199 ...3 ...213 . . 97 . 218 . 213 . 283 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 324
) ...182, 186 Catalytic converter ...309 CD player (see Electronic sound system) . 174 Chains, tires ...282 Changing a tire ...219 Charging system light ...97 Child safety restraints ...45 Child safety seats and air bags ...39, 47, 48 automatic locking mode (retractor) ...22 in front seat ...51 in - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 325
upholstery and interior trim ...washing ...waxing ...wheels ...Climate control system ...Clock...Clutch fluid reservoir ...fluid specifications ...operation while driving ...shifting the gears ...Cold engine starting ...Combination lap and shoulder belts . Compact disc player (see Electronic sound - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 326
(see Engine coolant) checking and adding ...preparing for storage ...refill capacities ...specifications ...temperature gauge ...warnings...Cooling fan...Crankcase emission filter...Cruise control (see Speed control) ...Customer Assistance Center, Ford (U.S.). Customer Assistance Centre, Ford of - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 327
, roadside assistance...battery acid spills ...fuel ...jump-starting ...towing ...Emergency brake (parking brake) . . Emission control system catalytic converter ...emissions warranty ...Engine check engine warning light ...does not start ...fuel injected engine, starting ...fuel pump shut-off - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 328
gauge ...Engine fan ...Engine oil checking and adding ...dipstick ...disposal ...250, engine oil pressure warning light . . filter, specifications ...refill capacities ...specifications ...synthetic oil ..."break-in" oils ...viscosity ...Exhaust fumes ...Extended Service Plan, Ford ... . 271 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 329
fuel economy ...octane rating ...running out of fuel ...safety information relating to automotive fuels ...storing your vehicle ...treating emergencies...Fuel cap removing ...replacing ...Fuel filler door remote release ...Fuel filter, specifications ...Fuel gauge ...Fuel pump shut-off switch engine - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 330
G Gas cap (see Fuel cap) ...Gas mileage (see Fuel economy) ...Gasoline (see Fuel) ...Gauges engine coolant temperature gauge . fuel gauge ...odometer ...speedometer ...tachometer ...trip odometer ...GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating) calculating ...definition ...driving with a heavy load ...location - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 331
Headlamps aiming ...checking alignment ...cleaning ...daytime running lights . replacing bulbs ...turning on and off ...Head restraints ...High beams indicator light ...operation ...Hood latch location ...lubrication specifications . release lever ...working under the hood . Horn ...Hoses, checking - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 332
...hazard flashers ...headlamps ...instrument panel, dimming . interior lamps ...replacing bulbs ...Lane change indicator (see Turn Lights, warning and indicator air bag...anti-lock brakes (ABS)...charging system ...check engine ...engine oil pressure ...hazard warning light ...high beam ...oil - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 333
see separate Maintenance Schedule and Record booklet) ...Maintenance (see Servicing) ...Manual transaxle backing up (reverse)...clutch ...shifting gears ...Master cylinder, brakes ...Methanol in fuel...Mileage, calculating fuel economy...Mirrors rearview ...side view mirrors (electric remote control - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 334
...Oil filter ...Oil (see Engine oil) ...Oil viscosity ...On-board diagnostic (OBD II) system Order forms, service information . . Overdrive ...Overseas offices ...259 104 105 315 264 264 312 245 196 239 P Parking brake...Parts (see Motorcraft Parts) . PCV valve, specifications . . Power door locks - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 335
information relating to automotive fuels ...Safety restraints automatic locking mode (retractor) cleaning the safety belts ...extension assembly ...for adults ...for children...for infants ...head ...lap and shoulder belts ...maintenance ...proper use ...replacement ...untwisting or unjamming the - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 336
children and air bags ...automatic locking mode (retractor) in front seat ...in rear outboard ...in rear seat...Seat belts (see Safety restraints)...Seats child safety seats ...cleaning upholstery ...head restraints ...Serial number (VIN) ...Service concerns ...Servicing your vehicle ...precautions - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 337
your vehicle (continued) starting your vehicle if the battery is disabled ...Steering, power ...Steering wheel horn ...locking ...speed controls ...Storing your vehicle ...Sunroof (moon roof) ...Supplemental air bag readiness light Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) ... 213 201 . 135 . . 81 . 137 - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 338
Trailer towing ...Transaxle automatic operation ...fluid, checking and adding (automatic) ...fluid, refill capacities ...lubricant specifications . . 105 311 102 131 ... U Used engine oil, disposal ...250, 271, 287 V VECI (Vehicle Emission Control Information) decal ...Vehicle Identification - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 339
Weight limits (GAWR, GVWR) ...Wheel and tire matching ...Wheel bearings, lubricant specifications Wheel dollies (see Towing) ...Wheels ...anti-theft lugnuts ...cleaning ...covers ...inspection and maintenance ...lug nuts ...replacement ...Windows manual windows, operating ...power windows, operating - 1996 Mercury Tracer | Owner's Manual - Page 340
Service Station Information 356
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