1996 Mercury Villager Owner Guide 1st Printing - Page 79

Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge This gauge is accompanied by a thermometer symbol. It will show you the temperature of the engine coolant when the ignition is in the ON position. As the engine warms up, the pointer will move to the NORMAL band. When you are driving in heavy traffic or experiencing stop-and-go conditions in hot weather, the pointer may move to the very 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 engine damage may occur. If your engine overheats: 1. Pull off the road as soon as it is safely possible. 2. Turn off the engine. If you do not stop the engine as soon as safely possible, severe engine damage could result. 3. Let the engine cool. DO NOT REMOVE COOLANT SYSTEM FILL CAP UNTIL THE ENGINE IS COOL. 4. Check the coolant level following the instructions on checking 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. 5. Add as much coolant as your engine needs. If the engine continues to overheat, have the coolant system serviced. 78