2008 Mercury Mountaineer Owner Guide 1st Printing - Page 270

Driving ALL WHEEL DRIVE (AWD) SYSTEM (IF EQUIPPED) Your vehicle may be equipped with an All Wheel Drive (AWD) transfer case. With the AWD option, there is no need to shift between two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive. For the lubricant specification and refill capacity of the AWD transfer case refer to Maintenance and Specifications chapter. If your vehicle is equipped with AWD, a spare tire of a different size than the road tires should never be used. Such a tire could make the vehicle difficult to control as well as result in damage to driveline components. Utility and four-wheel drive vehicles are not designed for cornering at speeds as high as passenger cars any more than low-slung sports cars are designed to perform satisfactorily under off-road conditions. Avoid sharp turns or abrupt maneuvers in these vehicles. Normal operation (4.0L engine vehicles only) The AWD system is always active and requires no driver input. It is capable of handling all road conditions, including street and highway driving as well as off-road conditions such as deep snow, ice or shallow sand. Normal operation (4.6L engine vehicles only) During normal operation the AWD system is in AWD AUTO mode (AWD LOCKED will illuminate in the message center for four seconds when you first start your vehicle). The 4X4 indicator in the instrument cluster will also come on. For instructions on selecting the AWD LOCKED mode, refer to Message center in the Driver Controls chapter. This mode is not intended for use on dry pavement. This mode is appropriate for severe winter or off-road conditions such as deep snow, ice or shallow sand. The use of AWD LOCKED on dry or hard surfaces may produce some noise, such as occasional clunks, but will not damage the drive system. 270 2008 Mountaineer (mnt) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus)