1997 Mercury Mountaineer Owner's Manual - Page 103
1997 Mercury Mountaineer Manual
Page 103 highlights
Driving features to make them capable of performing in a wide variety of off-road applications. Specific design characteristics give them higher centers of gravity than ordinary passenger cars. 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. DRIVING OFF ROAD WITH ALLWHEEL DRIVE (AWD) Your vehicle is specially equipped for driving on sand, snow, mud, and rough terrain and has operating characteristics that are somewhat different from conventional vehicles, both on and off road. The following information will help you learn to properly use AWD. When using AWD, maintain steering wheel control at all times, especially in rough terrain. Since sudden changes in terrain can result in abrupt steering wheel motion, make sure you grip the steering wheel from the outside. Do not grip the spokes. Drive cautiously to avoid vehicle damage from concealed objects such as rocks and stumps. You 103