Lincoln Continental 1996 User Manual

1996

CONTINENTAL

Your satisfaction is our #1 goal. If you have questions or concerns with your vehicle, we suggest you follow these steps:

In the United States:

Ford Motor Company

Lincoln Customer Assistance Center

300 Renaissance Center

P.O. Box 43360

Detroit, MI 48243

1-800-521-4140

TDD for the hearing impaired: 1-800-232-5952

I . Contact your Sales Representative or Service

Advisor at your selling/servicing dealership.

2. If the inquiry or concern remains unresolved, contact the Sales Manager or Service Manager at the dealership.

3. If the inquiry or concern cannot be resolved at the dealership level, please contact the Ford Customer Assistance Center.

In Canada:

The Lincoln Centre

Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited

P.O. Box 1580, Station B

Mississauga, Ontario L4Y 4G3

1-800-387-9333

Outside the U.S. or Canada:

FORD MOTOR COMPANY EXPORT OPERATIONS

1555 Fairlane Drive

Fairlane Business Park #3

Allen Park, Michigan 481 01

Telephone (313) 594-4857

Fax (313) 390-0804

All rights reserved. Reproduction by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system or translation in whole or part is not permitted without written authorization from Ford Motor Company.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTORY INFORMATION

SAFETY RESTRAINTS

STARTING YOUR CONTINENTAL

WARNING LIGHTS AND GAUGES

INSTRUMENT PANEL CONTROLS

STEERING COLUMN CONTROLS

FEATURES

ELECTRONIC SOUND SYSTEMS

159

DRIVING YOUR CONTINENTAL

179

ROADSIDE EMERGENCIES

CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE

ACCESSORIES

SERVICING YOUR CONTINENTAL

QUICK INDEX

INDEX

GAS STATION INFORMATION

199

213

223

231

299

307

322

iii

Introductory Information Ford's Commitment to You

At Ford Motor Company, excellence is the continuous commitment to achieve the best result possible. It is dedication to learning what you want, determination to develop the right concept, and execution of that concept with care, precision, and attention to detail. In short, excellence means being the standard by which others are judged.

Our Guiding Principles

Quality comes first. For your satisfaction, the

quality of our products and services must be our number one priority.

You are the focus of everything we do. Our

work must be done with you in mind, providing better products and services than our competition.

Continuous improvement is essential to our

success. We must strive for excellence in everything we do: in our products - in their safety and value - and in our services, our human relations, our competitiveness, and our profitability.

Employee involvement is our way of life. We are

a team. We must treat one another with trust and respect.

Dealers and suppliers are our partners. We must

maintain mutually beneficial relationships with dealers, suppliers, and our other business associates.

Integrity is never compromised. Our conduct

worldwide must be pursued in a manner that is socially responsible and commands respect for its integrity and for its positive contributions to society

Things to Know About Using This Guide

Congratulations on the purchase of your new vehicle. This guide has information about the equipment and the options for your new vehicle. You may not have bought all of the options available to you. If you do not know which information applies to your vehicle, talk to your dealer.

NOTES and WARNINGS

NOTES give you additional information about the subject

matter you are referencing. WARNINGS remind you to be especially careful in those

areas where carelessness can cause damage to your vehicle or personal injury to yourself, your passengers or other people. Please read all WARNINGS carefully.

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 incurring obligation.

/!\ WARNING

Finding Information in This Guide

After you have read this guide once, you will probably return to it when you have a specific question or need additional information. To help you find specific information quickly, you can use the Quick Index or the Index.

The Quick Index at the end of the book provides a page number following each item which indicates where detailed information can be found.

To use the Index, turn to the back of the book and search in the alphabetical listing for the word that best describes the information you need. If the word you chose is not listed, think of other related words and look them up. We have designed the Index so that you can find information under a technical term.

Canadian Owners - French Version

The Lincoln Commitment

The Lincoln Commitment is more than the prestige of owning a superior luxury automobile, it is a comprehensive owner benefits package that is designed to provide you with services to support your every driving need.

The following is a brief explanation of the Lincoln Commitment benefits. We encourage you to learn about these benefits and take full advantage of them. Detailed information on all of these benefits will be sent to you approximately 25 days after you have taken delivery of your vehicle.

French Owner Guides can be obtained from your dealer or by writing to Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited, Service Publications, P.O. Box 1580, Station B, Mississauga, Ontario L4Y 4G3.

Service Loaner

Should your Lincoln require overnight warranty service, your dealership will provide you with a service loaner car, when available, or a rental allowance of up to $30 a day for up to five days.

Roadside Service Assistance

Trip Planning Service

Lincoln owners receive complimentary 24-hour emergency roadside service assistance for a period of four years for towing, jump-starting, lock-out service, gas delivery, a tire change or other roadside services. Call the hotline at 1-800-521-4140 any time of day or night for emergency roadside assistance.

Emergency Travel Expense Reimbursement

Covers expenses such as meals, lodging and car rental if your automobile is disabled more than 100 miles (160 km) from home.

Destination Assistance (U.S. only)

In the event of a collision or mechanical breakdown, Lincoln helps get you to your immediate destination with a reimbursement allowance for emergency transportation service such as taxicabs, rental cars, shuttles, etc.

Plan your journeys with custom-computerized, travel-related information including maps and trip routings. To order customer-designed travel packets, call 1-800-521-4140.

Membership in Quest International (U.S. only)

You will automatically receive a complimentary membership in Quest International which entities you to travel-related discounts on meals and rooms at more than 2,100 hotels in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

The Lincoln Warranty

For specifics on what is covered, see your Warranty Information Booklet.

Lincoln Customer Assistance Center

Your Maintenance Schedule and

If you have questions regarding your Lincoln or the Lincoln Commitment, call our Customer Assistance Center:

United States 1-800-521-4140 Canada 1-800-387-9333

You may call the Customer Assistance Center, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in all time zones.

Owner Identification Card

Personalized with your name and vehicle identification number as well as the hotline number to call for customer service or roadside assistance service.

Record Booklet

The Maintenance Schedule and Record booklet lists the services that are most important for keeping your vehicle in good condition. A record log is also provided to help you keep track of all services performed.

About the Warranties

Your vehicle is covered by three types of warranties:

Basic Vehicle Warranty, Extended Warranties

on certain parts, and Emissions Warranties. Read your Warranty Information Booklet carefully to

find out about your vehicle's warranties and your basic rights and responsibilities.

If you lose your Warranty Information Booklet, you can get a new one free of charge. Contact any Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer, or refer to the addresses and phone numbers on the first page of this owner guide.

Buying a Ford Extended Service Plan

Breaking Your Vehicle In

If you bought your vehicle in the U.S., you can buy a Ford Extended Service Plan for your vehicle. This optional contract provides service protection for a longer period of time than the basic warranty that comes with your vehicle.

You do not have to buy this option when you buy your vehicle. However, your option to purchase the Ford Extended Service Plan runs out after 18 months or 18,000 miles. See your dealer for more details about the Ford Extended Service Plan.

If you purchased a Canadian vehicle and did not take advantage of the Ford Extended Service Plan at the time of purchase, you may still be eligible. See your dealer for the details.

Your new vehicle goes through an adjustment or break-in period during the first 1,000 miles (1,600 km) that you drive it. During the break-in period, you need to pay careful attention to how you drive your vehicle.

Avoid sudden stops. Because your vehicle has

new brake linings, you should take these steps:

-Watch traffic carefully so that you can anticipate when to stop.

-Begin braking well in advance.

-Apply the brakes gradually.

The break-in period for new brake linings lasts for I 00 miles (I 60 km) of city driving or 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of highway driving.

Use only the type of engine oil that Ford

recommends. See Engine oil recommendations in the Index. Do not use special "break-in" oils.

Cleaning the Outside of Your

Vehicle Washing and Polishing Your Vehicle

Wash the outside of your vehicle, including the underside, with a mild detergent.

DO NOT:

Wash your vehicle with hot water Wash your vehicle while it sits in direct

sunlight

Wash your vehicle while the body is hot

Pollen, bird droppings a . nd tree sap can damage the paint, especially in hot weather. Wash your vehicle as often as necessary to keep it clean.

Take similar precautions if your vehicle is exposed to chemical industrial fallout.

Paint damage resulting from fallout is not related to a defect in paint materials or workmanship and therefore is not covered by warranty. Ford, however, believes that continual improvement in customer satisfaction is a high priority. For this reason, Ford has authorized its dealers to repair, at no charge to the owner, the surfaces of new vehicles damaged by environmental fallout within 12 months or 12,000 miles (20,000 km) of purchase, whichever comes first. Customers may be required to bring their vehicle in for inspection by a Ford representative.

Polish your vehicle to remove harmful deposits and protect the finish.

Cleaning Chrome and Aluminum Parts

Cleaning Plastic Parts

Wash chrome and aluminum parts with a mild detergent. Do not use steel wool, abrasive cleaners, fuel, or strong detergents.

Some of your vehicle's exterior trim parts are plastic. Clean with a tar and road oil remover if necessary. Use a vinyl cleaner for routine cleaning.

Do not clean plastic parts with thinners, solvents or petroleum-based cleaners.

If you have your vehicle rustproofed, remove oversprayed rustproofing with a tar and road oil remover. If rustproofing is not removed from plastic and rubber parts, it can cause deterioration.

Safety Restraints

Important Safety Belt Information

The use of safety belts helps to restrain you and your passengers in case of a collision. In most states and in Canada the law requires their use.

Safety belts provide best restraint when:

the seatback is upright the occupant is sitting upright (not slouched) the lap belt is snug and low on the hips the shoulder belt is snug against the chest

the knees are straight forward To help you remember to fasten your safety belt, a warning light may come on and a chime may sound.

See Safety Belt Warning Light and Chime in the

Warning Lights and Gauges chapter.

See the following sections in this chapter for 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.

/!\ WARNING

Make sure that you and your passengers wear safety belts. Always drive and ride with your seatback upright and the lap belt snug and low across the hips.

/!\ WARNING Never wear the shoulder belt under the arm. Never swing it around the neck over the inside shoulder. Never use a single belt for more than one person or across more than one seating position. Each seating position in your vehicle has a specific safety belt 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.

/!\ WARNING

/!\WARNING

To reduce the risk of serious injury in a collision, children should always ride with the seatback upright.

/!\WARNING

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.

Never drive or ride with a twisted or jammed safety belt. If you cannot untwist or unjam the safety belt, see the nearest qualified technician immediately.

Lock the doors of your vehicle before driving to lessen the risk of the door coming open in a collision.

Combination Lap and Shoulder Belts

While your vehicle is in motion, the combination lap and shoulder belt adjusts to your movement. However, if you brake hard, corner hard or if your vehicle receives an impact of 5 mph (8 km/h) or more, the lap and shoulder belt locks and helps reduce your forward movement.

After you get into your vehicle, close the door and lock it. Then adjust the seat to the position that suits you best.

Fastening the combination lap and shoulder belt

NOTE: Be sure to read and understand Important

Safety Belt Information at the beginning of this

chapter. To adjust the lap part of the belt, pull up on the

shoulder belt until the lap belt fits snugly and as low as possible around your hips.

While the belt retracts, guide the tongue to its original position to prevent it from striking you or the vehicle.

Shoulder Belt Height Adjustment

Driver and right front passenger

You can adjust the shoulder belt height to one of five (5) positions.

To adjust the belt down, push the release button (see figures I and 2). To adjust the belt up, slide the adjuster up. (You do not have to push the release button.)

Unfastening the lap/shoulder belts

Make sure the adjuster is firmly in one of the five positions. The belt should be adjusted up or down until the belt rests on your shoulder near your neck.

Figure I - The shoulder belt height adjuster Figure 2 - The shoulder belt height adjuster

/!\ WARNING

Position the shoulder belt height adjuster so that the belt rests across the middle of your shoulder. Be sure the shoulder belt is properly positioned on your shoulder each time you use the belt. If the shoulder belt is off your shoulder, on your upper arm or neck, there is a greater risk of severe injury in a collision.

Dual locking mode refractors operate in two ways:

Vehicle sensitive (emergency) locking mode

In this operating mode, the shoulder belt retractor will allow the occupant freedom of movement, locking tight only on hard braking, hard cornering or impacts of approximately 5 mph (8 km/h) or more. The retractor can also be made to lock by pulling on the belt.

Automatic locking mode

Right Front or Rear Seating Positions

Your vehicle is equipped with a dual locking mode retractor on the shoulder belt portion of the combination lap/shoulder safety belt for the front seat passenger and rear seat passengers.

In this operating mode, the shoulder belt retractor will be automatically locked and will remain locked when the combination lap/shoulder safety belt is buckled, and does not allow the occupant freedom of movement. This mode provides the following:

A tight lap/shoulder belt on the occupant. Child seat installation restraint.

/!\ WARNING

Rear facing infant seats should never be placed in the front seat.

This mode must be used when installing a child seat on the front passenger seat and rear seats where dual locking refractors are provided. To switch the retractor from the emergency locking mode to the automatic locking mode, perform the following steps:

1. Buckle the lap/shoulder combination belt.

2. Grasp the shoulder portion of the belt and

pull downward until all of the belt is extracted and a click is heard. At this time, the retractor is in the automatic locking mode (child restraint mode).

3. A clicking sound will contnue to be heard as the belt is allowed to retract.

NOTE: When the combination lap/shoulder belt is unbuckled and allowed to retract completely, the retractor will switch to the vehicle sensitive (emergency) locking mode. See the detailed instructions under Safety Seats for Children in this chapter.

Lap Belts

The lap belt in the center of the front seat does not adjust automatically. You must adjust it to fit snugly and as low as possible around your hips. Do not wear it around your waist.

Unfastening the lap belts in the center front seating position

NOTE: Be sure to read and understand

Important Safety Belt Information at the beginning of this chapter.

Pull the belt across your hips and insert the tongue into the correct buckle on your seat until you hear a snap and feel it lock. Make sure the buckle is securely fastened.

If you need to lengthen the belt, unfasten it and tip the belt tongue at a right angle to the belt. Pull the belt tongue over your lap until it reaches the buckle.

If you need to shorten the belt, pull on the loose end of the webbing until the belt fits snugly.

To unfasten the belt, push the release button on the buckle. This allows the tongue to unlatch from the buckle.

Safety Belt Extension Assembly

For some people, the safety belt may be too short even when it is extended. You can add about eight inches (20 cm) to the belt length with a safety belt extension assembly (part number 611 C22). Safety belt extensions are available at no cost from your dealer.

on the label. Also, use the safety belt extension only if the safety belt is too short for you when fully extended. Do not use extension to change the fit of the shoulder belt across the torso.

/!\ WARNING

However, if the collision was minor and a qualified technician finds that the belts do not show damage and continue to operate properly, they do not need to be replaced. Safety belt assemblies not in use during a collision should also be inspected and replaced if either damage or improper operation is noted.

Failure to follow these instructions will affect the performance of the safety belts and increase the risk of personal injury.

Safety Belt Maintenance

Check the safety belt systems periodically to make sure that they work properly and are not damaged.

All safety belt assemblies, including refractors, buckles, 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.

Cleaning the Safety Belts

Clean the safety belts with any mild soap solution that is recommended 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 bags are Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS), provided at these seating positions in addition to the

lap/shoulder belt, and are designed to supplement the protection provided to properly belted occupants

in moderate to severe frontal collisions. The supplemental air bag system does not provide restraint to the lower body.

/!\WARNING

The supplemental air bags are not designed to protect occupants in the front center seating position.

The Importance of Wearing Safety Belts

/!\WARNING

/!\ WARNING

All occupants of the vehicle, including the driver, should always wear their safety belts, even when an air bag Supplemental Restraint System is provided.

There are four very important reasons to use safety belts even with an air bag system. Use your safety belts to:

help keep you in the proper position (away

from the air bag) when it inflates

Safety belts must be worn by all vehicle occupants to be properly restrained and help reduce the risk of injury in a collision.

reduce the risk of harm in rollover, side or

rear impact collisions, because an air bag is not designed to inflate in such situations

reduce the risk of harm in frontal colflsions

that are not severe enough to activate the supplemental air bag

reduce the risk of being thrown from your

vehicle

The Importance of Being Properly Seated

In a collision, the air bag must inflate extremely fast to help provide additional protection for you. In order to do this, the air bag must inflate with considerable force. If you are not seated in a normal riding position with your back against the seatback, the air bag may not protect you properly and could possibly hurt you as it inflates.

/!\ WARNING

If a passenger is not properly seated and restrained, an inflating air bag could cause serious injury.

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 center armrests (if so equipped), or center console (if so equipped).

Children weighing less than 40 lbs. (18 kg.) should use child or infant seats. Forward facing child seats must have the passenger seat moved as far back from the instrument panel as possible.

Your vehicle is equipped with a right front passenger air bag. Front passengers, especially children and small adults, should never sit on the edge of the seat, stand near the glove compartment of the instrument panel, or lean over with their faces near the glove compartment when the vehicle is moving. All occupants should sit with their backs against the seatback and use the safety belts.

/!\ WARNING

REAR-FACING INFANT SEATS SHOULD NEVER BE USED IN THE FRONT SEAT. REAR-FACING INFANT SEATS MUST ALWAYS BE PLACED IN THE REAR SEAT. Failure to follow these instructions could result in serious injury.

For further information about the proper mounting of equipment in the front seat of this vehicle, please refer to Ford's brochure entitled Some Important

Information About Air Bag Supplemental Restraint System which can be obtained by calling Helm Inc.

at 1-800-782-4356. Ask for brochure FPS-8602. For additional important safety information on the

proper use of seat belts, child seats, and infant seats, please read the other sections of this part of the Owner Guide, especially sections entitled Safety

Belts for Children and Safety Seats for Children.

/!\ WARNING

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.

How the Air Bag Supplemental Restraint System Operates

The Air Bag Supplemental Restraint System consists of the Driver and Passenger air bags, impact sensors, a system diagnostic module, a readiness light and tone, and the electrical wiring which connects the components.

The driver air bag is in the center of the steering wheel and is indicated by the letters SRS. The right front passenger seat air bag is in the upper righthand section of the instrument panel ledge above the glove compartment. The letters SRS appear there. Both air bags are designed to stay out of sight until they are activated.

The location of air bags and warning labels

If a collision occurs, the sensors sense the severity of the impact and activates the air bags if necessary. The air bag system is designed to deploy in frontal and front-angled collisions more severe than hitting a parked vehicle (of similar size and weight) head-on at about 28 mph (45 km/h). Because the system senses the crash severity rather than vehicle speed, some frontal collisions at speeds above 28 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 place in a matter of seconds.

/!\ WARNING

Air bag system components get hot after inflation. Do not touch them after inflation.

Inflated driver side air bag Inflated Passenger side air bag

/!\ WARNING

If the air bag is inflated, THE AIR BAG WILL 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 lamp and a warning tone. The diagnostic module monitors its own circuits, the air bag electrical system, the air bag readiness light, the air bag power, and the air bag inflators.

The air bag system uses a readiness light on the instrument cluster and a tone to indicate the condition of the system. When you turn the ignition key to the ON position, this light will illuminate for approximately six (6) seconds and then turn off.

This indicates that the system is operating normally. NOTE: Maintenance of the air bag system is not required.

AIR

BAG

A problem with the system is indicated by one

or more of the following: the readiness light will either flash or stay lit, or it will not light immediately after ignition is

turned on, or a group of five beeps will be heard. The

tone pattern will repeat periodically until the

problem and light are repaired.

If any of these things happen, have the air bag system serviced at your Ford or LincolnMercury dealer immediately. Unless serviced, the air bag supplemental restraint system may not function properly in the event of a collision.

/!\ WARNING

Do not attempt to service, repair, or modify the Air Bag Supplemental Restraint System or its fuses. See your Ford or LincolnMercury dealer.

Safety Restraints for Children

In the U.S. and Canada, you are required by law to use safety restraints for children. If small children ride in your vehicle - this generally includes children who are four years old or younger and who weigh 40 pounds (18 kg) or less - you must put them in safety seats that are made specially for children. Safety belts alone do not provide maximum protection for these children. Check your local and state laws for specific requirements.

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 be disposed of by qualified personnel.

/!\ WARNING

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.

/!\ WARNING

Passengers should not be allowed to ride in the cargo area. Persons not riding in a seat with a fastened seat belt are much more likely to suffer serious injury in a collision. Cargo should always be secured to prevent it from shifting and causing damage to the vehicle or harm to passengers.

When possible, put children in the rear seat, of your vehicle. Accident statistics suggest that children are safer when properly restrained in the rear seating positions than in the front seating positions.

Carefully follow all of the manufacturer's instructions included with the safety seat you put in your vehicle. if you do not install and use the safety seat properly, the child may be injured in a sudden stop or collision.

/!\ WARNING

Safety belts and seats can become hot in a vehicle that has been closed up in sunny weather; they could bum a small child. Check seat covers and buckles before you place a child anywhere near them.

/!\ WARNING

Never leave a child unattended in your vehicle.

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