Starting Your Vehicle - Mercury 1996 Cougar Manual

Fuel-Injected Engines
When starting a fuel-injected engine, the most
important thing to remember is to avoid
pressing down on the accelerator before or
during starting. Only use the accelerator when
you have problems getting your vehicle started.
See Starting Your Engine in this chapter for
details about when to use the accelerator while
you start your vehicle.

Starting Your Vehicle

Preparing to Start Your Vehicle
Do not start your vehicle in a closed
garage or other enclosed area. Never sit in
a stopped vehicle for more than a short
period of time with the engine running.
Exhaust fumes are toxic. See Guarding
Against Exhaust Fumes in this chapter for
more instructions.
Before you start your vehicle, do the following:
1. Make sure you and all your passengers
buckle your safety belts. See Safety Restraints
in the Index for more details.
2. Make sure the headlamps and other
accessories are turned off when starting.
3. Make sure that the gearshift is in P (Park)
and the parking brake is set before you turn
the key.
Before you start your vehicle, you should test
the warning lights on the instrument panel to
make sure that they work. Refer to the Warning
Lights and Gauges chapter.
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