Town Car V8-4.6L VIN W (1997)
Driver/Vehicle Information Display: Description and Operation
Message Center Displays
The message center displays contain the following:
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average speed (AVG SPEED)
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fuel remaining (FUEL REMAIN)
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distance to empty (DIST TO EMPTY)
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trip distance (TRIP A, TRIP B)
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average and instantaneous fuel economy (FUEL ECON)
The message center takes in signals from the following electronic controls:
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Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS) (speed/distance)
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fuel level sensor
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Powertrain Control Module (PCM)(fuel flow)
The message center performs continuous calculations of a signal or signals to supply the information for each message center function.
Fuel Remaining
The FUEL REMAIN display:
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indicates the amount of fuel remaining in the fuel tank based on an operating resistance range from the fuel level sensor (15 ohms minimum to
160 ohms maximum, empty to full tank).
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rounds the values to whole numbers which may cause the gallons (U.S.)/liters conversion to disagree slightly from driver calculation.
Instantaneous Fuel Economy
The instantaneous fuel economy (FUEL ECON) display:
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computes its reading based on distance traveled (vehicle speed sensor signal) and fuel used (fuel flow signal from powertrain control module)
information.
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may indicate 0 to 99 miles per gallon or 1 to 99 liters per 100 kilometers.
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displays 0 miles per gallon or 99 liters per 100 kilometers.
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cannot be reset.
Average Fuel Economy
The average fuel economy (FUEL ECON) display:
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computes its reading from distance traveled (vehicle speed sensor signal) and fuel used (fuel flow signal from powertrain control module)
information.
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indicates the value calculated since the last reset.
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may be reset by pressing the RESET button while the average fuel economy feature is displayed.
Distance to Empty
The distance to empty (DIST TO EMPTY) display:
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is based on a calculation using an average of the fuel economy over the last 850 km (500 miles) and the current fuel remaining to estimate the
distance that can be driven with remaining fuel. This distance may increase or decrease depending on the most recent driving conditions.
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cannot be reset.
For proper distance to empty function, the ignition switch must be turned to OFF when fuel is being added to the fuel tank.
When distance to empty drops to 80 km (50 miles), the fuel computer overrides the current displayed function and flashes the DIST TO EMPTY
value for five seconds. The display repeats this function at 40 and 16 km (25 and 10 miles).
Trip Distance
The trip distance feature:
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displays the elapsed distance since the last reset and can be used as a trip odometer.
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can be reset to zero by pressing the RESET button while the trip distance feature is displayed.
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registers up to 999.9 and changes to 0.0 when 999.9 is exceeded.
TRIP A and TRIP B operate independently.
Trip Remain
The trip remain feature:
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allows the driver to set a destination distance up to 999 miles or kilometers.
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indicates when the preset distance has been reached by sounding a tone for one second and flashing 0.0 TRIP REMAIN for 10 seconds before
returning to original display.
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is set by selecting the TRIP REMAIN indicator then pressing RESET button at which point the HUNDREDS (100s) digit will flash.
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To set the 100's digit, press SELECT button until desired value is reached; then press SELECT to go to the TENS (10s) digit. Repeat
procedure for ones.
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Press RESET button to set the value selected and return to regular display.
