Unpublished features of the Mark VIII

[Dr Dave]

There are some fantastic features on our Marks that we might take for granted, but they are luxuries of which are easily taken for granted. I am reminded of them when I drive someone else's non-Mark. I've listed a few off of the top of my head, but I'm sure that there are more. Here's what I came up with for starters:

Outside mirrors tilted while in REVERSE will tilt back to original setting when taken out of REVERSE. This will happen only if the REVERSE MIRRORS function is switched off.

Gradual dimming of interior lighting and puddle lamps.

Inability to lock the doors while the keys are in the ignition.

The cup holder, ash tray and glove box gently glide open.

The windshield washers spray diffusely across the windshield.

The self-leveling system is active for 1 hour after the ignition is switched off.

The doors automatically lock above 3 mph.

The outside mirrors are heated.

The fuse panel is located where you don’t have to stand on your head to see it.

The power windows are fast!

The car is quiet!

The EASY ENTRY system on the gen 2s may be published, but it’s just too cool not to mention.

 

[steve]

RE: Unpublished features of the Mark VIII

At least 7 of those are published and you can turn the auto lock off.

 

[manson73]

RE: Unpublished features of the Mark VIII

1st gen's don't have the first four or the very last, but my favorite by far is the windows. I've never been in a car with faster windows. Great for getting into my gated apartment complex when raining.


http://www.mark8.org/users/manson73/sigburnout.JPG

 

[Ponyfreak]

RE: Unpublished features of the Mark VIII

Yea the cheap Gen 1's do not have most of that.

Dave, I did try to put the car in reverse like you suggested then adjsut the mirror, then put it in drive. The mirros did not move back. Must be a gen 2 thing.

 

[johnaec]

RE: Unpublished features of the Mark VIII

Another non-published one - the chime starts to go on if you leave the turn signals on somewhat over a minute, at least in Gen 2.

John
http://mark8.org/users/johnaec/Mark_VIII_s.jpg
'97 Mark VIII LSC
'96 T-Bird 4.6L

 

[joeychgo]

RE: Unpublished features of the Mark VIII

Yeah, Gen 2's got all the great toys. Us poor gen 1 owners merely got power.

 

[steve]

RE: Unpublished features of the Mark VIII

Another non-published one - the chime starts to go on if you leave the turn signals on somewhat over a minute, at least in Gen 2.

I did not get that on my 97, :-( but I have heard of it before.

 

[LeoC2]

RE: Unpublished features of the Mark VIII

Another non-published one - the chime starts to go on if you leave the turn signals on somewhat over a minute, at least in Gen 2.

I did not get that on my 97, :-( but I have heard of it before.

I do but, get this, only with the right directional, the left does not produce the warning.

And the mirror thing, I'll have to try that, never knew it did that.

 

[sleeper]

RE: Unpublished features of the Mark VIII

both my signals chime when i leave them on too long, but i don't think it's a time thing. I think it's tied into the odometer. The only time it will consistently do it is on one particular very long exit ramp around here. I leave the right signal on long enough to get off the highway then turn right off the ramp.

I think just about all of those are gen 2 features. A couple of them are particularly annoying. I leave the reverse mirrors shut off. The not locking with the key in the ignition sucks too, it kinda makes the code on the door worthless.

 

[kev415]

RE: Unpublished features of the Mark VIII

Another non-published one - the chime starts to go on if you leave the turn signals on somewhat over a minute, at least in Gen 2.

I did not get that on my 97, :-( but I have heard of it before.

I do but, get this, only with the right directional, the left does not produce the warning.

And the mirror thing, I'll have to try that, never knew it did that.

There an option in dirver settings or vwehicle settings where you can turn them on or off. I do a lot of parking in parkinglots where the paces are too small and I really dont think that I would be able to park that beast if it wasn't for those mirrors.

 

[GRAND_LS 400]

RE: Unpublished features of the Mark VIII

Another non-published one - the chime starts to go on if you leave the turn signals on somewhat over a minute, at least in Gen 2.

I did not get that on my 97, :-( but I have heard of it before.

I do but, get this, only with the right directional, the left does not produce the warning.

And the mirror thing, I'll have to try that, never knew it did that.

I get both Sides too. You can control the reverse mirrors via Drivers settings.

 

[GRAND_LS 400]

RE: Unpublished features of the Mark VIII

both my signals chime when i leave them on too long, but i don't think it's a time thing. I think it's tied into the odometer. The only time it will consistently do it is on one particular very long exit ramp around here. I leave the right signal on long enough to get off the highway then turn right off the ramp.

I think just about all of those are gen 2 features. A couple of them are particularly annoying. I leave the reverse mirrors shut off. The not locking with the key in the ignition sucks too, it kinda makes the code on the door worthless.

You can hit the locking nob on your way out, if you lock it manually, the car will not unlock it.

Alternatively, you can exit the car, and lock it with the keyless entry.

 

[Dr Dave]

RE: Unpublished features of the Mark VIII

Try this:

1. Turn off the REVERSE MIRRORS function.

2. Put the car in Reverse.

3. Adjust your outside mirror(s).

4. Take the car out of Reverse.

The mirror(s) should return to the Driver's Preset position.

 

[GRAND_LS 400]

RE: Unpublished features of the Mark VIII

You dont even have to do that...

You can just MOVE the mirrors by hand (which happens when your washing your car) then press your unlock button on your key fob (or start the engine, i forgot), and it will adjuste back automatically.

 

[JonnyD]

RE: Unpublished features of the Mark VIII

I thought that only the driver side mirror was heated?

 

[johnaec]

RE: Unpublished features of the Mark VIII

I thought that only the driver side mirror was heated?

Nope - both sides are.

John
http://mark8.org/users/johnaec/Mark_VIII_s.jpg
'97 Mark VIII LSC
'96 T-Bird 4.6L

 

[steve]

RE: Unpublished features of the Mark VIII

I thought that only the driver side mirror was heated?

Only the driver side is electrochromatic that works with the auto-dim feature.

 

[apbpetey]

RE: Unpublished features of the Mark VIII

The mirrors should return to what you have them set for when you unlock the door with the key fob. I love the tilt down fuction when in reverse, but now I seem to have a problem with it. When I have it set to do it, the driver side mirror never returns to the setting I have for it, but instead seems to have a mind of its own. So I leave it turned off for now.

 

[GRAND_LS 400]

RE: Unpublished features of the Mark VIII

Can you set how FAR down it goes? because sometimes its just WAY too far down!

 

[Dr Dave]

RE: Unpublished features of the Mark VIII

No, I don't think that you can set the amount of tilt for the REVERSE MIRRORS function.
You can only turn it off and adjust the mirror down after putting it into Reverse to be able to see the curb behind the car if you expect it to return to its normal position when you take it out of Reverse.