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WARNING
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171
DrivingBrakesApplying the BrakesYour vehicle has anti-lock disc brakes on all four
wheels. They adjust automatically as the brake pads
wear down.
When you press down hard on the brake pedal, the
wheels will not lock and slide. The Anti-lock Brake
System (ABS) automatically starts releasing and
reapplying the front brakes independently and the
rear brakes together whenever your wheels start to
lock. When this happens, you will feel the brake
pedal pulsate. This is an indication that the ABS is
working correctly and is normal.
Each time you turn the ignition key to the ON
position, the anti-lock brake system will function
through one test cycle. When this happens, the
ANTI-LOCK light will come on for up to fiveseconds and a clunk may be felt in the pedal. If the
light stays on longer than five seconds, shut off the
engine and restart. If it remains on, it means the
anti-lock brake system is disabled and should be
serviced immediately to restore the benefits of the
anti-lock feature. Normal braking is not affected
unless the brake warning light is also lit.
The Anti-lock Brake System has self-check
capabilities. As described above, the system turns on
the ANTI-LOCK light each time you start your
engine. After the engine is started and the
ANTI-LOCK light turns off, the system performs
another test the first time the vehicle reaches 14
m.p.h. (22 km/h). The system turns on the ABS
pump motor for approximately 1/2 second. At this
time, a mechanical noise may be heard. This is a
normal part of the self-check feature. If a
malfunction is found during this check the
ANTI-LOCK light will come on.
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172Do not drive with your foot resting on the brake
pedal; you will wear out the linings and increase
your vehicle's stopping distance. Brake rotor damage
may also eventually occur.
NOTE:If you are driving down a long or steep hill,
shift to a lower gear and do not apply your brakes
continuously. If you apply your brakes continuously,
they may overheat and become less effective.
Occasional brake squeal during light to moderate
stops does not affect the function of the brake
system and is normal. However, if the squeal
becomes louder or more frequent, have your brakes
inspected by your dealer or a qualified service
technician.
Ford Motor Company has not found any
detrimental effects of popular mobile radio
transmitting equipment installed on vehicles with
the anti-lock brake system, if the equipment is
installed according to the manufacturer's
instructions. However, if mobile radio transmittingequipment is installed in your vehicle and, if either
the anti-lock brake system cycles or the ANTI-LOCK
light comes on at any time other than right after
you turn the key to the ON position or during a
sudden stop, have your mobile radio dealer inspect
the installation.
Parking BrakeThe parking brake should be used whenever
you park your vehicle.
The parking brake is suspended just below the
lower left corner of the instrument panel.
To set the parking brake:
1. Move the gearshifter to P (Park).
2. Push the parking brake pedal down firmly and
fully with your left foot.
The Brake System Light in the warning lights will
glow once the parking brake is set.
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WARNING
Alwaysse tth eparkin gbrak efull yand
WARNING
If th eparkin gbrak eis full yreleased,
WARNING
To preven tpersona linjury ,do not
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174You have an automatic release for the parking
brake. The parking brake should automatically
unlock when you move the gearshift to any forward
gear while the engine is running. However, the
automatic release does not work when the gearshift
is in reverse, neutral or park.
To manually release the parking brake, pull the
BRAKE RELEASE handle located on the lower left
corner of the instrument panel. The Brake Warning
Light will illuminate if the parking brake is not fully
released when the engine is running.
The parking brake is not designed to stop a moving
vehicle, but you can use the parking brake to stop
your vehicle in an emergency if the normal brakes
fail. However, since the parking brake applies only
the rear brakes, the stopping distance will increase
greatly and the handling of your vehicle will be
adversely affected.Always check the Brake Warning Light each time
you start your engine. Driving with the parking
brake on will cause the brakes to wear out quickly
and will reduce the fuel economy.
Traction Control
TM
Your vehicle is be equipped with the Traction
Control
TM
system. This system helps prevent wheel
spin in order to improve tire traction and is an
especially useful feature when you drive in hilly
areas or on slippery, icy or snowy roads.
When the Traction Control system is controlling
wheelspin, an electric motor sound may be heard
from the engine compartment and engine
acceleration may seem slower. This is normal.
Traction Control
TM
works automatically by rapidly
applying and releasing the brakes and reducing
engine torque to prevent one or both of the front
drive wheels from spinning during acceleration.
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PuttingYou rVehicl ein Gear
WARNING
Hol dthebrak epeda ldow nwhil eyou
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179
WARNING
DO NO TDRIV EYOU RVEHICLE
Onc eyo uplac ethe gearshif tsecurel yint oposition,
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183
WARNING
Neverleav eyou rvehicl eunattended
WARNING
Do no texcee dtheGVW Ror the