
To lower the shoulder belt height, push the button and slide the height
adjuster down. To raise the height of the shoulder belt, slide the height
adjuster up. Pull down on the height adjuster to make sure it is locked in
place.
Position the shoulder belt height adjusters so that the belt rests
across the middle of your shoulder. Failure to adjust the safety
belt properly could reduce the effectiveness of the seat belt and
increase the risk of injury in a collision.
Lap belts
Adjusting the lap belt
The lap belt does not adjust automatically.
The lap belts should fit snugly and as low as possible around the
hips, not around the waist.
Insert the tongue into the correct
buckle (the buckle closest to the
direction the tongue is coming
from). To lengthen the belt, turn the
tongue at a right angle to the belt
and pull across your lap until it
reaches the buckle. To tighten the
belt, pull the loose end of the belt
through the tongue until it fits
snugly across the hips.
Seating and safety restraints
65

3. Buckle the seat belt. Push down
on the childseat and pull on the
shoulder portion of the belt to snug
the lap belt. Hold the lap and
shoulder belts next to the tongue
and unbuckle the belt.
4. Install a locking clip over both lap
and shoulder belt portions next to
the sliding tongue. Rebuckle the
belt. Obtain the locking clip kit
(Part Number FO3Z-5461248–A) at
no charge from an authorized Ford
or Lincoln-Mercury dealer.
5. Before placing the child in the seat, forcibly tilt the seat forward and
back to make sure the seat is securely held in place. If the child seat is
not tight enough, unbuckle the seat belt, move the tongue and locking
clip to shorten the lap portion and push down hard on the childseat
while you rebuckle the belt.
Check to make sure the child seat is properly secured before each use.
Attaching safety seats with tether straps
Some manufacturers make safety seats that include a tether strap that
goes over the back of the vehicle seat and attaches to an anchoring
point. Other manufacturers offer the tether strap as an accessory.
Contact the manufacturer of your child safety seat for information about
ordering a tether strap.
Seating and safety restraints
75

Excessive full throttle operation below peak torque RPM will shorten
engine life to overhaul and can cause serious engine damage. Operation
of the engine below peak torque RPM can occur during gear shifting due
to difference of gear ratios.
COLD WEATHER STARTING
Perform the following to assure efficient starting in cold weather:
•Use the proper grade oil for your climate. Refer to your engine
operator’s manual for proper grade oil.
•Test the battery more frequently to assure ample power for starting.
•All electrical connections should be tight and in good condition to
prevent losses through loose or corroded connections.
USING THE ENGINE BLOCK HEATER (IF EQUIPPED)
An engine block heater warms the engine coolant, which improves
starting, warms up the engine faster and allows the heater-defroster
system to respond quickly. Use of an engine block heater is strongly
recommended if you live in a region where temperatures reach -23°C
(-10°F) or below.
For best results, plug the heater in at least three hours before starting the
vehicle. Using the heater for longer than three hours will not harm the
engine, so the heater can be plugged in the night before starting the vehicle.
To prevent electrical shock, do not use your heater with
ungrounded electrical systems or two-pronged (cheater)
adapters.
ENGINE SHUTDOWN SYSTEM (IF EQUIPPED)
This system is designed to help prevent engine damage that could result
from operating the engine during a prolonged period of low engine oil
pressure, high engine coolant temperature or low coolant level. If any of
these conditions occur, a warning light will illuminate and a chime will
sound warning the operator that the engine will shutdown in 30 seconds.
This is to allow time for the operator to move the vehicle off the road. If
additional time is required, the engine can be restarted and run each
time for approximately 30 seconds.
Do not attempt to use this restarting feature to drive the vehicle, serious
engine damage could result.
Starting
80

Although OSHA or other governmental regulations may require use of an
electrical or mechanical back-up alarm to warn bystanders, such an
alarm does not assure that the intended path is clear.
An electrical back-up alarm, if installed, is connected to the back-up
lamp circuit.
HYDRAULIC BRAKES (IF EQUIPPED)
Your service brakes are self-adjusting. Refer to the Scheduled
maintenance guide for scheduled maintenance.
Occasional brake noise is normal and often does not indicate a
performance concern with the vehicle’s brake system. In normal
operation, automotive brake systems may emit occasional or intermittent
squeal or groan noises when the brakes are applied. Such noises are
usually heard during the first few brake applications in the morning;
however, they may be heard at any time while braking and can be
aggravated by environmental conditions such as cold, heat, moisture,
road dust, salt or mud. If a“metal-to-metal,”“continuous grinding”or
“continuous squeal”sound is present while braking, the brake linings
may be worn-out and should be inspected by a qualified service
technician.
If you are driving down a long or steep hill, shift to a lower gear.
Do not apply your brakes continuously, as they may overheat
and become less effective.
Four-wheel anti-lock brake system (ABS)
On vehicles equipped with an anti-lock braking system (ABS), a noise
from the hydraulic pump motor and pulsation in the pedal may be
observed during ABS braking events. Pedal pulsation coupled with noise
while braking under panic conditions or on loose gravel, bumps, wet or
snowy roads is normal and indicates proper functioning of the vehicle’s
anti-lock brake system. If the vehicle has continuous vibration or shudder
in the steering wheel while braking, the vehicle should be inspected by a
qualified service technician.
Driving
82

The ABS operates by detecting the
onset of wheel lockup during brake
applications and compensating for
this tendency. The wheels are
prevented from locking even when
the brakes are firmly applied. The
accompanying illustration depicts
the advantage of an ABS equipped
vehicle (on bottom) to a non-ABS
equipped vehicle (on top) during hard braking with loss of front braking
traction.
Servicing or replacing ABS module
1. Remove any contamination from the exterior of the module assembly
before disconnecting any brake tubes. Keep the contamination away from
all open ports and brake tubes.
2. Mark and tag all brake tubes and electrical connectors before
disassembly.
3. Perform the necessary repair.
4. Using the marked tags from disassembly, connect the brake tubes and
electrical connectors.
Always mark and tag the brake tubes and the electrical
connectors prior to disassembly to ensure correct assembly and
prevent brake failure.
ABS warning lamp
The
ABSwarning lamp in the instrument cluster momentarily illuminates
when the ignition is turned on and the engine is off. If the light does not
illuminate momentarily at start up, remains on after the vehicle reaches
10 to 15 km/h (5 to 10 mph), or continues to flash, the ABS needs to be
serviced.
With the ABS light on, the anti-lock brake system is disabled and normal
braking is still effective unless the brake warning light also remains
illuminated. (If your parking brake warning lamp illuminates, have your
vehicle serviced immediately).
Driving
83

Using ABS
•In an emergency or when maximum efficiency from the ABS is
required, apply continuous full force on the brake. The ABS will be
activated immediately, thus allowing you to retain full steering control
of your vehicle and, providing there is sufficient space, will enable you
to avoid obstacles and bring the vehicle to a controlled stop.
•The Anti-Lock system does not decrease the time necessary to apply
the brakes or always reduce stopping distance. Always leave enough
room between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you to stop.
•We recommend that you familiarize yourself with this braking
technique. However, avoid taking any unnecessary risks.
Hydraulic brake booster system (Hydromax)
The Hydromax systems receive fluid pressure from the power steering
pump to provide power assist during braking.
The Hydromax booster receives backup pressure from the reserve
system electric pump whenever the fluid in the power steering system is
not flowing. When the engine is OFF, the pump will turn on if the brake
pedal is applied, or if the ignition is turned to the ON position.
The sound of the pump operating may be heard by the driver, but this is
a normal characteristic of the system.
The reserve system provides reduced braking power, so the vehicle
should be operated under these conditions with caution, and only to seek
service repair and remove the vehicle from the roadway.
For Hydromax under normal operating conditions noise of the fluid
flowing through the booster may be heard whenever the brake is applied.
This condition is normal. Vehicle service is not required.
If braking performance or pedal response becomes very poor, even when
the pedal is strongly applied, this may indicate the presence of air in the
hydraulic system or fluid leakage. Stop the vehicle safely as soon as
possible and seek service immediately.
If the red BRAKE warning lamp in
the instrument cluster remains
illuminated after engine start up,
this indicates a system failure in the
master cylinder of the brake system.
Stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible and seek service immediately.
!
BRAKE
Driving
84

If the yellow BRAKE RESERVE
(E-motor) warning light remains on
while the engine is running, this
indicates inadequate hydraulic
booster pressure or reserve pump
system failure. Stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible and seek
service immediately.
Parking brake
Apply the parking brake whenever
the vehicle is parked. To set the
parking brake, pull handle up until it
snaps into the locked position.
A properly adjusted parking brake
requires approximately 116 Nm (90
lb-ft) to activate. For maximum
parking brake effectiveness turn
handle clockwise to adjust for wear.
When the parking brake is out of
adjustment, seek service
immediately.
The parking BRAKE warning lamp
in the instrument cluster illuminates
and remains illuminated (when the
ignition is turned ON) until the
parking brake is released.BRAKE
P
BRAKE
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85

Emergency air brake
All vehicles are equipped with a dual brake system. In the unlikely event
of a failure of one system, the second system will function for emergency
stopping. These systems are all controlled by the brake pedal in the
same manner as for normal stops.
Do not continue to operate the vehicle with a failure of one of
the systems. Take the vehicle to your dealer for service
immediately.
Anti-lock braking system (if equipped)
For information on the anti-lock braking system (ABS), refer to
Hydraulic brakesin this chapter.
Driving with ABS
The ABS system functions just like a standard air brake system. Maintain
a steady brake pedal application; you do not need to pump or remove
your foot from the pedal. The ABS keeps the wheels rolling during
braking to maintain control and reduce stopping distances.
Parking brake
Do not use the gearshift selector in place of the parking brake.
Always set the parking brake fully AND make sure the gearshift
selector is in R (Reverse) for vehicles equipped with manual
transmission or N (Neutral) for vehicles with automatic transmission.
Unexpected and possible sudden vehicle movement may occur if
these precautions are not taken.
If the service brakes should fail to operate while the vehicle is in motion,
you can make an emergency stop with the parking brake. The stopping
distance, however, will be much greater than normal. Repairs should be
made immediately to an inoperative air brake system circuit.
Driving
90