
Children and booster seats vary in size and shape. Choose a booster that
keeps the lap belt low and snug across the hips, never up across the
stomach, and lets you adjust the shoulder belt to cross the chest and
rest snugly near the center of the shoulder. The drawings below compare
the ideal fit (center) to a shoulder belt uncomfortably close to the neck
and a shoulder belt that could slip off the shoulder. The drawings below
also show how the lap belt should be low and snug across the child’s
hips.
If the booster seat slides on the vehicle seat, placing a rubberized mesh
sold as shelf or carpet liner under the booster seat may improve this
condition. Do not introduce any item thicker than this under the booster
seat. Check with the booster seat manufacturer’s instructions.
The importance of shoulder belts
Using a booster without a shoulder belt increases the risk of a child’s
head hitting a hard surface in a collision. For this reason, you should
never use a booster seat with a lap belt only. It is generally best to use a
booster seat with lap/shoulder belts in the back seat.
2009 MKX(mkx)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
163

Move a child to a different seating location if the shoulder belt does not
stay positioned on the shoulder during use.
Follow all instructions provided by the manufacturer of the booster seat.
WARNING:Never place, or allow a child to place, the shoulder
belt under a child’s arm or behind the back because it reduces
the protection for the upper part of the body and may increase the risk
of injury or death in a collision.
Child restraint and safety belt maintenance
Inspect the vehicle safety belts and child safety seat systems periodically
to make sure they work properly and are not damaged. Inspect the
vehicle and child seat safety belts to make sure there are no nicks, tears
or cuts. Replace if necessary. All vehicle safety belt assemblies, including
retractors, buckles, front safety belt buckle assemblies, buckle support
assemblies (slide bar-if equipped), shoulder belt height adjusters (if
equipped), shoulder belt guide on seatback (if equipped), child safety
seat LATCH and tether anchors, and attaching hardware, should be
inspected after a collision. Refer to the child restraint manufacturer’s
instructions for additional inspection and maintenance information
specific to the child restraint. Ford Motor Company recommends that all
safety belt assemblies in use in vehicles involved in a collision be
replaced. However, if the collision was minor and an authorized dealer
finds that the belts do not show damage and continue to operate
properly, they do not need to be replaced. Safety belt assemblies not in
use during a collision should also be inspected and replaced if either
damage or improper operation is noted.
For proper care of soiled safety belts, refer toInteriorin theCleaning
chapter.
WARNING:Failure to inspect and if necessary replace the
safety belt assembly or child restraint system under the above
conditions could result in severe personal injuries in the event of a
collision.
2009 MKX(mkx)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
164

NOTICE TO CROSSOVER VEHICLE OWNERS
Crossover vehicles handle differently
than passenger cars in the various
driving conditions that are
encountered on streets, highways
and off-road. Crossover vehicles are
not designed for cornering at speeds
as high as passenger cars any more
than low-slung sports cars are
designed to perform satisfactorily under off-road conditions.
WARNING:Crossover vehicles have a significantly higher
rollover rate than other types of vehicles. To reduce the risk of
serious injury or death from a rollover or other crash you must:
•Avoid sharp turns and abrupt maneuvers;
•Drive at safe speeds for the conditions;
•Keep tires properly inflated;
•Never overload or improperly load your vehicle; and
•Make sure every passenger is properly restrained.
WARNING:In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is
significantly more likely to die than a person wearing a seat belt.
All occupants must wear seat belts and children/infants must use
appropriate restraints to minimize the risk of injury or ejection.
Study yourOwner’s Guidefor specific information about equipment
features, instructions for safe driving and additional precautions to
reduce the risk of an accident or serious injury.
VEHICLE CHARACTERISTICS
All Wheel Drive (AWD) System (if equipped)
Your vehicle may be equipped with a full-time All Wheel Drive (AWD)
system. With the AWD option, power will be delivered to the front
wheels and distributed to the rear wheels as needed. This increases
traction which may enable you to safely drive over terrain and road
conditions that a conventional two-wheel drive vehicle cannot. The AWD
system is active all the time and requires no input from the operator.
Note:Your AWD vehicle is not intended for off-road use. The AWD
feature gives your vehicle some limited off-road capabilities in which
2009 MKX(mkx)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
165

A
Accessory delay ..........................55
AdvanceTrac ..............................206
Air cleaner filter ...............292–293
Air conditioning ..........................32
Airbag supplemental restraint
system ................133–134, 142, 145
and child safety seats ............135
description ..............134, 142, 145
disposal ....................................148
driver airbag ............136, 143, 146
indicator light .........142, 144, 147
operation .................136, 143, 146
passenger airbag .....136, 143, 146
side airbag ...............................142
All Wheel Drive (AWD),
driving off road .........................218
Ambient mood/lighting ...............41
Antifreeze (see Engine
coolant) .....................................273
Anti-lock brake system (see
Brakes) ......................................204
Anti-theft system ..............101, 104
arming the system ..................104
disarming a triggered
system .....................................105
Audio system (see Radio) .........18
Automatic transmission
driving an automatic
overdrive .................................213
fluid, adding ............................290
fluid, checking ........................290
fluid, refill capacities ..............295
fluid, specification ..................295
Auxiliary input jack (Line in) ....25
Auxiliary power point .................52Axle
lubricant specifications ..........295
B
Battery .......................................271
acid, treating emergencies .....271
jumping a disabled battery ....241
maintenance-free ....................271
replacement, specifications ...293
servicing ..................................271
Belt-Minder.............................129
Booster seats .............................161
Brakes ........................................204
anti-lock ...................................204
anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light ...........................205
fluid, checking and adding ....290
fluid, refill capacities ..............295
fluid, specifications .................295
lubricant specifications ..........295
parking ....................................205
shift interlock ..........................212
Bulbs ............................................42
C
Capacities for refilling fluids ....295
Cargo management system ........83
Cargo net .....................................83
Cell phone use ..............................8
Changing a tire .................234, 238
Child safety seats ......................152
attaching with tether straps ..159
in front seat ............................153
in rear seat ..............................153
LATCH .....................................156
recommendations ...................150
2009 MKX(mkx)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
Index
302

Child safety seats - booster
seats ...........................................161
Cleaning your vehicle
engine compartment ..............257
instrument panel ....................258
interior .............................259–260
plastic parts ............................257
safety belts ..............................259
washing ....................................255
waxing .....................................256
wheels ......................................256
wiper blades ............................258
Climate control (see Air
conditioning or Heating) ............32
Clock ............................................20
Compass, electronic
set zone adjustment .................69
Console ........................................52
overhead ....................................51
Controls
power seat ...............................110
steering column ........................60
Convertible
cleaning ...................................258
Coolant
checking and adding ..............273
refill capacities ................276, 295
specifications ..........................295
Cruise control (see Speed
control) ........................................57
Cupholder(s) .............................118
Customer Assistance ................225
Ford Extended Service
Plan ..........................................252
Getting assistance outside the
U.S. and Canada .....................252
Getting roadside assistance ...225Getting the service you
need .........................................248
Ordering additional owner’s
literature .................................253
Utilizing the
Mediation/Arbitration
Program ...................................251
D
Daytime running lamps (see
Lamps) .........................................38
Dipstick
automatic transmission
fluid ..........................................290
engine oil .................................267
Driving under special
conditions ..................215, 220, 222
sand .........................................221
snow and ice ...........................223
through water .................221, 224
E
Electronic message center .........67
Emergencies, roadside
jump-starting ..........................241
Emission control system ..........286
Engine ........................................297
cleaning ...................................257
coolant .....................................273
fail-safe cooling .......................277
idle speed control ...................271
lubrication specifications .......295
refill capacities ........................295
service points ..................264–265
starting after a collision .........226
Engine block heater .................202
Engine oil ..................................267
change oil soon warning,
message center .......................267
checking and adding ..............267
dipstick ....................................267
2009 MKX(mkx)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
Index
303

lighting up panel and
interior .......................................39
J
Jack ............................................234
positioning ...............................234
storage .....................................234
Jump-starting your vehicle ......241
K
Keyless entry system
autolock .....................................87
keypad .......................................99
locking and unlocking doors ..100
programming entry code .........99
Keys .....................................85, 102
positions of the ignition .........199
L
Lamps
autolamp system .......................37
bulb replacement
specifications chart ..................43
daytime running light ...............38
fog lamps ...................................38
headlamps .................................37
headlamps, flash to pass ..........38
instrument panel, dimming .....39
interior lamps .....................41–43
replacing bulbs .........................44
LATCH anchors .........................156
Liftgate ................77–78, 81, 84, 94
Lights, warning and indicator ....12
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ..........205
Load limits .................................187
Locks
autolock .....................................87childproof ..................................91
doors ..........................................87
Lubricant specifications ...........295
Lug nuts ....................................240
Lumbar support, seats .............111
M
Message center ...........................67
english/metric button ...............72
system check button ................71
warning messages .....................74
Mirrors ...................................55–56
automatic dimming rearview
mirror ........................................55
fold away ...................................57
heated ........................................57
programmable memory ............95
side view mirrors (power) .......56
Moon roof ..............................62, 93
Motorcraft parts ........260, 278, 293
N
Navigation system .......................31
O
Octane rating ............................282
Oil (see Engine oil) ..................267
Overdrive ...................................213
P
Parking brake ............................205
Parts (see Motorcraft parts) ....293
Passenger Occupant
Classification Sensor .................121
2009 MKX(mkx)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
Index
305

Power distribution box (see
Fuses) ........................................231
Power door locks ........................87
Power liftgate ..............................78
Power mirrors .............................56
Power point .................................52
Power steering ..........................211
fluid, checking and adding ....289
fluid, refill capacity ................295
fluid, specifications .................295
Power Windows ...........................54
R
Radio ............................................18
Recommendations for
attaching safety restraints for
children ......................................150
Relays ........................................227
Remote entry system ...........91, 93
illuminated entry ................97–98
locking/unlocking doors .....93–94
opening the trunk .....................94
panic alarm ...............................95
replacement/additional
transmitters ...............................96
replacing the batteries .............96
Reverse sensing system ...........216
Roadside assistance ..................225
S
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ..................120, 123–127
Safety Canopy ...................142, 145
Safety defects, reporting ..........254Safety restraints ........120, 123–127
Belt-Minder...........................129
extension assembly ................129
for adults .........................124–127
for children .............................148
Occupant Classification
Sensor ......................................121
warning light and chime ........129
Safety restraints - LATCH
anchors ......................................156
Safety seats for children ..........152
Safety Compliance
Certification Label ....................298
Satellite Radio Information ........29
Seats ..........................................107
child safety seats ....................152
climate control ........................114
easy access/easyout feature ..112
front seats ...............................113
heated ......................................119
memory seat .....................95, 112
SecuriCode keyless entry
system ..........................................99
SecuriLock passive anti-theft
system ........................................101
Servicing your vehicle ..............262
Spare tire (see Changing the
Tire) ...........................................238
Spark plugs,
specifications .....................293, 297
Specification chart,
lubricants ...................................295
Speed control ..............................57
Starting your vehicle ........199–201
jump starting ..........................241
Steering wheel
controls ......................................60
tilting .........................................50
SYNC..........................................31
2009 MKX(mkx)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
Index
306