Starting the engine
1. Turn the key to 3 (on) without
turning the key to 4 (start). If there
is difficulty in turning the key,
rotate the steering wheel until the
key turns freely. This condition may
occur when:
•the front wheels are turned
•a front wheel is against the curb
2. Turn the key to 4 (start), then
release the key as soon as the
engine begins cranking. Your vehicle has a computer assisted cranking
system that assists in starting the engine. After releasing the key from
the 4 (start) position, the engine may continue cranking for up to
10 seconds or until the vehicle starts.
Note:Cranking may be stopped at any time by turning the key to the off
position.
3. After idling for a few seconds, release the parking brake, apply the
brake, shift into gear and drive.
Note:If the engine does not start on the first try, turn the key to the off
position, wait 10 seconds and try Step 2 again. If the engine still fails to
start, press the accelerator to the floor and try Step 2 again, keeping the
accelerator on the floor until the engine begins to accelerate above
cranking speeds; this will allow the engine to crank with the fuel shut off
in case the engine is flooded with fuel.
Guarding against exhaust fumes
Carbon monoxide is present in exhaust fumes. Take precautions to avoid
its dangerous effects.
WARNING:If you smell exhaust fumes inside your vehicle, have
your dealer inspect your vehicle immediately. Do not drive if you
smell exhaust fumes.
Important ventilating information
If the engine is idling while the vehicle is stopped for a long period of
time, open the windows at least one inch (2.5 cm) or adjust the heating
or air conditioning to bring in fresh air.
ENGINE BLOCK HEATER (IF EQUIPPED)
An engine block heater warms the engine coolant which aids in starting
and allows the heater/defroster system to respond quickly. If your vehicle
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Driving
264
Driving on hilly or sloping terrain
Although natural obstacles may make it necessary to travel diagonally up
or down a hill or steep incline, you should always try to drive straight up
or straight down.Avoid driving crosswise or turning on steep
slopes or hills.A danger lies in losing traction, slipping sideways and
possibly rolling over. Whenever driving on a hill, determine beforehand
the route you will use. Do not drive over the crest of a hill without
seeing what conditions are on the other side. Do not drive in reverse
over a hill without the aid of an observer.
When climbing a steep slope or hill,
start in a lower gear rather than
downshifting to a lower gear from a
higher gear once the ascent has
started. This reduces strain on the
engine and the possibility of stalling.
If you do stall out, Do not try to
turnaround because you might roll
over. It is better to back down to a
safe location.
Apply just enough power to the wheels to climb the hill. Too much
power will cause the tires to slip, spin or lose traction, resulting in loss of
vehicle control.
Descend a hill in the same gear you
would use to climb up the hill to
avoid excessive brake application
and brake overheating. Do not
descend in neutral; instead,
disengage overdrive or manually
shift to a lower gear. When
descending a steep hill, avoid
sudden hard braking as you could
lose control. When you brake hard,
the front wheels can’t turn and if
they aren’t turning, you won’t be
able to steer. The front wheels have to be turning in order to steer the
vehicle.
If your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, apply the brakes steadily. Do not
“pump” the brakes.
Driving on snow and ice
AWD vehicles have advantages over 2WD vehicles in snow and ice but
can skid like any other vehicle.
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Driving
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Adding engine coolant
When adding coolant, make sure it is a 50/50 mixture of engine coolant
and distilled water.When the engine is cool,add the mixture to the
coolant reservoir until the appropriate fill level is obtained.
WARNING:Do not add engine coolant when the engine is hot.
Steam and scalding liquids released from a hot cooling system
can burn you badly. Also, you can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts.
WARNING:Do not put engine coolant in the windshield washer
fluid container. If sprayed on the windshield, engine coolant
could make it difficult to see through the windshield.
•Add Motorcraft Premium Gold Engine Coolant or equivalent
meeting Ford specification WSS-M97B51-A1.Refer to
Maintenance product specifications and capacitiesin this chapter.
Note:Use of Motorcraft Cooling System Stop Leak Pellets or an
equivalent product meeting Ford specification WSS-M99B37-B6, may
darken the color of Motorcraft Premium Gold Engine Coolant from
yellow to golden tan.
•Do not add/mix an orange-colored, extended life coolant such
as Motorcraft Specialty Orange Engine Coolant, meeting Ford
specification WSS-M97B44-D, or DEX-COOLbrand with the
factory-filled coolant.Mixing Motorcraft Specialty Orange Engine
Coolant or any orange-colored extended life product such as
DEX-COOLbrand with your factory filled coolant can result in
degraded corrosion protection.
•A large amount of water without engine coolant may be added, in case
of emergency, to reach a vehicle service location. In this instance, the
cooling system must be drained and refilled with a 50/50 mixture of
engine coolant and distilled water as soon as possible. Water alone
(without engine coolant) can cause engine damage from corrosion,
overheating or freezing.
•Do not use alcohol, methanol, brine or any engine coolants
mixed with alcohol or methanol antifreeze (coolant).Alcohol
and other liquids can cause engine damage from overheating or
freezing.
•Do not add extra inhibitors or additives to the coolant.These
can be harmful and compromise the corrosion protection of the engine
coolant.
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Your cooling system may have a leak. Operating an engine with a low
level of coolant can result in engine overheating and possible engine
damage.
Recycled engine coolant
Ford Motor Company does NOT recommend the use of recycled engine
coolant since a Ford-approved recycling process is not yet available.
Used engine coolant should be disposed of in an appropriate
manner. Follow your community’s regulations and standards for recycling
and disposing of automotive fluids.
Coolant refill capacity
To find out how much fluid your vehicle’s cooling system can hold, refer
toMaintenance product specifications and capacitiesin this chapter.
Fill your engine coolant reservoir as outlined inAdding engine coolant
in this section.
Severe climates
If you drive in extremely cold climates (less than –34°F [–36°C]):
•It may be necessary to increase the coolant concentration
above 50%.
•NEVER increase the coolant concentration above 60%.
•Increased engine coolant concentrations above 60% will
decrease the overheat protection characteristics of the engine
coolant and may cause engine damage.
•Refer to the chart on the coolant container to ensure the
coolant concentration in your vehicle will provide adequate
freeze protection at the temperatures in which you drive in the
winter months.
If you drive in extremely hot climates:
•It is still necessary to maintain the coolant concentration
above 40%.
•NEVER decrease the coolant concentration below 40%.
•Decreased engine coolant concentrations below 40% will
decrease the corrosion protection characteristics of the engine
coolant and may cause engine damage.
•Decreased engine coolant concentrations below 40% will
decrease the freeze protection characteristics of the engine
coolant and may cause engine damage.
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Maintenance and Specifications
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Cleaning your vehicle
engine compartment ..............330
instrument panel ....................332
interior .....................................333
plastic parts ............................331
washing ....................................328
waxing .....................................329
wheels ......................................329
wiper blades ............................331
Climate control (see Air
conditioning or Heating) ............80
Clock adjust
6-CD in dash .............................32
AM/FM/CD .................................25
Compass, electronic
set zone adjustment ...............129
Console ..............................100–101
overhead ....................................99
rear ..........................................101
Controls
power seat ...............................160
steering column ......................111
Coolant
checking and adding ..............349
refill capacities ................353, 372
specifications ..........................372
Cruise control
(see Speed control) ..................108
Customer Assistance ................292
Ford Extended
Service Plan ............................325
Getting assistance outside the
U.S. and Canada .....................326
Getting roadside assistance ...292
Getting the service
you need .................................321
Ordering additional owner’s
literature .................................326Utilizing the
Mediation/Arbitration
Program ...................................324
D
Daytime running lamps
(see Lamps) ................................86
Defrost
rear window ..............................84
Dipstick
automatic transmission
fluid ..........................................368
engine oil .................................342
Driveline universal joint and
slip yoke ....................................369
Driving under special
conditions ..................282, 286, 289
sand .........................................287
snow and ice ...........................289
through water .................288, 291
Dual automatic temperature
control (DATC) ...........................80
DVD system .................................46
E
Electronic message center .......120
Emergencies, roadside
jump-starting ..........................313
running out of fuel .........313, 360
Emergency Flashers .................293
Emission control system ..........364
Engine ........................................377
cleaning ...................................330
coolant .....................................349
fail-safe cooling .......................354
idle speed control ...................347
lubrication specifications .......372
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Index
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refill capacities ........................372
service points ..................338–339
starting after a collision .........294
Engine block heater .................264
Engine oil ..................................342
checking and adding ..............342
dipstick ....................................342
filter, specifications ........345, 371
recommendations ...................345
refill capacities ........................372
specifications ..........................372
Event data recording ....................7
Exhaust fumes ..........................264
F
Fail safe cooling ........................354
Family entertainment system ....46
Floor mats .................................135
Fluid capacities .........................372
Fog lamps ....................................86
Four-Wheel Drive vehicles
driving off road .......................285
preparing to drive your
vehicle .....................................275
Fuel ............................................355
calculating fuel
economy ..........................122, 361
cap ...........................................357
capacity ...................................372
choosing the right fuel ...........359
comparisons with EPA fuel
economy estimates .................364
detergent in fuel .....................360
filler funnel .............................360
filling your vehicle
with fuel ..................355, 357, 361
filter, specifications ........355, 371
fuel pump shut-off switch .....294improving fuel economy ........361
octane rating ...................359, 377
quality ......................................359
running out of fuel .........313, 360
safety information relating to
automotive fuels .....................355
Fuses ..................................295–296
G
Garage door opener ..................100
Gas cap (see Fuel cap) ............357
Gas mileage
(see Fuel economy) .................361
Gauges .........................................17
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight
Rating)
calculating ...............................253
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating)
calculating ...............................253
H
Hazard flashers .........................293
Headlamps ...................................85
aiming ........................................87
bulb specifications ....................90
daytime running lights .............86
flash to pass ..............................87
high beam .................................86
turning on and off ....................85
Heating
heating and air conditioning
system .................................78, 80
Homelink wireless control
system ........................................114
Hood ..........................................337
How to get going ........................19
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USA(fus)
Index
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