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. The front wheels have
to be turning in order to steer the
vehicle.
Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, therefore apply the brakes steadily. Do
not “pump” the brakes.
Driving on snow and ice
Note:Excessive tire slippage can cause transmission damage.
AWD vehicles have advantages over 2WD vehicles in snow and ice but
can skid like any other vehicle.
Should you start to slide while driving on snowy or icy roads, turn the
steering wheel in the direction of the slide until you regain control.
Avoid sudden applications of power and quick changes of direction on
snow and ice. Apply the accelerator slowly and steadily when starting
from a full stop.
Avoid sudden braking as well. Although an AWD vehicle may accelerate
better than a two-wheel drive vehicle in snow and ice, it won’t stop any
faster, because as in other vehicles, braking occurs at all four wheels. Do
not become overconfident as to road conditions.
Make sure you allow sufficient distance between you and other vehicles
for stopping. Drive slower than usual and consider using one of the lower
gears. In emergency stopping situations, apply the brake steadily. Since
your vehicle is equipped with a four wheel anti-lock brake system (ABS),
do not “pump” the brakes. Refer to theBrakessection of this chapter
for additional information on the operation of the anti-lock brake system.
WARNING:If you are driving in slippery conditions that require
tire chains or cables, then it is critical that you drive cautiously.
Keep speeds down, allow for longer stopping distances and avoid
aggressive steering to reduce the chances of a loss of vehicle control
which can lead to serious injury or death. If the rear end of the vehicle
slides while cornering, steer in the direction of the slide until you
regain control of the vehicle.
Driving
290
2010 Flex(471)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
Engine ........................................382
cleaning ...................................336
coolant .....................................354
fail-safe cooling .......................359
idle speed control ...................352
lubrication specifications .......379
refill capacities ........................379
service points ..................345–346
Engine block heater .................258
Engine oil ..................................349
change oil soon warning,
message center .......................349
checking and adding ..............349
dipstick ....................................349
filter, specifications ........351, 378
recommendations ...................351
refill capacities ........................379
specifications ..........................379
Event data recording ....................7
Exhaust fumes ..........................258
F
Fail safe cooling ........................359
Family entertainment system ....46
Fleet MyKey programming ......143
Fluid capacities .........................379
Fog lamps ....................................81
Four-Wheel Drive vehicles
driving off road .......................286
Freezer ........................................97
Fuel ............................................361
calculating fuel
economy ............................20, 367
cap ...........................................363
capacity ...................................379
choosing the right fuel ...........364comparisons with EPA fuel
economy estimates .................370
detergent in fuel .....................365
filler funnel .............................365
filling your vehicle with
fuel ...........................361, 363, 367
filter, specifications ........361, 378
fuel pump shut-off ..................294
improving fuel economy ........367
octane rating ...................364, 382
quality ......................................365
running out of fuel .........319, 365
safety information relating to
automotive fuels .....................361
Fuses ..........................................294
G
Garage door opener ..................109
Gas cap (see Fuel cap) ............363
Gas mileage
(see Fuel economy) .................367
Gauges .........................................16
H
Hazard flashers .........................293
Head restraints .................160, 162
Headlamps ...................................80
aiming ..................................82–83
autolamp system .......................80
bulb specifications ....................86
daytime running lights .............82
flash to pass ..............................81
high beam .................................81
replacing bulbs .........................87
turning on and off ....................80
Heating
heating and air conditioning
system ...........................68, 71, 74
Index
393
2010 Flex(471)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
