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WARNING:Do not spin the wheels at over 35 mph (56 km/h).
The tires may fail and injure a passenger or bystander.
Emergency maneuvers
•In an unavoidable emergency situation where a sudden sharp turn
must be made, remember to avoid “over-driving” your vehicle (i.e.,
turn the steering wheel only as rapidly and as far as required to avoid
the emergency). Excessive steering will result in less vehicle control,
not more. Additionally, smooth variations of the accelerator and/or
brake pedal pressure should be utilized if changes in vehicle speed are
called for. Avoid abrupt steering, acceleration or braking which could
result in an increased risk of loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover
and/or personal injury. Use all available road surface to return the
vehicle to a safe direction of travel.
•In the event of an emergency stop, avoid skidding the tires and do not
attempt any sharp steering wheel movements.
•If the vehicle goes from one type of surface to another (i.e., from
concrete to gravel) there will be a change in the way the vehicle
responds to a maneuver (steering, acceleration or braking). Again,
avoid these abrupt inputs.
AWD Systems (if equipped)
AWD uses all four wheels to power the vehicle. This increases traction,
enabling you to drive over terrain and road conditions that a
conventional two-wheel drive vehicle cannot.
Sand
When driving over sand, try to keep all four wheels on the most solid
area of the trail. Avoid reducing the tire pressures but shift to a lower
gear and drive steadily through the terrain. Apply the accelerator slowly
and avoid spinning the wheels.
When driving at slow speeds in deep sand under high outside
temperatures, use a low gear when possible. Lower gear operation will
maximize the engine and transmission cooling capability.
Under severe operating conditions, the A/C may cycle on and off to
protect overheating of the engine.
Avoid excessive speed because vehicle momentum can work against you
and cause the vehicle to become stuck to the point that assistance may
be required from another vehicle. Remember, you may be able to back
out the way you came if you proceed with caution.
Driving
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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.
Maintenance and Modifications
The suspension and steering systems on your vehicle have been designed
and tested to provide predictable performance whether loaded or empty
and durable load carrying capability. For this reason, Ford Motor
Company strongly recommends that you do not make modifications such
as adding or removing parts (such as lift kits or stabilizer bars) or by
using replacement parts not equivalent to the original factory equipment.
Any modifications to a vehicle that raise the center of gravity can make
it more likely the vehicle will rollover as a result of a loss of control.
Ford Motor Company recommends that caution be used with any vehicle
equipped with a high load or device (such as ladder or luggage racks).
Failure to maintain your vehicle properly may void the warranty, increase
your repair cost, reduce vehicle performance and operational capabilities
and adversely affect driver and passenger safety. Frequent inspection of
vehicle chassis components is recommended if the vehicle is subjected to
heavy off-highway usage.
Driving
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Engine ........................................343
cleaning ...................................300
coolant .....................................316
fail-safe cooling .......................321
idle speed control ...................314
lubrication specifications .......340
refill capacities ........................340
service points ..................308–309
Engine block heater .................230
Engine oil ..................................311
change oil soon warning,
message center .......................311
checking and adding ..............311
dipstick ....................................311
filter, specifications ........313, 339
recommendations ...................313
refill capacities ........................340
specifications ..........................340
Event data recording ....................7
Exhaust fumes ..........................229
F
Fail safe cooling ........................321
Fleet MyKey programming ......129
Fluid capacities .........................340
Fog lamps ....................................57
Four-Wheel Drive vehicles
driving off road .......................258
Fuel ............................................322
calculating fuel
economy ............................20, 328
cap ...........................................324
capacity ...................................340
choosing the right fuel ...........325
comparisons with EPA fuel
economy estimates .................331
detergent in fuel .....................326
filler funnel .............................326filling your vehicle with
fuel ...........................322, 324, 328
filter, specifications ........322, 339
improving fuel economy ........328
octane rating ...................325, 343
quality ......................................326
running out of fuel .........283, 326
safety information relating to
automotive fuels .....................322
Fuses ..........................................267
G
Garage door opener ....................92
Gas cap (see Fuel cap) ............324
Gas mileage
(see Fuel economy) .................328
Gauges .........................................17
H
Hazard flashers .........................266
Headlamps ...................................56
aiming ........................................62
autolamp system .......................56
bulb specifications ....................65
daytime running lights .............61
flash to pass ..............................61
high beam .................................58
turning on and off ....................56
Heated Seats .....................140–141
Heating
heating and air conditioning
system .................................48, 51
Homelink wireless control
system ..........................................93
Hood ..........................................307
I
Ignition ...............................224, 343
Index
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USA(fus)