MANUAL TRANSMISSION OPERATION (IF EQUIPPED)
Using the clutch
Manual transmission vehicles have a starter interlock that prevents
cranking the engine unless the clutch pedal is fully pressed.
To start the vehicle:
1. Make sure the parking brake is fully set.
2. Press the clutch pedal to the
floor, then put the gearshift lever in
the neutral position.
3. Start the engine.
4. Press the brake pedal and move
the gearshift lever to the desired
gear; 1 (First) or R (Reverse).
5. Release the parking brake, then slowly release the clutch pedal while
slowly pressing on the accelerator.
During each shift, the clutch pedal must be fully pressed to the floor.
Make sure the floor mat is properly positioned so it doesn’t interfere with
the full extension of the clutch pedal.
Failure to fully press the clutch pedal to the floor may cause
increased shift efforts, prematurely wear transmission
components or damage the transmission.
Do not drive with your foot resting on the clutch pedal or use the
clutch pedal to hold your vehicle at a standstill while waiting on a
hill. These actions will severely reduce the life of the clutch and
could nullify a clutch warranty claim.
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Recommended shift speeds
Do not downshift into 1 (First) when your vehicle is moving
faster than 30 mph (48 km/h). This may damage the clutch and/or
transmission.
Upshift according to the following chart:
Upshifts when accelerating (recommended for best fuel economy)
Shift from:
1 - 2 15 mph (24 km/h)
2 - 3 25 mph (40 km/h)
3 - 4 40 mph (64 km/h)
4 - 5 45 mph (72 km/h)
5 - 6 50 mph (80 km/h)
Reverse
1. Make sure that your vehicle is at a complete stop before you shift into
R (Reverse). Failure to do so may damage the transmission.
2. Press the clutch pedal to the floor to disengage clutch.
3. Move the gearshift lever into the neutral position and wait at least
three seconds before shifting into R (Reverse).
Note:The gearshift lever can only be moved to R (Reverse) by pushing
the knob down before shifting to reverse. This is a lockout feature which
protects the transmission from accidentally engaging R (Reverse) when
intending to select 1 (First).
4. Shift into R (Reverse) by pushing the gearshift knob down, then
moving the lever fully to the left, then forward.
If R (Reverse) is not fully engaged, press the clutch pedal down and
return the gearshift to the neutral position. Release the clutch pedal for
a moment, then press it down and shift to R (Reverse) again.
Parking your vehicle
1. Apply the brake and shift into the neutral position.
2. Fully apply the parking brake, then shift into 1 (First).
3. Turn the ignition off.
WARNING:Do not park your vehicle in Neutral, it may move
unexpectedly and injure someone. Use 1 (First) gear and set the
parking brake fully.
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Removing the key
Turn the ignition to the off position, and remove the key.
REVERSE SENSING SYSTEM (IF EQUIPPED)
The Reverse Sensing System (RSS) sounds a tone to warn the driver of
obstacles near the rear bumper when the R (Reverse) is selected and the
vehicle is moving at speeds less than 3 mph (5 km/h). The system is not
effective at speeds above 3 mph (5 km/h) and may not detect certain
angular or moving objects.
WARNING:To help avoid personal injury, please read and
understand the limitations of the reverse sensing system as
contained in this section. Reverse sensing is only an aid for some
(generally large and fixed) objects when moving in reverse on a flat
surface at “parking speeds”. Inclement weather may also affect the
function of the RSS; this may include reduced performance or a false
activation.
WARNING:To help avoid personal injury, always use caution
when in R (Reverse) and when using the RSS.
WARNING:This system is not designed to prevent contact with
small or moving objects. The system is designed to provide a
warning to assist the driver in detecting large stationary objects to
avoid damaging the vehicle. The system may not detect smaller
objects, particularly those close to the ground.
WARNING:Certain add-on devices such as large trailer hitches,
bike or surfboard racks and any device that may block the
normal detection zone of the RSS system may create false beeps.
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Cross traffic alert (CTA) system operation
The CTA system warns the driver of approaching vehicles when R
(Reverse) is selected and the vehicle is backing out of a front-in parking
spot. It sounds a series of tones and flashes the BLISindicator found on
the exterior mirror on the side of the approaching vehicle. Additionally,
the message center will display either, VEHICLE COMING FROM RIGHT
or VEHICLE COMING FROM LEFT to warn the driver from which
direction vehicles are approaching.
The system is not designed to prevent contact with other vehicles or
objects. The system is designed to provide a warning to assist the driver
in detecting vehicles in the blind zones. The system will not detect
infrastructure, pedestrians, or bicyclists.
WARNING:To help avoid personal injury, NEVER use the CTA
system as a replacement for using the side and rear view mirrors
and looking over your shoulder before backing out of a parking space.
CTA is not a replacement for careful driving and only an assist.
The CTA system detects vehicles approaching up to 45 feet (14 meters)
away (approximately the width of five parking spaces). Coverage
decreases when vehicles and objects in close proximity block the CTA
sensors (refer to figure for approximate zone coverage areas[sensor
obstructed to vehicle on left]). Backing slowly from the parking spot
in these situations helps to increase the sensor coverage and
effectiveness.
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BLIS-CTA on/off and disable operation
The BLISand/or the CTA can be turned off via the message center.
Turning the BLISoff does not turn off the CTA and vice-versa. If either
the BLISor CTA is turned off, the systems will automatically turn back on
at the next ignition key cycle. When either the BLISor CTA is turned off,
the message center displays BLIND SPOT SYS OFF and/or CTA SYSTEM
OFF. When the BLISor CTA system is off, the driver will not receive
alerts. Refer toMessage centerin theInstrument Clusterchapter.
The BLIS-CTA can be disabled permanently even after an ignition key
cycle. This must be done by your dealership service technician.
Once either of the systems are disabled, enabling must also be performed
at the dealership. When disabled, the message center will display BLIND
SPOT DISABLED and/or CTA DISABLED.
BLIS-CTA fault operation
If the BLIS-CTA senses a fault on either the left or right sensor, the
BLISalert indicator will go ON and remain ON and the message center
will display BLIND SPOT SYSTEM FAULT or CROSS TRAFFIC SYSTEM
FAULT. For faults that may cause the associated left or right alert
indicator not to illuminate, only the message center faults will occur.
Blocked sensor
An extreme build up of materials on
the left and/or right quarter panel
fascias such as mud or snow can
cause degraded performance of the
BLIS. Also, heavy rain can cause
the same effect. The BLIScan
detect this degraded performance
and issue a blocked warning to the driver via the message center. If
condition is determined by the system, the message center displays
BLIND SPOT NOT AVAILABLE or CROSS TRAFFIC NOT AVAILABLE
warning and the appropriate left and/or right exterior mirror alert
indicator will illuminate. The message center warning may be cleared by
the driver but the exterior mirror alert indicator will remain illuminated.
WARNING:Just prior to the system recognizing a blocked
condition and alerting the driver, the number of missed objects
will increase. To help avoid injuries, NEVER use the BLISas a
replacement for using the side and rear view mirrors and looking over
your shoulder before changing lanes. BLISis not a replacement for
careful driving and only an assist.
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Once blockage is removed, the system will require some driving time and
detection of at least two vehicle object prior to realizing it is unblocked,
or the driver can cycle the ignition key. If blocked and the ignition key is
cycled, the system resets to unblocked. If however blockage is still
present after the key cycle, the system will sense again that it is blocked
after driving in traffic.
The following table lists possible causes and actions for this message
being displayed:
The surface of the left or
right radar is dirty or
obstructed in some wayClean the fascia area in front of the
radar, either left or right side, or remove
obstruction.
The surface of the left or
right radar is not dirty or
obstructedDrive normally in traffic for a few
minutes to allow the radar to detect that
it is no longer blocked.Note:the
vehicle must be in D (Drive) and a few
vehicles must pass so that the BLIS
can clear a blocked state.
Heavy rainfall or heavy
snowfall is interfering with
the radar signalsNo action required by the driver. The
system will automatically go unblocked
once the rainfall/snowfall rate decreases
or stops. Do not use BLIS-CTA in
heavy rainfall or heavy snowfall.
Due to the nature of radar technology, it is possible to get a blockage
warning and not be blocked. This is rare and known as a false blockage
warning. A false blocked condition will either self clear or clear after a
key cycle.
Trailer tow false alerts
When towing a trailer, the left and right sensor may detect the trailer
thus causing a false alert. It may be desirable to turn the BLISoffifthe
false alerts become annoying.
Day and night brightness
The BLIS-CTA alert will automatically dim when the headlamp switch is
in the parking, on, or autolamp position and night time darkness has
been detected by the sun sensor.
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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. 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.
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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.
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