Certain adverse driving maneuvers may activate the Electronic Stability
Control system, which include but are not limited to:
•Taking a turn too fast
•Maneuvering quickly to avoid an accident, pedestrian or obstacle
•Driving over a patch of ice or other slippery surfaces
•Changing lanes on a snow-rutted road
•Entering a snow-free road from a snow-covered side street, or vice
versa
•Entering a paved road from a gravel road, or vice versa
•Cornering while towing a heavily loaded trailer (refer toTrailer
towingin theTires, Wheels and Loadingchapter).
The Electronic Stability Control system may be deactivated in certain
situations. See theSwitching Off AdvanceTracwith RSCsection
following.
Roll Stability Control™ (RSC)
Roll Stability Control™ (RSC) may help to maintain roll stability of the
vehicle during adverse maneuvers. RSCoperates by detecting the
vehicle’s roll motion and the rate at which it changes and by applying the
brakes to one or more wheels individually.
During an event that activates the Roll Stability Control™ (RSC)the
“sliding car” icon
in the instrument cluster will flash.
Certain adverse driving maneuvers may activate the Roll Stability
Control™ system, which include:
•Emergency lane-change
•Taking a turn too fast
•Quick maneuvering to avoid an accident, pedestrian or obstacle
The Roll Stability Control™ system may be deactivated in certain
situations. See theSwitching Off AdvanceTracwith RSCsection
following.
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Switching Off AdvanceTracwith RSC
If the vehicle is stuck in snow, mud or sand, and seems to lose engine
power, switching off certain features of the AdvanceTracwith RSC
system may be beneficial because the wheels are allowed to spin. This
will restore full engine power and will enhance momentum through the
obstacle. To switch off the AdvanceTracwith RSCsystem press the
AdvanceTracwith RSCOffbutton. Full features of the AdvanceTrac
with RSCsystem can be restored by pressing the AdvanceTracwith
RSCOffbutton again or by turning off and restarting the engine.
If you switch off the AdvanceTracwith RSCsystem, the sliding car
icon
will illuminate steadily. Pressing the AdvanceTracwith RSC
Offbutton again will turn off thesliding caricon
.
In R (Reverse), ABS and the Engine and Brake Traction Control features
will continue to function; however, ESC and RSCare disabled.
AdvanceTracwith RSCFeatures
Button
functions“Sliding
car”
icon
RSCESCEngine
Traction
ControlBrake
Traction
Control
Default at
start-upOff Enabled Enabled Enabled Enabled
Button
pressed
momentarilyIlluminated
solidDisabled
below
25 mph
(40 km/h)Disabled
below
25 mph
(40 km/h)Disabled
below
25 mph
(40 km/h)Enabled
Button
pressed and
held more
than five
secondsFlashes
then
illuminated
solidDisabled
below
25 mph
(40 km/h)Disabled
below
25 mph
(40 km/h)Disabled
below
25 mph
(40 km/h)Disabled
below
25 mph
(40 km/h)
Trailer Sway Control
When properly equipped, trailer sway control will use the vehicle’s
AdvanceTracwith RSCsystem to detect and help reduce trailer sway
by applying brake force at individual wheels and, if necessary, by
reducing engine power. Trailer sway control is only enabled above
40 mph (64 km/h).
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WARNING:Trailer sway control does not prevent a trailer from
swaying, it mitigates the sway from increasing once it has
occurred. If you are experiencing trailer sway it is likely that the trailer
is improperly loaded for the correct tongue weight or the speed of the
vehicle and trailer is too high. Pull the vehicle-trailer over to a safe
location to check the trailer weight distribution and tongue load and
reduce speed to a safe level while towing. If trailer sway is
experienced, SLOW DOWN.
During Trailer Sway Control events, the
icon in the instrument
cluster will flash momentarily. The message center will also display
TRAILER SWAY REDUCE SPEED.In some cases when trailer sway is
detected, the vehicle speed is too high and may be at or above a speed
at which trailer sway will grow continuously. This may cause the system
to activate multiple times, and you may experience a slight deceleration
of the vehicle.
Disabling Trailer Sway Control
Trailer sway control can be disabled during any key cycle. See Trailer
Sway Control under Refer toMessage centerin theInstrument Cluster
chapter for more information. Note that even if it was disabled before
turning off the vehicle, Trailer Sway Control will be re-enabled at each
new key cycle.
WARNING:Turning off Trailer Sway Control increases the risk
of loss of vehicle control, serious injury, or death. Ford does not
recommend disabling this feature except in situations where speed
reduction may be detrimental (e.g., hill climbing), the driver has
significant trailer towing experience, and can control trailer sway and
maintain safe operation.
STEERING
To help prevent damage to the power steering system:
•Never hold the steering wheel at its furthest turning points (until it
stops) for more than a few seconds when the engine is running
•Do not operate the vehicle with a low power steering pump fluid level
(below the MIN mark on the reservoir).
•Some noise is normal during operation. If the noise is excessive, check
for low power steering pump fluid level before seeking service by your
authorized dealer.
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WARNING:If the parking brake is fully released, but the brake
warning lamp remains illuminated, the brakes may not be
working properly. See your authorized dealer.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OPERATION
Driving with a 5–speed automatic transmission (if equipped)
This vehicle is equipped with an Adaptive Transmission Control Strategy.
This Adaptive Transmission Control Strategy offers the optimal
transmission operation and shift quality. When the vehicle’s battery has
been disconnected for any type of service or repair, the transmission will
need to relearn the normal shift strategy parameters, much like having to
reset your radio stations when your vehicle battery has been
disconnected. The Adaptive Transmission Control Strategy allows the
transmission to relearn these operating parameters. This learning process
could take several transmission upshifts and downshifts; during this
learning process, slightly firmer shifts may occur. After this learning
process, normal shift feel and shift scheduling will resume.
P (Park)
This position locks the transmission
and prevents the rear wheels from
turning.
To put your vehicle in gear:
•Start the engine
•Press the brake pedal
•Press the gearshift release button
on the front of the lever and
move the gearshift lever into the
desired gear
To put your vehicle in P (Park):
•Come to a complete stop
•Move the gearshift lever and
securely latch it in P (Park)
WARNING:Always set the parking brake fully and make sure
the gearshift is latched in P (Park). Turn the ignition to the
LOCK position and remove the key whenever you leave your vehicle.
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P (Park)
This position locks the transmission
and prevents the rear wheels from
turning.
To put your vehicle in gear:
•Press the brake pedal
•Start the engine
•Press the gearshift lever release
button (on the front of the lever)
and shift into the desired gear
To put your vehicle in P (Park):
•Come to a complete stop
•Move the gearshift lever and
securely latch it in P (Park)
WARNING:Always set the parking brake fully and make sure
the gearshift is latched in P (Park). Turn the ignition to the off
position and remove the key whenever you leave your vehicle.
R (Reverse)
With the gearshift lever in R (Reverse), the vehicle will move backward.
Always come to a complete stop before shifting into and out of R
(Reverse).
N (Neutral)
With the gearshift lever in N (Neutral), the vehicle can be started and is
free to roll. Hold the brake pedal down while in this position.
D (Drive) with Overdrive
The normal driving position for the best fuel economy. Transmission
operates in gears one through six.
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ALL WHEEL DRIVE (AWD) SYSTEM (IF EQUIPPED)
For the lubricant specification and refill capacity of the AWD transfer
case refer toMaintenance and Specificationschapter.
WARNING:If your vehicle is equipped with AWD, a spare tire of
a different size than the road tires should never be used. Such a
tire could make the vehicle difficult to control as well as result in
damage to driveline components.
WARNING:Utility and four-wheel drive vehicles arenot
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. Avoid sharp turns or abrupt maneuvers in
these vehicles.
Normal operation (4.0L engine vehicles only)
The AWD system is always active and requires no driver input. It is
capable of handling all road conditions, including street and highway
driving as well as off-road conditions such as deep snow, ice or shallow
sand.
Normal operation (4.6L engine vehicles only)
During normal operation the AWD system is in AWD AUTO mode (AWD
LOCKED will illuminate in the message center for four seconds when
you first start your vehicle). The 4X4 indicator in the instrument cluster
will briefly illuminate when you first start your vehicle.
For instructions on selecting the AWD LOCKED mode, refer toMessage
centerin theInstrument Clusterchapter. This mode is not intended for
use on dry pavement. This mode is appropriate for severe winter or
off-road conditions such as deep snow, ice or shallow sand. The use of
AWD LOCKED on dry or hard surfaces may produce some noise, such as
occasional clunks, but will not damage the drive system.
Autolock operation (4.6L engine vehicles only)
If the AWD system begins to overheat, the system will place itself in the
Autolock mode:
•AWD LOCKED will be displayed in the message center for four
seconds and the 4x4 indicator light will illuminate in the instrument
cluster. A warning chime will also sound. This condition may clear
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without any action being taken by the driver once the AWD system
has reached a safe operating temperature.
•The 4X4 indicator light in the instrument cluster will turn off when
the AWD system reaches a safe operating temperature and normal
AWD operation is restored.
Driving off-road with truck and utility vehicles
AWD vehicles are specially equipped for driving on sand, snow, mud and
rough terrain and have operating characteristics that are somewhat
different from conventional vehicles, both on and off the road.
How your vehicle differs from other vehicles
Truck and utility vehicles can differ from some other vehicles. Your
vehicle may be higher to allow it to travel over rough terrain without
getting hung up or damaging underbody components.
The differences that make your vehicle so versatile also make it handle
differently than an ordinary passenger car.
Maintain steering wheel control at all times, especially in rough terrain.
Since sudden changes in terrain can result in abrupt steering wheel
motion, make sure you grip the steering wheel from the outside. Do not
grip the spokes.
Drive cautiously to avoid vehicle damage from concealed objects such as
rocks and stumps.
You should either know the terrain or examine maps of the area before
driving. Map out your route before driving in the area. To maintain
steering and braking control of your vehicle, you must have all four
wheels on the ground and they must be rolling, not sliding or spinning.
Basic operating principles
•Drive slower in strong crosswinds which can affect the normal steering
characteristics of your vehicle.
•Be extremely careful when driving on pavement made slippery by
loose sand, water, gravel, snow or ice.
If your vehicle goes off the edge of the pavement
•If your vehicle goes off the edge of the pavement, slow down, but
avoid severe brake application, ease the vehicle back onto the
pavement only after reducing your speed. Do not turn the steering
wheel too sharply while returning to the road surface.
•It may be safer to stay on the apron or shoulder of the road and slow
down gradually before returning to the pavement. You may lose
control if you do not slow down or if you turn the steering wheel too
sharply or abruptly.
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•It often may be less risky to strike small objects, such as highway
reflectors, with minor damage to your vehicle rather than attempt a
sudden return to the pavement which could cause the vehicle to slide
sideways out of control or rollover. Remember, your safety and the
safety of others should be your primary concern.
WARNING:Vehicles with a higher center of gravity such as
utility and four-wheel drive vehicles handle differently than
vehicles with a lower center of gravity. Utility and four-wheel drive
vehicles arenotdesigned 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. Avoid sharp turns, excessive
speed and abrupt maneuvers in these vehicles. Failure to drive
cautiously could result in an increased risk of loss of vehicle control,
vehicle rollover, personal injury and death.
If your vehicle gets stuck
If your vehicle gets stuck in mud or snow it may be rocked out by
shifting between forward and reverse gears, stopping between shifts, in a
steady pattern. Press lightly on the accelerator in each gear.
Do not rock the vehicle if the engine is not at normal operating
temperature or damage to the transmission may occur.
Do not rock the vehicle for more than a few minutes or damage
to the transmission and tires may occur or the engine may
overheat.
WARNING:Always set the parking brake fully and make sure
the gearshift is latched in P (Park). Turn the ignition to the
LOCK position and remove the key whenever you leave your vehicle.
WARNING:If the parking brake is fully released, but the brake
warning lamp remains illuminated, the brakes may not be
working properly. See your authorized dealer.
WARNING:Do not spin the wheels at over 35 mph (56 km/h).
The tires may fail and injure a passenger or bystander.
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