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
286
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USA(fus)
cleaning ...................................328
coolant .....................................348
fail-safe cooling .......................354
idle speed control ...................346
lubrication specifications .......378
refill capacities ........................378
service points ..................338–339
Engine block heater .................253
Engine oil ..................................342
checking and adding ..............342
dipstick ....................................342
filter, specifications ................377
refill capacities ........................378
specifications ..........................378
Event data recording ....................6
Exhaust fumes ..........................253
F
Fail safe cooling ........................354
Family entertainment system ....47
Fleet MyKey programming ......119
Floor mats .................................112
Fluid capacities .........................378
Fog lamps ....................................82
Four-Wheel Drive vehicles
driving off road .......................282
Freezer ........................................97
Fuel ............................................355
calculating fuel
economy ............................20, 362
cap ...........................................357
capacity ...................................378
choosing the right fuel ...........359
detergent in fuel .....................360
filler funnel .............................360
filling your vehicle with
fuel ...........................355, 357, 362filter, specifications ........355, 377
fuel pump shut-off ..................289
improving fuel economy ........362
octane rating ...................359, 381
quality ......................................359
running out of fuel .........314, 360
safety information relating to
automotive fuels .....................355
Fuses ..........................................290
G
Garage door opener ..................108
Gas cap (see Fuel cap) ............357
Gas mileage
(see Fuel economy) .................362
Gauges .........................................16
H
Hazard flashers .........................289
Head restraints .................152, 154
Headlamps ...................................81
aiming ........................................84
autolamp system .......................81
bulb specifications ....................87
daytime running lights .............83
flash to pass ..............................83
high beam .................................82
replacing bulbs .........................88
turning on and off ....................81
Heating
heating and air conditioning
system ...........................68, 71, 74
Homelink wireless control
system ........................................108
Hood ..........................................337
I
Ignition ...............................250, 381
Index
414
2011 Flex(471)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)