WARNING:The EPS system has diagnostics checks that
continuously monitor the EPS system to ensure proper operation
of the electronic system. When an electronic error is detected, the
message POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT will be displayed in the
message center. If this happens, stop the vehicle in a safe place, and
turn off the engine. After at least 10 seconds, reset the system by
restarting the engine, and watch the message center for POWER
STEERING ASSIST FAULT. If the message returns, or returns while
driving, take the vehicle to your dealer to have it checked. With the
message displayed, the steering assist is turned off, making the vehicle
harder to steer.
WARNING:If the message SERVICE POWER STEERING is
displayed in the message center, the EPS system has detected a
problem with the system function. On the next key cycle the message
SERVICE POWER STEERING NOW will be displayed and steering
assist will be removed until the steering system is serviced. Have your
vehicle taken to the nearest dealer as soon as possible.
3.7L V6 Duratecengine:Your vehicle is equipped with a hydraulic
steering system.
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. If the power steering system
breaks down (or if the engine is turned off), you can steer the vehicle
manually, but it takes more effort.
•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 excessive, check for low
power steering pump fluid level before seeking service by your
authorized dealer.
•Heavy or uneven steering efforts may be caused by low power steering
pump fluid level. Check for low power steering pump fluid level before
seeking service by your authorized dealer.
•Do not fill the power steering pump reservoir above the MAX mark on
the reservoir, as this may result in leaks from the reservoir.
If the steering wanders or pulls equipped with either EPS or hydraulic
steering system, check for:
•an improperly inflated tire
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•uneven tire wear
•loose or worn suspension components
•loose or worn steering components
•improper vehicle alignment
A high crown in the road or high crosswinds may also make the steering
seem to wander/pull.
BRAKE-SHIFT INTERLOCK
This vehicle is equipped with a brake-shift interlock feature that prevents
the gearshift lever from being moved from P (Park) when the ignition is
in the on position unless the brake pedal is applied. If you cannot move
the gearshift lever out of P (Park) when the ignition is on and the brake
pedal applied, it is possible that a fuse has blown or the vehicle’s brake
lamps are not operating properly. Refer toFuses and relaysin the
Roadside Emergencieschapter.
If the fuse is not blown and the brake lamps are working properly, you
will need to have your vehicle towed to an authorized dealer.
WARNING:Do not drive your vehicle until you verify that the
brake lamps are working.
WARNING:Always set the parking brake fully and make sure
the gearshift is latched in P (Park). Switch the ignition to off,
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.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OPERATION
Understanding the gearshift positions of the 6–speed automatic
transmission
Your vehicle has been designed to improve fuel economy by reducing
fuel usage while coasting or decelerating. When you take your foot off
the accelerator pedal and the vehicle begins to slow down, the torque
converter clutch locks up and aggressively shuts off fuel flow to the
engine while decelerating. This fuel economy benefit may be perceived
as a light to medium braking sensation when removing your foot from
the accelerator pedal.
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P (Park)
This position locks the transmission
and prevents the front wheels from
turning.
To put your vehicle in gear:
1. Press the brake pedal
2. Move the gearshift lever into the
desired gear
To put your vehicle in P (Park):
1. Come to a complete stop
2. 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). Switch the ignition off 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)
The normal driving position for the best fuel economy. Transmission
operates in gears one through six.
M (Manual)
With the gearshift lever in M
(manual), the driver can change
gears up or down as desired. This is
called SelectShift Automatic™
transmission (SST) mode. By
moving the gearshift lever from
drive position D (Drive) to M
(Manual) you now have control of
selecting the gear you desire using
the paddle shifters on the steering
wheel.
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To return to normal D (Drive) position, move the shift lever back from M
(manual) to D (Drive). The transmission will operate in gears one
through six.
Understanding your SelectShift Automatic™ Transmission (SST)
This vehicle is equipped with a
SelectShift Automatic™
transmission (SST) gearshift lever.
SST is an automatic transmission
with the ability for the driver to
change gears up or down (without a
clutch) as desired. By moving the
gearshift lever from drive position D
(Drive) to M (Manual) you now
have control of selecting the gear
you desire using the paddle shifters
on the steering wheel.
Press the paddle shifters to exit grade assist and enable control of
selecting the gear you desire using the paddle shifters on the steering
wheel.
•The grade assist lamp in the instrument cluster will not be illuminated.
•The current transmission gear will be displayed in the cluster.
Paddle shifters
The paddle shifters allow you to shift gears quickly, without taking your
hands off the steering wheel.
1. To manually downshift the
transmission with the gearshift lever
in M (Manual), press the paddle
shifters forward.
2. To manually upshift the
transmission with the gearshift lever
in M (Manual), pull the paddle
shifters rearward.
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For best performance, the driver should drive the vehicle as parallel as
possible while passing a parking space. If driven too fast (above 18 mph
[30 km/h]) for the system to measure parking spaces, the message center
will display ACTIVE PARK REDUCE SPEED.
When the system has found a space, the message center will display
SPACE FOUND PULL FORWARD followed by a chime. Drive forward
until the message center displays SPACE FOUND STOP followed by a
chime. When you stop the vehicle in position to begin parking, the
message center displays REMOVE HANDS PUT IN REVERSE. The driver
should always come to a complete stop before changing gears.
Automatic steering into parking space
Automatic steering is activated when you stop the vehicle, remove your
hands from the steering wheel and select the R (Reverse) gear. Be sure
the steering wheel motion is not obstructed by any objects. The vehicle
will steer itself from this point on as you follow the instructions in the
message center to safely move the vehicle reverse and forward in the
space. You may cancel APA at anytime by grabbing the steering wheel or
by pressing the APA control switch. When the vehicle is in R (Reverse),
the message center displays BACK UP USE CAUTION.
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When you determine the vehicle is back far enough or you hear a solid
tone from the reverse sensing system, bring the vehicle to a complete
stop and move the gearshift to D (Drive). The message center will now
display PULL FORWARD USE CAUTION followed by a chime.
When you determine the vehicle is far enough forward or a solid tone
from the forward sensing system (if equipped) is heard, bring the vehicle
to a complete stop and move the gearshift to R (Reverse). The message
center may display BACK UP SLOWLY USE CAUTION followed by a
chime. The system may offer subsequent backward and forward
maneuvers before proceeding to the finish phase.
APA finished
When active park assist has completed the automated steering, the
message center displays ACTIVE PARK FINISHED followed by a chime.
The driver is responsible to assess and correct as necessary the final
parking position and put the vehicle in P (Park).
The system can also be deactivated at any time by the following:
•Pressing the APA control switch
•Grabbing the steering wheel
•Exceeding a vehicle speed of 18 mph (30 km/h) for 30 seconds during
active park searching
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•Exceeding a vehicle speed of 6 mph (10 km/h) during automatic
steering
•Deactivating the AdvanceTracsystem or the system has activated on
a slippery or loose surface
•ABS activation or failure
•Any door (except the driver’s door) opens
•Something touching the steering wheel
If a fault is present in the system, the message ACTIVE PARK FAULT
will be displayed followed by a chime. Contact an authorized dealer to
have your vehicle serviced.
The system should not be used if:
•a foreign object (i.e. bike rack, trailer, etc.) is attached to the front or
rear of the vehicle or at another location close to the sensors.
•the front bumper or side sensors are damaged (i.e. in a collision) or
obstructed by a foreign object (i.e. front bumper cover).
•a mini-spare tire is used.
Troubleshooting
Why isn’t APA searching for a parking space?
•You may have deactivated the AdvanceTracsystem.
•One of the doors (except the driver’s door) may not be securely
closed.
Why doesn’t APA offer a particular parking space?
•Something may be contacting the front bumper or side sensors. Clear
any material stuck to the sensors.
•There may not be enough room to maneuver the vehicle into the
space. Remember, there needs to be enough space on the opposite
side of the vehicle to allow the front of the vehicle to swing out as you
back into the space.
•The vehicle is not driven close enough to the parking space, less than
60 inches (1.5 m) from neighboring parked vehicles.
•The vehicle is driven too close to the side objects (e.g. less than
16 inches [41 cm] from neighboring parked vehicles).
•You may be driving in R (Reverse). APA can only look for a parking
space while moving forward.
Why doesn’t APA position the vehicle where I want in the space?
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•Small distance to vehicle ahead.
•Steering wheel and pedal movements are large (very active driving
style).
•High interior temperatures, which may deactivate the illumination or
the warning lamps until the interior temperature reduces (audible
warning will alert the driver).
In addition, sun load and sunglasses may reduce the visibility of the
warning lamps. Therefore, it is recommended to keep the audible
warning on.
WARNING:The collision warning system’s brake support can
only help reduce the speed at which a collision occurs if the
driver applies the vehicle’s brakes. The brake pedal must be pressed
just like for any typical braking situation.
Blocked sensor
If a message regarding a blocked
sensor is displayed, the radar signals
from the sensor, located behind a
fascia cover near the driver side of
the lower grille, have been
obstructed. When the radar signals
are obstructed, a vehicle ahead
cannot be detected and the collision
warning system will not function.
The following table lists possible causes and actions for this message
being displayed.
Cause Action
The surface of the radar in the
grille is dirty or obstructed in
some wayClean the grille surface in front of
the radar or remove the object
causing the obstruction
The surface of the radar in the
grille is clean but the message
remains in the displayWait a short time. It may take
several minutes for the radar to
detect that it is no longer
obstructed
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