2011 LINCOLN MKS instrument cluster

Parking brake
Apply the parking brake whenever
the vehicle is parked. To set the
parking brake, press the parking
brake pedal down until the pedal
stops.
The BRAKE warning lamp in the
instrument cluster illuminates and
remains illuminated (when the
ignition is turned on) until the
parking brake is released.
WARNING:Always set the parking brake fully and make sure
that the gearshift is securely latched in P (Park). With the push
button start system, remove the IA key whenever you leave the
vehicle.
The parking brake is not recommended to stop a moving vehicle.
However, if the normal brakes fail, the parking brake can be used to stop
your vehicle in an emergency. Since the parking brake applies only the
rear brakes, the vehicle’s stopping distance will increase greatly and the
handling of your vehicle will be adversely affected.
Press the parking brake pedal
downward again to release the
parking brake. Driving with the
parking brake on will cause the
brakes to wear out quickly and
reduce fuel economy.
Note:If the vehicle is driven with
the parking brake applied, a chime
will sound.
P!
BRAKE
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The AdvanceTrac
system automatically enables each time the engine is
started. All features of the AdvanceTrac
system (TCS and ESC) are
active and monitor the vehicle from start-up. However, the system will
only intervene if the driving situation requires it.
The AdvanceTrac
system includes
one of these traction control off
buttons located on the center of the
instrument panel
The stability control light and the
stability control off light in the
instrument cluster will illuminate
temporarily during start-up as part
of a normal system self-check. The stability control light may illuminate
(flash) during certain driving situation which cause the AdvanceTrac

system to operate. If the stability control light illuminates steadily, have
the system serviced by an authorized dealer immediately. The message
center will also indicate a failure with the brake system.
Note:If the system cannot be turned off, refer toMyKey™in theLocks
and Securitychapter for more information.
When AdvanceTrac
performs a normal system self-check, some drivers
may notice a slight movement of the brake, and/or a rumble, grunting, or
grinding noise after startup and when driving off.
When an event occurs that activates AdvanceTrac
you may experience
the following:
•A slight deceleration of the vehicle
•The stability control light will flash.
•If your foot is on the brake pedal, a vibration in the pedal
•If the driving condition is severe and your foot is not on the brake, the
brake pedal may move as the systems applies higher brake forces. You
may also hear a whoosh of air from under the instrument panel during
this severe condition.
•The brake pedal may feel stiffer than usual.
Traction control system (TCS)
The traction control system is a driver aid feature that helps your vehicle
maintain traction of the wheels, typically when driving on slippery and/or
hilly road surfaces, by detecting and controlling wheel spin.
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Excessive wheel spin is controlled in two ways, which may work
separately or in tandem, engine traction control and brake traction
control. Engine traction control works to limit drive-wheel spin by
momentarily reducing engine power. Brake traction control works to limit
wheel spin by momentarily applying the brakes to the wheel that is
slipping. The TCS is most active at low speeds.
During TCS events, the stability control light in the instrument cluster
will flash.
If the TCS is activated excessively in a short period of time, the braking
portion of the system may become temporarily disabled to allow the
brakes to cool down. In this situation, the TCS will use only engine
power reduction or transfer to help control the wheels from
over-spinning. When the brakes have cooled down, the system will regain
all features. Anti-lock braking and ESC will continue to function during
the cool-down period.
The engine traction control and brake traction control system may be
deactivated in certain situations. See theSwitching off AdvanceTrac

section below.
Electronic stability control (ESC)
Electronic stability control (ESC) may enhance your vehicle’s directional
stability during adverse maneuvers, for example when cornering severely
or avoiding objects in the roadway. ESC operates by applying brakes to
one or more of the wheels individually and, if necessary, reducing engine
power if the system detects that the vehicle is about to skid or slide
laterally.
During ESC events, the stability control light in the instrument cluster
will flash.
Certain adverse driving maneuvers may activate the ESC 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).
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AdvanceTrac
Features
Control
switch
functionsModeStability
control off
light
Message
center dis-
play (if
equipped)ESC TCS
Default at
start-upSystem Ini-
tializationTurns on
during bulb
checkNothing dis-
playedEn-
abledEn-
abled
Control
switch
pressed
once mo-
mentarilyTraction
control OFFOnTRACTION
CONTROL
OFFEn-
abledDis-
abled
Control
switch
pressed
again after
deactivationAdvance-
Tr a c
fully
enabledOffADVANCE-
TRAC ONEn-
abledEn-
abled
STEERING
3.5L EcoBoost™ engine (if equipped):Your vehicle is equipped with
an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system. There is no fluid reservoir to
check or fill.
If your vehicle loses electrical power while you are driving (or if the
ignition is turned off), you can steer the vehicle manually, but it takes
more effort. Extreme continuous steering may increase the effort it takes
for you to steer. This occurs to prevent internal overheating and
permanent damage to your steering system. If this should occur, you will
neither lose the ability to steer the vehicle manually nor will it cause
permanent damage. Typical steering and driving maneuvers will allow the
system to cool and steering assist will return to normal.
The EPS system has diagnostic checks that continuously monitor the
EPS system to ensure proper operation. When a system error is
detected, the following message SERVICE POWER STEERING, SERVICE
POWER STEERING NOW or POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT may
display in the message center, refer to theMessage centerin the
Instrument Clusterchapter for more information.
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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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Recommended shift speeds
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)
The instrument cluster will show the
current selected gear you are in.
In order to prevent the engine from
running at too low an RPM, which
may cause it to stall, the SST will
automatically make some downshifts
even if it has determined that you
have not downshifted in time.
Although the SST will make some
downshifts for you, it will still allow
you to downshift at any time as long
as the SST determines that the engine will not be damaged from
over-revving.
Engine damage may occur if excessive engine revving is held
without shifting.
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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 forward and reverse sensing system may
create false beeps.
The system will sound a tone to warn the driver of obstacles near either
bumper in the following manner:
•The front sensors will sound a high pitched tone which will appear to
come from the dashboard
•The rear sensors will sound a lower pitched tone which will appear to
come from the rear interior of the vehicle
•The sensing system will report the obstacle which is closest to the
front or rear of the vehicle. For example, if an obstacle is 12 inches
(30 cm) from the front of the vehicle and, at the same time, an
obstacle is only six inches (15 cm) from the rear of the vehicle, the
lower pitched tone will sound.
The reverse sensing portion of the system will assist the driver in
detecting certain objects while:
•the vehicle is in R (Reverse) and moving toward a stationary object at
a speed of 3 mph (5 km/h) or less.
•the vehicle is in R (Reverse) but not moving, and a moving object is
approaching the front or rear of the vehicle at a speed of 3 mph
(5 km/h) or less.
•the vehicle is in R (Reverse) and moving at a speed of less than
3 mph (5 km/h) and a moving object is approaching the rear of the
vehicle at a speed of less than 3 mph (5 km/h).
The system is automatically enabled when the gearshift lever is placed in
D (Drive) or R (Reverse) and the ignition is on. A control in the message
center allows the driver to disable the forward (if equipped) and/or
reverse system. Refer toMessage centerin theInstrument Cluster
chapter for more information. The message center will indicate a failure
in the forward or reverse system and will not allow the driver to switch
the faulted system on.
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Cause Action
Heavy rain, spray, snow, or fog is
interfering with the radar signalsDo not use the collision warning
system in these conditions because
it may not detect, warn, or
respond to potential collisions
Swirling water, or snow or ice on
the surface of the road may
interfere with the radar signalsDo not use the collision warning
system in these conditions because
it may not detect, warn, or
respond to potential collisions
Activating/deactivating collision warning system
To turn the warning system and/or chime on or off and set the warning
sensitivity <– –>, refer toMessage centerin theInstrument Cluster
chapter.
Note:If the system cannot be turned off in a MyKey™ equipped vehicle,
refer toMyKey™in theLocks and Securitychapter for more
information.
Note:If collision warnings are perceived as being too frequent or
disturbing then the warning sensitivity can be reduced, though the
manufacturer recommends using the highest sensitivity setting where
possible. Setting lower sensitivity would lead to fewer and later system
warnings. Refer to theMessage centerin theInstrument Cluster
chapter for instructions on reducing the sensitivity.
BLIND SPOT MIRRORS (IF EQUIPPED)
Blind spot mirrors have an integrated convex spotter mirror built into
the upper outboard corner of the outside mirrors. They are designed to
assist the driver by increasing visibility along the side of the vehicle. For
more information on your side view mirrors, refer toExterior mirrorsin
theDriver Controlschapter.
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