If the service engine soon indicator remains
on, have your vehicle serviced at the first
available opportunity. Although some
malfunctions detected by the OBD-II may
not have symptoms that are apparent,
continued driving with the service engine
soon indicator on can result in increased
emissions, lower fuel economy, reduced
engine and transmission smoothness, and
lead to more costly repairs.
Readiness for
Inspection/Maintenance (I/M)
Testing
Some state/provincial and local
governments may have
Inspection/Maintenance (I/M) programs
to inspect the emission control equipment
on your vehicle. Failure to pass this
inspection could prevent you from getting
a vehicle registration.
If the service engine soon
indicator is on or the bulb does
not work, the vehicle may need
to be serviced. See On-Board Diagnostics.
Your vehicle may not pass the I/M test if
the service engine soon indicator is on or
not working properly (bulb is burned out),
or if the OBD-II system has determined
that some of the emission control systems
have not been properly checked. In this
case, the vehicle is considered not ready
for I/M testing. If the vehicle
’s engine or transmission has
just been serviced, or the battery has
recently run down or been replaced, the
OBD-II system may indicate that the
vehicle is not ready for I/M testing. To
determine if the vehicle is ready for I/M
testing, turn the ignition key to the on
position for 15 seconds without cranking
the engine. If the service engine soon
indicator blinks eight times, it means that
the vehicle is not ready for I/M testing; if
the service engine soon indicator stays on
solid, it means that the vehicle is ready for
I/M testing.
The OBD-II system is designed to check
the emission control system during normal
driving. A complete check may take several
days. If the vehicle is not ready for I/M
testing, the following driving cycle
consisting of mixed city and highway
driving may be performed:
15 minutes of steady driving on an
expressway/highway followed by 20
minutes of stop-and-go driving with at
least four 30-second idle periods
Allow the vehicle to sit for at least eight
hours without starting the engine. Then,
start the engine and complete the above
driving cycle. The engine must warm up to
its normal operating temperature. Once
started, do not turn off the engine until the
above driving cycle is complete. If the
vehicle is still not ready for I/M testing, the
above driving cycle will have to be
repeated.
FUEL CONSUMPTION
Note: The amount of usable fuel in the
empty reserve varies and should not be
relied upon to increase driving range. When
refueling your vehicle after the fuel gauge
indicates empty, you might not be able to
refuel the full amount of the advertised
capacity of the fuel tank due to the empty
reserve still present in the tank.
145
Fuel and Refueling
USING FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE
Note:The 4WD temporarily disabled
message will be displayed if the 4WD
system has overheated and defaulted to
front-wheel drive. This condition may occur
if the vehicle is operated in extreme high
load conditions or with excessive wheel slip,
such as deep sand. To resume normal 4WD
function as soon as possible, stop the
vehicle in a safe location and turn off the
engine. The 4WD restored message will be
displayed for approximately five seconds
after the system cools and normal 4WD
function returns.
Note: The Intelligent 4WD system gives
your vehicle some limited off-road
capabilities. Operating your vehicle in
conditions other than moderate sand, snow,
mud or rough roads could subject it to
excessive stress which might result in
damage. This damage is not covered under
your warranty.
Note: When a 4WD system fault is present,
the warning 4WD malfunction Service
required will display in the information
display. The 4WD system is not functioning
correctly and defaulted to front-wheel drive.
When this warning is displayed, have your
vehicle serviced at an authorized dealer.
You will be able to see the power
distribution between the front and rear
wheels represented by an icon in your
information display. More power to either
front or rear wheels will be displayed by
more area filled in. Your vehicle may be equipped with a
full-time four-wheel drive (4WD) system.
The 4WD system is a proactive system,
meaning it not only responds to wheel slip
between the front and rear wheels but also
has the ability to anticipate wheel slip and
transfer torque to the rear wheels before
slip occurs. Even when no wheel slip is
present, the Intelligent 4WD system is
continuously making adjustments to the
torque distribution, in an attempt to
improve the vehicle
’s straight line and
cornering behavior, both on and off road.
The system is active all the time and
requires no input from the operator.
All components of the Intelligent 4WD
system are sealed for life and require no
maintenance.
If your vehicle is equipped with Intelligent
4WD, a spare tire of a different size other
than the tire provided should never be
used. If the spare tire is installed, the 4WD
system may disable automatically and
enter front-wheel drive only mode to
protect driveline components. This
condition may be indicated by a 4WD Off
message in the Information displays
chapter. See Information displays in the
Instrument Cluster chapter for more
information. If there is a 4WD Off message
in the information display from using the
spare tire, this indicator should turn off
after reinstalling the repaired or replaced
normal road tire and driving a short
distance. It is recommended to reinstall
the repaired or replaced road tire as soon
as possible. Major dissimilar tire sizes
between the front and rear axles could
cause the 4WD system to stop functioning
and default to front-wheel drive or damage
the 4WD system.
151
Four-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)
E142669
GENERAL INFORMATION
Note:Occasional brake noise is normal. If
a metal-to-metal, continuous grinding or
continuous squeal sound is present, the
brake linings may be worn-out and should
be inspected by an authorized dealer. If the
vehicle has continuous vibration or shudder
in the steering wheel while braking, the
vehicle should be inspected by an
authorized dealer.
Note: Brake dust may accumulate on the
wheels, even under normal driving
conditions. Some dust is inevitable as the
brakes wear and does not contribute to
brake noise. See Cleaning the Alloy
Wheels (page 240).
See Warning Lamps and
Indicators (page 80).
Wet brakes result in reduced braking
efficiency. Gently press the brake pedal a
few times when driving from a car wash or
standing water to dry the brakes.
Brake Over Accelerator
In the event the accelerator pedal
becomes stuck or entrapped, apply steady
and firm pressure to the brake pedal to
slow the vehicle and reduce engine power.
If you experience this condition, apply the
brakes and bring your vehicle to a safe
stop. Turn the engine off, shift to position
P and apply the parking brake, and then
inspect the accelerator pedal for any
interferences. If none are found and the
condition persists, have your vehicle towed
to the nearest authorized dealer. Emergency Brake Assist
Emergency brake assist detects when you
brake heavily by measuring the rate at
which you press the brake pedal. It
provides maximum braking efficiency as
long as you press the pedal. Emergency
brake assist can reduce stopping distances
in critical situations.
Anti-lock Brake System
This system helps you maintain steering
control during emergency stops by keeping
the brakes from locking.
This lamp momentarily
illuminates when the ignition is
turned on. If the light does not
illuminate during start up, remains on or
flashes, the anti-lock braking system may
be disabled and may need to be serviced.
If the system is disabled, normal
braking is still effective. If the
brake warning lamp illuminates
with the parking brake released, have your
brake system serviced immediately.
HINTS ON DRIVING WITH
ANTI-LOCK BRAKES
Note: When the system is operating, the
brake pedal will pulse and may travel
further. Maintain pressure on the brake
pedal. You may also hear a noise from the
system. This is normal.
The ABS will not eliminate the risks when:
• you drive too closely to the vehicle in
front of you
• your vehicle is hydroplaning
• you take corners too fast
• the road surface is poor.
156
Brakes
E138644
E138644
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
The traction control system helps avoid
drive wheel spin and loss of traction.
If your vehicle begins to slide, the system
applies the brakes to individual wheels
and, when needed, reduces engine power
at the same time. If the wheels spin when
accelerating on slippery or loose surfaces,
the system reduces engine power in order
to increase traction.
USING TRACTION CONTROL
In certain situations (e.g. stuck in snow or
mud), turning the traction control off may
be beneficial as this allows the wheels to
spin with full engine power. Turn off the
traction control system using the
information display control. See General
Information (page 84).
System Indicator Lights and
Messages
WARNING
If a failure has been detected within
the AdvanceTrac system, the
stability control light will illuminate
steadily. Verify that the AdvanceTrac
system was not manually disabled using
the information display control. If the
stability control light still illuminates
steadily, have the system serviced by an
authorized dealer immediately. Operating
your vehicle with AdvanceTrac disabled
could lead to an increased risk of loss of
vehicle control, vehicle rollover, personal
injury and death.
The stability control light
temporarily illuminates on
engine start-up and flashes
when a driving condition activates the
stability system.
The stability control off light
temporarily illuminates on
engine start-up and stays on
when the traction control system is turned
off.
When the traction control system is turned
off or on, a message appears in the
information display showing system status.
158
Traction Control
E138639
Reasons for messages being displayedClean the fascia area in
front of the radar or remove the obstruction.
The radar
surface is dirty or
obstructed
Drive normally in traffic for
a few minutes to allow the radar to detect passing
vehicles so it can clear the blocked state.
The radar
surface is
not dirty or
obstructed
No action required. Thesystem automatically
resets to an unblocked
state once the rainfall or
snowfall rate decreases or stops. Do not use BLIS or
cross traffic alert in these conditions.
Heavy rain-
fall/snow- fall inter-
feres with the radar signals
System Limitations
The BLIS and cross traffic alert systems
do have their limitations; situations such
as severe weather conditions or debris
build-up on the sensor area may limit
vehicle detection.
The following are other situations that may
limit the BLIS:
• Certain maneuvering of vehicles
entering and exiting the blind zone.
• Vehicles passing through the blind zone
at very fast rates.
• When several vehicles forming a
convoy pass through the blind zone.
The following are other situations that may
limit the cross traffic alert system:
• Adjacently parked vehicles or objects
obstructing the sensors.
• Approaching vehicles passing at
speeds greater than 15 mph (24 km/h). •
Driving in reverse faster than 3 mph (5
km/h).
• Backing out of an angled parking spot.
False Alerts
Note: If the vehicle has a factory equipped
tow bar, and it is towing a trailer, the sensors
will detect the trailer and turn the BLIS off
to avoid false alerts. For non-factory
equipped tow bars you may want to turn
the BLIS off manually.
There may be certain instances when
either the BLIS or cross traffic alert
systems illuminate the alert indicator with
no vehicle in the coverage zone; this is
known as a false alert. Some amount of
false alerts are normal; they are temporary
and self-correct.
System Errors
If either system senses a problem with the
left or right sensor, the BLIS telltale
illuminates and remains on and the
following will appear in the information
display:
• BLIS: X sensor fault Service req’ d or
• Cross Traffic malfunction Service req’ d
When problems that may cause the left or
right indicator not to illuminate, only the
information display faults appear.
Switching the Systems Off and On
One or both systems can be switched off
temporarily by using the information
display control. See General Information
(page 84). When the BLIS is switched off,
you will not receive alerts and a telltale
illuminates in the information display. The
system switches back on whenever the
ignition is switched on.
174
Driving Aids
Severe Climates
If you drive in extremely cold climates:
•It may be necessary to have a Ford
authorized dealer increase the coolant
concentration above 50%.
• A coolant concentration of 60% will
provide improved freeze point
protection. Engine coolant
concentrations above 60% will
decrease the overheat protection
characteristics of the engine coolant
and may cause engine damage
If you drive in extremely hot climates:
• It may be necessary to have a Ford
authorized dealer decrease the coolant
concentration to 40%.
• A coolant concentration of 40% will
provide improved overheat protection.
Engine coolant concentrations below
40% will decrease the corrosion/freeze
protection characteristics of the engine
coolant and may cause engine
damage.
Vehicles driven year-round in non-extreme
climates should use prediluted engine
coolant for optimum cooling system and
engine protection.
What you Should Know About Fail-
Safe Cooling
If the engine coolant supply is depleted,
this feature allows the vehicle to be driven
temporarily before incremental component
damage is incurred. The “fail-safe”
distance depends on ambient
temperatures, vehicle load and terrain.
How Fail-Safe Cooling Works
If the engine begins to overheat, the engine
coolant temperature gauge will move to
the red (hot) area and:
The coolant temperature
warning light will illuminate.
The service engine soon
indicator will illuminate.
If the engine reaches a preset
over-temperature condition, the engine
will automatically switch to alternating
cylinder operation. Each disabled cylinder
acts as an air pump and cools the engine.
When this occurs the vehicle will still
operate. However:
• The engine power will be limited.
• The air conditioning system will be
disabled.
Continued operation will increase the
engine temperature and the engine will
completely shut down, causing steering
and braking effort to increase.
Once the engine temperature cools, the
engine can be re-started. Take your vehicle
to an authorized dealer as soon as possible
to minimize engine damage.
When Fail-Safe Mode Is Activated
WARNINGS
Fail-safe mode is for use during
emergencies only. Operate the
vehicle in fail-safe mode only as long
as necessary to bring the vehicle to rest in
a safe location and seek immediate repairs.
When in fail-safe mode, the vehicle will
have limited power, will not be able to
maintain high-speed operation, and may
completely shut down without warning,
potentially losing engine power, power
steering assist, and power brake assist,
which may increase the possibility of a
crash resulting in serious injury.
Never remove the coolant reservoir
cap while the engine is running or hot.
224
Maintenance
WARNINGS
found on these labels then you should
contact your authorized dealer as soon as
possible. Use of any tire or wheel not
recommended by Ford can affect the
safety and performance of your vehicle,
which could result in an increased risk of
loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover,
personal injury and death. Additionally the
use of non-recommended tires and wheels
could cause steering, suspension, axle,
transfer case or power transfer unit failure.
If you have questions regarding tire
replacement, contact your authorized
dealer as soon as possible.
When mounting replacement tires
and wheels, you should not exceed
the maximum pressure indicated on
the sidewall of the tire to set the beads
without additional precautions listed
below. If the beads do not seat at the
maximum pressure indicated, re-lubricate
and try again
When inflating the tire for mounting
pressures up to 20 psi (1.38 bar) greater
than the maximum pressure on the tire
sidewall, the following precautions must
be taken to protect the person mounting
the tire:
1. Make sure that you have the correct tire
and wheel size.
2. Lubricate the tire bead and wheel bead
seat area again.
3. Stand at a minimum of 12 ft (3.66 m)
away from the wheel and tire assembly.
4. Use both eye and ear protection.
For a mounting pressure more than 20 psi
(1.38 bar) greater than the maximum
pressure, a Ford dealer or other tire service
professional should do the mounting.
WARNINGS
Always inflate steel carcass tires with a
remote air fill with the person inflating
standing at a minimum of 12 ft (3.66 m)
away from the wheel and tire assembly
Important: Remember to replace the
wheel valve stems when the road tires are
replaced on your vehicle
It is recommended that the two front tires
or two rear tires generally be replaced as
a pair.
The tire pressure sensors mounted in the
wheels (originally installed on your vehicle)
are not designed to be used in aftermarket
wheels.
The use of wheels or tires not
recommended by Ford Motor Company
may affect the operation of your tire
pressure monitoring system.
If the TPMS indicator is flashing, your
TPMS is malfunctioning. Your replacement
tire might be incompatible with your TPMS,
or some component of the TPMS may be
damaged.
Safety Practices
WARNINGS
If your vehicle is stuck in snow, mud,
sand, etc., do not rapidly spin the
tires; spinning the tires can tear the
tire and cause an explosion. A tire can
explode in as little as three to five seconds.
Do not spin the wheels at over 35
mph (56 km/h). The tires may fail
and injure a passenger or bystander.
Driving habits have a great deal to do with
your tire mileage and safety.
• Observe posted speed limits
• Avoid fast starts, stops and turns
254
Wheels and Tires
How Temperature Affects your Tire
Pressure
The tire pressure monitoring system
monitors tire pressure in each pneumatic
tire. While driving in a normal manner, a
typical passenger tire inflation pressure
may increase approximately 2 to 4 psi (14
to 28 kPa) from a cold start situation. If
the vehicle is stationary overnight with the
outside temperature significantly lower
than the daytime temperature, the tire
pressure may decrease approximately 3
psi (21 kPa) for a drop of 30°F (17°C) in
ambient temperature. This lower pressure
value may be detected by the TPMS as
being significantly lower than the
recommended inflation pressure and
activate the TPMS warning light for low
tire pressure. If the low tire pressure
warning light is on, visually check each tire
to verify that no tire is flat. (If one or more
tires are flat, repair as necessary.) Check
air pressure in the road tires. If any tire is
under-inflated, carefully drive the vehicle
to the nearest location where air can be
added to the tires. Inflate all the tires to
the recommended inflation pressure.
CHANGING A ROAD WHEEL
WARNINGS
The use of tire sealants may damage
your tire pressure monitoring system
and should not be used. However, if
you must use a sealant, the tire pressure
monitoring system sensor and valve stem
on the wheel must be replaced by an
authorized Ford dealer.
See Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (page 257). for important
information. If the tire pressure
monitor sensor becomes damaged, it will
no longer function.
Note: The tire pressure monitoring system
indicator light will illuminate when the spare
tire is in use. To restore the full functionality
of the monitoring system, all road wheels
equipped with tire pressure monitoring
sensors must be mounted on the vehicle.
If you get a flat tire while driving, do not
apply the brake heavily. Instead, gradually
decrease your speed. Hold the steering
wheel firmly and slowly move to a safe
place on the side of the road.
Have a flat serviced by an authorized
dealer in order to prevent damage to the
tire pressure monitoring system sensors.
See Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(page 257). Replace the spare tire with a
road tire as soon as possible. During
repairing or replacing of the flat tire, have
the authorized dealer inspect the tire
pressure monitoring system sensor for
damage.
Dissimilar Spare Wheel and Tire
Assembly Information
WARNING
Failure to follow these guidelines
could result in an increased risk of
loss of vehicle control, injury or death.
If you have a dissimilar spare wheel and
tire, then it is intended for temporary use
only. This means that if you need to use it,
you should replace it as soon as possible
with a road wheel and tire assembly that
is the same size and type as the road tires
and wheels that were originally provided
by Ford. If the dissimilar spare tire or wheel
is damaged, it should be replaced rather
than repaired.
A dissimilar spare wheel and tire assembly
is defined as a spare wheel and tire
assembly that is different in brand, size or
appearance from the road tires and wheels
and can be one of three types:
260
Wheels and Tires