2013 FORD FLEX sensor

WARNING:If the side airbag has deployed,the airbag will not
function again. The side airbag system (including the seat)
must be inspected and serviced by an authorized dealer.If the
airbag is not replaced, the unrepaired area will increase the risk of
injury in a collision.
The side airbags are fitted on the outboard side of the seatbacks of the
front seats. In certain lateral collisions, the airbag on the side affected by
the collision will be inflated. The airbag was designed to inflate between
the door panel and occupant to further enhance the protection provided
occupants in side impact collisions.
The system consists of the following:
•A label or embossed side panel indicating
that side airbags are fitted to your vehicle.
•Side airbags located inside the seatback of
the driver and front passenger seatbacks.
•Crash sensors and monitoring system with readiness
indicator. Refer toCrash sensors and Airbag Indicatorlater
in this chapter.
•Front passenger sensing system
Note:The passenger sensing system will deactivate the passenger
seat-mounted side airbag if it detects an empty, unbuckled passenger
seat.
The design and development of the side airbag system included
recommended testing procedures that were developed by a group of
automotive safety experts known as the Side Airbag Technical Working
Group. These recommended testing procedures help reduce the risk of
injuries related to the deployment of side airbags.
Supplementary Restraints System57
2013 Flex(471)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

SAFETY CANOPYCURTAIN AIRBAGS
WARNING:Do not place objects or mount equipment on or near
the headliner at the siderail that may come into contact with a
deploying curtain airbag. Failure to follow these instructions may
increase the risk of personal injury in the event of a collision.
WARNING:Do not lean your head on the door. The curtain
airbag could injure you as it deploys from the headliner.
WARNING:Do not attempt to service, repair, or modify the
curtain airbags, its fuses, the A, B, C or D pillar trim, or the
headliner on a vehicle containing curtain airbags. Contact your
authorized dealer as soon as possible.
WARNING:All occupants of the vehicle including the driver
should always wear their safety belts even when an airbag SRS
and curtain airbag is provided.
WARNING:To reduce risk of injury, do not obstruct or place
objects in the deployment path of the curtain airbag.
WARNING:If the curtain airbags have deployed, the curtain
airbags will not function again. The curtain airbags (including the
A, B, C or D pillar trim and headliner) must be inspected and serviced
by an authorized dealer. If the curtain airbag is not replaced, the
unrepaired area will increase the risk of injury in a collision.
The Safety Canopy will deploy during significant side collisions or when a
certain likelihood of a rollover event is detected by the rollover sensor.
The Safety Canopy is mounted to the roof side-rail sheet metal, behind
the headliner, above each row of seats. In certain lateral collisions or
rollover events, the Safety Canopy will be activated, regardless of which
seats are occupied. The Safety Canopy is designed to inflate between the
side window area and occupants to further enhance protection provided
in side impact collisions and rollover events.
58Supplementary Restraints System
2013 Flex(471)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

The system consists of the
following:
•Safety canopy curtain airbags
fitted above the trim panels over
the front and rear side windows
identified by a label or wording
on the headliner or roof-pillar
trim.
•A flexible headliner which opens above the side doors to allow air
curtain deployment.
•Crash sensors and monitoring system with readiness
indicator. Refer toCrash sensors and Airbag Indicatorlater
in this chapter.
Children 12 years old and under should always be properly restrained in
the second or third row seats. The Safety Canopy will not interfere with
children restrained using a properly installed child or booster seat
because it is designed to inflate downward from the headliner above the
doors along the side window opening.
The design and development of the Safety Canopy included
recommended testing procedures that were developed by a group of
automotive safety experts known as the Side Airbag Technical Working
Group. These recommended testing procedures help reduce the risk of
injuries related to the deployment of side airbags (including the Safety
Canopy).
Supplementary Restraints System59
2013 Flex(471)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

CRASH SENSORS AND AIRBAG INDICATOR
WARNING:Modifying or adding equipment to the front end of
the vehicle (including frame, bumper, front end body structure
and tow hooks) may affect the performance of the airbag system,
increasing the risk of injury. Do not modify the front end of the vehicle.
The vehicle has a collection of crash and occupant sensors which provide
information to the Restraints Control Module (RCM) which deploys
(activates) the front safety belt pretensioners, rear inflatable safety belts,
driver airbag, passenger airbag, passenger knee airbag, seat mounted side
airbags, and the Safety Canopy. Based on the type of accident (frontal
impact, side impact or rollover) the restraints control module will deploy
the appropriate safety devices.
The restraints control module also monitors the readiness of the above
safety devices plus the crash and occupant sensors. The readiness of the
safety system is indicated by a warning indicator light in the instrument
cluster or by a backup tone if the warning light is not working. Refer to
Warning lamps and Indicatorsin theInstrument Clusterchapter.
Routine maintenance of the airbag is not required.
A difficulty with the system is indicated by one or more of the following:
•The readiness light will either flash or stay lit.
•The readiness light will not illuminate immediately after the
ignition is turned on.
•A series of five beeps will be heard. The tone pattern will repeat
periodically until the problem and/or light are repaired.
If any of these things happen, even intermittently, have the supplemental
restraint system serviced at an authorized dealer immediately. Unless
serviced, the system may not function properly in the event of a collision.
The safety belt pretensioners, rear inflatable safety belts and the airbag
supplemental restraint system are designed to activate when the vehicle
sustains longitudinal or lateral deceleration sufficient to cause the
restaints control module to deploy a safety device or when a certain
likelihood of a rollover event is detected by the rollover sensor.
60Supplementary Restraints System
2013 Flex(471)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

Activating Intelligent Access (If Equipped)
The intelligent access key must be within 3 feet (1 meter) of the vehicle.
At the Front Doors
Pull a front exterior door handle. The door will unlock and can be
opened.
Press and hold the door handle lock
sensor to lock the vehicle.
At the Liftgate
Press the button hidden near the license plate.
Smart Unlocks for Integrated Keyhead Transmitter
This feature helps to prevent you from locking yourself out of the vehicle
if your key is still in the ignition.
When you open one of the front doors and lock the vehicle with the
power door lock control, all the doors will lock then unlock if your key is
still in the ignition.
The vehicle can still be locked with the key in the ignition by using the
keyless entry keypad with the driver door closed, or by pressing the lock
button on the transmitter even if the doors are not closed.
If both front doors are closed, the vehicle can be locked by any method,
regardless of whether the key is in the ignition or not.
Smart Unlocks for Intelligent Access Keys (If Equipped)
This feature helps to prevent you from unintentionally locking your
intelligent access key inside your vehicle’s passenger compartment or
rear cargo area.
When you lock your vehicle using the driver or passenger power door
lock control (with the door open, vehicle in park and ignition off), after
you close the door the vehicle will search for an intelligent access key in
the passenger compartment. If an intelligent access key is found inside
the vehicle, all of the doors will immediately unlock and the horn will
chirp, indicating that the intelligent access key is inside.
Locks77
2013 Flex(471)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

WINDSHIELD WIPERS
Note:Fully defrost the windshield in icy conditions before turning on
the windshield wipers.
Rotate the end of the control away
from you to increase the speed of
the wipers. Rotate toward you to
decrease the speed of the wipers.
Speed Dependent Wipers (If Equipped)
The wiper speed will adjust with the vehicle speed when intermittent
wipe is selected. A faster vehicle speed will result in a shorter time
between wipes.
RAIN-SENSING WIPERS (IF EQUIPPED)
Note:Wet road conditions may result in inconsistent or unexpected
wiping or smearing. Lower the sensitivity, switch to normal or high-speed
wiping or turn the wipers off to reduce smearing.
Note:Turn off the wipers before entering a car wash.
Use the rotary control to adjust the
sensitivity to one of the interval
moisture settings. The wipers will
not cycle until moisture is detected
on the windshield. The wiper speed
will vary based on the amount of
moisture detected on the windshield
and the sensitivity setting. The
wipers will continue to wipe as long as moisture is detected.
Keep the outside of the windshield clean, especially the area around the
interior mirror where the sensor is located, or sensor performance may
be affected.
A
U
T
O
96Wipers and Washers
2013 Flex(471)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

INTERIOR MIRROR
WARNING:Do not adjust the mirror when your vehicle is
moving.
Note:Do not clean the housing or glass of any mirror with harsh
abrasives, fuel or other petroleum or ammonia based cleaning products.
You can adjust the interior mirror to your preference. Some mirrors also
have a second pivot point. This lets you move the mirror head up or down
and from side to side.
Auto-Dimming Mirror
Note:Do not block the sensors on the front and back of the mirror.
Mirror performance may be affected. A rear center passenger or raised
rear center head restraint may also block light from reaching the sensor.
The mirror will dim automatically to reduce glare when bright lights are
detected from behind your vehicle. It will automatically return to normal
reflection when you select reverse gear to make sure you have a clear
view when backing up.
SUN VISORS
Slide-On-Rod
Rotate the visor toward the side
window and extend it rearward for
extra sunlight coverage.
Retract the visor before moving it
back toward the windshield and
storing it.
Windows and Mirrors107
2013 Flex(471)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

INFORMATION MESSAGES
Note:Depending on the vehicle options equipped with your vehicle, not
all of the messages will display or be available. Certain messages may be
abbreviated or shortened depending upon which cluster type you have.
Press the OK button to acknowledge
and remove some messages from
the information display. Other
messages will be removed
automatically after a short time.
When a warning message appears,
you must wait two seconds before
being able to clear it. Certain
messages need to be confirmed before you can access the menus.
Message indicators:Some messages will be supplemented by a system
specific symbol.
Adaptive Cruise
Control MessagesAction / Description
Adaptive Cruise
MalfunctionDisplayed when a radar malfunction is
preventing the ACC from engaging.
Adaptive Cruise Not
AvailableDisplayed when conditions exist such that the
adaptive cruise cannot function properly.
Adaptive Cruise Not
Available Sensor
BlockedDisplayed when the radar is blocked because
of poor radar visibility due to bad weather or
ice/mud/water in front of radar. Driver can
typically clean the sensor to resolve.
AdvanceTrac/
Traction Control
MessagesAction / Description
Service AdvanceTrac Displayed when the AdvanceTracsystem has
detected a condition that requires service.
Contact your authorized dealer as soon as
possible.
Traction control off Displayed when the traction control has been
disabled by the driver.
Trailer Sway Reduce
SpeedDisplayed when the trailer sway control has
detected trailer sway.
Information Displays129
2013 Flex(471)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing
USA(fus)