E.A/C:Press the button to turn air conditioning on or off. Air
conditioning cools the vehicle using outside air. To improve air
conditioning when starting your vehicle, drive with the windows slightly
open for two to three minutes.
Use A/C with recirculated air to improve cooling performance and
efficiency.
Note:A/C turns on automatically in MAX A/C, Defrost and Floor/Defrost.
F.MAX A/C:Distributes recirculated air through the instrument panel
vents to cool the vehicle. This position is more economical and efficient
than normal A/C.
G.Recirculated air:Press the button to switch between outside air and
recirculated air. When the LED on the button is lit, the air currently in
the passenger compartment is being recirculated. Using recirculated air
can reduce the time needed to cool the interior and reduce unwanted
odors from entering your vehicle.
Note:Recirculated air engages automatically when MAX A/C is selected
or can be turned on manually in any airflow mode except Defrost.
H.DUAL:Allows the passenger to set their temperature independent of
the driver temperature.
Press + or - to increase or decrease the air temperature on the passenger
side of the vehicle when in dual zone mode.
I.Fan speed control:Press + or - to increase or decrease the volume of
air circulated in your vehicle.
J.Driver temperature control:Press + or - to increase or decrease the
air temperature inside the vehicle.
This control also adjusts the passenger side temperature when dual zone
operation is disengaged.
156Climate Control
2013 Flex(471)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
E.MAX A/C:Distributes recirculated air through the instrument panel
vents to cool the vehicle. This position is more economical and efficient
than normal A/C.
F.A/C:Press the button to turn air conditioning on or off. Air
conditioning cools the vehicle using outside air. To improve air
conditioning when starting your vehicle, drive with the windows slightly
open for two to three minutes.
Use A/C with recirculated air to improve cooling performance and
efficiency.
Note:A/C turns on automatically in MAX A/C, Defrost and Floor/Defrost.
G.AUTO:Press the button to turn on fully automatic operation. Select
the desired temperature using the temperature control. The system
automatically determines fan speed, air distribution, A/C operation, and
outside or recirculated air, to heat or cool the vehicle to maintain the
selected temperature.
H.Rear defrost:Turns the heated rear window on and off. Refer to
Heated rear windowlater in this chapter for more information. If your
vehicle is equipped with heated mirrors, this button turns them on also.
I.Defrost:Distributes air through the windshield defroster vents and
de-mister vents. This setting can also be used to defog and clear the
windshield of a thin covering of ice.
REAR PASSENGER CLIMATE CONTROL
A.Fan Speed:Turn to increase or decrease the fan speed.
B.Overhead:Distributes air through the overhead vents vents.
C.Floor:Distributes air through the floor vents.
D.Overhead/Floor:Distributes air through the overhead vents and floor
vents.
ABCDEF
158Climate Control
2013 Flex(471)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
E.REAR LOCK:This is not a functional control. When the indicator is
illuminated, the rear climate system is being controlled by the front
climate system and the rear controls are not operational.
F.Temperature:Control the temperature of the airflow in the vehicle.
GENERAL OPERATING TIPS
Manual Heating and Air Conditioning System
•To reduce fog build-up on the windshield during humid weather, select
Defrost. Temperature and/or fan speed can also be increased to
improve clearing.
•To reduce humidity build-up inside the vehicle, do not drive with the
system off or with recirculated air engaged.
•Do not put objects under the front seats that will interfere with the
airflow to the back seats.
•Remove any snow, ice or leaves from the air intake area at the base of
the windshield.
•To improve the A/C cool down, drive with the windows slightly open
for 2-3 minutes after start up or until the vehicle has been aired out.
•A small amount of air may be felt from the floor vent regardless of the
air distribution setting that is selected.
During extreme high ambient temperatures when idling stationary for
extended periods of time in gear, it is recommended to run the A/C in
the MAX A/C mode, adjust the blower fan speed to the lowest setting
and put the vehicle’s transmission into the P (Park) position (vehicles
equipped with an automatic transmission) to continue to receive cool air
from your A/C system.
For maximum cooling performance MAX A/C in AUTO, press MAX A/C.
1. Move temperature control to the coolest setting.
2. Set the fan to the highest speed initially, then adjust to maintain
comfort.
For maximum cooling performance in panel or panel/floor modes:
1. Move temperature control to the coolest setting.
2. Select A/C and recirculated air to provide colder airflow.
3. Set the fan to the highest speed initially, then adjust to maintain
comfort.
Climate Control159
2013 Flex(471)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
To aid in side window defogging/demisting in cold weather:
1. Select Floor/Panel.
2. Select A/C.
3. Adjust the temperature control to maintain comfort.
4. Set the fan speed to the highest setting.
5. Direct the outer instrument panel vents towards the side windows.
6. To increase airflow to the outer instrument panel vents, close the
vents located in the middle of the instrument panel.
Dual Zone Automatic Temperature Control
•To reduce fog build-up on the windshield during humid weather, select
Defrost. Temperature and/or fan speed can also be increased to
improve clearing.
•To reduce humidity build-up inside the vehicle, do not drive with the
system off or with recirculated air engaged.
•Do not put objects under the front seats that will interfere with the
airflow to the back seats.
•Remove any snow, ice or leaves from the air intake area at the base of
the windshield.
•To improve the A/C cool down, drive with the windows slightly open
for 2-3 minutes after start up or until the vehicle has been aired out.
•A small amount of air may be felt from the floor vent regardless of the
air distribution setting that is selected.
During extreme high ambient temperatures when idling stationary for
extended periods of time in gear, it is recommended to run the A/C in
the MAX A/C mode, adjust the blower fan speed to the lowest setting
and put the vehicle’s transmission into the P (Park) position (vehicles
equipped with an automatic transmission) to continue to receive cool air
from your A/C system.
For maximum cooling performance MAX A/C in AUTO, press MAX A/C.
For maximum cooling performance MAX A/C in manual override control
1. Choose Panel, A/C, and recirc controls.
2. Set the temperature to LO.
3. Set the fan to the highest blower setting.
160Climate Control
2013 Flex(471)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
HEATED AND COOLED SEATS (IF EQUIPPED)
Heated seats
WARNING:Persons who are unable to feel pain to the skin
because of advanced age, chronic illness, diabetes, spinal cord
injury, medication, alcohol use, exhaustion, or other physical conditions,
must exercise care when using the seat heater. The seat heater may
cause burns even at low temperatures, especially if used for long
periods of time. Do not place anything on the seat that insulates against
heat, such as a blanket or cushion, because this may cause the seat
heater to overheat. Do not puncture the seat with pins, needles, or
other pointed objects because this may damage the heating element
which may cause the seat heater to overheat. An overheated seat may
cause serious personal injury.
The heated seats will only function when the engine is running.
Note:Do not do the following:
•Place heavy objects on the seat
•Operate the seat heater if water or any other liquid is spilled on the
seat. Allow the seat to dry thoroughly.
To operate the heated seats:
Press the heated seat symbol/button to cycle through the
various heat settings and off. Warmer settings are indicated
by more indicator lights.
If the engine falls below 350 rpm while the heated seats are on, the
feature will turn itself off and will need to be reactivated.
Cooled seats
The cooled seats will only function when the engine is running.
To operate the cooled seats:
Press the cooled seat symbol/button to cycle through the
various cooling settings and off. Cooler settings are
indicated by more indicator lights.
A/C
172Seats
2013 Flex(471)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
Console Refrigerator and Freezer (if equipped)
This feature will operate when the vehicle is on or in accessory mode.
Limit the time of use when the vehicle is in accessory mode to avoid
draining the vehicle’s battery. Ford recommends only using this feature
when the engine is running.
Flip the console lid forward, then lift
off the cover to open the cooling
compartment. Be sure to replace the
cover when you are done using it.
This helps maintain a more
consistent cooling temperature.
Refrigerator:Briefly press and
hold COOL. The indicator light on
the cool side of the switch will
illuminate and the indicator light on
the freeze side will glow when the
refrigerator is active. The
temperature will cool to
approximately 41°F (5°C). Briefly
press and hold COOL again to turn
off the refrigerator. Briefly press and
hold FREEZE to change to freezer
mode.
Freezer:Briefly press and hold
FREEZE. Both indicator lights will
illuminate when the freezer is
active. The temperature will cool to
approximately 23°F (-5°C). Press
FREEZE again to turn off the
freezer. Press COOL to change to
refrigerator mode.
This feature will turn off when the vehicle is turned off. It will turn back
on to the last used mode when the vehicle is restarted.
FREEZE
COOL
Storage Compartments193
2013 Flex(471)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
Driving In Special Conditions With All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
AWD vehicles are equipped for driving on sand, snow, mud and rough
roads and have operating characteristics that are somewhat different
from conventional vehicles, both on and off the highway.
When driving at slow speeds in deep sand under high outside
temperatures, use a low gear when possible. Lower gear operation will
maximize the engine and transmission cooling capability.
Under severe operating conditions, the A/C may cycle on and off to
protect overheating of the engine.
Basic operating principles in special conditions
•Drive slower in strong crosswinds which can affect the normal steering
characteristics of your vehicle.
•Be extremely careful when driving on pavement made slippery by
loose sand, water, gravel, snow or ice.
If Your Vehicle Goes Off the Edge of the Pavement
•If your vehicle goes off the edge of the pavement, slow down, but
avoid severe brake application, ease the vehicle back onto the
pavement only after reducing your speed. Do not turn the steering
wheel too sharply while returning to the road surface.
•It may be safer to stay on the apron or shoulder of the road and slow
down gradually before returning to the pavement. You may lose
control if you do not slow down or if you turn the steering wheel too
sharply or abruptly.
•It often may be less risky to strike small objects, such as highway
reflectors, with minor damage to your vehicle rather than attempt a
sudden return to the pavement which could cause the vehicle to slide
sideways out of control or rollover. Remember, your safety and the
safety of others should be your primary concern.
If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck
WARNING:Always set the parking brake fully and make sure the
gearshift is latched in P (Park). Turn the ignition to the lock
position 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.
All-Wheel Drive217
2013 Flex(471)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
Do not drive your AWD vehicle in deep sand for an extended period of
time. This will cause the AWD system to overheat. After the system has
cooled down, normal AWD function will return. When driving at slow
speeds in deep sand under high outside temperatures, use L (Low) gear
when possible. L (Low) gear operation will maximize the engine and
transmission cooling capability.
Under severe operating conditions, the A/C may cycle on and off to
protect overheating of the engine.
Avoid excessive speed because vehicle momentum can work against you
and cause the vehicle to become stuck to the point that assistance may
be required from another vehicle. Remember, you may be able to back
out the way you came if you proceed with caution.
Mud and Water
If you must drive through high water, drive slowly. Traction or brake
capability may be limited.
When driving through water, determine the depth; avoid water higher
than the bottom of the wheel rims (for cars) or the bottom of the hubs
(for trucks) (if possible) and proceed slowly. If the ignition system gets
wet, the vehicle may stall.
Once through water, always try the brakes. Wet brakes do not stop the
vehicle as effectively as dry brakes. Drying can be improved by moving
your vehicle slowly while applying light pressure on the brake pedal.
Be cautious of sudden changes in vehicle speed or direction when you
are driving in mud. Even AWD vehicles can lose traction in slick mud. As
when you are driving over sand, apply the accelerator slowly and avoid
spinning your wheels. If the vehicle does slide, steer in the direction of
the slide until you regain control of the vehicle.
After driving through mud, clean off residue stuck to rotating driveshafts
and tires. Excess mud stuck on tires and rotating driveshafts causes an
imbalance that could damage drive components.
Note:Driving through deep water may damage the transmission.
If the front or rear axle is submerged in water, the axle lubricant and
PTU (power transfer unit) lubricant should be checked and changed if
necessary.
All-Wheel Drive219
2013 Flex(471)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing
USA(fus)