Whenever driving on a hill, determine beforehand the route you will use.
Do not drive over the crest of a hill without seeing what conditions are
on the other side. Do not drive in reverse over a hill without the aid of
an observer.
Although natural obstacles may make it necessary to travel diagonally up
or down a hill or steep incline, you should always try to drive straight up
or straight down.
When climbing a steep slope or hill, start in a lower gear rather than
downshifting to a lower gear from a higher gear once the ascent has
started. This reduces strain on the engine and the possibility of stalling.
If you do stall out, do not try to turnaround because you might roll over.
It is better to back down to a safe location.
Apply just enough power to the wheels to climb the hill. Too much power
will cause the tires to slip, spin or lose traction, resulting in loss of
vehicle control.
Descend a hill in the same gear you
would use to climb up the hill to
avoid excessive brake application and
brake overheating. Do not descend in
neutral; instead, disengage overdrive
or manually shift to a lower gear.
When descending a steep hill, avoid
sudden hard braking as you could
lose control. The front wheels have
to be turning in order to steer the
vehicle.
Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, therefore apply the brakes steadily. Do
not “pump” the brakes.
Driving on Snow and Ice
WARNING:If you are driving in slippery conditions that require
tire chains or cables, then it is critical that you drive cautiously.
Keep speeds down, allow for longer stopping distances and avoid
aggressive steering to reduce the chances of a loss of vehicle control
which can lead to serious injury or death. If the rear end of the vehicle
slides while cornering, steer in the direction of the slide until you regain
control of the vehicle.
Note:Excessive tire slippage can cause transmission damage.
198All-Wheel Drive
2013 MKT(mkt)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
USING SNOW CHAINS
WARNING:Snow tires must be the same size, load index, speed
rating as those originally provided by Ford. 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 or transfer case/power transfer unit failure.
The tires on your vehicle have all-weather treads to provide traction in
rain and snow. However, in some climates, you may need to use snow
tires and cables. If you need to use cables, it is recommended that steel
wheels (of the same size and specifications) be used, as cables may chip
aluminum wheels.
Note:The suspension insulation and bumpers will help prevent vehicle
damage. Do not remove these components from your vehicle when using
snow tires and chains.
Follow these guidelines when using snow tires and chains:
•If possible, avoid fully loading your vehicle.
•Use only SAE Class S snow chains, snow cables or equivalent on the
front axle for P235/55R19 equipped vehicles. The use of snow chains,
snow cables or other traction assist devices that are larger than SAE
Class S may cause damage to your vehicle’s wheel house, suspension
and/or body.
•Do not install tire chains, cables or optional traction devices on the
rear tires. This could cause damage to the vehicle’s wheel house or
body.
•Do not use tire chains, cables or optional traction devices with
optional 255/45R20 tires.
•Install cable chains securely, verifying that the cables do not touch any
wiring, brake lines or fuel lines.
•Do not exceed 30 mph (48 km/h) with tire cables on your vehicle.
•Drive cautiously. If you hear the cables rub or bang against your
vehicle, stop and retighten the cables. If this does not work, remove
the cables to prevent damage to your vehicle.
•Remove the tire cables when they are no longer needed. Do not use
tire cables on dry roads.
Wheels and Tires343
2013 MKT(mkt)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
2.Full-size dissimilar spare with label on wheel:This spare tire has
a label on the wheel that states: “THIS TIRE AND WHEEL FOR
TEMPORARY USE ONLY”
When driving with one of the dissimilar spare tires listed above,do not:
•Exceed 50 mph (80 km/h)
•Load the vehicle beyond maximum vehicle load rating listed on the
Safety Compliance Label
•Tow a trailer
•Use snow chains on the end of the vehicle with the dissimilar spare
tire
•Use more than one dissimilar spare tire at a time
•Use commercial car washing equipment
•Try to repair the dissimilar spare tire
Use of one of the dissimilar spare tires listed above at any one wheel
location can lead to impairment of the following:
•Handling, stability and braking performance
•Comfort and noise
•Ground clearance and parking at curbs
•Winter weather driving capability
•Wet weather driving capability
3.Full-size dissimilar spare without label on wheel
When driving with the full-size dissimilar spare tire/wheel,do not:
•Exceed 70 mph (113 km/h)
•Use more than one dissimilar spare tire/wheel at a time
•Use commercial car washing equipment
•Use snow chains on the end of the vehicle with the dissimilar spare
tire/wheel
The usage of a full-size dissimilar spare tire/wheel can lead to impairment
of the following:
•Handling, stability and braking performance
•Comfort and noise
•Ground clearance and parking at curbs
•Winter weather driving capability
Wheels and Tires349
2013 MKT(mkt)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
T
Temperature control (see
Climate control) ................ 136, 455
Text messaging ......................... 432
Third-row power fold seat ....... 161
Tilt steering wheel ...................... 85
Tires ................................... 327, 348
alignment ................................ 341
care .......................................... 327
changing .......................... 348, 350
checking the pressure ............ 337
inflating ................................... 335
label ......................................... 334
replacing .................................. 339
rotating .................................... 342
safety practices ....................... 341
sidewall information ............... 329
snow tires and chains ............ 343
spare tire ................................. 348
terminology ............................. 328
tire grades ............................... 328
treadwear ........................ 327, 337
Touchscreen features
(climate) .................................... 455
Towing ....................... 251, 256–257
recreational towing ................. 257
Trailer Brake
Controller-Integrated .............. 254
trailer towing .......................... 251
wrecker .................................... 256
Traction control ........................ 202
Traffic preferences ................... 462
Trailer Brake
Controller-Integrated ................ 254
Trailer sway control .................. 251Transaxle
fluid, refill capacities .............. 359
lubricant specifications .......... 359
Transmission
brake-shift interlock (BSI) .... 193
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) ..................... 299–300
Turn signal .................................. 97
U
USB port ............................ 135, 422
V
Vehicle health report ................ 445
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) .......................................... 363
Vehicle loading .......................... 244
Ventilating your vehicle ........... 177
Voice recognition ...................... 399
W
Warning lights (see Lights) ..... 108
Washer fluid .............................. 304
Water, Driving through ............. 260
Wi-Fi .......................................... 452
Windows
power ....................................... 100
rear wiper/washer ..................... 91
Windshield washer fluid and
wipers .......................................... 90
checking and adding fluid ..... 304
replacing wiper blades ... 307–308
Wrecker towing ......................... 256
494Index
2013 MKT(mkt)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing
USA(fus)