Driving on Hilly or Sloping Terrain
Note:Avoid driving crosswise or turning on steep slopes or hills. A
danger lies in losing traction, slipping sideways and possibly rolling over.
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.
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Note:Excessive tire slippage can cause transmission damage.
AWD vehicles have advantages over 2WD vehicles in snow and ice but
can skid like any other vehicle.
Should you start to slide while driving on snowy or icy roads, turn the
steering wheel in the direction of the slide until you regain control.
Avoid sudden applications of power and quick changes of direction on
snow and ice. Apply the accelerator slowly and steadily when starting
from a full stop.
Avoid sudden braking as well. Although an AWD vehicle may accelerate
better than a two-wheel drive vehicle in snow and ice, it won’t stop any
faster, because as in other vehicles, braking occurs at all four wheels. Do
not become overconfident as to road conditions.
Make sure you allow sufficient distance between you and other vehicles
for stopping. Drive slower than usual and consider using one of the lower
gears. In emergency stopping situations, apply the brake steadily. Since
your vehicle is equipped with a four wheel anti-lock brake system (ABS),
do not “pump” the brakes. Refer to theBrakessection of this chapter for
additional information on the operation of the anti-lock brake system.
Maintenance and Modifications
The suspension and steering systems on your vehicle have been designed
and tested to provide predictable performance whether loaded or empty
and durable load carrying capability. For this reason, Ford Motor
Company strongly recommends that you do not make modifications such
as adding or removing parts (such as lift kits or stabilizer bars) or by
using replacement parts not equivalent to the original factory equipment.
Any modifications to a vehicle that raise the center of gravity can make it
more likely the vehicle will rollover as a result of a loss of control. Ford
Motor Company recommends that caution be used with any vehicle
equipped with a high load or device (such as ladder or luggage racks).
Failure to maintain your vehicle properly may void the warranty, increase
your repair cost, reduce vehicle performance and operational capabilities
and adversely affect driver and passenger safety. Frequent inspection of
vehicle chassis components is recommended if the vehicle is subjected to
off-highway usage.
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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. Refer to theVehicle Carechapter for
wheel cleaning instructions.
Refer to theInstrument Clusterchapter for information on the
brake system warning light.
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 P
(Park) 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.
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STEERING
To help prevent damage to the power steering system:
•Never hold the steering wheel at its furthest turning points (until it
stops) for more than three to five seconds while the engine is running.
•Do not operate the vehicle with a low power steering pump fluid
reservoir level (below the MIN mark on the reservoir).
•Some noise is normal during operation. If the noise is excessive, check
for low power steering pump fluid level before seeking service by your
authorized dealer.
•Heavy or uneven, steering efforts may be caused by low power
steering pump fluid level. Check for a low power steering pump fluid
level before seeking service by your authorized dealer.
•Do not fill the power steering reservoir above the MAX mark, as this
may result in leaks from the reservoir.
If the power steering system breaks down (or if the engine is turned off),
you can steer the vehicle manually, but it takes more effort.
If the steering wanders or pulls, check for:
•an improperly inflated tire.
•uneven tire wear.
•loose or worn suspension components.
•loose or worn steering components.
•improper steering alignment.
A high crown in the road or high crosswinds may also make the steering
seem to wander/pull.
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Fuse/Relay
NumberFuse Amp
RatingProtected Components
11 10A Instrument panel cluster, Heads-up
display
12 15A Interior lighting, Puddle lamps,
Backlighting
13 15A Right turn/stop lamps and turn
signals
14 15A Left turn/stop lamps and turn
signals
15 15A Reverse lamps, High-mounted stop
lamps
16 10A Low beam headlamps (right)
17 10A Low beam headlamps (left)
18 10A Keypad illumination, Brake shift
interlock, Start button LED, Passive
anti-theft system, Powertrain
control module wake-up, Second
row power enable
19 20A Audio amplifier
20 20A Lock/unlock relays – vehicles
without intelligent access (IA)
21 10A Not used (spare)
22 20A Horn relay
23 15A Steering wheel control, Intelligent
access (IA), Headlamp switch
24 15A Power tilt/telescope steering
column, On-board diagnostics
25 15A Liftgate release
26 5A Global positioning system module
27 20A Intelligent access (IA)
28 15A Ignition switch (without IA), Key
inhibit solenoid, Push button start
(with IA)
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Fuse/Relay
NumberFuse Amp
RatingProtected Components
29 20A Radio, Electronic finish panel,
SYNCmodule
30 15A Front park lamps
31 5A Not used (spare)
32 15A Moonroof, Power windows (front),
Compass/auto-dimming rear view
mirror
33 10A Not used (spare)
34 10A Reverse sensing system, Rearview
camera, Blind spot monitor, Rear
heated seat module
35 5A Heads-up display
36 10A Heated steering wheel
37 10A Climate control
38 10A Not used (spare)
39 15A High beam headlamps
40 10A Rear park lamps, License plate
lamps
41 7.5A Occupant classification sensor,
Restraints control module
42 5A Not used (spare)
43 10A Not used (spare)
44 10A Not used (spare)
45 5A Not used (spare)
46 10A Climate control
47 15A Fog lamps relay, LED signal mirrors
48 30A Circuit
BreakerRear power windows
49 — Delayed accessory relay
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UNDER HOOD OVERVIEW
A. Engine coolant reservoir
B. Power steering fluid reservoir
C. Brake fluid reservoir
D. Battery
E. Power distribution box
F. Air filter assembly
G. Transmission fluid dipstick
H. Engine oil dipstick
I. Engine oil filler cap
J. Windshield washer fluid reservoir
JIHGF
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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
WARNING: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.
WARNING:Never remove the coolant reservoir cap while the
engine is running or hot.
You have limited engine power when in the fail-safe mode, so drive the
vehicle with caution. The vehicle will not be able to maintain high-speed
operation and the engine will run rough. Remember that the engine is
capable of completely shutting down automatically to prevent engine
damage, therefore:
1. Pull off the road as soon as safely possible and turn off the engine.
2. Arrange for the vehicle to be taken to an authorized dealer.
3. If this is not possible, wait a short period for the engine to cool.
4. Check the coolant level and replenish if low.
5. Re-start the engine and take your vehicle to an authorized dealer.
Note:Driving the vehicle without repairing the engine problem increases
the chance of engine damage. Take your vehicle to an authorized dealer
as soon as possible.
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