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 AWD
PTU (Power Transfer Unit) lubricant
should be checked and changed if
necessary. “Tread Lightly
” is an educational
program designed to increase public
awareness of land-use regulations
and responsibilities in our nations
wilderness areas. Ford Motor
Company joins the U.S. Forest Service
and the Bureau of Land Management
in encouraging you to help preserve
our national forest and other public
and private lands by “treading lightly.”
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All-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)E142667 E143950
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. 175
All-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)E143949
Note:
Excessive tire slippage can
cause driveline 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 (ABS), do
not “pump ” the brakes. See Hints on
Driving With Anti-Lock Brakes
(page
178). for more information on
the operation of the anti-lock brake
system (ABS). 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
lowering 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.
176
All-Wheel Drive
(If Equipped)
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
Warning Lamps and Indicators (page
95). See
Warning Lamps and
Indicators (page 95).
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.
Brake Assist
Brake assist detects when you brake
rapidly by measuring the rate at which
you press the brake pedal. It provides
maximum braking efficiency as long
as you press the pedal, and 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.
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BrakesE144522
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.
ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE
The electric parking brake replaces
the conventional handbrake. The
operating switch is located on the
instrument panel to the left of the
steering wheel. WARNING
Always set the parking brake and
leave your vehicle with the
transmission selector lever in position
P. Note:
When you apply the electric
parking brake in certain conditions e.g.
on a steep hill, the electric parking
brake may reapply the brakes within
three to ten minutes.
Note: You may notice various noises
when you apply and release the electric
parking brake. This is normal and no
cause for concern.
Applying the electric parking
brake WARNING
If the brake system warning lamp
does not illuminate or flashes,
there could be a problem with your
electric parking brake. Have the
system checked by an authorized
dealer as soon as possible. Note:
The brake system warning lamp
will illuminate for ten seconds, if the
ignition is turned off after the electric
parking brake has been applied, or the
electric parking brake has been applied
after the ignition has been turned off.
Note: The electric parking brake will
not automatically apply. You must
apply the electric parking brake using
the electric parking brake switch.
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BrakesE144522
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 through the information
display. See General Information
(page 100). 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 through the
information display. 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.
181
Traction ControlE138639
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
WARNINGS
Vehicle modifications involving
braking system, aftermarket roof
racks, suspension, steering system,
tire construction and wheel and tire
size may change the handling
characteristics of the vehicle and may
adversely affect the performance of
the AdvanceTrac system. In addition,
installing any stereo loudspeakers
may interfere with and adversely
affect the AdvanceTrac system.
Install any aftermarket stereo
loudspeaker as far as possible from
the front center console, the tunnel,
and the front seats in order to
minimize the risk of interfering with
the AdvanceTrac sensors. Reducing
the effectiveness of the AdvanceTrac
system could lead to an increased risk
of loss of vehicle control, vehicle
rollover, personal injury and death. Remember that even advanced
technology cannot defy the laws
of physics. It’ s always possible to lose
control of a vehicle due to
inappropriate driver input for the
conditions. Aggressive driving on any
road condition can cause you to lose
control of your vehicle increasing the
risk of personal injury or property
damage. Activation of the
AdvanceTrac system is an indication
that at least some of the tires have
exceeded their ability to grip the road; WARNINGS
this could reduce the operator ’s ability
to control the vehicle potentially
resulting in a loss of vehicle control,
vehicle rollover, personal injury and
death. If your AdvanceTrac system
activates, SLOW DOWN. The AdvanceTrac Control system
helps you keep control of your vehicle
when on a slippery surface. The
electronic stability control portion of
the system helps avoid skids and
lateral slides and roll stability control
helps avoid a vehicle rollover. The
traction control system helps avoid
drive wheel spin and loss of traction.
See Using Traction Control (page
181).
182
Stability Control
When a suitable space is found, the
touch screen displays a message and
a chime sounds. Slow down and stop
when the touch screen displays a
message and a chime sounds (at
approximately position A), then follow
the instructions on the touch screen.
Note:
You must observe that the
selected space remains clear of
obstructions at all times in the
maneuver.
Note: Vehicles with overhanging loads
(e.g. a bus or a truck), street furniture
and other items may not be detected
by active park assist. You must make
sure the selected space is suitable for
parking.
Note: The vehicle should be driven as
parallel to other vehicles as possible
while passing a parking space.
Note: The system always offers the
last detected parking space (i.e. if the
vehicle detects multiple spaces while
you are driving, it offers the last one). Note:
If driven above approximately
20 mph (35 km/h), the touch screen
shows a message to alert you to reduce
vehicle speed.
Automatic Steering into
Parking Space
Note: If vehicle speed exceeds 6 mph
(10 km/h), the system switches off and
you need to take full control of the
vehicle.
With your hands off the wheel (and
nothing obstructing its movement)
and the transmission in R (Reverse),
the vehicle steers itself as instructions
to safely move the vehicle back and
forward in the space are displayed in
the touch screen. While reversing, the
touch screen displays a message
instructing you to check your
surroundings (for safety reasons) and
to back-up slowly, accompanied by a
corresponding graphic. When you think the vehicle has
enough space in front and behind it,
or you hear a solid tone from the
parking aid (accompanied by a touch
screen display message and a chime),
bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
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