The airbags inflate and deflate rapidly
upon activation. After airbag
deployment, it is normal to notice a
smoke-like, powdery residue or smell
the burnt propellant. This may consist
of cornstarch, talcum powder (to
lubricate the bag) or sodium
compounds (e.g., baking soda) that
result from the combustion process
that inflates the airbag. Small
amounts of sodium hydroxide may be
present which may irritate the skin
and eyes, but none of the residue is
toxic. While the system is designed to
help reduce serious injuries, contact
with a deploying airbag may also
cause abrasions or swelling.
Temporary hearing loss is also a
possibility as a result of the noise
associated with a deploying airbag.
Because airbags must inflate rapidly
and with considerable force, there is
the risk of death or serious injuries
such as fractures, facial and eye
injuries or internal injuries, particularly
to occupants who are not properly
restrained or are otherwise out of
position at the time of airbag
deployment. Thus, it is extremely
important that occupants be properly
restrained as far away from the airbag
module as possible while maintaining
vehicle control.
Routine maintenance of the airbags
is not required.
SOS POST-CRASH ALERT
SYSTEM
The system flashes the turn signal
lamps and sounds the horn
(intermittently) in the event of a
serious impact that deploys an airbag
(front, side, side curtain or Safety
Canopy) or the safety belt
pretensioners.
The horn and lamps will turn off when:
•
the hazard control button is
pressed
• the panic button (if equipped) is
pressed on the remote entry
transmitter, or
• your vehicle runs out of power.
Spin out Detection
If a spinout is detected and the hazard
warning flashers come on, the
message Spinout Detected Hazards
Activated will appear on the
instrument cluster.
Once the hazard warning flashers
have been activated, they can be
turned off by:
• pressing the hazard warning
flasher button.
• pressing the remote control unlock
button.
• pressing the remote control panic
button.
• cycling the ignition on and off
twice.
43
Supplementary Restraints System
Vehicles Equipped with a 2.0L
Engine
Front-wheel drive (FWD) vehicles
CANNOT be flat-towed (all wheels
on the ground) as vehicle or
transmission damage may occur. You
must place the front wheels on a
two-wheel tow dolly. If you are using
a tow dolly, follow the instructions
specified by the equipment provider.
All-wheel drive (AWD) vehicles
CANNOT
be flat-towed (all wheels
on the ground), as vehicle or
transmission damage may occur. It is
recommended to tow your vehicle
with all four (4) wheels off the ground
such as when using a car-hauling
trailer. Otherwise, you cannot tow your
vehicle.
Vehicles Equipped with a 3.7L
Engine
You can tow your vehicle with all four
wheels on the ground using the
Neutral Tow feature, or with all four
wheels off the ground using a vehicle
transport trailer. If you are using a
vehicle transport trailer, follow the
instruction specified by the equipment
provider.
If you tow your vehicle with all four
wheels on the ground:
• Tow only in the forward direction.
• Release the parking brake.
Neutral Tow
Enter Neutral Tow mode by doing the
following: 1.
Put the ignition in accessory mode
by pressing the engine START
button without pressing the brake
pedal.
2. Select
Neutral Tow under the
Vehicle Settings menu in the
information display. See General
Information (page 100).
3. Press and hold the OK button to start the neutral tow process.
4. Press the brake pedal and select N
on the push-button
transmission.
5. Turn the ignition off by pressing the
engine START button without
pressing the brake pedal.
If the process is completes
successfully:
• the
N on the push-button
transmission blinks slowly
• Neutral Tow Engaged turn
ignition off for towing
appears
in the information display.
Note: If the parking brake is applied,
Neutral Tow remove park brake for
towing
appears in the information
display.
Note: Do not exceed 65 mph (105
km/h).
Note: Start the engine and allow it to
run for five minutes at the beginning of
each day and every six hours (or fewer).
Shut the engine off and verify that
Neutral tow engaged
appears in the
display before continuing to tow.
233
Towing
BREAKING-IN
You need to break in new tires for
approximately 300 miles (480
kilometers). During this time, your
vehicle may exhibit some unusual
driving characteristics.
Avoid driving too fast during the first
1000 miles (1600 kilometers). Vary
your speed frequently and change up
through the gears early. Do not labor
the engine.
Do not tow during the first 1000 miles
(1600 kilometers).
ECONOMICAL DRIVING
Fuel economy is affected by several
things such as how you drive, the
conditions you drive under and how
you maintain your vehicle.
There are some things to keep in mind
that may improve your fuel economy:
•
Accelerate and slow down in a
smooth, moderate fashion.
• Drive at steady speeds.
• Anticipate stops; slowing down
may eliminate the need to stop.
• Combine errands and minimize
stop-and-go driving.
•When running errands, go to
the furthest destination first
and then work your way back
home.
• Close the windows for high-speed
driving. •
Drive at reasonable speeds.
(Traveling at 65 mph/105 kph uses
about 15% less fuel than traveling
at 75 mph/121 kph).
• Keep the tires properly inflated and
use only the recommended size.
• Use the recommended engine oil.
• Perform all regularly scheduled
maintenance.
There are also some things you may
want to avoid doing because they
reduce your fuel economy:
• Avoid sudden or hard
accelerations.
• Avoid revving the engine before
turning off the car.
• Avoid long idle periods.
• Do not warm up your vehicle on
cold mornings.
• Reduce the use of air conditioning
and heat.
• Avoid using speed control in hilly
terrain.
• Do not rest your foot on the brake
pedal while driving.
• Avoid carrying unnecessary weight
(approximately 1 mpg [0.4
kilometers/liter] is lost for every
400 lbs [180 kilograms] of weight
carried).
• Avoid adding particular
accessories to your vehicle (e.g.
bug deflectors, rollbars/light bars,
running boards, ski racks).
• Avoid driving with the wheels out
of alignment.
235
Driving Hints
TEMPORARY MOBILITY KIT
(IF EQUIPPED)
Note:
The temporary mobility kit
sealant compound in the canister is to
be used for one tire only. See your Ford
authorized dealer for additional
replacement sealant canisters.
The kit is located in the spare tire well
in the trunk. The kit consists of an air
compressor to reinflate the tire and a
sealing compound in a canister that
will effectively seal most punctures
caused by nails or similar objects. This
kit will provide a temporary seal
allowing you to drive your vehicle up
to 120 miles (200 kilometers) at a
maximum speed of 50 mph (80
km/h). Air compressor (inside)
A
Diverter knob
B
On/off button
C
Air pressure gauge
D
Sealant bottle and canister
E
Sealant filling clear tube
F
Sealant tube - tire valve
connector
G
Yellow cap tool
H
Air compressor hose
I
Air hose -tire valve connector
J
Accessory power plug
K
Casing/housing
L
292
Wheels and TiresE144618
General Information
WARNING
Failure to follow these guidelines
could result in an increased risk
of loss of vehicle control, injury or
death. Note:
Do not use the kit if a tire has
become severely damaged by driving
the vehicle with a tire that has
insufficient air pressure. Only punctured
areas located within the tire tread can
be sealed with the kit.
Do not attempt to repair punctures
larger than 1.4 inch (6.4 mm) or
damage to the tire's sidewall. The tire
may not completely seal.
Loss of air pressure may adversely
affect tire performance. For this
reason:
Note: Do not drive the vehicle above
50 mph (80 km/h).
Note: Do not drive further than 120
miles (200 km). Drive only to the
closest Ford Motor Company
authorized dealer or tire repair shop to
have your tire inspected.
• Drive carefully and avoid abrupt
steering maneuvers.
• Periodically monitor tire inflation
pressure in the affected tire; if the
tire is losing pressure, have the
vehicle towed.
• Read the information in the Tips
for Use of the Kit section to ensure
safe operation of the kit and your
vehicle. Tips for Use of the Kit
Read the following list of tips to
ensure safe operation of the kit:
•
Before operating the kit, make sure
your vehicle is safely off the road
and away from moving traffic. Turn
on the hazard lights.
• Always set the parking brake to
ensure the vehicle doesn't move
unexpectedly.
• Do not remove any foreign objects,
such as nails or screws, from the
tire.
• When using the kit, leave the
engine running (only if the vehicle
is outdoors or in a well-ventilated
area) so the compressor doesn't
drain the vehicle's battery.
• Do not allow the compressor to
operate continuously for more
than 15 minutes; this will help
prevent the compressor from
overheating.
• Never leave the kit unattended
when it is operating.
• Sealant compound contains latex.
Make sure that you use the
non-latex gloves provided to avoid
an allergic reaction.
• Keep the kit away from children.
• Only use the kit when the ambient
temperature is between -22°F
(–30°C) and 158°F (70°C).
293
Wheels and Tires
Safety Practices
WARNINGS
If your vehicle is stuck in snow,
mud, sand, etc., do not rapidly
spin the tires; spinning the tires can
tear the tire and cause an explosion.
A tire can explode in as little as three
to five seconds. Do not spin the wheels at over
35 mph (56 km/h). The tires may
fail and injure a passenger or
bystander. Driving habits have a great deal to do
with your tire mileage and safety.
•
Observe posted speed limits
• Avoid fast starts, stops and turns
• Avoid potholes and objects on the
road
• Do not run over curbs or hit the tire
against a curb when parking
Highway Hazards
No matter how carefully you drive
there ’s always the possibility that you
may eventually have a flat tire on the
highway. Drive slowly to the closest
safe area out of traffic. This may
further damage the flat tire, but your
safety is more important. If you feel a sudden vibration or ride
disturbance while driving, or you
suspect your tire or vehicle has been
damaged, immediately reduce your
speed. Drive with caution until you can
safely pull off the road. Stop and
inspect the tires for damage. If a tire
is under-inflated or damaged, deflate
it, remove wheel and replace it with
your spare tire and wheel. If you
cannot detect a cause, have the
vehicle towed to the nearest repair
facility or tire dealer to have the
vehicle inspected.
Tire and Wheel Alignment
A bad jolt from hitting a curb or
pothole can cause the front end of
your vehicle to become misaligned or
cause damage to your tires. If your
vehicle seems to pull to one side when
you’re driving, the wheels may be out
of alignment. Have an authorized
dealer check the wheel alignment
periodically.
Wheel misalignment in the front or
the rear can cause uneven and rapid
treadwear of your tires and should be
corrected by an authorized dealer.
Front-wheel drive vehicles and those
with an independent rear suspension
(if equipped) may require alignment
of all four wheels.
The tires should also be balanced
periodically. An unbalanced tire and
wheel assembly may result in irregular
tire wear.
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Wheels and Tires