2014 FORD FLEX ignition

Seats 145
Sitting in the correct position............................145
Head restraints.......................................146
Manual seats........................................148
Power seats.........................................150
Memory function.....................................151
Heated seats........................................153
Heated and ventilated seats..............................155
Rear seats..........................................157
Universal Garage Door Opener (If Equipped) 167
HomeLink® wireless control system.......................167
Auxiliary Power Points 172
Storage Compartments 175
Center console.......................................175
Overhead console.....................................177
Starting and Stopping the Engine 178
Ignition switch.......................................179
Engine block heater...................................184
Fuel and Refueling 186
Fuel quality.........................................187
Running out of fuel....................................188
Refueling...........................................189
Fuel consumption.....................................191
Transmission 195
Automatic transmission.................................195
All-Wheel Drive (If Equipped) 200
All wheel drive.......................................200
Brakes 207
Brakes.............................................207
4Table of Contents
2014 Flex(471)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing, April 2013
USA(fus)

Safety Belt Extension Assembly
WARNING:Do not use extensions to change the fit of the
shoulder belt across the torso.
WARNING:Do not use extensions with an inflatable safety belt.
Safety belt extensions are vehicle-specific. See an authorized dealer to
make sure you obtain the proper safety belt extension for your vehicle.
Use only extensions manufactured by the same supplier as the safety
belt. A safety belt extension is not available for the inflatable safety belt.
Also, use the safety belt extension only if the safety belt is too short for
you when fully extended.
SAFETY BELT HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT
WARNING:Position the safety belt height adjusters so that the
belt rests across the middle of your shoulder. Failure to adjust
the safety belt properly could reduce the effectiveness of the safety belt
and increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Adjust the height of the shoulder belt so the belt rests across the middle
of your shoulder.
To adjust the shoulder belt height:
1. Squeeze the buttons and slide the
height adjuster up or down.
2. Release the buttons and pull
down on the height adjuster to
make sure it is locked in place.
SAFETY BELT WARNING LIGHT AND INDICATOR CHIME
This lamp illuminates and an audible warning will sound if the
driver’s safety belt has not been fastened when the vehicle’s
ignition is turned on.
42Safety Belts
2014 Flex(471)
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USA(fus)

Conditions of Operation
If... Then...
The driver’s safety belt is not
buckled before the ignition
switch is turned to the on
position...The safety belt warning light
illuminates 1-2 minutes and the
warning chime sounds 4-8 seconds.
The driver’s safety belt is
buckled while the indicator
light is illuminated and the
warning chime is sounding...The safety belt warning light and
warning chime turn off.
The driver’s safety belt is
buckled before the ignition
switch is turned to the on
position...The safety belt warning light and
indicator chime remain off.
SAFETY BELT-MINDER®
This feature supplements the safety belt warning function by providing
additional reminders by intermittently sounding a chime and illuminating
the safety belt warning light when the driver’s or front passenger’s seat is
occupied and the safety belt is unbuckled.
The system uses information from the front passenger sensing system to
determine if a front seat passenger is present and therefore potentially in
need of a warning. To avoid activating the Belt-Minder feature for objects
placed in the front passenger seat, warnings will only be given to front
seat occupants as determined by the front passenger sensing system.
If the Belt-Minder warnings have expired (warnings for about five
minutes) for one occupant (driver or front passenger), the other
occupant can still activate the Belt-Minder feature.
Safety Belts43
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USA(fus)

If... Then...
The driver’s and front
passenger’s safety belts are
buckled before the ignition
switch is turned to the on
position or less than
1-2 minutes have elapsed since
the ignition switch has been
turned to on...The Belt-Minder feature will not
activate.
The driver’s or front
passenger’s safety belt is not
buckled when the vehicle has
reached at least 6 mph
(9.7 km/h) and 1-2 minutes
have elapsed since the ignition
switch has been turned to on...The Belt-Minder feature is activated -
the safety belt warning light
illuminates and the warning chime
sounds for six seconds every
25 seconds, repeating for about five
minutes or until the safety belts are
buckled.
The driver’s or front
passenger’s safety belt becomes
unbuckled for about one
minute while the vehicle is
traveling at least 6 mph
(9.7 km/h) and more than
1-2 minutes have elapsed since
the ignition switch has been
turned to on...The Belt-Minder feature is activated -
the safety belt warning light
illuminates and the warning chime
sounds for six seconds every
25 seconds, repeating for about five
minutes or until the safety belts are
buckled.
Deactivating and Activating the Belt-Minder® Feature
WARNING:While the design allows you to deactivate your
Belt-Minder, this system is designed to improve your chances of
being safely belted and surviving an accident. We recommend you leave
the Belt-Minder system activated for yourself and others who may use
the vehicle. To reduce the risk of injury, do not deactivate or activate
the Belt-Minder feature while driving the vehicle.
44Safety Belts
2014 Flex(471)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing, April 2013
USA(fus)

Note:The driver and front passenger Belt-Minder are deactivated and
activated independently. When deactivating or activating one seating
position, do not buckle the other position as this will terminate the
process.
Read Steps1-5thoroughly before proceeding with the programming
procedure.
Note:If you are using MyKey®, the Belt-Minder cannot be disabled.
Also, if the Belt-Minder has been previously disabled, it will be
re-enabled during the use of MyKey®. See theMyKey®chapter.
The driver and front passenger Belt-Minder features can be deactivated
or activated by performing the following procedure:
Before following the procedure, make sure that:
•the parking brake is set
•the transmission selector lever is in positionP
•the ignition is off
•the driver and front passenger safety belts are unbuckled
1. Turn the ignition on. Do not start the engine.
2. Wait until the safety belt warning light turns off (about one minute).
3. Wait 10 seconds after the safety belt warning light turns off.
•Step 4 must be completed within 20 seconds after the completion of
Step 3.
4. For the seating position being disabled buckle then unbuckle the
safety belt three times at a moderate speed, ending in the unbuckled
state.
•After Step 4, the safety belt warning light will be turned on for three
seconds.
5. Within about seven seconds of the light turning off, buckle then
unbuckle the safety belt.
•This will disable the Belt-Minder feature for that seating position if it
is currently enabled.
•This will enable the Belt-Minder feature for that seating position if it is
currently disabled.
Safety Belts45
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USA(fus)

WARNING:Sitting improperly out of position or with the seat
back reclined too far can take off weight from the seat cushion
and affect the decision of the front passenger sensing system, resulting
in serious injury or death in a crash.
Always sit upright against your seat back, with your feet on the floor.
WARNING:To reduce the risk of possible serious injury:
Do not stow objects in seat back map pocket or hang objects off
seat back if a child is in the front passenger seat.
Do not place objects underneath the front passenger seat or between
the seat and the center console.
Check the passenger airbag off or pass airbag off indicator lamp for
proper airbag status.
Failure to follow these instructions may interfere with the passenger
seat sensing system.
WARNING:Any alteration or modification to the front passenger
seat may affect the performance of the front passenger sensing
system which could seriously increase the risk of injury or death.
This system works with sensors that are part of the front passenger’s
seat and safety belt to detect the presence of a properly-seated occupant
and determine if the front passenger’s frontal airbag should be enabled
(may inflate) or not.
The front passenger sensing system
uses a passenger airbag status
indicator which will illuminate
indicating that the front passenger
frontal airbag is either ON (enabled)
or OFF (disabled). The indicator
lamp is located in the center stack of
the instrument panel.
Note:When the ignition is first turned on, the passenger airbag status
indicator OFF and ON lamps will illuminate for a short period of time to
confirm it is functional.
The front passenger sensing system is designed to disable (will not
inflate) the front passenger’s frontal airbag when the front passenger
seat is unoccupied, or a rear facing infant seat, a forward-facing child
restraint, or a booster seat is detected. Even with this technology,
54Supplementary Restraints System
2014 Flex(471)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing, April 2013
USA(fus)

CRASH SENSORS AND AIRBAG INDICATOR
WARNING:Modifying or adding equipment to the front end of
your vehicle (including frame, bumper, front end body structure
and tow hooks) may affect the performance of the airbag system,
increasing the risk of injury. Do not modify the front end of your
vehicle.
Your vehicle has a collection of crash and occupant sensors which
provide information to the restraints control module which deploys
(activates) the front safety belt pretensioners, rear inflatable safety belts,
driver airbag, passenger airbag, passenger knee airbag, seat mounted side
airbags, and the Safety Canopy. Based on the type of accident (frontal
impact, side impact or rollover) the restraints control module will deploy
the appropriate safety devices.
The restraints control module also monitors the readiness of the above
safety devices plus the crash and occupant sensors. The readiness of the
safety system is indicated by a warning indicator light in the instrument
cluster or by a backup tone if the warning light is not working. See the
Instrument Clusterchapter. Routine maintenance of the airbag is not
required.
A difficulty with the system is indicated by one or more of the following:
•The readiness light will either flash or stay lit.
•The readiness light will not illuminate immediately after the
ignition is turned on.
•A series of five beeps will be heard. The tone pattern will repeat
periodically until the problem or light is repaired.
If any of these things happen, even intermittently, have the supplemental
restraint system serviced at an authorized dealer immediately. Unless
serviced, the system may not function properly in the event of a crash.
The safety belt pretensioners, rear inflatable safety belts and the airbag
supplemental restraint system are designed to activate when the vehicle
sustains frontal or sideways deceleration sufficient to cause the restraints
control module to deploy a safety device or when a certain likelihood of
a rollover event is detected by the rollover sensor.
Supplementary Restraints System61
2014 Flex(471)
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USA(fus)

Intelligent Access Transmitter
1. Remove the backup key from the transmitter.
2. Twist a thin coin under the tab
hidden behind the backup key head
to remove the battery cover. Do not
use the backup key to remove the
cover or you could damage the
intelligent access key.
3. Remove the old battery.
4. Insert a new battery with the+facing downward. Press the battery
down to make sure it is fully in the housing.
5. Snap the battery cover back onto the transmitter and install the
backup key.
Memory feature (if equipped)
This feature allows you to recall the driver seat, power mirrors and
adjustable pedals (if equipped) memory positions.
Press the unlock button on the remote control or activate intelligent
access (if equipped) to recall memory. The seat and power mirrors
automatically move to the memory position. The mirrors will move to the
programmed position and the seat will move to the easy entry position.
The seat will move to the final position when the ignition is switched out
of off (if easy entry feature is enabled).
66Keys and Remote Control
2014 Flex(471)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing, April 2013
USA(fus)