2014 FORD FLEX manual transmission

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)

Remote Start (If Equipped)
WARNING:To avoid exhaust fumes, do not use remote start if
your vehicle is parked indoors or areas that are not well
ventilated.
Note:Do not use remote start if your vehicle is low on fuel.
The remote start button is on the transmitter.
This feature allows you to start your vehicle from outside your vehicle.
The transmitter has an extended operating range.
Vehicles with automatic climate control can be configured to operate
when the vehicle is remote started. See theClimate Controlchapter for
more information. A manual climate control system will run at the setting
it was set to when your vehicle was last turned off.
Many states and provinces have restrictions for the use of remote start.
Check your local and state or provincial laws for specific requirements
regarding remote start systems.
The remote start system will not work if:
•the ignition is on
•the alarm system is triggered
•you disable the feature
•the hood is not closed
•the transmission is not inP
•the vehicle battery voltage is too low
•your service engine soon light is on.
68Keys and Remote Control
2014 Flex(471)
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WARNING:Keep keys out of the reach of children. Do not allow
children to operate the power liftgate, or to play near to an open
or moving power liftgate.
Note:Cycling the ignition while the liftgate is power closing and is near
the latch may cause the liftgate to reverse to full open position. Make
sure that the liftgate is closed before operating or moving the vehicle,
especially in an enclosure, like a garage or a parking structure. The
liftgate or its components could be damaged.
Note:Do not drive with the liftgate open without first disabling the
power function and securing the liftgate to the vehicle.
Note:In case of operation in extreme cold -40°F (-40°C), or on extreme
inclines, manual operation of the liftgate is suggested.
You can enable or disable the power liftgate using the information
display. The remote control and instrument panel button will still operate
the liftgate regardless of the setting.
Opening and Closing the Power Liftgate
Note:The liftgate movement direction can be reversed with a second
press of the instrument panel, or the control button on the liftgate, or a
second double press of the transmitter button.
The liftgate will only operate with the vehicle inP.
A chime will sound three times as the liftgate begins to power close.
A single chime indicates a problem with the close request, caused by:
•the ignition is on and the transmission is not inP;
•or the battery voltage is below the minimum operating voltage;
•or the vehicle speed is at or above 3 mph (5 km/h).
If the liftgate reverses and starts to close after an open request, a fast
continuous chime indicates excessive load on the gate or a possible strut
failure. See your authorized dealer if you still have a fast chime after the
load is removed.
To open or close from the instrument panel:Press the
instrument panel button.
To open or close with the remote control:Press the remote
control button twice within three seconds.
80Locks
2014 Flex(471)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing, April 2013
USA(fus)

GENERAL OPERATING TIPS
Manual Heating and Air Conditioning System
•To reduce fog build-up on the windshield during humid weather, select
Defrost. Temperature and fan speed can also be increased to improve
clearing.
•To reduce humidity build-up inside the vehicle, do not drive with the
system off or with recirculated air engaged.
•Do not put objects under the front seats that will interfere with the
airflow to the back seats.
•Remove any snow, ice or leaves from the air intake area at the base of
the windshield.
•To improve the A/C cool down, drive with the windows slightly open
for 2-3 minutes after start-up or until the vehicle has been aired out.
•A small amount of air may be felt from the floor vent regardless of the
air distribution setting that is selected.
During extreme high ambient temperatures when idling stationary for
extended periods of time in gear, it is recommended to run the A/C in
the MAX A/C mode, adjust the blower fan speed to the lowest setting
and put the vehicle’s transmission into positionP(vehicles equipped
with an automatic transmission) to continue to receive cool air from your
A/C system.
For maximum cooling performance in A/C mode, pressMAX A/C.
For maximum cooling performance in panel or panel/floor modes:
1. Move temperature control to the coolest setting.
2. Select A/C and recirculated air to provide colder airflow.
3. Set the fan to the highest speed initially, then adjust to maintain
comfort.
To aid in side window defogging and demisting in cold or humid weather:
1. Select Floor/Panel.
2. Select A/C.
3. Adjust the temperature control to maintain comfort.
4. Set the fan speed to the highest setting.
5. Direct the outer instrument panel vents toward the side windows.
6. To increase airflow to the outer instrument panel vents, close the
vents located in the middle of the instrument panel.
Climate Control141
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USA(fus)

Dual Zone Automatic Temperature Control
•To reduce fog build-up on the windshield during humid weather, select
Defrost. Temperature and fan speed can also be increased to improve
clearing.
•To reduce humidity build-up inside the vehicle, do not drive with the
system off or with recirculated air engaged.
•Do not put objects under the front seats that will interfere with the
airflow to the back seats.
•Remove any snow, ice or leaves from the air intake area at the base of
the windshield.
•To improve the A/C cool down, drive with the windows slightly open
for 2-3 minutes after start-up or until the vehicle has been aired out.
•A small amount of air may be felt from the floor vent regardless of the
air distribution setting that is selected.
During extreme high ambient temperatures when idling stationary for
extended periods of time in gear, it is recommended to run the A/C in
the MAX A/C mode, adjust the blower fan speed to the lowest setting
and put the vehicle’s transmission into positionP(vehicles equipped
with an automatic transmission) to continue to receive cool air from your
A/C system.
For maximum cooling performance in AUTO mode, pressMAX A/C.
For maximum cooling performance in manual override control:
1. Choose Panel, A/C, and recirc controls.
2. Set the temperature to LO.
3. Set the fan to the highest blower setting.
To aid in side window defogging and demisting in cold or humid weather:
1. Select Floor/Panel.
2. Select A/C.
3. Adjust the temperature control to maintain comfort.
4. Set the fan speed to the highest setting.
5. Direct the outer instrument panel vents toward the side windows.
6. To increase airflow to the outer instrument panel vents, close the
vents located in the middle of the instrument panel.
142Climate Control
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S (Sport)
Moving the gearshift lever to S (Sport):
•Provides additional grade (engine) braking and extends lower gear
operation to enhance performance for uphill climbs, hilly terrain or
mountainous areas. This will increase engine RPM during engine
braking.
•Provides additional lower gear operation through the automatic
transmission shift strategy which reacts to vehicle inputs (vehicle
acceleration, accelerator pedal, brake pedal and vehicle speed).
•Gears are selected more quickly and at higher engine speeds.
SelectShift Automatic® Transmission (If Equipped)
Your SelectShift automatic transmission gives you the ability to manually
change gears if you’d like. To use SelectShift, move the gearshift lever
into S (Sport). Now you can use select shift to manually change gears.
If your vehicle is equipped with (+)/(–) buttons on the side of your
gearshift lever:
•Press (–) on the gearshift lever
button to manually downshift the
transmission.
•Press (+) on the gearshift lever
button to manually upshift the
transmission.
Paddle Shifters (if equipped)
The paddle shifters allow you to shift gears quickly, without taking your
hands off the steering wheel. Temporary manual control is provided
when pulling the paddles with the gearshift in the D (Drive) position.
The system will determine when temporary manual control is no longer
desired and reverts back to automatic control. Extensive manual control
can be achieved by moving the shifter to the S (Sport) position. The
system will stay in manual control until the shifter is moved out of the
manual position.
196Transmission
2014 Flex(471)
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If your vehicle is equipped with paddles on the steering wheel:
•Pull the left paddle (–) to
downshift the transmission.
•Pull the right paddle (+) to upshift
the transmission.
Upshift to the recommended shift speeds according to the following
chart:
Upshifts when accelerating (recommended for best fuel
economy)
Shift from:
1 - 2 15 mph (24 km/h)
2 - 3 25 mph (40 km/h)
3 - 4 40 mph (64 km/h)
4 - 5 45 mph (72 km/h)
5 - 6 50 mph (80 km/h)
The instrument cluster will show the selected gear you are currently in.
In order to prevent the engine from running at too low an RPM, which
may cause it to stall, SelectShift will automatically make some downshifts
if it has determined that you have not downshifted in time. It will still
allow you to downshift at any time as long as SelectShift determines that
the engine will not be damaged from over-revving.
Note:Return the gear shift lever from S (Sport) to D (Drive) when
manual control is no longer desired.
Note:Engine damage may occur if excessive engine revving is held
without shifting.
Automatic Transmission Adaptive Learning
This feature is designed to increase durability and provide consistent
shift feel over the life of the vehicle. A new vehicle or transmission may
have firm shifts, soft shifts or both. This operation is considered normal
and will not affect function or durability of the transmission. Over time,
the adaptive learning process will fully update transmission operation.
Additionally, whenever the battery is disconnected or a new battery
installed, the strategy must be relearned.
Transmission197
2014 Flex(471)
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Deactivating the Park Assist Feature
The system can be deactivated manually by:
•pressing the active park assist button
•grabbing the steering wheel
•driving above approximately 20 mph (35 km/h) for 30 seconds during
an active park search
•driving above 6 mph (10 km/h) during automatic steering
•turning off the traction control system.
Certain vehicle conditions can also deactivate the system:
•Traction control has activated on a slippery or loose surface.
•Anti-lock brake system activation or failure.
•Any door (except the driver’s) opens.
•Something touches the steering wheel.
If a problem occurs with the system, a warning message is displayed,
followed by a chime. Occasional active park assist messages may occur in
normal operation. For recurring or frequent active park assist faults,
contact an authorized dealer to have your vehicle serviced.
Troubleshooting the System
The system does not look for a space
The traction control system may be off
Any door (except the driver’s) may not be completely closed
The system does not offer a particular space
Something may be contacting the front bumper or side sensors
There is not enough room on both sides of the vehicle in order to park
There is not enough space for the parking maneuver on the opposite
side of the parking space
The vehicle is farther than 5 ft (1.5 m) from the parking space
The vehicle is closer than 16 in. (40 cm) from neighboring parked
vehicles
The transmission is in R (Reverse); the vehicle must be moving
forward to detect a parking space
Parking Aids217
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