2014 FORD FOCUS Owners Manual

TOWING A TRAILER
WARNING:Never tow a trailer with this vehicle. Your vehicle is
not equipped to tow. No towing packages are available through
an authorized dealer.
TRANSPORTING THE VEHICLE
If you need to have your vehicle towed, contact a professional towing
service or, if you are a member of a roadside assistance program, your
roadside assistance service provider.
We recommend the use of a wheel lift and dollies or flatbed equipment
to tow your vehicle. Do not tow with a slingbelt. Ford Motor Company
has not approved a slingbelt towing procedure. Vehicle damage may
occur if towed incorrectly, or by any other means.
Ford Motor Company produces a towing manual for all authorized tow
truck operators. Have your tow truck operator refer to this manual for
proper hook-up and towing procedures for your vehicle.
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The front wheels (drive wheels) must be on a tow dolly when towing
your vehicle from the rear using wheel lift equipment. This prevents
damage to the transmission.
We recommend placing the rear wheels on a tow dolly when towing your
vehicle from the front using wheel lift equipment. This prevents damage
to the rear fascia.
TOWING THE VEHICLE ON FOUR WHEELS
Emergency Towing
If your vehicle becomes inoperable (without access to wheel dollies,
car-hauling trailer, or flatbed transport vehicle), it can be flat-towed
(all wheels on the ground, regardless of the powertrain and transmission
configuration) under the following conditions:
•Your vehicle is facing forward for towing in a forward direction.
•Place the transmission in positionN.SeeAutomatic transmissionin
theTransmissionchapter if you cannot move the transmission
intoN.
•Maximum speed is 35 mph (56 km/h).
•Maximum distance is 50 miles (80 kilometers).
Recreational Towing
Note:Put your climate control system in recirculated air mode to
prevent exhaust fumes from entering your vehicle. Refer to theClimate
Controlschapter for more information.
Note:You must tow your vehicle in the forward direction to avoid
damage to the internal transmission components. In addition, we
recommend you follow the instructions provided by the aftermarket
manufacturer of the towing equipment, if provided.
Follow these guidelines if you have a need for recreational towing, such
as towing your vehicle behind a motorhome. We designed these
guidelines to prevent damage to your transmission.
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Before you tow your vehicle, follow these directions for your specific
vehicle configurationafterit is hooked-up to the recreational vehicle or
tow dolly:
Vehicles with a Manual Transmission
1. Release the parking brake.
2. Move the gearshift to the neutral position.
•The maximum towing speed is 70 mph (113 km/h).
•There is no limitation on towing distance.
Vehicles with an Automatic Transmission but No Push Button Start
System
Note:Theremustbe battery power to properly move the transmission’s
internal components to positionNin Step 3. In addition, moving the
gearshift to positionNwithout first turning the ignition to the on (II)
position limits the towing capability to 35 mph (56 km/h) and 50 miles
(80 kilometers).
1. Release the parking brake.
2. Turn the ignition to the on (II) position.
3. Press the brake pedal, then move the gearshift to positionN.
4. Wait for TRANSMISSION READY to appear in the multi-function
display, then turn the ignition to the off (0) position and release
the brake pedal.
5. Disconnect the negative (black) cable from the battery.
(The anti-theft system does not function until the battery cable is
reconnected.) SeeChanging the vehicle batteryin the
Maintenancechapter when disconnecting and reconnecting the
battery cable.
•The maximum towing speed is 70 mph (113 km/h).
•There is no limitation on towing distance.
When done towing, start the engine within 15 minutes of reconnecting
the battery cable. When reconnecting that cable, tighten it until it is
snug against the terminal. Be careful not to over-tighten.
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Vehicles with an Automatic Transmission and Push Button Start
System
Note:Theremustbe battery power to properly move the transmission’s
internal components to positionNin Step 3. In addition, moving the
gearshift to positionNwithout first turning the ignition to the on (II)
position limits the towing capability to 35 mph (56 km/h) and 50 miles
(80 kilometers).
1. Release the parking brake.
2. Activate the ignition by pressing the START button, butnotapplying
the brake pedal.
3. Press the brake pedal, and then move the gearshift to positionN.
Release the brake pedal.
4. Wait for TRANSMISSION READY to appear in the multi-function
display, and then switch the ignition off by pressing the START
button.
5. Disconnect the negative (black) cable from the battery. (You need
the door key [inside the Intelligent Access Key] to lock and unlock
doors when the battery cable is disconnected. In addition, the
anti-theft system does not function until the battery cable is
reconnected.) SeeChanging the vehicle batteryin the
Maintenancechapter when disconnecting and reconnecting the
battery cable.
•The maximum towing speed is 70 mph (113 km/h).
•There is no limitation on towing distance.
When done towing, start the engine within 15 minutes of reconnecting
the battery cable. When reconnecting that cable, tighten it until it is
snug against the terminal. Be careful not to over-tighten.
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BREAKING-IN
You need to break in new tires for approximately 300 miles
(480 kilometers). During this time, your vehicle may exhibit some unique
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 without stopping.
•Anticipate stops; slowing down may eliminate the need to stop.
•Combine errands and minimize stop-and-go driving.
•Close the windows for high-speed driving.
•Drive at reasonable speeds (traveling at 55 mph [88 km/h] uses 15%
less fuel than traveling at 65 mph [105 km/h]).
•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 not want to do because they may
reduce your fuel economy:
•Sudden or hard accelerations.
•Rev the engine before turning it off.
•Idle for periods longer than one minute.
•Warm up your vehicle on cold mornings.
•Use the air conditioner or front defroster.
•Use the speed control in hilly terrain.
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•Rest your foot on the brake pedal while driving.
•Drive a heavily loaded vehicle or tow a trailer.
•Carry unnecessary weight (approximately 1 mpg [0.4 km/L] is lost for
every 400 pounds [180 kilograms] of weight carried).
•Add particular accessories to your vehicle (e.g.; bug deflectors,
rollbars or light bars, running boards, ski racks).
•Drive with the wheels out of alignment.
DRIVING THROUGH WATER
If driving through deep or standing
water is unavoidable, proceed very
slowly. Never drive through water
that is higher than the bottom of
the wheel rims (for cars) or the
bottom of the hubs (for trucks).
When driving through water, traction or brake capability may be limited.
Also, water may enter your engine’s air intake and severely damage your
engine or your vehicle may stall.
Note:Driving through deep water where the transmission vent tube is
submerged may allow water into the transmission and cause internal
transmission damage.
Note:Once through the water, always dry the brakes by moving your
vehicle slowly while applying light pressure on the brake pedal. Wet
brakes do not stop the vehicle as quickly as dry brakes.
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FLOOR MATS
WARNING:Always use floor mats that are designed to fit the
footwell of your vehicle. Only use floor mats that leave the pedal
area unobstructed. Only use floor mats that are firmly secured to
retention posts so that they cannot slip out of position and interfere
with the pedals or impair safe operation of your vehicle in other ways.
•Pedals that cannot move freely can cause loss of vehicle control and
increase the risk of serious personal injury.
•Always make sure that the floor mats are properly attached to the
retention posts in the carpet that are supplied with your vehicle.
Floor mats must be properly secured to both retention posts to
ensure mats do not shift out of position.
•Never place floor mats or any other covering in the vehicle footwell
that cannot be properly secured to prevent them from moving and
interfering with the pedals or the ability to control the vehicle.
•Never place floor mats or any other covering on top of already
installed floor mats. Floor mats should always rest on top of the
vehicle carpeting surface and not another floor mat or other
covering. Additional floor mats or any other covering will reduce the
pedal clearance and potentially interfere with pedal operation.
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WARNING(Continued)
•Check attachment of floor mats on a regular basis. Always properly
reinstall and secure floor mats that have been removed for cleaning
or replacement.
•Always make sure that objects cannot fall into the driver footwell
while the vehicle is moving. Objects that are loose can become
trapped under the pedals causing a loss of vehicle control.
•Failure to properly follow floor mat installation or attachment
instructions can potentially cause interference with pedal operation
causing loss of control of vehicle.
•To install floor mats, position the floor mat so that the eyelet is over
the retention post and press down to lock in.
•To remove the floor mat, reverse the installation procedure.
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