2014 FORD FUSION (AMERICAS) Owners Manual

USING ALL-WHEEL DRIVE
All-wheel drive uses all four wheels topower the vehicle. This increases traction,enabling you to drive over terrain and roadconditions that a conventional two-wheeldrive vehicle cannot. The AWD system isactive all the time and requires no inputfrom the operator.
Note:Your AWD vehicle is not intended foroff-road use. The AWD feature gives yourvehicle some limited off-road capabilitiesin which driving surfaces are relatively level,obstruction-free and otherwise similar tonormal on-road driving conditions.Operating your vehicle under other thanthose conditions could subject the vehicleto excessive stress which might result indamage which is not covered under yourwarranty.
Note:A warning message will be displayedin the information display when an AWDsystem fault is present See InformationMessages (page 95). An AWD system faultwill cause the AWD system to default tofront-wheel drive only mode. When thiswarning message is displayed, have yourvehicle serviced at an authorized dealer
Note:A warning message will be displayedin the information display if the AWD systemhas overheated See InformationMessages (page 95). This condition mayoccur if the vehicle was operated in extremeconditions with excessive wheel slip, suchas deep sand. To resume normal AWDfunction as soon as possible, stop thevehicle in a safe location and stop theengine for at least 10 minutes. After theengine has been restarted and the AWDsystem has adequately cooled, the warningmessage will turn off and normal AWDfunction will return.
Do not use a spare tire of a different sizeother than the tire provided. If themini-spare tire is installed, the AWDsystem may disable automatically andenter front-wheel drive only mode toprotect driveline components. Thiscondition will be indicated by a warning inthe information display See InformationMessages (page 95). If there is a warningmessage in the information display fromusing the spare tire, this indicator shouldturn off after reinstalling the repaired orreplaced normal road tire and cycling theignition off and on. It is recommended toreinstall the repaired or replaced road tireas soon as possible. Major dissimilar tiresizes between the front and rear axlescould cause the AWD system to stopfunctioning and default to front-wheeldrive or damage the AWD system.
Driving In Special Conditions WithAll-Wheel Drive (AWD)
AWD vehicles are equipped for driving onsand, snow, mud and rough roads and haveoperating characteristics that aresomewhat different from conventionalvehicles, both on and off the highway.
Under severe operating conditions, the A/Cmay cycle on and off to protectoverheating of the engine.
Basic operating principles in specialconditions
•Drive slower in strong crosswinds whichcan affect the normal steeringcharacteristics of your vehicle.
•Be extremely careful when driving onpavement made slippery by loose sand,water, gravel, snow or ice.
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If Your Vehicle Goes Off the Edge of thePavement
•If your vehicle goes off the edge of thepavement, slow down, but avoid severebrake application, ease the vehicleback onto the pavement only afterreducing your speed. Do not turn thesteering wheel too sharply whilereturning to the road surface.
•It may be safer to stay on the apron orshoulder of the road and slow downgradually before returning to thepavement. You may lose control if youdo not slow down or if you turn thesteering wheel too sharply or abruptly.
•It often may be less risky to strike smallobjects, such as highway reflectors,with minor damage to your vehiclerather than attempt a sudden return tothe pavement which could cause thevehicle to slide sideways out of controlor rollover. Remember, your safety andthe safety of others should be yourprimary concern.
If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck
WARNINGS
Always set the parking brake fullyand make sure the transmission is inP (Park). Turn the ignition to the lockposition or turn the vehicle off using thestart/stop button and remove the keywhenever you leave your vehicle.
If the parking brake is fully released,but the brake warning lamp remainsilluminated, the brakes may not beworking properly. See your authorizeddealer.
Do not spin the wheels at over 35mph (56 km/h). The tires may failand injure a passenger or bystander.
Note:Do not rock the vehicle if the engineis not at normal operating temperature ordamage to the transmission may occur.
Note:Do not rock the vehicle for more thana few minutes or damage to thetransmission and tires may occur or theengine may overheat.
If your vehicle gets stuck in mud or snow itmay be rocked out by shifting betweenforward and reverse gears, stoppingbetween shifts, in a steady pattern. Presslightly on the accelerator in each gear.
If your vehicle is equipped withAdvanceTrac® with Roll StabilityControl™, it may be beneficial todisengage the AdvanceTrac® with RollStability Control™ system whileattempting to rock the vehicle.
Emergency Maneuvers
•In an unavoidable emergency situationwhere a sudden sharp turn must bemade, remember to avoid"over-driving" your vehicle (i.e., turn thesteering wheel only as rapidly and asfar as required to avoid theemergency). Excessive steering willresult in less vehicle control, not more.Additionally, smooth variations of theaccelerator and/or brake pedalpressure should be utilized if changesin vehicle speed are called for. Avoidabrupt steering, acceleration or brakingwhich could result in an increased riskof loss of vehicle control, vehiclerollover and/or personal injury. Use allavailable road surface to return thevehicle to a safe direction of travel.
•In the event of an emergency stop,avoid skidding the tires and do notattempt any sharp steering wheelmovements.
•If the vehicle goes from one type ofsurface to another (i.e., from concreteto gravel) there will be a change in theway the vehicle responds to amaneuver (steering, acceleration orbraking). Again, avoid these abruptinputs.
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Sand
When driving over sand, try to keep all fourwheels on the most solid area of the trail.Avoid reducing the tire pressures but shiftto a lower gear and drive steadily throughthe terrain. Apply the accelerator slowlyand avoid spinning the wheels.
Do not drive your AWD vehicle in deepsand. This will cause the AWD system tooverheat. After the system has cooleddown, normal AWD function will return.
Under severe operating conditions, the A/Cmay cycle on and off to protectoverheating of the engine.
Avoid excessive speed because vehiclemomentum can work against you andcause the vehicle to become stuck to thepoint that assistance may be required fromanother vehicle. Remember, you may beable to back out the way you came if youproceed with caution.
Mud and Water
If you must drive through high water, driveslowly. Traction or brake capability maybe limited.
When driving through water, determine thedepth; avoid water higher than the bottomof the wheel rims (for cars) or the bottomof the hubs (for trucks) (if possible) andproceed slowly. If the ignition system getswet, the vehicle may stall.
Once through water, always try the brakes.Wet brakes do not stop the vehicle aseffectively as dry brakes. Drying can beimproved by moving your vehicle slowlywhile applying light pressure on the brakepedal.
Be cautious of sudden changes in vehiclespeed or direction when you are driving inmud. Even AWD vehicles can lose tractionin slick mud. As when you are driving oversand, apply the accelerator slowly andavoid spinning your wheels. If the vehicledoes slide, steer in the direction of the slideuntil you regain control of the vehicle.
After driving through mud, clean off residuestuck to rotating driveshafts and tires.Excess mud stuck on tires and rotatingdriveshafts causes an imbalance thatcould damage drive components.
Note:Driving through deep water maydamage the transmission.
If the front or rear axle is submerged inwater, the axle lubricant and AWD PTU(Power Transfer Unit) lubricant should bechecked and changed if necessary.
“Tread Lightly” is an educational programdesigned to increase public awareness ofland-use regulations and responsibilitiesin our nations wilderness areas. Ford MotorCompany joins the U.S. Forest Service andthe Bureau of Land Management inencouraging you to help preserve ournational forest and other public and privatelands by “treading lightly.”
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Driving on Hilly or Sloping Terrain
Note:Avoid driving crosswise or turning onsteep slopes or hills. A danger lies in losingtraction, slipping sideways and possiblyrolling over. Whenever driving on a hill,determine beforehand the route you willuse. Do not drive over the crest of a hillwithout seeing what conditions are on theother side. Do not drive in reverse over a hillwithout the aid of an observer.
Although natural obstacles may make itnecessary to travel diagonally up or downa hill or steep incline, you should alwaystry to drive straight up or straight down.
When climbing a steep slope or hill, startin a lower gear rather than downshifting toa lower gear from a higher gear once theascent has started. This reduces strain onthe engine and the possibility of stalling.
If you do stall out, do not try to turnaroundbecause you might roll over. It is better toback down to a safe location.
Apply just enough power to the wheels toclimb the hill. Too much power will causethe tires to slip, spin or lose traction,resulting in loss of vehicle control.
Descend a hill in the same gear you woulduse to climb up the hill to avoid excessivebrake application and brake overheating.Do not descend in neutral; instead,disengage overdrive or manually shift to alower gear. When descending a steep hill,avoid sudden hard braking as you couldlose control. The front wheels have to beturning in order to steer the vehicle.
Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, thereforeapply the brakes steadily. Do not “pump”the brakes.
Driving on Snow and Ice
WARNING
If you are driving in slipperyconditions that require tire chains orcables, then it is critical that you drivecautiously. Keep speeds down, allow forlonger stopping distances and avoidaggressive steering to reduce the chancesof a loss of vehicle control which can leadto serious injury or death. If the rear end ofthe vehicle slides while cornering, steer inthe direction of the slide until you regaincontrol of the vehicle.
Note:Excessive tire slippage can causedriveline damage.
AWD vehicles have advantages over 2WDvehicles in snow and ice but can skid likeany other vehicle.
Should you start to slide while driving onsnowy or icy roads, turn the steering wheelin the direction of the slide until you regaincontrol.
Avoid sudden applications of power andquick changes of direction on snow andice. Apply the accelerator slowly andsteadily when starting from a full stop.
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Avoid sudden braking as well. Although anAWD vehicle may accelerate better thana two-wheel drive vehicle in snow and ice,it won’t stop any faster, because as in othervehicles, braking occurs at all four wheels.Do not become overconfident as to roadconditions.
Make sure you allow sufficient distancebetween you and other vehicles forstopping. Drive slower than usual andconsider using one of the lower gears. Inemergency stopping situations, apply thebrake steadily. Since your vehicle isequipped with a four wheel (ABS), do not“pump” the brakes. See Hints on DrivingWith Anti-Lock Brakes (page 163). formore information on the operation of theanti-lock brake system (ABS).
Maintenance and Modifications
The suspension and steering systems onyour vehicle have been designed andtested to provide predictable performancewhether loaded or empty and durable loadcarrying capability. For this reason, FordMotor Company strongly recommends thatyou do not make modifications such asadding or removing parts (such as loweringkits or stabilizer bars) or by usingreplacement parts not equivalent to theoriginal factory equipment.
Any modifications to a vehicle that raisethe center of gravity can make it more likelythe vehicle will rollover as a result of a lossof control. Ford Motor Companyrecommends that caution be used withany vehicle equipped with a high load ordevice (such as ladder or luggage racks).
Failure to maintain your vehicle properlymay void the warranty, increase your repaircost, reduce vehicle performance andoperational capabilities and adverselyaffect driver and passenger safety.Frequent inspection of vehicle chassiscomponents is recommended if the vehicleis subjected to off-highway usage.
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GENERAL INFORMATION
Note:Occasional brake noise is normal. Ifa metal-to-metal, continuous grinding orcontinuous squeal sound is present, thebrake linings may be worn-out. Have thesystem checked by an authorized dealer. Ifyour vehicle has continuous vibration orshudder in the steering wheel while braking,have it checked by an authorized dealer.
Note:Brake dust may accumulate on thewheels, even under normal drivingconditions. Some dust is inevitable as thebrakes wear and does not contribute tobrake noise. See Cleaning the AlloyWheels (page 260).
See Warning Lamps andIndicators (page 82).
Wet brakes result in reduced brakingefficiency. Gently press the brake pedal afew times when driving from a car wash orstanding water to dry the brakes.
Brake Over Accelerator
In the event the accelerator pedalbecomes stuck or entrapped, apply steadyand firm pressure to the brake pedal toslow the vehicle and reduce engine power.If you experience this condition, apply thebrakes and bring your vehicle to a safestop. Move the transmission selector leverto position P, switch the engine off andapply the parking brake. Inspect theaccelerator pedal for any interference. Ifnone are found and the condition persists,have your vehicle towed to the nearestauthorized dealer.
Brake Assist
Brake assist detects when you brakerapidly by measuring the rate at which youpress the brake pedal. It providesmaximum braking efficiency as long as youpress the pedal, and can reduce stoppingdistances in critical situations.
Anti-lock Brake System
This system helps you maintain steeringcontrol during emergency stops by keepingthe brakes from locking.
This lamp momentarilyilluminates when you turn theignition on. If the light does notilluminate during start up, remains on orflashes, the system may be disabled. Havethe system checked by an authorizeddealer.
If the system is disabled, normalbraking is still effective. If thebrake warning lamp illuminateswhen you release the parking brake, havethe system checked by an authorizeddealer.
HINTS ON DRIVING WITH
ANTI-LOCK BRAKES
Note:When the system is operating, thebrake pedal will pulse and may travelfurther. Maintain pressure on the brakepedal. You may also hear a noise from thesystem. This is normal.
The anti-lock braking system will noteliminate the risks when:
•you drive too closely to the vehicle infront of you
•your vehicle is hydroplaning
•you take corners too fast
•the road surface is poor.
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ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE
The electric parking brake replaces theconventional handbrake. The operatingswitch is located in the center console.
WARNING
Always set the parking brake andleave your vehicle with thetransmission in park (P) (automatictransmission) or in first gear (1) or reverse(R)(manual transmission).
Note:When you apply the electric parkingbrake in certain conditions, for example, ona steep hill, the electric parking brake mayreapply the brakes within three to tenminutes.
Note:You may notice various noises whenyou apply and release the electric parkingbrake. This is normal and no cause forconcern.
Parking on a hill (vehicles with amanual transmission)
If you park your vehicle facing uphill, movethe transmission to first gear (1) and turnthe steering wheel away from the curb. Ifyou park your vehicle facing downhill, movethe transmission to reverse (R) and turnthe steering wheel toward the curb.
Applying the electric parking brake
WARNING
If the brake system warning lampdoes not illuminate or flashes, therecould be a problem with your electricparking brake. Have the system checkedby an authorized dealer as soon aspossible.
Note:The brake system warning lamp willilluminate for ten seconds, if the ignition isturned off after the electric parking brakehas been applied, or the electric parkingbrake has been applied after the ignition hasbeen turned off.
Note:The electric parking brake will notautomatically apply. You must apply theelectric parking brake using the electricparking brake switch.
Pull the switch up to apply the electricparking brake.
The brake system warning lamp willilluminate to confirm that the electricparking brake has been applied. SeeInformation Displays (page 87).
Applying the electric parking brakewhen the vehicle is moving
WARNINGS
Applying the electric parking brakewhile moving will result in use of theanti-lock braking system. Do not usethe electric parking brake system when thevehicle is moving unless the normal brakesystem is unable to stop the vehicle.
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WARNINGS
With the exception of emergencyconditions (for example, the brakepedal does not work or is blocked),do not apply the electric parking brakewhile the vehicle is moving. On bends, orpoor road surfaces or weather conditions,emergency braking can cause the vehicleto skid out of control or off the road.
If you apply the electric parking brake whenyour vehicle is moving, the brake systemwarning lamp will illuminate and a warningchime will sound. See InformationDisplays (page 87).
If your vehicle speed is above 4 mph (6km/h), the braking force is applied as longas the switch is pulled. Releasing orpressing the switch or pressing theaccelerator pedal will stop the brakingforce.
Releasing the electric parkingbrake
You can release the electric parking brakeeither manually by pressing the switch orautomatically.
Manual release
WARNING
If the brake system warning lightremains illuminated or flashes afteryou have released the parking brake,there could be a problem with you brakingsystem. Have the system checked by anauthorized dealer as soon as possible.
You can manually release the electricparking brake by:
1.Turning the ignition on.
2.Pressing the brake pedal.
3.Pressing the electric parking brakeswitch.
When the electric parking brake is released,the brake system warning lamp will turnoff.
Driving with a Trailer
Depending on the grade and the weight ofthe trailer, your vehicle and trailer may rollbackwards slightly when you start on aslope. To prevent this from happening, dothe following:
1.Pull the switch up and hold it in thisposition.
2.Drive your vehicle, then release theswitch when you notice that the enginehas developed sufficient driving force.
Automatic release - drive away release
Your vehicle will automatically release theparking brake if:
•The driver door is closed.
•The driver safety belt is fastened.
•The vehicle is accelerated.
•There are no faults detected in theparking brake system.
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