2014 FORD FUSION (AMERICAS) engine overheat

Vehicle Settings and Personalization
See General Information (page 87).
Engine Coolant TemperatureGauge
Shows the temperature of the enginecoolant. At normal operating temperature,the needle will remain in the center section.If the needle enters the red section, theengine is overheating. Stop the engine,switch the ignition off and determine thecause once the engine has cooled down.
Note:Do not restart the engine until thecause of overheating has been resolved.
WARNING
Never remove the coolant reservoircap while the engine is running or hot.
Fuel Gauge
Note:The fuel gauge may vary slightlywhen your vehicle is moving or on a gradient.
Switch the ignition on. The fuel gauge willindicate approximately how much fuel isleft in the fuel tank. The arrow adjacent tothe fuel pump symbol indicates on whichside of your vehicle the fuel filler door islocated.
The needle should move toward F whenyou refuel your vehicle. If the needle pointsto E after adding fuel, this indicates yourvehicle needs service soon.
After refueling some variability in needleposition is normal:
•It may take a short time for the needleto reach F after leaving the gas station.This is normal and depends upon theslope of pavement at the gas station.
•The fuel amount dispensed into thetank is a little less or more than thegauge indicated. This is normal anddepends upon the slope of pavementat the gas station.
•If the gas station nozzle shuts offbefore the tank is full, try a differentgas pump nozzle.
Low Fuel Reminder
A low fuel reminder triggers when the fuelgauge needle is at 1/16th.
Variations:
Distance-to-emptyFuel gauge positionDriving type (fuel economyconditions)
35 miles to 80 miles (56 kmto 129 km)1/16thHighway driving
35 miles (56km)1/16thSevere duty driving (trailertowing, extended idle)
81Fusion (CC7) , enUSAInstrument Cluster

Park Aid
ActionMessage
Displays when the system has detected a condition thatrequires service. Contact your authorized dealer. See ParkingAid (page 170).
Check Front Park Aid
Displays when the system has detected a condition thatrequires service. Contact your authorized dealer. See ParkingAid (page 170).
Check Rear Park Aid
Displays the park aid status.Front Park Aid On Off
Displays the park aid status.Rear Park Aid On Off
Park Brake
ActionMessage
Displays when the parking brake is set, the engine is runningand the vehicle is driven more than 3 mph (5 km/h). If thewarning stays on after the parking brake is released, contactyour authorized dealer.
Park Brake Engaged
The electric parking brake system has detected a conditionthat requires service. See your authorized dealer.Park Brake MalfunctionService Now
Displays when the electric parking brake is not set.Park Brake Not AppliedApply Park Brake
Displays when the electric parking brake is running a diagnosticcheck.Park Brake MaintenanceMode
Displays when the electric parking brake is set but has not bereleased.Park Brake Use Switchto Release
Displays when the electric parking brake is set but has not bereleased and the vehicle is moving.Press Brake to ReleasePark Brake and Switch
The electric park brake system has detected a condition thatrequires service. See your authorized dealer.Park Brake LimitedFunction ServiceRequired
Displays when the electric parking brake was not releasedcausing it to overheat.Park Brake SystemOverheated
106Fusion (CC7) , enUSAInformation Displays

HEATED SEATS (IF EQUIPPED)
WARNING
People who are unable to feel painto their skin because of advancedage, chronic illness, diabetes, spinalcord injury, medication, alcohol use,exhaustion or other physical conditions,must exercise care when using the heatedseat. The heated seat may cause burnseven at low temperatures, especially ifused for long periods of time. Do not placeanything on the seat that insulates againstheat, such as a blanket or cushion. Thismay cause the heated seat to overheat.Do not puncture the seat with pins, needlesor other pointed objects. This may damagethe heating element which may cause theheated seat to overheat. An overheatedseat may cause serious personal injury.
Do not do the following:
•Place heavy objects on the seat.
•Operate the heated seat if water or anyother liquid is spilled on the seat. Allowthe seat to dry thoroughly.
•Operate the heated seats unless theengine is running. Doing so can causethe battery to lose charge.
Press the heated seat symbol to cyclethrough the various heat settings and off.Warmer settings are indicated by moreindicator lights.
VENTILATED SEATS (IF EQUIPPED)
The ventilated seats will only functionwhen the engine is running.
To operate the ventilated seats:
Press the ventilated seat symbol to cyclethrough the various cooling settings andoff. Cooler settings are indicated by moreindicator lights.
If the engine falls below 350 RPM whilethe ventilated seats are on, the feature willturn itself off and you will need toreactivate it.
Heated and ventilated seat airfilter replacement (if equipped)
Your vehicle is equipped with lifetime airfilters that are integrated with the seats.Regular maintenance or replacement isnot needed.
REAR SEAT ARMREST
127Fusion (CC7) , enUSASeatsE146941 E146309 E144635

3.Insert the screwdriver (or similar tool)into the access hole and press the leverforeword while pulling the gearshiftlever out of the P (Park) position andinto the N (Neutral) position.
4.Remove the tool and reinstall thepanel.
5.Start the vehicle and release theparking brake.
Automatic Transmission AdaptiveLearning
This feature is designed to increasedurability and provide consistent shift feelover the life of the vehicle. A new vehicleor transmission may have firm and/or softshifts. This operation is considered normaland will not affect function or durability ofthe transmission. Over time, the adaptivelearning process will fully updatetransmission operation. Additionally,whenever the battery is disconnected or anew battery installed, the strategy mustbe relearned.
If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck In Mudor Snow
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 minute or damage to the transmission andtires may occur, or the engine may overheat.
If your vehicle gets stuck in mud or snow,it may be rocked out by shifting betweenforward and reverse gears, stoppingbetween shifts in a steady pattern. Presslightly on the accelerator in each gear.
157Fusion (CC7) , enUSATransmissionE155983

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.
158Fusion (CC7) , enUSAAll-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)

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.
159Fusion (CC7) , enUSAAll-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)

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.”
160Fusion (CC7) , enUSAAll-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)E142667 E143950

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.
161Fusion (CC7) , enUSAAll-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)E143949