•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
WARNING:Drive through water in an emergency only, and not
as part of normal driving.
WARNING:Engine damage can occur if water enters the air
filter.
Note:Driving through deep water may allow water into the transmission
or air intake and can cause internal vehicle damage or cause it to stall.
Note:Once through the water, always dry the brakes by moving your
vehicle slowly while applying light pressure on the brake pedal.
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.
Wet brakes do not stop the vehicle
as quickly as dry brakes.
226Driving Hints
2014 MKX(mkx)
Owners Guide gf, 2nd Printing, March 2014
USA(fus)
Safety Practices
WARNING:If your vehicle is stuck in snow, mud, or sand, do
not rapidly spin the tires. Spinning the tires can tear the tire and
cause an explosion. A tire can explode in as little as three to five
seconds.
WARNING:Do not spin the wheels at over 35 mph (56 km/h).
The tires may fail and injure a passenger or bystander.
Driving habits have a great deal to do with your tire mileage and safety.
•Observe posted speed limits.
•Avoid fast starts, stops and turns.
•Avoid potholes and objects on the road.
•Do not run over curbs or hit the tire against a curb when parking.
Highway Hazards
No matter how carefully you drive, there is always the possibility that
you may eventually have a flat tire on the highway. Drive slowly to the
closest safe area out of traffic. This may further damage the flat tire, but
your safety is more important.
If you feel a sudden vibration or ride disturbance while driving, or you
suspect your tire or vehicle has been damaged, immediately reduce your
speed. Drive with caution until you can safely pull off the road. Stop and
inspect the tires for damage. If a tire is under-inflated or damaged,
deflate it, remove the wheel and replace it with your spare tire and
wheel. If you cannot detect a cause, have the vehicle towed to the
nearest repair facility or tire dealer to have the vehicle inspected.
Tire and Wheel Alignment
A bad jolt from hitting a curb or pothole can cause the front end of your
vehicle to become misaligned or cause damage to your tires. If your
vehicle seems to pull to one side when you are driving, the wheels may
be out of alignment. Have an authorized dealer check the wheel
alignment periodically.
Wheel misalignment in the front or the rear can cause uneven and rapid
treadwear of your tires and should be corrected by an authorized dealer.
Front-wheel drive vehicles and those with an independent rear
suspension may require alignment of all four wheels.
302Wheels and Tires
2014 MKX(mkx)
Owners Guide gf, 2nd Printing, March 2014
USA(fus)
The tires should also be balanced periodically. An unbalanced tire and
wheel assembly may result in irregular tire wear.
Tire Rotation
Note:If your tires show uneven wear ask an authorized dealer to check
for and correct any wheel misalignment, tire imbalance or mechanical
problem involved before tire rotation.
Note:Your vehicle may be equipped with a dissimilar spare tire and
wheel assembly. A dissimilar spare tire and wheel assembly is defined as
a spare tire or wheel that is different in brand, size or appearance from
the road tires and wheels. If you have a dissimilar spare tire and wheel
assembly, it is intended for temporary use only and should not be used
in a tire rotation.
Note:After having your tires rotated, inflation pressure must be checked
and adjusted to the vehicle requirements.
Rotating your tires at the recommended interval (as indicated in the
scheduled maintenance information) will help your tires wear more
evenly, providing better tire performance and longer tire life.
•Front-wheel drive/All-wheel drive
vehicles (front tires at left of
diagram)
Sometimes irregular tire wear can be corrected by rotating the tires.
USING SNOW CHAINS
WARNING:Snow tires must be the same size, load index, speed
rating as those originally provided by Ford. Use of any tire or
wheel not recommended by Ford can affect the safety and performance
of your vehicle, which could result in an increased risk of loss of vehicle
control, vehicle rollover, personal injury and death. Additionally, the use
of non-recommended tires and wheels could cause steering, suspension,
axle, transfer case or power transfer unit failure.
Wheels and Tires303
2014 MKX(mkx)
Owners Guide gf, 2nd Printing, March 2014
USA(fus)
safety belt maintenance ...........42
seat belt maintenance ..............42
warning light and chime ..........39
Safety restraints - LATCH
anchors ........................................28
Safety seats for children ............24
Safety Compliance
Certification Label ....................321
Satellite Radio ...................330, 352
Scheduled Maintenance Guide
Normal Scheduled
Maintenance and Log .............436
SD card ......................331, 359, 400
Seat belts (see Safety
restraints) ....................................35
Seats ..........................................135
child safety seats ......................24
climate control ........................134
easy access/easyout feature ..133
front seats .......................130, 133
heated ......................................136
memory seat .....................59, 132
second row seats ....................135
Second-row power fold seat ....135
SecuriCode keyless entry
system ..........................................75
SecuriLock passive anti-theft
system ..........................................77
Sending new text messages .....369
Setting a destination ................400
Setting a destination by
voice ...........................................401
Settings ......................................385
Setting the clock ...............330, 385
Side air curtain ...........................53
Side-curtain airbags system .......53SIRIUS® satellite radio ............352
SIRIUS satellite radio voice
commands .................................354
SIRIUS Travel Link ...................377
SIRIUS Travel Link voice
commands .................................378
SOS Post Crash Alert .................45
Spark plugs,
specifications .....................316, 320
Specification chart,
lubricants ...................................317
Stability system .........................178
Starting your vehicle ................146
jump starting ..........................230
push button start system .......145
Steering wheel ............................80
controls ......................................82
tilting .........................................80
Supplemental Restraint System
(SRS) (see airbags) ....................46
Supported media file types ......362
Supported player, media
formats and metadata
information ................................362
SYNC® customer support ........336
SYNC® Services ........................373
System settings .........................388
T
Temperature control (see
Climate control) ................122, 397
Text messaging .........................369
Tilt steering wheel ......................80
Tires ...........................288–289, 308
alignment ................................302
Index453
2014 MKX(mkx)
Owners Guide gf, 2nd Printing, March 2014
USA(fus)