2014 LINCOLN MKZ Suspension

Note:Excessive tire slippage can
cause driveline damage.
AWD vehicles have advantages over
2WD vehicles in snow and ice but can
skid like any other vehicle.
Should you start to slide while driving
on snowy or icy roads, turn the
steering wheel in the direction of the
slide until you regain control.
Avoid sudden applications of power
and quick changes of direction on
snow and ice. Apply the accelerator
slowly and steadily when starting
from a full stop.
Avoid sudden braking as well.
Although an AWD vehicle may
accelerate better than a two-wheel
drive vehicle in snow and ice, it won’t
stop any faster, because as in other
vehicles, braking occurs at all four
wheels. Do not become overconfident
as to road conditions.
Make sure you allow sufficient
distance between you and other
vehicles for stopping. Drive slower
than usual and consider using one of
the lower gears. In emergency
stopping situations, apply the brake
steadily. Since your vehicle is
equipped with a four wheel (ABS), do
not “pump” the brakes. See Hints on
Driving With Anti-Lock Brakes
(page 180). for more information on
the operation of the anti-lock brake
system (ABS). Maintenance and Modifications
The suspension and steering systems
on your vehicle have been designed
and tested to provide predictable
performance whether loaded or
empty and durable load carrying
capability. For this reason, Ford Motor
Company strongly recommends that
you do not make modifications such
as adding or removing parts (such as
lowering kits or stabilizer bars) or by
using replacement parts not
equivalent to the original factory
equipment.
Any modifications to a vehicle that
raise the center of gravity can make it
more likely the vehicle will rollover as
a result of a loss of control. Ford Motor
Company recommends that caution
be used with any vehicle equipped
with a high load or device (such as
ladder or luggage racks).
Failure to maintain your vehicle
properly may void the warranty,
increase your repair cost, reduce
vehicle performance and operational
capabilities and adversely affect driver
and passenger safety. Frequent
inspection of vehicle chassis
components is recommended if the
vehicle is subjected to off-highway
usage.
178
All-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)

PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
WARNINGS
Vehicle modifications involving
braking system, aftermarket roof
racks, suspension, steering system,
tire construction and wheel and tire
size may change the handling
characteristics of the vehicle and may
adversely affect the performance of
the AdvanceTrac system. In addition,
installing any stereo loudspeakers
may interfere with and adversely
affect the AdvanceTrac system.
Install any aftermarket stereo
loudspeaker as far as possible from
the front center console, the tunnel,
and the front seats in order to
minimize the risk of interfering with
the AdvanceTrac sensors. Reducing
the effectiveness of the AdvanceTrac
system could lead to an increased risk
of loss of vehicle control, vehicle
rollover, personal injury and death.
Remember that even advanced
technology cannot defy the laws
of physics. It’s always possible to lose
control of a vehicle due to
inappropriate driver input for the
conditions. Aggressive driving on any
road condition can cause you to lose
control of your vehicle increasing the
risk of personal injury or property
damage. Activation of the
AdvanceTrac system is an indication
that at least some of the tires have
exceeded their ability to grip the road;
WARNINGS
this could reduce the operator’s ability
to control the vehicle potentially
resulting in a loss of vehicle control,
vehicle rollover, personal injury and
death. If your AdvanceTrac system
activates, SLOW DOWN.
The AdvanceTrac Control system
helps you keep control of your vehicle
when on a slippery surface. The
electronic stability control portion of
the system helps avoid skids and
lateral slides. The traction control
system helps avoid drive wheel spin
and loss of traction. See Using
Traction Control (page 184).
E72903
A
AA
B
BB
B
Vehicle without
AdvanceTrac skidding off its
intended route.
A
Vehicle with AdvanceTrac
maintaining control on a
slippery surface.
B
185
Stability Control

Why is the feature not available (line markings are gray) when I can see thelane markings on the road?
Camera blockage due to dirt, grime, fog, frost or water on the windshield
Driving too close to the vehicle in front of you
Transitioning between no lane markings to lane markings or vice versa
Standing water on the road
Faint lane markings (partial yellow lane markings on concrete roads)
Lane width too narrow or too wide
Camera not calibrated after a windshield replacement
Driving on tight roads or on uneven roads
Why does the vehicle not come back into the middle of the lane always, asexpected, in the Aid or Aid + Alert mode?
High cross winds
Large road crown
Rough roads, grooves, shoulder drop-offs
Heavy uneven loading of the vehicle or improper tire inflation pressure
If the tires have been exchanged (including snow tires), or the suspension has
been modified
212
Driving Aids

If the front end of the vehicle is hit or
damaged, the radar sensing zone may
be altered causing missed or false
collision warnings. See your
authorized dealer to have your
collision warning radar checked for
proper coverage and operation.
STEERING
Electric Power Steering
WARNINGS
The electric power steering
system has diagnostic checks
that continuously monitor the system
to ensure proper operation. When a
system error is detected a steering
message will appear in the
information display.
The electric power steering
system has diagnostic checks
that continuously monitor the system
to ensure proper operation of the
electronic system. When an electronic
error is detected, a message will be
displayed in the information display.
If this happens, stop the vehicle in a
safe place, and turn off the engine.
After at least 10 seconds, reset the
system by restarting the engine, and
watch the information display for a
steering message. If a steering
message returns, or returns while
driving, take the vehicle to your dealer
to have it checked.
WARNINGS
Obtain immediate service if a
system error is detected. You
may not notice any difference in the
feel of your steering, but a serious
condition may exist. Failure to do so
may result in loss of steering control.
Your vehicle is equipped with an
electric power-assisted steering
system. There is no fluid reservoir to
check or fill.
If your vehicle loses electrical power
while you are driving (or if the ignition
is turned off), you can steer the
vehicle manually, but it takes more
effort. Extreme continuous steering
may increase the effort it takes for you
to steer. This occurs to prevent
internal overheating and permanent
damage to your steering system. If this
should occur, you will neither lose the
ability to steer the vehicle manually
nor will it cause permanent damage.
Typical steering and driving
maneuvers will allow the system to
cool and steering assist will return to
normal.
Steering Tips
If the steering wanders or pulls, check
for:
• an improperly inflated tire
• uneven tire wear
• loose or worn suspension components
• loose or worn steering components
• improper vehicle alignment
221
Driving Aids

A high crown in the road or high
crosswinds may also make the
steering seem to wander or pull.
Adaptive Learning
The EPS system adaptive learning
helps correct for road irregularities
and improves overall handling and
steering feel. It communicates with
the vehicle's brake system to help
operate advanced stability control
and accident avoidance systems.
Additionally, whenever the battery is
disconnected or a new battery
installed, the vehicle must be driven
a short distance before the strategy
is relearned and all systems are
reactivated.
DRIVE CONTROL
LINCOLN DRIVE CONTROL
Lincoln Drive Control delivers the
Lincoln driving experience through a
suite of sophisticated electronic
vehicle systems. These systems
continuously monitor both your driving
inputs and the road conditions to
optimize ride comfort, steering,
handling, powertrain response and
sound. You can preset your
preferences for these systems within
the information display. Lincoln Drive
Control will respond to your
preferences based on what gear
position you select. This provides a
single location to control multiple
systems performance settings.
Lincoln Drive Control consists of the
following systems:• Continuously Controlled Damping
dynamically adjusts the shock
absorbers stiffness in real time to
match the road surface and driver
inputs. Vehicle motion (roll, pitch,
bounce), suspension position,
vehicle loading, vehicle speed, road
conditions, and steering are
continuously monitored to adjust
the suspension damping for
optimal vehicle control.
• Electronically Power-Assisted Steering adjusts steering effort and
feel based on vehicle speed and
your inputs
• Active Noise Control utilizes vehicle electronics to enhance the
acoustic experience
• Electronic Stability Control and Traction Control maintain vehicle
control in adverse conditions or
high performance driving
• Electronic Throttle Control which enhances the powertrain response
to your inputs
These systems have a range of modes
which you can choose from in order
to customize your ideal driving
experience:
222
Driving Aids

• Comfort – Provides a more relaxeddriving experience, maximizing
comfort. Steering effort is
decreased and suspension
movement is more fluid. Comfort
mode is ideal when enhanced
traveling comfort is desired.
• Normal – Delivers a balanced combination of comfortable,
controlled ride and confident
handling. This mode provides an
engaging drive experience and a
direct connection to the road
without sacrificing any of the
composure demanded from a
luxury vehicle.
• Sport – Provides a sportier driving experience. Suspension stiffens,
with an emphasis on handling and
control. The engine responds more
directly to your inputs and takes
on a more powerful tone. Sport
mode is intended to be used during
more spirited driving.
Using Lincoln Drive Control
You can configure which of the Drive
Control modes are active when the
vehicle is in D (Drive) or in S (Sport).
The configuration is retained until
modified from the main menu on the
information display.
To change the vehicle’s Drive Control
settings from the main menu on the
information display:
1. Choose Settings.
2. Choose Driver Assist.
3. Choose Vehicle. 4. Select the shift position you would
like to configure, either D or S.
5. Choose from Comfort, Normal, or Sport modes as your preferred
setting in D.
6. Choose from Normal or Sport modes as your preferred setting in
S.
Note: Lincoln Drive Control has
diagnostic checks that continuously
monitor the system to ensure proper
operation. Certain types of system
errors will gray out the mode selections
within the information display,
preventing you from changing states
when the gear position is changed.
Other types of errors will produce a
temporary message that states Drive
Control Malfunction. If either condition
persists for multiple key cycles, take
your vehicle to an authorized dealer to
have it checked.
223
Driving Aids

TOWING A TRAILER
WARNINGS
Do not exceed the GVWR or
the GAWR specified on the
certification label.
Towing trailers beyond the
maximum recommended
gross trailer weight exceeds the
limit of your vehicle and could
result in engine damage,
transmission damage, structural
damage, loss of vehicle control,
vehicle rollover and personal
injury.
Note: There may be electrical
items such as fuses or relays that
can affect trailer towing operation.
See Fuses (page 255).
Weight, not volume designates
your vehicle's load capacity. You
cannot necessarily use all
available space when loading a
vehicle.
Towing a trailer places an
additional load on your vehicle's
engine, transmission, axle, brakes,
tires and suspension. Inspect
these components periodically
during, and after, any towing
operation. Load Placement
To help minimize how trailer
movement affects the vehicle
when driving:
• Load the heaviest items closest
to the trailer floor.
• Load the heaviest items in the center of the left and right side
trailer tires.
• Load the heaviest items above the trailer axles or just slightly
forward toward the trailer
tongue. Do not allow the final
trailer tongue weight to go
above or below 10-15% of the
loaded trailer weight.
• Select a tow bar with the correct rise or drop. When both
the loaded vehicle and trailer
are connected, the trailer frame
should be level, or slightly
angled down toward the
vehicle, when viewed from the
side.
When driving with a trailer or
payload, a slight takeoff vibration
or shudder may be present due to
the increased payload weight.
Additional information regarding
proper trailer loading and setting
your vehicle up for towing is
located in the Load Carrying
chapter. See Load Limit (page
224). You can also find the
information in the RV & Trailer
Towing Guide, available at an
authorized dealer.
232
Towing

describes the fundamental
characteristics of the tire and also
provides a U.S. DOT Tire
Identification Number for safety
standard certification and in case
of a recall.
This begins with the letters DOT
and indicates that the tire meets
all federal standards. The next
two numbers or letters are the
plant code designating where it
was manufactured, the next two
are the tire size code and the last
four numbers represent the week
and year the tire was built. For
example, the numbers 317 mean
the 31st week of 1997. After 2000
the numbers go to four digits. For
example, 2501 means the 25th
week of 2001. The numbers in
between are identification codes
used for traceability. This
information is used to contact
customers if a tire defect requires
a recall.
Tire Replacement
Requirements
Your vehicle is equipped with tires
designed to provide a safe ride
and handling capability.
WARNINGS
Only use replacement tires
and wheels that are the same
size, load index, speed rating and
type (such as P-metric versus
LT-metric or all-season versus
all-terrain) as those originally
provided by Ford. The
recommended tire and wheel size
WARNINGS
may be found on either the Safety
Compliance Certification Label
(affixed to either the door hinge
pillar, door-latch post, or the door
edge that meets the door-latch
post, next to the driver's seating
position), or the Tire Label which
is located on the B-Pillar or edge
of the driver’s door. If this
information is not found on these
labels then you should contact
your authorized dealer as soon as
possible. 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. If you
have questions regarding tire
replacement, contact your
authorized dealer as soon as
possible.
To reduce the risk of serious
injury, when mounting
replacement tires and wheels, you
should not exceed the maximum
pressure indicated on the sidewall
of the tire to set the beads without
additional precautions listed
below. If the beads do not seat at
the maximum pressure indicated,
re-lubricate and try again
319
Wheels and Tires