WARNINGS
Keep batteries out of reach of
children. Batteries contain sulfuric
acid. Avoid contact with skin, eyes or
clothing. Shield your eyes when working
near the battery to protect against possible
splashing of acid solution. In case of acid
contact with skin or eyes, flush
immediately with water for a minimum of
15 minutes and get prompt medical
attention. If acid is swallowed, call a
physician immediately. Battery posts, terminals and related
accessories contain lead and lead
compounds. Wash hands after
handling. Your vehicle is fitted with a Motorcraft
maintenance-free battery, which normally
does not require additional water.
Note:
After cleaning or replacing the
battery, make sure you reinstall the battery
cover or shield.
When a battery replacement is required,
you should replace the battery with a Ford
recommended replacement battery that
matches the electrical requirements of the
vehicle.
Note: Contact an authorized dealer for low
voltage battery access, testing or
replacement.
To make sure the battery management
system works correctly, do not connect an
electrical device ground connection
directly to the low voltage battery negative
post. This can cause inaccurate
measurements of the battery condition
and potential incorrect system operation.
Note: If you add electrical accessories or
components to the vehicle, it may adversely
affect the low voltage battery performance
and durability. This may also affect the
performance of other electrical systems in
the vehicle. For longer, trouble-free operation, keep the
top of the battery clean and dry.
If you see any corrosion on the battery or
terminals, remove the cables from the
terminals and clean with a wire brush. You
can neutralize the acid with a solution of
baking soda and water.
A computer electronically controls your
vehicle. The power of the low voltage
battery maintains the memory of some
settings, for example, clock setting or radio
presets. When the low voltage battery is
disconnected and then connected, these
settings erase.
To restore the settings, do the following:
1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Shift into park (P).
3. Switch off all accessories.
4. Press the brake pedal and start your
vehicle.
5. Reset the clock.
6. Reset the bounce-back feature. See Power Windows (page 77).
7. Reset the radio station presets. See Audio System
(page 227).
Make sure that you dispose of old batteries
in an environmentally friendly way. Seek
advice from your local authority about
recycling old batteries.
If storing your vehicle for more than 30
days without recharging the battery, we
recommend that you disconnect the
battery cables to maintain battery charge
for quick starting.
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Focus (CDH), enUSA, First Printing Maintenance
We engineer and test all motor vehicles
and their components for reliable, regular
driving. Under various conditions,
long-term storage may lead to degraded
engine performance or failure unless you
use specific precautions to preserve engine
components.
General
•
Store all vehicles in a dry, ventilated
place.
• Protect from sunlight, if possible.
• If you store vehicles outside, they
require regular maintenance to protect
against rust and damage.
Body
• Wash your vehicle thoroughly to
remove dirt, grease, oil, tar or mud from
exterior surfaces, rear-wheel housing
and the underside of front fenders.
• Periodically wash your vehicle if you
store it in exposed locations.
• Touch-up exposed or primed metal to
prevent rust.
• Cover chrome and stainless steel parts
with a thick coat of auto wax to prevent
discoloration. Re-wax as necessary
when you wash your vehicle.
• Lubricate all hood, door and luggage
compartment hinges and latches with
a light grade oil.
• Cover interior trim to prevent fading.
• Keep all rubber parts free from oil and
solvents.
Electric Motor
• Start your vehicle every 15 days for a
minimum of 15 minutes. Run at fast idle
with the climate controls set to defrost
until your vehicle reaches normal
operating temperature. Fuel System
•
Fill the fuel tank with high-quality fuel
until the first automatic shutoff of the
fuel pump nozzle.
Cooling System
• Protect against freezing temperatures.
• When removing your vehicle from
storage, check coolant fluid level.
Confirm that there are no cooling
system leaks and that fluid is at the
recommended level.
12V Battery
• Check and recharge as necessary. Keep
connections clean.
• If storing your vehicle for more than 30
days without recharging the battery,
we recommend that you disconnect
the battery cables to maintain battery
charge for quick starting.
Note: It is necessary to reset memory
features if you disconnect the battery
cables.
We recommend the following options for
your plug-in vehicle:
• Leave your vehicle plugged in. The 12V
battery maintains power if left plugged
in. However, this periodically uses
electricity from the household outlet.
• Connect a battery charger to your 12V
battery and leave it on a continuous,
slow charge.
• Disconnect the 12V battery. If your 12V
battery is located in the luggage
compartment, do not fully shut the
luggage compartment after
disconnecting the 12V battery. Only
leave the luggage compartment open
if your vehicle is stored in a locked
location.
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Focus (CDH), enUSA, First Printing Vehicle Care