2015 LINCOLN MKC Drive

USING ALL-WHEEL DRIVE
Note:
When a system malfunction is present,
a warning message appears in the
information display. See Information
Messages (page 118). This means the system
is not functioning correctly and only
front-wheel drive is available. Have your
vehicle checked by an authorized dealer.
Note: When the system overheats and
switches to front-wheel drive, a warning
message appears in the information display.
This may occur if you operate your vehicle
in extreme high load conditions or with
excessive wheel spin (for example, deep
sand). To resume all-wheel drive function,
stop your vehicle in a safe location and turn
off the ignition. When the system cools,
normal all-wheel drive function will return.
The information display indicates, for about
five seconds, this return.
Note: When using the spare tire, a warning
message may appear in the information
display. This message turns off after
reinstalling the repaired or replaced road
tire and you switch on the ignition. Note:
Re-install the repaired tire or replace
the tire as soon as possible. Different tire
sizes between the front and rear axles can
cause system damage, or turn off the
all-wheel drive.
This system anticipates wheel spin and
transfers power to the rear wheels before
the spin occurs. Even when wheel spin is not
occurring, the system is continuously
adjusting power distribution to the wheels,
in an attempt to improve straight line and
cornering, both on and off road.
The system automatically turns on every time
you switch on the ignition.
The all-wheel drive system does not require
maintenance.
The all-wheel drive system gives your vehicle
some limited off-road capabilities. Operating
your vehicle in conditions other than
moderate sand, snow, mud or rough roads
could subject it to excessive stress and heat.
This could result in system damage. Your
vehicle warranty will not cover this damage. The information display indicates the power
distribution between the front and rear
wheels. The more the area is filled the more
power is being distributed to that wheel.
Driving in Special Conditions With All-
Wheel Drive
All-wheel drive vehicles are capable of
driving on moderate sand, snow, mud and
rough roads. All-wheel drive has operating
characteristics that are somewhat different
from two-wheel drive, both on and off the
freeway.
Note:
It may be useful to switch the traction
control off. This allows for more wheel spin
and engine torque in certain off road
conditions or if your vehicle becomes stuck.
177
MKC (TME), enUSA All-Wheel Drive
(If Equipped)E142669

When driving at slow speeds off road under
high load conditions, use a low gear when
possible. Low gear operation will maximize
the engine and transmission cooling
capability.
Under severe operating conditions, the air
conditioning may cycle on and off to prevent
the engine from overheating.
Basic Operating Principles
•
Drive slower in strong crosswinds that
can affect the normal steering
characteristics of your vehicle.
• When driving your vehicle on surfaces
made slippery by loose sand, water,
gravel, snow or ice proceed with care.
If Your Vehicle leaves the Road
If your vehicle leaves the road, reduce your
vehicle speed and avoid severe braking.
Once you have reduced your vehicle speed,
ease your vehicle back onto the road. Do
not turn the steering wheel sharply while
returning your vehicle to the road. It may be safer to stay on the shoulder of the
road and slow down gradually before
returning to the road. You may lose control
if you do not slow down or if you turn the
steering wheel too sharply or abruptly.
It may be less risky to strike small objects,
such as freeway reflectors, with minor
damage to your vehicle rather than attempt
an abrupt dangerous direction change.
Remember, your primary concern should be
your safety and the safety of others.
Emergency Maneuvers
If you must make a sudden emergency
direction change, avoid over-driving your
vehicle. Turn the steering wheel only as
rapidly and as far as you need to avoid the
emergency. Apply smooth pressure to the
accelerator pedal or brake pedal as needed.
Avoid abrupt steering, acceleration and
braking changes. Abrupt changes could
increase the risk of vehicle roll over, loss of
vehicle control and personal injury. Use all
available road surface to bring your vehicle
to under control.In the event of an emergency stop, avoid
skidding and do not attempt any sharp
steering wheel movements.
Your vehicle responds differently to steering,
accelerating and braking on different road
surfaces when changing from one type of
surface to another.
Sand
When driving over sand, avoid driving at
excessive speeds. This will cause your
vehicle momentum to work against you. Your
vehicle could become stuck that may require
assistance from another vehicle. Remember,
if you proceed with caution you may be able
to back out the way you came.
Do not drive in deep sand for an extended
period. This will cause the all-wheel drive
system to overheat. You will see a warning
message in the information display. See
Information Messages (page 118).
178
MKC (TME), enUSA All-Wheel Drive
(If Equipped)

To resume operation, switch the ignition off
and allow the system to cool down for a
minimum of 15 minutes. After the system has
cooled down, you will see a brief message
display in the information display. See
Information Messages (page 118).
When driving at slow speeds in deep sand
under high outside temperatures, use a low
gear when possible. Low gear operation will
maximize the engine and transmission
cooling capability.
Tips when driving over sand:
• Keep all four wheels on the most solid
area of the trail.
• Shift to a lower gear.
• Apply the accelerator slowly.
• Drive steadily through the terrain.
• Avoid excessive wheel spin.
• Avoid reducing the tire pressures. Mud and Water
Mud
Avoid sudden changes in vehicle speed or
direction when you are driving in mud. Even
all-wheel drive vehicles can lose traction in
mud. If your vehicle does slide, steer in the
direction of the slide until you regain control
of your vehicle.
After driving through mud, clean off excess
mud stuck to rotating driveshafts and tires.
Excess mud stuck on tires and rotating
driveshafts can cause an imbalance that
could damage drive components.
Water
Drive slowly through high water. Traction or
brake capability may be limited.
When driving through water, determine the
depth and avoid water higher than the
bottom of the wheel rims. If the ignition
system gets wet, your vehicle may stall. Once through water, always try the brakes.
Wet brakes will not stop your vehicle as
quickly as dry brakes. Apply light pressure
to the brake pedal while slowly moving the
vehicle to dry the brakes.
Note:
Driving through deep water may
damage the transmission. If the front or rear
axle is submerged in water, the axle
lubricant and power transfer unit lubricant
should be checked and changed if
necessary.
Driving on Hilly or Sloping Terrain
Although natural obstacles may make it
necessary to travel diagonally up or down a
hill or steep incline, always try to drive
straight up or straight down the sloping
terrain.
Note: To maintain traction and avoid
possibly rolling your vehicle, avoid turning
on steep slopes or hills. When you drive on
a hill, determine beforehand the route you
will use. Do not drive over a hill without first
seeing what is on the other side. Do not drive
in reverse over a hill without the aid of an
observer.
179
MKC (TME), enUSA All-Wheel Drive
(If Equipped)

Start climbing a steep slope or hill in a low
gear rather than downshifting to a low gear
from a high gear after you have started your
climb. This reduces strain on the engine and
the possibility of stalling.
If your vehicle stalls, do not try to turn
around. Turning could cause the vehicle to
roll over. Instead, reverse back to a safe
location.
Apply just enough power to the wheels to
climb the hill. Too much power will cause the
tires to slip, spin or lose traction, and you
could lose control of your vehicle. To avoid brake overheating, come down a
hill in the same gear you used to go up the
hill. Do not come down in neutral. Move the
transmission selector lever to a lower gear.
When descending a steep hill, avoid sudden
hard braking to keep the front wheels rolling
and to maintain your vehicle's steering.
Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes. Apply the
brakes steadily. Do not pump the brake
pedal.
Driving on Snow and Ice
WARNING
If you are driving in slippery conditions
that require tire chains or cables, then
it is critical that you drive cautiously. Keep
speeds down, allow for longer stopping
distances and avoid aggressive steering to
reduce the chances of a loss of vehicle
control which can lead to serious injury or
death. If the rear end of your vehicle slides
while cornering, steer in the direction of the
slide until you regain control of your vehicle. Note:
Excessive tire slippage can cause
transmission damage. In snow and ice, all-wheel drive vehicles have
advantages over two-wheel drive vehicles
but can still skid. When driving on snowy or
icy roads, should you start to slide, turn the
steering wheel in the direction of the slide
until you regain control.
On snow and ice, avoid suddenly applying
power and avoid quick change of direction.
Apply the accelerator slowly and steadily
when starting from a stop.
Avoid sudden braking. An all-wheel drive
vehicle may accelerate better than a
two-wheel drive vehicle in snow and ice.
However, an all-wheel drive vehicle will not
stop any faster, as braking occurs at all four
wheels. Do not become overconfident to
road conditions.
180
MKC (TME), enUSA All-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)E143949

Make sure that you allow sufficient distance
between your vehicle and other vehicles for
stopping. On ice and snow, you should drive
more slowly than usual, and consider using
one of the lower gears. In emergency
stopping situations, steadily apply the brake.
Your vehicle has a four wheel anti-lock brake
system, do not pump the brake pedal. See
Hints on Driving With Anti-Lock Brakes
(page
182).
If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck In Mud or Snow
If your vehicle becomes stuck in mud or
snow, shift between forward and reverse
gears, and, in a steady pattern, stop between
shifts. Press lightly on the accelerator with
each shift. Rocking your vehicle this way may
dislodge your vehicle.
Note: Do not rock your vehicle if the engine
is not at normal operating temperature,
damage to the transmission may occur.
Note: Do not rock your vehicle for more than
a minute, damage to the transmission and
tires may occur or the engine may overheat. Maintenance and Modifications
The suspension and steering systems on
your vehicle provides predictable
performance whether your vehicle is loaded
or empty. For this reason, we recommend
that you do not make modifications to your
vehicle (lift kits or stabilizer bars) or use
replacement parts not equivalent to the
original factory equipment.
We recommend that you use caution when
your vehicle has either a high load or device
(ladder or luggage racks). Modifications to
your vehicle that raise the center of gravity
may cause your vehicle to tip if you should
lose vehicle control.
Failure to maintain your vehicle correctly may
void the warranty, increase your repair cost,
reduce vehicle performance and operational
capabilities, and adversely affect you and
your passenger's safety. We recommend that
you frequently inspect your vehicle's chassis
components if your vehicle is subject to
off-road use.
181
MKC (TME), enUSA All-Wheel Drive
(If Equipped)

The anti-lock braking system will not
eliminate the risks when:
•
you drive too closely to the vehicle in
front of you
• your vehicle is hydroplaning
• you take corners too fast
• the road surface is poor.
ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE
The electric parking brake replaces the
conventional handbrake. The operating
switch is located on the instrument panel to
the left of the steering wheel. WARNING
Always set the parking brake and leave
your vehicle with the transmission in
position P. Note:
When you apply the electric parking
brake in certain conditions, for example on
a steep hill, the electric parking brake may
reapply the brakes within three to ten
minutes. Note:
You may notice various noises when
you apply and release the electric parking
brake. This is normal and no cause for
concern.
Applying the electric parking brake WARNING
If the brake system warning lamp does
not illuminate or flashes, there could
be a problem with your electric parking
brake. Have the system checked by an
authorized dealer as soon as possible. Note:
The brake system warning lamp will
illuminate for ten seconds if you have turned
the ignition off after the electric parking
brake has been applied, or the electric
parking brake has been applied after the
ignition has been turned off.
Note: The electric parking brake will not
automatically apply. You must apply the
electric parking brake using the electric
parking brake switch. Pull the switch to apply the electric parking
brake.
The brake system warning lamp will
illuminate to confirm that the electric parking
brake has been applied.
See Instrument
Cluster (page 105).
183
MKC (TME), enUSA BrakesE169085

1.
Pull the switch and hold it in this position.
2. Drive your vehicle, then release the switch when you notice that the engine
has developed sufficient driving force.
Automatic release - drive away release
Note: The driver's door must be closed and
the driver's safety belt must be fastened
before this feature will operate.
Note: If the electric parking brake warning
lamp stays illuminated, the electric parking
brake will not automatically release. You
must release the electric parking brake using
the electric parking brake switch.
Note: The engine must be running and the
accelerator pedal must be pressed before
the drive away release feature will operate.
The brake system warning lamp will go off
to confirm that the electric parking brake has
been released. Note:
The electric parking brake drive away
release makes starting on a hill easier. This
feature will release the parking brake
automatically when the vehicle has sufficient
drive force to move up the hill. To assure
drive away release when starting uphill,
press the accelerator pedal quickly.
Battery With No Charge WARNING
You will not be able to apply or release
the electric parking brake if the battery
is low or has no charge. If the battery is low or has no charge, use
jumper cables and a booster battery.
HILL START ASSIST
WARNINGS
The system does not replace the
parking brake. When you leave your
vehicle, always apply the parking brake and
put the transmission in park (P). WARNINGS
You must remain in your vehicle once
you have activated the system.
During all times, you are responsible
for controlling your vehicle, supervising
the system and intervening, if required. If the engine is revved excessively, or
if a malfunction is detected, the system
will be deactivated. The system makes it easier to pull away
when your vehicle is on a slope without the
need to use the parking brake.
When the system is active, your vehicle will
remain stationary on the slope for two to
three seconds after you release the brake
pedal. This allows you time to move your foot
from the brake to the accelerator pedal. The
brakes are released automatically once the
engine has developed sufficient drive to
prevent your vehicle from rolling down the
slope. This is an advantage when pulling
away on a slope, (for example from a car park
ramp, traffic lights or when reversing uphill
into a parking space).
185
MKC (TME), enUSA Brakes

The system will activate automatically on any
slope that will cause significant vehicle
rollback.
Using Hill Start Assist
1. Press the brake pedal to bring your
vehicle to a complete standstill. Keep the
brake pedal pressed.
2. If the sensors detect that your vehicle is on a slope, the system will activate
automatically.
3. When you remove your foot from the brake pedal, your vehicle will remain on
the slope without rolling away for about
two or three seconds. This hold time will
automatically be extended if you are in
the process of driving off.
4. Drive off in the normal manner. The brakes will release automatically.
186
MKC (TME), enUSA Brakes