Readiness for
Inspection/Maintenance (I/M)
Testing
Some state/provincial and local
governments may have
Inspection/Maintenance (I/M) programs to
inspect the emission control equipment on
your vehicle. Failure to pass this inspection
could prevent you from getting a vehicle
registration.
If the service engine soon indicator
is on or the bulb does not work, you
may need to have the vehicle
serviced. See On-Board Diagnostics (OBD-II).
Your vehicle may not pass the I/M test if the
service engine soon indicator is on or not
working properly (bulb is burned out), or if
the OBD-II system has determined that some
of the emission control systems have not
been properly checked. In this case, your
vehicle is not ready for I/M testing.
If the vehicle ’s engine or transmission has just
been serviced, or the battery has recently run
down or been replaced, the OBD-II system
may indicate that the vehicle is not ready for
I/M testing. To determine if the vehicle is
ready for I/M testing, turn the ignition key to
the on position for 15 seconds without cranking the engine. If the service engine soon
indicator blinks eight times, it means that the
vehicle is not ready for I/M testing; if the
service engine soon indicator stays on solid,
it means that the vehicle is ready for I/M
testing.
The OBD-II system monitors the emission
control system during normal driving. A
complete check may take several days. If the
vehicle is not ready for I/M testing, you may
need to perform the following driving cycle
consisting of mixed city and highway driving:
Drive on an expressway or highway for a
steady 15 minutes, followed by 20 minutes
of stop-and-go driving with at least four
30-second idle periods.
Allow the vehicle to sit for at least eight hours
without starting the engine. Then, start the
engine and complete the above driving cycle.
The engine must warm up to its normal
operating temperature. Once started, do not
turn off the engine until the above driving
cycle is complete. If the vehicle is still not
ready for I/M testing, you will have to repeat
the above driving cycle.
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AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WARNINGS
Always set the parking brake fully and
make sure the gearshift is latched in
Park (P). Turn the ignition to the off
position and remove the key whenever you
leave your vehicle. Do not apply the brake pedal and
accelerator pedal simultaneously.
Applying both pedals simultaneously
for more than three seconds will limit engine
rpm, which may result in difficulty
maintaining speed in traffic and could lead
to serious injury. Understanding the Positions of Your
Automatic Transmission
Putting your vehicle in gear:
1. Fully press down the brake pedal.
2.
Press and hold the button on the front of
the gearshift lever.
3. Move the gearshift lever into the desired gear.
4. Release the button and your transmission
will remain in the selected gear. Park (P)
This position locks the transmission and
prevents the front wheels from turning. Come
to a complete stop before putting your
vehicle into and out of Park (P)
Reverse (R)
With the gearshift lever in Reverse (R), your
vehicle will move backward. Always come to
a complete stop before shifting into and out
of Reverse (R).
Neutral (N)
With the gearshift lever in Neutral (N), you
can start your vehicle and it is free to roll.
Hold the brake pedal down while in this
position.Drive (D)
The normal driving position for the best fuel
economy. Transmission operates in gears
one through six.
Sport (S)
Moving the gearshift lever to Sport (S):
•
Provides additional grade (engine)
braking and extends lower gear operation
to enhance performance for uphill climbs,
hilly terrain or mountainous areas. This
will increase engine RPM during engine
braking.
• Provides additional lower gear operation
through the automatic transmission shift
strategy.
• Gears are selected more quickly and at
higher engine speeds.
SelectShift Automatic ™
Transmission (If Equipped)
Your SelectShift Automatic transmission
gives you the ability to change gears
manually.
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1.
Remove the side panel on the left side of
the gearshift lever.
2. Locate the brake shift interlock lever on the left side of the gearshift assembly. 3. Apply the brake pedal. Using a
screwdriver (or similar tool), press down
and hold the brake shift interlock lever
while pulling the gearshift lever out of
Park (P) and into Neutral (N).
4. Install the side panel in reverse order.
5. Apply brake pedal, start your vehicle, and
release the parking brake.
Automatic Transmission Adaptive
Learning
This feature is designed to increase durability
and provide consistent shift feel over the life
of the vehicle. A new vehicle or transmission
may have firm and/or soft shifts. This
operation is considered normal and will not
affect function or durability of the
transmission. Over time, the adaptive learning
process will fully update transmission
operation. Additionally, whenever the battery
is disconnected or a new battery installed,
the strategy must be relearned.
If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck In Mud or
Snow
Note: Do not rock your vehicle if the engine is
not at normal operating temperature or
damage to the transmission may occur. Note:
Do not rock your vehicle for more than
a minute or damage to the transmission and
tires may occur, or the engine may overheat.
If your vehicle gets stuck in mud or snow, it
may be rocked out by shifting between
forward and reverse gears, stopping between
shifts in a steady pattern. Press lightly on the
accelerator in each gear.
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USING ALL-WHEEL DRIVE
All-wheel drive uses all four wheels to power
the vehicle. This increases traction, enabling
you to drive over terrain and road conditions
that a conventional two-wheel drive vehicle
cannot. The AWD system is active all the time
and requires no input from the operator.
Note:
Your AWD vehicle is not for off-road
use. The AWD feature gives your vehicle some
limited off-road capabilities in which driving
surfaces are relatively level, obstruction-free
and otherwise similar to normal on-road
driving conditions. Operating your vehicle
under other than those conditions could
subject the vehicle to excessive stress which
might result in damage not covered under your
warranty.
Note: When an AWD system fault is present,
the warning Check AWD displays in the
information display. See Information
Messages (page 94). An AWD system fault
causes the AWD system to default to
front-wheel drive only mode. If this warning
displays, have your vehicle serviced at an
authorized dealer. Note:
The AWD Off message displays in the
information display if the AWD system has
overheated
See Information Messages
(page 94). This condition may occur if the
vehicle operates in extreme conditions with
excessive wheel slip, such as deep sand. To
resume normal AWD function as soon as
possible, stop the vehicle in a safe location
and stop the engine for at least 10 minutes.
After the engine restarts and the AWD system
has adequately cooled, the AWD Off message
turns off and normal AWD function returns. In
the event you do not stop the engine, the AWD
Off message turns off when the system cools
and normal AWD function returns.
Do not use a spare tire of a different size
other than the tire provided. The AWD system
may disable automatically and enter
front-wheel drive only mode to protect
driveline components if you install the
mini-spare tire. A warning in the information
display indicates this condition.
See
Information Messages (page 94). If there
is an AWD Off message in the information
display from using the spare tire, this
indicator should turn off after reinstalling the
repaired or replaced normal road tire and
cycling the ignition off and on. Reinstall the repaired or replaced road tire as soon as
possible. Major dissimilar tire sizes between
the front and rear axles could cause the AWD
system to stop functioning and default to
front-wheel drive or damage the AWD
system.
Driving In Special Conditions With
All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
AWD vehicles are equipped for driving on
sand, snow, mud and rough roads and have
operating characteristics that are somewhat
different from conventional vehicles, both on
and off the highway.
When driving at slow speeds in deep sand
under high outside temperatures, use a low
gear when possible. Lower gear operation
maximizes the engine and transmission
cooling capability. Under severe operating
conditions, the A/C may cycle on and off to
protect overheating of the engine.
Basic operating principles in special
conditions
•
Drive slower in strong crosswinds which
can affect the normal steering
characteristics of your vehicle.
• Use extreme care when driving on
pavement made slippery by loose sand,
water, gravel, snow or ice.
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If Your Vehicle Goes Off the Edge of the
Pavement
•
If your vehicle goes off the edge of the
pavement, slow down, but avoid severe
brake application. Ease the vehicle back
onto the pavement only after reducing
your speed. Do not turn the steering
wheel too sharply while returning to the
road surface.
• It may be safer to stay on the apron or
shoulder of the road and slow down
gradually before returning to the
pavement. You may lose control if you do
not slow down or if you turn the steering
wheel too sharply or abruptly.
• It often may be less risky to strike small
objects, such as highway reflectors, with
minor damage to your vehicle rather than
attempt a sudden return to the pavement
which could cause the vehicle to slide
sideways out of control or rollover.
Remember, your safety and the safety of
others should be your primary concern. If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck WARNINGS
Always set the parking brake fully and
make sure the transmission is in park
(P). Turn the ignition to the lock
position or turn the vehicle off using the
start/stop button and remove the key
whenever you leave your vehicle. If you release the parking brake and the
brake warning lamp remains
illuminated, the brakes may not be
working properly. See your authorized dealer. Do not spin the wheels at over 35 mph
(56 km/h). The tires may fail and injure
a passenger or bystander. Note:
Do not rock the vehicle if the engine is
not at normal operating temperature or
damage to the transmission may occur.
Note: Do not rock the vehicle for more than a
few minutes or damage to the transmission
and tires may occur or the engine may
overheat.
If your vehicle gets stuck in mud or snow you
can rock it out by shifting between forward
and reverse gears, stopping between shifts,
in a steady pattern. Press lightly on the
accelerator in each gear. If your vehicle is equipped with
AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control
™,
it may be beneficial to disengage the
AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control ™
system while attempting to rock the vehicle.
Emergency Maneuvers
• In an unavoidable emergency situation
where a sudden sharp turn must be
made, remember to avoid "over-driving"
your vehicle (i.e., turn the steering wheel
only as rapidly and as far as required to
avoid the emergency). Excessive steering
results in less vehicle control, not more.
Additionally, if changes in vehicle speed
are necessary, use smooth variations of
accelerator and/or brake pedal pressure
to adjust vehicle speed. Avoid abrupt
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(If Equipped)
steering, acceleration or braking which
could result in an increased risk of loss of
vehicle control, vehicle rollover and/or
personal injury. Use all available road
surface to return the vehicle to a safe
direction of travel.
• In the event of an emergency stop, avoid
skidding the tires and do not attempt any
sharp steering wheel movements.
• If the vehicle goes from one type of
surface to another (i.e., from concrete to
gravel) the way the vehicle responds to
a maneuver changes (steering,
acceleration or braking). Again, avoid
these abrupt inputs.
Sand
When driving over sand, try to keep all four
wheels on the most solid area of the trail.
Avoid reducing the tire pressures but shift to
a lower gear and drive steadily through the
terrain. Apply the accelerator slowly and
avoid excessive wheel slip.
Do not drive your vehicle in deep sand for an
extended period of time. This could cause
the AWD system to overheat and default to
front-wheel drive. If this occurs AWD Off
displays in the Information Display. To
resume normal AWD function as soon as
possible, stop the vehicle in a safe location and stop the engine for at least 10 minutes.
After the engine restarts and the AWD
system has adequately cooled, the AWD Off
message turns off and normal AWD function
returns. In the event you do not stop the
engine, the AWD Off message turns off when
the system cools and normal AWD function
returns.
When driving at slow speeds in deep sand
under high outside temperatures, use a low
gear when possible. Low gear operation
maximizes the engine and transmission
cooling capability. Under severe operating
conditions, the A/C may cycle on and off to
protect overheating of the engine.
Avoid excessive speed because vehicle
momentum can work against you and cause
the vehicle to become stuck to the point that
assistance may be required from another
vehicle. Remember, you may be able to back
out the way you came if you proceed with
caution.
Mud and Water
If you must drive through high water, drive
slowly. Traction or brake capability may be
limited.
When driving through water, determine the
depth; avoid water higher than the bottom
of the wheel rims (for cars) or the bottom of
the hubs (for trucks) (if possible) and
proceed slowly. If the ignition system gets
wet, the vehicle may stall.
Once through water, always try the brakes.
Wet brakes do not stop the vehicle as
effectively as dry brakes. Drying improves
when you move your vehicle slowly while
applying light pressure on the brake pedal.
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Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, therefore
apply the brakes steadily. Do not
“pump” the
brakes.
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 the vehicle slides
while cornering, steer in the direction of the
slide until you regain control of the vehicle. Note:
Excessive tire slippage can cause
transmission 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
does not 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 147). Maintenance and Modifications
The suspension and steering systems on your
vehicle 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
you use caution 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. If the vehicle experiences
off-highway use, check the vehicle chassis
components more frequently.
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GENERAL INFORMATION
Note:
Occasional brake noise is normal. If a
metal-to-metal, continuous grinding or
continuous squeal sound is present, the brake
linings may be worn-out. Have the system
checked by an authorized dealer. If your vehicle
has continuous vibration or shudder in the
steering wheel while braking, have it checked
by an authorized dealer.
Note: Brake dust may accumulate on the
wheels, even under normal driving conditions.
Some dust is inevitable as the brakes wear
and does not contribute to brake noise. See
Cleaning the Alloy Wheels (page 261). See
Warning Lamps and
Indicators (page 84).
Wet brakes result in reduced braking
efficiency. Gently press the brake pedal a few
times when driving from a car wash or
standing water to dry the brakes.
Brake Over Accelerator
In the event the accelerator pedal becomes
stuck or entrapped, apply steady and firm
pressure to the brake pedal to slow the
vehicle and reduce engine power. If you
experience this condition, apply the brakes
and bring your vehicle to a safe stop. Move the transmission to park (P), switch the
engine off and apply the parking brake.
Inspect the accelerator pedal for any
interference. If none are found and the
condition persists, have your vehicle towed
to the nearest authorized dealer.
Brake Assist
Brake assist detects when you brake rapidly
by measuring the rate at which you press the
brake pedal. It provides maximum braking
efficiency as long as you press the pedal, and
can reduce stopping distances in critical
situations.
Anti-lock Brake System
This system helps you maintain steering
control during emergency stops by keeping
the brakes from locking.
This lamp momentarily illuminates
when you turn the ignition on. If the
light does not illuminate during
start up, remains on or flashes, the system
may be disabled. Have the system checked
by an authorized dealer. If the anti-lock brake
system is disabled, normal braking is still
effective. If the brake warning lamp
illuminates when you release the
parking brake, have the system
checked by an authorized dealer.
HINTS ON DRIVING WITH ANTI-
LOCK BRAKES
Note: When the system is operating, the brake
pedal will pulse and may travel further.
Maintain pressure on the brake pedal. You may
also hear a noise from the system. This is
normal.
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.
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