Before starting the engine check thefollowing:
•Make sure all occupants have fastenedtheir safety belts.
•Make sure the headlamps andelectrical accessories are off.
•Make sure the parking brake is on.
•Make sure the transmission is in park(P) or neutral (N).
•Turn the ignition key to the on position.
Note:Do not touch the accelerator pedal.
1.Fully press the brake pedal.
2.Turn the key to the start position tostart the engine. Release the key whenthe engine starts.
Note:The engine may continue crankingfor up to 15 seconds or until it starts.
Note:If you cannot start the engine on thefirst try, wait for a short period and try again.
Failure to Start
If you cannot start the engine after threeattempts, wait 10 seconds and follow thisprocedure:
1.Fully press the brake pedal.
2.Fully press the accelerator pedal andhold it there.
3.Start the engine.
Stopping the Engine When YourVehicle is Stationary
1.Shift into park (P) or neutral (N).
2.Turn the key to the off position.
3.Apply the parking brake.
Stopping the Engine When YourVehicle is Moving
WARNING
Switching off the engine when thevehicle is still moving will result in aloss of brake and steering assistance.The steering will not lock, but higher effortwill be required. When the ignition isswitched off, some electrical circuits,including air bags, warning lamps andindicators may also be off. If the ignitionwas turned off accidentally, you can shiftinto neutral (N) and re-start the engine.
1.Put the transmission into neutral (N)and use the brakes to bring your vehicleto a safe stop.
2.When your vehicle has stopped, shiftinto park (P) or neutral (N) and switchthe ignition off.
3.Apply the parking brake.
Guarding Against Exhaust Fumes
WARNING
If you smell exhaust fumes insideyour vehicle, have your vehiclechecked by your authorized dealerimmediately. Do not drive your vehicle ifyou smell exhaust fumes. Carbonmonoxide is present in exhaust fumes.Take precautions to avoid its dangerouseffects.
Important Ventilating Information
If you stop your vehicle and then leave theengine idling for long periods of time, werecommend that you do one of thefollowing:
•Open the windows at least 1 in (3 cm).
•Set your climate control to outside air.
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ENGINE BLOCK HEATER (If
Equipped)
WARNINGS
Failure to follow engine block heaterinstructions could result in propertydamage or serious personal injury.
Do not use your heater withungrounded electrical systems ortwo-pronged adapters. There is a riskof electrical shock.
Do not fully close the hood, or allowit to drop under its own weight whenusing the engine block heater. Thiscould damage the power cable and maycause an electrical short resulting in fire,injury and property damage.
Note:The heater is most effective whenoutdoor temperatures are below 0°F(-18°C).
The heater acts as a starting aid bywarming the engine coolant. This allowsthe climate control system to respondquickly. The equipment includes a heaterelement (installed in the engine block) anda wire harness. You can connect thesystem to a grounded 120-volt ACelectrical source.
We recommend that you do the followingfor a safe and correct operation:
•Use a 16-gauge outdoor extension cordthat is product certified byUnderwriter’s Laboratory (UL) orCanadian Standards Association(CSA). This extension cord must besuitable for use outdoors, in cold
temperatures, and be clearly markedSuitable for Use with OutdoorAppliances. Do not use an indoorextension cord outdoors. This couldresult in an electric shock or become afire hazard.
•Use as short an extension cord aspossible.
•Do not use multiple extension cords.
•Make sure that when in operation, theextension cord plug and heater cordplug connections are free and clear ofwater. This could cause an electricshock or fire.
•Make sure your vehicle is parked in aclean area, clear of combustibles.
•Make sure the heater, heater cord andextension cord are firmly connected.
•Check for heat anywhere in theelectrical hookup once the system hasbeen operating for approximately 30minutes.
•Make sure the system is unplugged andproperly stowed before starting anddriving your vehicle. Make sure theprotective cover seals the prongs of theblock heater cord plug when not in use.
•Make sure the heater system ischecked for proper operation beforewinter.
Using the Engine Block Heater
Make sure the receptacle terminals areclean and dry prior to use. Clean them witha dry cloth if necessary.
The heater uses 0.4 to 1.0 kilowatt-hoursof energy per hour of use. The system doesnot have a thermostat. It achievesmaximum temperature afterapproximately three hours of operation.Using the heater longer than three hoursdoes not improve system performance andunnecessarily uses electricity.
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Body
•Wash your vehicle thoroughly toremove dirt, grease, oil, tar or mud fromexterior surfaces, rear-wheel housingand the underside of front fenders.
•Periodically wash your vehicle if it isstored in exposed locations.
•Touch-up exposed or primed metal toprevent rust.
•Cover chrome and stainless steel partswith a thick coat of auto wax to preventdiscoloration. Re-wax as necessarywhen you wash your vehicle.
•Lubricate all hood, door and luggagecompartment hinges and latches witha light grade oil.
•Cover interior trim to prevent fading.
•Keep all rubber parts free from oil andsolvents.
Engine
•Change the engine oil and filter prior tostorage because used engine oilcontains contaminates which maycause engine damage.
•Start the engine every 15 days for aminimum of 15 minutes. Run at fast idlewith the climate controls set to defrostuntil the engine reaches normaloperating temperature.
•With your foot on the brake, shiftthrough all the gears while the engineis running.
•We recommend that you change theengine oil before you use your vehicleagain.
Fuel system
•Fill the fuel tank with high-quality fueluntil the first automatic shutoff of thefuel pump nozzle.
Cooling system
•Protect against freezing temperatures.
•When removing your vehicle fromstorage, check coolant fluid level.Confirm that there are no coolingsystem leaks and that fluid is at therecommended level.
Battery
•Check and recharge as necessary. Keepconnections clean.
•If storing your vehicle for more than 30days without recharging the battery,we recommend that you disconnectthe battery cables to maintain batterycharge for quick starting.
Note:It is necessary to reset memoryfeatures if battery cables are disconnected.
Brakes
•Make sure the brakes and parking brakerelease fully.
Tires
•Maintain recommended air pressure.
Miscellaneous
•Make sure all linkages, cables, leversand pins under your vehicle are coveredwith grease to prevent rust.
•Move vehicles at least 25 ft (7.5 m)every 15 days to lubricate working partsand prevent corrosion.
Removing Vehicle From Storage
When your vehicle is ready to come out ofstorage, do the following:
•Wash your vehicle to remove any dirtor grease film build-up on windowsurfaces.
•Check windshield wipers for anydeterioration.
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TIRE CARE
Information About UniformTire Quality Grading
Tire Quality Grades apply to newpneumatic passenger car tires.The Quality grades can be foundwhere applicable on the tiresidewall between tread shoulderand maximum section width. Forexample: Treadwear 200Traction AA Temperature A.
These Tire Quality Grades aredetermined by standards that theUnited States Department ofTransportation has set.
Tire Quality Grades apply to newpneumatic passenger car tires.They do not apply to deep tread,winter-type snow tires,space-saver or temporary usespare tires, light truck or LT typetires, tires with nominal rimdiameters of 10 to 12 inches orlimited production tires as definedin Title 49 Code of FederalRegulations Part 575.104 (c)(2).
U.S. Department ofTransportation Tire qualitygrades: The U.S. Department ofTransportation requires FordMotor Company to give you thefollowing information about tiregrades exactly as the governmenthas written it.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is acomparative rating based on thewear rate of the tire when testedunder controlled conditions on aspecified government test course.For example, a tire graded 150would wear 1 ½ times as well onthe government course as a tiregraded 100. The relativeperformance of tires dependsupon the actual conditions of their
use, however, and may departsignificantly from the norm due tovariations in driving habits, servicepractices, and differences in roadcharacteristics and climate.
Traction AA A B C
WARNING
The traction grade assignedto this tire is based onstraight-ahead braking tractiontests, and does not includeacceleration, cornering,hydroplaning or peak tractioncharacteristics.
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Rotating your tires at therecommended interval (asindicated in the ScheduledMaintenance chapter) will helpyour tires wear more evenly,providing better tire performanceand longer tire life.
Dual rear wheel drive vehicle - sixtire rotation
If your vehicle is equipped withdual rear wheels it isrecommended that the front andrear tires (in pairs) be rotated onlyside to side. We do notrecommend splitting up the dual
rear wheels. Rotate them side toside as a set. After tire rotation,inflation pressures must beadjusted for the tires newpositions in accordance withvehicle requirements.
Sometimes irregular tire wear canbe corrected by rotating the tires.
USING SNOW CHAINS
WARNING
Snow tires must be the same size,load index, and speed rating as thoseoriginally provided by Ford. Use ofany tire or wheel not recommended byFord can affect the safety andperformance of your vehicle, which couldresult in an increased risk of loss of vehiclecontrol, vehicle rollover, personal injury,and death. Additionally, the use ofnon-recommended tires and wheels couldcause steering, suspension, axle, transfercase, or power transfer unit failure. It is alsostrongly advised to follow the Fordrecommended tire inflation pressure foundon the Safety Compliance CertificationLabel (affixed to either the door hingepillar, door-latch post, or the door edgethat meets the door-latch post, next to thedriver’s seating position), or Tire Labelwhich is located on the B-Pillar or the edgeof the driver door. Failure to follow the tirepressure recommendations can causeuneven treadwear patterns and adverselyaffect the way your vehicle handles.
The tires on your vehicle have all-weathertreads to provide traction in rain and snow.However, in some climates, you may needto use snow tires and cables. If you needto use cables, it is recommended that steelwheels (of the same size andspecifications) be used, as cables may chipaluminum wheels.
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