2016 FORD FLEX maintenance

Introduction
About This Manual...........................................7
Symbols Glossary
.............................................7
Data Recording
..................................................9
California Proposition 65..............................11
Perchlorate.........................................................11
Ford Credit
..........................................................11
Replacement Parts Recommendation
........................................11
Special Notices................................................12
Mobile Communications Equipment.....................................................12
Export Unique Options..................................13
Environment
Protecting the Environment........................14
Child Safety
General Information
.......................................15
Installing Child Restraints
............................16
Booster Seats..................................................25
Child Restraint Positioning
..........................27
Child Safety Locks.........................................29
Seatbelts
Principle of Operation....................................31
Fastening the Seatbelts...............................32
Seatbelt Height Adjustment......................36
Seatbelt Warning Lamp and Indicator Chime.............................................................36
Seatbelt Reminder.........................................37
Child Restraint and Seatbelt Maintenance................................................39
Personal Safety System ™
Personal Safety System ™
.........................40
Supplementary Restraints System
Principle of Operation...................................41 Driver and Passenger Airbags....................42
Front Passenger Sensing System............43
Side Airbags
.....................................................45
Safety Canopy ™
............................................46
Crash Sensors and Airbag Indicator........47
Airbag Disposal..............................................48
Keys and Remote Controls
General Information on Radio Frequencies.................................................49
Remote Control
..............................................49
Replacing a Lost Key or Remote Control...........................................................53
MyKey ™
Principle of Operation..................................54
Creating a MyKey
............................................55
Clearing All MyKeys
.......................................56
Checking MyKey System Status...............57
Using MyKey With Remote Start Systems.........................................................58
MyKey Troubleshooting...............................58
Locks
Locking and Unlocking
................................60
Manual Liftgate...............................................63
Power Liftgate
.................................................64
Keyless Entry....................................................67
Security
Passive Anti-Theft System.........................70
Anti-Theft Alarm.............................................71
Steering Wheel
Adjusting the Steering Wheel - Vehicles With: Manual Adjustable Steering
Column...........................................................72
Adjusting the Steering Wheel - Vehicles With: Power Adjustable Steering
Column...........................................................72
Audio Control...................................................73
1
Flex (), enUSA, First Printing Table of Contents

Post-Crash Alert System..........................225
Customer Assistance
Getting the Services You Need...............226
In California (U.S. Only).............................227
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) Auto
Line Program (U.S. Only)......................228
Utilizing the Mediation/Arbitration Program (Canada Only).......................229
Getting Assistance Outside the U.S. and Canada........................................................229
Ordering Additional Owner's Literature....................................................230
Reporting Safety Defects (U.S. Only)..............................................................231
Reporting Safety Defects (Canada Only)..............................................................231
Fuses
Fuse Specification Chart...........................233
Changing a Fuse...........................................242
Maintenance
General Information
...................................243
Opening and Closing the Hood..............243
Under Hood Overview - 3.5L Duratec........................................................245
Under Hood Overview - 3.5L Ecoboost™................................................246
Engine Oil Dipstick.......................................247
Engine Oil Check..........................................247
Oil Change Indicator Reset.......................247
Engine Coolant Check
...............................248
Automatic Transmission Fluid Check ............................................................
252
Brake Fluid Check........................................253
Power Steering Fluid Check.....................254
Washer Fluid Check....................................254
Changing the 12V Battery.........................254
Checking the Wiper Blades.....................256
Changing the Wiper Blades.....................256 Adjusting the Headlamps.........................257
Removing a Headlamp.............................258
Changing a Bulb...........................................258
Bulb Specification Chart
............................261
Changing the Engine Air Filter................263
Vehicle Care
General Information
...................................264
Cleaning Products
.......................................264
Cleaning the Exterior..................................264
Waxing.............................................................265
Cleaning the Engine
...................................266
Cleaning the Windows and Wiper Blades..........................................................266
Cleaning the Interior...................................267
Cleaning the Instrument Panel and Instrument Cluster Lens........................267
Cleaning Leather Seats.............................268
Repairing Minor Paint Damage..............268
Cleaning the Alloy Wheels
.......................268
Vehicle Storage
............................................269
Wheels and Tires
General Information.....................................271
Tire Care
...........................................................273
Using Snow Chains.....................................287
Tire Pressure Monitoring System..........288
Changing a Road Wheel
............................291
Technical Specifications..........................296
Capacities and Specific- ations
Engine Specifications - 3.5L Duratec........................................................297
Engine Specifications - 3.5L Ecoboost™................................................297
Motorcraft Parts - 3.5L Duratec.............298
Motorcraft Parts - 3.5L Ecoboost™......299
Vehicle Identification Number...............300
Vehicle Certification Label........................301
4
Flex (), enUSA, First Printing Table of Contents

Transmission Code Designation.............301
Capacities and Specifications - 3.5L
Duratec........................................................302
Capacities and Specifications - 3.5L Ecoboost™................................................305
Audio System
General Information
....................................310
Audio Unit - Vehicles With: AM/FM/CD/ SYNC/Satellite Radio..............................311
Audio Unit - Vehicles With: Premium AM/ FM/CD...........................................................315
Audio Unit - Vehicles With: Sony AM/FM/ CD
...................................................................316
USB Port
...........................................................317
Media Hub
........................................................317
SYNC™
General Information....................................318
Using Voice Recognition
...........................320
Using SYNC™ With Your Phone............323
SYNC™ Applications and Services
......336
SYNC™ AppLink ™
.....................................344
Using SYNC™ With Your Media Player...........................................................346
SYNC™ Troubleshooting
.........................356
Accessories
Accessories....................................................365
Extended Service Plan (ESP)
Extended Service Plan (ESP)
.................367
Scheduled Maintenance
General Maintenance Information.......369
Normal Scheduled Maintenance...........372
Special Operating Conditions Scheduled Maintenance..............................................375
Scheduled Maintenance Record
............377 Appendices
End User License Agreement
.................388
5
Flex (), enUSA, First Printing Table of Contents

CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION 65
WARNINGS
Some constituents of engine
exhaust, certain vehicle components,
certain fluids contained in vehicles
and certain products of component wear
contain or emit chemicals known to the
State of California to cause cancer and
birth defects or other reproductive harm. Battery posts, terminals and related
accessories contain lead and lead
compounds, chemicals known to the
State of California to cause cancer and
reproductive harm. Batteries also contain
other chemicals known to the State of
California to cause cancer. Wash your
hands after handling. PERCHLORATE
Certain components in your vehicle such
as airbag modules, safety belt
pretensioners and remote control batteries
may contain perchlorate material. Special
handling may apply for service or vehicle
end of life disposal.
For more information visit:
Web Address
www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/ perchlorate
FORD CREDIT
(U.S. Only)
Ford Credit offers a full range of financing
and lease plans to help you acquire your
vehicle. If you have financed or leased your
vehicle through Ford Credit, thank you for
your business. For your convenience we offer a number
of ways to contact us, as well as to help
manage your account.
Phone: 1-800-727-7000
For more information regarding Ford Credit,
as well as to access Account Manager,
please go to www.fordcredit.com.
REPLACEMENT PARTS
RECOMMENDATION
Your vehicle has been built to the highest
standards using quality parts. We
recommend that you demand the use of
genuine Ford and Motorcraft parts
whenever your vehicle requires scheduled
maintenance or repair. You can clearly
identify genuine Ford and Motorcraft parts
by looking for the Ford, FoMoCo or
Motorcraft branding on the parts or their
packaging.
Scheduled Maintenance and
Mechanical Repairs
One of the best ways for you to make sure
that your vehicle provides years of service
is to have it maintained in line with our
recommendations using parts that
conform to the specifications detailed in
this Owner
’s Manual. Genuine Ford and
Motorcraft parts meet or exceed these
specifications.
Collision Repairs
We hope that you never experience a
collision, but accidents do happen. Genuine
Ford replacement collision parts meet our
stringent requirements for fit, finish,
structural integrity, corrosion protection
and dent resistance. During vehicle
11
Flex (), enUSA, First Printing Introduction

3. For the seating position you are
switching off, buckle then unbuckle the
safety belt three times at a moderate
speed, ending in the unbuckled state.
After Step 3, the safety belt warning
light turns on.
4. While the safety belt warning light is on, buckle and then unbuckle the
safety belt. After Step 4, the safety belt
warning light flashes for confirmation.
• This will switch the feature off for that
seating position if it is currently on.
• This will switch the feature on for that
seating position if it is currently off.
CHILD RESTRAINT AND
SEATBELT MAINTENANCE
Inspect the vehicle safety belts and child
safety seat systems periodically to make
sure they work properly and are not
damaged. Inspect the vehicle and child
seat safety belts to make sure there are no
nicks, tears or cuts. Replace if necessary.
All vehicle safety belt assemblies, including
retractors, buckles, front safety belt buckle
assemblies, buckle support assemblies
(slide bar-if equipped), shoulder belt
height adjusters (if equipped), shoulder
belt guide on seat back (if equipped), child
safety seat LATCH and tether anchors, and
attaching hardware, should be inspected
after a crash. Read the child restraint
manufacturer's instructions for additional
inspection and maintenance information
specific to the child restraint. Ford Motor Company recommends that
all safety belt assemblies in use in vehicles
involved in a crash be replaced. However,
if the crash was minor and an authorized
dealer finds that the belts do not show
damage and continue to operate properly,
they do not need to be replaced. Safety
belt assemblies not in use during a crash
should also be inspected and replaced if
either damage or improper operation is
noted.
Properly care for safety belts. See Vehicle
Care (page 264).
39
Flex (), enUSA, First Printing Seatbelts

PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
WARNINGS
Airbags do not inflate slowly or
gently, and the risk of injury from a
deploying airbag is the greatest close
to the trim covering the airbag module. All occupants of your vehicle,
including the driver, should always
properly wear their safety belts, even
when an airbag supplemental restraint
system is provided. Failure to properly wear
your safety belt could seriously increase
the risk of injury or death. Always transport children 12 years
old and under in the back seat and
always properly use appropriate
child restraints. Failure to follow this could
seriously increase the risk of injury or death. Never place your arm over the airbag
module as a deploying airbag can
result in serious arm fractures or
other injuries. Airbags can kill or injure a child in a
child seat. Never place a rear-facing
child seat in front of an active airbag.
If you must use a forward-facing child seat
in the front seat, move the seat upon which
the child seat is installed all the way back. Do not attempt to service, repair, or
modify the airbag supplemental
restraint systems or its fuses as you
could be seriously injured or killed. Contact
your authorized dealer as soon as possible. Several airbag system components
get hot after inflation. To reduce the
risk of injury, do not touch them after
inflation. If the airbag has deployed, the airbag
will not function again and must be
replaced immediately. If the airbag
is not replaced, the unrepaired area will
increase the risk of injury in a crash. The airbags are a supplemental restraint
system and are designed to work with the
safety belts to help protect the driver and
right front passenger from certain upper
body injuries. Airbags do not inflate slowly;
there is a risk of injury from a deploying
airbag.
Note:
You will hear a loud bang and see a
cloud of harmless powdery residue if an
airbag deploys. This is normal.
The airbags inflate and deflate rapidly
upon activation. After airbag deployment,
it is normal to notice a smoke-like, powdery
residue or smell the burnt propellant. This
may consist of cornstarch, talcum powder
(to lubricate the bag) or sodium
compounds (for example, baking soda)
that result from the combustion process
that inflates the airbag. Small amounts of
sodium hydroxide may be present which
may irritate the skin and eyes, but none of
the residue is toxic.
While the system is designed to help
reduce serious injuries, contact with a
deploying airbag may also cause abrasions
or swelling. Temporary hearing loss is also
a possibility as a result of the noise
associated with a deploying airbag.
Because airbags must inflate rapidly and
with considerable force, there is the risk of
death or serious injuries such as fractures,
facial and eye injuries or internal injuries,
particularly to occupants who are not
properly restrained or are otherwise out of
position at the time of airbag deployment.
Thus, it is extremely important that
occupants be properly restrained as far
away from the airbag module as possible
while maintaining vehicle control.
Routine maintenance of the airbags is not
required.
41
Flex (), enUSA, First Printing Supplementary Restraints System

The system consists of the following:
•
Safety canopy curtain airbags located
above the trim panels over the front
and rear side windows identified by a
label or wording on the headliner or
roof-pillar trim.
• A flexible headliner which opens above
the side doors to allow air curtain
deployment · Crash sensors and monitoring
system with readiness indicator.
See Crash Sensors and Airbag
Indicator (page 47).
Children 12 years old and under should
always be properly restrained in the rear
seats. The Safety Canopy will not interfere
with children restrained using a properly
installed child or booster seat because it
is designed to inflate downward from the
headliner above the doors along the side
window opening.
The design and development of the Safety
Canopy included recommended testing
procedures that were developed by a
group of automotive safety experts known
as the Side Airbag Technical Working
Group. These recommended testing
procedures help reduce the risk of injuries
related to the deployment of side airbags
(including the Safety Canopy). CRASH SENSORS AND
AIRBAG INDICATOR WARNING
Modifying or adding equipment to
the front end of the vehicle (including
frame, bumper, front end body
structure and tow hooks) may affect the
performance of the airbag system,
increasing the risk of injury. Do not modify
the front end of the vehicle. Your vehicle has a collection of crash and
occupant sensors which provide
information to the restraints control
module. The restraints control module
deploys (activates) the front safety belt
pretensioners, driver airbag, passenger
airbag, seat mounted side airbags, the
Safety Canopy and rear inflatable safety
belts. Based on the type of crash, the
restraints control module will deploy the
appropriate safety devices.
The restraints control module also
monitors the readiness of the above safety
devices plus the crash and occupant
sensors. The readiness of the safety
system is indicated by a warning indicator
light in the instrument cluster or by a
backup tone if the warning light is not
working. Routine maintenance of the
airbag is not required.
A difficulty with the system is indicated by
one or more of the following:
The readiness light will not
illuminate immediately after the
ignition is turned on.
• The readiness light will either flash or
stay lit.
• A series of five beeps will be heard. The
tone pattern will repeat periodically
until the problem, the light or both are
repaired.
47
Flex (), enUSA, First Printing Supplementary Restraints SystemE75004

Powertrain Malfunction/Reduced
Power
Illuminates when a powertrain
or an AWD fault has been
detected. Contact your
authorized dealer as soon as possible.
Service Engine Soon If the service engine soon
indicator light stays illuminated
after the engine is started, it
indicates that the On Board Diagnostics
system (OBD) has detected a malfunction
of the vehicle emissions control system.
Refer to On board diagnostics (OBD) in
the Fuel and Refueling chapter for more
information about having your vehicle
serviced. See Emission Control System
(page 158).
If the light is blinking, engine misfire is
occurring which could damage your
catalytic converter. Drive in a moderate
fashion (avoid heavy acceleration and
deceleration) and have your vehicle
serviced immediately. WARNING
Under engine misfire conditions,
excessive exhaust temperatures
could damage the catalytic
converter, the fuel system, interior floor
coverings or other vehicle components,
possibly causing a fire. Have an authorized
dealer service your vehicle immediately. The service engine soon indicator light
illuminates when the ignition is first turned
on prior to engine start to check the bulb
and to indicate whether the vehicle is ready
for Inspection/Maintenance (I/M) testing. Normally, the service engine soon light will
stay on until the engine is cranked, then
turn itself off if no malfunctions are
present. However, if after 15 seconds the
service engine soon light blinks eight times,
it means that the vehicle is not ready for
I/M testing. See
Emission Control
System (page 158).
Stability Control It will flash when the system is
active. If it remains illuminated
or does not illuminate when you
switch the ignition on, this indicates a
malfunction. During a malfunction the
system will switch off. Have the system
checked by your authorized dealer
immediately. See
Using Stability
Control (page 176).
Stability Control Off It will illuminate when you switch
the system off. It will go out
when you switch the system
back on or when you switch the ignition
off. See
Using Stability Control (page
176).
Directional Indicator Illuminates when you switch on
the left or right or the hazard
warning flasher. If the indicators
stay on or flash faster, check for a burned
out bulb. See Changing a Bulb (page 258).
AUDIBLE WARNINGS AND
INDICATORS
Key in Ignition Warning Chime
Sounds when you open the driver's door
and you have left the key in the ignition.
95
Flex (), enUSA, First Printing Instrument Cluster E138639