
The safety belt pretensioners at the front
seating positions are designed to tighten
the safety belts when activated. In frontal
and near-frontal crashes, side crashes and
rollovers, the safety belt pretensioners may
be activated alone or, if the crash is of
sufficient severity, together with the front
airbags.
FASTENING THE SAFETY
BELTS
The front outboard and rear safety
restraints in the vehicle are combination
lap and shoulder belts.
1. Insert the belt tongue into the proper
buckle (the buckle closest to the
direction the tongue is coming from)
until you hear a snap and feel it latch.
Make sure the tongue is securely
fastened in the buckle. 2. To unfasten, press the release button
and remove the tongue from the
buckle.
Using Safety Belts During
Pregnancy WARNING
Always ride and drive with your
seatback upright and the safety belt
properly fastened. The lap portion of
the safety belt should fit snug and be
positioned low across the hips. The
shoulder portion of the safety belt should
be positioned across the chest. Pregnant
women should also follow this practice.
See the following figure. 27
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ANTI-THEFT ALARM
Alarm System
The perimeter alarm is a deterrent against
unauthorized access to your vehicle
through the doors, luggage compartment
and the hood.
Triggering the Alarm
Once armed, the alarm is triggered in any
of the following ways:
•
If someone opens a door, cargo area
or the hood without a valid key or
remote control.
• If you switch the ignition on without a
valid key.
If the alarm is triggered, the horn will sound
for 30 seconds and the hazard warning
flasher will flash for five minutes.
Any further attempts to perform one of the
above will trigger the alarm again.
Arming the Alarm
To arm the alarm, lock your vehicle. See
Locks (page 48).
Disarming the Alarm
Disarm and silence the alarm by unlocking
the doors with the key and switching the
ignition on within 12 seconds, or by
unlocking the doors or the cargo area with
the remote control.
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Brake System
Action
Message
The brake fluid level is low. Check the brake system immedi-ately. See Brake Fluid Check (page 186).
Brake Fluid Level LOW
The brake system needs servicing. Stop the vehicle in a safeplace. Contact an authorized dealer.
Check Brake System
The parking brake is set, the engine is running and you drive
your vehicle more than 3 mph (5 km/h). If the warning stays
on after you release the parking brake, contact an authorized dealer as soon as possible.
Park Brake Engaged
Doors and Locks Action
Message
The driver door is not completely closed.
Driver Door Ajar
The passenger door is not completely closed.
Passenger Door Ajar
The rear left door is not completely closed.
Rear Left Door Ajar
The rear right door is not completely closed.
Rear Right Door Ajar
The liftgate is not completely closed.
Liftgate Ajar
The hood is not completely closed.
Hood Ajar
The system has disabled the door switches.
Switches Inhibited
Security Mode
Electronic Stability Control Action
Message
The system detects a malfunction due to a blocked sensor.
ESC Service required
Displays the traction control system status.
ESC Off
Displays the traction control system status.
ESC On
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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 or out of gear:
1. Fully press down the brake pedal.
2. Move the gearshift lever into the
desired gear.
3. Come to a complete stop.
4. Move the gearshift lever and securely latch it in park (P). Park (P)
This position locks the transmission and
prevents the wheels from turning. 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), your
vehicle can be started and is free to roll.
Hold the brake pedal down while in this
position.
Drive (D)
Drive (D) is the normal driving position for
the best fuel economy. The overdrive
function allows automatic upshifts and
downshifts through gears one through six.
Low (L)
The low (L) button is located at the end
of the column shifter. Activating low (L)
gear:
•
Provides maximum engine braking.
• Will downshift to the lowest available
gear for the current vehicle speed;
allows for first gear when vehicle
reaches lower speeds.
• Is not intended for use under extended
or normal driving conditions and results
in lower fuel economy.
If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck In Mud
or Snow
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 minute or damage to the transmission and
tires may occur, or the engine may overheat.
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REAR LOADSPACE HATCHES
(If Equipped)
Use the key to lock and unlock the door.
Turn the handle to open it.
REAR UNDER FLOOR
STORAGE
Load Safe Label
Refer to the label on the trunk lid or liftgate
for additional information about the spare
wheel and tire.
Load Floor
Do not permanently remove the foam
structure under the load floor that
surrounds the spare tire. It is necessary to
properly support the load floor.
The maximum load floor cargo weight,
evenly distributed and with a full size spare
tire installed, is 800 lb (362 kg). ROOF RACKS AND LOAD
CARRIERS WARNING
When loading the roof racks, we
recommend you evenly distribute the
load, as well as maintain a low
center of gravity. Loaded vehicles, with
higher centers of gravity, may handle
differently than unloaded vehicles. Take
extra precautions, such as slower speeds
and increased stopping distance, when
driving a heavily loaded vehicle. The maximum recommended load, evenly
distributed on the crossbars, is:
•
100 lb (45 kg)
for vehicles without a
moonroof.
• 45 lb (20 kg)
for vehicles with a
moonroof.
For correct roof rack system function, you
must place loads directly on crossbars
affixed to the roof rack side rails. When
using the roof rack system, we recommend
you use Ford Genuine Accessory crossbars
designed specifically for your vehicle.
Make sure that you securely fasten the
load. Check the tightness of the load
before driving and at each fuel stop.
Thumbwheel Kit 137
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A thumbwheel kit is included in your
vehicle for tying light loads to your roof.
The kit is located in the glovebox.
Make sure to check that the thumbwheels
are tight each time you add or remove load
from the roof rack, and periodically while
traveling. Make sure that the load is secure
before traveling.
Note:
There may be snap caps in the side
rail, which must be removed before
installing the thumbwheels. These caps can
be removed by using a T25 torx tool or a
similar tool.
Adjusting the Crossbar (If Equipped)
Note: For less wind noise and better
aerodynamics, only install the crossbars
when you need them for carrying cargo.
Follow the steps to reposition or remove the
rear crossbar. You can remove the front
crossbar fasteners by unscrewing the
assembly. 1. Remove the crossbar bolts at both
sides of the front crossbar by using the
supplied torx tool or a similar tool.
2. Remove the crossbar by sliding the ends off of the side rails.
3. Move the crossbar to the new side rail position and slide onto rail. 4. Replace and tighten the bolts at both
sides of the crossbar by using the
supplied torx tool or a similar tool.
Note: There may be snap caps in the new
side rail position, which must be removed
before installing the crossbar. These caps
can be removed by using the supplied torx
tool or a similar tool.
LOAD LIMIT
Vehicle Loading - with and
without a Trailer
This section will guide you in the
proper loading of your vehicle,
trailer or both, to keep your loaded
vehicle weight within its design
rating capability, with or without
a trailer. Properly loading your
vehicle will provide maximum
return of vehicle design
performance. Before loading your
vehicle, familiarize yourself with
the following terms for
determining your vehicle ’s weight
ratings, with or without a trailer,
from the vehicle ’s Tire Label or
Safety Compliance Certification
Label:
Base Curb Weight -
is the weight
of the vehicle including a full tank
of fuel and all standard
equipment. It does not include
passengers, cargo, or optional
equipment.
Vehicle Curb Weight -
is the
weight of your new vehicle when
you picked it up from your
authorized dealer plus any
aftermarket equipment.
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ESSENTIAL TOWING CHECKS
Follow these guidelines for safe towing:
•
Do not tow a trailer until you drive your
vehicle at least 1000 miles (1600
kilometers).
• Consult your local motor vehicle laws
for towing a trailer.
• See the instructions included with
towing accessories for the proper
installation and adjustment
specifications.
• Service your vehicle more frequently if
you tow a trailer. See your scheduled
maintenance information.
• If you use a rental trailer, follow the
instructions the rental agency gives
you.
You can find information on load
specification terms found on the tire label
and Safety Compliance label as well as
instructions on calculating your vehicle's
load in the Load Carrying chapter. See
Load Limit (page 138).
Remember to account for the trailer
tongue weight as part of your vehicle load
when calculating the total vehicle weight.
Hitches
Do not use a hitch that either clamps onto
the bumper or attaches to the axle.
Distribute the trailer load so 10-15% of the
total trailer weight is on the tongue. Weight-distributing Hitches WARNING
Do not adjust a weight-distributing
hitch to any position where the rear
bumper of the vehicle is higher than
it was before attaching the trailer. Doing
so will defeat the function of the
weight-distributing hitch, which may cause
unpredictable handling, and could result
in serious personal injury. When hooking-up a trailer using a
weight-distributing hitch, always use the
following procedure:
1. Park the loaded vehicle, without the
trailer, on a level surface.
2. Measure the height to the top of your vehicle's front wheel opening on the
fender. This is H1.
3. Attach the loaded trailer to your vehicle
without the weight-distributing bars
connected.
4. Measure the height to the top of your vehicle's front wheel opening on the
fender a second time. This is H2.
5. Install and adjust the tension in the weight-distributing bars so that the
height of your vehicle's front wheel
opening on the fender is approximately
half the way down from H2, toward H1.
6. Check that the trailer is level or slightly
nose down toward your vehicle. If not,
adjust the ball height accordingly and
repeat Steps 2-6.
When the trailer is level or slightly nose
down toward the vehicle:
• Lock the bar tension adjuster in place.
• Check that the trailer tongue securely
attaches and locks onto the hitch.
• Install safety chains, lighting, and trailer
brake controls as required by law or the
trailer manufacturer.
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•
Transmissions give their best fuel
economy when operated in the top
cruise gear and with steady pressure
on the gas pedal.
• Four-wheel-drive operation (if
equipped) is less fuel efficient than
two-wheel-drive operation.
• Close the windows for high-speed
driving.
DRIVING THROUGH WATER WARNING
Do not drive through flowing or deep
water as you may lose control of your
vehicle.
Note:
Driving through standing water can
cause vehicle damage.
Note: Engine damage can occur if water
enters the air filter.
Before driving through standing water,
check the depth. Never drive through water
that is higher than the bottom of the front
rocker area of your vehicle. When driving through standing water, drive
very slowly and do not stop your vehicle.
Your brake performance and traction may
be limited. After driving through water and
as soon as it is safe to do so: •
Lightly press the brake pedal to dry the
brakes and to check that they work.
• Check that the horn works.
• Check that the exterior lights work.
• Turn the steering wheel to check that
the steering power assist works.
FLOOR MATS (If Equipped) WARNINGS
Always use floor mats that are
designed to fit the foot well of your
vehicle. Only use floor mats that
leave the pedal area unobstructed. Only
use floor mats that are firmly secured to
retention posts so that they cannot slip out
of position and interfere with the pedals
or impair safe operation of your vehicle in
other ways. Pedals that cannot move freely can
cause loss of vehicle control and
increase the risk of serious personal
injury. Always make sure that the floor
mats are properly attached to the
retention posts in the carpet that are
supplied with your vehicle. Floor mats must
be properly secured to both retention posts
to make sure mats do not shift out of
position. Never place floor mats or any other
covering in the vehicle foot well that
cannot be properly secured to
prevent them from moving and interfering
with the pedals or the ability to control the
vehicle. Never place floor mats or any other
covering on top of already installed
floor mats. Floor mats should always
rest on top of vehicle carpeting surface and
not another floor mat or other covering.
Additional floor mats or any other covering
will reduce the pedal clearance and
potentially interfere with pedal operation.
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