
At this time, you may notice your engine
coolant temperature gauge needle move
toward the H and the POWER REDUCED
TO LOWER TEMP message may appear in
the information display.
You may notice a reduction in vehicle speed
caused by reduced engine power. In order to
manage the engine fluid temperatures, your
vehicle may enter this mode if certain
high-temperature and high-load conditions
take place. The amount of speed reduction
depends on many factors such as vehicle
loading, towing, grade and ambient
temperature. If this occurs, there is no need
to pull off the road. You can continue to drive
your vehicle while this message is active.
The air conditioning may also cycle on and
off during severe operating conditions to
protect overheating of the engine. When the
engine coolant temperature decreases to a
normal operating temperature, the air
conditioning will turn on once again.
If the engine coolant temperature gauge
moves fully into the red (hot) area, or if the
coolant temperature warning or service
engine soon messages appear in your
information display:
1. Pull off the road as soon as safely possible and shift the transmission into
P
. 2.
Leave the engine running until the coolant
temperature gauge needle moves away
from the red (hot) area. After several
minutes, if the temperature does not
drop, follow the remaining steps.
3. Switch the engine off and wait for it to cool before checking the coolant level.
4. If the coolant level is normal, restart your
engine and continue.
5. If the coolant is low, add coolant, and restart the engine. See
Adding Engine
Coolant or How Fail-Safe Cooling
Works in this chapter for more
information.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FLUID CHECK
6F50/6F55 Transmission
(If Equipped) WARNINGS
The dipstick cap and surrounding
components may be hot, use gloves.
Use gloves when moving the air filter
assembly. Components will be hot. Note:
Automatic transmission fluid expands
when warmed. To obtain an accurate fluid
check, drive your vehicle until you warm it up,
approximately
20 mi (30 km). If you operate
your vehicle for an extended period at high
speeds, in city traffic during hot weather or
pulling a trailer, switch your vehicle off until it
reaches normal operating temperatures to
allow the fluid to cool before checking.
Depending on vehicle use, cooling times could
take up to 30 minutes or longer.
Refer to your scheduled maintenance
information for scheduled intervals for fluid
checks and changes. Your transmission does
not consume fluid. However, you should
check the fluid level if the transmission is not
working properly. For example, if the
transmission slips or shifts slowly or if you
notice some sign of a fluid leak.
1. Drive your vehicle 20 mi (30 km) or until it reaches normal operating temperature.
2. Park your vehicle on a level surface and engage the parking brake.
3. With the parking brake engaged and your
foot on the brake pedal, start the engine
and move the gearshift lever through all
of the gear ranges. Allow a minimum of
10 seconds for each gear to engage.
4. Put the gearshift lever in park (P) and leave the engine running.
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Note:
For vehicles with the EcoBoost engine,
move the air filter assembly aside to access
the transmission dipstick. See Moving the Air
Filter Assembly for more information.
5. Remove the dipstick and wipe it clean with a dry, lint free clean rag. If necessary,
refer to the Under hood overview in this
chapter for the location of the dipstick.
6. Install the dipstick making sure you fully seat it in the filler tube by turning it to the
locked position.
7. Remove the dipstick and inspect the fluid
level. The fluid should be in the
designated areas for normal operating
temperature.
Moving the Air Filter Assembly
(Accessing the Dipstick) WARNING
Do not run engine with the air filter
disconnected.
1. Switch the engine off. 2. Clean the area around the clamp that
connects the air filter assembly to the
rubber hose and then loosen it.
3. Remove the bolt cover. 4.
Remove two bolts that attach the air filter
assembly to the front of the vehicle.
5. Remove the harness retaining clip by pulling up.
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High fluid level
If the fluid level is above the MAX range of
the dipstick, remove fluid to reach the
hashmark level.
Note:
Fluid level above the MAX level may
cause shift or engagement concerns or
possible damage. An overheating condition
can cause high fluid levels. If you operate your
vehicle for an extended period at high speeds,
in city traffic during hot weather or pulling a
trailer, you should switch your vehicle off until
your vehicle reaches normal operating
temperatures. Depending on vehicle use,
cooling times could take up to 30 minutes or
longer. Adjusting Automatic Transmission Fluid
Levels
Before adding any fluid, make sure the correct
type is used. The type of fluid used is
normally indicated on the dipstick and in the
Technical Specifications section in this
chapter.
Note:
An overfill condition of transmission
fluid may cause shift or engagement concerns
or possible damage. Do not use supplemental transmission fluid
additives, treatments or cleaning agents. The
use of these materials may affect
transmission operation and result in damage
to internal transmission components.
Reinstall the air filter assembly. After you
check the fluid level and adjust as necessary,
do the following:
1. Switch the engine off.
2. Loosen the clamp holding the air filter
assembly to the rubber hose.
3. Seat the air filter assembly back into the grommets by pushing down on the air
filter assembly.
4. Tighten the clamp.
5. Install and tighten the two bolts that attach the air filter assembly to the front
of the vehicle.
6. Install the bolt cover.
7. Reinstall the harness retaining clip into the front of the air filter assembly.
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Because your vehicle
’s engine is electronically
controlled by a computer, some control
conditions are maintained by power from the
battery. When the battery is disconnected or
a new battery is installed, the engine must
relearn its idle and fuel trim strategy for
optimum driveability and performance.
Flexible fuel vehicles (FFV) must also relearn
the ethanol content of the fuel for optimum
driveability and performance.
To restore the settings, do the following:
1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Shift into park (P) or neutral (N).
3. Switch off all accessories.
4. Press the brake pedal and start your vehicle.
5. Run the engine until it reaches normal operating temperature. While the engine
is warming up, complete the following:
Reset the clock. See Audio System
(page 313). Reset the power windows
bounce-back feature. See Windows and
Mirrors
(page 78). Reset the radio
station presets. See Audio System
(page 313).
6. Allow the engine to idle for at least one minute. 7.
Drive the vehicle at least 10 mi (16 km) to
completely relearn the idle trim and fuel
trim strategy.
Note: If you do not allow the engine to relearn
the idle and fuel trim strategy, the idle quality
of your vehicle may be adversely affected until
the engine computer eventually relearns the
idle trim and fuel trim strategy.
Note: For flexible fuel vehicles, if you are
operating on E85, you may experience poor
starts or an inability to start the engine and
driveability problems until the fuel trim and
ethanol content have been relearned.
Make sure that you dispose of old batteries
in an environmentally friendly way. Seek
advice from your local authority about
recycling old batteries.
If storing your vehicle for more than 30 days
without recharging the battery, we
recommend that you disconnect the battery
cables to maintain battery charge for quick
starting. Battery Management System
(If
Equipped)
The battery management system monitors
battery conditions and takes actions to
extend battery life. If excessive battery drain
is detected, the system temporarily disables
some electrical systems to protect the
battery.
Systems included are:
• Heated rear window.
• Heated seats.
• Climate control.
• Heated steering wheel.
• Audio unit.
• Navigation system.
A message may appear in the information
displays to alert you that battery protection
actions are active. These messages are only
for notification that an action is taking place,
and not intended to indicate an electrical
problem or that the battery requires
replacement.
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CHANGING THE ENGINE AIR
FILTER
WARNING
Do not start the engine with the air
cleaner removed. This can cause
damage not covered by the vehicle
Warranty and can result in serious injury. When changing the air filter element, use only
the air filter element listed. See Capacities
and Specifications (page 296).
For vehicles with EcoBoost engines, when
servicing the air cleaner, it is important that
no foreign material enters the air induction
system. The engine and turbocharger are
susceptible to damage from even small
particles.
Change the air filter element at the correct
interval. See
Scheduled Maintenance
(page 321).
Note: Failure to use the correct air filter
element may result in severe engine damage.
Resulting component damage may not be
covered by the vehicle Warranty.
To replace the air filter element do the
following:
1. Switch the ignition off. 2.
Remove the clips that secure the air filter
housing cover.
3. Carefully lift the air filter housing cover.
4. Remove the air filter element from the air
filter housing.
5. Wipe any dirt or debris from the air filter housing and cover to make sure no dirt
gets in the engine and that you have a
good seal.
6. Install a new air filter element.
7. Install the air filter housing cover. Be careful not to crimp the filter element
edges between the air filter housing and
cover. This could cause filter damage
and allow unfiltered air to enter the
engine if it is not properly seated. 8. Engage the clips to secure the air filter
housing cover to the air filter housing.
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GENERAL INFORMATION
Your Ford or Lincoln authorized dealer has
many quality products available to clean your
vehicle and protect its finishes.
CLEANING PRODUCTS
For best results, use the following products
or products of equivalent quality:
Materials Specification
Name
-
Motorcraft Bug and Tar Remover
ZC-42
-
Motorcraft Custom Bright Metal Cleaner
ZC-15
ESR-M14P4-A
Motorcraft® Detail Wash
ZC-3-A
-
Motorcraft Engine Shampoo and Degreaser (U.S.)
ZC-20 (U.S.)
-
Engine Shampoo
-
Motorcraft Leather and Vinyl Cleaner
ZC-56
-
Multi-Purpose Cleaner
WSS-M14P19-A
Motorcraft® Premium Windshield Wash Concentrate with Bitterant (U.S.)
ZC-32-B2 (U.S.)
-
Professional Strength Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner
ZC-54
-
Motorcraft Spot and Stain Remover (U.S.)
ZC-14 (U.S.)
ESR-M14P5-A
Motorcraft® Ultra-Clear Spray Glass Cleaner (U.S.)
ZC-23 (U.S.)
-
Motorcraft® Wheel and Tire Cleaner
ZC-37-A
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WAXING
Regular waxing is necessary to protect your
car's paint from the elements. We
recommend that you wash and wax the
painted surface once or twice a year.
When washing and waxing, park your vehicle
in a shaded area out of direct sunlight. Always
wash your vehicle before applying wax.
•
Use a quality wax that does not contain
abrasives.
• Follow the manufacturer ’s instructions
to apply and remove the wax.
• Apply a small amount of wax in a
back-and-forth motion, not in circles.
• Do not allow wax to come in contact with
any non-body (low-gloss black) colored
trim. The wax will discolor or stain the
parts over time.
•Roof racks.
• Bumpers.
• Grained door handles.
• Side moldings.
• Mirror housings.
• Windshield cowl area. •
Do not apply wax to glass areas.
• After waxing, your car's paint should feel
smooth, and be free of streaks and
smudges.
CLEANING THE ENGINE
Engines are more efficient when they are
clean because grease and dirt buildup keep
the engine warmer than normal.
When washing:
• Take care when using a power washer to
clean the engine. The high-pressure fluid
could penetrate the sealed parts and
cause damage.
• Do not spray a hot engine with cold water
to avoid cracking the engine block or
other engine components.
• Spray Motorcraft Engine Shampoo and
Degreaser on all parts that require
cleaning and pressure rinse clean. In
Canada, use Motorcraft Engine Shampoo.
• Never wash or rinse the engine while it is
hot or running; water in the running engine
may cause internal damage. •
Never wash or rinse any ignition coil, spark
plug wire or spark plug well, or the area
in and around these locations.
• Cover the battery, power distribution box,
and air filter assembly to prevent water
damage when cleaning the engine.
CLEANING THE WINDOWS AND
WIPER BLADES
Car wash chemicals and environmental
fallout can result in windshield and wiper
blade contamination. Dirty windshield and
wipers will result in poor windshield wiper
operation. Keep the windshield and wiper
blades clean to maintain windshield wiper
performance.
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CLEANING THE ALLOY WHEELS
Note:
Do not apply a cleaning chemical to
warm or hot wheel rims and covers.
Note: Some automatic car washes may cause
damage to the finish on your wheel rims and
covers.
Note: Industrial-strength or heavy-duty
cleaners in combination with brush agitation
to remove brake dust and dirt, could wear
away the clear coat finish over a period time.
Note: Do not use hydrofluoric acid-based or
high caustic-based wheel cleaners, steel wool,
fuels or strong household detergents.
Note: If you intend parking your vehicle for an
extended period after cleaning the wheels with
a wheel cleaner, drive your vehicle for a few
minutes before doing so. This will reduce the
risk of increased corrosion of the brake discs.
Alloy wheels and wheel covers are coated
with a clear coat paint finish. To maintain
their condition we recommend that you:
• Clean the wheels weekly using Motorcraft
Wheel and Tire Cleaner. Apply using
manufacturer's instructions.
• Use a sponge to remove heavy deposits
of dirt and brake dust accumulation. •
Rinse thoroughly with a strong stream of
water when you have completed the
cleaning process.
• To remove tar and grease, use Motorcraft
Bug and Tar Remover.
VEHICLE STORAGE
If you plan on storing your vehicle for 30 days
or more, read the following maintenance
recommendations to make sure your vehicle
stays in good operating condition.
We engineer and test all motor vehicles and
their components for reliable, regular driving.
Under various conditions, long-term storage
may lead to degraded engine performance
or failure unless you use specific precautions
to preserve engine components.
General
• Store all vehicles in a dry, ventilated
place.
• Protect from sunlight, if possible.
• If vehicles are stored outside, they require
regular maintenance to protect against
rust and damage. Body
•
Wash your vehicle thoroughly to remove
dirt, grease, oil, tar or mud from exterior
surfaces, rear-wheel housing and the
underside of front fenders.
• Periodically wash your vehicle if it is
stored in exposed locations.
• Touch-up exposed or primed metal to
prevent rust.
• Cover chrome and stainless steel parts
with a thick coat of auto wax to prevent
discoloration. Re-wax as necessary when
you wash your vehicle.
• Lubricate all hood, door and luggage
compartment hinges and latches with a
light grade oil.
• Cover interior trim to prevent fading.
• Keep all rubber parts free from oil and
solvents.
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