TOWING A TRAILER
WARNINGS
Do not exceed the GVWR or the
GAWR specified on the
certification label. Towing trailers beyond the
maximum recommended gross
trailer weight exceeds the limit of
your vehicle and could result in
engine damage, transmission
damage, structural damage, loss of
vehicle control, vehicle rollover and
personal injury. Note:
There may be electrical items
such as fuses or relays that can affect
trailer towing operation. See Fuses
(page 223).
The load capacity of your vehicle is
designated by weight not volume.
You may not necessarily be able to
use all available space when loading
your vehicle or trailer. Towing a trailer places extra load
on the engine, transmission, axle,
brakes, tires, and suspension.
Inspect these components before,
during and after towing.
Load Placement
To help minimize how trailer
movement affects the vehicle when
driving:
•
Load the heaviest items closest
to the trailer floor.
• Load the heaviest items in the
center of the left and right side
trailer tires. •
Load the heaviest items above
the trailer axles or just slightly
forward toward the trailer
tongue. Do not allow the final
trailer tongue weight to go above
or below 10-15% of the loaded
trailer weight.
• Select a ball mount with the
correct rise or drop. When both
the loaded vehicle and trailer are
connected, the trailer frame
should be level, or slightly angled
down toward the vehicle, when
viewed from the side.
When driving with a trailer or
payload, a slight takeoff vibration or
shudder may be present due to the
increased payload weight.
Additional information regarding
proper trailer loading and setting
your vehicle up for towing is located
in the Load Carrying chapter. See
Load Limit
(page 192).
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MKS (CLE) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, First Printing Towing
You can also find information in the
RV & Trailer Towing Guide
available at your authorized dealer,
or online. RV & Trailer Towing Guide Online
http://www.fleet.ford.com/towing-guides/
Website
RECOMMENDED TOWING
WEIGHTS
Note: Do not exceed the trailer
weight for your vehicle configuration
listed in the chart below.
Note: Be sure to take into
consideration trailer frontal area. Do
not exceed 12 feet 2
(1.11 meters 2
)
trailer frontal area. Note:
For high altitude operation,
reduce the gross combined weight
by 2% per 1000 feet (300 meters)
starting at the 1000 foot (300 meter)
elevation point.
Note: Certain states require electric
trailer brakes for trailers over a
specified weight. Be sure to check
state regulations for this specified
weight. The maximum trailer weights
listed may be limited to this specified
weight, as the vehicle ’s electrical
system may not include the wiring
connector needed to use electric
trailer brakes. Your vehicle may tow a Class I trailer
provided the maximum trailer
weight is less than or equal to the
maximum trailer weight listed for
your vehicle configuration on the
following chart. If your vehicle is
equipped with 3.7L engine, it cannot
tow a trailer.
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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 192).
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.
Safety Chains
Note:
Never attach safety chains to the
bumper.
Always connect the safety chains to the hook
retainers of your vehicle hitch.
To connect the safety chains, cross them
under the trailer tongue and allow enough
slack for turning tight corners. Do not allow
the chains to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes WARNING
Do not connect a trailer's hydraulic
brake system directly to your vehicle's
brake system. Your vehicle may not
have enough braking power and your chances
of having a collision greatly increase. Electric brakes and manual, automatic or
surge-type trailer brakes are safe if you install
them properly and adjust them to the
manufacturer's specifications. The trailer
brakes must meet local and federal
regulations.
The rating for the tow vehicle's braking
system operation is at the gross vehicle
weight rating, not the gross combined
weight rating.
Trailer Lamps
WARNING
Never connect any trailer lamp wiring
to the vehicle's tail lamp wiring; this
may damage the electrical system
resulting in fire. Contact your authorized
dealer as soon as possible for assistance in
proper trailer tow wiring installation.
Additional electrical equipment may be
required. Trailer lamps are required on most towed
vehicles. Make sure all running lights, brake
lights, turn signals and hazard lights are
working.
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Before Towing a Trailer
Practice turning, stopping and backing up to
get the feel of your vehicle-trailer
combination before starting on a trip. When
turning, make wider turns so the trailer
wheels clear curbs and other obstacles.
When Towing a Trailer
•
Do not drive faster than 70 mph (113
km/h) during the first 500 miles (800
kilometers).
• Do not make full-throttle starts.
• Check your hitch, electrical connections
and trailer wheel lug nuts thoroughly after
you have traveled 50 miles (80
kilometers).
• When stopped in congested or heavy
traffic during hot weather, place the
gearshift in position P to aid engine and
transmission cooling and to help A/C
performance.
• Turn off the speed control with heavy
loads or in hilly terrain. The speed control
may turn off automatically when you are
towing on long, steep grades.
• Shift to a lower gear when driving down
a long or steep hill. Do not apply the
brakes continuously, as they may
overheat and become less effective. •
If your transmission is equipped with a
Grade Assist or Tow/Haul feature, use
this feature when towing. This provides
engine braking and helps eliminate
excessive transmission shifting for
optimum fuel economy and transmission
cooling.
• Allow more distance for stopping with a
trailer attached. Anticipate stops and
brake gradually.
• Avoid parking on a grade. However, if you
must park on a grade:
1. Turn the steering wheel to point your vehicle tires away from traffic flow.
2. Set your vehicle parking brake.
3. Place the automatic transmission in position
P.
4. Place wheel chocks in front and back of the trailer wheels. (Chocks not included
with vehicle.)
Launching or Retrieving a Boat or
Personal Watercraft (PWC)
Note: Disconnect the wiring to the trailer
before
backing the trailer into the water.
Note: Reconnect the wiring to the trailer after
removing the trailer from the water. When backing down a ramp during boat
launching or retrieval:
•
Do not allow the static water level to rise
above the bottom edge of the rear
bumper.
• Do not allow waves to break higher than
6 inches (15 centimeters) above the
bottom edge of the rear bumper.
Exceeding these limits may allow water to
enter vehicle components:
• Causing internal damage to the
components.
• Affecting driveability, emissions, and
reliability.
Any time the rear axle submerges in water,
replace the rear axle lubricant. Water may
contaminate the rear axle lubricant, which is
not a normal maintenance inspection item
unless there is a possibility of a leak or other
axle repair is required.
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MKS (CLE) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, First Printing Towing
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 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. WARNINGS
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. Check attachment of floor mats on a
regular basis. Always properly reinstall
and secure floor mats that have been
removed for cleaning or replacement. Always make sure that objects cannot
fall into the driver foot well while the
vehicle is moving. Objects that are
loose can become trapped under the pedals
causing a loss of vehicle control. Failure to properly follow floor mat
installation or attachment instructions
can potentially cause interference with
pedal operation causing a loss of vehicle
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MKS (CLE) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, First Printing Driving HintsE176360
Engine
•
Change the engine oil and filter prior to
storage because used engine oil contains
contaminates which may cause engine
damage.
• Start the engine every 15 days for a
minimum of 15 minutes. Run at fast idle
with the climate controls set to defrost
until the engine reaches normal operating
temperature.
• With your foot on the brake, shift through
all the gears while the engine is running.
• We recommend that you change the
engine oil before you use your vehicle
again.
Fuel system
• Fill the fuel tank with high-quality fuel
until the first automatic shutoff of the fuel
pump nozzle.
Cooling system
• Protect against freezing temperatures.
• When removing your vehicle from
storage, check coolant fluid level. Confirm
that there are no cooling system leaks
and that fluid is at the recommended
level. Battery
•
Check and recharge as necessary. Keep
connections clean.
• 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.
Note: It is necessary to reset memory features
if battery cables are disconnected.
Brakes
• Make sure the brakes and parking brake
release fully.
Tires
• Maintain recommended air pressure.
Miscellaneous
• Make sure all linkages, cables, levers and
pins under your vehicle are covered with
grease to prevent rust.
• Move vehicles at least 25 ft (7.5 m) every
15 days to lubricate working parts and
prevent corrosion. Removing Vehicle From Storage
When your vehicle is ready to come out of
storage, do the following:
•
Wash your vehicle to remove any dirt or
grease film build-up on window surfaces.
• Check windshield wipers for any
deterioration.
• Check under the hood for any foreign
material that may have collected during
storage such as mice or squirrel nests.
• Check the exhaust for any foreign
material that may have collected during
storage.
• Check tire pressures and set tire inflation
per the Tire Label.
• Check brake pedal operation. Drive your
vehicle 15 ft (4.5 m) back and forth to
remove rust build-up.
• Check fluid levels (including coolant, oil
and gas) to make sure there are no leaks,
and fluids are at recommended levels.
• If you remove the battery, clean the
battery cable ends and check for damage.
Contact an authorized dealer if you have any
concerns or issues.
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MKS (CLE) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, First Printing Vehicle Care
A
A/C
See: Climate Control.............................................. 105
About This Manual................................................7 Protecting the Environment..................................... 7
ABS See: Brakes................................................................ 150
ABS driving hints See: Hints on Driving With Anti-Lock
Brakes..................................................................... 150
Accessories..........................................................317 Exterior style............................................................... 317
Interior style................................................................ 317
Lifestyle........................................................................\
317
Peace of mind............................................................ 317
Accessories See: Replacement Parts Recommendation......11
ACC See: Using Adaptive Cruise Control.................. 167
Active Park Assist..............................................158 Automatic Steering into Parking Space..........159
Deactivating the Park Assist Feature...............160
Troubleshooting the System................................ 161
Using Active Park Assist........................................ 158
Adaptive Headlamps.........................................75
Adjusting the Headlamps.............................258 Horizontal Aim Adjustment................................ 259
Vertical Aim Adjustment...................................... 258
Adjusting the Pedals.........................................68 Adjusting the Steering Wheel........................65
Easy Entry and Exit Feature................................... 65
End of Travel Position.............................................. 65
Memory Feature........................................................ 65
AFS See: Adaptive Headlamps...................................... 75
Airbag Disposal...................................................45
Air Conditioning See: Climate Control.............................................. 105
Air Filter See: Changing the Engine Air Filter.................. 262
Alarm See: Anti-Theft Alarm............................................. 64
All-Wheel Drive..................................................143
Ambient Lighting
.................................................77
Anti-Theft Alarm................................................64 Arming the Alarm...................................................... 64
Disarming the Alarm................................................ 64
Appendices.........................................................352
Audible Warnings and Indicators..................87 Headlamps On Warning Chime........................... 88
Keyless Warning Alert.............................................. 87
Parking Brake On Warning Chime...................... 88
Audio Control
.......................................................65
MEDIA........................................................................\
.... 66
Seek, Next or Previous............................................ 66
Audio System
......................................................313
General Information................................................ 313
Audio Unit - Vehicles With: Premium AM/ FM/CD................................................................314
Autolamps.............................................................72 Windshield Wiper Activated Headlamps..........72 Automatic Climate Control
...........................105
Automatic High Beam Control.......................74 Activating the System.............................................. 74
Manually Overriding the System.......................... 75
Automatic Transmission
................................140
Automatic Transmission Adaptive
Learning.................................................................. 142
Brake-Shift Interlock................................................ 141
If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck In Mud or Snow........................................................................\
142
SelectShift Automatic ™ Transmission............141
Understanding the Positions of Your Automatic Transmission.................................. 140
Automatic Transmission Fluid Check.................................................................250
6F50/6F55 Transmission................................... 250
Autowipers............................................................69
Auxiliary Power Points.....................................124 110 Volt AC Power Point......................................... 124
12 Volt DC Power Point........................................... 124
Locations..................................................................... 124
AWD See: All-Wheel Drive............................................... 143
B
Battery See: Changing the 12V Battery........................... 255
Blind Spot Information System
....................179
Switching the System Off and On..................... 181
System Errors............................................................. 181
Using the System.................................................... 180
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MKS (CLE) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, First Printing Index
Bonnet Lock
See: Opening and Closing the Hood...............240
Booster Seats.......................................................23 Types of Booster Seats........................................... 23
Brake Fluid Check.............................................254
Brakes....................................................................150 General Information............................................... 150
Breaking-In.........................................................208
Bulb Specification Chart...............................260
C
Cabin Air Filter....................................................108
California Proposition 65..................................10
Capacities and Specifications - 3.5L Ecoboost™......................................................302
Specifications.......................................................... 303
Capacities and Specifications - 3.7L.........307 Specifications.......................................................... 308
Capacities and Specifications
....................296
Car Wash See: Cleaning the Exterior................................... 264
Center Console
...................................................126
Changing a Bulb...............................................259
Front Fog Lamp....................................................... 259
High-Intensity Discharge Headlamps.............259
LED Lamps................................................................ 259
License Plate Lamp............................................... 259
Changing a Fuse................................................237 Fuses........................................................................\
.... 237Changing a Road Wheel................................289
Dissimilar Spare Wheel and Tire Assembly
Information.......................................................... 289
Stowing the flat tire............................................... 293
Tire Change Procedure.......................................... 291
Changing the 12V Battery..............................255 Battery Management System............................ 256
Changing the Engine Air Filter.....................262
Changing the Wiper Blades..........................257 Changing the Windshield Wiper Blades.........257
Checking MyKey System Status....................53
Checking the Wiper Blades
...........................257
Child Restraint and Seatbelt Maintenance
......................................................34
Child Restraint Positioning..............................25
Child Safety............................................................15 General Information.................................................. 15
Child Safety Locks
...............................................27
Left-Hand Side........................................................... 27
Right-Hand Side......................................................... 27
Cleaning Leather Seats..................................267
Cleaning Products............................................263
Cleaning the Alloy Wheels...........................268
Cleaning the Engine........................................265
Cleaning the Exterior
......................................264
Exterior Chrome Parts........................................... 264
Exterior Plastic Parts............................................. 264
Stripes or Graphics................................................. 264
Underbody................................................................ 264
Cleaning the Instrument Panel and Instrument Cluster Lens.............................266
Cleaning the Interior
.......................................266 Cleaning the Windows and Wiper
Blades................................................................265
Clearing All MyKeys............................................52
Climate Control
.................................................105
Climate Controlled Seats................................115
Cooled Seats.............................................................. 116
Heated Seats.............................................................. 115
Collision Warning System..............................187 PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION................................. 187
Coolant Check See: Engine Coolant Check................................. 247
Crash Sensors and Airbag Indicator............44
Creating a MyKey
.................................................51
Programming/Changing Configurable
Settings..................................................................... 51
Cross Traffic Alert..............................................182 False Alerts................................................................ 186
Switching the System Off and On.................... 186
System Errors............................................................ 186
System Lights, Messages and Audible Alerts....................................................................... 185
System Limitations................................................. 185
Using the System..................................................... 182
Cruise Control
......................................................66
Principle of Operation............................................ 166
Type 1........................................................................\
..... 66
Type 2........................................................................\
..... 67
Cruise control See: Using Cruise Control..................................... 166
Customer Assistance
.......................................216
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MKS (CLE) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, First Printing Index