Your vehicle may accelerate more slowlyand the top speed may be lower in EV Nowmode than in Auto EV mode.
You can enable your engine at any time byusing one of the following methods:
1.Press the OK button on the left 5–waysteering wheel control while viewingthe miles or kilometers per chargescreen. Your vehicle will enable theengine as needed, and willautomatically return to EV Now aftereight seconds or when the engine is nolonger needed.
2.Press the accelerator pedal fully. A popup message will appear. Press OK onthe left-hand steering wheel button toactivate as needed. The message willdisappear if you release the acceleratorpedal.
3. Press the EV button. This will changethe mode to EV Later and permitengine operation.
Your vehicle may automatically enterEngine Enabled mode if system conditionsrequire it. A engine enabled message willdisplay if this occurs. This is normalfunction, and your vehicle will return to EVNow when possible.
Your vehicle may enter Enable Enginemode if the climate control is in a defrostmode and the outside temperature is cold.A engine enabled message will display ifthis occurs. If defrost is not needed, selecta different climate control mode to permitEV Now.
When you enable EV Now, a blue EV icondisplays in the left-hand informationdisplay. If your vehicle is in the EngineEnabled mode, the EV icon will be yellow.
EV Now will automatically exit when thePlug in power has been depleted.
EV Later
This mode saves most of thehigh voltage battery plug inpower for future use (forexample, your initial drive is at high speedson open roads, but later your drive will beat low speeds in an urban area whereplug-in power usage is most efficient).Your vehicle will run the engine as neededand keep most of the high voltage batteryplug in power for later use in Auto Mode orEV Now mode.
When you enable EV Later, a white EVLater icon appears on the left-handinformation display.
The EV Later mode will automatically resetto EV Auto mode when you power yourvehicle off. You may press the EV buttontwice during the next drive to return to EVLater mode, if desired.
ECO Cruise
Note:ECO Cruise is available as a separatefeature on Energi vehicles only. On nonplug-in vehicles it is included in EcoSelect.
This feature saves vehicle energy byrelaxing acceleration compared tostandard cruise control. For example, yourvehicle may temporarily lose speed whengoing uphill. When set to on, ECO appearsin the information display when cruisecontrol is on.
You can switch it on or off in through theinformation display. See GeneralInformation (page 92).
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AnswerQuestion
Your vehicle's engine and transmission aredesigned to deliver the power you need atthe most efficient engine speed. This maybe higher than expected during heavyaccelerations, and may fluctuate whendriving at a steady speed. These are charac-teristics of the Atkinson engine cycle andthe transmission technology that helpmaximize your hybrid's fuel economy.
Why does my engine rev up so high some-times when I accelerate?
The fan noise comes from a fan locatednext to the high voltage battery pack. Thisfan turns on when the battery requirescooling air. The fan speed, and associatednoise level, will change according to theamount of cooling required to maintaingood performance. Maintaining the batterytemperature at optimal conditions alsoprolongs the useful life of the battery andhelps to achieve better fuel economy.
What is the fan noise I hear from the rearof my hybrid?
Change the engine oil every 10000 miles(16000 kilometers) or once per year undernormal operating conditions.
What is the engine oil change serviceinterval?
Your hybrid vehicle can use E15 (15%ethanol, 85% gasoline) fuel, but you maynotice slightly reduced fuel economybecause ethanol contains less energy pergallon than gasoline. Your hybrid vehicle isnot designed to use E85 (85% ethanol).
Can I put E15 or E85 in my vehicle, and howwill it affect my fuel economy?
The high voltage battery system is designedto last the life of the vehicle and requiresno maintenance.
How long will my high voltage battery last?Does it need maintenance?
There are no provisions for charging thehigh voltage battery from a power supplyexternal to the vehicle. (For C-MAX Energivehicles, the vehicle can be plugged into a110-volt outlet with charge cord provided.)
Can you charge the battery with a plug intoan A/C outlet?
Yes. Your hybrid vehicle can be flat towedwithout modification. See Towing (page192).
Can I tow the hybrid behind my motor homewith all four wheels down?
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Unique Driving Characteristics
Charge Port
The charge port is located between thefront left-hand side door and the frontleft-hand side wheel well. Press theindentation on the charge port door toopen and close it.
Note:Do not force the charge port dooropen or closed. Forcing the door open orclosed damages the charge port.
You can modify the light ring illuminationsettings. The light ring located around thecharge port indicates the charge status ofthe high voltage battery in your vehicle.Divided into four quadrants, the chargeport light ring displays the state of chargein 25 percent increments.
You can press the unlock button on yourkey fob to view the charge status of yourvehicle. Based on which quadrants light,you can determine the current state ofcharge. If the charge is below 25 percent,the light ring does not light. Do not forgetto press the lock button on your key fob tore-lock your vehicle.
The light ring also displays the currentstate of charge when opening the doors.
The cord acknowledgment featureactivates when you initiate a charge cycle.The four light quadrants each individuallyflash in a clockwise motion, starting withthe top right-hand side light and endingwith the top left-hand side, two timesconfirming that the system detects thecharging coupler.
Charging
Note:Your vehicle must be in park (P) tocharge.
To charge your high voltage battery:
1.Put your vehicle in park (P) and switchoff your vehicle.
2. Press the indentation on the chargeport door to open it.
3. Plug the charging coupler into thecharge port on your vehicle. Make surethe button clicks confirming you havecompletely engaged the coupler.
4. Verify that the cord acknowledgmentfeature activates. The cordacknowledgment feature activateswhen you initiate a charge cycle.
5. If using a 240 volt charging station,follow the instructions on the chargestation to begin the charging process.
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AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WARNINGS
Always apply the parking brake fullyand make sure you shift into park (P).Switch the ignition off and removethe key whenever you leave your vehicle.
Do not apply the brake pedal andaccelerator pedal simultaneously.Applying both pedals simultaneouslyfor more than a few seconds will limitengine performance, which may result indifficulty maintaining speed in traffic andcould lead to serious injury.
Note:Do not leave your vehicle with thetransmission in neutral (N). Leaving yourvehicle with the transmission in neutral (N)will drain the battery and you may not beable to start your vehicle.
Understanding the Shift Positionsof your Automatic Transmission
1. Fully press down the brake pedal.
2.Move the gearshift lever to the desiredgear.
3. Come to a complete stop.
4. Move the gearshift lever and securelylatch it in park (P).
Park (P)
This position locks the transmission andprevents the front wheels from turning.Come to a complete stop before puttingyour vehicle into and out of park (P).
Reverse (R)
With the gearshift lever in reverse (R), yourvehicle will move backward. Always cometo a complete stop before shifting into andout of reverse (R).
Neutral (N)
With the gearshift lever in neutral (N), yourvehicle can be started and is free to roll.Hold the brake pedal down while in thisposition.
Drive (D)
Drive (D) is the normal driving position forthe best fuel economy.
Low (L)
•Provides maximum engine braking.
•The transmission may be shifted intolow (L) at any vehicle speed.
•Is not intended for use under extendedor normal driving conditions and resultsin lower fuel economy.
Grade assist:
Press the transmission control switch onthe side of the gearshift lever to activategrade assist.
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•Provides additional grade braking witha combination of engine motoring andhigh-voltage battery charging to helpmaintain vehicle speed whendescending a grade.
•As your vehicle determines the amountof engine motoring and high-voltagebattery charging, you may notice theengine speed increasing anddecreasing to help maintain yourvehicle speed when descending agrade.
•The grade assist lamp in the instrumentcluster is illuminated.
The grade assist lamp willappear in the instrument clusterwhen grade assist is turned on.
Press the transmission control switchagain to return to normal drive (D).
Brake-Shift Interlock
WARNINGS
Do not drive your vehicle until youverify that the brake lamps areworking.
WARNINGS
When doing this procedure, you needto take the transmission out of park(P) which means your vehicle canroll freely. To avoid unwanted vehiclemovement, always fully apply the parkingbrake prior to doing this procedure. Usewheels chocks if appropriate.
If the parking brake is fully released,but the brake warning lamp remainsilluminated, the brakes may not beworking properly. Have your vehiclechecked as soon as possible.
Note:See your authorized dealer as soonas possible if this procedure is used.
Note:For some markets this feature will bedisabled.
Use the brake shift interlock lever to movethe gearshift lever from the park positionin the event of an electrical malfunction orif your vehicle has a dead battery.
Apply the parking brake and turn theignition off before performing thisprocedure.
1. Remove the shifter boot using asuitable tool
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GENERAL INFORMATION
Note:Occasional brake noise is normal. Ifa metal-to-metal, continuous grinding orcontinuous squeal sound is present, thebrake linings may be worn-out. Have thesystem checked by an authorized dealer. Ifthe vehicle has continuous vibration orshudder in the steering wheel while braking,have it checked by an authorized dealer.
Note:Brake dust may accumulate on thewheels, even under normal drivingconditions. Some dust is inevitable as thebrakes wear and does not contribute tobrake noise. See Cleaning the Wheels(page 252).
See Warning Lamps andIndicators (page 87).
Wet brakes result in reduced brakingefficiency. Gently press the brake pedal afew times when driving from a car wash orstanding water to dry the brakes.
Brake Over Accelerator
In the event the accelerator pedalbecomes stuck or entrapped, apply steadyand firm pressure to the brake pedal toslow the vehicle and reduce engine power.If you experience this condition, apply thebrakes and bring your vehicle to a safestop. Move the transmission to park (P),switch the engine off and apply the parkingbrake. Inspect the accelerator pedal forany interference. If none are found and thecondition persists, have your vehicle towedto the nearest authorized dealer.
Brake Assist
Brake assist detects when you brakeheavily by measuring the rate at which youpress the brake pedal. It providesmaximum braking efficiency as long as youpress the pedal. Brake assist can reducestopping distances in critical situations.
Anti-lock Brake System
This system helps you maintain steeringcontrol during emergency stops by keepingthe brakes from locking.
This lamp momentarilyilluminates when you turn theignition on. If the light does notilluminate during start up, remains on orflashes, the system may be disabled. Havethe system checked by an authorizeddealer. If the anti-lock brake system isdisabled, normal braking is still effective.
If the brake warning lampilluminates when you release theparking brake, have the systemchecked by an authorized dealer.
Regenerative Braking System
This feature is used to simulate the enginebraking of an internal combustion engineand assist the standard brake system whilerecovering some of the energy of motionand storing it in the battery to improve therange of your vehicle. The standard brakesystem is designed to fully stop the car ifregenerative braking is not available.During regenerative braking, the motor isspun as a generator to create electricalcurrent. This recharges the battery andslows the vehicle. In effect, once theaccelerator pedal is released, the motorchanges from an energy user to an energyproducer.
When the accelerator pedal is released orthe brake pedal is applied, the brakecontroller automatically detects theamount of deceleration requested andoptimizes how much of the decelerationwill be produced by regenerative braking.The remaining portion is generated by
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standard friction braking. When the batteryis almost fully charged, the amount ofregenerative braking is limited to avoidovercharging, and the requesteddeceleration is produced by standardfriction braking alone.
Regenerative braking does not take theplace of the standard friction brakes; it onlyassists them. Regenerative braking hasalso been designed to interact with theanti-lock brake system. Regenerativebraking is disabled when the anti-lockbrake system is activated or the battery isfully charged.
HINTS ON DRIVING WITH
ANTI-LOCK BRAKES
Note:When the system is operating, thebrake pedal may pulse and may travelfurther. Maintain pressure on the brakepedal. You may also hear a noise from thesystem. This is normal.
The anti-lock braking system will noteliminate the risks when:
•You drive too closely to the vehicle infront of you.
•Your vehicle is hydroplaning.
•You take corners too fast.
•The road surface is poor.
PARKING BRAKE
WARNING
Always set the parking brake fullyand make sure you shift the gearshiftlever to park (P). Switch the ignitionoff and remove the key whenever you leaveyour vehicle.
Note:Do not press the release button whilepulling the lever up.
To apply the parking brake:
1. Press the foot brake pedal firmly.
2. Pull the parking brake lever up to itsfullest extent.
Note:If you park your vehicle on a hill andfacing uphill, shift the gearshift lever to park(P) and turn the steering wheel away fromthe curb.
Note:If you park your vehicle on a hill andfacing downhill, shift the gearshift lever topark (P) and turn the steering wheel towardthe curb.
To release the parking brake:
1. Press the brake pedal firmly.
2. Pull the lever up slightly.
3. Press the release button and push thelever down.
HILL START ASSIST
WARNINGS
The system does not replace theparking brake. When you leave yourvehicle, always apply the parkingbrake and shift the transmission into park(P) (automatic transmission) or first gear(1) (manual transmission).
You must remain in your vehicle onceyou have activated the system.
During all times, you are responsiblefor controlling your vehicle,supervising the system andintervening, if required.
If the engine is revved excessively, orif a malfunction is detected, thesystem will be deactivated.
The system makes it easier to pull awaywhen your vehicle is on a slope without theneed to use the parking brake.
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Brakes
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
The traction control system helps avoiddrive wheel spin and loss of traction.
If your vehicle begins to slide, the systemapplies the brakes to individual wheelsand, when needed, reduces engine powerat the same time. If the wheels spin whenaccelerating on slippery or loose surfaces,the system reduces engine power in orderto increase traction.
USING TRACTION CONTROL
WARNING
The stability and traction controllight illuminates steadily if thesystem detects a failure. Make sureyou did not manually disable the tractioncontrol system using the informationdisplay controls or the switch. If thestability control and traction control lightis still illuminating steadily, have thesystem serviced by an authorized dealerimmediately. Operating your vehicle withthe traction control disabled could lead toan increased risk of loss of vehicle control,vehicle rollover, personal injury and death.
The system automatically turns on eachtime you switch the ignition on.
If your vehicle is stuck in mud or snow,switching traction control off may bebeneficial as this allows the wheels to spin.
Note:When you switch traction control off,stability control remains fully active.
Switching the System Off
When you switch the system off or on, amessage appears in the informationdisplay showing system status.
You can switch the system off by eitherusing the information display controls orthe switch.
Using the Information DisplayControls
You can switch this feature off or on in theinformation display. See GeneralInformation (page 92).
Using a Switch (If Equipped)
Use the traction control switch on theinstrument panel to switch the system offor on.
System Indicator Lights andMessages
The stability and traction controllight:
•Temporarily illuminates on enginestart-up.
•Flashes when a driving conditionactivates either of the systems.
•Illuminates if a problem occurs in eitherof the systems.
The stability and traction controloff light temporarily illuminateson engine start-up and stays onwhen you switch the traction controlsystem off.
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