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
5.Pull the handle toward you and removethe service disconnect from the vehicleto disable the high-voltage battery.
Reactivating the High-Voltage Battery
Note:If you have manually disconnectedyour high-voltage shut off circuit, you willneed to reconnect the circuit before you canreactivate it. The system will detect if theelectrical system is safe and turn onautomatically.
CHARGING THE HIGH
VOLTAGE BATTERY
WARNINGS
Do not use the 120 volt conveniencecord with an extension cord,two-prong adapter, surge protector,timer or other adapter.
In Canada, do not use the 120 voltconvenience cord in commercialgarages.
This equipment has arcing orsparking parts. Do not expose toflammable vapors. Position thisequipment at least 18 in (450 mm) abovethe floor.
The AC wall plug must fit firmly intothe AC outlet. If the connection feelsloose, worn or the AC outlet isdamaged, please have a qualifiedelectrician replace the AC outlet. Using aconvenience cord with a worn outlet maycause burns, property damage andincrease the risk of electric shock.
Charging Equipment
Your vehicle is equipped with a standard120 volt convenience cord located in thefloor compartment behind the driver seat.
Note:The 120 volt convenience cord allowsyou to charge the high voltage battery usinga standard 120 volt household outlet. Ittakes approximately seven hours tocompletely charge an empty battery usingthe standard 120 volt convenience cord.
We recommend upgrading to the optional240 volt charging station for faster moreefficient charging. It takes approximately2.5 hours to completely charge an emptybattery using a 240 volt charging station.
Your electrical source must meet certainrequirements for the high voltage batteriesto charge:
•The AC outlet must be a three-prong110-120 volt AC outlet that is properlygrounded, 15–20 amps (or greater),and in good condition.
•You must use a dedicated line, whichmeans you cannot have otherappliances connected to the samecircuit.
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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
Coverage area of up to 6 ft (1.8 m) fromthe rear bumper. There is decreasedcoverage area at the outer corners of thebumper.
The system detects certain objects whilethe transmission is in reverse (R) :
•Your vehicle is moving toward astationary object at a speed of 3 mph(5 km/h) or less.
•Your vehicle is not moving, but amoving object is approaching the rearof your vehicle at a speed of 3 mph(5 km/h) or less.
•Your vehicle is moving at a speed ofless than 3 mph (5 km/h) and a movingobject is approaching the rear of yourvehicle at a speed of less than 3 mph(5 km/h).
FRONT PARKING AID
The front parking aid sensors automaticallyturn on when you shift into reverse (R) ora forward gear.
The front sensors are active when thetransmission is in any position other thanpark (P) and the vehicle speed is below7 mph (12 km/h).
Coverage area of up to 28 in (70 cm) fromthe front bumper. There is decreasedcoverage area at the outer corners.
The system sounds an audible warningwhen obstacles are near either bumper inthe following manner:
•Objects detected by the front sensorsare indicated by a high-pitched tonefrom the front of the vehicle.
•Objects detected by the rear sensorsare indicated by a lower pitched tonefrom the rear of the vehicle.
•The sensing system reports theobstacle which is closest to the frontor rear of the vehicle. For example, ifan obstacle is 12 in (30 cm) from thefront of the vehicle and, at the sametime, an obstacle is only 6 in (15 cm)from the rear of the vehicle, the lowerpitched tone sounds.
•An alternating warning sounds fromthe front and rear if there are objectsat both bumpers that are closer than12 in (30 cm).
The system provides warnings when yourvehicle is moving or when your vehicle isstationary and the detected obstacle isless than 12 in (30 cm) away from thebumper.
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ACTIVE PARK ASSIST (If Equipped)
WARNINGS
You must remain in your vehiclewhen the system turns on. At alltimes, you are responsible forcontrolling your vehicle, supervising thesystem and intervening, if required. Failureto take care may result in the loss ofcontrol of your vehicle, serious personalinjury or death.
The sensors may not detect objectsin heavy rain or other conditions thatcause interference.
Active park assist does not apply thebrakes under any circumstances.
Note:The driver is always responsible forcontrolling the vehicle, supervising thesystem and intervening if required.
Note:The Blind Spot Information Systemdoes not detect traffic alongside or behindyour vehicle during an active park assistmaneuver.
The system detects an available parallelparking space and automatically steersthe vehicle into the space (hands-free)while you control the accelerator, gearshiftand brakes. The system visually andaudibly instructs you to park the vehicle.
The system may not correctly operate inany of the following conditions:
•You use a spare tire or a tiresignificantly worn more than the othertires.
•One or more tires are improperlyinflated.
•You try to park on a tight curve.
•Something passes between the frontbumper and the parking space (forexample, a pedestrian or cyclist).
•The edge of the neighboring parkingvehicle is high off the ground (forexample, a bus, tow truck or flatbedtruck).
•The weather conditions are poor (forexample, heavy rain, snow, fog and soforth).
Note:Keep the sensors, located on thebumper or fascia, free from snow, ice andlarge accumulations of dirt. Covered sensorscan affect the system's accuracy. Do notclean the sensors with sharp objects.
Note:The sensors may not detect objectswith surfaces that absorb ultrasonic wavesor cause ultrasonic interference (forexample, motorcycle exhaust, truck airbrakes or horns).
Using Active Park Assist
Press the button located on the centerconsole near the transmission selector orto the right of the center stack. The touchscreen displays a message and acorresponding graphic to indicate it'ssearching for a parking space. Use the turnsignal to indicate which side of the vehicleyou want the system to search on.
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The system uses three types of guides tohelp you see what is behind your vehicle:
•Active guidelines: Show the intendedpath of your vehicle when reversing.
•Fixed guidelines: Show the actual pathyour vehicle is moving in while reversingin a straight line. This can be helpfulwhen backing into a parking space oraligning your vehicle with anotherobject behind you.
•Centerline: Helps align the center ofyour vehicle with an object (forexample, a trailer).
Note:If the transmission is in reverse (R)and the rear cargo door is ajar, no rear viewcamera features are displayed.
Note:If the image comes on while thetransmission is not in reverse (R), have thesystem inspected by your authorized dealer.
Note:When towing, the camera only seeswhat is being towed behind your vehicle.This might not provide adequate coverageas it usually provides in normal operationand some objects might not be seen. Insome vehicles, the guidelines may disappearonce the trailer tow connector is engaged.
Note:The camera may not operatecorrectly under the following conditions:
•Nighttime or dark areas if one or bothreverse lamps are not operating.
•The camera's view is obstructed bymud, water or debris. Clean the lenswith a soft, lint-free cloth andnon-abrasive cleaner.
•The rear of your vehicle is hit ordamaged, causing the camera tobecome misaligned.
Access the rear view camera systemsettings through the information display.See General Information (page 92).
After changing a system setting, thedisplay screen shows a preview of theselected features.
Camera Guidelines
Note:Dynamic guidelines are only availablewhen the transmission is in reverse (R).
Active guidelinesA
CenterlineB
Fixed guideline: Green zoneC
Fixed guideline: Yellow zoneD
Fixed guideline: Red zoneE
Rear bumperF
Active guidelines are only shown with fixedguidelines. To use active guidelines, turnthe steering wheel to point the guidelinestoward an intended path. If the steeringwheel position is changed while reversing,your vehicle might deviate from the originalintended path.
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E
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Changing the Set Speed
•Press and release SET+ or SET-. Whenyou select km/h as the displaymeasurement in the informationdisplay the set speed changes inapproximately 2 km/h increments.When you select mph as the displaymeasurement in the informationdisplay the set speed changes inapproximately 1 mph increments.
•Press the accelerator or brake pedaluntil you reach the desired speed. Pressand release SET+.
•Press and hold SET+ or SET-. Releasethe control when you reach the desiredspeed.
Canceling the Set Speed
Pull and release CAN toward you or tapthe brake pedal. The set speed does noterase.
Resuming the Set Speed
Pull and release RES toward you.
Switching Cruise Control Off
Press and release OFF when the system isin stand by mode or switch the ignition off.
Note:You erase the set speed when youswitch the system off.
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Cruise Control