2017 FORD FLEX Owners Manual

2017 FLEX Owner’s Manual
2017 FLEX Owner
’s Manual
September 2016
First Printing
Owner’s Manual Flex
Litho in U.S.A.
HA8J 19A321 AA
owner.for d.com ford.ca

The information contained in this publication was correct at the time of going to print. In the interest of
continuous development, we reserve the right to change specifications, design or equipment at any time
without notice or obligation. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, stored in a
retrieval system or translated into any language in any form by any means without our written permission.
Errors and omissions excepted.
© Ford Motor Company 2016
All rights reserved.
Part Number: 20160903133647

Introduction
About This Manual...........................................7
Symbols Glossary
.............................................7
Data Recording
..................................................9
California Proposition 65..............................11
Perchlorate.........................................................11
Ford Credit
..........................................................11
Replacement Parts Recommendation.......................................12
Special Notices................................................12
Mobile Communications Equipment.....................................................13
Export Unique Options..................................13
Environment
Protecting the Environment........................15
At a Glance
Instrument Panel Overview........................16
Child Safety
General Information
.......................................18
Installing Child Restraints
............................19
Booster Seats..................................................28
Child Restraint Positioning
.........................30
Child Safety Locks..........................................32
Seatbelts
Principle of Operation..................................34
Fastening the Seatbelts...............................35
Seatbelt Height Adjustment
......................38
Seatbelt Warning Lamp and Indicator Chime.............................................................39
Seatbelt Reminder........................................39
Child Restraint and Seatbelt Maintenance.................................................41
Seatbelt Extension.........................................41
Personal Safety System ™
Personal Safety System ™
..........................43Supplementary Restraints
System
Principle of Operation..................................44
Driver and Passenger Airbags
...................45
Front Passenger Sensing System............46
Side Airbags
.....................................................48
Safety Canopy ™
............................................49
Crash Sensors and Airbag Indicator
.......50
Airbag Disposal................................................51
Keys and Remote Controls
General Information on Radio Frequencies..................................................52
Remote Control..............................................53
Replacing a Lost Key or Remote Control...........................................................56
MyKey ™
Principle of Operation
...................................57
Creating a MyKey
...........................................58
Clearing All MyKeys
.......................................59
Checking MyKey System Status..............60
Using MyKey With Remote Start Systems..........................................................61
MyKey Troubleshooting
................................61
Doors and Locks
Locking and Unlocking.................................63
Manual Liftgate
..............................................66
Power Liftgate
.................................................67
Keyless Entry
....................................................70
Security
Passive Anti-Theft System.........................73
Anti-Theft Alarm............................................74
Steering Wheel
Adjusting the Steering Wheel - Vehicles With: Manual Adjustable Steering
Column...........................................................75
1
Flex (), enUSA, First Printing Table of Contents

Adjusting the Steering Wheel - Vehicles
With: Power Adjustable Steering
Column...........................................................75
Audio Control...................................................76
Voice Control
....................................................77
Cruise Control
...................................................77
Information Display Control........................77
Heated Steering Wheel
................................77
Pedals
Adjusting the Pedals
.....................................78
Wipers and Washers
Windshield Wipers
.........................................79
Autowipers........................................................79
Windshield Washers
.....................................80
Rear Window Wiper and Washers..........80
Lighting
General Information......................................82
Lighting Control..............................................82
Autolamps
........................................................83
Instrument Lighting Dimmer.....................84
Headlamp Exit Delay....................................84
Daytime Running Lamps............................85
Front Fog Lamps
............................................85
Adaptive Headlamps
...................................85
Direction Indicators
.......................................86
Interior Lamps.................................................86
Ambient Lighting
............................................87
Windows and Mirrors
Power Windows.............................................88
Exterior Mirrors................................................89
Interior Mirror
....................................................91
Sun Visors
..........................................................91
Moonroof............................................................91
Instrument Cluster
Gauges...............................................................93 Warning Lamps and Indicators................94
Audible Warnings and Indicators
.............97
Information Displays
General Information.....................................99
Information Messages................................107
Climate Control
Manual Climate Control..............................116
Automatic Climate Control
........................117
Automatic Climate Control - Vehicles With: Premium AM/FM/CD
...................119
Hints on Controlling the Interior Climate.........................................................120
Rear Passenger Climate Controls...........123
Heated Windows and Mirrors
...................123
Cabin Air Filter
................................................124
Remote Start
..................................................124
Seats
Sitting in the Correct Position
..................125
Head Restraints
.............................................125
Manual Seats.................................................128
Power Seats....................................................129
Memory Function.........................................130
Rear Seats
........................................................131
Heated Seats
.................................................138
Climate Controlled Seats..........................139
Universal Garage Door Opener
Universal Garage Door Opener...............140
Auxiliary Power Points
Auxiliary Power Points
................................145
Storage Compartments
Center Console
..............................................147
Overhead Console
.......................................148
2
Flex (), enUSA, First Printing Table of Contents

Starting and Stopping the
Engine
General Information....................................149
Ignition Switch
...............................................149
Keyless Starting............................................149
Starting a Gasoline Engine.......................150
Engine Block Heater....................................153
Fuel and Refueling
Safety Precautions
.......................................155
Fuel Quality
....................................................156
Fuel Filler Funnel Location........................156
Running Out of Fuel....................................156
Refueling..........................................................157
Fuel Consumption
.......................................160
Emission Control System...........................161
Transmission
Automatic Transmission
...........................164
All-Wheel Drive
Using All-Wheel Drive................................168
Brakes
General Information
.....................................175
Hints on Driving With Anti-Lock Brakes............................................................175
Parking Brake
.................................................176
Traction Control
Principle of Operation..................................177
Using Traction Control
.................................177
Stability Control
Principle of Operation.................................178
Using Stability Control
................................179
Parking Aids
Principle of Operation
................................180 Rear Parking Aid...........................................180
Active Park Assist..........................................181
Rear View Camera
.......................................185
Cruise Control
Principle of Operation................................188
Using Cruise Control...................................188
Using Adaptive Cruise Control................189
Driving Aids
Blind Spot Information System..............195
Cross Traffic Alert.........................................197
Steering..........................................................200
Collision Warning System........................200
Load Carrying
Cargo Nets
.....................................................203
Roof Racks and Load Carriers................203
Load Limit
......................................................203
Towing
Towing a Trailer............................................209
Trailer Sway Control
....................................210
Recommended Towing Weights............210
Essential Towing Checks...........................212
Towing the Vehicle on Four Wheels
......215
Driving Hints
Breaking-In......................................................217
Economical Driving.......................................217
Driving Through Water................................218
Floor Mats........................................................218
Roadside Emergencies
Roadside Assistance..................................220
Hazard Warning Flashers
...........................221
Fuel Shutoff
....................................................221
Jump Starting the Vehicle
.........................222
Post-Crash Alert System..........................224
3
Flex (), enUSA, First Printing Table of Contents

Transporting the Vehicle...........................224
Customer Assistance
Getting the Services You Need...............226
In California (U.S. Only).............................227
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) Auto Line Program (U.S. Only)
......................228
Utilizing the Mediation/Arbitration Program (Canada Only).......................229
Getting Assistance Outside the U.S. and Canada........................................................229
Ordering Additional Owner's Literature....................................................230
Reporting Safety Defects (U.S. Only)..............................................................231
Reporting Safety Defects (Canada Only)..............................................................231
Fuses
Fuse Specification Chart...........................233
Changing a Fuse...........................................242
Maintenance
General Information
...................................244
Opening and Closing the Hood..............244
Under Hood Overview - 3.5L Duratec........................................................246
Under Hood Overview - 3.5L Ecoboost™................................................247
Engine Oil Dipstick
......................................248
Engine Oil Check..........................................248
Oil Change Indicator Reset......................249
Engine Coolant Check...............................250
Automatic Transmission Fluid Check...........................................................254
Brake Fluid Check........................................255
Power Steering Fluid Check.....................256
Washer Fluid Check....................................256
Changing the 12V Battery.........................256
Checking the Wiper Blades
.....................258
Changing the Wiper Blades
.....................258 Adjusting the Headlamps........................259
Removing a Headlamp.............................260
Changing a Bulb..........................................260
Bulb Specification Chart...........................263
Changing the Engine Air Filter
................265
Vehicle Care
General Information...................................266
Cleaning Products.......................................266
Cleaning the Exterior..................................266
Waxing
.............................................................267
Cleaning the Engine
...................................268
Cleaning the Windows and Wiper Blades..........................................................268
Cleaning the Interior
...................................269
Cleaning the Instrument Panel and Instrument Cluster Lens.......................269
Cleaning Leather Seats.............................270
Repairing Minor Paint Damage
...............270
Cleaning the Wheels..................................270
Vehicle Storage
..............................................271
Wheels and Tires
General Information....................................273
Tire Care..........................................................275
Using Snow Chains
.....................................289
Tire Pressure Monitoring System..........290
Changing a Road Wheel...........................293
Technical Specifications
..........................298
Capacities and Specific- ations
Engine Specifications - 3.5L Duratec........................................................299
Engine Specifications - 3.5L Ecoboost™................................................299
Motorcraft Parts - 3.5L Duratec............300
Motorcraft Parts - 3.5L Ecoboost™......301
Vehicle Identification Number
................302
Vehicle Certification Label.......................303
4
Flex (), enUSA, First Printing Table of Contents

Transmission Code Designation............303
Capacities and Specifications - 3.5L
Duratec.......................................................304
Capacities and Specifications - 3.5L Ecoboost™...............................................308
Audio System
General Information....................................313
Audio Unit - Vehicles With: AM/FM/CD/ SYNC/Satellite Radio
.............................314
Audio Unit - Vehicles With: Premium AM/ FM/CD..........................................................318
Audio Unit - Vehicles With: Sony AM/FM/ CD
...................................................................319
USB Port.........................................................320
Media Hub
......................................................320
SYNC™
General Information
....................................321
Using Voice Recognition............................323
Using SYNC™ With Your Phone............326
SYNC™ Applications and Services
......339
SYNC™ AppLink ™
......................................341
Using SYNC™ With Your Media Player...........................................................342
SYNC™ Troubleshooting
..........................352
SYNC™ 3
General Information...................................360
Home Screen
.................................................373
Using Voice Recognition............................374
Entertainment...............................................381
Climate.............................................................391
Phone...............................................................393
Navigation......................................................399
Apps.................................................................407
Settings............................................................410
SYNC™ 3 Troubleshooting......................422
Accessories
Accessories....................................................435 Ford Protect
Ford Protect
...................................................437
Scheduled Maintenance
General Maintenance Information
.......439
Normal Scheduled Maintenance..........442
Special Operating Conditions Scheduled Maintenance.............................................445
Scheduled Maintenance Record
...........447
Appendices
End User License Agreement
..................457
5
Flex (), enUSA, First Printing Table of Contents