2017 FORD FLEX tow

When to expect the OIL CHANGE REQUIRED message
Vehicle use and example
Interval
Normal
7500-10000 miles
(12000-16000 km) Normal commuting with highway driving
No, or moderate, load or towing
Flat to moderately hilly roads
No extended idling
Severe
5000-7499 miles
(8000-11999 km) Moderate to heavy load or towing
Mountainous or off-road conditions
Extended idling
Extended hot or cold operation
Extreme
3000-4999 miles
(4800-7999 km) Maximum load or towing
Extreme hot or cold operation
Normal Maintenance Intervals At every oil change interval as indicated by the information display
*
Change engine oil and filter. **
Rotate the tires.
Perform a multi-point inspection (recommended).
Inspect the automatic transmission fluid level. Consult your dealer for requirements.
Inspect the brake pads, rotors, hoses and parking brake.
Inspect the engine cooling system strength and hoses.
Inspect the exhaust system and heat shields.
Inspect the rear axle and U-joints (AWD only).
Inspect the half-shaft boots.
Inspect the steering linkage, ball joints, suspension, tire-rod ends, driveshaft and U-
joints.
443
Flex (), enUSA, First Printing Scheduled Maintenance

SPECIAL OPERATING
CONDITIONS SCHEDULED
MAINTENANCE
If you operate your vehicle primarily in any
of the following conditions, you need to perform extra maintenance as indicated.
If you operate your vehicle
occasionally
under any of these conditions, it is not
necessary to perform the extra
maintenance. For specific
recommendations, see your dealership
service advisor or technician. Towing a trailer or using a car-top carrier
Change engine oil and filter as indicated by the information
display and perform services listed in the Normal Sched-
uled Maintenance chart.
As required
Inspect rear axle and U-joints (AWD only).
Inspect frequently, service
as required
Inspect half-shaft boots.
See axle maintenance items under
Exceptions.
Change automatic transmission fluid.
Every 30000 miles (48000
km)
Replace spark plugs.
Every 60000 miles (96000
km) Extensive idling or low-speed driving for long distances, as in heavy commercial use
Change engine oil and filter as indicated by the information
display and perform services listed in the Normal Sched-
uled Maintenance chart.
As required
Replace cabin air filter.
Inspect frequently, service
as required
Replace engine air filter.
Change automatic transmission fluid.
Every 30000 miles (48000
km)
Replace spark plugs.
Every 60000 miles (96000
km) Extended Hot and Cold climate operation
Change engine oil and filter. *
Every 5000 miles (8000
km)
* Hot Climates only
445
Flex (), enUSA, First Printing Scheduled Maintenance

Checking the Transmission Fluid
Level................................................................... 254
Autowipers........................................................79
Auxiliary Power Points................................145 110 Volt AC Power Point................................... 145
12 Volt DC Power Point..................................... 145
Locations............................................................... 145
AWD See: All-Wheel Drive......................................... 168
B
Battery See: Changing the 12V Battery..................... 256
Blind Spot Information System..............195
Switching the System Off and On...............196
System Errors....................................................... 196
System Limitations............................................ 196
Using the System............................................... 195
Bonnet Lock See: Opening and Closing the Hood..........244
Booster Seats..................................................28 Types of Booster Seats...................................... 29
Brake Fluid Check........................................255
Brakes................................................................175 General Information........................................... 175
Breaking-In......................................................217
Bulb Specification Chart...........................263
C
Cabin Air Filter................................................124
California Proposition 65..............................11
Capacities and Specifications - 3.5L Duratec.........................................................304
Alternative Engine Oil for Extremely Cold Climates........................................................... 307
Specifications..................................................... 304
Capacities and Specifications - 3.5L Ecoboost™.................................................308
Alternative Engine Oil for Extremely Cold Climates............................................................ 312
Specifications..................................................... 309
Capacities and Specifications................299
Cargo Nets
.....................................................203
Car Wash See: Cleaning the Exterior.............................. 266Center Console
..............................................147
Console Refrigerator and Freezer.................147
Second Row Center Console.......................... 147
Changing a Bulb..........................................260 Brake and Rear Lamps, Rear Direction
Indicator and Reversing Lamp.................262
Front Direction Indicator and Front Parking Lamp.................................................................. 261
Front Fog Lamp.................................................. 262
Headlamp.............................................................. 261
Headlamp Low Beam and Headlamp High Beam.................................................................. 261
LED Lamps........................................................... 263
License Plate Lamp.......................................... 263
Changing a Fuse...........................................242 Fuses....................................................................... 242
Changing a Road Wheel
...........................293
Dissimilar Spare Wheel and Tire Assembly
Information..................................................... 293
Tire Change Procedure.................................... 294
Changing the 12V Battery.........................256
Changing the Engine Air Filter................265
Changing the Wiper Blades
.....................258
Front Wiper Blades........................................... 258
Rear Window Wiper Blade............................. 259
Checking MyKey System Status..............60
Checking the Wiper Blades
.....................258
Child Restraint and Seatbelt Maintenance..................................................41
Child Restraint Positioning
.........................30
Child Safety.......................................................18
General Information............................................. 18
Child Safety Locks..........................................32 Left-Hand Side...................................................... 33
Right-Hand Side................................................... 33
Cleaning Leather Seats
.............................270
Cleaning Products.......................................266 Materials............................................................... 266
Cleaning the Engine
...................................268
Cleaning the Exterior..................................266 Exterior Chrome Parts...................................... 267
Exterior Plastic Parts......................................... 267
Stripes or Graphics............................................ 267
Underbody............................................................ 267
Under Hood.......................................................... 267
Cleaning the Instrument Panel and Instrument Cluster Lens........................269
Cleaning the Interior
...................................269
484
Flex (), enUSA, First Printing Index

Environment......................................................15
Essential Towing Checks...........................212 Before Towing a Trailer..................................... 214
Hitches.................................................................... 213
Launching or Retrieving a Boat or Personal Watercraft (PWC)......................................... 215
Safety Chains....................................................... 213
Trailer Brake Controller Connector...............213
Trailer Brakes........................................................ 213
Trailer Lamps........................................................ 214
Trailer Towing Connector (Vehicles with a Trailer Towing Package and 7 –Pin
Connector)....................................................... 212
When Towing a Trailer...................................... 214
Event Data Recording See: Data Recording.............................................. 9
Export Unique Options..................................13
Exterior Mirrors
................................................89
Blind Spot Information System...................... 90
Fold-Away Exterior Mirrors............................... 89
Heated Exterior Mirrors ..................................... 90
Integrated Blind Spot Mirror............................ 90
Memory Mirrors ................................................... 90
Power Exterior Mirrors........................................ 89
Power-Folding Mirrors....................................... 89
Puddle Lamps....................................................... 90
F
Fastening the Seatbelts...............................35 Rear Inflatable Seatbelt..................................... 37
Seatbelt Locking Modes.................................... 36
Using Seatbelts During Pregnancy................35
Floor Mats........................................................218
Fog Lamps - Front See: Front Fog Lamps........................................ 85
Foot Pedals See: Adjusting the Pedals................................. 78
Ford Credit
..........................................................11
US Only...................................................................... 11
Ford Protect
...................................................437
Ford Protect Extended Service Plan
(CANADA ONLY).......................................... 438
Ford Protect Extended Service Plans (U.S. Only).................................................................. 437
Front Fog Lamps
............................................85
Front Passenger Sensing System............46
Fuel and Refueling.......................................155 Fuel Consumption.......................................160
Calculating Fuel Economy.............................. 160
Filling the Fuel Tank.......................................... 160
Fuel Filler Funnel Location........................156
Fuel Quality
....................................................156
Choosing the Right Fuel................................... 156
Fuel Shutoff
....................................................221
Fuses.................................................................233
Fuse Specification Chart...........................233 Passenger Compartment Fuse
Panel.................................................................. 238
Power Distribution Box.................................... 233
G
Garage Door Opener See: Universal Garage Door Opener...........140
Gauges...............................................................93
General Information on Radio Frequencies...................................................52
Intelligent Access................................................. 52
General Maintenance Information.......439 Multi-Point Inspection...................................... 441
Owner Checks and Services......................... 440
Protecting Your Investment........................... 439
Why Maintain Your Vehicle?......................... 439
Why Maintain Your Vehicle at Your Dealership?..................................................... 439
Getting Assistance Outside the U.S. and Canada.........................................................229
Getting the Services You Need...............226 Away From Home.............................................. 226
H
Handbrake See: Parking Brake.............................................. 176
Hazard Warning Flashers
...........................221
Headlamp Adjusting See: Adjusting the Headlamps..................... 259
Headlamp Exit Delay....................................84
Headlamp Removal See: Removing a Headlamp......................... 260
Head Restraints
.............................................125
Adjusting the Head Restraint......................... 126
Tilting Head Restraints ..................................... 127
Heated Seats
.................................................138
Front Seats............................................................ 138
486
Flex (), enUSA, First Printing Index

Second Row Heated Seats.............................
138
Heated Steering Wheel................................77
Heated Windows and Mirrors...................123
Heated Exterior Mirror....................................... 124
Heated Rear Window........................................ 123
Heating See: Climate Control.......................................... 116
Hints on Controlling the Interior Climate..........................................................120
Cooling the Interior Quickly.............................. 121
General Hints....................................................... 120
Heating the Interior Quickly............................. 121
Recommended Settings for Cooling...........122
Recommended Settings for Heating............121
Side Window Defogging in Cold Weather............................................................. 122
Hints on Driving With Anti-Lock Brakes.............................................................175
Home Screen.................................................373
Hood Lock See: Opening and Closing the Hood..........244
I
Ignition Switch
...............................................149
In California (U.S. Only).............................227
Information Display Control........................77
Information Displays....................................99 General Information........................................... 99
Information Messages................................107 Adaptive Cruise Control.................................. 108
AdvanceTrac ™.................................................... 108
Alarm...................................................................... 108
Automatic Engine Shutdown........................ 109
AWD........................................................................\
109
Battery and Charging System......................... 110
Blind Spot Information and Cross Traffic Alert System..................................................... 110
Brake System......................................................... 111
Collision Warning System.................................. 111
Doors and Locks.................................................... 111
Fuel........................................................................\
.... 112
Keys and Intelligent Access............................. 112
Maintenance.......................................................... 112
MyKey....................................................................... 113
Park Aid................................................................... 114
Power Steering..................................................... 114
Seats........................................................................\
. 114Tire Pressure Monitoring System...................
115
Towing...................................................................... 115
Traction Control................................................... 115
Transmission......................................................... 115
Installing Child Restraints............................19 Child Seats............................................................... 19
Using Lap and Shoulder Belts......................... 20
Using Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH)............................................ 25
Using Tether Straps............................................. 26
Instrument Cluster
.........................................93
Instrument Lighting Dimmer.....................84
Instrument Panel Overview........................16
Interior Lamps.................................................86 Front Row Map Lamps...................................... 86
Second Row Map Lamps.................................. 87
Interior Mirror
....................................................91
Auto-Dimming Mirror........................................... 91
Introduction.........................................................7
J
Jump Starting the Vehicle
.........................222
Connecting the Jumper Cables..................... 222
Jump Starting...................................................... 223
Preparing Your Vehicle..................................... 222
Removing the Jumper Cables....................... 223
K
Keyless Entry
....................................................70
SECURICODE™ Keyless Entry
Keypad................................................................. 70
Keyless Starting
............................................149
Ignition Modes..................................................... 150
Keys and Remote Controls.........................52
L
Lighting Control..............................................82 Headlamp Flasher............................................... 83
High Beams............................................................ 82
Lighting
..............................................................82
General Information............................................ 82
Load Carriers See: Roof Racks and Load Carriers............203
Load Carrying
................................................203
487
Flex (), enUSA, First Printing Index

Parking Brake..................................................176
Passive Anti-Theft System.........................73
SecuriLock®........................................................... 73
PATS See: Passive Anti-Theft System..................... 73
Pedals.................................................................78
Perchlorate.........................................................11
Personal Safety System ™..........................43
How Does the Personal Safety System
Work?.................................................................. 43
Phone...............................................................393 During a Phone Call.......................................... 397
Making Calls........................................................ 396
Pairing Your Cell Phone for the First Time................................................................... 393
Phone Menu........................................................ 394
Receiving Calls.................................................... 397
Smartphone Connectivity.............................. 398
Text Messaging.................................................. 398
Post-Crash Alert System..........................224
Power Door Locks See: Locking and Unlocking............................. 63
Power Liftgate.................................................67 Hands-Free Feature............................................ 70
Obstacle Detection............................................. 69
Opening and Closing the Liftgate.................. 68
Setting the Liftgate Open Height.................. 69
Stopping the Liftgate Movement.................. 69
Power Seats....................................................129 Power Lumbar..................................................... 130
Power Steering Fluid Check.....................256
Power Windows.............................................88 Accessory Delay................................................... 88
Bounce-Back......................................................... 88
One-Touch Down................................................ 88
One-Touch Up...................................................... 88
Window Lock......................................................... 88
Protecting the Environment........................15
R
Rear Parking Aid...........................................180
Rear Passenger Climate Controls...........123
Rear Seats
........................................................131
Adjusting the Rear Seats................................... 131
Rear View Camera
.......................................185
Using the Rear View Camera System.........185 Rear View Camera
See: Rear View Camera.................................... 185
Rear Window Wiper and Washers..........80 Rear Camera Washer........................................... 81
Rear Window Washer.......................................... 81
Rear Window Wiper............................................ 80
Recommended Towing Weights............210
Refueling..........................................................157 System Warnings................................................ 159
Remote Control..............................................53 Car Finder................................................................ 55
Integrated Keyhead Transmitter..................... 53
Intelligent Access Key......................................... 53
Memory Feature................................................... 56
Remote Start......................................................... 55
Replacing the Battery......................................... 54
Sounding the Panic Alarm................................ 55
Remote Start
..................................................124
Automatic Settings............................................ 124
Removing a Headlamp.............................260
Repairing Minor Paint Damage...............270
Replacement Parts Recommendation........................................12
Collision Repairs.................................................... 12
Scheduled Maintenance and Mechanical Repairs.................................................................. 12
Warranty on Replacement Parts..................... 12
Replacing a Lost Key or Remote Control............................................................56
Reporting Safety Defects (Canada Only)...............................................................231
Reporting Safety Defects (U.S. Only)...............................................................231
Roadside Assistance..................................220 Vehicles Sold in Canada: Getting Roadside
Assistance....................................................... 220
Vehicles Sold in Canada: Roadside Assistance Program Coverage.................. 221
Vehicles Sold in Canada: Using Roadside Assistance......................................................... 221
Vehicles Sold in the United States: Getting Roadside Assistance................................... 220
Vehicles Sold in the United States: Using Roadside Assistance................................... 220
Roadside Emergencies
..............................220
Roof Racks and Load Carriers................203
Running-In See: Breaking-In................................................... 217
489
Flex (), enUSA, First Printing Index

T
Tailgate
See: Manual Liftgate.......................................... 66
See: Power Liftgate.............................................. 67
Technical Specifications See: Capacities and Specifications............299
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) Auto Line Program (U.S. Only).......................228
Tire Care...........................................................275 Glossary of Tire Terminology.......................... 277
Information About Uniform Tire Quality Grading.............................................................. 275
Information Contained on the Tire Sidewall............................................................ 278
Temperature A B C............................................ 276
Traction AA A B C............................................... 276
Treadwear............................................................. 276
Tire Pressure Monitoring System..........290 Changing Tires With a Tire Pressure
Monitoring System........................................ 291
Understanding Your Tire Pressure Monitoring System ....................................... 291
Tires See: Wheels and Tires...................................... 273
Towing a Trailer
............................................209
Load Placement................................................ 209
Towing the Vehicle on Four Wheels...........................................................215
Emergency Towing............................................. 215
Recreational Towing.......................................... 215
Towing.............................................................209
Traction Control
.............................................177
Principle of Operation........................................ 177
Trailer Sway Control
....................................210
Transmission Code Designation............303
Transmission..................................................164
Transmission See: Transmission.............................................. 164
Transporting the Vehicle...........................224
U
Under Hood Overview - 3.5L Duratec.........................................................246
Under Hood Overview - 3.5L Ecoboost™..................................................247 Universal Garage Door Opener
...............140
HomeLink Wireless Control System...........140
USB Port.........................................................320
Using Adaptive Cruise Control................189 Automatic Cancellation................................... 192
Blocked Sensor................................................... 193
Canceling the Set Speed.................................. 191
Changing the Set Speed.................................. 192
Detection Issues.................................................. 193
Following a Vehicle............................................ 190
Hilly Condition Usage........................................ 192
Overriding the System...................................... 192
Resuming the Set Speed................................. 192
Setting the Adaptive Cruise Speed.............190
Setting the Gap Distance................................. 191
Switching Adaptive Cruise Control Off........................................................................\
192
Switching Adaptive Cruise Control On........................................................................\
189
Switching to Normal Cruise Control...........194
System Not Available....................................... 193
Using All-Wheel Drive................................168 Driving In Special Conditions With
All-Wheel Drive (AWD)............................... 170
Operating AWD Vehicles With Mismatched Tires.................................................................... 169
Operating AWD Vehicles With Spare Tires.................................................................... 169
Using Cruise Control...................................188 Switching Cruise Control Off......................... 189
Switching Cruise Control On.......................... 188
Using MyKey With Remote Start Systems...........................................................61
Using Snow Chains.....................................289
Using Stability Control
................................179
Using SYNC™ With Your Media Player.............................................................342
Accessing Your Play Menu.............................. 347
Connecting Your Digital Media Player to the USB Port........................................................... 342
Media Menu Features...................................... 345
Media Voice Commands................................ 344
System Settings................................................. 349
What's Playing?................................................. 344
Using SYNC™ With Your Phone............326 Accessing Features Through the Phone
Menu.................................................................. 330
Accessing Your Phone Settings.................... 334
491
Flex (), enUSA, First Printing Index