2017 FORD FLEX snow chains

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

Although natural obstacles may make it
necessary to travel diagonally up or down
a hill or steep incline, you should always
try to drive straight up or straight down.
When climbing a steep slope or hill, start
in a lower gear rather than downshifting to
a lower gear from a higher gear once the
ascent has started. This reduces strain on
the engine and the possibility of stalling.
If you do stall out, do not try to turnaround
because you might roll over. It is better to
back down to a safe location.
Apply just enough power to the wheels to
climb the hill. Too much power will cause
the tires to slip, spin or lose traction,
resulting in loss of vehicle control.
Descend a hill in the same gear you would
use to climb up the hill to avoid excessive
brake application and brake overheating.
Do not descend in neutral; instead,
disengage overdrive or manually shift to a
lower gear. When descending a steep hill,
avoid sudden hard braking as you could
lose control. The front wheels have to be
turning in order to steer the vehicle.
Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, therefore
apply the brakes steadily. Do not
“pump”
the brakes. Driving on Snow and Ice WARNING
If you are driving in slippery
conditions that require tire chains or
cables, then it is critical that you drive
cautiously. Keep speeds down, allow for
longer stopping distances and avoid
aggressive steering to reduce the chances
of a loss of vehicle control which can lead
to serious injury or death. If the rear end of
your vehicle slides while cornering, steer in
the direction of the slide until you regain
control of your vehicle. Note:
Excessive tire slippage can cause
driveline damage.
AWD vehicles have advantages over 2WD
vehicles in snow and ice but can skid like
any other vehicle.
Should you start to slide while driving on
snowy or icy roads, turn the steering wheel
in the direction of the slide until you regain
control.
Avoid sudden applications of power and
quick changes of direction on snow and
ice. Apply the accelerator slowly and
steadily when starting from a full stop.
Avoid sudden braking as well. Although an
AWD vehicle may accelerate better than
a two-wheel drive vehicle in snow and ice,
it won ’t stop any faster, because as in other
vehicles, braking occurs at all four wheels.
Do not become overconfident as to road
conditions.
Make sure you allow sufficient distance
between you and other vehicles for
stopping. Drive slower than usual and
consider using one of the lower gears. In
emergency stopping situations, apply the
brake steadily. Since your vehicle is
equipped with a four wheel (ABS), do not
“pump ” the brakes. See Hints on Driving
With Anti-Lock Brakes (page 175).
173
Flex (), enUSA, First Printing All-Wheel Drive
(If Equipped)E143949

USING SNOW CHAINS
WARNING
Snow tires must be the same size,
load index, and speed rating as those
originally provided by Ford. Use of
any tire or wheel not recommended by
Ford can affect the safety and
performance of your vehicle, which could
result in an increased risk of loss of vehicle
control, vehicle rollover, personal injury,
and death. Additionally, the use of
non-recommended tires and wheels could
cause steering, suspension, axle, transfer
case, or power transfer unit failure. It is also
strongly advised to follow the Ford
recommended tire inflation pressure found
on the Safety Compliance Certification
Label (affixed to either the door hinge
pillar, door-latch post, or the door edge
that meets the door-latch post, next to the
driver ’s seating position), or Tire Label
which is located on the B-Pillar or the edge
of the driver door. Failure to follow the tire
pressure recommendations can cause
uneven treadwear patterns and adversely
affect the way your vehicle handles. Note:
The suspension insulation and
bumpers will help prevent vehicle damage.
Do not remove these components from your
vehicle when using snow tires and chains.
The tires on your vehicle have all-weather
treads to provide traction in rain and snow.
However, in some climates, you may need
to use snow tires and cables. If you need
to use cables, it is recommended that steel
wheels (of the same size and
specifications) be used, as cables may chip
aluminum wheels. Follow these guidelines when using snow
tires and chains:
•
If possible, avoid fully loading your
vehicle.
• Use only SAE Class S snow chains,
snow cables or equivalent on the front
axle for P235/60R17, P235/60R18, and
P235/55R19 equipped vehicles. The
use of snow chains, snow cables or
other traction assist devices that are
larger than SAE Class S may cause
damage to your vehicle ’s wheel house,
suspension and/or body.
• Do not install tire chains, cables, or
optional traction devices on the rear
tires. This could cause damage to the
vehicle ’s wheel house or body.
• Do not use tire chains, cables, or
optional traction devices with
255/45R20 tires.
• Install cable chains securely, verifying
that the cables do not touch any wiring,
brake lines or fuel lines.
• Do not exceed 30 mph (48 km/h) with
tire cables on your vehicle.
• Drive cautiously. If you hear the cables
rub or bang against your vehicle, stop
and retighten the cables. If this does
not work, remove the cables to prevent
damage to your vehicle.
• Remove the tire cables when they are
no longer needed. Do not use tire
cables on dry roads.
289
Flex (), enUSA, First Printing Wheels and Tires

1.
T-type mini-spare: This spare tire
begins with the letter T for tire size and
may have Temporary Use Only molded in
the sidewall.
2. Full-size dissimilar spare with label
on wheel:
This spare tire has a label on
the wheel that states: THIS WHEEL AND
TIRE ASSEMBLY FOR TEMPORARY USE
ONLY.
When driving with one of the dissimilar
spare tires listed above, do not:
• Exceed
50 mph (80 km/h).
• Load the vehicle beyond maximum
vehicle load rating listed on the Safety
Compliance Label.
• Tow a trailer.
• Use snow chains on the end of the
vehicle with the dissimilar spare tire.
• Use more than one dissimilar spare tire
at a time.
• Use commercial car washing
equipment.
• Try to repair the dissimilar spare tire.
Use of one of the dissimilar spare tires
listed above at any one wheel location can
lead to impairment of the following:
• Handling, stability and braking
performance.
• Comfort and noise.
• Ground clearance and parking at curbs.
• Winter weather driving capability.
• Wet weather driving capability.
• All-wheel driving capability.
3. Full-size dissimilar spare without
label on wheel
When driving with the full-size dissimilar
spare wheel and tire assembly, do not:
• Exceed
70 mph (113 km/h).
• Use more than one dissimilar spare
wheel and tire assembly at a time. •
Use commercial car washing
equipment.
• Use snow chains on the end of the
vehicle with the dissimilar spare wheel
and tire assembly.
The usage of a full-size dissimilar spare
wheel and tire assembly can lead to
impairment of the following:
• Handling, stability and braking
performance.
• Comfort and noise.
• Ground clearance and parking at curbs.
• Winter weather driving capability.
• Wet weather driving capability.
• All-wheel driving capability.
When driving with the full-size dissimilar
spare wheel and tire assembly additional
caution should be given to:
• Towing a trailer.
• Driving vehicles equipped with a
camper body.
• Driving vehicles with a load on the
cargo rack.
Drive cautiously when using a full-size
dissimilar spare wheel and tire assembly
and seek service as soon as possible.
Tire Change Procedure WARNINGS
When one of the front wheels is off
the ground, the transmission alone
will not prevent your vehicle from
moving or slipping off the jack, even if the
transmission is in park (P) or neutral (N). To help prevent your vehicle from
moving when you change a tire, be
sure to place the transmission in park
(P) or neutral (N), set the parking brake,
and block (in both directions) the wheel
that is diagonally opposite (other side and
end of your vehicle) to the tire being
changed.
294
Flex (), enUSA, First Printing Wheels and Tires

Running Out of Fuel....................................156
Adding Fuel From a Portable Fuel
Container........................................................... 157
Filling a Portable Fuel Container................... 157
S
Safety Canopy ™............................................49
Safety Precautions.......................................155
Scheduled Maintenance Record............447
Scheduled Maintenance..........................439
Seatbelt Extension.........................................41
Seatbelt Height Adjustment
......................38
Seatbelt Reminder........................................39 Belt-Minder™........................................................ 39
Seatbelts...........................................................34 Principle of Operation........................................ 34
Seatbelt Warning Lamp and Indicator Chime
..............................................................39
Conditions of operation..................................... 39
Seats..................................................................125
Security...............................................................73
Settings............................................................410 911 Assist................................................................ 415
Ambient Lighting............................................... 420
Bluetooth............................................................... 412
Clock........................................................................\
. 411
Display.................................................................... 421
General................................................................... 419
Media Player.......................................................... 411
Mobile Apps......................................................... 418
Navigation............................................................. 416
Phone...................................................................... 412
Radio....................................................................... 415
Sound..................................................................... 410
Valet Mode........................................................... 422
Vehicle................................................................... 420
Voice Control....................................................... 422
Wi-Fi....................................................................... 420
Side Airbags
.....................................................48
Sitting in the Correct Position..................125
Snow Chains See: Using Snow Chains................................. 289
Special Notices................................................12 New Vehicle Limited Warranty......................... 12
On Board Diagnostics Data Link Connector............................................................ 13
Special Instructions.............................................. 12Special Operating Conditions Scheduled
Maintenance..............................................445
Exceptions........................................................... 446
Speed Control See: Cruise Control............................................ 188
Stability Control
............................................178
Principle of Operation....................................... 178
Starter Switch See: Ignition Switch........................................... 149
Starting a Gasoline Engine.......................150 Automatic Engine Shutdown......................... 152
Failure to Start..................................................... 152
Guarding Against Exhaust Fumes................153
Important Ventilating Information...............153
Stopping the Engine When Your Vehicle is Moving................................................................ 153
Stopping the Engine When Your Vehicle is Stationary......................................................... 152
Vehicles with an Ignition Key......................... 150
Vehicles with Keyless Start.............................. 151
Starting and Stopping the Engine
.........149
General Information.......................................... 149
Steering..........................................................200 Electric Power Steering................................... 200
Steering Wheel................................................75
Storage Compartments
.............................147
Sunroof See: Moonroof........................................................ 91
Sun Visors
..........................................................91
Illuminated Vanity Mirror.................................... 91
Supplementary Restraints System.........44 Principle of Operation........................................ 44
Symbols Glossary
.............................................7
SYNC™ 3.......................................................360
General Information......................................... 360
SYNC™ 3 Troubleshooting......................422
SYNC™ Applications and Services........................................................339
911 Assist............................................................... 339
SYNC™ AppLink ™
......................................341
SYNC Mobile Apps............................................. 341
SYNC™.............................................................321 General Information........................................... 321
SYNC™ Troubleshooting
..........................352
490
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