2017 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL stop start

Once through water, always try the brakes.
Wet brakes do not stop the vehicle as
effectively as dry brakes. Drying can be
improved by moving your vehicle slowly
while applying light pressure on the brake
pedal.
Be cautious of sudden changes in vehicle
speed or direction when you are driving in
mud. Even AWD vehicles can lose traction
in slick mud. As when you are driving over
sand, apply the accelerator slowly and avoid
spinning your wheels. If the vehicle does
slide, steer in the direction of the slide until
you regain control of the vehicle.
After driving through mud, clean off residue
stuck to rotating driveshafts and tires. Excess
mud stuck on tires and rotating driveshafts
causes an imbalance that could damage
drive components.
Note:
Driving through deep water may
damage the transmission.
If the front or rear axle is submerged in water,
have the power transfer unit (PTU) or rear
axle serviced by an authorized dealer. Driving on Hilly or Sloping Terrain
Note:
Avoid driving crosswise or turning on
steep slopes or hills. A danger lies in losing
traction, slipping sideways and possibly
rolling over. Whenever driving on a hill,
determine beforehand the route you will use.
Do not drive over the crest of a hill without
seeing what conditions are on the other side.
Do not drive in reverse over a hill without
the aid of an observer.
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.
197
Continental (CPL) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, First Printing All-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)E143949

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:
Your vehicle may have original
equipment tires designed to optimize the
performance of your vehicle in dry or wet
summer road conditions. If your vehicle is
equipped with such tires, we recommend
using a dedicated set (all 4 tires) of winter
tires in snow and ice conditions. Do not mix
winter tires and performance tires between
axles or degraded traction and handling
characteristics could result. Note:
Excessive tire slippage can cause
driveline damage.
AWD vehicles have advantages over
two-wheel drive (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.
198
Continental (CPL) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, First Printing All-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)

Direction of travel.
A
Steering wheel rotation.
B
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 201). Maintenance and Modifications
The suspension and steering systems on
your vehicle have been designed and tested
to provide predictable performance whether
loaded or empty and durable load carrying
capability. For this reason, Ford Motor
Company strongly recommends that you do
not make modifications such as adding or
removing parts (such as lowering kits or
stabilizer bars) or by using replacement parts
not equivalent to the original factory
equipment.
Any modifications to a vehicle that raise the
center of gravity can make it more likely the
vehicle will rollover as a result of a loss of
control. Ford Motor Company recommends
that caution be used with any vehicle
equipped with a high load or device (such
as ladder or luggage racks).
199
Continental (CPL) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, First Printing All-Wheel Drive
(If Equipped)E223901
A
B

GENERAL INFORMATION
Note:
Occasional brake noise is normal. If a
metal-to-metal, continuous grinding or
continuous squeal sound is present, the
brake linings may be worn-out. Have the
system checked by an authorized dealer. If
your vehicle has continuous vibration or
shudder in the steering wheel while braking,
have it checked by an authorized dealer.
Note: Brake dust may accumulate on the
wheels, even under normal driving
conditions. Some dust is inevitable as the
brakes wear and does not contribute to
brake noise. See Cleaning the Wheels
(page 338).
Note: Depending on applicable laws and
regulations in the country for which your
vehicle was originally built, your brake lamps
may flash during heavy braking. Following
this, your hazard lights may also flash when
your vehicle comes to a stop. See
Warning Lamps and
Indicators (page 105). Wet brakes result in reduced braking
efficiency. Gently press the brake pedal a
few times when driving from a car wash or
standing water to dry the brakes.
Brake Over Accelerator
In the event the accelerator pedal becomes
stuck or entrapped, apply steady and firm
pressure to the brake pedal to slow the
vehicle and reduce engine power. If you
experience this condition, apply the brakes
and bring your vehicle to a safe stop. Move
the transmission to park (P), switch the
engine off and apply the parking brake.
Inspect the accelerator pedal for any
interference. If none are found and the
condition persists, have your vehicle towed
to the nearest authorized dealer.
Brake Assist
Brake assist detects when you brake rapidly
by measuring the rate at which you press the
brake pedal. It provides maximum braking
efficiency as long as you press the pedal,
and can reduce stopping distances in critical
situations. Anti-lock Brake System
This system helps you maintain steering
control during emergency stops by keeping
the brakes from locking. This lamp momentarily illuminates
when you turn the ignition on. If
the light does not illuminate during
start up, remains on or flashes, the system
may be disabled. Have the system checked
by an authorized dealer. If the anti-lock brake
system is disabled, normal braking is still
effective. If the brake warning lamp
illuminates when you release the
parking brake, have the system
checked by an authorized dealer.
HINTS ON DRIVING WITH ANTI-
LOCK BRAKES
Note: When the system is operating, the
brake pedal may pulse and may travel
further. Maintain pressure on the brake
pedal. You may also hear a noise from the
system. This is normal.
201
Continental (CPL) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, First Printing BrakesE144522 E144522

Automatic release - drive away release
Your vehicle will automatically release the
parking brake if all of the following conditions
exist:
•
The driver door is closed.
• The accelerator pedal is pressed.
• There are no faults detected in the
parking brake system.
Note: If the electric parking brake warning
lamp stays illuminated, the electric parking
brake will not automatically release. You
must release the electric parking brake using
the electric parking brake switch while your
foot is on the brake and the ignition is on.
The brake system warning lamp will go off
to confirm that the electric parking brake has
been released.
Note: The electric parking brake drive away
release makes starting on a hill easier. This
feature will release the parking brake
automatically when the vehicle has sufficient
torque force to move up the hill. To assure
drive away release when starting uphill,
press the accelerator pedal quickly. Driving with a Trailer
Depending on the slope and the weight of
the trailer, your vehicle and trailer may roll
backwards slightly when you start on a slope.
To prevent this from happening, do the
following:
1. Pull the switch up and hold it in this
position.
2. Accelerate your vehicle, then release the
switch when you notice that the engine
has developed sufficient driving force.
Battery With No Charge WARNING
You will not be able to apply or release
the electric parking brake if the battery
is low or has no charge. If the battery is low or has no charge, use
jumper cables and a booster battery.AUTO HOLD WARNINGS
The system does not replace the
parking brake. When you leave your
vehicle, always apply the parking brake. You must remain in your vehicle when
the system turns on. At all times, you
are responsible for controlling your vehicle,
supervising the system and intervening, if
required. Failure to take care may result in
the loss of control of your vehicle, serious
personal injury or death. The system will turn off if a malfunction
is apparent or if you rev the engine
excessively. Failure to take care may result
in the loss of control of your vehicle, serious
personal injury or death. Auto Hold is a feature that uses your
vehicle's brake to hold your vehicle at a stop
once your vehicle has reached a standstill
condition. For example, Auto Hold can assist
you while stopping at traffic lights or while
in traffic jams by holding the brake pressure
for you once you bring your vehicle to a stop.
204
Continental (CPL) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, First Printing Brakes

2.
Release the brake pedal. The Auto Hold
(ACTIVE) indicator light remains
illuminated in the information display and
Auto Hold will hold your vehicle at a stop.
3. When you press the accelerator pedal, Auto Hold will release the brakes and
you will be able to drive off. Once you
drive off, the green Auto Hold (ACTIVE)
indicator no longer illuminates in the
information display.
Note: The Stop/Start system (if equipped)
may stop the engine when you press the
brake pedal. If this occurs, it will restart once
you press the accelerator pedal. Auto Hold
still holds your vehicle at a standstill with the
engine off.
206
Continental (CPL) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, First Printing Brakes

A "blocked" condition can be cleared in two
ways:
•
After the blockage in front of the sensors
is removed or the rainfall/snowfall rate
decreases or stops, drive for a few
minutes in traffic to allow the sensors to
detect passing vehicles.
• By cycling the ignition from ON to OFF
and then back ON.
Note: If your vehicle has a tow bar with a
factory equipped trailer tow module and it
is towing a trailer, the sensors will
automatically turn the Blind Spot Information
System off. If your vehicle has a tow bar but
no factory equipped trailer tow module, it is
recommended to turn the Blind Spot
Information System off manually. Operating
the Blind Spot Information System with a
trailer attached will cause poor system
performance. System Errors
If the system senses a problem with the left
or right sensor, the telltale will illuminate and
a message will appear in the information
display. See Information Messages (page
118).
Switching the System Off and On
You can temporarily switch the Blind Spot
Information System off in the information
display. See General Information (page 110).
When the Blind Spot Information System
switches off, you will not receive alerts and
the information display shows a system off
message. The telltale in the cluster also
illuminates. When you switch the Blind Spot
Information System on or off, the alert
indicators flash twice.
Note: The Blind Spot Information System
remembers the last selected on or off setting.
You can also have the Blind Spot Information
System switched off permanently at an
authorized dealer. Once switched off
permanently, the system can only be
switched back on at an authorized dealer. CROSS TRAFFIC ALERT
(If Equipped) WARNING
To help avoid personal injury, NEVER
use the Cross Traffic Alert system as a
replacement for using the interior and
exterior mirrors and looking over your
shoulder before backing out of a parking
space. Cross Traffic Alert is not a
replacement for careful driving. Cross Traffic Alert is designed to warn you
of vehicles approaching from the sides when
the transmission is in reverse (R).
Using the System
Cross Traffic Alert turns on when you start
the engine and you shift into reverse (R).
Once shifted out of reverse (R), Cross Traffic
Alert turns off.
Note:
Cross Traffic Alert only functions while
your transmission is in reverse (R).
247
Continental (CPL) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, First Printing Driving Aids

If your vehicle loses electrical power while
you are driving, electric power steering
assistance is lost. The steering system still
operates and you can steer your vehicle
manually. Manually steering your vehicle
requires more effort.
Extreme continuous steering may increase
the effort required for you to steer your
vehicle. This increased effort prevents
overheating and permanent damage to the
steering system. You do not lose the ability
to steer your vehicle manually. Typical
steering and driving maneuvers allow the
system to cool and return to normal
operation.
Steering Tips
If the steering wanders or pulls, check for:
•
Correct tire pressures.
• Uneven tire wear.
• Loose or worn suspension components.
• Loose or worn steering components.
• Improper vehicle alignment. Note:
A high crown in the road or high
crosswinds may also make the steering
seem to wander or pull.
Adaptive Learning
The electronic power steering system
adaptive learning helps correct road
irregularities and improves overall handling
and steering feel. It communicates with the
brake system to help operate advanced
stability control and accident avoidance
systems. Additionally, whenever the battery
is disconnected or a new battery installed,
you must drive your vehicle a short distance
before the system relearns the strategy and
reactivates all systems. Adaptive Steering (If Equipped) WARNING
The adaptive steering system has
diagnostic checks that continuously
monitor the system. If a fault is detected a
message displays in the information display.
Stop your vehicle as soon as it is safe to do
so. This warning message may clear if the
fault is no longer present. If an adaptive
steering system warning message is
persistent over multiple drive cycles have
the system checked by an authorized dealer. The adaptive steering system continually
changes the steering ratio with changes to
vehicle speed, optimizing the steering
response in all conditions.
The adaptive steering system is designed
with a locking device. While the lock is
engaged, your vehicle returns to a fixed
steering ratio. You may also notice a sound
when you start or turn off your vehicle as the
lock is disengaged or engaged. If your
vehicle loses electrical power or detects a
fault while you are driving, the lock engages
and you are able to continue steering. During
252
Continental (CPL) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, First Printing Driving Aids