
steering, acceleration or braking which
could result in an increased risk of loss
of vehicle control, vehicle rollover and/or
personal injury. Use all available road
surface to return the vehicle to a safe
direction of travel.
• In the event of an emergency stop, avoid
skidding the tires and do not attempt any
sharp steering wheel movements.
• If the vehicle goes from one type of
surface to another (i.e., from concrete to
gravel) there will be a change in the way
the vehicle responds to a maneuver
(steering, acceleration or braking). Again,
avoid these abrupt inputs.
Sand
When driving over sand, try to keep all four
wheels on the most solid area of the trail.
Avoid reducing the tire pressures but shift
to a lower gear and drive steadily through
the terrain. Apply the accelerator slowly and
avoid spinning the wheels. Do not drive your AWD vehicle in deep sand.
This will cause the AWD system to overheat.
After the system has cooled down, normal
AWD function will return.
Under severe operating conditions, the A/C
may cycle on and off to protect overheating
of the engine.
Avoid excessive speed because vehicle
momentum can work against you and cause
the vehicle to become stuck to the point that
assistance may be required from another
vehicle. Remember, you may be able to back
out the way you came if you proceed with
caution.
Mud and Water
If you must drive through high water, drive
slowly. Traction or brake capability may be
limited.
When driving through water, determine the
depth; avoid water higher than the bottom
of the wheel rims (for cars) or the bottom of
the hubs (for trucks) (if possible) and proceed
slowly. If the ignition system gets wet, the
vehicle may stall.
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.
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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. “Tread Lightly” is an educational program
designed to increase public awareness of
land-use regulations and responsibilities in
our nations wilderness areas. Ford Motor
Company joins the U.S. Forest Service and
the Bureau of Land Management in
encouraging you to help preserve our
national forest and other public and private
lands by “treading lightly.
”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.
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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 337).
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 109). 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.
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Apply the electric parking brake when the
vehicle is moving
WARNINGS
Applying the electric parking brake
while moving will result in the
engagement of the anti-lock braking system.
Do not use the electric parking brake system
when the vehicle is moving unless the normal
brake system is unable to stop the vehicle. With the exception of emergency
conditions (for example, the brake
pedal is broken or is blocked), do not apply
the electric parking brake while the vehicle
is moving. On bends, or poor road surfaces
or weather conditions, emergency braking
can cause the vehicle to skid out of control
or off the road. If you apply the electric parking brake when
your vehicle is moving, the brake system
warning lamp illuminates and a warning
chime sounds. See Information Displays
(page 114). If your vehicle speed is above
4 mph
(6 km/h), the braking force is applied as long
as you pull the switch. Releasing or pressing
the switch or pressing the accelerator pedal
will stop the braking force.
Releasing the Electric Parking Brake You can release the electric parking brake
either manually by pressing the switch or
automatically.Manual release WARNING
If the brake system warning light
remains illuminated or flashes for more
than four seconds after you have released
the parking brake, there could be a problem
with your braking system. Have your vehicle
checked as soon as possible. You can manually release the electric parking
brake by:
1. Switching the ignition on.
2. Pressing the brake pedal.
3. Pressing the electric parking brake
switch.
When the electric parking brake is released,
the brake system warning lamp turns off.
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Automatic release - drive away release
Your vehicle automatically releases 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 you have released the electric
parking brake.
Note: The electric parking brake drive away
release makes starting on a hill easier. This
feature releases 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.HILL START ASSIST WARNINGS
The system does not replace the
parking brake. When you leave your
vehicle, always apply the parking brake.
Failure to leave your vehicle securely parked
may lead to a crash or injury. See Electric
Parking Brake (page 196). 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. The system makes it easier to pull away
when your vehicle is on a slope without the
need to use the parking brake.
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When the system is active, your vehicle
remains stationary on the slope for two to
three seconds after you release the brake
pedal. This allows time to move your foot
from the brake to the accelerator pedal. The
system releases the brakes automatically
once the engine has developed sufficient
torque to prevent your vehicle from rolling
down the slope. This is an advantage when
pulling away on a slope, for example from a
car park ramp, traffic lights or when reversing
uphill into a parking space.
Note:
The system only functions when you
bring your vehicle to a complete standstill in
an uphill gear (for example, drive (D) when
facing uphill or reverse (R) when facing
downhill).
Note: There is no warning light to indicate
the system is either on or off.
Using Hill Start Assist
1. Press the brake pedal to bring your vehicle to a complete standstill. Keep the
brake pedal pressed. 2. If the sensors detect that your vehicle is
on a slope, the system activates
automatically.
3. When you remove your foot from the brake pedal, your vehicle remains on the
slope without rolling away for about two
to three seconds. This hold time
automatically extends if you are in the
process of driving off.
4. Drive off in the normal manner. The system releases the brakes automatically.
Note: When you remove your foot from the
brake pedal and press the pedal again when
the system is active, you will experience
significantly reduced brake pedal travel. This
is normal.
Switching the System On and Off
Vehicles with Manual Transmission
You can switch this feature on or off in the
information display. The system remembers
the last setting when you start your vehicle. Vehicles with Automatic Transmission
You cannot turn the system on or off. When
you switch the ignition on, the system
automatically turns on.
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. Failure to take care may
result in the loss of control of your vehicle,
serious personal injury or death. 199
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Auto Hold uses your vehicle's brakes 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.
Switch Auto Hold off during vehicle or trailer
towing.
Note:
In case of a malfunction in the system
while Auto Hold actively holds the vehicle
(for example, low power supply), a message
appears in the information display. If you see
this message, press the brake pedal
immediately.
Note: Auto Hold only activates if the system
recognizes it is applying enough brake
pressure. On a steep hill or incline, you may
need to press the brake pedal to activate
the Auto Hold system.
Note: When the parking brake automatically
applies, the red brake lamp appears. This is
normal. When you press the accelerator
pedal, the drive away release feature
automatically releases the parking brake. Note:
Auto Hold works on all road grades
and in reverse (R). Press the Auto Hold button to switch the
system on and off. The Auto Hold indicator
light illuminates in the Auto Hold button
when the system is on.Note:
You can only switch Auto Hold on if
you close the door and fasten your seatbelt.
Note: Auto Hold turns off every time you
power down your vehicle.
When Auto Hold is off, your vehicle behaves
the same as a vehicle without Auto Hold.
There is an Auto Hold indicator lamp in the
instrument cluster that has two modes, active
and unavailable: The Auto Hold (ACTIVE) indicator
light illuminates in the information
display when the system holds
your vehicle stationary. When in active mode,
press the brake pedal and the Auto Hold
button to switch Auto Hold off. The Auto Hold (UNAVAILABLE)
indicator light illuminates in the
information display when the
system is on but unavailable to hold your
vehicle (for example, during Active Park
Assist, Stay in Neutral Mode, or when you
do not fasten your seatbelt or close the
door).
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Note:
Make sure you switch off Auto Hold
or use the Stay in Neutral mode before you
enter a car wash. See Automatic
Transmission (page 183).
Using Auto Hold
1. Bring your vehicle to a stop by pressing the brake pedal. After coming to a stop,
the green Auto Hold (ACTIVE) indicator
lamp illuminates in the information
display.
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 releases 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.
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