Storage Compartments
Center Console
.............................................145
Overhead Console ......................................
146
Starting and Stopping the Engine
General Information ...................................
147
Ignition Switch ..............................................
147
Keyless Starting ............................................
147
Starting a Gasoline Engine ......................
148
Engine Block Heater ....................................
151
Fuel and Refueling
Safety Precautions ......................................
153
Fuel Quality ....................................................
153
Fuel Filler Funnel Location .......................
154
Running Out of Fuel ...................................
154
Refueling .........................................................
156
Fuel Consumption ......................................
158
Engine Emission Control
Emission Law ................................................
160
Catalytic Converter ......................................
161
Transmission
Automatic Transmission ..........................
164
All-Wheel Drive
Using All-Wheel Drive ...............................
168
Brakes
General Information ....................................
175
Hints on Driving With Anti-Lock Brakes ........................................................................\
.
176
Parking Brake .................................................
176
Traction Control
Principle of Operation .................................
177
Using Traction Control ................................
177Stability 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 ...............................
189
Using Cruise Control ..................................
189
Using Adaptive Cruise Control ...............
190
Driving Aids
Blind Spot Information System .............
196
Cross Traffic Alert ........................................
198
Steering ...........................................................
201
Collision Warning System ........................
201
Load Carrying
Cargo Nets ....................................................
204
Roof Racks and Load Carriers ...............
204
Load Limit .....................................................
204
Towing
Towing a Trailer ............................................
210
Trailer Sway Control .....................................
211
Recommended Towing Weights .............
211
Essential Towing Checks ..........................
213
Towing the Vehicle on Four Wheels ......
216
Driving Hints
Breaking-In .....................................................
218
Economical Driving .....................................
218
Driving Through Water ...............................
219
Floor Mats .......................................................
219
3
Flex (TP3) , enUSA, Edition date: 201801, Second Printing Table of Contents
INTERIOR MIRROR
WARNING
Do not adjust the mirror when your
vehicle is moving.
Note:
Do not clean the housing or glass of
any mirror with harsh abrasives, fuel or other
petroleum or ammonia-based cleaning
products.
You can adjust the interior mirror to your
preference. Some mirrors also have a
second pivot point. This lets you move the
mirror head up or down and from side to
side.
Auto-Dimming Mirror
Note: Do not block the sensors on the front
and back of the mirror. Mirror performance
may be affected. A rear center passenger or
raised rear center head restraint may also
block light from reaching the sensor.
The mirror will dim automatically to reduce
glare when bright lights are detected from
behind your vehicle. It will automatically
return to normal reflection when you select
reverse gear to make sure you have a clear
view when backing up.
SUN VISORS Rotate the sun visor toward the side
window and extend it rearward for extra
shade.
Illuminated Vanity Mirror
Lift the cover to switch the lamp on.
MOONROOF (If Equipped)
WARNINGS
Do not let children play with the
moonroof or leave them unattended
in the vehicle. They may seriously
hurt themselves. When closing the moonroof, you
should verify that it is free of
obstructions and make sure that
children and pets are not in the proximity
of the roof opening. You can manually open or close the sliding
shade when the moonroof is closed. Pull
the shade toward the front of your vehicle
to close it.
The moonroof controls are located on the
overhead console and have a one-touch
open and close feature. To stop it during
one-touch operation, press the control a
second time.
90
Flex (TP3) , enUSA, Edition date: 201801, Second Printing Windows and MirrorsE138666 E162197
12 Volt DC Power Point
WARNING
Do not plug optional electrical
accessories into the cigar lighter
socket. Incorrect use of the cigar
lighter can cause damage not covered by
the vehicle warranty, and can result in fire
or serious injury. Note:
When you switch the ignition on, you
can use the socket to power 12 volt
appliances with a maximum current rating
of 15 amps.
If the power supply does not work after you
switch the ignition off, switch the ignition
on.
Note: Do not hang any accessory from the
accessory plug.
Note: Do not use the power point over the
vehicle capacity of 12 volt DC 180 watts or
a fuse may blow.
Note: Always keep the power point caps
closed when not in use.
Do not insert objects other than an
accessory plug into the power point. This
damages the power point and may blow
the fuse.
Run the vehicle for full capacity use of the
power point.
To prevent the battery from running out of
charge:
• Do not use the power point longer than
necessary when the vehicle is not
running.
• Do not leave devices plugged in
overnight or when you park your vehicle
for extended periods. Locations
Power points may be in the following
locations:
•
Inside the center console.
• On the rear of the center console.
• In the cargo area.
• On the passenger side floor panel.
110 Volt AC Power Point (If Equipped) WARNING
Do not keep electrical devices
plugged in the power point whenever
the device is not in use. Do not use
any extension cord with the 110 volt AC
power point, since it will defeat the safety
protection design. Doing so may cause the
power point to overload due to powering
multiple devices that can reach beyond
the 150 watt load limit and could result in
fire or serious injury. Note:
The power point turns off when you
switch the ignition off, or when the battery
voltage drops below 11 volts.
You can use the power point for electric
devices that require up to 150 watts. It is
on the rear of the center console. Note:
Depending on your vehicle, the power
point cover may open to the right or upward.
143
Flex (TP3) , enUSA, Edition date: 201801, Second Printing Auxiliary Power PointsE194174
CENTER CONSOLE
Stow items in the cup holder carefully as
items may become loose during hard
braking, acceleration or crashes, including
hot drinks which may spill.
Available console features include:
Front storage compartment.
A
Cup holder.
B
Center storage compartment
with auxiliary power point and
USB ports.
C
Auxiliary power point or cigar
lighter.
D
Rear storage compartment.
E
Auxiliary power point.
F
Rear climate controls.
G Second Row Center Console (If
Equipped) Cup holder.
A
Armrest.
B
Utility compartment and
refrigerator unit.
C
Console Refrigerator and Freezer
(If Equipped)
This feature operates when the vehicle is
on or in accessory mode. Limit the time of
use when the vehicle is in accessory mode
to avoid the vehicle battery running out of
charge. You should only use this feature
when the vehicle is running. 145
Flex (TP3) , enUSA, Edition date: 201801, Second Printing Storage CompartmentsE210728 E211667 E211653
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
WARNINGS
Vehicle modifications involving
braking system, aftermarket roof
racks, suspension, steering system,
tire construction and wheel and tire size
may change the handling characteristics
of your vehicle and may adversely affect
the performance of the electronic stability
control system. In addition, installing any
stereo loudspeakers may interfere with
and adversely affect the electronic stability
control system. Install any aftermarket
stereo loudspeaker as far as possible from
the front center console, the tunnel, and
the front seats in order to minimize the risk
of interfering with the electronic stability
control sensors. Reducing the
effectiveness of the electronic stability
control system could lead to an increased
risk of loss of vehicle control, vehicle
rollover, personal injury and death. Remember that even advanced
technology cannot defy the laws of
physics. It’
s always possible to lose
control of a vehicle due to inappropriate
driver input for the conditions. Aggressive
driving on any road condition can cause
you to lose control of your vehicle
increasing the risk of personal injury or
property damage. Activation of the
electronic stability control system is an
indication that at least some of the tires
have exceeded their ability to grip the road;
this could reduce the operator ’s ability to
control the vehicle potentially resulting in
a loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover,
personal injury and death. If your electronic
stability control system activates, SLOW
DOWN. The system automatically turns on each
time you switch the ignition on. If a fault occurs in either the stability
control or the traction control system, you
may experience the following conditions:
•
The stability and traction control light
illuminates steadily.
• The stability control and traction
control systems do not enhance your
vehicle's ability to maintain traction of
the wheels.
If a driving condition activates either the
stability control or the traction control
system you may experience the following
conditions:
• The stability and traction control light
flashes.
• Your vehicle slows down.
• Reduced engine power.
• A vibration in the brake pedal.
• The brake pedal is stiffer than usual.
• If the driving condition is severe and
your foot is not on the brake, the brake
pedal may move as the system applies
higher brake force.
The stability control system has several
features built into it to help you maintain
control of your vehicle:
Electronic Stability Control
The system enhances your vehicle ’s ability
to prevent skids or lateral slides by
applying brakes to one or more of the
wheels individually and, if necessary,
reducing engine power.
Roll Stability Control
The system enhances your vehicle ’s ability
to prevent rollovers by detecting your
vehicle ’s roll motion and the rate at which
it changes by applying the brakes to one
or more wheels individually.
178
Flex (TP3) , enUSA, Edition date: 201801, Second Printing Stability Control
Protected Components
Fuse Amp Rating
Fuse or Relay
Number
Anti-lock brake system pump.
50A 1
5
Center console power point (without rear
park aid).
20A 1
6
Power liftgate.
30A 1
7
Moonroof.
20A 1
8
Second row console power point.
20A 1
9
Third row power seats relay.
Relay
10
Heated rear window relay.
Relay
11
Trailer tow battery charge relay.
Relay
12
Starter motor relay.
Relay
13
Cooling fan number 2 relay.
Relay
14
Fuel pump relay.
Relay
15
Not used.
-
16
110V AC power point.
30A 1
17
Front blower motor relay.
40A 1
18
Starter relay.
30A 1
19
Storage bin power point.
20A 1
20
Instrument panel power point / cigar
lighter.
20A 1
21
Third row seat module.
30A 1
22
Driver power seat.
30A 1
23
Memory module.
Trailer tow battery charge.
30A 1
24
Not used.
-
25
235
Flex (TP3) , enUSA, Edition date: 201801, Second Printing Fuses
If you do not cancel the call, and SYNC
makes a successful call, a pre-recorded
message plays for the 911 operator, and
then the occupant(s) in your vehicle is able
to talk with the operator. Be prepared to
provide your name, phone number and
location immediately, because not all 911
systems are capable of receiving this
information electronically.
911 Assist May Not Work If
•
Your cellular phone or 911 Assist
hardware sustains damage in a crash.
• The vehicle's battery or the SYNC
system has no power.
• The phone(s) thrown from your vehicle
are the ones paired and connected to
the system.
911 Assist Privacy Notice
When you turn on 911 Assist, it may
disclose to emergency services that your
vehicle has been in a crash involving the
deployment of an airbag or activation of
the fuel pump shut-off. Certain versions or
updates to 911 Assist may also be capable
of electronically or verbally disclosing to
911 operators your vehicle location or other
details about your vehicle or crash to assist
911 operators to provide the most
appropriate emergency services. If you do
not want to disclose this information, do
not turn the feature on.
SYNC™ APPLINK ™
SYNC Mobile Apps
Note: You must pair and connect your
smartphone to SYNC to access AppLink.
Note: iPhone users need to connect the
phone to the USB port in order to start the
application. Note:
The AppLink feature is not available
if your vehicle is equipped with the MyFord
Touch system.
Note: Depending on your display type, you
can access AppLink from the media menu,
the phone menu, or by using voice
commands. Once an app is running through
AppLink, you can control main features of
the app through voice commands and
steering wheel controls.
To Access Using the Phone Menu
Press the phone button to access the
SYNC phone menu on-screen. You can
then scroll to: Menu item
Press OK to access a list
of available applications.
Mobile Apps
Scroll through the list of
available applications and
press OK to select a
particular app. Once an
app is running through
SYNC, you can access an
app’s menu by pressing the
MENU
button to first
access the SYNC menu.
Scroll until the app name followed by
"Menu", is displayed (such as, sticher
Menu), then press
OK. From here, you can
access an application's features, such as
Thumbs up and Thumbs down.
For more information, please visit: Website
www.SYNCMyRide.com
To Access Using the Media Menu
Press the
AUX button on the center
console.
346
Flex (TP3) , enUSA, Edition date: 201801, Second Printing SYNC™
Function
Button
Playlists
Artist
Albums
Songs
Genres
Podcasts
Audio books
Composers
This button allows you to choose a specific
letter to view within the category you are
browsing.
A-Z Jump
If available, this allows you to browse the
folders and files on your USB device.
Explore Device
USB Ports The USB ports are in the center console or
behind a small access door in the
instrument panel.
This feature allows you to plug in USB
media devices, memory sticks, flash drives
or thumb drives, and charge devices if they
support this feature. Select this option to play audio from your
USB device.
Apps
The system supports the use of certain
audio apps such as iHeartRadio through a
USB or Bluetooth enabled device.
Each app gives you different on-screen
options depending on the app's content.
See Apps (page 412).
Supported Media Players, Formats
and Metadata Information
The system is capable of hosting nearly
any digital media player, including iPod,
iPhone, and most USB drives.
Supported audio formats include MP3,
WMA, WAV, AAC, and FLAC.
Supported audio file extensions include
MP3, WMA, WAV, M4A, M4B, AAC, and
FLAC.
395
Flex (TP3) , enUSA, Edition date: 201801, Second Printing SYNC™ 3E211463