2018 FORD FLEX service indicator

Roadside Emergencies
Roadside Assistance
..................................221
Hazard Flashers ...........................................
222
Fuel Shutoff ..................................................
222
Jump Starting the Vehicle ........................
223
Post-Crash Alert System .........................
225
Transporting the Vehicle ..........................
225
Customer Assistance
Getting the Services You Need ..............
227
In California (U.S. Only) ............................
228
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) Auto Line Program (U.S. Only) .....................
229
Utilizing the Mediation/Arbitration Program (Canada Only) ......................
230
Getting Assistance Outside the U.S. and Canada .......................................................
230
Ordering Additional Owner's Literature ........................................................................\
232
Reporting Safety Defects (U.S. Only) ........................................................................\
232
Reporting Safety Defects (Canada Only) ........................................................................\
232
Fuses
Fuse Specification Chart .........................
234
Changing a Fuse ..........................................
243
Maintenance
General Information ..................................
245
Opening and Closing the Hood .............
245
Under Hood Overview - 3.5L Duratec ........................................................................\
246
Under Hood Overview - 3.5L Ecoboost™ ........................................................................\
247
Engine Oil Dipstick .....................................
249
Engine Oil Check .........................................
249
Oil Change Indicator Reset .....................
250
Engine Coolant Check ..............................
250
Automatic Transmission Fluid Check ........................................................................\
254 Brake Fluid Check
.......................................
256
Power Steering Fluid Check ....................
257
Washer Fluid Check ....................................
257
Changing the 12V Battery .........................
257
Checking the Wiper Blades ....................
259
Changing the Wiper Blades ....................
259
Adjusting the Headlamps .......................
260
Removing a Headlamp ..............................
261
Changing a Bulb ...........................................
261
Bulb Specification Chart .........................
265
Changing the Engine Air Filter ................
267
Vehicle Care
General Information ..................................
268
Cleaning Products ......................................
268
Cleaning the Exterior .................................
268
Waxing ............................................................
270
Cleaning the Engine ...................................
270
Cleaning the Windows and Wiper Blades ........................................................................\
270
Cleaning the Interior ....................................
271
Cleaning the Instrument Panel and Instrument Cluster Lens ........................
271
Cleaning Leather Seats .............................
272
Repairing Minor Paint Damage ..............
273
Cleaning the Wheels ..................................
273
Vehicle Storage ............................................
273
Body Styling Kits .........................................
275
Wheels and Tires
General Information ..................................
276
Tire Care .........................................................
278
Using Snow Chains ....................................
292
Tire Pressure Monitoring System ..........
293
Changing a Road Wheel ..........................
296
Technical Specifications .........................
300
4
Flex (TP3) , enUSA, Edition date: 201801, Second Printing Table of Contents

2. Grasp the shoulder portion and pull
downward until you pull the entire belt
out. As the belt retracts, you will hear
a clicking sound. This indicates the
seatbelt is now in the automatic
locking mode.
Rear outboard inflatable seatbelts (second
row only –if equipped)1. Buckle the combination lap and
shoulder belt.
2. Grasp the lap portion of the belt and pull upward until you pull the entire
belt out.
3. Allow the belt to retract. As the belt retracts, you will hear a clicking sound.
This indicates the seatbelt is now in the
automatic locking mode.
How to Disengage the Automatic
Locking Mode
Unbuckle the combination lap and
shoulder belt and allow it to retract
completely to disengage the automatic
locking mode and activate the vehicle
sensitive (emergency) locking mode. Rear Inflatable Seatbelt (If Equipped) WARNING
Do not attempt to service, repair, or
modify the supplementary restraint
system or associated components.
Failure to follow this instruction could
result in personal injury or death. Note:
The rear inflatable seatbelts are
compatible with most infant and child
safety car seats and belt positioning booster
seats when properly installed. This is
because they are designed to fill with a
cooled gas at a lower pressure and at a
slower rate than traditional airbags. After
inflation, the shoulder portion of the
seatbelt remains cool to the touch.
The rear inflatable seatbelts are in the
shoulder portion of the seatbelts of the
second-row outboard seating positions.
The rear inflatable seatbelt consists of the
following:
• An inflatable bag in the shoulder
seatbelt webbing.
• Lap seatbelt webbing with automatic
locking mode.
• Crash sensors and monitoring system
with readiness indicator. See
Crash
Sensors and Airbag Indicator (page
50
).
How does the rear inflatable seatbelt
system work? WARNING
If a supplementary restraint system
component has deployed, it will not
function again. Have the system and
associated components inspected as soon
as possible. Failure to follow this
instruction could result in personal injury
or death. 37
Flex (TP3) , enUSA, Edition date: 201801, Second Printing SeatbeltsE146363

Passenger airbag
Passenger airbag status
indicator
Occupant
ON: Unlit Enabled
OFF: Unlit
Adult
ON: Lit
Note: When the passenger airbag status
indicator off light is illuminated, the
passenger (seat mounted) side airbag may
be disabled to avoid the risk of airbag
deployment injuries.
After all occupants have adjusted their
seats and put on seatbelts, it is very
important that they continue to sit
properly. A properly seated occupant sits
upright, leaning against the seatback, and
centered on the seat cushion, with their
feet comfortably extended on the floor.
Sitting improperly can increase the chance
of injury in a crash event. For example, if
an occupant slouches, lies down, turns
sideways, sits forward, leans forward or
sideways, or puts one or both feet up, the
chance of injury during a crash greatly
increases. Make sure the front passenger
sensing system is operating
properly. See Crash Sensors
and Airbag Indicator (page 50).
Do not attempt to repair or service the
system. Take your vehicle immediately to
an authorized dealer.
If it is necessary to modify an advanced
front airbag system to accommodate a
person with disabilities, contact the Ford
Customer Relationship Center. See
Getting the Services You Need
(page
227). SIDE AIRBAGS WARNINGS
Do not place objects or mount
equipment on or near the airbag
cover, on the side of the seatbacks
(of the front seats), or in front seat areas
that may come into contact with a
deploying airbag. Failure to follow these
instructions may increase the risk of
personal injury in the event of a crash. Do not use accessory seat covers.
The use of accessory seat covers
may prevent the deployment of the
side airbags and increase the risk of injury
in an accident. Do not lean your head on the door.
The side airbag could injure you as it
deploys from the side of the
seatback. Do not attempt to service, repair, or
modify the airbag, its fuses or the
seat cover on a seat containing an
airbag as you could be seriously injured or
killed. Contact your authorized dealer as
soon as possible. If the side airbag has deployed, the
airbag will not function again. The
side airbag system (including the
seat) must be inspected and serviced by
an authorized dealer. If the airbag is not
replaced, the unrepaired area will increase
the risk of injury in a crash. 48
Flex (TP3) , enUSA, Edition date: 201801, Second Printing Supplementary Restraints SystemE67017

The side airbags are located on the
outboard side of the seatbacks of the front
seats. In certain sideways crashes, the
airbag on the side affected by the crash
will be inflated. The airbag was designed
to inflate between the door panel and
occupant to further enhance the protection
provided occupants in side impact crashes.
The system consists of the following:
•
A label or embossed side panel
indicating that side airbags are fitted
to your vehicle.
• Side airbags located inside the driver
and front passenger seatbacks.
• Front passenger sensing system. •
Crash sensors and monitoring system
with readiness indicator. See Crash
Sensors and Airbag Indicator (page
50
).
Note: The passenger sensing system will
deactivate the passenger seat-mounted
side airbag if it detects an empty passenger
seat. The design and development of the side
airbag system included recommended
testing procedures that were developed
by a group of automotive safety experts
known as the Side Airbag Technical
Working Group. These recommended
testing procedures help reduce the risk of
injuries related to the deployment of side
airbags.
SAFETY CANOPY™
WARNINGS
Do not place objects or mount
equipment on or near the headliner
at the siderail that may come into
contact with a deploying curtain airbag.
Failure to follow these instructions may
increase the risk of personal injury in the
event of a crash. Do not lean your head on the door.
The curtain airbag could injure you
as it deploys from the headliner.
Do not attempt to service, repair, or
modify the supplementary restraint
system or associated components.
Failure to follow this instruction could
result in personal injury or death. All occupants of your vehicle,
including the driver, should always
properly wear their seatbelts, even
when an airbag supplemental restraint
system is provided. Failure to properly wear
your seatbelt could seriously increase the
risk of injury or death. To reduce risk of injury, do not
obstruct or place objects in the
deployment path of the airbag.
If a supplementary restraint system
component has deployed, it will not
function again. Have the system and
associated components inspected as soon
as possible. Failure to follow this
instruction could result in personal injury
or death. 49
Flex (TP3) , enUSA, Edition date: 201801, Second Printing Supplementary Restraints SystemE152533 E67017

The restraints control module also
monitors the readiness of the above safety
devices plus the crash and occupant
sensors. The readiness of the safety
system is indicated by a warning indicator
light in the instrument cluster or by a
backup tone if the warning light is not
working. Routine maintenance of the
airbag is not required.
A difficulty with the system is indicated by
one or more of the following:
The readiness light will not
illuminate immediately after the
ignition is turned on.
• The readiness light will either flash or
stay lit.
• A series of five beeps will be heard. The
tone pattern will repeat periodically
until the problem, the light or both are
repaired.
If any of these things happen, even
intermittently, have the supplemental
restraint system serviced at an authorized
dealer immediately. Unless serviced, the
system may not function properly in the
event of a crash.
The fact that the safety belt pretensioners
or front airbags did not activate for both
front seat occupants in a crash does not
mean that something is wrong with the
system. Rather, it means the restraints
control module determined the accident
conditions (crash severity, belt usage)
were not appropriate to activate these
safety devices.
• The design of the front airbags is to
activate only in frontal and near-frontal
crashes (not rollovers, side impacts or
rear impacts) unless the crash causes
sufficient frontal deceleration.
• The safety belt pretensioners and rear
inflatable safety belts are designed to
activate in frontal, near-frontal, side
and rollover crashes. •
The design of the side airbags is to
inflate in certain side crashes. Side
airbags may activate in other types of
crashes if the vehicle experiences
sufficient sideways motion or
deformation.
• The design of the Safety Canopy is to
inflate in certain side impact crashes
and when a certain likelihood of
rollover is detected by the rollover
sensor. The Safety Canopy may
activate in other types of crashes if the
vehicle experiences sufficient sideways
motion or deformation, or a certain
likelihood of rollover.
AIRBAG DISPOSAL
Contact your authorized dealer as soon as
possible. Airbags must be disposed of by
qualified personnel.
51
Flex (TP3) , enUSA, Edition date: 201801, Second Printing Supplementary Restraints SystemE67017

5. Reinstall the battery housing cover
onto the transmitter and install the key
blade.
Car Finder Press the button twice within
three seconds.
The horn sounds and the direction
indicators flash. We recommend you use
this method to locate your vehicle, rather
than using the panic alarm.
Note: If any door or the liftgate is open, or
if the hood is open on vehicles with an
anti-theft alarm or remote start, the horn
will sound twice and the direction indicators
will not flash.
Sounding the Panic Alarm Press the button to sound the
panic alarm. Press the button
again or switch the ignition on to
turn it off.
Note: The panic alarm only operates when
the ignition is off.
Remote Start (If Equipped) WARNING
To avoid exhaust fumes, do not use
remote start if your vehicle is parked
indoors or in areas that are not well
ventilated. Note:
Do not use remote start if your fuel
level is low. The remote start button is on the
transmitter.
This feature allows you to start your
vehicle from the outside. The transmitter
has an extended operating range. Vehicles with automatic climate control
can be configured to operate when the
vehicle is remote started. See Automatic
Climate Control
(page 115).
Many states and provinces have
restrictions for the use of remote start.
Check your local and state or provincial
laws for specific requirements regarding
remote start systems.
The remote start system does not work if
any of the following occur:
• The ignition is on.
• The anti-theft alarm triggers.
• You switch off the feature.
• The hood is open.
• The transmission is not in park (P).
• The battery voltage is below the
minimum operating voltage.
• The service engine soon indicator was
on the last time your vehicle was
driven.
Remote Starting Your Vehicle
Note: You must press each button within
three seconds of each other. If you do not
follow this sequence, your vehicle does not
start remotely, the direction indicators do
not flash twice and the horn does not sound. The label on your transmitter details the
starting procedure.
To start your vehicle remotely:
1. Press the lock button to lock all the
doors.
55
Flex (TP3) , enUSA, Edition date: 201801, Second Printing Keys and Remote ControlsE138623 E138624 E138625 E138626

Powertrain Malfunction/Reduced
Power
Illuminates when a powertrain
or an AWD fault has been
detected. Contact your
authorized dealer as soon as possible.
Service Engine Soon If it illuminates when the engine
is running this indicates a
malfunction. The On Board
Diagnostics system has detected a
malfunction of the vehicle emission control
system.
If it flashes, engine misfire may be
occurring. Increased exhaust gas
temperatures could damage the catalytic
converter or other vehicle components.
Drive in a moderate fashion (avoid heavy
acceleration and deceleration) and have
your vehicle immediately serviced.
It illuminates when you switch the ignition
on prior to engine start to check the bulb
and to indicate whether your vehicle is
ready for Inspection and Maintenance
(I/M) testing.
Normally, it illuminates until the engine is
cranked and automatically turns off if no
malfunctions are present. However, if after
15 seconds it flashes eight times, this
indicates that your vehicle is not ready for
Inspection and Maintenance (I/M) testing.
See Emission Law (page 160).
Stability Control It will flash when the system is
active. If it remains illuminated
or does not illuminate when you
switch the ignition on, this indicates a
malfunction. During a malfunction the
system will switch off. Have the system
checked by your authorized dealer
immediately. See
Using Stability
Control (page 179). Stability Control Off It illuminates when you switch
the system off.
AUDIBLE WARNINGS AND
INDICATORS
Key in Ignition Warning Chime
Sounds when you open the driver's door
and you have left the key in the ignition.
Keyless Warning Alert
(If Equipped)
Sounds the horn twice when you exit your
vehicle with the intelligent access key, after
the last door is closed and your keyless
vehicle is in RUN, indicating your vehicle is
still on.
Headlamps On Warning Chime
Sounds when you remove the key from the
ignition and open the driver's door and you
have left the headlamps or parking lamps
on.
Parking Brake On Warning Chime
Sounds when you have left the parking
brake on and drive your vehicle. If the
warning chime remains on after you have
released the parking brake, have the
system checked by an authorized dealer
immediately.
96
Flex (TP3) , enUSA, Edition date: 201801, Second Printing Instrument Cluster E138639 E130458

AWD
Action
Message
Displays if the AWD system disables to protect itself. Thismay occur if you operate the vehicle after installing the
compact spare tire, if the system is overheating or if there is
an issue with another vehicle system that prevents the AWD system from operating. The AWD system resumes normal
operation and clears this message after you install the road
tire and you switch the ignition on and off, or after you allow
the system to cool. If this message remains on, have a quali- fied technician service your vehicle to repair other vehicle systems.
AWD OFF
The all-wheel drive system is not operating properly and the
powertrain fault indicator is illuminated. See Warning Lamps and Indicators (page 93). If the warning stays illuminated
or continues to illuminate, contact an authorized dealer as soon as possible.
Check AWD
Battery and Charging System Action
Message
The charging system needs servicing. If the warning stays on
or continues to come on, contact an authorized dealer as soon as possible.
Check Charging System
The battery management system determines that the batteryis at a low state of charge. Turn the ignition off as soon as
possible to protect the battery. This message will clear once the vehicle has been started and the battery state of charge has recovered. Turning off unnecessary electrical loads will allow faster battery state-of-charge recovery.
Turn Power Off To Save
Battery
107
Flex (TP3) , enUSA, Edition date: 201801, Second Printing Information Displays