GAUGES
Oil temperature gauge.A
Turbocharger boost gauge.B
Oil pressure gauge.C
Oil Temperature Gauge
If the needle enters the red section, theengine is overheating. Reduce enginespeed as soon as safely possible to allowthe engine to cool. If you continue tooperate the engine at high engine speedswith the needle in the red section, theengine speed reduces automatically toprevent engine damage.
Turbocharger Boost Gauge
Indicates the added intake pressureprovided by the turbocharger.
Oil Pressure Gauge
Oil pressure varies with engine speed. Thepressure rises as engine speed rises anddrops as engine speed drops.
If the needle enters the red section awarning lamp illuminates and a messageappears in the information display. Stopyour vehicle as soon as it is safe to do soand switch the engine off. Check theengine oil level.
WARNING LAMPS AND
INDICATORS
Performance Shift Indicator
It illuminates when thepowertrain reaches the optimumupshift point. It flashes when theengine is close to hitting the engine speedlimiter.
72018 Focus RS (CEW) RS, Canada/United States of America, JM5J 19A285 LAA enUSA, Edition date: 201706, First PrintingInstrument ClusterE215771 E218767
All-Wheel Drive
Action and DescriptionMessage
Displays when the system has been automatically disabledto protect itself. This is caused by operating the vehicle witha severely mismatched tire installed, if the system is over-heating or if there is an issue with another vehicle systempreventing AWD operation. Overheating is most likely to occurif the vehicle is operated in severe conditions, for exampletrack use, or if there is excessive wheel slip, for example yourvehicle become stuck in mud.
AWD OFF
The system resumes normal function and clears this messageafter:
•You switch the ignition off and on and drive a shortdistance with the correct wheels and tires installed.
•The system is allowed to cool.
•Other vehicle system issues are resolved.
Displays in conjunction with an amber Information icon if thesystem is not operating correctly and defaults to front-wheeldrive only. If the warning remains on or continues appear,have your vehicle checked as soon as possible.
AWD Malfunction ServiceRequired
Displays when the rear drive unit lubrication requires changing.This message may appear if the vehicle is used for extended
periods of extreme driving, for example track use.*
AWD System Oil ChangeDue
*The rear drive unit does not require any normal scheduled maintenance. The systemelectronically monitors the rear drive unit and notifies you of required service by displayingthe message in the information display. The lubricant is more likely to require changingif you use your vehicle for extended periods of extreme driving, for example track use. Donot check or change the lubricant unless the rear drive unit shows signs of leakage or themessage displays. If the rear drive unit is submerged in water or to reset the message,have your vehicle checked as soon as possible.
Electronic Stability Control
Action and DescriptionMessage
Displays when you switch the system off.Electronic StabilityControl Off
92018 Focus RS (CEW) RS, Canada/United States of America, JM5J 19A285 LAA enUSA, Edition date: 201706, First PrintingInformation Displays
Major mismatched tire or wheel sizesbetween the front and rear axles, forexample 18 inch low profile tires on thefront axle and 20 inch high profile tires onthe rear axle could cause the system todefault to front-wheel drive only mode.Damage to the system can occur that maynot covered by the vehicle Warranty.
The system can tolerate any combinationof new and worn tires of the same originaltire size. For example, using three worntires and one new tire.
Driving in Special Conditions
Your vehicle is capable of being driven onsand, snow, mud or a loose surface.However the operating characteristics aredifferent from conventional off-roadvehicles.
Note:Under severe operating conditions,the air conditioning may turn on and off toprotect the engine from overheating.
Basic Operating Principles
WARNING
Be extremely careful when driving onroad surfaces that are made slipperyby loose sand, water, gravel, snow orice. Failure to adhere to this warning couldresult in the loss of vehicle control, seriouspersonal injury or death.
Emergency Maneuvers
If your vehicle goes off the edge of theroad, slow down but avoid severe brakeapplication, only ease the vehicle backonto the road after reducing your speed.Do not turn the steering wheel too sharplywhile returning to the road surface. It maybe safer to stay on the apron or shoulderof the road and slow down graduallybefore returning to the road surface. Youmay lose control if you do not slow downor if you turn the steering wheel too
sharply. It may be better to strike smallobjects, for example highway reflectors,with minor damage to your vehicle ratherthan attempt a sudden return to the roadsurface, which could cause your vehicle toslide sideways out of control or rollover.Remember, your safety and the safety ofothers should be your primary concern.
In an unavoidable emergency situationwhere a sudden sharp turn must be made,remember to avoid over-driving yourvehicle. Only turn the steering wheel asrapidly and as far as required. Excessivesteering results in less vehicle control, notmore. Additionally, smooth variations ofthe accelerator or brake pedal pressureshould be utilized if changes in vehiclespeed are required. Avoid abrupt steering,acceleration or braking which could resultin an increased risk of loss of vehiclecontrol, rollover and personal injury. Useall available road surface to return thevehicle to a safe direction of travel.
If your vehicle goes from one surface typeto another, for example from concrete togravel, there will be a change in the wayyour vehicle responds to steering,acceleration or braking.
If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck
WARNING
Do not spin the wheels at over35 mph (56 km/h). The tires may failand injure a passenger or bystander.
If your vehicle gets stuck in mud or snow itmay be rocked out by shifting betweenforward and reverse gears, stoppingbetween shifts, in a steady pattern. Presslightly on the accelerator in each gear.
If your vehicle is stuck in mud or snow,switching traction control off may bebeneficial while attempting to rock yourvehicle.
142018 Focus RS (CEW) RS, Canada/United States of America, JM5J 19A285 LAA enUSA, Edition date: 201706, First PrintingAll-Wheel Drive
Note:Do not rock the vehicle if the engineis not at normal operating temperature ordamage to the transmission may occur.
Note:Do not rock the vehicle for more thana few minutes or damage to thetransmission and tires may occur or theengine may overheat.
Sand
Most of the time traction control improvestire traction by managing wheel slipthrough brake, engine, and all-wheel drivecalibrations. However, during low speeddriving, disabling traction control in deepsand can help keep the wheels moving tomaintain vehicle momentum.
When driving over sand, try to keep all fourwheels on the most solid area of the trail.Do not reduce tire pressures, shift to alower gear and drive steadily through theterrain. Apply the accelerator slowly andavoid spinning the wheels.
When driving at slow speeds in sand underhigh outside temperatures, use a low gearwhen possible. Using a low gear maximizesengine and transmission cooling capability.
Avoid excessive speed because vehiclemomentum can work against you andcause the vehicle to become stuck to thepoint that assistance may be required fromanother vehicle. Remember, you may beable to back out the way you came if youproceed with caution.
Note:You may be able to reverse out theway you came if you proceed with caution.
Do not drive your vehicle in deep sand foran extended period of time. This couldcause the system to overheat and defaultto front-wheel drive only mode. If thisoccurs a message appears in theinformation display. To resume normalall-wheel drive function as soon aspossible, stop the vehicle in a safe locationand switch the engine off for at least 10minutes. After the all-wheel drive system
has adequately cooled and the engine hasbeen restarted, the message turns off andnormal all-wheel drive function returns. Ifyou do not switch the engine off, themessage only turns off, when the systemadequately cools and the normal all-wheeldrive function returns.
Note:Under severe operating conditions,the air conditioning may turn on and off toprotect the engine from overheating.
Mud and Water
If you must drive through water, driveslowly. Traction or brake capability maybe limited. See Driving Through Water(page 23).
Once through water, always try the brakes.Wet brakes do not stop the vehicle aseffectively as dry brakes. Drying can beimproved by moving your vehicle slowlywhile applying light pressure on the brakepedal.
Be cautious of sudden changes in vehiclespeed or direction when you are driving inmud. Even all-wheel drive vehicles can losetraction in slick mud. Apply the acceleratorslowly and avoid spinning the wheels.
After driving through mud, clean offexcessive mud that has become stuck torotating drive shafts, wheels and tires.Excessive mud stuck on these componentsmay result in an imbalance that couldcause damage not covered by the vehicleWarranty.
If the transmission, power transfer unit orrear drive unit is submerged in water haveyour vehicle checked as soon as possible.
152018 Focus RS (CEW) RS, Canada/United States of America, JM5J 19A285 LAA enUSA, Edition date: 201706, First PrintingAll-Wheel Drive
USING SUMMER TIRES
The original equipment tires on your vehicleare designed to optimize its performancein dry or wet summer road conditions. Therubber compounds used in these tires loseflexibility and may develop surface cracksin the tread area at temperatures below19°F (-7°C).
We do not recommend using the originalequipment tires when temperatures dropbelow 45°F (7°C) or in snow and iceconditions.
Storing Summer Tires
Note:Always store your tires indoors attemperatures above 19°F (-7°C).
If the tires have been subjected to 19°F(-7°C) or less, warm the tires for at least24 hours in a heated space to at least 41°F(5°C):
•Before installing them on a vehicle.
•Before moving a vehicle.
•Before checking tire inflation.
Note:Do not place tires near heaters orheating devices used to warm the roomwhere the tires are stored.
Note:Do not apply heat or blow heated airdirectly onto the tires.
Note:Always inspect the tires after storageperiods and before use.
USING WINTER TIRES
The original equipment tires on your vehicleare designed to optimize its performancein dry or wet summer road conditions.They are not optimized for off-road orwinter performance and you must not usethem with snow chains. The use of anytype of snow chain with the originalequipment wheels and tires of your vehiclemay cause damage not covered by thevehicle Warranty. We do not recommendusing the original equipment tires whentemperatures drop below 45°F (7°C) or insnow and ice conditions.
We recommend that you use winter orall-season tires when temperatures dropbelow 45°F (7°C) or in snow and iceconditions.
When using winter tires:
•Do not operate your vehicle aboveposted speed limits or perform highspeed maneuvers.
•If you fit winter tires with a speed ratingless than the original equipment tires,do not exceed the maximum speedrating for the tire.
Winter Tire Specification
235/35R19Original equipment size.
225/40R18*Alternative winter use size.
VSpeed rating.
92Load rating.
*Required tire size for snow chain use to avoid tire, wheel or vehicle damage. See Wheels(page 32).
342018 Focus RS (CEW) RS, Canada/United States of America, JM5J 19A285 LAA enUSA, Edition date: 201706, First PrintingWheels and Tires