2018 FORD TAURUS Page 50

PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
WARNINGS
To help avoid personal injury, always
use caution when in reverse (R) and
when using the sensing system.
The system may not detect objects
with surfaces that absorb reflection.
Always drive with due care and
attention. Failure to take care may result
in a crash. Traffic control systems, inclement
weather, air brakes, external motors
and fans may affect the correct
operation of the sensing system.This may
cause reduced performance or false alerts. The system may not detect small or
moving objects, particularly those
close to the ground.
Note:
If your vehicle is equipped with
MyKey ™, the sensing system cannot be
turned off when a MyKey ™ is present. See
Principle of Operation (page 51).
Note: Keep the sensors, located on the
bumper or fascia, free from snow, ice and
large accumulations of dirt. If the sensors
are covered, the system ’s accuracy can be
affected. Do not clean the sensors with
sharp objects.
Note: If your vehicle sustains damage to
the bumper or fascia, leaving it misaligned
or bent, the sensing zone may be altered
causing inaccurate measurement of
obstacles or false alerts.
Note: Certain add-on devices installed
around the bumper or fascia may create
false alerts. For example, large trailer
hitches, bike or surfboard racks, license plate
brackets, bumper covers or any other device
that may block the normal detection zone
of the system. Remove the add-on device
to prevent false alerts. Note:
When a trailer is connected to your
vehicle, the rear parking aid may detect the
trailer and therefore provide an alert. Disable
the rear parking aid when a trailer is
connected to prevent the alert.
The sensing system warns the driver of
obstacles within a certain range of your
vehicle. The system turns on automatically
whenever you switch the ignition on.
The system can be switched off through
the information display menu or from the
pop-up message that appears once you
shift the transmission into reverse (R). See
General Information
(page 89).
If a fault is present in the system, a warning
message appears in the information
display. See
Information Messages
(page 98).
REAR PARKING AID
(If Equipped)
The rear sensors are only active when the
transmission is in reverse (R). As your
vehicle moves closer to the obstacle, the
rate of the audible warning increases.
When the obstacle is less than
12 in
(30 cm) away, the warning sounds
continuously. If the system detects a
stationary or receding object farther than
12 in (30 cm)
from the corners of the
bumper, the tone sounds for only three
seconds. Once the system detects an
object approaching, the warning sounds
again.
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Active guideline
A
Centerline
B
Fixed guideline: Green zone
C
Fixed guideline: Yellow zone
D
Fixed guideline: Red zone
E
Rear bumper
F
To use active guidelines, turn the steering
wheel to point the guidelines toward an
intended path. If you change the steering
wheel position while reversing, your vehicle
might deviate from the original intended
path.
The fixed and active guidelines fade in and
out depending on the steering wheel
position. The active guidelines do not
display when the steering wheel position
is straight. Fixed Guidelines
Note:
Fixed guidelines are only available
when the transmission is in reverse (R).
Note: The centerline is only available if
fixed guidelines are on. Rear bumper
A
Fixed guideline: Red Zone
B
Fixed guideline: Yellow zone
C
Fixed guideline: Green zone
D
Centerline
E
Always use caution while reversing.
Objects in the red zone are closest to your
vehicle and objects in the green zone are
farther away. Objects are getting closer to
your vehicle as they move from the green
zone to the yellow or red zones. Use the
side view mirrors and rear view mirror to
get better coverage on both sides and rear
of the vehicle.
Camera System Settings
You can access the rear view camera
system settings through the display screen.
See Settings (page 420).
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DRIVER ALERT (If Equipped)
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION WARNINGS
The system is designed to aid the
driver. It is not intended to replace
your attention and judgment. You are
still responsible to drive with due care and
attention. 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 may not function if the
sensor is blocked.
Take regular rest breaks if you feel
tired. Do not wait for the system to
warn you.
Certain driving styles may result in
the system warning you even if you
are not feeling tired.
In cold and severe weather
conditions the system may not
function. Rain, snow and spray can
all limit sensor performance. The system will not operate if the
sensor cannot track the road lane
markings.
If damage occurs in the immediate
area surrounding the sensor, have
your vehicle checked as soon as
possible. Note:
The system may not operate correctly
if you modify the ride height.
Note: Keep the windshield free from
obstructions. For example, bird droppings,
insects, snow or ice. Note:
If the camera is blocked or if the
windshield is damaged, the system may not
function.
Note: If enabled in the menu, the system
activates at speeds above
40 mph
(64 km/h). When below the activation
speed, the information display informs the
driver that the system is unavailable. The system automatically monitors your
driving behavior using various inputs
including the front camera sensor.
If the system detects that your driving
alertness is reduced below a certain
threshold, the system alerts you using a
chime and a message in the information
display.
USING DRIVER ALERT
Switching the System On and Off
Switch the system on or off using the
information display.
See General
Information (page 89).
When active, the system monitors your
alertness level based upon your driving
behavior in relation to the lane markings
and other factors.
System Warnings
Note: The system does not issue warnings
below approximately
40 mph (64 km/h).
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The warning system has two stages. First,
the system issues a temporary warning
that you need to take a rest. This message
only appears for a short time. If the system
detects further reduction in driving
alertness, it may issue another warning
that remains in the information display for
a longer time. You can press OK on the
steering wheel control to clear the warning.
System Display
When active, the system runs
automatically in the background and only
issues a warning if required. You can view
the status at any time using the
information display. See General
Information (page 89).
The alertness level is shown by six steps
in a colored bar. The current assessment of your alertness
is within a typical range.
The current assessment of your alertness
indicates that you should rest as soon as
safely possible.
The status bar travels from left to right as
the calculated alertness level decreases.
As the meter approaches the rest icon, the
color turns from green to yellow to red. The yellow position indicates the first
warning is active and the red position
indicates the second warning is active.
Note:
If you have recently received a
warning, you should consider resting, even
if the current assessment is within the
typical range.
Note: If the camera sensor cannot track the
road lane markings, or if your vehicle speed
drops below approximately
40 mph
(64 km/h), the alertness level changes to
grey for a short time and the information
display informs you that the system is
unavailable.
Resetting the System
You can reset the system by either:
• Switching the ignition off and on.
• Stopping the vehicle and then opening
and closing the driver ’s door.
LANE KEEPING SYSTEM
(If
Equipped) WARNINGS
The system is designed to aid the
driver. It is not intended to replace
your attention and judgment. You are
still responsible to drive with due care and
attention. Always drive with due care and
attention when using and operating
the controls and features on your
vehicle. 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.
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System Settings
The system has optional setting menus
available. To view or adjust the settings,
See General Information (page 89). The
system stores the last-known selection for
each of these settings. You do not need to
readjust your settings each time you switch
the system on.
Mode (if equipped): This setting allows
you to select which of the system features
you can enable. Alert only – Provides a steering wheel
vibration when the system detects an
unintended lane departure.
Note:
Some vehicles are equipped with the
alert function only. Aid only (if equipped) – Provides an
assistance steering torque input toward
the lane center when the system detects
an unintended lane departure.
Alert
A
AidB
Alert + Aid (if equipped) – Provides an
assistance steering torque input toward
the lane center.
If your vehicle continues drifting out of the
lane, the system provides a steering wheel
vibration.
Note: The alert and aid diagrams illustrate
general zone coverage. They do not provide
exact zone parameters.
Intensity (if equipped):
This setting
affects the intensity of the steering wheel
vibration used for the alert and alert + aid
modes. This setting does not affect the
aid mode.
• Low
• Normal
• High
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System Sensor Blockage
The system uses radar sensors that are
located behind the bumper fascia on each
side of your vehicle. Any dirt, mud and
snow in front of the sensors and/or driving
in heavy rain can cause system
degradation. Also, other types of
obstructions in front of the sensor can
cause system degradation. This is referred
to as a
‘blocked ’ condition.
Note: Do not apply bumper stickers and/or
repair compound to these areas, this can
cause degraded system performance.
If the system detects a degraded
performance condition, a message warning
of a blocked sensor will appear in the
information display. Also the system alert
indicators will remain ON and the system
will no longer provide any vehicle warnings.
You can clear the information display
warning but the alert indicators will remain
illuminated.
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:
When towing a trailer, the sensors
may detect the trailer thus causing a false
alert. It may be desirable to turn the Blind
Spot Information System off if the false
alerts become annoying.
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 98).
System Limitations
The system does have its limitations;
situations such as severe weather
conditions or debris build-up on the sensor
may limit vehicle detection.
The following are other situations that may
limit the system:
• Certain maneuvering of vehicles
entering and exiting the blind zone.
• Vehicles passing through the blind zone
at very fast rates.
• When several vehicles forming a
convoy pass through the blind zone.
Switching the System Off and On
You can temporarily switch the Blind Spot
Information System off in the information
display. See
General Information (page
89). 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 system switches back on every
time you start your vehicle.
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Zone coverage also decreases when
parking at shallow angles. Here, the left
sensor is mostly obstructed; zone coverage
on that side is severely limited.
System Lights, Messages and
Audible Alerts The Cross Traffic Alert illuminates an
amber alert indicator in the outside mirror
on the side of your vehicle the approaching
vehicle is coming from. Cross Traffic Alert
also sounds an audible alert and a
message appears in the information
display indicating a vehicle is coming from
the right or left. Cross Traffic Alert works
with the reverse sensing system that
sounds its own series of tones. See Rear
Parking Aid (page 170). The system uses radar sensors that are
located behind the bumper fascia on each
side of your vehicle. Do not allow mud,
snow or bumper stickers to obstruct these
areas, this can cause degraded system
performance. See
Blind Spot
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Information System (page 192). If the
Blind Spot Information System is blocked,
Cross Traffic Alert is also blocked. A
corresponding message appears in the
information display as soon as you shift
the transmission into reverse (R).
System Limitations
Cross Traffic Alert has its limitations;
situations such as severe weather
conditions or debris build-up on the sensor
area may limit vehicle detection.
The system detects approaching vehicles
from up to
45 ft (14 m) away, though
coverage decreases when the sensors are
blocked. Reversing slowly helps increase
the coverage area and effectiveness.
The following are other situations that may
limit the Cross Traffic Alert performance:
• Stationary or slow moving vehicles.
• Pedestrians or objects in the roadway.
• Oncoming vehicles in the same lame.
• Severe weather conditions.
• Debris build-up near or around the
sensor(s).
• Small distance to the vehicle ahead.
• Adjacently parking vehicles or objects
obstructing the sensors.
• Approaching vehicles passing at
speeds greater than
15 mph (24 km/h).
• Driving in reverse faster than
3 mph
(5 km/h).
• Backing out of an angled parking spot.
If the rear end of the vehicle is hit or
damaged, the radar sensing zone may be
altered causing missed or false collision
warnings. See your authorized dealer to
have your collision warning radar checked
for proper coverage and operation. False Alerts
Note:
When towing a trailer, the sensors
may detect the trailer thus causing a false
alert. It may be desirable to turn the Blind
Spot Information System off if the false
alerts become annoying.
There may be certain instances when there
is a false alert by the Cross Traffic Alert
system that illuminates the alert indicator
with no vehicle in the coverage zone. Some
amount of false alerts are normal; they are
temporary and self-correct.
System Errors
If Cross Traffic Alert senses a problem with
the left or right sensor a message will
appear in the information display. See
Information Messages
(page 98).
Switching the System Off and On
You can temporarily switch Cross Traffic
Alert off in the information display. See
Information Messages (page 98). When
you switch Cross Traffic Alert off, you will
not receive alerts and the information
display will display a system off message.
Note: The Cross Traffic Alert switches on
whenever the ignition is switched on and
ready to provide appropriate alerts when
the transmission is in reverse (R). Cross
Traffic Alert will not remember the last
selected on or off setting.
You can also have Cross Traffic Alert
switched off permanently at an authorized
dealer. Once switched off permanently,
the system can only be switched back on
at an authorized dealer.
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