ESSENTIAL TOWING CHECKS
Follow these guidelines for safe towing:
•Do not tow a trailer until you drive yourvehicle at least 1,000 mi (1,600 km).
•Consult your local motor vehicle laws fortowing a trailer.
•See the instructions included with towingaccessories for the proper installationand adjustment specifications.
•Service your vehicle more frequently ifyou tow a trailer. See your scheduledmaintenance information.
•If you use a rental trailer, follow theinstructions the rental agency gives you.
You can find information on loadspecification terms found on the tire labeland Safety Compliance label as well asinstructions on calculating your vehicle's loadin the Load Carrying chapter. See Load Limit(page 266).
Remember to account for the trailer tongueweight as part of your vehicle load whencalculating the total vehicle weight.
Hitches
Do not use a hitch that either clamps ontothe bumper or attaches to the axle.
Distribute the trailer load so 10-15% of thetotal trailer weight is on the tongue.
Safety Chains
Note:Never attach safety chains to thebumper.
Always connect the safety chains to the hookretainers of your vehicle hitch.
To connect the safety chains, cross themunder the trailer tongue and allow enoughslack for turning tight corners. Do not allowthe chains to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
WARNING: Do not connect a trailer'shydraulic brake system directly to yourvehicle's brake system. Your vehicle may nothave enough braking power and yourchances of having a collision greatlyincrease.
Electric brakes and manual, automatic orsurge-type trailer brakes are safe if you installthem properly and adjust them to themanufacturer's specifications. The trailerbrakes must meet local and federalregulations.
The rating for the tow vehicle's brakingsystem operation is at the gross vehicleweight rating, not the gross combinedweight rating.
Separate functioning brake systems arerequired for safe control of towed vehiclesand trailers weighing more than 1500 lb(680 kg) when load.
Trailer Lamps
WARNING: Never connect any trailerlamp wiring to the vehicle's tail lamp wiring;this may damage the electrical systemresulting in fire. Contact your authorizeddealer as soon as possible for assistance inproper trailer tow wiring installation.Additional electrical equipment may berequired.
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Towing
Trailer lamps are required on most towedvehicles. Make sure all running lights, brakelights, turn signals and hazard lights areworking.
Before Towing a Trailer
Practice turning, stopping and backing up toget the feel of your vehicle-trailercombination before starting on a trip. Whenturning, make wider turns so the trailerwheels clear curbs and other obstacles.
When Towing a Trailer
•Do not drive faster than 70 mph(113 km/h) during the first 500 mi(800 km).
•Do not make full-throttle starts.
•Check your hitch, electrical connectionsand trailer wheel lug nuts thoroughly afteryou have traveled 50 mi (80 km).
•When stopped in congested or heavytraffic during hot weather, place thetransmission in park (P) to aid engine andtransmission cooling and to help A/Cperformance.
•Turn off the speed control with heavyloads or in hilly terrain. The speed controlmay turn off automatically when you aretowing on long, steep grades.
•Shift to a lower gear when driving downa long or steep hill. Do not apply thebrakes continuously, as they mayoverheat and become less effective.
•If your transmission is equipped with aGrade Assist or Tow/Haul feature, usethis feature when towing. This providesengine braking and helps eliminateexcessive transmission shifting foroptimum fuel economy and transmissioncooling.
•Allow more distance for stopping with atrailer attached. Anticipate stops andbrake gradually.
•Avoid parking on a grade. However, ifyou must park on a grade:
1. Turn the steering wheel to point yourvehicle tires away from traffic flow.
2. Set your vehicle parking brake.
3. Place the transmission in park (P).
4. Place wheel chocks in front and back ofthe trailer wheels. Chocks are notincluded with your vehicle.
Launching or Retrieving a Boat orPersonal Watercraft (PWC)
Note:Disconnect the wiring to the trailerbefore backing the trailer into the water.
Note:Reconnect the wiring to the trailerafter removing the trailer from the water.
When backing down a ramp during boatlaunching or retrieval:
•Do not allow the static water level to riseabove the bottom edge of the rearbumper.
•Do not allow waves to break higher than6 in (15 cm) above the bottom edge ofthe rear bumper.
Exceeding these limits may allow water toenter vehicle components:
•Causing internal damage to thecomponents.
•Affecting driveability, emissions, andreliability.
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Towing
Replace the rear axle lubricant anytime yousubmerge the rear axle in water. Water maycontaminate the rear axle lubricant, which isnot a normal maintenance inspection itemunless there is a possibility of a leak or otheraxle repair is required.
TOWING THE VEHICLE ON FOUR
WHEELS
Emergency Towing
WARNING: If your vehicle has asteering wheel lock make sure the ignitionis in the accessory or on position when beingtowed.
If your vehicle becomes inoperable (withoutaccess to wheel dollies, car-hauling trailer,or flatbed transport vehicle), it can beflat-towed (all wheels on the ground,regardless of the powertrain andtransmission configuration) under thefollowing conditions:
•Your vehicle is facing forward for towingin a forward direction.
•Place the transmission in position N. Ifyou cannot move the transmission intoN, you must override it and enable stayin neutral mode. Failing to do so mayresult in damage to the transmission. SeeTransmission (page 194).
•Maximum speed is 35 mph (56 km/h).
•Maximum distance is 50 miles (80kilometers).
Recreational Towing
Note: Put your climate control system inrecirculated air mode to prevent exhaustfumes from entering the vehicle. SeeClimate Control (page 146).
Follow these guidelines if you have a needfor recreational (RV) towing. An example ofrecreational towing would be towing yourvehicle behind a motorhome. We designedthese guidelines to prevent damage to yourtransmission.
Front-wheel Drive Vehicles
Front-wheel drive vehicles CANNOT beflat-towed (all wheels on the ground) asvehicle or transmission damage may occur.It is recommended to tow your vehicle withthe front wheels off the ground by using atow dolly. If you are using a tow dolly, followthe instructions specified by the equipmentprovider.
All-wheel Drive Vehicles
All-wheel drive vehicles CANNOT beflat-towed (all wheels on the ground) asvehicle or transmission damage may occur.It is recommended to tow your vehicle withall four (4) wheels off the ground such aswhen using a car-hauling trailer. Otherwise,you cannot recreational tow your vehicle.
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Towing
ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE
Vehicles Sold in the United States:Getting Roadside Assistance
To fully assist you should you have a vehicleconcern, Lincoln Motor Company offers acomplimentary roadside assistance program. This program is separate from the NewVehicle Limited Warranty.
The service is available:
•Throughout the life of the vehicle fororiginal owners.
•For six years or 70,000 mi (110,000 km)(whichever comes first) for subsequentowners.
Roadside Assistance covers:
•A flat tire change with a good spare(except vehicles supplied with a tireinflation kit).
•Battery jump start.
•Lock-out assistance (key replacementcost is the client's responsibility).
•Fuel delivery — independent servicecontractors, if not prohibited by state,local or municipal law shall deliver up to2 gal (8 L) of gasoline or 5 gal (20 L) ofdiesel fuel to a disabled vehicle.Roadside Assistance limits fuel deliveryservice to two no-charge occurrenceswithin a 12-month period.
•Winch out — available within 100 ft (30 m)of a paved or county maintained road,no recoveries.
•Towing — independent servicecontractors, if not prohibited by state,local or municipal law shall tow Lincolneligible vehicles to the client's selling orpreferred dealer within 100 mi (160 km)of the disablement location or to thenearest Lincoln dealer. If a client requestsa tow to a selling or preferred dealer thatis more than 100 mi (160 km) from thedisablement location, the client isresponsible for any mileage costs inexcess of 100 mi (160 km).
•Roadside Assistance includes up to $200for a towed trailer if the disabled eligiblevehicle requires service at the nearestauthorized dealer. If the towing vehicleis operational but the trailer is not, thenthe trailer does not qualify for anyroadside services.
Vehicles Sold in the United States:Using Roadside Assistance
United States clients who require roadsideassistance, call 1-800-521-4140.
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Roadside Emergencies
Your vehicle has limited engine power whenin the fail-safe mode, drive your vehicle withcaution. Your vehicle does not maintainhigh-speed operation and the engine mayoperate poorly.
Remember that the engine is capable ofautomatically shutting down to preventengine damage. In this situation:
1. Pull off the road as soon as safelypossible and switch the engine off.
2. If you are a member of a roadsideassistance program, we recommend thatyou contact your roadside assistanceservice provider.
3.If this is not possible, wait a short periodfor the engine to cool.
4. Check the coolant level. If the coolantlevel is at or below the minimum mark,add prediluted coolant immediately.
5.When the engine temperature cools, youcan re-start the engine. Have your vehiclechecked as soon as possible to minimizeengine damage.
Note:Driving your vehicle without repairincreases the chance of engine damage.
Engine Coolant TemperatureManagement (If Equipped)
WARNING: To reduce the risk of crashand injury, be prepared that the vehiclespeed may reduce and the vehicle may notbe able to accelerate with full power until thecoolant temperature reduces.
If you tow a trailer with your vehicle, theengine may temporarily reach a highertemperature during severe operatingconditions, for example ascending a long orsteep grade in high ambient temperatures.
At this time, you may notice the coolanttemperature gauge moves toward the redzone and a message may appear in theinformation display.
You may notice a reduction in vehicle speedcaused by reduced engine power in orderto manage the engine coolant temperature. Your vehicle may enter this mode if certainhigh-temperature and high-load conditionstake place. The amount of speed reductiondepends on vehicle loading, grade andambient temperature. If this occurs, there isno need to stop your vehicle. You cancontinue to drive.
The air conditioning may automatically turnon and off during severe operatingconditions to protect the engine fromoverheating. When the coolant temperaturedecreases to the normal operatingtemperature, the air conditioning turns on.
If the coolant temperature gauge moves fullyinto the red zone, or if the coolanttemperature warning or service engine soonmessages appear in your information display,do the following:
1.Stop your vehicle as soon as it is safe todo so. Fully apply the parking brake, shiftinto park (P) or neutral (N).
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Maintenance
Dissimilar Spare Wheel and TireAssembly Information
WARNING: Failure to follow theseguidelines could result in an increased riskof loss of vehicle control, injury or death.
If you have a dissimilar spare wheel and tire,then it is intended for temporary use only.This means that if you need to use it, youshould replace it as soon as possible with aroad wheel and tire assembly that is thesame size and type as the road tires andwheels that were originally provided. If thedissimilar spare tire or wheel is damaged, itshould be replaced rather than repaired.
A dissimilar spare wheel and tire assemblyis defined as a spare wheel and tire assemblythat is different in brand, size or appearancefrom the road tires and wheels and can beone of three types:
1. T-type mini-spare: This spare tire beginswith the letter T for tire size and may haveTemporary Use Only molded in the sidewall.
•Do not exceed the maximum speedlabeled on the tire and wheel assembly.This maximum speed can be either on alabel affixed to the wheel or molded intothe tire.
2. Full-size dissimilar spare with label onwheel: This spare tire has a label on thewheel that states: THIS WHEEL AND TIREASSEMBLY FOR TEMPORARY USE ONLY.
When driving with one of the dissimilar sparetires listed above, do not:
•Exceed 50 mph (80 km/h).
•Load the vehicle beyond maximumvehicle load rating listed on the SafetyCompliance Label.
•Tow a trailer.
•Use snow chains on the end of thevehicle with the dissimilar spare tire.
•Use more than one dissimilar spare tireat a time.
•Use commercial car washing equipment.
•Try to repair the dissimilar spare tire.
Use of one of the dissimilar spare tires listedabove at any one wheel location can lead toimpairment of the following:
•Handling, stability and brakingperformance.
•Comfort and noise.
•Ground clearance and parking at curbs.
•Winter weather driving capability.
•Wet weather driving capability.
•All-wheel driving capability, if applicable.
3. Full-size dissimilar spare without labelon wheel
When driving with the full-size dissimilarspare wheel and tire assembly, do not:
•Exceed 70 mph (113 km/h).
•Use more than one dissimilar sparewheel and tire assembly at a time.
•Use commercial car washing equipment.
•Use snow chains on the end of thevehicle with the dissimilar spare wheeland tire assembly.
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Wheels and Tires
The usage of a full-size dissimilar sparewheel and tire assembly can lead toimpairment of the following:
•Handling, stability and brakingperformance.
•Comfort and noise.
•Ground clearance and parking at curbs.
•Winter weather driving capability.
•Wet weather driving capability.
•All-wheel driving capability.
When driving with the full-size dissimilarspare wheel and tire assembly additionalcaution should be given to:
•Towing a trailer.
•Driving vehicles equipped with a camperbody.
•Driving vehicles with a load on the cargorack.
Drive cautiously when using a full-sizedissimilar spare wheel and tire assembly andseek service as soon as possible.
Tire Change Procedure (If Equipped)
WARNING: The jack supplied with thisvehicle is only intended for changing wheels.Do not use the vehicle jack other than whenyou are changing a wheel in an emergency.
WARNING: The jack should be usedon level firm ground wherever possible.
WARNING: Check that the vehicle jackis not damaged or deformed and the threadis lubricated and clean.
WARNING: Never place anythingbetween the vehicle jack and the ground.
WARNING: Never place anythingbetween the vehicle jack and your vehicle.
WARNING: Use only the specifiedjacking points. If you use other positions, youmay damage the body, steering, suspension,engine, braking system or the fuel lines.
WARNING: To help prevent yourvehicle from moving when changing a wheel,shift the transmission into park (P), set theparking brake and use an appropriate blockor wheel chock to secure the wheeldiagonally opposite to the wheel beingchanged. For example, when changing thefront left wheel, place an appropriate blockor wheel chock on the right rear wheel.
WARNING: When one of the frontwheels is off the ground, the transmissionalone will not prevent the vehicle frommoving or slipping off the jack, even if thetransmission is in park (P).
WARNING: Do not get under a vehiclethat is only supported by a vehicle jack.
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Wheels and Tires
Perform the services shown in the followingtables when specified or within 3,000 mi(4,800 km) of the message appearing in theinformation display prompting you to changeyour oil.
•Example 1: The message comes on at28,750 mi (46,270 km). Perform the30,000 mi (48,000 km) automatictransmission fluid replacement.
•Example 2: The message has not comeon, but the odometer reads 30,000 mi(48,000 km) (for example, the IntelligentOil-Life Monitor was reset at 25,000 mi(40,000 km). Perform the engine air filterreplacement.
Towing a Trailer or Using a Car-top Carrier
Change engine oil and filter as indicated by information display and perform services listed in the NormalScheduled Maintenance chart.As required
Inspect U-joints (AWD only).Inspect frequently, serviceas required
Change automatic transmission fluid.Every 30,000 mi(48,000 km)
Replace spark plugs.Every 60,000 mi(96,000 km)
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Scheduled Maintenance