2018 LINCOLN MKC Owners Manual

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 237).
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's hydraulicbrake system directly to your vehicle'sbrake system. Your vehicle may not haveenough braking power and your chances ofhaving a collision greatly increase.
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 trailer lamp wiringto the vehicle's tail lamp wiring; thismay damage the electrical system resultingin fire. Contact your authorized dealer assoon as possible for assistance in propertrailer tow wiring installation. Additionalelectrical equipment may be required.
246
MKC (TME) Canada/United States of America, JJ7J 19A321 AA enUSA, Edition date: 201707, Second Printing
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.
247
MKC (TME) Canada/United States of America, JJ7J 19A321 AA enUSA, Edition date: 201707, Second Printing
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 a steering wheellock make sure the ignition is in theaccessory or on position when being towed.
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.
•You place the vehicle in Stay in Neutralmode. See Placing Your Vehicle in Stayin Neutral Mode. In addition, make sureto read the brake-shift interlock overrideprocedure. See Automatic Transmission(page 175).
•Maximum speed is 35 mph (56 km/h).
•Maximum distance is 50 mi (80 km).
Placing Your Vehicle in Stay in NeutralMode
1. Press the N button on the shifterassembly.
2. When Press N again to Enter Stay inNeutral Mode appears in the informationdisplay, press the N button again.
Note:The message Stay in Neutral ModeEngaged appears in the information displaywhen you successfully complete theprocedure.
Note:Keeping the vehicle in Stay in Neutralmode eventually causes your vehicle batteryto lose charge. Exit the mode as soon assafely possible.
Recreational Towing
Note:Put your climate control system inrecirculated air mode to prevent exhaustfumes from entering the vehicle. SeeClimate Control (page 133).
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.
248
MKC (TME) Canada/United States of America, JJ7J 19A321 AA enUSA, Edition date: 201707, Second Printing
Towing

Front-wheel drive vehicles CANNOT beflat-towed (all wheels on the ground) asvehicle or transmission damage may occur.You must place the front wheels on atwo-wheel tow dolly. If you are using a towdolly, follow the instructions specified by theequipment provider.
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.
249
MKC (TME) Canada/United States of America, JJ7J 19A321 AA enUSA, Edition date: 201707, Second Printing
Towing

BREAKING-IN
You need to break in new tires forapproximately 300 mi (480 km). During thistime, your vehicle may exhibit some unusualdriving characteristics.
Avoid driving too fast during the first 1,000 mi(1,600 km). Vary your speed frequently andchange up through the gears early. Do notlabor the engine.
Do not tow during the first 1,000 mi(1,600 km).
ECONOMICAL DRIVING
Your fuel economy is affected by severalthings, such as how you drive, the conditionsyou drive under, and how you maintain yourvehicle.
You may improve your fuel economy bykeeping these things in mind:
•Accelerate and slow down in a smooth,moderate fashion.
•Drive at steady speeds without stopping.
•Anticipate stops; slowing down mayeliminate the need to stop.
•Combine errands and minimizestop-and-go driving.
•Close the windows for high-speeddriving.
•Drive at reasonable speeds (traveling at55 mph [88 km/h] uses 15% less fuel thantraveling at 65 mph [105 km/h]).
•Keep the tires properly inflated and useonly the recommended size.
•Use the recommended engine oil.
•Perform all regularly scheduledmaintenance.
Avoid these actions; they reduce your fueleconomy:
•Sudden accelerations or hardaccelerations.
•Revving the engine before turning it off.
•Idle for periods longer than one minute.
•Warm up your vehicle on cold mornings.
•Use the air conditioner or front defroster.
•Use the speed control in hilly terrain.
•Rest your foot on the brake pedal whiledriving.
•Drive a heavily loaded vehicle or tow atrailer.
•Carry unnecessary weight (approximately1 mpg [0.4 km/L] is lost for every 400 lb[180 kilogram] of weight carried).
•Driving with the wheels out of alignment.
Conditions
•Heavily loading a vehicle or towing atrailer may reduce fuel economy at anyspeed.
•Adding certain accessories to yourvehicle (for example bug deflectors,rollbars, light bars, running boards, skiracks or luggage racks) may reduce fueleconomy.
•To maximize the fuel economy, drive withthe tonneau cover installed (if equipped).
•Using fuel blended with alcohol maylower fuel economy.
•Fuel economy may decrease with lowertemperatures during the first 5–10 mi(12–16 km) of driving.
250
MKC (TME) Canada/United States of America, JJ7J 19A321 AA enUSA, Edition date: 201707, Second Printing
Driving Hints

•Driving on flat terrain offers improved fueleconomy as compared to driving on hillyterrain.
•Transmissions give their best fueleconomy when operated in the top cruisegear and with steady pressure on the gaspedal.
•Four-wheel-drive operation (if equipped)is less fuel efficient than two-wheel-driveoperation.
•Close the windows for high-speeddriving.
DRIVING THROUGH WATER
WARNING
Do not drive through flowing or deepwater as you may lose control of yourvehicle.
Note:Driving through standing water cancause vehicle damage.
Note:Engine damage can occur if waterenters the air filter.
Before driving through standing water, checkthe depth. Never drive through water that ishigher than the bottom of the front rockerarea of your vehicle.
When driving through standing water, drivevery slowly and do not stop your vehicle. Your brake performance and traction maybe limited. After driving through water andas soon as it is safe to do so:
•Lightly press the brake pedal to dry thebrakes and to check that they work.
•Check that the horn works.
•Check that the exterior lights work.
•Turn the steering wheel to check that thesteering power assist works.
FLOOR MATS
WARNINGS
Use a floor mat designed to fit thefootwell of your vehicle that does notobstruct the pedal area. Failure to follow thisinstruction could result in the loss of controlof your vehicle, personal injury or death.
Pedals that cannot move freely cancause loss of vehicle control andincrease the risk of serious personal injury.
Secure the floor mat to both retentiondevices so that it cannot slip out ofposition and interfere with the pedals. Failureto follow this instruction could result in theloss of control of your vehicle, personal injuryor death.
251
MKC (TME) Canada/United States of America, JJ7J 19A321 AA enUSA, Edition date: 201707, Second Printing
Driving HintsE259345

WARNINGS
Do not place additional floor mats orany other covering on top of theoriginal floor mats. This could result in thefloor mat interfering with the operation of thepedals. Failure to follow this instruction couldresult in the loss of control of your vehicle,personal injury or death.
Always make sure that objects cannotfall into the driver foot well while yourvehicle is moving. Objects that are loose canbecome trapped under the pedals causinga loss of vehicle control.
To install the floor mats, position the floormat eyelet over the retention post and pressdown to lock in position.
To remove the floor mat, reverse theinstallation procedure.
Note:Regularly check the floor mats to makesure they are secure.
252
MKC (TME) Canada/United States of America, JJ7J 19A321 AA enUSA, Edition date: 201707, Second Printing
Driving HintsE142666

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.
253
MKC (TME) Canada/United States of America, JJ7J 19A321 AA enUSA, Edition date: 201707, Second Printing
Roadside Emergencies