
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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If you need to tow your vehicle, contact aprofessional towing service or, if you are amember of a roadside assistance program,your roadside assistance service provider.
We recommend the use of a wheel lift anddollies or flatbed equipment to tow yourvehicle. Do not tow with a slingbelt. LincolnMotor Company does not approve a slingbelttowing procedure. If you tow your vehicleincorrectly, or by any other means, vehicledamage may occur.
Lincoln Motor Company produces a towingmanual for all authorized tow truck operators.Have your tow truck operator refer to thismanual for proper hook-up and towingprocedures for your vehicle.
It is acceptable to have your front-wheeldrive vehicle towed from the front if usingproper wheel lift equipment to raise the frontwheels off the ground. When towing in thismanner, the rear wheels can remain on theground.
Front-wheel drive vehicles must have thefront wheels placed on a tow dolly whentowing your vehicle from the rear usingwheel lift equipment. This prevents damageto the transmission.
Towing an all-wheel drive vehicle requiresthat all wheels be off the ground, such asusing a wheel lift and dollies or flatbedequipment. This prevents damage to thetransmission, all-wheel drive system andvehicle.
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Roadside Emergencies

Protected ComponentsFuse RatingFuse Number
Rear driver side door (window).30A 129
Rear passenger side door (window).30A 130
Not used (spare).—31
Display.10A 132Radio frequency receiver.Voice control.
Radio and active noise control.20A 133
Run/start bus (fuse #19, 20, 21, 22, 35, 36, 37, circuit breaker).30A 134
Not used (spare).—35
Auto-dimming rear view mirror.15A 136Continuous control damping suspension.Lane keeping system module.Rear heated seats module.
All-wheel drive relay.20A 137Heated steering wheel.
Not used (spare).—38
1 Micro fuse.2 Dual micro fuse.
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Fuses

GENERAL INFORMATION
Have your vehicle serviced regularly to helpmaintain its roadworthiness and resale value.There is a large network of authorizeddealers that are there to help you with theirprofessional servicing expertise. We believethat their specially trained technicians arebest qualified to service your vehicle properlyand expertly. They are supported by a widerange of highly specialized tools developedspecifically for servicing your vehicle.
If your vehicle requires professional service,an authorized dealer can provide thenecessary parts and service. Check yourwarranty information to find out which partsand services are covered.
Use only recommended fuels, lubricants,fluids and service parts conforming tospecifications. Motorcraft® parts aredesigned and built to provide the bestperformance in your vehicle.
Precautions
•Do not work on a hot engine.
•Make sure that nothing gets caught inmoving parts.
•Do not work on a vehicle with the enginerunning in an enclosed space, unless youare sure you have enough ventilation.
•Keep all open flames and other burningmaterial (such as cigarettes) away fromthe battery and all fuel related parts.
Working with the Engine Off
1. Set the parking brake and shift to park(P).
2. Switch off the engine.
3. Block the wheels.
Working with the Engine On
WARNING
To reduce the risk of vehicle damageand/or personal burn injuries, do notstart your engine with the air cleanerremoved and do not remove it while theengine is running.
1. Set the parking brake and shift to park(P).
2. Block the wheels.
OPENING AND CLOSING THE
HOOD
Opening the Hood
1.Inside your vehicle, pull the hood releasehandle located under the left-hand sideof the instrument panel.
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9. If the oil level is correct, replace thedipstick and make sure it is fully seated.
Note:Do not remove the dipstick when theengine is running.
Note: If the oil level is between themaximum and minimum marks, the oil levelis acceptable. Do not add oil.
Note:The oil consumption of new enginesreaches its normal level after approximately3,000 mi (5,000 km).
Adding Engine Oil
WARNINGS
Do not add engine oil when the engineis hot. Failure to follow this instructioncould result in personal injury.
Do not remove the filler cap when theengine is running.
Do not use supplemental engine oil additivesbecause they are unnecessary and couldlead to engine damage that may not becovered by the vehicle Warranty.
Only use oils certified for gasoline enginesby the American Petroleum Institute (API). An oil with this trademark symbol conformsto the current engine and emission systemprotection standards and fuel economyrequirements of the International LubricantsSpecification Advisory Committee (ILSAC).
To top up the engine oil level do thefollowing:
1. Clean the area surrounding the engineoil filler cap before you remove it.
2. Remove the engine oil filler cap. SeeUnder Hood Overview (page 287). Turnit counterclockwise and remove it.
3. Add engine oil that meets Fordspecifications. See Capacities andSpecifications (page 350). See Capacitiesand Specifications (page 356). You mayhave to use a funnel to pour the engineoil into the opening.
4. Recheck the oil level.
5. If the oil level is correct, replace thedipstick and make sure it is fully seated.
6. Replace the engine oil filler cap. Turn itclockwise until you feel a strongresistance.
Note: Do not add oil further than themaximum mark. Oil levels above themaximum mark may cause engine damage.
Note:Make sure you install the oil filler capcorrectly.
Note:Soak up any spillage with anabsorbent cloth immediately.
OIL CHANGE INDICATOR RESET
Use the information display controls on thesteering wheel to reset the oil changeindicator.
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