The instrument cluster will display yourcurrently selected gear.
The transmission will automatically upshift ifyour engine speed is too high or downshiftif your engine speed is too low.
Note:The system will stay in manual controluntil you make another shift button selection.For example, drive (D).
Brake-Shift Interlock Override
WARNINGS
When doing this procedure, you needto take the transmission out of park (P)which means your vehicle can roll freely. Toavoid unwanted vehicle movement, alwaysfully apply the parking brake prior to doingthis procedure. Use wheels chocks ifappropriate.
If the parking brake is fully released,but the brake warning lamp remainsilluminated, the brakes may not be workingproperly. Have your vehicle checked as soonas possible.
Do not drive your vehicle until youverify that the stoplamps are working.
Note:See your authorized dealer as soonas possible if this procedure is used.
Note:For some markets this feature isdisabled.
Note:This feature will only function if your12-volt battery has power.
Use the brake-shift interlock override tomove your transmission from the park (P)position in the event of an electricalmalfunction or if your vehicle has a deadbattery.
1. Apply the parking brake and turn yourignition off before performing thisprocedure.
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2. Locate your brake-shift interlock accessslot. The slot is located below the mediahub, in your center console storage bin.The access slot does not have a label.
Note:Make sure that you correctly identifythe access hole as not to damage the mediahub.
3. Using a tool, press and hold the brakeshift interlock switch. The shift buttonson the instrument panel will flash whenyour vehicle is in override mode.
4. With the override switch still held, pressthe neutral (N) button to shift from park.
5. Release the override button.
6.Your vehicle will remain in neutral (N) forwrecker towing purposes or can beshifted to the desired gear and driven (ifpossible).
7. Release the parking brake.
Automatic Transmission AdaptiveLearning
This feature increases durability and providesconsistent shift feel over the life of yourvehicle. A new vehicle or transmission mayhave firm or soft shifts. This operation willnot affect function or durability of yourtransmission and is normal. Over time, theadaptive learning process will fully updatetransmission operation. Additionally, thestrategy must be relearned whenever thebattery is disconnected or a new battery isinstalled.
If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck In Mud orSnow
Note:Do not rock your vehicle if your engineis not at normal operating temperature ordamage to your transmission may occur.
Note:Do not rock your vehicle for more thana minute or damage to your transmissionand tires may occur, or your engine mayoverheat.
Note:If your vehicle is equipped withAdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control, itmay be beneficial to disengage theAdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Controlsystem while attempting to rock the vehicle.
If your vehicle gets stuck in mud or snow,you can help rock your vehicle out by shiftingbetween forward and reverse gears,stopping between shifts in a steady pattern.Press lightly on the accelerator in each gear.
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USING ALL-WHEEL DRIVE
All-wheel drive uses all four wheels to powerthe vehicle. This increases traction, enablingyou to drive over terrain and road conditionsthat a conventional two-wheel drive vehiclecannot. The AWD system is active all the timeand requires no input from the operator.
Note:Your AWD vehicle is not intended foroff-road use. The AWD feature gives yourvehicle some limited off-road capabilities inwhich driving surfaces are relatively level,obstruction-free and otherwise similar tonormal on-road driving conditions. Operatingyour vehicle under other than thoseconditions could subject the vehicle toexcessive stress which might result indamage which is not covered under yourwarranty.
Note:A warning message will be displayedin the information display when an AWDsystem fault is present See InformationMessages (page 125). An AWD system faultwill cause the AWD system to default tofront-wheel drive only mode. When thiswarning message is displayed, have yourvehicle serviced at an authorized dealer
Note:A warning message will be displayedin the information display if the AWD systemhas overheated See Information Messages(page 125). This condition may occur if thevehicle was operated in extreme conditionswith excessive wheel slip, such as deepsand. To resume normal AWD function assoon as possible, stop the vehicle in a safelocation and stop the engine for at least 10minutes. After the engine has been restartedand the AWD system has adequately cooled,the warning message will turn off and normalAWD function will return.
Do not use a spare tire of a different sizeother than the tire provided. If the mini-sparetire is installed, the AWD system may disableautomatically and enter front-wheel driveonly mode to protect driveline components.This condition will be indicated by a warningin the information display See InformationMessages (page 125). If there is a warningmessage in the information display fromusing the spare tire, this indicator should turnoff after reinstalling the repaired or replacednormal road tire and cycling the ignition offand on. It is recommended to reinstall the
repaired or replaced road tire as soon aspossible. Major dissimilar tire sizes betweenthe front and rear axles could cause the AWDsystem to stop functioning and default tofront-wheel drive or damage the AWDsystem.
Driving In Special Conditions With All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
AWD vehicles are equipped for driving onsand, snow, mud and rough roads and haveoperating characteristics that are somewhatdifferent from conventional vehicles, both onand off the highway.
Under severe operating conditions, the A/Cmay cycle on and off to protect overheatingof the engine.
Basic operating principles in specialconditions
•Drive slower in strong crosswinds whichcan affect the normal steeringcharacteristics of your vehicle.
•Be extremely careful when driving onpavement made slippery by loose sand,water, gravel, snow or ice.
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If Your Vehicle Goes Off the Edge of thePavement
•If your vehicle goes off the edge of thepavement, slow down, but avoid severebrake application, ease the vehicle backonto the pavement only after reducingyour speed. Do not turn the steeringwheel too sharply while returning to theroad surface.
•It may be safer to stay on the apron orshoulder of the road and slow downgradually before returning to thepavement. You may lose control if youdo not slow down or if you turn thesteering wheel too sharply or abruptly.
•It often may be less risky to strike smallobjects, such as highway reflectors, withminor damage to your vehicle rather thanattempt a sudden return to the pavementwhich could cause the vehicle to slidesideways out of control or rollover.Remember, your safety and the safety ofothers should be your primary concern.
If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck
WARNINGS
Always set the parking brake fully andmake sure the transmission is in P(Park). Turn the ignition to the lock positionor turn the vehicle off using the start/stopbutton and remove the key whenever youleave your vehicle.
If the parking brake is fully released,but the brake warning lamp remainsilluminated, the brakes may not be workingproperly. See your authorized dealer.
Do not spin the wheels at over 35 mph(56 km/h). The tires may fail and injurea passenger or bystander.
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 the transmissionand tires may occur or the engine mayoverheat.
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 equipped withAdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control™, itmay be beneficial to disengage theAdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control™system while attempting to rock the vehicle.
Emergency Maneuvers
•In an unavoidable emergency situationwhere a sudden sharp turn must bemade, remember to avoid "over-driving"your vehicle (i.e., turn the steering wheelonly as rapidly and as far as required toavoid the emergency). Excessive steeringwill result in less vehicle control, notmore. Additionally, smooth variations ofthe accelerator and/or brake pedalpressure should be utilized if changes invehicle speed are called for. Avoid abrupt
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steering, acceleration or braking whichcould result in an increased risk of lossof vehicle control, vehicle rollover and/orpersonal injury. Use all available roadsurface to return the vehicle to a safedirection of travel.
•In the event of an emergency stop, avoidskidding the tires and do not attempt anysharp steering wheel movements.
•If the vehicle goes from one type ofsurface to another (i.e., from concrete togravel) there will be a change in the waythe vehicle responds to a maneuver(steering, acceleration or braking). Again,avoid these abrupt inputs.
Sand
When driving over sand, try to keep all fourwheels on the most solid area of the trail.Avoid reducing the tire pressures but shiftto a lower gear and drive steadily throughthe terrain. Apply the accelerator slowly andavoid spinning the wheels.
Do not drive your AWD vehicle in deep sand.This will cause the AWD system to overheat.After the system has cooled down, normalAWD function will return.
Under severe operating conditions, the A/Cmay cycle on and off to protect overheatingof the engine.
Avoid excessive speed because vehiclemomentum can work against you and causethe vehicle to become stuck to the point thatassistance may be required from anothervehicle. Remember, you may be able to backout the way you came if you proceed withcaution.
Mud and Water
If you must drive through high water, driveslowly. Traction or brake capability may belimited.
When driving through water, determine thedepth; avoid water higher than the bottomof the wheel rims (for cars) or the bottom ofthe hubs (for trucks) (if possible) and proceedslowly. If the ignition system gets wet, thevehicle may stall.
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 AWD vehicles can lose tractionin slick mud. As when you are driving oversand, apply the accelerator slowly and avoidspinning your wheels. If the vehicle doesslide, steer in the direction of the slide untilyou regain control of the vehicle.
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After driving through mud, clean off residuestuck to rotating driveshafts and tires. Excessmud stuck on tires and rotating driveshaftscauses an imbalance that could damagedrive components.
Note:Driving through deep water maydamage the transmission.
If the front or rear axle is submerged in water,have the power transfer unit (PTU) or rearaxle serviced by an authorized dealer.
“Tread Lightly” is an educational programdesigned to increase public awareness ofland-use regulations and responsibilities inour nations wilderness areas. Ford MotorCompany joins the U.S. Forest Service andthe Bureau of Land Management inencouraging you to help preserve ournational forest and other public and privatelands by “treading lightly.”
Driving on Hilly or Sloping Terrain
Note:Avoid driving crosswise or turning onsteep slopes or hills. A danger lies in losingtraction, slipping sideways and possiblyrolling over. Whenever driving on a hill,determine beforehand the route you will use.Do not drive over the crest of a hill withoutseeing what conditions are on the other side.Do not drive in reverse over a hill withoutthe aid of an observer.
Although natural obstacles may make itnecessary to travel diagonally up or down ahill or steep incline, you should always try todrive straight up or straight down.
When climbing a steep slope or hill, start ina lower gear rather than downshifting to alower gear from a higher gear once theascent has started. This reduces strain onthe engine and the possibility of stalling.
If you do stall out, do not try to turnaroundbecause you might roll over. It is better toback down to a safe location.
Apply just enough power to the wheels toclimb the hill. Too much power will cause thetires to slip, spin or lose traction, resulting inloss of vehicle control.
Descend a hill in the same gear you woulduse to climb up the hill to avoid excessivebrake application and brake overheating. Donot descend in neutral; instead, disengageoverdrive or manually shift to a lower gear.When descending a steep hill, avoid suddenhard braking as you could lose control. Thefront wheels have to be turning in order tosteer the vehicle.
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GENERAL INFORMATION
Note:Occasional brake noise is normal. If ametal-to-metal, continuous grinding orcontinuous squeal sound is present, thebrake linings may be worn-out. Have thesystem checked by an authorized dealer. Ifyour vehicle has continuous vibration orshudder in the steering wheel while braking,have it checked by an authorized dealer.
Note:Brake dust may accumulate on thewheels, even under normal drivingconditions. Some dust is inevitable as thebrakes wear and does not contribute tobrake noise. See Cleaning the Wheels(page 339).
Note:Depending on applicable laws andregulations in the country for which yourvehicle was originally built, your brake lampsmay flash during heavy braking. Followingthis, your hazard lights may also flash whenyour vehicle comes to a stop.
See Warning Lamps andIndicators (page 113).
Wet brakes result in reduced brakingefficiency. Gently press the brake pedal afew times when driving from a car wash orstanding water to dry the brakes.
Brake Over Accelerator
In the event the accelerator pedal becomesstuck or entrapped, apply steady and firmpressure to the brake pedal to slow thevehicle and reduce engine power. If youexperience this condition, apply the brakesand bring your vehicle to a safe stop. Movethe transmission to park (P), switch theengine off and apply the parking brake.Inspect the accelerator pedal for anyinterference. If none are found and thecondition persists, have your vehicle towedto the nearest authorized dealer.
Brake Assist
Brake assist detects when you brake rapidlyby measuring the rate at which you press thebrake pedal. It provides maximum brakingefficiency as long as you press the pedal,and can reduce stopping distances in criticalsituations.
Anti-lock Brake System
This system helps you maintain steeringcontrol during emergency stops by keepingthe brakes from locking.
This lamp momentarily illuminateswhen you turn the ignition on. Ifthe light does not illuminate duringstart up, remains on or flashes, the systemmay be disabled. Have the system checkedby an authorized dealer. If the anti-lock brakesystem is disabled, normal braking is stilleffective.
If the brake warning lampilluminates when you release theparking brake, have the systemchecked by an authorized dealer.
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Manual release
WARNING
If the brake system warning lightremains illuminated or flashes for morethan four seconds after you have releasedthe parking brake, there could be a problemwith your braking system. Have your vehiclechecked as soon as possible.
You can manually release the electric parkingbrake by:
1. Switching the ignition on.
2. Pressing the brake pedal.
3. Pressing the electric parking brakeswitch.
When the electric parking brake is released,the brake system warning lamp turns off.
Automatic release - drive away release
Your vehicle automatically releases theparking brake if all of the following conditionsexist:
•The driver door is closed.
•The accelerator pedal is pressed.
•There are no faults detected in theparking brake system.
Note:If the electric parking brake warninglamp stays illuminated, the electric parkingbrake will not automatically release. Youmust release the electric parking brake usingthe electric parking brake switch while yourfoot is on the brake and the ignition is on.
The brake system warning lamp will go offto confirm that you have released the electricparking brake.
Note:The electric parking brake drive awayrelease makes starting on a hill easier. Thisfeature releases the parking brakeautomatically when the vehicle has sufficienttorque force to move up the hill. To assuredrive away release when starting uphill,press the accelerator pedal quickly.
Driving with a Trailer
Depending on the slope and the weight ofthe trailer, your vehicle and trailer may rollbackwards slightly when you start on a slope.
To prevent this from happening, do thefollowing:
1. Pull the switch up and hold it in thisposition.
2.Accelerate your vehicle, then release theswitch when you notice that the enginehas developed sufficient driving force.
Battery With No Charge
WARNING
You will not be able to apply or releasethe electric parking brake if the batteryis low or has no charge.
If the battery is low or has no charge, usejumper cables and a booster battery.
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