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Using Lincoln Drive Control
You can configure which of the Drive Controlmodes are active when your vehicle is indrive (D). The configuration remains activeuntil modified from the main menu on theinformation display.
You can change your vehicle's Drive Controlsettings from the main menu on theinformation display. See GeneralInformation (page 112).
Note:Not all settings may be available.
Note:Lincoln Drive Control has diagnosticchecks that continuously monitor the systemto ensure proper operation. Certain types ofsystem errors will gray out the modeselections within the information display,preventing you from changing states whenthe gear position is changed. Other types oferrors will produce a temporary messagethat states Drive Control Malfunction. If eithercondition persists for multiple key cycles,have your vehicle checked by an authorizeddealer.
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LOAD LIMIT
Vehicle Loading - with and without aTrailer
This section guides you in the properloading of your vehicle, trailer, or both.Keep your loaded vehicle weight withinits design rating capability, with orwithout a trailer. Properly loading yourvehicle provides maximum return ofvehicle design performance. Before youload your vehicle, become familiar withthe following terms for determining yourvehicle’s weight rating, with or withouta trailer, from the vehicle’s Tire andLoading Information label or SafetyCompliance Certification label.
Tire and Loading Label InformationExample:
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Payload
Payload is the combined weight of cargoand passengers that your vehicle iscarrying. The maximum payload for yourvehicle appears on the Tire and Loadinglabel. The label is either on the B-pillaror the edge of the driver door. Vehiclesexported outside the US and Canadamay not have a tire and loading label.Look for “The combined weight ofoccupants and cargo should neverexceed XXX kg OR XXX lb” formaximum payload. The payload listedon the Tire and Loading Informationlabel is the maximum payload for yourvehicle as built by the assembly plant. If
you install any additional equipment onyour vehicle, you must determine thenew payload. Subtract the weight of theequipment from the payload listed onthe Tire and Loading label. When towing,trailer tongue weight or king pin weightis also part of payload.
WARNING
The appropriate loading capacityof your vehicle can be limitedeither by volume capacity (how muchspace is available) or by payloadcapacity (how much weight the vehicleshould carry). Once you have reachedthe maximum payload of your vehicle,do not add more cargo, even if there isspace available. Overloading orimproperly loading your vehicle cancontribute to loss of vehicle control andvehicle rollover.
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GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating)
GAWR is the maximum allowable weightthat a single axle (front or rear) can carry.These numbers are on the SafetyCompliance Certification label. The labelis located on the door hinge pillar,door-latch post, or the door edge thatmeets the door-latch post, next to thedriver seating position.
The total load on each axle must neverexceed its Gross Axle Weight Rating.
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating)
GVWR is the maximum allowable weightof the fully loaded vehicle. This includesall options, equipment, passengers andcargo. It appears on the SafetyCompliance Certification label. The labelis located on the door hinge pillar,door-latch post, or the door edge thatmeets the door-latch post, next to thedriver seating position.
The gross vehicle weight must neverexceed the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.
Safety Compliance Certification LabelExample:
WARNING
Exceeding the Safety ComplianceCertification label vehicle weightrating limits could result in substandardvehicle handling or performance, engine,transmission and/or structural damage,serious damage to the vehicle, loss ofcontrol and personal injury.
Maximum Loaded Trailer Weight
Maximum loaded trailer weight is thehighest possible weight of a fully loadedtrailer the vehicle can tow. Consult anauthorized dealer (or the RV and TrailerTowing Guide available at an authorizeddealer) for more detailed information.
GCWR (Gross Combined WeightRating)
GCWR is the maximum allowable weightof the vehicle and the loaded trailer,including all cargo and passengers, thatthe vehicle can handle without riskingdamage. (Important: The towingvehicle’s braking system is rated foroperation at Gross Vehicle WeightRating, not at Gross Combined WeightRating.) Separate functional brakesshould be used for safe control of towedvehicles and for trailers where the GrossCombined Weight of the towing vehicleplus the trailer exceed the Gross VehicleWeight Rating of the towing vehicle.
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The gross combined weight must neverexceed the Gross Combined WeightRating.
Note: For trailer towing informationrefer to the RV and Trailer Towing Guideavailable at an authorized dealer.
WARNINGS
Do not exceed the GVWR or theGAWR specified on the SafetyCompliance Certification label.
Do not use replacement tires withlower load carrying capacities thanthe original tires because they maylower your vehicle’s GVWR and GAWRlimitations. Replacement tires with ahigher limit than the original tires do notincrease the GVWR and GAWR
limitations.
Exceeding any vehicle weightrating limitation could result inserious damage to your vehicle,personal injury or both.
Steps for determining the correct loadlimit:
1.Locate the statement "The combinedweight of occupants and cargoshould never exceed XXX kg or XXXlb." on your vehicle’s placard.
2.Determine the combined weight ofthe driver and passengers that willbe riding in your vehicle.
3.Subtract the combined weight of thedriver and passengers from XXX kgor XXX lb.
4. The resulting figure equals theavailable amount of cargo andluggage load capacity. For example,if the “XXX” amount equals 1,400 lb.and there will be five 150 lb.
passengers in your vehicle, theamount of available cargo andluggage load capacity is 650 lb.(1400-750 (5 x 150) = 650 lb.)
5.Determine the combined weight ofluggage and cargo being loaded onthe vehicle. That weight may notsafely exceed the available cargoand luggage load capacity calculatedin Step 4.
6.If your vehicle will be towing a trailer,load from your trailer will betransferred to your vehicle. Consultthis manual to determine how thisreduces the available cargo andluggage load capacity of yourvehicle.
Helpful examples for calculating theavailable amount of cargo andluggage load capacity
Suppose your vehicle has a 1400-pound(635-kilogram) cargo and luggagecapacity. You decide to go golfing. Isthere enough load capacity to carry you,four of your friends and all the golf bags?You and four friends average 220pounds (99 kilograms) each and the golfbags weigh approximately 30 pounds(13.5 kilograms) each. The calculationwould be: 1400 - (5 x 220) - (5 x 30) =
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1400 - 1100 - 150 = 150 pounds. Yes, youhave enough load capacity in yourvehicle to transport four friends and yourgolf bags. In metric units, the calculationwould be: 635 kilograms - (5 x 99kilograms) - (5 x 13.5 kilograms) = 635 -495 - 67.5 = 72.5 kilograms.
Suppose your vehicle has a 1400-pound(635-kilogram) cargo and luggagecapacity. You and one of your friendsdecide to pick up cement from the localhome improvement store to finish thatpatio you have been planning for thepast two years. Measuring the inside ofthe vehicle with the rear seat foldeddown, you have room for twelve100-pound (45-kilogram) bags ofcement. Do you have enough loadcapacity to transport the cement to your
home? If you and your friend each weigh220 pounds (99 kilograms), thecalculation would be: 1400 - (2 x 220) -(12 x 100) = 1400 - 440 - 1200 = - 240pounds. No, you do not have enoughcargo capacity to carry that muchweight. In metric units, the calculationwould be: 635 kilograms - (2 x 99
kilograms) - (12 x 45 kilograms) = 635 -198 - 540 = -103 kilograms. You will needto reduce the load weight by at least240 pounds (104 kilograms). If youremove three 100-pound (45-kilogram)cement bags, then the load calculationwould be:1400 - (2 x 220) - (9 x 100) =1400 - 440 - 900 = 60 pounds. Now youhave the load capacity to transport thecement and your friend home. In metricunits, the calculation would be: 635kilograms - (2 x 99 kilograms) - (9 x 45kilograms) = 635 - 198 - 405 = 32kilograms.
The above calculations also assume thatthe loads are positioned in your vehiclein a manner that does not overload thefront or the rear gross axle weight ratingspecified for your vehicle on the Safety
Compliance Certification label.
Special Loading Instructions forOwners of Pick-up Trucks and Utility-type Vehicles
WARNING
Loaded vehicles may handledifferently than unloaded vehicles.Take extra precautions, such as slowerspeeds and increased stoppingdistance, when driving a heavily loadedvehicle.
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TOWING A TRAILER
WARNING
Never tow a trailer with an MKZHybrid. This powertrain is notdesigned to tow.
TOWING THE VEHICLE ON FOUR
WHEELS
Emergency Towing
In the event your vehicle becomes disabled(without access to wheel dollies, car-haulingtrailer, or flatbed transport vehicle), it can beflat-towed (all wheels on the ground,regardless of the powertrain/transmissionconfiguration) under the following conditions:
•The vehicle is facing forward so that it istowed in 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 mi (80 km).
Recreational Towing
Note: Put your climate control system inrecirculated air mode to prevent exhaustfumes from entering your vehicle. SeeClimate Control (page 143).
Follow these guidelines if you have a needfor recreational (RV) towing. An example ofrecreational towing would be towing yourvehicle behind a motorhome. Theseguidelines are designed to ensure that yourtransmission is not damaged.
Your vehicle can be towed with all fourwheels on the ground using the Neutral Towfeature, or with all four wheels off the groundusing a vehicle transport trailer. If you areusing a vehicle transport trailer, follow theinstruction specified by the equipmentprovider.
Neutral Tow
If you tow your vehicle with all four wheelson the ground:
•Tow only in the forward direction.
•Release the parking brake.
•Place the vehicle in Neutral Tow modeby doing the following:
•Put the ignition in accessory mode(ignition on, engine off ). See KeylessStarting (page 168).
•Select the neutral tow option in theinformation display.
•When prompted by the informationdisplay, press the brake pedal andselect Neutral on the transmission.Make sure the parking brake is off. Ifdone successfully, a confirmationmessage appears in the display.
•Shut the ignition off. See KeylessStarting (page 168). If the process iscompleted successfully, the N on thetransmission slowly blinks and aconfirmation message appears in thedisplay.
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•Do not exceed 70 mph (113 km/h).
•Start the engine and allow it to run forone minute at the beginning of each day.With the engine running and your footon the brake, shift into position D andthen into position R before shifting backinto position N.
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